Life in Amsterdam

Sardina Honeymoon

2011-12-04T07:40:00.003-08:00

SARDINIA! It wasincredible! I feel pretty lucky that Jesse planned us a 4 dayhoneymoon after the Amsterdam wedding. I had no idea of his plans untilthe day after the wedding when we were practically heading to theairport.

Upon arrival we drove our cutelittle Fiat to our boutique hotel with all the bells and whistles! It seemed like we were the only ones there because we had the infinitypool to ourselves every time we went swimming.

I was very impressed with Jesse’splanning skills. He had restaurant recommendations,hidden beach tips and excursions on the agenda. We found some amazing private sea side spots and some swanky ones too!

On the last night at dinner, we weretalking and both just didn’t want it to come to an end (4 days is NOT longenough for a honeymoon)! So, we decided to wake up at 5:30am thenext day and hike in the dark to a beautiful beach cove to watch the sunrise onthe white sand while sipping champagne together. We were all aloneuntil 4 naked people jumped off a sailboat moored in the cove. Theyswam to the shore and ran around splashing in the waves; TOTALLY NAKED! Thenthey realized we were sitting there watching them and they swam back to theirboat.

It was pretty funny.

Sardinia is a destination that will be special to us forever! Maybe someday we will get to return and relive some of the fun we had there!

Wedding Day Bliss

2011-11-20T13:31:00.001-08:00

July 5th, 2011 was a day we will never forget. So much prep and organization went into this day. From the first event until we danced around a campfire in our wedding attire, each moment was packed with emotion, excitement and loveliness!

Our parents and brothers gathered as our witnesses at the Amsterdam City Hall to watch our nuptials commence.

We signed our marriage certificate and shook hands to make it official.

And a photo with the family in the center was next on the agenda.

On the way to our next stop we paused over a canal to put a love lock on the bridge and throw the key over a shoulder into the water, a French tradition.

After the legal ceremony we took our families to Cafe de Jaren for a champagne toast. That's where Josh, Molly, Kendall, Kelly and Noah met us to collect our families and take them to the venue.

We said farewell to everyone and went out in the city to take photos in the center of Amsterdam; the city we fell in love with after finding love in each other.

While we were in the city taking photos all our guests gathered at the venue for Pimms and Hors d'oeuvres which our friends Kris and Ilona prepared for all our guests. In the meantime, Chris and Lindsey checked everyone into their overnight cabins.

Then it was time for the symbolic ceremony to begin...

My friend Ben, and his colleague Jeroen, arranged music especially for us. Chicago's "You're my Inspiration," 2 string quartet style.

Jesse walked both our mom's to their seats and then waited for me to arrive.

My Dad walked me down the aisle and stood in as priest to lead us through the ceremony and our vows. That was so special to Jesse and me.

Then Jesse told everyone that he forgot to bring the rings to the ceremony. And our guests thought that was pretty funny... but they also helped assist us with placeholders.

So the ceremony continued and we were announced as Mr and Mrs Olson!

Then we decided to ask all our 50 guests to gather for a group photo.

Toasting time was next. Friends shared special stories and we all raised our glasses!

Everything was very civilized until all my girlfriends decided to lift me! Needless to say, I loved it!

Jesse and I went out on the canoe to have a few moments for ourselves and talk about the days' events.

Our friends had a chance to take a canoe ride after us, but we needed to have a picture with them first.

We made postcards out of pictures of us on our travels and asked guests to make a wish for us.

At dinner time everyone had a bib because we had ribs and other BBQ goodness.

When the sun started to set we took everyone out to the pasture to light a wishing lantern. There was enough for everyone to have a try but some were more difficult to get off the ground than others.

It was honestly the best day ever! Every second was perfect and being married suites me quite nicely. Thank you to all our friends, parents and brothers for making the trip to Amsterdam to share this special day with us! We'll hold July 5th, 2011 in our hearts forever!

Pre-wedding Parties!

2011-11-20T11:20:00.001-08:00

It is not very often in one lifetime, that all the people you love come to one place at the same time. We were lucky enough to have exactly this happen in the first days of July, 2011. We had a picnic in Beatrix park and my friends, Molly and Julia, planned a bachlorette day at Catarina house followed by a night out. And on the evening before our wedding we took all our out-of-town guests on a BBQ boat ride to show them the city.

With all these activities planned the time passed by extremely fast. But the pictures remind me of how much fun we had.

