tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385715382024-03-07T15:12:53.776+01:00The Prickrils' adventures in GermanyOn January 6, 2007, the Prickril family of Redmond, Washington stepped on German soil to begin a new life full of adventure (and schnitzel).grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.comBlogger559125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-1548319722311515562011-08-06T20:38:00.001+02:002011-08-06T20:38:10.255+02:00Luisenpark<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mJnmru6x9ac/Tj2JwHXh3pI/AAAAAAAAI9U/G4T7LNHC58k/s1600-h/IMG_8413%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8413" border="0" alt="IMG_8413" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5Fx_5sut99E/Tj2Jw6OuPXI/AAAAAAAAI9Y/dx94ZW5Bhus/IMG_8413_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="284" /></a> About 20 minutes from our house lies Mannheim, a somewhat maligned city that has tons to offer. Most folks around here love to shop there but would never (ever) live there. It’s true that Mannheim is a bit more blue color than many of its neighbors, but it has a dynamism many of the other lack almost entirely.</p> <p>Regardless, Mannheim is home to a gorgeous urban park call <a href="http://www.luisenpark.de/">Luisenpark</a>. For a few Euros, you can enter this sprawling botanical garden, spending the day seeing the sites, drinking some cold Hefes and scarfing ice cream. I’ve blogged about it before, but this spring it was especially beautiful. As Jack White so famously said, the message “bears repeating”.</p> <p>The spring offers as grand an abundance and variety of flowers as I’ve seen anywhere. I think the pictures make that point much better than I ever could.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vn3O8DNHSFA/Tj2Jy72BMeI/AAAAAAAAI9c/UOXsOk5Af0M/s1600-h/IMG_8422%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8422" border="0" alt="IMG_8422" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GZ6ofJWaaL4/Tj2Jz1DJZRI/AAAAAAAAI9g/qRKxhw8kN3U/IMG_8422_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="284" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fesiNudOWfk/Tj2J1Q9JMwI/AAAAAAAAI9k/T2U-FC3aifU/s1600-h/IMG_8441%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8441" border="0" alt="IMG_8441" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N_xWvnVulkY/Tj2J4u89SfI/AAAAAAAAI9o/XP9ootB-AL4/IMG_8441_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9BROtbzX9Kg/Tj2J5QelldI/AAAAAAAAI9s/jTJsZvKepjk/s1600-h/IMG_8469%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8469" border="0" alt="IMG_8469" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2JCr3gA-JMI/Tj2J8CMzY7I/AAAAAAAAI9w/7f44Xb29SLg/IMG_8469_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="487" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WDmyvUE7Uyc/Tj2J9bHLr2I/AAAAAAAAI90/E7nxv7aU2E0/s1600-h/IMG_8495%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8495" border="0" alt="IMG_8495" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0YLisJjsg2Q/Tj2J-9-yP3I/AAAAAAAAI94/ST4YOCggB9I/IMG_8495_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> There’s also a very nice Chinese Garden with a beautiful pagoda with its own tea terrace and water feature, including a fountain.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IPsWBQ9g5X4/Tj2J_yitMXI/AAAAAAAAI98/pEblPNp8Ylg/s1600-h/IMG_8585%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8585" border="0" alt="IMG_8585" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U3yKtNWBRV8/Tj2KAfqhIhI/AAAAAAAAI-A/b-9xPkb6eA4/IMG_8585_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>The park also has a large population of almost prehistoric looking storks. Their nests are enormous, as are they.  This guy came up to about my stomach, and I ain’t exactly short.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fykmJuVN9eo/Tj2KCKOOWKI/AAAAAAAAI-E/0XP3NaqDFf0/s1600-h/IMG_8596%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8596" border="0" alt="IMG_8596" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z5nrrGqdbPU/Tj2KCy_iG1I/AAAAAAAAI-I/1IgtHA3ghG0/IMG_8596_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ImU3jI5m5mQ/Tj2KDkBp_HI/AAAAAAAAI-M/FXezF6eyrPo/s1600-h/IMG_8518%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8518" border="0" alt="IMG_8518" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c8vcMTzfPuE/Tj2KEfzaGAI/AAAAAAAAI-Q/7VZKOvyS3ZY/IMG_8518_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-78866745392456468092011-08-06T20:03:00.001+02:002011-08-06T20:08:45.625+02:00Competing interests…<p>As times and technology change, so do our habits. I’ve spent much more time updating Facebook in the last few months than I have this blog. While I like the selective exposure of Facebook, I’m beginning to miss the narrative and plot that a blog affords. Since I have some time off this summer, I’m going to make an attempt to get caught up a bit.</p> <p>One of the few benefits of compulsive photography is the ability to remind oneself in high definition of one’s activities well after the fact. The older I get, the shorter the increment of this “well after”. I now measure it in a single-digit number of days.</p> <p>Anyway, I wonder if anyone still read this.</p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-26366098157225996762011-04-23T14:11:00.002+02:002011-08-06T20:01:00.973+02:00Inside…<span style="font-family: tahoma;">Before heading back to my hotel, I thought it prudent to make a quick pitstop. Only then did I realize I hadn’t seen the inside of the restaurant. It was total eye candy for a compulsive photographer.</span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBkIi5EaI/AAAAAAAAI6c/b62uDWn5O0A/s1600-h/IMG_8188%20%281280x850%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8188 (1280x850)" border="0" height="276" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBkze5s2I/AAAAAAAAI6g/3KEQT13bzus/IMG_8188%20%281280x850%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8188 (1280x850)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBlXE9UsI/AAAAAAAAI6k/HA9lwuZNbG8/s1600-h/IMG_8182%20%28812x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8182 (812x1280)" border="0" height="509" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBmMKJNUI/AAAAAAAAI6o/cC1Zo_c49UE/IMG_8182%20%28812x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8182 (812x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBmzt9vpI/AAAAAAAAI6s/4iJFCacWfZE/s1600-h/IMG_8113%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8113 (853x1280)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBnnbbS4I/AAAAAAAAI6w/3oWMxDMhFnk/IMG_8113%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8113 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBpBmoJpI/AAAAAAAAI60/WwCw2Mr2bq8/s1600-h/IMG_8194%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8194 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBpsviIQI/AAAAAAAAI64/8leiSM6WNWg/IMG_8194%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8194 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBqRLMwnI/AAAAAAAAI68/dgnmIKjnd9Q/s1600-h/IMG_8085%20%28834x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8085 (834x1280)" border="0" height="312" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBq62LYLI/AAAAAAAAI7A/reYNccmE_AE/IMG_8085%20%28834x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_8085 (834x1280)" width="204" /></span></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBrkgcNAI/AAAAAAAAI7E/neKZou2cRI8/s1600-h/IMG_8091%20%28854x1280%29%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8091 (854x1280)" border="0" height="314" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBsL21mnI/AAAAAAAAI7I/ZmwpXuNsRb4/IMG_8091%20%28854x1280%29_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_8091 (854x1280)" width="211" /></span></a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBs2eHHDI/AAAAAAAAI7M/poOeBY5a9eQ/s1600-h/IMG_8093%20%28853x1280%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8093 (853x1280)" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgBEut0E8sdx77F5nRWlv4Hrvl4GAURNg9iohELfey2vMqrdLAyxO9Yq-CgnJr0I7oS3aXz3ir20gPyVDxOikS56PNSo_IDrt06yt-cnkdxPFIOfLxP75Ar0n_DTNgEZFegDixA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8093 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">The restaurant has what seems like endless little rooms and private corners. I can imagine spending hours in there with inclement weather.</span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBvIzoTVI/AAAAAAAAI7U/c_DKhntTr9o/s1600-h/IMG_8097%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8097 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBvv7VGUI/AAAAAAAAI7Y/HGkfSz0HEt4/IMG_8097%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8097 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBwRN5Q6I/AAAAAAAAI7c/cK1jN1znrSc/s1600-h/IMG_8195%20%28853x1280%29%5B2%5D.jpg"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBxqIxaLI/AAAAAAAAI7g/U8vKyDznajQ/s1600-h/IMG_8098%20%281280x854%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8098 (1280x854)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBycTljaI/AAAAAAAAI7k/jTqmgxdxc_c/IMG_8098%20%281280x854%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8098 (1280x854)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBzNJOwBI/AAAAAAAAI7o/3Qz7aV1x9rE/s1600-h/IMG_8103%20%28825x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8103 (825x1280)" border="0" height="499" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBzzn45GI/AAAAAAAAI7s/ITkBaVlJvmQ/IMG_8103%20%28825x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8103 (825x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">The place was pretty much empty – the perfect opportunity to shoot it up. </span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB02P0YgI/AAAAAAAAI7w/PwL0YF3wHqM/s1600-h/IMG_8157%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8157 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB1mLR7sI/AAAAAAAAI70/e4cepQkCj0A/IMG_8157%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8157 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB3AxUT7I/AAAAAAAAI74/uswKsSSF-jI/s1600-h/Copy%20of%20IMG_8097%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="Copy of IMG_8097 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB36LH3KI/AAAAAAAAI78/OJXlzplAurE/Copy%20of%20IMG_8097%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Copy of IMG_8097 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> There was a one man karaoke band keeping the mood light. I sang Girl from Ipanema (in Portuguese!).