Miller Family in Budapest

Miller Family in Budapest, almost

2011-09-18T16:46:00.009+02:00

Heroes Square

St Stephen's church

The kids waiting for the bus to pick up the kids on the 2nd day of school -- in front of our temporary home at the Marriott apartments in downtown Budapest.

For the first 10 days we were here, we stayed at the Marriott, and this was the view from the terrace at the executive lounge on the 9th floor.

We all spent many hours in the lounge during the first 10 days, before school started and while we were looking for a house. We treated it like our living room, where there was more space to stretch out, food, and WiFi internet access. We'd go up to the lounge to read, check email, play games, and talk about what to do about a house.

There was a medieval festival on castle hill -- good food and interesting entertainment.

Grant and Nash at the 0 km mark of Budapest and throughout Hungary -- all distances to Budapest are measured from this point.

We got desperate one night and did some laundry in the bath tub. Grant and Luke were excited to help out doing laundry the old fashioned way.

They must love archery here -- at many tourist attractions and any time there is a festival, they always have a stand where you can try archery.

Luke with a Haribo shish kebab which he always gets on the way out of Vapiano (a handful of gummy bears at the counter on the way out, plus a tooth pick), an Italian restaurant that we grew to love in Bonn, and were happy to find here in Budapest (3 locations!).

At the church building -- the Pest ward.

We never got tired of the view from the terrace.

And the kids in front of the chain bridge -- the central bridge across the Danube from the Pest side to the Buda side of the river.

After a great summer break in the US, we all arrived here in Budapest on 10 August 2011. We had hoped to be able to move in to our house within a few weeks, but the day before we left the US, we found out that the house we had selected (house #1) had a pipe leak and the basement flooded. The owner graciously let us out of the contract. So the first few days of being here in the country were spent going to look at additional houses. We found two houses that we thought would work for us, and we ended up deciding on one of them (house #2), and had our real estate company start working on a contract for that house. Within a few days we found out that the owner of the house wasn't being exactly honest about things and we found that he had quite a bad reputation, so we abandoned those negotitations, decided to go visit that other house (house #3) a 2nd time, and decided we could make things work at that house with a few changes. Over the next three weeks our real estate company went back and forth with the owner, his lawyer, Ford's lawyers, HR, etc. And on Thursday we made the decision that this owner really doesn't want to rent to us and/or is just too difficult to work with, so we made the decision to go look at more houses. So we're hopeful that tomorrow, afer seeing 4 or 5 more houses, we'll be able to start negotiating a contract on house #4.

In the mean time, we've been staying right here in downtown Budapest -- the first 10 days at the Marriott hotel, right on the Danube, in a room with a view over the river and of Buda castle and the city. Since then we have been in a Marriott apartment hotel, about a block away. We have two separate rooms with a total of 3 bedrooms and 2 living rooms, so it gives us more space than a regular hotel, but we are anxious to be in our own house. It is nice to be right here in the city, which we like a lot -- it is a beautiful place.

The kids have been in school for 3 full weeks, and are really liking it so far. Last week Nash, Grant, and Luke each went on 3/4 day trips with their classes. Here's what they had to say about it:

From Grant

This week the whole middle school went on a trip for the week. 8th grade went to a place called Pécs (pronounced Paych). It was really fun.

On the first day we got there and we had an hour of free time to eat lunch. I got chicken nuggets at McDonald's (I regretted it but I had to). Then we went to a town called Orfü. We went to this club where we did some team building activities. One of them was to wrap up an egg so we could throw it six meters and it wouldn't break. I had the idea of putting a parachute on it. It worked! That night we had chicken for dinner. Then we went to our hotels which were about a five minute walk away.

On the next day we woke up and went back to the club to eat breakfast. Then we got into groups and did 3 activities. The first thing we did was a blind simulation. We blindfolded ourselves and did this little obstacle course. Then we went canoeing. I got really sun burnt. Then we went to a cave. It was OK. There wasn't anything new for me. Then we went back to the club and swam in the lake. That night we had more chicken.

On the third day we ate breakfast then went to this place called Mecsextreme. First, we went to a playground and we went on some trampolines. Then we went to a ropes course with a zip line. Afterwards we went on a Bobsled thing. It was so fun. Afterwards, we ate lunch and we went to a waterpark. We were there for four hours. We played volleyball with some crazy guys. It was fun. Then we went back to the hotel and had...guess what...chicken. Then after dinner we had a dance. It was boring.

On the last day we went back into Pécs and we did a scavenger hunt thingy. Then I ate at McDonald's and had chicken nuggets again and then we went home.

Overall, it was a good trip. I liked it.

From Luke

So right now I'm really ticked off because we have to find ANOTHER HOUSE!!!!!! I'm really sick of this stupid hotel! I wish I was still in Germany.... I'm kinda glad that we have to find another house though because I didn't really like the other one that we were going to get, and because one of the options for a house is this really big one with 9 bedrooms and an indoor pool.

On Wednesday we did this thing called the fall trip, where every middle school grade goes somewhere different. Grade six went to this place in the south of Hungary called Szeged. It was really fun. We stayed in cabins with lots of bugs. I think there is a sulphur plant under all of Szeged because all the water there taste and smells like rotten eggs. It's even kinda yellow. The taste was easy to ignore, but the smell wasn't. There were no bathrooms in the cabins so we had to walk outside to go to the bathroom and to take a shower. It was annoying. In the showers there was this really cute bright green frog that we would see every time we took a shower. I named it Foop. Also on the trip we did this thing where we were in teams and we all had to do weird stuff for example I had to eat a "Dirty Diaper" which was just a diaper filled with pudding, and i also had to pop a water balloon with my back. It was really fun.