Family Time in the Netherlands

2011-11-20T09:43:00.001-08:00

The last Monday in June marked the week before our wedding in Amsterdam, a week we anticipated for months because our families were coming to Europe! This was a pretty big deal, because most members of our family (with the exception of a few) had never left the US before let alone step foot on a airplane.

Each day we spent touring with our family was full of fun and excitement. We had a picnic in Musuemplein park, rode bicycles to the windmill on the Amstel River, cruised the canal in the boat for a different view of the city, had poffertjes on the Albert Cuypmarkt, and took the train to Zaanse Schans for the wooden clog musuem and cheese shopping.

Each minuet spent with our parents and brothers is cherished, but the time we shared with them in The Netherlands means even more to us. Now each corner we turn in Amsterdam reminds us of the memories we made on their trip to Holland!

Girl's weekend in Nice France

2011-08-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

My friend Molly brought it to my attention in May that we needed one last girls trip before the "Nuptials". Not only was it the perfect excuse to spend the weekend with my friend, it was also a great way to relax on the beach and work on our tans. On the second day in the South of France we took the train to Monaco to see Monte Carlo. From the train we observed an awesome little beach cove that looked pretty easy to get to on the way back, assuming that we would be able to walk over the hill to return to Nice. Well, the sandy beach cove was really nice, but the hill turned out to be a mountain! We ended up hiking for 90 minutes in our swimsuits and flip-flops to wind up on top of the "cliff of the stars" to have breathtaking views of the Nice Harbor. We had read about Elton John, Bono and Mick Jagger owning homes with views like this, so we began speaking in our best Robin Leech accent as we tromped down the mountain.

Later we found that we had passed right by the homes of the rich and famous, so I guess the Robin Leech accent was appropriate.

Exploring, sipping rose wine on the beach, dock walking in Monaco and yummy yummy French food! We had so much fun together! Such a memorable weekend with my friend Molly!

SF - A City for Lovers!

2011-08-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Our time in San Francisco was so well spent! We planned this trip to attend a close friend's wedding, which was super fun! But we went a week early to hang out in the city and spend time with Rudi and Nichole Suminski. The excitement started with the Oyster Festival in the Marina to see Pepper, Guster and Rodrigo y Gabriella. The performances were fantastic and the crowd was feeling the music. The grand finale of the festival was eating fresh oysters - which we haven't had in so long!

The next day, Nichole and I started early with a walk past the bay bridge to the Ferry building for a morning coffee. Along the way we ran into costumed runners amped up for the Bay to Breakers madness. This is the world's largest foot race with over 110K participants running/walking/dancing from the Bay Bridge to the beach. Some are serious runners and others are just costumed goof balls. We joined in the fun by dressing up as ZZ Top and their groupies and walking through the pan handle to observe the craziness. It was so much fun with loads of music, dance parties and double dutch jump roping.

Later in the week we went to Alamo park to roll down the hill in front of the full house painted ladies, Baker Beach to see the Golden Gate, the Marina for shopping and lunch, twin peaks views, hiking in Santa Cruz and lots of good fun with our friends. It was a super fantastic time! We found great shopping (loads of wedding necessities were checked off the list), cool museums and awesome food!

I heart San Francisco!

A Greek Easter!

2011-08-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

Given our tradition to travel with our friends, Josh and Molly, every year on Easter, this year we decided to go to Greece. We started our long holiday weekend near Athens at a resort at the edge of the water with beautiful views to the sunset.

Most of our time was spent on the island we visited, called Poros. However, the drive there form Athens was a little long... I was feeling a bit woozy in the back seat. So we stopped at the ancient epidaurus amphitheater to stretch our legs and were pleasantly surprised by the historical scenery.

Upon arrival to the ferry we observed the city scape of the small harbor of Poros from the top of the boat. We were greeted by a lovely local who said she would guild us to our apartment for the weekend. She hopped on her motor cycle and we followed her through the tiny streets.

We climbed to the highest point of the island where we had a perfect 360 view of the spectacular terrine when she pulled over her motor bike and told us to park on a bed of wild flowers. We all agreed that our parking spot was on the best real estate we'd seen in a while.

Our local guide took us to our apartment where we were awe struck by the view. Just as we swung the balcony doors open, the Greek skies were turning pink and the sun was dropping. This was just the beginning of the natural beauty we experienced.

Greece in April has rolling green hills, colorful wild flowers climbing up terraces against the contrasting cluster of white houses hanging on the edge of the hillside overlooking the harbor with sail boats dotting the crystal blue water below. Breathtaking!