</span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB5S0e9MI/AAAAAAAAI8A/d-QzTPRc1sM/s1600-h/IMG_8145%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8145 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB50oPFEI/AAAAAAAAI8E/cnRqg_9YcMY/IMG_8145%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8145 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB6vWuCSI/AAAAAAAAI8I/jGdEpHAzZ6M/s1600-h/IMG_8120%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8120 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB7ARBMmI/AAAAAAAAI8M/BeY0nASaImY/IMG_8120%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_8120 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBmzt9vpI/AAAAAAAAI8Q/MGUU-XAZYlc/s1600-h/IMG_8113%20%28853x1280%29%5B2%5D.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLBwRN5Q6I/AAAAAAAAI8U/9f5Bn8e6aw8/s1600-h/IMG_8195%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8195 (853x1280)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB-u4M2gI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/DM80fgHaKb8/IMG_8195%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8195 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">To the relief of the wait staff (I’m sure), I finally hit the bricks.</span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLB_fYh56I/AAAAAAAAI8c/g88B1UUits8/s1600-h/IMG_8191%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_8191 (853x1280)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbLCAN6wxxI/AAAAAAAAI8g/gjtn7TjCUVo/IMG_8191%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_8191 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a>grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-77430819104913335552011-04-23T13:47:00.001+02:002011-04-23T13:57:49.178+02:00Last night in Madrid…<p>As we walked around Madrid on our last night, we did our best not to think about having to leave. We had a few beers at the Plaza San Miguel and then poked around the Mercado San Miguel at bit. We (Wolfgang, Chris and I) ended up at Meson on Calle  Cava de San Miguel to have drink and tapas. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8MeNoiYI/AAAAAAAAI5M/HJAiWmxo9R0/s1600-h/IMG_8009%20%28850x1280%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8009 (850x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8009 (850x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8Ns1sH-I/AAAAAAAAI5Q/TSyOIfpC1QY/IMG_8009%20%28850x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="487" /></a> Chris and Wolfgang were drinking Sangria.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8OVSC_VI/AAAAAAAAI5U/vlULDdyQ5rE/s1600-h/IMG_8022%20%28853x1280%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8022 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8022 (853x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8PLfeTKI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/NRV7x2IWRlg/IMG_8022%20%28853x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> I (go figure) was having ice cold beer.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8P2Agx_I/AAAAAAAAI5c/dZwiQYSiU5Y/s1600-h/IMG_8032%20%28853x1280%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8032 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8032 (853x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8QdrFSzI/AAAAAAAAI5g/9mKGwqHHH-c/IMG_8032%20%28853x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a>We ordered a plate of meats and cheeses and some chipirones (baby squid). All was excellent.</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8Rkd_yQI/AAAAAAAAI5k/fW_6rkfcbbA/s1600-h/IMG_8037%20%28853x1280%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8037 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8037 (853x1280)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8SZbmRRI/AAAAAAAAI5o/ZV5npNPdNYQ/IMG_8037%20%28853x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="304" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8S8O6LiI/AAAAAAAAI5s/L87E4fcNsBU/s1600-h/IMG_8040%20%28853x1280%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8040 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8040 (853x1280)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8TdRiJUI/AAAAAAAAI5w/zUB9rB6DGDQ/IMG_8040%20%28853x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="304" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8UEg572I/AAAAAAAAI50/XC1afYCZj4A/s1600-h/IMG_8050%20%281280x853%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8050 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_8050 (1280x853)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8UmKe4-I/AAAAAAAAI54/3eiMPeFY6rk/IMG_8050%20%281280x853%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8044 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8044 (853x1280)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8VTc4bNI/AAAAAAAAI58/_PzjfuwenWw/IMG_8044%20%28853x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8WC4TCnI/AAAAAAAAI6A/UblXqj5moRg/s1600-h/IMG_8054%20%281280x853%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8054 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_8054 (1280x853)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8WnX6hsI/AAAAAAAAI6E/dbKlJUsYd68/IMG_8054%20%281280x853%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>I became transfixed with the table next to us. To me it was a still life masterpiece. We chatted with the very friendly French “artists” for quite a while. His son was headed to the US. First stop? Harlem.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8XR4GKUI/AAAAAAAAI6I/ql3dmOSpUpQ/s1600-h/IMG_8055%20%281280x853%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8055 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_8055 (1280x853)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8X9tmIFI/AAAAAAAAI6M/ba5p543S3TY/IMG_8055%20%281280x853%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8YYpWlrI/AAAAAAAAI6Q/UQWxaZNmXBA/s1600-h/IMG_8019%20%28853x1280%29.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8019 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8019 (853x1280)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8YyiqCUI/AAAAAAAAI6U/7ETGf5l5CCY/IMG_8019%20%28853x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a>Wolfgang decided to head back to the hotel around midnight. Chris bailed on me a bit later (leaving a huge mug of sangria for me to finish).<img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8069 (852x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_8069 (852x1280)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TbK8Zfp_OAI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/cG9gOy6QpaA/IMG_8069%20%28852x1280%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" />I was then left at 1:00 or so to head back to the hotel alone. It was one of the highlights of the trip.</p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-70154989042502401222011-04-16T14:29:00.001+02:002011-04-16T15:06:58.064+02:00First night in Madrid…<p><font face="tahoma">We got to our hotel by 10:00 or so and immediately hit the pavement. By 17:00 we were pretty tired and knew it didn’t make much sense to head out before 21:00 so we rested. I didn’t want to lug my camera around on our first night on the streets so took a few shots/videos with my phone.</font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLPYRR6cI/AAAAAAAAI4M/uH2vOhQ8by8/s1600-h/IMG_0016%20%28852x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0016 (852x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_0016 (852x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLQ1J8SjI/AAAAAAAAI4Q/9fhyRhaV2pA/IMG_0016%20%28852x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLSflFteI/AAAAAAAAI4U/K3E1QixW1pI/s1600-h/IMG_0023%20%28956x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0023 (956x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_0023 (956x1280)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLTPsM-XI/AAAAAAAAI4Y/7WnRFe17Feg/IMG_0023%20%28956x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="433" /></font></a><font face="tahoma">The city was hopping. Starting near the Plaza San Miguel, we walked a good kilometer and half on streets packed with folks of all ages letting loose in the near perfect Spring weather.</font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLW9u8BZI/AAAAAAAAI4c/DJBTu4eK6O4/s1600-h/IMG_0028%20%281280x956%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0028 (1280x956)" border="0" alt="IMG_0028 (1280x956)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLYnWBo_I/AAAAAAAAI4g/VbNr2DdHsQA/IMG_0028%20%281280x956%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="310" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> Nothing like smoked pig leg to get the party started.</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLaOQBT0I/AAAAAAAAI4k/mIiVE8buukg/s1600-h/IMG_0030%20%281280x853%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0030 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_0030 (1280x853)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLbOogLmI/AAAAAAAAI4o/qXaOLWuLSWc/IMG_0030%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLcdoXfAI/AAAAAAAAI4s/MUUA760jkJs/s1600-h/Copy%20of%20IMG_0030%20%28971x648%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Copy of IMG_0030 (971x648)" border="0" alt="Copy of IMG_0030 (971x648)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLdXoGN_I/AAAAAAAAI4w/fD1FIOE_AaU/Copy%20of%20IMG_0030%20%28971x648%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></font></a><font face="tahoma">Chris was drinking Sangria; I beer (as usual). It didn’t take too long to get a nice buzz on, although we took it relatively easy (the same cannot be said for Monday night!).