March & April 2011 - Videos & Mallory's First (Lost) Tooth

2011-07-03T23:19:00.000+02:00

We are trying to get caught back up on our blog. We've updated it through most of May 2010, but here are few recent things that have been happening.

Mallory lost her first tooth last week. It had been annoying her for weeks that she had to chew her food on the side of her mouth because it hurt so badly to chew with her front teeth.

We had been telling Mallory to wiggle it back and forth to try to get it out. We even tried the "tying some string around the tooth" trick.

But what it finally came down to was Grant simply pulling it out.

Grant surprised us at the school Variety Show when he performed on the drums with the Junior Blues Band. We knew he had been practicing with the band every week during his lunch break, but didn't know he was so good, especially given the fact that he doesn't have his own drum kit to practice on at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNrto0tCXss

When one of our friends asked Grant how he got so good at playing the drums, without having a drum kit at home, Grant's answer was "Wii Rock Band."

Luke just finished his big Grade 5 project -- an investigation into the effects of video games on people. His final project was this video with 3 of his classmates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEnBX-O7_2k

Luke and Grant have also been having fun making a variety of other videos, and posting them on YouTube, under the "Switcheroos" name.

This "Pools and the Playground" video is one of the favorites.

2010 July - Normandy, France

2011-07-03T23:16:00.000+02:00

On the 4th of July, our first stop in Normandy was the Caen war memorial / museum.

It was a really interesting place to see the history behind the start of WWII.

We then went to the American Cemetery, and as we walked in there was a high school band from the US playing the national anthem, as well as a few other songs. It was quite a moving experience to be there on the 4th of July.

Down at Omaha Beach.

We stopped at Pointe du Hoc, and enjoyed walking around the craters and the bombed-out fortifications.

We next stopped in St Mere Eglise, one of the first towns liberated on D-Day by US airborne troops.

The church in St Mere Eglise, where a paratrooper got caught on the steeple.

Nash, Grant, and I then went out to Cherbourg to see a site with several coastal guns, tobruks, etc..

It was amazing to see so many of the defenses and fortifications still in tact.

And down to the beach, checking out the wildlife.

2010 July - Bayeux, France

2011-07-03T23:15:00.000+02:00

After Mont St Michel, we drove to Bayeux to see the Bayeux tapestry, which tells the story of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It is very impressive - one time through was not enough to take in everything that has been embroidered on that cloth.

I'm not sure if our camera has a "fake background" setting, but I assure you -- it is real. Heidi and the kids are in front of the church in Bayeux.

The town of Bayeux was having some sort of festival in the down town area.

2010 July - Mont St Michel, France

2011-07-03T15:31:00.005+02:00

Mont St Michel, France -- abbey atop a hill, surrounded by a small village, on an island accessible only by one road, off the coast of France.

We drove from Versailles to Mont St Michel, arriving in the late afternoon just in time to get some dinner and then to walk around the village a bit.

View from the hotel room window at night.

The next morning, Mallory leading the way to go up to the top of the hill to visit the abbey.

At the monastery, in front of the chapel, with the bay & ocean.

The abbey cloisters.

This contraption was part of an elevator system to hoist stuff up to the abbey.

A statue of Michael -- very popular guy at Mont St Michel.

Nash, trying to recreate the statue of Michael.

A couple of photos of the village, with its numerous passageways and stairways.

On the way out, we walked around the base of Mont St Michel, which is only accessible during low tide.

This seagull watched our van while we were parked at Mont St Michel.

2010 July - Versailles, France

2011-07-03T15:02:00.006+02:00

I think we picked the hottest day of the year to go to the Palace of Versailles. The smudge you see in the photo is from a drop of someone's sweat that got on the camera lens, just in the walk from the car park to this place in front of the entrance. It was a really hot day.

Half-way through the walking / audio-guide tour of the palace.

Grant and Luke liked this room, with pictures of the Greek gods on the ceiling.

We all tried to pick out the Greek gods that we recognized.

Half-man / half-lion fireplace mantel guy.

The Hall of Mirrors.

Mallory-sized carriage at the Grand Trianon.

Marie Antionette's Hamlet.

Right by the Palace, the Hotel de France, where - if we got the story right - Grandpa Miller stayed during WWII.

June 2010 - Legoland

2011-06-26T21:42:00.004+02:00

After the trip to Prague, Heidi took Luke, Mallory, and Grant to Legoland. They went with a couple of other families from the school for a quick 2-day trip.

Lego Venice.

Lego Neuschwanstein.

June 2010 - Prague

2011-06-26T18:09:00.011+02:00

After school got out, we took a 3-day trip to Prague. Our first stop was the Strahov Monastery on castle hill. The library at this monastery is beautiful, but....

...we were much more impressed with the dried animals and birds in the hallway just outside the rooms with all the books.

The birds or fish or whatever they are had quite the facial expressions.

On the walk from the monastery to the castle, I believe.

Luke, standing just outside the entrance to the castle grounds, waiting for the changing of the guards.

On a tour of the castle, Nash is making that face again.

Grant is reading the description of the window in this room, which is famous for the fact that more than one person is said to have been thrown out of the window.

Having survived the castle, on the way back down the hill.

Grant at the Castle Hill side of the Charles Bridge.

Luke and the Charles Bridge over the Vltava river.

An top of the Petrin hill, the boys and I went to the top of this Eiffel tower-esque tower.

At the mirror maze tourist attraction (trap) on Petrin hill.

A stop at Cafe Kafka for lunch, where Kafka is said to have frequented.