We took a day trip to Nafplio; a seaport town in the Peloponnese with a massive fortress overlooking the town and a protective lookout outside the harbor. The meals we had were impeccable and delicious! Fresh fish every day, octopus straight from the ocean and BBQ'd on the grill in front of us.

We went to beach coves to soak up some sun and we even participated in a candle light procession on Good Friday. It was so neat to see the train of candle flames from each end of the island (where the churches are) where both parades met in the middle of the town's square. I couldn't understand what they were saying in

Greek but the singing was lovely and a unique experience to join in.

On the last day we headed back to Athens on the ferry to explore the big city. The boat ride was refreshing, and bitter sweet. We were already missing Poros but had the Acropolis on the agenda ahead of us. It was pretty cool; but the only place I would ever go in Athens as the rest of the city is dirty.

Overall, I think we picked the perfect time of year to experience Greece. I hope we can visit again.

Wellness weekend in Bavaria

2011-05-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

After Jesse spent a long week at the Global Marketing Meeting in HQ, I asked if I could treat him to a much needed wellness weekend (something he would never decide to do on his own). So, I sent out on a Friday afternoon in early April to meet him in Munich.

My first mission was to wander the city and scope out a good place for us to eat dinner. Among the many pedestrian crowded streets I pondered several beer gardens but hesitated going in. I checked my watch after a few hours realizing that I should head back to the hotel where JO would be arriving soon.

Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder which caused me to whip around in a quick, slightly frightened, 180 only to see Jesse standing in front of me. We had a reuniting embrace and I asked how he would know where to find me, he replied; "I knew you'd be close to our favorite beer garden, The Hofbrahuis!"

We started our weekend with the famous breweries beer, pork knuckle specialty and beloved pretzel from the in-house bakery.

From there we got a great night's rest followed by a weekend of hiking in the same alps that Julie Andrew's sang on top of in 'The Sound of Music.' We really fell in love with the Bavarian Alps and the way of life in the beautiful region.

Chamonix Reunion Round 2: Run this Town Remixed

2011-05-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

We get to experience new places, cultures and atmospheres quite often with our monthly weekend get-aways (or honeymoons as like to call them). But we can always appreciate a good reunion trip when it involves great friends, an awesome french village in the alps and knock your socks off beauty only Chamonix & Mont Blanc can bring.

So, in 2011 we returned to the same valley surrounded by mountains that we visited in 2010. Some of the original members were there but our crew doubled in size this year.

Adding more participants made it possible to rent a huge chalet with hot tub views of the snow packed peaks and glaciers. We spent more time in our house for the weekend but still took the time to hit the slopes, paint the town red and endulge in the local cuisine.

CHEESE! Need I say more?

Jesse Turns 30!

2011-05-01T02:09:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come for our Jesse to leave his 20's behind. Ahead of him lies another several decades of learnings, experiences and adventures.

Here's a few picture's which show how far Jesse has come:

Cheers to another fantastic 30 years Bub!

Muy Madrid

2011-04-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Our Madrid journey started with a surprise from our old friend Evan. He decided to take a 2-week trip to Madrid to visit some old colleagues who are now Madrid natives. So, Molly, Josh, Jesse and I jumped on a plane and set out to join the fun!

As Spain's capital for over 400 years, Madrid is a lively, thriving city, famous for bullfights and all-night fiestas. Its streets are always hopping, from sightseers marveling over historic landmarks to partygoers darting in and out of noisy cafés. Highlights include the Plaza Mayor, where believers in religions other than Catholicism were once burned at the stake. The city also boasts several world-class museums, such as the Prado and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which features work by Picasso, Dali and Mire.

We started our time in Madrid by strolling through the small streets surrounding Plaza Mayor. Before long we found a sunny terrace; where a local musician serenaded us with the sounds of an accordion. The Spanish cuisine specialties pulled us in. We had Tapas of all kinds, squid sandwiches, and lots of sangria.

Spanish life must be good because after lunching it seems natural to have a little siesta. I guess these afternoon naps help recharge the batteries because dinner is served late and clubs are open till eight… in the morning. After a long day of touring, plus a night out we felt the need to explore the parks of Madrid on our second day.

There are several parks in Madrid, but none are as famous or beloved as El Retiro. This park covers about 350 acres, and offers a nice mix of gardens, natural areas, monuments, and arts. Originally, the park surrounded a royal palace, a bit like the gardens at Versailles. However, the palace no longer exists, and the park has now become one of the city's most popular attractions, both for tourists and locals.

