It's been a Whirlwind!

Wow...it's been a while since I posted and so much has happened. Jeni and Teresa both arrived without any issues just after I sent Trinity through Customs control at Frankfurt airport. It was a bit of a tearful goodbye. I just really didn't want to see her leave this time.

Since then...it's been non-stop! Work...travel....work...travel....work...and I think there might have been a bit of sleep in there somewhere!?! Jens back home now in sunny California and Teresa is recouperating and planning our Scotland trip while I am working the next few days.

We had a lovely pass-through and lunch trip through Karlov Vary in the Czech Republic then jaunted on toward Prague. We choose a lovely little bar for lunch and ended up with enough food to feed at least three families with only the three of us to eat it...needless to say, there was plenty left behind. It was delicious and the waitress was a kind and patient local woman who gave us much needed assistance with deciphering the menu. I got to have a Czech beer that I had been craving since my last trip and it didn't disappoint.

On our arrival, we followed the sounds of a band playing which led us to a bridge overpass near the river. There was a band playing under the overpass and we enjoyed listening for a few minutes...until they asked us to pay 'admission'. If I had been traveling alone, I might have paid and had a few beers and listened to the band but we were on a mission to find food and get to Prague so off we went.

Karlov Vary is a quaint town and would be a great place to return for a longer visit. Maybe even seek out the spas that it is so well know for.

Prague was just as inviting and beautiful as I had remembered. Teresa scored us a great place for the first two nights....a HUGE hotel room with separate sleeping room and a great location close to the Old Town. Aco was with us and had plenty of room to romp and play.

Two full days of walking around the city and we were all exhausted. Day one, we took the free Sandeman's tour and not having enough, on the second day we took another Sandeman's tour; a castle tour this time...it was great...however, I would NOT recommend two of these walking tours back to back. Our feet were on fire! Just a bit much for us in the 'older' crowd! haha Having been to Prague before, I was surprised that there was still so much that I didn't see during my first visit. It was lke seeing the city again for the first time....some things were familiar though; like the coffee shop that Switzer and I had fab desert and coffee to warm up on the cold winter day that we visited.

I still didn't get to the Black Light theater or the Marrionette theater but that just gives me an excuse to return!

Back home and a few more days of work for me; a few wine-tour drives for the girls (one of which they were actually able to find some wine) haha. Then we were off to Belgium....

We breezed through Brussels on our way to Bruge. The Flower Carpet was on the iteniary. It only happens once every two years and I wanted to see it. The girls obliged and it was a bit less than exciting. The flowers had already begun to wilt and the crowd was so crazy that you could barely see it without standing in line for hours to get on one of the balconey's above. You know how excited I am about lines, right? Well, needless to say; we didn't stand in line for the balcony and were content with the view from the ground.

Weaving through the crowds; we made our way to the Maniquen di Pis. Disappointment was clear on Jen's face as she muttered 'is that it?'. I think that is most everyone's opinion when they see it. We indulged in a waffel from one of the street side vendors and as always it was wonderful. We were soon back on the road headed to Brugge...

I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE I LOVE BRUGGE

Sorry, got a little over-excited; but really, I do love Brugge. It's such a wonderful place and I immediately felt stress-free on our arrival. The canals and bridges and cobblestone streets and beautiful buildings....it all makes me happy. Now, if I could transplant Prague's beer into Brugge it would be perfect. Yes, Belgian beer is actually quite good but I still think that the Czech beer is far superior!

There isn't anything that really stands out as something to write about from the trip to Brugge...I'll suffice it to say that we had a wonderful time wandering the streets, taking pictures, eating chocolate and drinking beer (well, I drank beer). Our last day, we decided to take a drive out to the North Sea. We were so close to the coast and I had never been and really wanted to see it....

The North Sea....was ANGRY! Really, the wind was crazy and nearly knocked us off our feet as we attempted to walk in the rain with umbrellas in hand (Teresa's got broken by the wind and I wish that I could have gotten it on camera...it was priceless). As we were being blown down the road on our arrival, we flew into a bike rental place and I asked to rent bikes (totally joking)...the boys behind the counter looked at me as if I were a crazy woman and asked 'today?'. I couldn't help but crack up...just couldn't keep up the rouse. We got a quick coffee at a local diner and watched the wind and rain outside and got back to the car and headed up the coast a bit further.

Our next stop had a peir out to the sea with a pot of mussels for Jen which we all shared (Teresa didn't indulge much). Back to the hotel we ended our day with an early dinner and bed....

I am now back to work for a few days then Teresa and I are headed to Scotland for one last jaunt before she leaves......

Click HERE for pictures!