</font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLfOXuBSI/AAAAAAAAI40/lNrCbBDAfi0/s1600-h/IMG_0040%20%28956x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0040 (956x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_0040 (956x1280)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLgj837zI/AAAAAAAAI44/2D2HAb69LWY/IMG_0040%20%28956x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="433" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLhptkrqI/AAAAAAAAI48/m6plzG2Yryk/s1600-h/IMG_0041%20%28851x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0041 (851x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_0041 (851x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamLjoh1MTI/AAAAAAAAI5A/ZGi01JIYyKA/IMG_0041%20%28851x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></font></a><font face="tahoma">It was a pleasant surprise to find the city way more active after dark than during the day. The streets were jammed with people walking around or having beer and wine at the countless bars along most streets. <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:a710ca65-4479-4aeb-a688-6d67abb64e8c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="54fa23fa-defb-4faf-9a27-dfa4a96f2515" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mce5lTOFMAw" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamUbjv6EgI/AAAAAAAAI5E/qFIWv4i3Ebo/videof88c3b4bcc64%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('54fa23fa-defb-4faf-9a27-dfa4a96f2515'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Mce5lTOFMAw&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Mce5lTOFMAw&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> </font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:36bcb1c5-453d-48c6-b77c-2fe9bc597da1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="23dd0107-a6fd-4605-a017-68aa79482517" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNLybwXsVIM" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TamUcVIAFmI/AAAAAAAAI5I/zv45DUIF7QM/video23bafcab08c3%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('23dd0107-a6fd-4605-a017-68aa79482517'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/YNLybwXsVIM&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/YNLybwXsVIM&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-59309879581180083922011-04-16T12:19:00.002+02:002011-08-06T20:40:37.588+02:00Sandhausen on Saturday…We live about 10 minutes from the metropolis that is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhausen">Sandhausen</a> yet I’ve never been there on a weekend. Today Robert suggested we take a look so I packed Sophia and him in the Truckster and we were off. BTW, I didn’t take my camera so shot all these with my new iPhone.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals2iLVmNI/AAAAAAAAI3I/8CqGzJoU4to/s1600-h/IMG_0105%20%281280x901%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0105 (1280x901)" border="0" height="293px" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals3VGxteI/AAAAAAAAI3M/84G8E8XQXE0/IMG_0105%20%281280x901%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0105 (1280x901)" width="414px" /></a>We parked near the church above and descended some stairs to the city center.<img alt="IMG_0109 (956x1280)" border="0" height="433px" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals4GuW6_I/AAAAAAAAI3Q/j5VhjsjBzMU/IMG_0109%20%28956x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0109 (956x1280)" width="324px" />The fountain is a nice touch in such a small city. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals55S_FII/AAAAAAAAI3U/T8YJ_kb4JIE/s1600-h/IMG_0112%20%281280x921%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0112 (1280x921)" border="0" height="300px" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals6vxbHCI/AAAAAAAAI3Y/WCyajeXanNk/IMG_0112%20%281280x921%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_0112 (1280x921)" width="414px" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals795lkcI/AAAAAAAAI3c/fln2jrpSXOM/s1600-h/IMG_0113%20%28956x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0113 (956x1280)" border="0" height="433px" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals9VFdVGI/AAAAAAAAI3g/_GGw0hJNY0k/IMG_0113%20%28956x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0113 (956x1280)" width="324px" /></a>The building below is a museum, but with this weather that will have to wait for another day. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tals-3lPaHI/AAAAAAAAI3k/jeVbPZkKmwE/s1600-h/IMG_0116%20%28956x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0116 (956x1280)" border="0" height="433px" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltAp-H-YI/AAAAAAAAI3o/k9dQiX4aLwU/IMG_0116%20%28956x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0116 (956x1280)" width="324px" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltCAZvmOI/AAAAAAAAI3s/co__YD7hNhk/s1600-h/IMG_0117%20%281280x939%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0117 (1280x939)" border="0" height="305px" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltDldFRgI/AAAAAAAAI3w/YqKw3ve1rxE/IMG_0117%20%281280x939%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0117 (1280x939)" width="414px" /></a> It is asparagus season in this part of Germany.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltEfTsbEI/AAAAAAAAI30/XGmcFzscUeE/s1600-h/IMG_0118%20%28955x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0118 (955x1280)" border="0" height="433px" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltGOZHAVI/AAAAAAAAI34/nC5RqhCgEws/IMG_0118%20%28955x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0118 (955x1280)" width="324px" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltGzMWz9I/AAAAAAAAI38/0o9AZaKx-XI/s1600-h/IMG_0127%20%28920x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0127 (920x1280)" border="0" height="451px" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltHkzvKnI/AAAAAAAAI4A/ChmhSs5_Nf4/IMG_0127%20%28920x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0127 (920x1280)" width="324px" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltI62XzEI/AAAAAAAAI4E/eKeYtozss5M/s1600-h/IMG_0134%20%28943x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0134 (943x1280)" border="0" height="438px" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaltKIkIsOI/AAAAAAAAI4I/CZnXOcyft2Q/IMG_0134%20%28943x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0134 (943x1280)" width="324px" /></a>By the way, if there are any English-speaking Sandhausener reading this, feel free to beef up the Wikipedia article on your city: It’s embarrassingly brief.grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-53595451921491695782011-04-14T20:39:00.003+02:002011-04-14T22:20:26.173+02:00Wine garden…<span style="font-family: tahoma;">Beside the palace and across the street from our hotel lie the Gardens of Sabatini (Jardines de Sabatini). After hours of walking around the city, Chris decided we’d go there and rest our dogs and souls. This expansive and beautifully landscaped park was just what the doctor ordered.</span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_MqNXTAI/AAAAAAAAI1o/x9a9uzHw4-U/s1600-h/IMG_7057%20%28835x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7057 (835x1280)" border="0" height="493" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_NZ42bMI/AAAAAAAAI1s/cXAxOGn1wso/IMG_7057%20%28835x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7057 (835x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_OhAPRKI/AAAAAAAAI1w/2nJZ2X79Pq8/s1600-h/IMG_7056%20%281280x831%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7056 (1280x831)" border="0" height="270" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_PE_CCFI/AAAAAAAAI10/FmhFnjd4X7E/IMG_7056%20%281280x831%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7056 (1280x831)" width="414" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_QaQlbwI/AAAAAAAAI14/xpY0XgOcEnI/s1600-h/IMG_7059%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7059 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAijwzJ2reKIKYwA-BZzXRTqWMAznO4aso1Yjo4VsvhDT7P-EJhvKI_soYxOpKI3QIGiS7V5BC_Y6cd6-p5loTDDaT_FSCpRhV4ZWHuhepnTs72j3xbnwG6kMW_WFA2CLhGCE5hg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7059 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_StcCrcI/AAAAAAAAI2A/cMoCi7oZdko/s1600-h/IMG_7061%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7061 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_TG5EAXI/AAAAAAAAI2E/oIWPBv16PSM/IMG_7061%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7061 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_UNn0PDI/AAAAAAAAI2I/P14q5ytG7E0/s1600-h/IMG_7063%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7063 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_UjGcQVI/AAAAAAAAI2M/A8dxesTXTnY/IMG_7063%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7063 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">Somewhere during our peregrinations, I had decided that it would be cool to buy some cheap wine glasses, get a nice Spanish wine and relax. We found all we needed at a couple of the many El Corte Inglés outlets clustered near the Calle Mayor. We also bought some strong, sweaty Spanish cheese.</span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_V3yeptI/AAAAAAAAI2Q/oxUOzqs1vbs/s1600-h/IMG_7068%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7068 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_WXwA5FI/AAAAAAAAI2U/rcNkmBaYf7Y/IMG_7068%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7068 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_Wy9YdLI/AAAAAAAAI2Y/qOSQJPZw8sc/s1600-h/IMG_7073%20%28853x1280%29%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7073 (853x1280)" border="0" height="496" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_XkqhOEI/AAAAAAAAI2c/8hsY3cPjX8Y/IMG_7073%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7073 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_YBp1WWI/AAAAAAAAI2g/AcDVm9rC-3w/s1600-h/IMG_7081%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7081 (1280x853)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_Y4ZdsjI/AAAAAAAAI2k/tf3ivNghfGs/IMG_7081%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7081 (1280x853)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">We had a feeling we were being sold a bill of goods when we bought a bottle opener that was supposed to work with suction. 5 Euros wasted. Luckily, I always carry a "travel" corkscrew when globe trotting ("Never leave home without it"). Although we weren't sure where our hotel was relative to our resting spot, I volunteered to go find it. Luckily for us, it was right across the street from where we’d stopped!