This park really exudes the grandeur that you would expect from the time when Spain was in its golden age. The park (built by King Felipe IV in 1632) was declared in 1935 a Garden of Historic-Artistic Importance. While it is pleasant to get lost in the park's several trails, most of the action is concentrated around the large pond and monument to Alfonso XII.

We went to the park through the main entrance beside the Alcala Gate, at the Plaza de la Independence and hopped into a boat for some canoe races! The sun felt so good and the floating picnic wasn’t bad either. Later we found ourselves drawn to one of the park's sunny patios towards the end of the afternoon to enjoy a glass of wine/beer to the sound of live saxophones, watching people row around the pond. It was a nice, green refuge away from the city's noises and crowds.

At the exit of the park we came across an old 18th century hospital which has been beautifully remodeled and converted into The Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid in 1992. Reina Sofia is one of the largest contemporary art museums in the world today. Many of its art works were transferred from the nearby Prado, and it's now a treasure house of contemporary and modern art. Two of the floors are devoted to temporary exhibits, while the other two are for the permanent collection, which also covers Abstract, Pop, and Minimal Art movements.

The highlight of this museum is the 20th century's most famous painting, Picasso's "Guernica". It was commissioned by the Spanish government for a Paris exhibition as a Civil War protest and hung in a New York gallery until 1981, fulfilling Picasso's wish that it should not be shown in Spain until democracy was established. It was then exhibited at the Prado, and moved to this permanent home in 1992. Seeing the Guernica in person was truly an experience. It seems that the longer I studied it, the more I discovered in the painting.

Our last night in Madrid was well spent at a Real Madrid Football match. The crowd was fired up and cheered the home team to victory; and we were there to participate in the Spaniards passion for this cherished sport. What a great way to end our weekend get away!

Seeing Blue in Delft

2011-03-26T02:39:00.000-07:00

The city of Delft dates back to the 13th century and has an interesting history including the famous Delft Explosion (a gunpowder store blew up), also known as the Thunderclap. That happened in 1654 leaving half of the city destroyed and hundreds killed.

The burial site of the Dutch royals is also in this tiny town and we found some pretty famous pancakes, which we all agreed were extremely tasty! However, if there is one single thing that makes Delft known world wide, it's Delftware. Royal Delft produces Delft Blue, an internationally renowned porcelain.

In the 17th century supplies from China, the home of porcelain, weren't always easy to obtain and, of course, there was that small problem of transport. So Delft porcelain evolved to serve the European market.

Most tourists visit the Stedelijk Museum at Prinsenhof ...

But we were only interested in exploring the city after our breakfast of pancakes.

Since our day started by throwing caution in the wind, we didn’t take a map to see the small city. Instead we just mosied along, starting at the Markt Square.

And here, in the middle of Delft and on the most dazzling square of this old town we were surrounded by 2 great monuments with history that can almost be felt when you look around and see the guild houses, New Church and Town Hall.

Surrounding the Markt are the typical facades of Dutch guild houses. Some smaller or larger, some simple or more decorated, they can be seen on all sides of the rectangular square. The facades show the importance (as well as wealth) of the person that lived there, but also in an equal form the society that was represented from the house. Guilds had quite a lot of power in medieval times and were often competing among one another to become the most influential towards the city government and citizens. In present day many of the buildings have shops on the first floor, selling souvenirs or Delft Blue. On the second and top floor often apartment or student quarters are made. Can you imagine to spend a few years on such a great place?

The Nieuwe Kerk is in the middle of the Markt. We immediately decided to climb the stairs to the top and have a nice view of the whole town of Delft. It is the second highest church in the Netherlands, only the Dom tower in Utrecht surpasses it.

What interested me of the 375 steps was that the last 177 went in the opposite direction. Perhaps this was to avoid giddiness on the narrow sandstone steps. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the ascent, climbing through history up to sample a panoramic view.

The Nieuwe Kerk was built in the 13th century and the church has gone through quite a bit of disasters. It was hit by lightning on 1536 and 1872. Its wall was damaged during the Delft thunderclap in 1654 when ninety thousand pounds of gun powder exploded in the Delft gun powder store.

But the Church has been restored and stands tall over the markt square with a perfect view of the Town Hall. The town hall is a historical and royal heritage out of the Middle Ages. It was built in 1620 using the tower from a former town hall. Due to constant expansion the town hall evolved around the old tower (from the 13^th century) that used to be the prison. The front of the building, showing the coat of arms of the province of Holland, is an outstanding example of Dutch architecture in the golden age. One thing you can clearly see, is where the town crier used to stand to deliver messages from the little balcony on the second floor.

