The Puffy Pekingnese and The Protesting Politician

Ryan said...

This morning I went to Buckingham Palace to watch the famous Changing of The Guards. It was quite impressive. The music was a little silly though... The juxdaposed arrangments of "Annie" and "Killing Me Softly" played by the Royal Military Band was was a little humurous. I figured the purpose of the guards has become more of a show than a functional military...(I could be wrong...the big furry hats were sort of intimidatin.) After this I walked down the mall towards Trafalgar square where I was to meet Sarah. After meeting we went to the Texas Embassy Cantina. Kenna told me about this place and said it was good. It is funny. At home you can find everything wrong with Texas. But this restaurant was a sight for sore eyes. The Tex-Mex food was great and very filling. We ate it in about 0.5 seconds. But it was well worth £13. (sort of...the equivalent is about $26.00...yuck) I didn't need to eat dinner though, so I guess that evens out. Sarah and I then planned to go to Harrods. We split up for a whiule in order for me to get a picture in the other part of the city. Unfortunately Harrods was closed. So I assumed our meeting mission was aborted and went home...bad choice. Sarah continued the mission. She came home around 7:30. I did this in Salzburg and Paris. I guess I need a new brain or something. Tommorrow is "do nothing day." We decided it would be a good idea to save money and pack all day. I will see you all in about 3 days...5 or so for my family. I love Europe but "home" has never sounded so good. BYE!!!

Sarah had a good title earlier today..I forgot it

Ryan said...

Today was London day. I feel much better. I think the Museum had such a stuffy atmosphere it just clogged me all up. We waked outside today, so it wasn't as bad. Well, We slept in until noon and then went to the London Tower. Sarah didn't want to go in because it was too expensive...but since I was in London and had nothing else to do, I decided to give it a go. Kenna said it was cool anyway. Well, I think I got my money's worth. The medieval palace was really cool. It makes me want to live back in the 1100's...that is until I listened in on a tour that said they beheaded about every other monarch for ridiculous reasons. It was almost funny that so many were executed. The crown jewels were ridiculously amazing. Over 30,000 jewels in the whole collection. The "Royal Punch Bowl" was pretty funny. It was pure gold with diamonds and other precious stones adorning its facade. IT was also about 4 feet wide and had a five foot "Royal punch dipping spon" I was laughing. The torture chamber was also interesting. Violence is always a people pleaser. Well, I could go on...but that is not all that happened. I met up with Sarah, ho had been exploring the city around the tower. We then went across Tower Bridge and took some pictures. Around city hall, (a really cool modern building that looks like a warped sphere.) was a cool public exhibition called "Earth from th Air" It was a collection of ariel photographs taken from all over the world. Really cool sites and images. The exhibition wa sort of a campaign exhibition for sustainable development...a really cool idea I learned about in geology and urban geography...I am a strong advocate. Sarah really liked the compositions of the photos too. We both bought postcards... I suggest that anyone in London visit this. After this we went to the "London Eye"...ya know the big ferris wheel towerig above Westminster. Really great views... After this we went home... I ate pancakes...mmmmm...and now I am going to check my e-mail and go to bed...goodnight!

Sarah said...
Ryan pretty much covered the whole day. It was neat. The photography exhibition especially! I don't have much time. I just want to say that I bought this book yesterday in the British Museum called The Atlas of War and Peace (or something liek that). It is the best book I have ever read!! It's not a novel or anything but it's everything interesting related to the world and the politics of our world that I have ever cared about!! It is SO neat! I've been reading it so slowly and soaking up every word. And then when we went to this photo thing today I was about to look at the countries and know alot more about their poltics now that I've been entrenched (sp?) in this book for two days! The book is mostly pages of every country and facts and graphs about any topic you can think of...poverty, deaths, terrorism, weapons, civil wars, economy, children in wars....ton of neat stuff! I've learned alot and I've read like the first chapter! Sorry I'm talking so much about this book but it's SOOO awesome! I'm sure most of you will be seeing it shortly because I don't feel my obsession with it will wane anytime soon! Congrats! You'll be able to enjoy it with me for many many days! :) Ok, that's all. Tommarow we are going to get at The Texas Embassey for some "real" English "Tex-Mex"....a great farewell to Europe with a little taste of home!
Bye!

The Royal Lion Hunt...

Ryan said...

Today was museum day b/c we went to the British Museum. The visit was nice because the place has so much to offer. The Roman, Grecian, and Egyptian stuff is especially interesting. The Brits have been very greedy over its Imperial history, but this has created a very impressive collection. Other than this, unfortunately, my sickness has escalated and I felt horrible all day today, walking and reading little captions became a chore tha interst and the overall stuffiness of the place made the trip uncomfortable. Sorry to complain, but I am exhausted. I took some medicine and hope to feel better soon. We are going to the park tommorrow, so that will be relaxing. Well, I have used all the energy that I will hope to use today, goodnight.

P.S. Sorry mom Sarah cannot find the number...I will post it tommorrow.

Minding the Gap again...

Sarah said...

Well, I've decided I could sleep on trains (in the bed thingys) a lot if I had to. I really really think they are very comfortable. We almost had all six bunks to ourselves on the way to Paris from Munich last night. Until this couple came in. We were going to turn on our speakers and play music and cards for a while....oh well. Um... I don't really have anything else to say. We are back in England. It's wierd to see signs in English...bye!