Our next stop was the Jewish quarter, including a visit to this cemetery.

The Jewish ceremonial hall.

The Old New Synagogue -- the synagogue with the golem in the attic.

We met our friends from Bonn at a Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Heidi and Kelsey in twinner shirts.

Luke, Grant, and Austin.

Please just ignore that guy on the left side of the picture.

Grant, reaching up to touch the lucky plaque on the Charles Bridge, at the spot where a priest (John of Nepomuk) was thrown from the bridge into the river.

The next day, at the base of the statue of (good) King Wenceslas, on Wencesalas square.

The boys, playing a game of "Ninja" while the girls shopped.

Luke, from the top of the astronomical clock tower.

The view of the Tyn Church from the top of the clock tower.

The kids by the astronomical clock.

On our last day we rented paddle boats for an hour or so, enjoying the sun on the Vltava river.

2010 June - Visit from Jeff & Ian

2011-06-26T17:00:00.007+02:00

Jeff and Ian came for a visit in June. We met them in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a city we have visited a few times before.

After dinner we went on the "Night Watchman" tour.

After the tour, we walked around the old town.

The market square in Rothenburg.

A door.

Nash, taking time to smell the flowers.

The whole crew on the main drag in Rothenburg.

Grant, enjoying a mug of freshly-squeezed apple juice.

Our hotel...

At the Heidelberg castle.

Grant posing by a statue of a really wide-legged man.

Grant is standing next to the footprint in the stone, said to be the footprint of a knight who jumped out a window of the Heidelberg castle.

We don't know this guy, but he looks very relaxed.

Mallory and I in front of the Heidelberg castle.

Mallory, posing in her Dirndl which we got for her in Rothenburg.

The ruins of the Rheinfels castle.

View from the top of Rheinfels castle.

Ian appears to be winking at Nash, and Nash appears to be winking at the camera.

The highlight of the Rheinfels castle -- the tunnels underneath the castle.

Everyone's eyes appear to be wide open, because they are -- it is completely dark down there, except for the flash of the camera and the flashlights we brought with us.

2010 June - Mallory Dance

2011-06-26T15:35:00.004+02:00

Mallory's school dance group.

Showing off the present from her dance teacher.

A few of Mallory's friends at the house for an end-of-the-year party.

EL4 Class performance.

Mallory at her friend's house for ballet lessons.

2010 May - Weekend in Bern

2011-05-15T21:08:00.005+02:00

In the last weekend of May, we took a trip down to Switzerland and saw the city of Bern. Neither Heidi nor I had spent much time there, and its the capital of Switzerland, so we thought we should take the family.

We went into downtown Bern and found the house where Albert Einstein lived in the early 1900s.

We walked around the downtown area, seeing some of the sights of the city...

...including the clock,

the Swiss Parliament building,

and the statue of the ogre eating the babies (just as a warning to remind our kids to obey us).

View of the Aare river in Bern.

Luke displayed his manly strength by lifting this chain.

We then walked to the end of the Altstadt, and across the bridge to see the Bern bears.

View from the bear pits back towards downtown.

You cannot get this close to a river without touching it, right?

Nash and Grant on the balcony of this....building.

May 2010 - Trip to Morocco - Fez

2011-05-01T16:39:00.009+02:00

The three pics below are of us on the way to the train station in Marrakesh to catch the train to Fez.

An interesting stop sign at one of the many gates to the city.

I made the mistake of taking a peek at this snake charmer on the main square in Marrakesh. Once I looked, he wouldn't leace us alone. We got some pics, but at a price of course. When he played his magic flute thing, the snake actually did dance around. I was surprised this actually worked.

The train to Fes was seven hours long. It went up to the coast, through Rabat and Casablanca, and then back inland to Fes. It was hot in the train but there was lots of room in the compartment. At least, most of the time. A huge group of Moroccan ladies came on the train about halfway through. They took up every inch of space I had. I was squished! Anyway, we eventually made it to Fes late at night.

Fes is supposedly the best preserved Arabic medieval city in the world. It was pretty cool. We woke up and navigated our way through the labyrinth of alleyways that were often clogged with donkeys, carts, cats, and people. We were looking for one of the coolest sights in Fes, the tanneries where they dye leather. Maps were almost useless so we followed our noses to one of the leather shops that had a terrace overlooking the tanneries. The view was really interesting. There were dozens of pits filled with multicolored liquids. Workers were adding and removing skins, loading them onto donkeys, and laying them on roofs to be dried. It was awesome (and so was the smell).

The entrance to a pretty fancy building. I think it was a Medersa. There were suprises down all of the alleyways here.

We took the cheapest taxi ride in the world to the top of one of the many hills overlooking Fes. Looking down we saw a cemetery.

At the top of the hill was a ruined memorial to one of the medieval rulers of Fes. There were fantastic views of the old city from here.

We walked down to the city walls (there were several rings of them and it was quite confusing).

We walked through the confusing streets to find some lunch. We found a severed camel head instead. I accidentally hit it with my head. YUCK! Its tongue was hanging out.

After walking around a lunch break was welcomed. We ate on the roof of a restaurant popular with ex-pats. My dad and I both ordered camel meat burgers. It tasted like very tender beef. Another exotic meat I can add to my list.

Another beautiful Medersa and about the only picture with both of us in it.

Some of the old city gates.

More Moroccan food and mint tea for dinner.

After getting back to the hotel, we looked at the amazing view of the Medina (old town) from its roof.

This is the entrance to the palace of the King of Morocco.

We went to a ceramic factory. This shows a guy mixing around the clay mud. What a job!

Where they dried the ceramic tiles.