After descending to solid ground we thought it might be time for a beer which completed our afternoon trip to Delft.

Dankjewel for a hele gezellig middag Delft!

PDX Party

2011-03-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

What do you get when guys sport a tie, the girls wear a party dress, and you combine delicious food and an array of beverages? A hip, hot and happening engagement party!

My Friend Molly threw us an awesome Party complete with a signature cocktail; the balloon ride (champagne with a splash of pomegranate liquor). Tom bar tended amazing cocktails and Josh DJ'd all our favorite music.

Our friends are awesome! Thanks to everyone who came and a big 'bedankt' to our hosts!

Wedding Dress Weekend

2011-03-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Shopping for a wedding dress is probably something that most girls dream about from a young age. I was no different last December when my momma, my Aunt Laurie and my 3 best girlfriends set out on a mission to find THE perfect dress. My preplanning energy went to creating gift packages for my ladies which included the necessities; tissues, notepad, lip gloss and nail polish. In terms of the dress, I had only prepared a short list of the things I didn't like; so the options were almost endless.

After the first round of appointments, we met up with all the gals for a little bubbly. It was a full house and no shortage of dress talk.

3 sisters: My Momma, my Aunt Laurie and my Aunt Beth!

The next day we went to round 2 of the dress appointments and decided on THE dress! This exciting event was followed by more bubbles and more dress talk. We made several toasts to my new purchase and enjoyed the moment.

I really could not have made a decision without the support and advise from my posse. I can not say it enough; I love these ladies. Thanks for a wonderful weekend and help with a successful wedding dress pick! XO!

Home Sweet Home

2011-02-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

We got really lucky this year. Not only did 2010 offer us many unexpected surprises, we also scored big time with flights home and a flexible work schedule which allowed us to spend 3 weeks in the Great Northwest! Woo hoo!

And the whole time we were home, my family was actually living in the same state! Hip Hip Hooray!

So, we picked out the perfect tree and fastened it to the roof of the truck.

We specked out the best wreaths.

And found a winner.

Dad made sure that Santa would know where to go with an arrow pointed at the chimney on Aaron's new house.

A trip was made to our local North Pole for a picture with the big man.

We joined the carolers to spread some Christmas cheer!

A family photo was taken for the holiday card.

We started our puzzle on Christmas eve just as tradition calls for.

And finally Christmas morning came!

Which is when Anna Belle's dream to have her own toy gun came true!

Oh, and we finished our puzzle too!

Boon's Treasury Engagement Party

2011-01-25T06:56:00.000-08:00

The day after we landed in Portland, we hit the ground running; catching up with friends, visiting family and officially celebrating our engagement. We were pleasantly surprised the next morning when we found that my Grandma Schaecher submitted an Engagement Announcement (with an eye catching color photo) in the Statesman Journal Newspaper.

Her kind gesture was actually seen around the world, as our friends in Amsterdam received the clipping via email from their folks who assumed that all American couples living in Amsterdam know each other. Well, I guess it is a small world after all!

That day we had planned to hold a celebration at Boon's Treasury in Downtown Salem. This was our first chance to invite my Aunt's, Uncle's, cousins and family friends to join us in a toast and thank them for all their love and support throughout the years.

After these first few pictures were taken we were swept off our feet in conversation, hugs and cheers. We had quite the turn out and it became clear to both of us that we are truly blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives. It was overwhelming to see everyone that came out to wish us well and meant so much to have our loved ones all around us after being away for so long. Thanks again to everyone!

Dusseldorf Christmas Markets

2011-01-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

German Christmas markets have become one of our favorite traditions around the holiday’s since we’ve been living abroad. For the true Christmas market experience you have to make a trip to the fatherland, which happens to boarder The Netherlands! We've now been to several different Christmas markets in Germany and know it's the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Dusseldorf is only a 2 hour train ride away and we had no plans on the first weekend of December which was the grand opening of the markets. The market is actually a collection of smaller markets dotted around the city.

The stalls sell a mixture of things like cute arts & crafts style gifts and Christmassy things like wooden decorations straight out of The Nutcracker and gingerbread houses.   However, most popular among our crew were the sausage, (or wurst), raclette (pictures of the melted cheese* below) and the Gluehwein (or mulled wine) stalls. The local Gluehwein is powerful enough to launch a rocket – but we didn’t know that!  