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TadBWDbtcjI/AAAAAAAAI3A/oUR1ZQXCPi0/s1600-h/IMG_7082%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7082 (1280x853)" border="0" height="257" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TadBXgXeR5I/AAAAAAAAI3E/FMVtS5VJOuQ/IMG_7082%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7082 (1280x853)" width="414" /></a> </span><span style="font-family: tahoma;">A perfect ending to a perfect day. We went back to the hotel and laid low waiting for night to set.</span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_cawDq1I/AAAAAAAAI2w/VWQwBsehRvk/s1600-h/IMG_7086%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_7086 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_dBzq6mI/AAAAAAAAI20/aIiWxHLFCO4/IMG_7086%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7086 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> This detail from the picture above shows just how close we were to our hotel (I took the shot from my room).</span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_eC6Ti_I/AAAAAAAAI24/Vnd9HsdnJhM/s1600-h/Copy%20of%20IMG_7086%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="Copy of IMG_7086 (1280x853)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac_e9ntauI/AAAAAAAAI28/wVM4SVj2ThU/Copy%20of%20IMG_7086%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Copy of IMG_7086 (1280x853)" width="414" /></span></a>grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-20647662597205046732011-04-14T20:11:00.001+02:002011-04-14T20:11:29.773+02:00The Golden Tower…<p>The <a href="http://www.torredeloro.wellsoc.org/">La Torre del Oro</a> is nestled into the walls of the Plaza Mayor. I can’t think of a place I’d rather wet my whistle while there.<img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6986 (1280x838)" border="0" alt="IMG_6986 (1280x838)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4m2AX_nI/AAAAAAAAI0U/WDBAK3M2brw/IMG_6986%20%281280x838%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="272" /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4oE_zQfI/AAAAAAAAI0Y/-s2L44Uc79I/s1600-h/IMG_6992%20%281280x811%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6992 (1280x811)" border="0" alt="IMG_6992 (1280x811)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4oqTCOzI/AAAAAAAAI0c/-dxvD9TPRdE/IMG_6992%20%281280x811%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="264" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4pzQFMGI/AAAAAAAAI0g/ckfPtzS4pec/s1600-h/IMG_6989%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6989 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_6989 (1280x853)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4qb9UKZI/AAAAAAAAI0k/jbcQJWq4Ngk/IMG_6989%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a></p> <p>Bullfighting is the dominant decorating motif, with pictures galore that would make Hannibal Lector gag (you’ve been warned). <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4rfPQkSI/AAAAAAAAI0o/aN37OwSQHCU/s1600-h/IMG_6991%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6991 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_6991 (853x1280)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4sLauA5I/AAAAAAAAI0s/TtNjbLdJJvw/IMG_6991%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4sxXNp7I/AAAAAAAAI0w/XmRlYiuRojg/s1600-h/IMG_6998%20%28847x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6998 (847x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_6998 (847x1280)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4tYd_3ZI/AAAAAAAAI00/eLeyA4TiE5I/IMG_6998%20%28847x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="487" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4uBXbSrI/AAAAAAAAI04/UutgGADLlWA/s1600-h/IMG_7005%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7005 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_7005 (1280x853)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4uopPQpI/AAAAAAAAI08/2-itiPB7Gdg/IMG_7005%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>Actually, I think you can find cheaper eats and drinks a minute or two from the plaza, but the ambiance of this place is priceless.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4wFaCsMI/AAAAAAAAI1A/gx5LYRON5i4/s1600-h/IMG_7008%20%281280x850%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7008 (1280x850)" border="0" alt="IMG_7008 (1280x850)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4w6yK3DI/AAAAAAAAI1E/TG5iOtDi3KU/IMG_7008%20%281280x850%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="276" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4yCY_zdI/AAAAAAAAI1I/tdDDKVhnOpA/s1600-h/IMG_6995%20%281280x795%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6995 (1280x795)" border="0" alt="IMG_6995 (1280x795)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4y_a8AxI/AAAAAAAAI1M/eMEjDIsjUIc/IMG_6995%20%281280x795%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="259" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac4zhhWzMI/AAAAAAAAI1Q/Dv-vXvLSYf0/s1600-h/IMG_6997%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6997 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_6997 (853x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac40BmdNFI/AAAAAAAAI1U/nTjyzvjq4Gg/IMG_6997%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-13496778852643705462011-04-14T19:57:00.002+02:002011-04-15T09:46:02.708+02:00Plaza Mayor…<span style="font-family: tahoma;">The Plaza Mayor sits at the heart of the old part of Madrid and is a fascinating place to spend a few hours. It is jam-packed with people, bars and activity at all hours of the day and night. </span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1abaX-vI/AAAAAAAAIzs/HcM53W068qg/s1600-h/IMG_6948%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6948 (853x1280)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1bI50n1I/AAAAAAAAIzw/H6zq4LWN2Ow/IMG_6948%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6948 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> Apparently the residents of Madrid selected the wall color when it was restored. </span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1fWqFaiI/AAAAAAAAIz0/y3-kdtYUJQw/s1600-h/IMG_6962%20%281280x815%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6962 (1280x815)" border="0" height="265" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1gNUCWqI/AAAAAAAAIz4/jVkercV21jA/IMG_6962%20%281280x815%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6962 (1280x815)" width="414" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1g4gnnuI/AAAAAAAAIz8/fSgvju0to1k/s1600-h/IMG_6973%20%281280x810%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6973 (1280x810)" border="0" height="264" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1icUrZuI/AAAAAAAAI0A/-Fmf5lTEd14/IMG_6973%20%281280x810%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6973 (1280x810)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">It has served as a venue for parties, ceremonies, bullfights and even executions.</span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1jqWegII/AAAAAAAAI0E/2vb_EB805Ho/s1600-h/IMG_6966%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6966 (853x1280)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1kYisjhI/AAAAAAAAI0I/1eiGHW69XJQ/IMG_6966%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6966 (853x1280)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">Some of the walls are covered with beautiful paintings. </span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1lkXg6lI/AAAAAAAAI0M/gULdP5-Q4iQ/s1600-h/Copy%20of%20IMG_6973%20%281280x851%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="Copy of IMG_6973 (1280x851)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac1m3ILjuI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/m-4_Ufbs5JA/Copy%20of%20IMG_6973%20%281280x851%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="Copy of IMG_6973 (1280x851)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span>grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-51606724270607430362011-04-14T19:36:00.001+02:002011-04-14T20:16:13.781+02:00A palace in Spain…<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_Madrid">Palacio Real de Madrid</a> was the first breathtaking site I saw once we hit the beach in Madrid. It is absolutely enormous, beautiful, ornate and is oozing with history. Because of the unbelievable weather and other commitments, I didn’t tour inside, but have heard it rivals any palace on earth.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwhVHwtEI/AAAAAAAAIyw/hN2Hu9F9mgs/s1600-h/IMG_7119%20%281280x850%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7119 (1280x850)" border="0" alt="IMG_7119 (1280x850)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwiG6i1lI/AAAAAAAAIy0/JzKMmCQFhSM/IMG_7119%20%281280x850%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="276" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwipzBXoI/AAAAAAAAIy4/j1MjICqwgA4/s1600-h/IMG_7125%20%281280x812%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7125 (1280x812)" border="0" alt="IMG_7125 (1280x812)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwjTyQu9I/AAAAAAAAIy8/cwJQSWaqG8k/IMG_7125%20%281280x812%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="263" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwktqNkqI/AAAAAAAAIzA/7YCkfV5jZgg/s1600-h/IMG_7132%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7132 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_7132 (1280x853)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwldPaNcI/AAAAAAAAIzE/urMT0bkxDUw/IMG_7132%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwmGX1KNI/AAAAAAAAIzI/UMzbL14y4NM/s1600-h/IMG_7133%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7133 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_7133 (853x1280)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwmuDo8rI/AAAAAAAAIzM/iU_v-h4r4AM/IMG_7133%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwnaShcuI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/jJsEJae_edE/s1600-h/IMG_7134%20%28817x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7134 (817x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_7134 (817x1280)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwpKd7j_I/AAAAAAAAIzU/9RyWEH2-9HU/IMG_7134%20%28817x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="506" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tacwpk-Gk3I/AAAAAAAAIzY/TpgS2k4wf5Q/s1600-h/IMG_7135%20%28854x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7135 (854x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_7135 (854x1280)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwqfebI0I/AAAAAAAAIzc/5XP46ANrYbk/IMG_7135%20%28854x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwrifSHjI/AAAAAAAAIzg/P2TmRfecO1k/s1600-h/IMG_7141%20%281280x819%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7141 (1280x819)" border="0" alt="IMG_7141 (1280x819)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TacwsR0BOSI/AAAAAAAAIzk/xfPXo_NodDM/IMG_7141%20%281280x819%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="267" /></a>Chris read in his guide book that the hats of the guards were designed to allow them to lean back against the walls of the palace while smoking a cigarette. These people think of everything!