A dozen craftsmen in a hot room painting pottery.

The great view from an old French fort on top of a hill in Fes.

Our final meal in Morocco. Of course we are drinking mint tea.

In the lobby at our hotel, a riad, before checking out.

Couscous, of course.

The trip to Morocco was pretty awesome. It was a very different experience than my usual travels are here in Europe. It reminded me a lot of Indonesia; the call to prayer, the smell, the motorcycles, and the poverty. I would love to go back there again some time.

May 2010 -Trip to Morocco- Marrakesh

2011-04-30T10:37:00.006+02:00

Sup, its Nash. I like traveling and for Christmas in 2009 I got a trip to Morocco

from my parents. Pretty sweet right? I was looking forward to it a lot. I'd never been to Africa before. In late May (during my exams. tee hee) my dad and I left for Morocco.

While flying over Marrakesh (where we were supposed to be landing) the pilot said that it was too foggy there and we had to land in Agadir to the south. Agadir is a five hour drive through desert and mountains from Marrakesh. A German guy at the front of the plane stood up and shouted MARRAKESH, NICHT AGADIR (Marrakesh, not Agadir). When we landed he refused to get off the plane.

It was hot and really dry, being on the edge of the Sahara desert. There is a pic of me at the airport above. We waited at the entrance for an hour for the airline to get us some buses to Marrakech. They sent two very large buses, but we didn't make it on those. The airline sent another, smaller minibus later that we eventually got on. It was full of Germans so the bus driver, who spoke no English or German, put a cassette of Nina singing 99 Luftballons on. The drive was long. We stopped for some food on the way. We eventually made it to Marrakesh in the evening and got to our hotel.

The pictures above show one of the oldest universities in the world and a Medersa (Islamic School). It was cool to see the decorative doors and rooms. The intricacy of the carvings was phenomenal.

Taking an OJ break at an orange juice cart on the main square in Marrakesh, Djemaa el Fna. They basically blended an orange and poured it in a cup. It was some of the best orange juice I've tasted. mmmmm

Walking through the labyrinthine streets of the old town in Marrakesh. The city had many souqs, areas of town that sell specific things. Leather, meat, bread, metals, and all kinds of products were available. It was cool to see all these things.

Got attacked by these two older men. Sweet hats though.

Walkin around by the tower of a Medersa. There were so many interesting things to see, it was hard to concentrate on just one of them.

Sitting at one of the many food stalls on Djemaa el Fna and chowing down on some Moroccan bread, couscous, and mint tea (they called it "Berber whiskey"). We saw the tea everywhere. They drink it like water, so we thought, when in rome. We drank it all the time. It was strong and quite tasty.

Taking a carriage ride through the crazy streets of Marrakesh. It reminded me a lot of Indonesia. We followed the town walls, went by the King's palace, and passed by a KFC (they have it in Morocco, and not Bonn?).

A shot of Djemaa el Fna where we had dinner and lunch most of the time. We got a bit lost in the alleyways of Marrakesh, but we eventually made it to the train station to catch our train to Fez in the north. Marrakesh was pretty awesome. The sights, the noises, and expecially the smells were so interesting there.

May 2010 - Pinewood Derby and Kletterwald

2011-03-27T21:59:00.003+02:00

While Heidi was off pottery shopping in Poland, I took Grant and Luke to the Kletterwald Bad Neuenahr -- always entertaining for boys their age, as well as for their Dad.

Luke had a Cub Scout Pack Meeting & Pinewood Derby.

His car -- basically a big purple semi-truck -- did quite well.

May 2010 - Heidi's Polish Pottery Trip

2011-03-27T21:47:00.004+02:00

Heidi and a bunch of her friends, gathered at our house before departing for their road trip to Boleslawiec, Poland for pottery shopping.

Heidi's sister, Heather, came over to go with her on the trip. They stayed in this castle, turned into a hotel.

A tour of one of the pottery factories.

And the group on a tour of the castle / hotel.

Back at home, inspecting the haul of pottery she brought back.

May 2010 - Luke's School Trip to Zeeland, Netherlands

2011-03-27T21:18:00.003+02:00

In May Luke went on an overnight trip with his school class to Zeeland, Netherlands. They had been learning about water in science class.

Excited to be away from Mom & Dad for a few days, I think.

May 2010 - Miller Parents Visit

2011-03-27T18:21:00.009+02:00

My parents came for a visit in May.

Heidi took them to see the city of Aachen, including a trip to a bakery to buy some Printen cookies.

We enjoyed a few days at home, including badminton in the backyard...

...and a trip to the Haribo factory store.

My parents went to the Netherlands to see the Keukenhof gardens....

...and then we joined them in Haarlem....

...to go to the Corrie Ten Boom house.

The tour consisted of a short presentation from a tour guide in the living room of the house.

And then we went upstairs to the hiding place.

Luke is pointing out the button at the back of the watch / jewelry shop, which was used to alert the others upstairs in the house if they should go into the hiding place.

Nash, Luke, and I rented bikes for a couple of hours and rode out to the ocean.

Eating Stroopwafels on the Grote Markt in Haarlem.

Back at home in Germany on Mother's Day.

Heidi took my parents to see a few of the sites in Bonn, including Beethoven's birth house.

And the old Post Office building.

My Dad at Burg Eltz...under construction.

April 2010 - Everyday life....

2011-03-27T18:04:00.004+02:00

Luke, staring down a duck, at one of the castles on the Wasserburgen Route near our house.

Heidi and Luke took the train to Berlin for Luke's primary school swim meet. Nice strong man pose in front of the Brandenburg gate.