* Raclette is a dish indigenous to parts of Switzerland. The Raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special broiler style grill, then scraped onto diners' plates; the term raclette derives from the French word racler, meaning "to scrape". We had our raclette with bread and let me tell you; it was tasty!

Here's what happened after a few rounds of gluehwein with schnapps. And then we accidently got on the wrong train heading towards Berlin; NOT Amsterdam! But we made it home safely and got to work the next day on time. Double bonus! Just like gluehwein with schnapps!

In Brugge

2010-12-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

The trip to Bruges (Brugge in Dutch) was a last minute, game time decision for our friend, Lindsey's 28th birthday. She admitted to us that she was hoping to spend her first birthday abroad on a European beach off the Spanish coast or French Riviera. However, we all know that the winter is COLD everywhere in Europe (I use the term “winter” loosely, as it spans the period between the end of September and March).

Bruges is a two and a half hour drive from Amsterdam and we started off our trip bright and early Saturday morning. We cruised into Bruges around 10:00am and made a quick stop at our humble abode to drop off our car. We then rented bikes and took off into the heart of the city center in our quest for Belgian beer. The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO due to the medieval architecture still intact. In addition, it is known as the Venice of the North, similar to Amsterdam, as it is made up of many canals throughout the city.

On our way into the city we came upon a Saturday market, which if anyone knows me, I can’t resist. I instantly wanted to park the bikes and take a look around. There were tons of stalls filled with meats, cheese and fresh baked goods. There were little purchases made with the exception of the much talked about Gluwein. Gluwein is hot, spiced wine and very similar to mulled wine. It is quite popular during the winter season, especially if you are rummaging around the Christmas markets of Europe.

As the weather was becoming a little unpredictable, we carried on until we found the first restaurant we could find off the famous Markt (the market square). The most memorable moment of lunch was when Jesse and Chris went to order our first Belgian beers. The waiter asked if they would prefer medium or large beers. Upon Jesse’s response of large, the waiter looked shocked and felt the need to inquire again if large was the correct size. Confusion spread throughout our table and Jesse reiterated, as if it was a challenge, that large was indeed what he wanted. A few minutes later their drinks arrived in 1 liter glass mugs. Let’s just say that our lunch continued on into the early afternoon. With the little time left in the afternoon and the dismal weather, we did the only thing we could think of…tour the local brewery.

Sunday morning came early after a night of eats, drinks and games. However, the sun had finally made an appearance and we had to capitalize. Our first stop was the most noticeable tourist attraction in the city, the belfry clock tower. The building served as a bell tower and watchtower in the thirteenth century. A climb of 366 steps unfolds a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. It is said that on a clear day one can see all the way to London.

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the city and its treasures, which included the local chocolate shops and Belgian waffles. Little did we know that the sun would not be sticking around. Within a few minutes the weather went from clear and sunny to the worst hail storm I had ever seen. And the worst part was that we were stuck outside under a small umbrella watching it unfold. I will never forget how rapidly the streets filled up with hail so thick that it seemed as if it had snowed.

Overall, the weekend was a success and definitely a time to remember. Thanks to Lindsey Allen for being born (thus giving us a reason to tke a weekend trip) and for this guest entry in our blog.

A long weekend at the Pearl of Lake Annecy

2010-10-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

The charming, idyllic resort village of Talloires (pronounced “Tal-whar,” meaning “facing the moon”) is located on the shores of Lake Annecy at the foot of the French Alps in France on the border of Italy and Switzerland. The village preserves a heritage dating back to 1018. This lakeside village’s natural beauty and the surrounding mountains have inspired artists such as Paul Cézanne. Today, Talloires is dotted with courtyards, gardens, beaches, hiking trails, and small cafés.

Most you have heard us talk about our friend Jenny Dubois. She is half French / half American and spent a year working in the Portland adidas office. During that time she met her future husband and was also the only degree of separation between Jesse and I. We owe her big time for connecting the two of us.

Of course we jumped up and down when we learned that she would marry an old colleague from the adidas Group who transferred to the Solomon Annecy office when adidas sold Solomon. Together they have been living in this amazing region that few foreign travelers visit. Nestled below Lake Geneva, we flew into Geneva and took a few hours to see the tallest vertical fountain and browse the famous watch boutiques of Switzerland before heading off to Talloires, France.

Upon arriving to Talloires, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the turquoise jewel of a lake, the Lac d'Annecy, touted as the cleanest in Europe.

