March 2010 - Heidi's Birthday, School Performances

Heidi's birthday...

Mallory found out how it feels to be the rest of us -- those with straight hair.

Luke performing a skit with his friends at Cub Scout Pack Meeting....something about a doctor.

One of Mallory's school performances.

Nash and his friend, Cody, performing a scene from Shakespeare's 12th Night.

Feb 2010: Nash's MUN in Genoa, Italy

In late February I (this is Nash by the way) went on a trip to a Model United Nations conference in Genoa, Italy. My school group was meant to meet at the Bonn train station early in the morning. My dad was taking me. As we were pulling out of the driveway he said, do you need your passport? No, I said, we're taking the train and its all in the EU, no border checks. When we got to the train station I found out that I needed a passport because we were flying back. My dad raced home to fetch it. I was waiting impatiently. I got a call from one of my friends saying that our train was at the station and about to leave. My dad then popped up out of nowhere and handed me my passport. I ran as fast as I could, bumping into people, and continuously saying "Entschuldegung". I just barely made it. Phew!

The ceiling in the room where my conference was held was very elaborate and interesting. When things got a bit boring, it was nice to have some entertainment from above.

When I wasn't debating over fake stuff, I was wandering around the old town of Genoa. It was once a powerful city-state that rivaled Venice. The old city gate (which was really tall) was a testament to Genoa's forgotten, but noble past.

Through the trees the house where Christopher Columbus was born can be seen. He first went to the Genoese government for funding to sail to the New World but they refused. Spain was his plan B I guess.

The old town was filled with narrow alleyways, old churches and squares, gelaterias, and pasta places. Each day I was there for lunch I went out and got some Gelato and Pesto (a pasta traditionally from Genoa). It was delicious! I've never had better ice cream in my life. I was in paradise!

And the warm welcome from the siblings upon returning home.

Feb 2010 Part 3 - Basler Fasnacht

Creed had always wanted to go to Basel and see Fasnacht again. He did this on his mission. On February 22 we went off to Basel on the intersection of the Swiss, German, and French borders. The vibrantly red Rathaus in Basel is very beautiful.

At the back of the Basler Münster, overlooking the Rhein.

We went to see one of Heidi's old friends in Zürich.

Nash & Grant on Bahnhofstrasse, in front of the Zürich Bahnhof.

Grant and Luke on Paradeplatz, with the Grossmünster in the background.

And at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, overlooking the Zürichsee.

Luke enjoyed the street musicians, and made a small donation.

Heidi and Angie.

Up at Lindenhof, a park overlooking the Limmat river, with nice views of the city.

View of Zürich from Lindenhof, with the Grossmünster in the background.

On Monday we woke up at 3 in the morning for Morgestraich, the beginning of Fasnacht.

All the electric lights in the city went out to be replaced by candle lit lanterns mounted on the heads of masked Pfeifer und Tambouren (fifers and drumers). These groups are called Cliques and there are many that participate in Basler Fasnacht.

There were many interesting characters and costumes. The drums and fifes were deafening but fun at the same time.

Each group of fifers and drummers had huge lanterns that they paraded through the streets.

After the early morning parades we headed back to the hotel, slept a bit, and then headed back out to the city center to see the daytime parades.

The picture above shows a little Basler dressed up as a Waggi in the Fasnacht daytime parades. The Waggi costumes are designed, as tradition has it, to resemble the farmers from Alsace just across the French border who used to sell their produce in Basel. In Karneval in Cologne and Bonn the participants wear costumes that make fun of invading French soldiers. I guess German speakers just love to make fun of the French.

These parades are famous for their confetti. We bought some of our own. On Luke's right collar there is a small copper badge. This is called a Plaquette. One can buy these from noisy venders shouting 'Pllllllaquette' all around the city. The proceeds go to the Cliques and they support Fasnacht. If you don't have one of these badges you will be heavily bombarded with confetti as we saw countless times.

Mallory reaching out for candy, oranges, or anything else thrown out by the people on the floats.

Swiss-Native American tepee float. Interesting.

Native American Swiss drummers. Not odd at all.

I've never seen more confetti in my life!

Ankle-deep confetti in the streets.

Feb 2010 - Trip to the Netherlands

In front of the Nemo Museum in Amsterdam: a hand-on museum with lots of different things to try out.

Mallory surrounded by a bubble made by Creed in the Museum.

Grant flying a solar-powered plane overhead.

Heidi tried out a game like she saw on "The Cube" to learn about electric current.

Grant, hoisting himself using a pulley system.

The Correy Tenboom house in Haarlem was very interesting.

Taking in the sights (and the cold) at the Groote Markt in Haarlem

The frozen Zuiderzee on the south side of the Afsluitdijk in the Netherlands.

The ice near the shore was all broken up. It was really cool.

The abominable snowman wears tight jeans!

Another horrific shot of the monster.

The ice was very clear and we could see the sea's floor after wiping off the snow.

The Afsluitdijk holds the ocean back from flat, flat, low Holland. The freshwater, frozen Zuiderzee to the right is noticeably lower than the grey North Sea to the left.

The Rijksmuseum, back in Amsterdam.

Mallory enjoyed seeing the houseboats on the canals in Amsterdam.

The family waiting in line for entrance to Anne Frank's house with the typical orange bike in the foreground.

Mallory and the church near Anne Frank's house.

Mallory at the flower market in Amsterdam.