The Bonn swim team getting ready to board the bus from the hotel to the pool.

Luke off the starting blocks in lane 1.

Heidi and Luke in front of the Reichstag on a very sunny morning.

Nash was one of the MCs for the school talent show.

Grant and Mallory in front of the hunters' house in the forest near our house.

Grant got an electric guitar. It didn't take us too long to invest in some earphones that hook up to his amplifier.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Appenzell, Switzerland

2011-03-27T17:45:00.004+02:00

On the way back from Italy to Germany, we stopped overnight in Appenzell, Switzerland.

We stopped at the Appenzeller cheese factory / museum.

I'll never get tired of the countryside in Appenzell.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Verona

2011-03-27T17:39:00.003+02:00

We made a quick stop in Verona - here's Grant in front of the Arena.

And we went to the Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's house) - Mallory in her "Love" shirt in front of the love letters wall.

Balcony...

And another round of "Ninja."

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Venice

2011-03-27T16:02:00.006+02:00

Next stop on our trip -- Venice. Here's Nash on the vaporetto on the way to St Mark's square.

We enjoyed wandering around (and getting lost, at times) the canals, alleys, and bridges.

On St Mark's square, in front of the clock tower -- when you tell the family to pose, you never know what you are going to get.

The Grand Canal at sunset.

Lined up on the Rialto bridge.

One of many stops for gelato.

Hannah, Luke, and Rachel feeding the lion of St Mark some gelato - they probably aren't the first kids to try this.

Our hotel room in Venice had many tiny balconies.

I offered Luke 100 Euros if he could catch a pigeon.

Nice views from the top of St Mark's cathedral.

We survived in Venice on pizza and gelato - what's not to like?

One last gelato before leaving Venice...

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Salzburg and Hallstatt

2011-02-20T13:36:00.007+01:00

Before we checked out of the Villa von Trapp, we forced the kids onto the stairs for another Sound of Music scene re-enactment.

Outside the Villa von Trapp.

Rachel and Luke, inside one of the churches in Salzburg.

There must have been an interesting ceiling in this church...

We did a tour at the Salzburg castle.

And we also went to see the Hellbrunn palace.

And despite it being so cold, we also saw the Wasserspiele at the Hellbrunn palace.

Every time we had to stop to wait for something (in line, etc.) the kids all played a game called "Ninja."

We also went out to the salt mine at Hallein for a tour.

Everyone liked the slides...

And wandering around in our salt mine suits.

At one point we crossed the border into Germany.

That night we stayed in Hallstatt - a little city on the lake.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Salzburg

2011-02-13T16:18:00.007+01:00

Our next stop was Salzburg, Austria, where we spent a day doing a Sound of Music bike tour. It turned out to be a great way to see the city, with a lot of Sound of Music trivia thrown on.

Everyone rode their own bike, except Mallory, who rode a 3rd wheel connected to my bike.

A stop at the horse fountains at Residenzplatz.

Part of the group, riding beneath the Salzburg castle.

I think this was in the movie.

Mirabell Gardens.

There were a few Sound of Music scene re-enactments throughout the day.

At a house where Mozart lived.

At a cemetery.

The Nonnberg Abbey.

I think this is the house used in the movie for the place where the Von Trapps lived.

The gazebo, at Hellbrunn Palace.

The house where Mozart was born.

Mallory and Rachel.

At the entrace to (and below, inside) the Marionnette Theatre, where we saw a performance of Mozart's Magic Flute. It was.....interesting.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Munich / BMW Factory Tour

2011-02-13T16:11:00.002+01:00

We took a guided tour of the BMW factory in Munich...

...and then spent a few hours in the visitor center. I think everyone found something they would like to drive.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Munich / Dachau

2011-02-13T16:07:00.003+01:00

We spent a few sobering hours at the Dachau concentration camp, just outside of Munich.

Considering where we were, I told Grant to not smile for this picture -- this is his best effort at a serious face.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Munich Downtown

2011-02-13T15:35:00.005+01:00

We spent an afternoon / evening in downtown Munich. We joined the throngs of other tourists to watch the Glockenspiel at the Rathaus.

I like the variety of expressions on everybody's faces -- especially Mallory's yawn and Heidi's.....whatever.

More crepes -- first time we found chocolate mint filling.

We stopped and watched a xylophone orchestra play for a while...Suzanne bought a CD or two.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Neuschwanstein

2011-02-13T15:20:00.005+01:00

On Sunday after church we drove down to southern Germany, and stayed overnight right near Neuschwanstein. On Monday morning we got up early and went on a tour of Hohenschwangau castle.

Grant and I at Hohenschwangau, with Neuschwanstein in the background on the hill.

All (most?) of the cousins at Neuschwanstein.

From Neuschwanstein, looking down on Hohenschwangau.

Taking a break on the walk back down from Neuschwanstein.

March/April 2010 - Fullmer Trip - Cologne / Bonn

2011-02-13T14:39:00.004+01:00

We had been looking forward to the visit of the Fullmer family for quite a while. They arrived on a Saturday morning, and we took them directly to downtown Cologne to see a few of the sites, including the cathedral.

Most of us climbed the steps to the top of one of the towers.

We also took the Fullmers to downtown Bonn to look around. Nash, Luke, and Mallory are posing here in front of Sterntor, but the Fullmers are in the background on the steps on the left.

Our family in front of the house where Beethoven was born.

We showed the Fullmers all kinds of good things to eat, including the Crepes we get from this cart in Bonn. If you are going to eat a Crepe, you may as well get one from the guy who calls himself the Crepe King.

On the Muensterplatz in Bonn, in front of the old Post Office building.