<img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Copy of IMG_7141 (367x556)" border="0" alt="Copy of IMG_7141 (367x556)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tacws5pSjMI/AAAAAAAAIzo/H0i0zdGeNbI/Copy%20of%20IMG_7141%20%28367x556%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="490" />Next time I’m in the ‘hood, will definitely take the tour.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac5tMqk7vI/AAAAAAAAI1Y/4A6QYLQbL9s/s1600-h/IMG_7047%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7047 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_7047 (1280x853)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac5tv6K4OI/AAAAAAAAI1c/2jeH1BnFF8Y/IMG_7047%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac5uXLyfYI/AAAAAAAAI1g/4oyjh4CTrw4/s1600-h/IMG_7051%20%281280x854%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7051 (1280x854)" border="0" alt="IMG_7051 (1280x854)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/Tac5u380gKI/AAAAAAAAI1k/EPw6FCkExrI/IMG_7051%20%281280x854%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-3953931443410641862011-04-13T20:27:00.001+02:002011-04-13T20:27:10.747+02:00Madrid = Architecture Overload<p align="left"><font face="tahoma">As Chris (a neighbor of mine who came along) and I started to explore the city, we were almost immediately overwhelmed by the variety and abundance of amazing buildings. I think this city’s architecture speaks for itself. (A good think as I know almost nothing about it!)</font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp2xhfQXI/AAAAAAAAIxg/9exd3JlhtRA/s1600-h/IMG_6851%20%281280x846%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6851 (1280x846)" border="0" alt="IMG_6851 (1280x846)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp3mLlDkI/AAAAAAAAIxk/Rs3cedPMDUA/IMG_6851%20%281280x846%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="276" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp4Xi7fSI/AAAAAAAAIxo/tsx8IV8WQqw/s1600-h/IMG_6858%20%28830x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6858 (830x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_6858 (830x1280)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp48P6lXI/AAAAAAAAIxs/h8EBAQ5crcI/IMG_6858%20%28830x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="496" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp51cb8NI/AAAAAAAAIxw/GkLFuglUf-o/s1600-h/IMG_6881%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6881 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_6881 (853x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp6RLaG4I/AAAAAAAAIx0/BcYBAudcE-s/IMG_6881%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp7AbTeVI/AAAAAAAAIx4/-Tdip4wtTTI/s1600-h/IMG_6880%20%28853x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6880 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_6880 (853x1280)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp7yTCsJI/AAAAAAAAIx8/4f8N7QAWCIs/IMG_6880%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp9F4fuNI/AAAAAAAAIyA/kViTYG3-kpA/s1600-h/IMG_6942%20%281280x853%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6942 (1280x853)" border="0" alt="IMG_6942 (1280x853)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp9hfRW3I/AAAAAAAAIyE/DwUnI29vKdU/IMG_6942%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp-IQofFI/AAAAAAAAIyI/RJSn7hNYyK0/s1600-h/IMG_7178%20%28831x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7178 (831x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_7178 (831x1280)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXp_JqRqwI/AAAAAAAAIyM/x8jKMLxmu7Y/IMG_7178%20%28831x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="496" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXqAOcTvyI/AAAAAAAAIyQ/9NWfwaTiebY/s1600-h/IMG_7224%20%28844x1280%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7224 (844x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_7224 (844x1280)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXqAhbR9jI/AAAAAAAAIyU/97VMNAiUHAc/IMG_7224%20%28844x1280%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="490" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXqB6l8erI/AAAAAAAAIyY/b_bwldZhr7A/s1600-h/IMG_7550%20%28853x1280%29%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7550 (853x1280)" border="0" alt="IMG_7550 (853x1280)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXqC13fKkI/AAAAAAAAIyc/QZ41KoBQk7A/IMG_7550%20%28853x1280%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXqD8_aNMI/AAAAAAAAIyg/EaMuBpxcw6Y/s1600-h/IMG_7555%20%281280x832%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7555 (1280x832)" border="0" alt="IMG_7555 (1280x832)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXq9-_jV-I/AAAAAAAAIyk/Toeu93bQCHE/IMG_7555%20%281280x832%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="270" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXq-_It0nI/AAAAAAAAIyo/GRAf4I4gCOg/s1600-h/IMG_7546%20%281280x845%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="tahoma"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7546 (1280x845)" border="0" alt="IMG_7546 (1280x845)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXq_a5qVWI/AAAAAAAAIys/561bPfsBZ5s/IMG_7546%20%281280x845%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="274" /></font></a></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-28621417394957543112011-04-13T20:02:00.001+02:002011-04-13T20:03:31.103+02:00The Hotel…<p>After an unprecedented research effort, we decided to stay at the <a href="http://www.hotelprincipepio.com/index.php?lang=en">Hotel Principe Pio</a>, near the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_Madrid">Palacio Real</a>. Although unassuming from the outside, it is extremely well located, right across the street from the Gardens of Sabatini.  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlGNrCLbI/AAAAAAAAIww/7u1BK-k1lCc/s1600-h/IMG_7092%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7092 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="IMG_7092 (1024x683)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlHKXu3eI/AAAAAAAAIw0/H67m3F9Cw2Y/IMG_7092%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>The shades were drawn when I entered my room, so I was absolutely shocked when I opened them to a perfect view of the palace.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlb4cEVKI/AAAAAAAAIxY/9IdLZoSrAjA/s1600-h/Copy%20%282%29%20of%20madrid%20hotel%20view_7089%20Panorama%20%281024x352%29%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Copy (2) of madrid hotel view_7089 Panorama (1024x352)" border="0" alt="Copy (2) of madrid hotel view_7089 Panorama (1024x352)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlcqGk5iI/AAAAAAAAIxc/mvr3mZRgvx4/Copy%20%282%29%20of%20madrid%20hotel%20view_7089%20Panorama%20%281024x352%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="144" /></a><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7117 (1024x650)" border="0" alt="IMG_7117 (1024x650)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlIYH0PVI/AAAAAAAAIw8/0XyETbBlKj4/IMG_7117%20%281024x650%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="264" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlJIKs4hI/AAAAAAAAIxA/KQ3Ii4lmEis/s1600-h/madrid%20hotel%20view_7111%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="madrid hotel view_7111 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="madrid hotel view_7111 (1024x683)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlJr6SGwI/AAAAAAAAIxE/roAS6OeA5Bc/madrid%20hotel%20view_7111%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlKJep83I/AAAAAAAAIxI/CBQxjS4ykXc/s1600-h/IMG_7094%20%281024x682%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7094 (1024x682)" border="0" alt="IMG_7094 (1024x682)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlLBohMbI/AAAAAAAAIxM/nXpHBVvZn0c/IMG_7094%20%281024x682%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>If I go back to Madrid, I will stay in this same hotel. The view of the palace at night was straight up world class.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlLoQnuDI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/fp8VhbhMdrk/s1600-h/IMG_7848%20%281024x681%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7848 (1024x681)" border="0" alt="IMG_7848 (1024x681)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXlMZsISZI/AAAAAAAAIxU/h1jwT72uYlI/IMG_7848%20%281024x681%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-90109723159046986312011-04-13T19:43:00.002+02:002011-04-14T07:37:16.694+02:00I HEART Madrid…<span style="font-family: tahoma;">Got back on Tuesday from one of my best excursions ever: Madrid. I had a business meeting on Monday afternoon so decided to fly in Saturday to give it a thorough look-see. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit now that I had low expectations. I’m a big fan of Barcelona and Catalonians in general don’t tend to speak too highly of the Spanish capital.