Ryan said...

Well, I went to the Mozart Museum and it was really interesting. I want to watch Amadeus again because Mosarts life was interesting for one and it was filmed in Prague, were I have been recently. That would be cool. Well, we traveled and traveled and traveled...etc. yuck And there you go we are herein London and we have cool roommates so hooray. bye!

Like sheep hafta de utter...

Sarah said...
Today we went to the ice cave! It was really neat...and also a LONG hike! It was really cool because every year the ice melts and reforms itself in the cave. The whole cave is like 45 km but we only saw 1 km. We had to bring laterns in because they don't have any light set up (my guess was because the lights would obviously melt the ice unnaturally)...whatever. So that was fun. It was like over 8,000 feet up and it was snowing. lol. Um...we went to see the Magic Flute (an opera by Mozart) tonight at the Marenette (again sp?). I'll let Ryan talk about that. Really good music but because it was in German we are a little confused about some spots in the plot... OK I'm done....

Ryan said...
Well, today was very interesting indeed... To start of the day we went opn an ice cave and underground glacier tour. Very cool. (literally cool as well.) we climbed 700 steps up to the deepest part of the cave which had ice sculptures 65 meters high...woah. IT was so cold in fact(25 degrees F) that I now have a slight cold. It isn't too bad though because I will get over it quick...

Also we went to a Marionetten Theater with puppets. Very interesting. We saw the Magic Flute by Mozart. Tm we will walk around Salzburg for one last time. We will probably see Mozarts home and etc. I really like Salzburg. I think if I were to live abroad I would live here. It is culturally sustainable yet small enough to feel safe walking late at night. The nature stuff around it is also a plus. Too cold though for lifetime living. I need a little warmth. Well, I don't think I will post tommorrow, as we will be traveling. I will talk to you guys in London later this week. Truße! bye.

"...With gas, or without gas?"

Sarah said...

Well, we made it to Salzburg. Watched the Sound of Music last night to get us in the mood. We like Salzburg and keep talking about how it's a great city for kids or to raise kids....lol. Um...did the castle today. That was cool. Normal castle stuff but at the very top floors they have an exhibit about Austria and WWII....I found it really really cool! We walked to this park (I don't know the name but I'm sure Ryan will mention it). We walked around the store/touristy area...and also to the Dom. We went to the graveyard where that one scene at the end of the Sound of Music was filmed.... Tommarow we are going to spend a lot of money. We are going to go to ice caves, where it should be 0 degrees celsius!!! And then we are going to a Marenette (sp?). Then the day after that we are going to bike around and go to Mozarts house etc....Ok, I'm sick of hearing myself talk...

Oh, Mom I didn't hang up on you I ran out of minutes.... I'm in the process of reloading them but I can't because I can't call the number without the cell phone.....vicious cycle... I'll post when we have mins back...


Ryan said...

Hooray we arein Salzburg. This is the best place. I know I say that about all the cities but this one is really nice. I think I want to raise my kids here...or at least go on vacation here with them. The Sound of Music really romaticized it for me. I should probably do that next time I come. Watch a feel good move about each city right when I get there. The Sound of Music is such a silly musical but it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. haha (I have confidence in my masculinity) Well, we went to the castle and gardens and everything. I think we are giong to send all our money going on an "Ice cave" tour and then a Marionette version of "The Magic Flute" That will certainly be interesting. Well, my feet are tired and that is all I have to say about Salzburg.m I will see you guys later...

P.S. I miss you Sassafrass.

Singing Swedes and Smelly Spainards

Sarah said...
Ok so we got to Prague. I like it here! There is a lot of history and art everywhere but I don't know enough about the city to know where to start. We bought artwork from this guys studio! (really cool) Um...the traditional Czech food is very "hearty" and I think if I ate it all the time I would have a heart attack. (It's a lot like Irish food to me...) Um...I didn't get as many cool pics as I wanted (like I was going to do a b&w roll but I didn't...this morning I had some "issues" so I didn't go out till later...) Ryan did all the cool stuff without me today. I now have to come back to Prague in the future because I've missed some stuff. Next time I will be better prepared and more read up...:) ok later....

Ryan said...
Well, all alone today... I had fun but I was a bit lonely... I followed a small Japanese tour group through the castle. It was very cool. I later found an English one...haha This place is huge. The cathedral is beautiful. It had amazing stained glass windows. This city is so ancient and filled with stories. I researched some about Prague before coming so it was nice to see something and have full apprecitation for it. Amazing...there is so much here that I can't absorb it all. I think my favorite cities have been Paris and Prague. They are everything you would think them to be and more. I love it. I have trouble shopping for souvenirs. I need Lindsey and Kenna to confirm my choices. So far all i have gotten are posters and a few small items... man. I wish I was a better shopper. I would get more substaintial things like pottery but i have no way to take it back without damaging it...(sigh) I wish my whole faily were here. That would be awesome. There are so many things to see and do here and every time I walk into a store I say "I wish (insert name here) were here, they would love this place." Well, The Charles Bridge is nice and I got to see the place where many movies were filmed. I love Prague!!! ok bye.