And back at the house, we did an Easter Egg hunt -- lots of coins and chocolate.

March 2010 - Heidi's Birthday, School Performances

2011-01-09T18:27:00.003+01:00

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

2011-01-09T15:22:00.007+01:00

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

2011-01-04T21:31:00.009+01:00

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

2011-01-04T21:03:00.008+01:00

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.

Feb 2010 - Birthdays and Karneval

2011-01-04T20:36:00.003+01:00

Luke's 10th birthday.

Mallory, showing off her ninja skills.

Spooky view of the castle one morning.

Luke and Mallory in their Karneval costumes.

Grant wanted a mobile phone for his 12th birthday. He got a chocolate phone.

And then later he opened a real mobile phone.

Traditional family birthday photo.

January 2010 - Sledding and Lindt Chocolate Museum

2010-12-05T17:41:00.004+01:00

Plenty of snow in January, and the kids took the opportunity to go sledding as much as possible on the hill across from our house.

Mallory getting a ride from Luke on the way to the top of the hill.

Grant at the top of the sledding hill, with our house in the background.

Nash and Luke are watching the chocolate being made at the Lindt Chocoloate Museum in Cologne.

At the end of the museum, enjoying some hot chocolate with Heidi's parents.

January 2010 - Grant's Braces

2010-12-05T17:35:00.003+01:00

Grant was so excited to finally get his braces. I think the excitement wore off after a few days, as the pain began to set in.

The obligatory before and after photos.

Dec 2009 - New Year's Eve

2010-10-24T15:34:00.003+02:00

On New Year's Eve, we did a few fireworks in the backyard.

Including plenty of sparklers.

W played some games, opened Christmas crackers, and...

The kids banged on pots and pans at midnight.

Dec 2009 - Trip to Dresden, Bastei, and Seiffen

2010-10-24T15:11:00.004+02:00

We met up with Scott and Sherrie in Dresden for a few days.

Grant, Mallory, and Scott in front of a statue of Martin Luther.

A mural of the Sachsen kings & rulers in Dresden.

It was really cold, but not too cold to eat.

Luke's imitation of the statue at the top of this archway.

At the Zwinger Hof Museum in Dresden.

The next day we drove to Seiffen, but on the way stopped off at a place called the Bastei, with some interesting rock formations, overlooking the Elbe river.

The road to Seiffen took us through the country-side, right along the border with the Czech Republic. Nash couldn't resist the temptation to jump out of the car and run across the border, in order to claim that he was the first one in the family to go to the Czech Republic.

Seiffen is a small town, with small shops selling all sorts of wooden Christmas decorations, including Christmas Pyramids.

One of a few trips to Vapianos in Dresden with Scott and Sherrie.

Dec 2009 -- After Christmas

2010-10-24T15:08:00.001+02:00

After Christmas we put Scott and Sherrie on a train to go visit some friends for a few days.

And celebrated my birthday.

Dec 2009 - Christmas Day

2010-09-12T17:55:00.004+02:00

Christmas morning....

What little girl doesn't love unicorns?

Luke and Mallory looking for the pickle ornament on the tree.

It didn't take Mallory long to put on her purple sweatsuit.

Grant and Luke got the presents at (or very near) the top of their lists -- oversized Nerf guns. Scott and Nash got normal-sized Nerf guns, just to defend themselves.

Santa brought Beatles Rockband.

Everyone took a turn....

And then we went up to the attic for a Nerf gun war.

Dec 2009 - Christmas Eve

2010-09-12T17:16:00.008+02:00

December 24th -- all of the preparations have been made:

All the windows opened on the Advent Calendar.

Fire in the fireplace.

Time for the traditional re-enactment of the story of Jesus' birth.

Starring Heidi, as a shifty-eyed angel.

Nash, Grant, and Luke as 3 wisemen, plus Mallory the sheep.

Grandma & Grandpa were recruited to play the parts of Mary & Joseph.

Those shepherds look really afraid.

Grant as Narrator / Wiseman.

And our traditional almond pudding game.

Sherrie was the winner this year -- I think she had us all fooled.

And the prize.... a big bar of Toblerone.

Dec 2009 - a few days before Christmas with Heidi's parents

2010-09-12T17:02:00.007+02:00

Mallory made a sign for Grant, to show him how he will look when he gets his braces.

Scott and Sherrie endured many performances by Mallory.

Not the greatest photo, but we do have evidence of Nash being taught how to cook a roast.

Mallory was constantly climbing the door jamb.

Luke & Mallory with cinnamon sugar crepes at the Christmas market in Bonn.

Nash went off and got his own Bratwurst.

The Bonn Christmas market has great fried fish...

...and really good Hungarian goulash.

Apple pancakes. Can you tell we like the food at the Christmas markets?

Dec 2009 - Trip to Nuremberg with Heidi's Parents

2010-09-12T15:14:00.006+02:00

Nuremberg claims to have one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe. We took a fairly quick overnight trip with Heidi's parents to see the market and to find out what kinds of good food they have in Nuremberg.

Luke and Mallory liked the kids' section with all of the rides...

...and cotton candy.

In the morning at a bakery for hot chocolate and pastries.

Rows and rows of stalls selling everything imaginable.

The Christmas market is in the square in front of the church in Nuremberg.

Nash is either eying some candy he'd like to buy or thinking about that last Weckla he just ate (3 Nurnberger Bratwurst in a bread roll).

Corn on a cob...on a stick. Genius.

Nuremberg Castle.

Three brothers, making sure they are on their best behavior, because they know Christmas is only a few days away, and Santa Claus is watching.

