PatanRich's Excellent Adventure: 2014

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Dirk in Berlin-

While in Berlin, we met Dirk! Dirk is a German who traveled around the US a few years back. What we loved about Dirk, is that he is the best American we know:-). His knowledge and love of the US was inspiring for us, as we saw our country thru another persons eyes.

We met up with him many times while we stayed in Berlin- he was always fun, and he could talk about German history and culture for hours! And, he sings.

Here are two YouTube entries of him singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsgoUhLRH4k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9dScWLh1a8

Friday, October 3, 2014

London- a true world city!

5 days and 6 nights in London are not enough. The last city to visit in our adventure, London was a great place to wind down- well, wind up, actually:-). Talk about frenetic! From the time you step out of the arrival gate to the moment you leave, you are surrounded by people, sounds, history, music, art, architecture, sometimes decent food, good beer, great theatre (that is quite different from American theatre!), and on and on! Plus, no other city can place incredibly old and historic buildings next to architecturally magnificent new structures like the English. London- a World-Class city! To make it even better, we met up with people on 3 days: Terry, Carolin, and Kim, Peter, Jonathon and Owen- people we were were ecstatic to see, and loved being around! They added so much to our London experience, we can't even fully express it. London- what a joy to visit!

Cool busker! Witch with a cell:-)

Parliament

and Big Ben!

and Rich with the London eye

Borough's Market- a VERY cool market at the base of "the Shard" the newest and most modern sky-scraper on the London Skyline

Borough Market with "the Shard" in the back-ground

the Tower Bridge with Rich

Modern buildings as seen from the Thames!

the oldest building in London (London Tower), and one of the newest,n "the Gherkin"

The Tower of London (oldest building in London) and "the Shard", the newest building in London

cool view of the Tower Bridge

The Tower of London and the Tower Bridge

an afternoon with Terry, whom we met on the cruise, lives just outside London, and is a very cool Englishman!

Harrods and the city at night!

Brighton is a very cool seaside town on the southern coast of England! My friend Carolin, originally from Frankfurt, Germany, has chosen Brighton as her home. After showing us this very cool town, we agree with her! It is definitely a liveable seaside town!

sunset in Brighton

the Brighton board-walk

Brighton town

Carolin and Brighton at the Royal Pavilion

Brighton from the beach

the pier, with very fun rides and games

the beach

Windsor- home of the Royal Family! We met my niece Kim, her husband Peter and their two children Jonathon and Owen, in Windsor for the day. They are residents of England and are working there. What is totally cute: the two boys are speaking english like the English! Totally cute!!!

Windsor castle from the river

Rich, Peter, Kim, Jonathon and Owen

posing in front of our family home, if we were of royal blood.

Owen found a rock!

Rich and the boys goofing around

town view of Windsor

Rich and I with the boys

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Edinburgh!

Edinburgh- If Hogwarts were a city, it would be Edinburgh! From the moment you come our of Waverly Train Station, you see incredible brown brick buildings with spires, arches, passage-ways, bridges, hills, all looking straight out of Harry Potter- just incredible.

The city has some really great pubs, with excellent pub-grub! My favorite is all the pies they serve- some with puff pastry topping, others with mashed potatoes! For Rich- fish and chips. Plus, they have interesting names, good beer, and that famous Scottish whiskey!

The city has a cool castle that over-looks the city, with a beautiful park around it. The Cathedral is also quite nice! As Vince Coyle says, Edinburgh is the most visually stunning city on the planet. Some truth to this, I tell you. come visit- you won't be disappointed!

Cool pubs!