Set amid ridges and peaks, high verdant pastures and ringed by the inviting sights of Annecy, Menthon St Bernard and more. It's mountains and low lying, fast-moving cotton clouds evoke the feeling that you're on top of the world. One of the most beautiful areas we've ever seen, Talloires is a rich, exclusive retreat and known locally as the 'Pearl of Lac Annecy.'

Here you can see the Saint-Bernard de Menthon castle on the left. We toured this huge castle which was founded by the patron saint of the mountain people. The Menthon family still owns the place, so touring the castle is limited to only 5 rooms of it's couple hundred. The castle was built two centuries ago with several additions from the original.

Bernard himself, descended from a rich, noble family and refused a honorable marriage because he decided to devote himself to the service of the Church.

The castle is the site of heroic rescue tales as it's located in the only pass through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland a little more than 8,000 feet above sea level.

Sneaking away from the chateau the day before the wedding, he fled to Italy and started several hospitals.

It was very dangerous for foot travelers journeying through the difficult terrain during unexpected weather that was often fatal. Later the pass was named the 'Great Saint Bernard Pass' because the monk accompanied by this well-trained dogs (St. Bernard's) would venture out in heavy snow-storms to search for victims who were trapped by avalanche and bad weather.

That's why he is the patron saint of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking and mountaineering.

This place has alot of rooms!

The Abbaye de Talloires was the venue for Jenny & Hal's wedding. This site is set on the banks of the picturesque lake and maintains a fairy tale atmosphere. The ceremony was in the garden over looking the water and reception was amazing. We danced until the sun came up and relaxed on the dock the next day.

Annecy for a Day!

2010-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

At the edge of the turquoise Lac d'Annecy, bounded to the east by the peaks of La Tournette and to the west by the long wooded ridge of Le Semnoz, Annecy is one of the most beautiful towns of the French Alps. The town of art and history is called the Venice of the Alps and lake Annecy boasts the reputation as the purest lake in all of Europe.

We enjoyed a breath taking setting on the lake, walked through the colorful pedestrian oldtown and stopped for fondue before heading to Geneva to catch our flight home.

Here I am (Jesse is taking the picture) on the Pont des Amours; aka bridge of love. Situated at the edge of Lake Annecy, the Pont des Amours (Bridge of Love) is found at the mouth of the Vasse Canal, it marks the mouth of the lake inside the city, It's name comes from the legend that if a couple kisses on the bridge, they will be united for life. So we kissed!

The Palais de I'Isle, also called the 'old prison,' was built from the twelfth century. Taking up most of the island in a canal, it is the symbol of the town and is among the most photographed monuments in all of France, second only to the Effiel Tower. As Annecy is France's nomination to host the 2018 Winter Olympics there will most likely be more photos taken of the town's landmark.

Wow, that cheese fondue was good! We loved exploring Annecy and hope to return to the area this winter to hit the hills with our newly married friends; Hal and Jenny.

SAIL Festival visits Amsterdam

2010-09-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Dutch maritime relationship with the sea is well-known and history documents it. For centuries they have worked on the sea, against the sea, and with the sea, but today some of the romance is lost on the heavy cargo ships and dinky little canal boats.

Where is the grandeur of ages past, you might wonder? Well wonder no more because, it's come to Amsterdam. Over 50 ships sailed into the port of Amsterdam for the opening parade of a 5 day event that comes only once every 5 years; SAIL 2010.

But these aren’t just any ships! There was tall old wooden ships with beautiful billowing sails, gorgeous yachts, daunting naval ships of note, and other unique and impressive ships that we may never again get a chance to see. It really is a sight to behold.

This SAIL festival was awesome! Think: cannon salutes, boat carnivals, boat races, sailing lessons for children, and plenty of chances to tour the ships. Add to this some music and fireworks to wrap up the night, and we had ourself a nice little Saturday!

Fred and Rita created a news report on the Russian ship we toured to play at a wedding they are going to in a few weeks. It was Nautical.

I found the perfect boat for my brother, David!

Beach Camping in the Netherlands

2010-09-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

We don't get the chance to go camping very often since we moved to Amsterdam. You see, it's not really legal to camp outside of a proper campground and proper campgrounds seem like RV parks. But we jumped at the chance to join our friends for a night at the beach which ended in a covert camping mission in the sand dunes of Wijk aan Zee.

We watched the sunset and then danced the night away at this beach club. The tents didn't get set up until about 4am and we were having a brick throwing contest when the sun was rising. It was a memorable night!