Scott and Sherrie getting ready to cross the street.

We met up with some friends of the family to warm up, have some Apfel Schorle, Nuermberger Bratwurst, and potato salad.

Dec 2009 - Visit from Heidi's Parents

2010-09-12T15:00:00.003+02:00

Nash, in an almost GQ pose.

Heidi's parents came for a visit in mid-December. We took them to the Christmas market in Cologne, right in front of the Cologne Cathedral.

At the first of many visits to the Christmas market in Bonn.

And this is the only picture we took at the Siegburg Medieaval Christmas Market -- it was so cold that day, that I don't think any of us had much fun, not even on the hand-cranked merry-go-round.

They also went to Luke's Cubscout activity -- the Raingutter Regatta. Cold.

Dec 2009 - Visit from Heidi's Parents #2

2010-09-01T16:33:00.004+02:00

Luke and Mallory going sledding on the hill near our house.

YUM! Enjoying the best Hot Chocolate in the world at the Lindt Chocolate Factory in Cologne

Mallory happy with her free sample at the chocolate factory.

Heidi's parents came for Christmas. We really enjoyed taking them to Seiffen. A small town in the mountains of Germany on the boarder with the Czech Republic. Here they make all the wooden German Christmas ornaments like nutcrackers, Christmas pyramids etc.

Nash jumped out of the car and ran across the border just to add one more country to his list.

Dec 2009 - School Christmas Concert, Primary Christmas Party

2010-08-29T15:08:00.007+02:00

Heidi planned and lead the church Christmas party for the kids.

Luke played the cello in the primary school Christmas concert.

A dog was high on Mallory's Christmas wish list. It didn't happen.

Dec 2009 - St Nikolaustag & Putting up the Christmas Tree

2010-08-29T15:03:00.002+02:00

Annual tradition of St Nikolaustag filling up the kids' shoes with candy, oranges, and presents.

And Mallory reading a book to us as we prepare to put up the Christmas tree.

December 2009 - Christmas markets in Cologne & Bad Neuenahr

2010-08-29T14:56:00.002+02:00

I took the kids to the Christmas market in Cologne one Saturday. One of the stands was selling Indonesian food, which we thought was a bit out of place in Cologne, but we didn't complain. The food was good and reminded us of our old home.

It was a cold day, but a crepe will always warm you up.

We then went to the Christmas market in a town just south of where we live, called Bad Neuenahr.

December 2009 - Christmas Market in Aachen

2010-08-29T14:51:00.002+02:00

Heidi and some of her friends at the Weihnachtsmarkt in Aachen.

They dropped the kids off at school one day, then drove over to Aachen to see the Christmas market and do some shopping.

November 2009 - Thanksgiving & Everything Else

2010-08-28T08:10:00.003+02:00

I don't know that I'll ever understand the appeal of face paint, but Mallory loves it. Face paint looks much better before it has been smudged and worn off.

Thanksgiving with friends.

Mallory's school performance / dance programs.

And in late November we went to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree....but we didn't bring it home yet.

November 2009 - Mallory's Birthday Party

2010-08-28T08:03:00.002+02:00

The weekend after her birthday, Mallory had a birthday party with her friends here at the house. All the kids came dressed up as princesses (and a knight or two thrown in for good measure).

Heidi made an elaborate castle cake.

Heidi, Lisa, and Nash helping the kids make crowns.

I think Nash was enlisted to tell a story or play a game with the kids.

10 Nov 2009 - Mallory's 5th Birthday

2010-08-28T07:59:00.002+02:00

Mallory, on the morning of her 5th birthday -- waiting to open one present at breakfast. The rest of the presents had to wait until later that night.

She's all teeth in this photo -- she just cannot contain her excitement.

November 2009 - St Martin's Day

2010-08-28T07:54:00.002+02:00

Mallory and Luke with their friends at the primary school celebration of St Martin's Day.

The kids love making their lanterns every year.

November 2009 - Family Photo Shoot

2010-08-28T07:46:00.002+02:00

In early November we attempted a family picutre.

Credit goes to our friend, Rich, for taking the photos....and who patiently waited for our family to get organized.

October 2009 - Halloween

2009-11-08T12:19:00.006+01:00

The kids and their creations this year -- Grant's idea to make the jack o'lantern vomit, and Mallory's idea to make the spider.

Halloween night -- preparing the costume.

Luke was Sherlock Holmes, and Mallory was a cheer leader.

We took the kids trick or treating in the apartment complex across from their school - here's Mallory with her friends.

Luke and his friend, Logan -- apparently more interested in the glow sticks than in collecting candy.

Grant spent the day with his friend, Austin, at an amusement park for his birthday, then we met them that night after trick or treating. Grant's French painter costume (hard to see the beret he bought in France a couple of weeks ago) is mostly covered by his sweatshirt.

October 2009 - Provence, France

2009-11-08T10:15:00.022+01:00

In planning what to do during the kids' October break this year, we were determined to go on a vacation that was actually relaxing, instead of a trip filled with frantic visits from historical site to museum to historical site, where we stay in a different hotel every night. So, we found a villa to rent in Provence, and stayed there for the entire week. It was a beautiful house just south of Avignon -- with plenty of bedrooms and sleeping space, plus a large yard with olive and all sorts of other trees, as well as a pool. The kids were really excited to try out the pool, but with temperatures in the 60s - low 70s during the day, the swimming didn't last too long.

Where are the muscles?

Grant (above) and Luke (below) finally building up enough courage to take the plunge.

Right behind the house was a hill/rocky outcropping they call the Montagnette. It was about a 20 minute walk to the top with a nice view of the valley, the Rhone river, and Avignon in the distance, so we walked up there most days.