</span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgrsw97AI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/JL0ZdQsGSk0/s1600-h/IMG_6791%20%28683x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6791 (683x1024)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgseJ8n9I/AAAAAAAAIwU/k2WU3xO124k/IMG_6791%20%28683x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6791 (683x1024)" width="324" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgtLUIgSI/AAAAAAAAIwY/vSnzCqvCQhM/s1600-h/IMG_6770%20%28684x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6770 (684x1024)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgt0NguOI/AAAAAAAAIwc/lO6GgzAszT4/IMG_6770%20%28684x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6770 (684x1024)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">Suffice it to say that I love Madrid almost as much as Barcelona, whose beaches give it only the slightest advantage. I found the old part of Madrid to be a wonderland of architecture, human warmth and amazing food and drink.</span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXguj6cExI/AAAAAAAAIwg/96_CombVZnE/s1600-h/IMG_6771%20%28682x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6771 (682x1024)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgvJRMNkI/AAAAAAAAIwk/4W_5NTP42Ck/IMG_6771%20%28682x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6771 (682x1024)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">I sense tons of posts emerging in the coming days.</span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgvzJaXyI/AAAAAAAAIwo/7h469JT5i34/s1600-h/IMG_6768%20%28669x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_6768 (669x1024)" border="0" height="493" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TaXgw_9EXtI/AAAAAAAAIws/l4kcyAMio-4/IMG_6768%20%28669x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6768 (669x1024)" width="324" /></span></a>grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-27360120328973905012011-03-16T18:55:00.001+01:002011-03-16T18:55:38.332+01:00Very old school caravan…<p>We were excited when the brochure for the excursion to Timanfaya national park offered camel rides. Luckily, on the ride out there, our guide saw that the “camel stand” wasn’t busy so we got the old school caravan under way post haste. There were probably more than a hundred camels waiting to take tourists around a small circuit for 15 minutes or so.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5acKaBNI/AAAAAAAAIvk/OsjDb6G7lbE/s1600-h/IMG_6289%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6289 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="IMG_6289 (1024x683)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5bpmOHUI/AAAAAAAAIvo/U8MdMqsJgOk/IMG_6289%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>Robert was terrified but sucked it up quite nicely. The rest of us were almost giddy.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5c2g5qlI/AAAAAAAAIvs/saashP12cMM/s1600-h/IMG_6312%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6312 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="IMG_6312 (1024x683)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5dpL89-I/AAAAAAAAIvw/bNFu-Nnyq98/IMG_6312%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>Camels have a reputation for being cantankerous, but we found these to be quite pleasant (and patient).<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5e85RS5I/AAAAAAAAIv0/k6I095eEf4U/s1600-h/IMG_6316%20%28681x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6316 (681x1024)" border="0" alt="IMG_6316 (681x1024)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5fUE1lsI/AAAAAAAAIv4/I-uoT08DWr4/IMG_6316%20%28681x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5hOrjxeI/AAAAAAAAIv8/rH1ADLOPXaw/s1600-h/IMG_6287%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6287 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="IMG_6287 (1024x683)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5h6XOOdI/AAAAAAAAIwA/YMwe6iHyW_c/IMG_6287%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a> Hopefully they’ll use part of the 6 Euros apiece we paid to spring for teeth whitening treatments for these (otherwise) beautiful beasts of burden.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5jhNWkrI/AAAAAAAAIwE/wbvu4dIsA5A/s1600-h/IMG_6293%20%281024x684%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6293 (1024x684)" border="0" alt="IMG_6293 (1024x684)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5komQkpI/AAAAAAAAIwI/_Hu1zNYW3sI/IMG_6293%20%281024x684%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a>It was at this stop that my camera started bugging out. I still haven’t had it looked at, but now it won’t take pictures at all. I hope it’s the lens (which I’ve never been crazy about).<img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6341 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="IMG_6341 (1024x683)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYD5mJ_Ty7I/AAAAAAAAIwM/NABHw5DrSqw/IMG_6341%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" />Our guide explained that the camels are very well cared for, only working every other day. Our camel herder gave our breakfast muffins B lugged along to one our camels, so I think they are a bit pampered.</p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-44338897030603720502011-03-16T11:01:00.001+01:002011-03-16T11:24:20.601+01:00The Boilers…<p>On the Tuesday during our vacation we took a day excursion to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timanfaya_National_Park">Timanfaya National Park</a>, situated on the enormous lava flow created during the 18th century mega-eruptions. On the way, we stopped and rode camels (more on this later). Who needs Giza?</p> <p>The park is fascinating. The lava hardened hundreds of years ago, but a few inches down is still hot (hundreds of degrees Celsius a couple of meters down)! A restaurant there simply dug a well and cooks steaks etc. from this heat.</p> <p>On the way back, we stopped on the coast at <a href="http://www.spain-lanzarote.com/uk/places/los-hervideros.html">Los Hervideros</a> (roughly translated as “boilers” in English), one of the most beautiful coastal areas I’ve ever seen, even more dramatic because of strong winds. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:e4166279-e04e-42be-93ce-98f29caeb511" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="275e16df-c2ac-4bbc-a848-77130e5c4058" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGsEmWwT0XY" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYCKXdCh2VI/AAAAAAAAIvY/IjYm2WAaFL4/video0816d1d1ec9c%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('275e16df-c2ac-4bbc-a848-77130e5c4058'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/KGsEmWwT0XY&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/KGsEmWwT0XY&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:925f9862-af28-405c-aea5-bb4b4a27f4cd" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="325b44de-02dc-42af-a419-2fad6f10b3db" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgYYF0Ip7Q0" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYCKX6parbI/AAAAAAAAIvc/7pJ3V0kuGDk/videofb2dae6db039%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('325b44de-02dc-42af-a419-2fad6f10b3db'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/DgYYF0Ip7Q0&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/DgYYF0Ip7Q0&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:e61f1647-0644-4ba1-aeeb-5338435ca9db" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="8aeed30d-47fc-4e55-b38d-73262adf9611" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fesQk_KCaA&feature=related" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYCKYSf5JdI/AAAAAAAAIvg/znhIr3ydfnI/video3acf58ad6430%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('8aeed30d-47fc-4e55-b38d-73262adf9611'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/8fesQk_KCaA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/8fesQk_KCaA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-42859604844894215932011-03-16T10:52:00.001+01:002011-03-16T10:53:51.597+01:00Magic…<p>Sometimes you flip the camcorder on and magic happens. Could be just because I love the subject so much, but this video of Emily flittering about on the beach captivates me. I feel like the kid in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FBqnVuVUEI">American Beauty</a> watching the wind-born trash bag (although to me Emily is much more fluid and graceful!). <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:b035d77f-fd71-404a-bb28-96e34ad1ef08" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="bd240c41-453e-431c-b3e4-0b6b7fc62e4b" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4nSntlxehA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TYCIrkd4AmI/AAAAAAAAIu8/990pZOz0nIM/video198342ecd3df%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('bd240c41-453e-431c-b3e4-0b6b7fc62e4b'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/-4nSntlxehA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/-4nSntlxehA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-70831862282679117502011-03-14T17:45:00.001+01:002011-03-14T17:45:21.458+01:00The slow wind-down…<p>An unusually long (for me) video of a gorgeous sunset viewed from our balcony. What more can I say? <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:611e9868-4dde-4bba-bbd5-de4c6083b8fb" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="23c236fa-9f4a-4673-835d-5dbe1cdd5983" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J5tpUq4TgA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX5GHyv3mgI/AAAAAAAAIu0/vgPUYA1Svaw/video427420a6eb42%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('23c236fa-9f4a-4673-835d-5dbe1cdd5983'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/7J5tpUq4TgA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/7J5tpUq4TgA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-5154252563127958332011-03-14T16:53:00.001+01:002011-03-14T17:02:06.239+01:00Golden at the beach…<p>About two kilometers (about 2 miles) from our hotel sits the small city of Playa Blanca. This little burg boasts a jewel known as Playa Dourada (Golden Beach). Not only is the beach itself world class gorgeous, it is tucked under a well developed commercial area with restaurants, bars and even supermarkets. The hotel had a shuttle that went there several times a day, although a cab only costs 4 Euros. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:0d83109c-e5e3-42e3-a577-e930f2be56d8" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="1f35609e-2f2b-4b85-aa9c-cc357e55e7ca" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_GLW25DmxI" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX4557q1R2I/AAAAAAAAIuk/Ykj18Kf9UQA/video792bde3ce4a2%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('1f35609e-2f2b-4b85-aa9c-cc357e55e7ca'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/z_GLW25DmxI&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/z_GLW25DmxI&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> From our rented chairs (3 Euros each), the view was drop dead beautiful. Warning: The gentle bobbing of this sailboat is hypnotizing. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:2705c7bf-2320-4484-911b-3d0fab71d8c5" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="b11cdccd-bbf2-4639-8fa8-cb9e1bce1965" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHy0BQMt-mM" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX456Z_Cn_I/AAAAAAAAIuo/EcHMh4faYro/video7f15e69bfcf0%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('b11cdccd-bbf2-4639-8fa8-cb9e1bce1965'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/vHy0BQMt-mM&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/vHy0BQMt-mM&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> The water was gorgeous. I took this shot from one of the breakwater at the west end. It is one of my favorite shots from the trip. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:ee84534d-1b72-47f6-833e-da657dfcb20f" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="67cb330e-444f-4618-b023-26d45e91fda7" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRp0pO8aXwk" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX4569ks1cI/AAAAAAAAIus/uPvO1uIb-vs/video6edb347f3a4a%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('67cb330e-444f-4618-b023-26d45e91fda7'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/rRp0pO8aXwk&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/rRp0pO8aXwk&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> This shot is from the breakwater to the east. I LOVE LANZAROTE!!! <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:5120d23d-6e8e-4bb1-ab33-643f6f4596e4" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="f4ab4a8a-401e-4648-a9ee-35c299cb9200" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EepCRfW7Q3Y" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX47_ZcgSDI/AAAAAAAAIuw/38ZAsWW9GiA/video99b7cc139015%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('f4ab4a8a-401e-4648-a9ee-35c299cb9200'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/EepCRfW7Q3Y&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/EepCRfW7Q3Y&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-37573669861038048752011-03-14T16:28:00.001+01:002011-03-14T16:28:18.471+01:00Papagayo Beach<p>Our hotel took its name from a neighboring beach, Papagayo Beach (Parrot Beach in English). Although only a 10 minute walk from our hotel, Papagayo Beach is fairly remote, with no infrastructure such as bars or even restrooms. It is sandwiched between two bluffs that give somewhat adventurous types a gorgeous view in both directions.</p> <p>Here’s the approach to the beach from the hotel. </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:9b3f7597-e5f7-444a-ae4f-ea4a85aeaebc" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="866c19d5-d782-4dfb-9558-17c293b47776" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHTsP48QaXA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX40CwcbJhI/AAAAAAAAIuI/I_R4kMO6FW4/videofae182456044%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('866c19d5-d782-4dfb-9558-17c293b47776'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/tHTsP48QaXA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/tHTsP48QaXA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p></p> <p>Here’s the view from the “western bluff”. </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:77e0dafb-40e2-46d0-b3c9-e8335f20b8b1" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="b27b61bf-94f3-4a21-945c-edea7873e84b" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RtsRiAycpg" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX40DS9iK3I/AAAAAAAAIuM/XPW3yQkbw5M/video9de9ccf678ae%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('b27b61bf-94f3-4a21-945c-edea7873e84b'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/2RtsRiAycpg&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/2RtsRiAycpg&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> And now toward the west from the eastern bluff. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:14b3e8d5-95ea-4bac-9cb0-9447a525abdc" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="8c45f4a8-a72d-41d0-b3d1-dcecb6a1b85c" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou49vJq0AqA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX40D6oOJRI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/AdEv2ZyOngo/video8c143628b2d6%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('8c45f4a8-a72d-41d0-b3d1-dcecb6a1b85c'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/ou49vJq0AqA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/ou49vJq0AqA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> As you walk down the treacherously rocky coastline east, you find a series of remote beaches of various sizes (that attract a fair number of nudists (sorry, no video)!). <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:67062cfd-023d-455a-95f9-3a17d9209fbe" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="f3be8093-1854-4b81-9a5c-4c11a192861c" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naHys-CV2jg" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX40ETCOWBI/AAAAAAAAIuU/JAJzCRHPn8s/video4764cfb17945%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('f3be8093-1854-4b81-9a5c-4c11a192861c'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/naHys-CV2jg&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/naHys-CV2jg&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-27967853062618764962011-03-14T16:15:00.001+01:002011-03-14T16:15:20.234+01:00The hotel…<p>We stayed at an all inclusive resort called the Sandos Papagayo Arena Hotel. Because of lackluster (to put it lightly) food service, I’m on the fence as to whether I would stay there again. However, the place is beautiful, our room (a junior suite) was huge and the view from our balconies was gorgeous. Here’s a shot of the back of the hotel with a mega-zoom on our balconies. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:c8702eb1-f6e0-4f8e-ac90-be7093d90b9d" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="864817c3-91dc-460e-84e3-5bef18d2666f" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLiGGaaZb00" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX4xA1AKetI/AAAAAAAAIt8/00ijitCZks0/videoca3491c4d712%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('864817c3-91dc-460e-84e3-5bef18d2666f'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/CLiGGaaZb00&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/CLiGGaaZb00&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> The beach at the back of the hotel isn’t particularly hospitable, but there were a couple of very nice beaches very close. Here’s Emily playing on the hotel’s beach our first evening there. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:a7b1df3e-1bdd-4088-b122-06d01e5e93da" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="a0d4e30f-53bf-4802-947a-de837ab6b4f0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4nSntlxehA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX4xBdN8IDI/AAAAAAAAIuA/2h5TnR2mF-4/videoa93d20d38feb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('a0d4e30f-53bf-4802-947a-de837ab6b4f0'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/-4nSntlxehA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/-4nSntlxehA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> Here’s a shot roughly south from the beach. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:da01b087-4112-4480-bbac-f2756711bc9e" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="c52652f4-4084-48e4-8cc1-d53ecbd331db" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YJ-lDTxS1Y" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TX4xB3oUGtI/AAAAAAAAIuE/ZfcSYamH6Ec/videod91c18359447%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('c52652f4-4084-48e4-8cc1-d53ecbd331db'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/9YJ-lDTxS1Y&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/9YJ-lDTxS1Y&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> More on the other beaches in future posts.</p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-72100176897566015542011-03-12T11:49:00.001+01:002011-03-12T11:58:22.687+01:00We’re back<p><font face="tahoma">Just got back from a week in Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. What can I say? We are in love with the place. More posts, pics and videos forthcoming. Here’s a bit of unedited video from Playa Dorado (Gold Beach) about 2 kilometers from our hotel. </font> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:0957b406-6a0e-4e81-9ddc-6e0a52760e62" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="2b23cb64-d8ae-4a71-b2be-ace1286a0642" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdasfo8kglA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TXtPrekWvrI/AAAAAAAAIts/RFlXeKWBLeA/video61a5b042a0b0%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('2b23cb64-d8ae-4a71-b2be-ace1286a0642'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Fdasfo8kglA&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Fdasfo8kglA&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <font face="tahoma">Here’s the big mountain behind the hotel.</font> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:8e2841a0-58de-453c-9511-5ba43f6ca45c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="105c4dfe-b59f-4e99-9e4f-74d046ca2ee5" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usfv-uhW94k" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TXtPsiqXxtI/AAAAAAAAItw/F1SZ1nPJwZc/videocfcd271382e8%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('105c4dfe-b59f-4e99-9e4f-74d046ca2ee5'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Usfv-uhW94k&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Usfv-uhW94k&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-25245930649197337492011-02-10T16:14:00.001+01:002011-02-10T16:14:01.061+01:00Moment of Tranquility for week ending February 11, 2011<p>Camboinhas: the gift that keeps on giving. <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:53086610-2684-4a67-a7e1-5931e6fe28c9" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="b7a6e907-dab8-4a60-a35e-8ace58a56ee7" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDCZcKims3A" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVQAuPdy5MI/AAAAAAAAItk/h7yTiFVukM4/video9fbaed9ac950%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('b7a6e907-dab8-4a60-a35e-8ace58a56ee7'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xDCZcKims3A&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xDCZcKims3A&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> I am profoundly envious of the person in white walking on the beach.