A couple of days we even took sandwiches up there to eat lunch. The Mistral winds were really bad on several days.

A view of the villa from the montagnette."

There are a lot of beautiful old villages on hilltops in Provence. One afternoon we went to the village of Roussillon.

Roussillon is right near an old ochre quarry - lots of orange/reddish rocks.

We also went to a lavender museum place and Heidi got some lavender girl stuff (lotion, etc.).

We drove down to the Mediterranean coast to an area near Marseille with calanques.

This calanque is called Sormiou.

Nash decided to go for a little run along the trail at Sormiou.

We then went in to Marseille and tried to take the boat to the Chateau d'If, but it was closed that day. Instead, we got lunch and walked around a bit. This photo is from the Fort Saint Nicolas, which is at the entrance to harbor.

Back at the villa, eating dinner in the dining room/enclosed porch.

Grant and Nash examining the olive trees around the house.

Very large mushrooms.

The boys and I had a little fun with the camera on the terraced lawn.

From the top the of Montagnette, again. The village of Barbentane is on the right, and further off in the distance on the left is Avignon.

At the museum at the Pont du Gard - the Roman aqueduct near Avignon.

They had a pretty good kids section with a lot of "hands on" displays.

At the Pont du Gard -- a little rainy, unfortunately.

Inbetween the rain, we tried to get a family photo...

But we set the timer on the camera, and every time someone pushed the buttom and came running back, something funny seemed to happen (the camera would fall, the umbrella blew away in the wind toward the river, or someone tripped on the way back).

We walked across the bridge under the Pont du Gard, and Grant started to kick this rock all of the way across, but some other kid went to try to kick it away from Grant, but Heidi rescued it for him.

In Avignon in front of the Palace of the Popes -- the papal seat for a while in the 1300s, when the pope didn't want to be in Rome.

The inside is pretty bare, but they had a good audio guide.

In the rain, at the far end of the Pont Saint Benezet - the bridge over the Rhone in Avignon, with the Palace of the Popes in the background. The song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" is a catchy tune.

Our kids in a candy shop.

We also went to Arles for the Roman ruins and the Van Gogh sites.

The coliseum in Arles is impressive from the outside -- we didn't go in, because it was being renovated.

Narrow alleys in Arles.

This is the site of the old Roman forum, called the Place du Forum today, with us standing in front of the yellow cafe from Van Gogh's painting.

We spent an afternoon in the city of Les Baux.

Mallory practicing her balancing skills.

Les Baux is an old city on top of a hill, with a castle, mostly in ruins.

Mallory and Luke, crawling through the holes in the walls of the ruins.

Luke and Grant seeing what it would be like to be in the stockades.

As we climbed up the fortress part of the castle, it started to rain, but that didn't deter Nash and Grant.

At the highest point of Les Baux, on the walls, overlooking the city.
Nash and Heidi have been reading the Count of Monte Cristo (we're always misprouncing it as "Crisco"), and we watched movie one night at the villa, so when we went to Marseille on Monday, we were disappointed that we could not go to the Chateau d'If. So we went back to Marseille on Friday. However, when we got there, they said the boat wasn't stopping at the Chateau d'If that day because the winds & waves were too strong. Instead, we took the boat out to the next island outside the main harbor, called Iles du Frioul.

We walked around the island, which has several old fortresses, a lighthouse or two, etc.

It was really windy, and gave Nash "80's hair."

A view of Chateau d'If and behind it, Marseille.

Relaxing, back at the villa -- a small patio outside Grant's bedroom.

Nash and I went up into the village of Barbentane, near the villa where we stayed.

13th century tower in Barbentane.

Back at the villa, playing petanque.

Our last meal at the villa, Friday night before we left. We were sad to leave it.

Saturday morning we drove to Arles -- on the way we saw this abbey, and stopped for a few quick photos.

We went back to Arles for the Saturday morning market. Lots of good things to eat...

...and pottery.

We then drove along the Mediterranean coast to Monaco.

This is the cathedral in Monaco, where Grace Kelly is buried.

Inside the cathedral.

Mallory, Nash, and I in the shade in front of the palace of the Prince of Monaco.

More shade, sorry -- Nash, overlooking Monaco from Monaco-ville.

We also went to the Musée Océanographique de Monaco.

Downstairs was the aquarium, and upstairs was more like a museum.

That day we woke up in France, stopped in Monaco in the afternoon, then kept driving along the coast and had a piece of pizza for dinner in Italy, then drove up and through the alps, and spent the night in Switzerland. Our only regret was that it was dark by the time we got to the alps, so we couldn't see any of the scenery. All in all, it was a good trip, and we are already starting to think about going back to the villa in Provence.

Fall 2009

2009-11-07T21:18:00.004+01:00

It has been a good fall for us so far. Life seems very busy -- the days and weeks fly by. The kids are busy with homework and invovled with various other activities.

Mallory

Every fall, the kids here in Germany collect chestnuts. They fall from the trees (or the kids knock them down from the trees) in September or October, and the kids take them out of their shells. I am told that sometimes in school they paint them or make them into animals. One weekend we went on a bike ride, and Grant and Luke collected quite a few... One weekend per year, you can also take the chestnuts you gather to the Haribo factory her in Bonn, and they'll "buy" them from you -- exchange a certain number of kilos of chestnuts for a kilo of Haribo candy. The boys wanted to take them in to get some candy, but we were out of town.

Grant played in a few soccer games with his school team, but missed a few because he was sick.

Nash with the other boys in his age group at the cross country meet in Berlin.

And with the cross country team...