</p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-28014088677910418512011-02-08T22:15:00.003+01:002011-02-09T08:50:50.831+01:00Home brew in the Altstadt…<span style="font-family: tahoma;">As the lady folk celebrated the eminent arrival of Thomas and Andrea’s son Jonas (due in a couple of weeks), we men folk headed to the Altstadt and partook of the some of the microbrewed beer thereof. We started at <a href="http://www.brauhaus-vetter.de/">Vetter</a>, a quaint little joint near the Hberg bridge that at one time held the record for the strongest beer in the world (the dark stuff below).</span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyP08ZcmI/AAAAAAAAIss/HSZQo-cIuLw/s1600-h/IMG_5062%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_5062 (1024x683)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyQudW-yI/AAAAAAAAIsw/0dPHcqiLElI/IMG_5062%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5062 (1024x683)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">It’s even mentioned on wikipedia. How’s that for famous?</span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyRXlVIbI/AAAAAAAAIs0/SbZE7qicwSI/s1600-h/Copy%20of%20IMG_5059%20%28683x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="Copy of IMG_5059 (683x1024)" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGySB7z8GI/AAAAAAAAIs4/SJJ-Y5r2xCc/Copy%20of%20IMG_5059%20%28683x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Copy of IMG_5059 (683x1024)" width="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">If I were forced to describe the place’s decor, I would have to classify it as “glassy”. Style has <em>always</em> been a function of one’s perspective. </span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyS1R-K_I/AAAAAAAAIs8/y3PMRptXz68/s1600-h/IMG_5079%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_5079 (1024x683)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyTiq268I/AAAAAAAAItA/fxrTMLprsVo/IMG_5079%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5079 (1024x683)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">Later, we moved to <a href="http://www.heidelberger-kulturbrauerei.de/">Kulturbrauerei</a>, an upscale joint I had only been to on business outings.</span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyUcOHL7I/AAAAAAAAItE/hx33IUXrvF0/s1600-h/IMG_5088%20%281024x682%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_5088 (1024x682)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyVErQmuI/AAAAAAAAItI/YVsDPYS_QtI/IMG_5088%20%281024x682%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5088 (1024x682)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">The place is ancient but beautifully remodeled. It’s ever so slightly off the beaten path. If you haven’t been there, I suggest strongly you give it its day in court: The beer is great and the unrestored walls and ceiling are interesting.</span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyV1LtN5I/AAAAAAAAItM/GFT5UwFRdW8/s1600-h/IMG_5104%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_5104 (1024x683)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyWmwnSnI/AAAAAAAAItQ/Ix44PkaaEpA/IMG_5104%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5104 (1024x683)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyXGUz_BI/AAAAAAAAItU/-psEbo22t78/s1600-h/IMG_5101%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_5101 (1024x683)" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyX5x1ZII/AAAAAAAAItY/19LIZteYLS0/IMG_5101%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5101 (1024x683)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;"> </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGyY97MLmI/AAAAAAAAItc/MgQb99f65RQ/s1600-h/IMG_5115%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma;"><img alt="IMG_5115 (1024x683)" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHx-UTWpKnScyFprFNxoim8rmPPt0LqExX-fTUtQuX-5yMKUmRP0B19iyvt1jbRRP5q4_bx6TC-N1LjZphdfO8GIW9Nm_fj7XQrwwEb7kbgE9Mf1kaHOXV7LUIsx9Juvkh4SggA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_5115 (1024x683)" width="414" /></span></a><span style="font-family: tahoma;">The rest of the night is somewhat blurry. I remember a Döner on the Hauptstrasse, drinking some (delicious) tea with some Turkish guys there and finally swilling a couple of Franziskaners at the company outlet, also on the Hauptstrasse. We made it home fairly early with the baby shower still in full swing. From the looks on their faces, I’m not sure they had missed us much.</span>grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-51182213848811324792011-02-08T21:23:00.001+01:002011-02-08T21:23:13.107+01:00Massive assembly required…<p>We got Robert a foosball table for his birthday. Little did we know we would have to assemble its constituent molecules atom by atom (an exaggeration, but only slightly). It took a couple of weeks and intervention from a mechanically inclined friend (Thomas M.), but it is now ready for play. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGmIZqH6II/AAAAAAAAIsc/c4HFzg7h1YM/s1600-h/IMG_5457%20%28682x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5457 (682x1024)" border="0" alt="IMG_5457 (682x1024)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvI-6KcqlmJQu4Ybz7M_bB4RBk8k-YHj-6S6SdEAULNXwpX0KGed5Tdwlal5_u_FTGRL2UxClW35dgIhp1PM1TpHb2LuAKwlXUc79txTViE_9KibJ-ymEoip-QECvo4ZgKtkjJg/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> I never played much in my formative years so am surprisingly bad. The kids are coming up to speed quickly. Have to admit I’m surprised at how much fun it is.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGmLAeKsMI/AAAAAAAAIsk/r2z7wNq6XrA/s1600-h/IMG_5461%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5461 (1024x683)" border="0" alt="IMG_5461 (1024x683)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TVGmL5k25cI/AAAAAAAAIso/Y-F5VlhXlog/IMG_5461%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="277" /></a></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571538.post-20978895383419372382011-02-05T21:46:00.001+01:002011-02-07T10:47:02.844+01:00Tough subjects…<p><font face="tahoma">A couple of weekends ago I decided to give the Little Lady some “me time” so packed up the kids and headed to Speyer, a city I have come to love. We walked down to the Rhine and found folks feeding a passel of swans.</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23AosHkxI/AAAAAAAAIrw/oTHxyGEVqRM/s1600-h/IMG_5226%20%28683x1024%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font face="tahoma" color="#333333"><img title="IMG_5226 (683x1024)" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5226 (683x1024)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23BoY8jRI/AAAAAAAAIr0/jUFl0MojM1E/IMG_5226%20%28683x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LWC8hFfymWGlg2hsY0I9ci4MrCc9nMn5T3kXqsRemo4fjjqQVfBGTZmQf0DFjY4T2ylQqX3y0QZIXVfeqLfrOC4SPe94uJrQY4w9fdV0afeY5nSovN7JN2nGcpz5WfBYPR7vxw/s1600-h/IMG_5152%20(1024x682)%5B3%5D.jpg"><font face="tahoma" color="#333333"><img title="IMG_5152 (1024x682)" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="277" alt="IMG_5152 (1024x682)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23C_cFxeI/AAAAAAAAIr8/PMJ-qKQt7BI/IMG_5152%20%281024x682%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" border="0" /></font></a><font face="tahoma">Turns out these fabulous fowl are tricky photographic subjects: the contrast of their bright white feathers against the dark water makes getting a good exposure a bit tricky. </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23ENohesI/AAAAAAAAIsA/x04ltUp-U-w/s1600-h/IMG_5171%20%281024x683%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font face="tahoma" color="#333333"><img title="IMG_5171 (1024x683)" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="277" alt="IMG_5171 (1024x683)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23Ew48FOI/AAAAAAAAIsE/HWynkpHWIqM/IMG_5171%20%281024x683%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" border="0" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23FlwnwkI/AAAAAAAAIsI/YVLfzkzkP5k/s1600-h/IMG_5188%20%281024x682%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><font face="tahoma" color="#333333"><img title="IMG_5188 (1024x682)" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="277" alt="IMG_5188 (1024x682)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23GVtRvRI/AAAAAAAAIsM/VukKGPx1owE/IMG_5188%20%281024x682%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" border="0" /></font></a><font face="tahoma"> This was the shot of the day in my book. Probably a shot only a photo geek could love, but the detail in the feathers is hard to capture.<img title="IMG_5178 (681x1024)" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5178 (681x1024)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU23IP6GcuI/AAAAAAAAIsU/eD69PkkJMH8/IMG_5178%20%28681x1024%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></font> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:2eba05dd-6cc5-4bff-8ad4-4f9cc4dc76da" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="927d73fc-048b-4cfe-8f96-0885689c4b9a" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtf-_bldB3s" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Qw6WyOV54E/TU-_lZZuRxI/AAAAAAAAIsY/o3hVFozJBV0/video2f289f2147bd%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('927d73fc-048b-4cfe-8f96-0885689c4b9a'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/jtf-_bldB3s&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/jtf-_bldB3s&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div></p> grphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586761843499318103noreply@blogger.com0