SHASTA Lake California; Rocking the Houseboat!

2010-09-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

We spent the first week of August on Shasta Lake in Northern California. My friend, Kendall, organized the whole trip. It must have been a difficult task considering that we had 2 houseboats and 22 people in our group; but all the planning and coordinating paid off!

We had such a fun time; wakeboarding, surfing, swimming and playing games!

Our game of choice was Flip Cup. After several rounds of the ladies punishing the guys with killer flip cup skills, we decided to place a wager on the next game. The loosing team would need to make a human pyramid... well the pictures are priceless!

We hiked up a trail along a creek to a natural pool and saw plenty of mini waterfalls along the way.

Fun with friends in the sun; the way every vacation should be!

We will be Wed!

2010-08-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

The most memorable day ever began jet-lagged. We both woke up early and decided to watch the sunrise from the Tahoe city dock on the lake. After the sun peaked it's head over the mountains and brightened the sky Jesse said we better head back towards the cabin where our families were waiting. I agreed but as we drove towards squaw Jesse had a wild idea; to search out a golf course for all the boys to play at later in the week. Wishing he would drop me off first and complaining that he should use the Internet he insisted that it wouldn't take more than 20 minuets. When he took a turn down a narrow road leading to a small airport I commented "I doubt this road takes us anywhere," thinking we were lost. Right then he pulled over and said that we should ask 2 dudes he spotted in the airport parking lot for directions. I was happy waiting in the car but Jesse looked at me and said firmly "Michelle get out of the car."

That's when I realized that he was planning a terrific surprise: a hot air balloon lay flat on the ground and a basket sat nearby. I was ecstatic! My dream of riding in a hot air balloon would finally come true.

We helped fill the beautiful balloon with air and then hopped in the basket. Our driver, Ray, was really nice and made us feel very safe. But I couldn't help the butterflies I felt when looking straight below us. We got so high that you could see over the mountains. As I snapped away with my camera I thought, "my life could not get any better." Then I noticed Jesse searching through his bag on the floor and before I knew it, he was holding a small jewelery box on one knee. My legs suddenly went weak and I went to the floor of the basket with him.

Somehow, I got back up in time to hear the sweetest words. He told me how much he loved me and said "Michelle will you marry me?"
Oh and I'm sure you know that I screamed for joy and have been on cloud nine ever since. After the ride we raced back to the cabin and celebrated with our family and friends all day long! Woo hoo! We're gettin married!

Tahoe: Families Unite!

2010-08-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

Slideshow...

End of July marked the vacation we had been planning and coordinating for several months. This would be the first time our families meet.

We went rafting on the Truckee river, hiking to the fire lookout point on the north side of the lake, swimming in lake Tahoe and enjoyed live music at squaw valley. Each day we found a new adventure and loved every second of our time together.

The cabin we stayed at was perfect as it was located right on the Truckee river. The sound of the water and floating in the rapids kept us in a vacation state of mind the whole time.

Anna Belle Linn came with my brother, Aaron from southern California and David drove down from Oregon with my parents. Jesse's family drove all the way from Kansas and by the time we were all together all we wanted to do was relax.

Our friends from Portland came down for the last few days we were in Tahoe and the fun times continued. Here are some photos of us living it up Tahoe style.

Berlin: Sunshine the Second Time Around

2010-08-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

As most of our friends and family know, we went to Berlin for new years eve when the city was covered in snow. This time was different; we were drenched in sun and toured the city slowly while taking in the famous Brandenburg gate, the memorial to the murdered Jews, museum island and the sites from the TV tower.

All the historical sites were amazing but now we just need to schedule one more trip to Berlin for shopping.

Prague: Bohemian Dreams

2010-08-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

From our first days living abroad, I wanted to visit Prague. Finally my dreams came true when Aunt Nancy and my 2nd cousin Sylver came to visit. We took a 3 day trip together in Czech and enjoyed every second of it. Here are some photos of us in the bohemian capital (one of the only major European cities that avoided the bombs of WWII). Take note of the beautiful Gothic Church of Our Lady and the views from the castle. The Charles Bridge was also impressive but there were loads of tourists there.

Prague is on my list of favorite places and I hope to return again soon!

World Cup: Amsterdam is Burning!

2010-08-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

There is only one way to describe the recent world cup fever that swept Europe, straight craziness! For an entire month we viewed football match after match on the edge of our seats, participating in the passion and excitement that the games bring. We went to an outdoor viewing party in Prague for the Netherlands vs. Brazil game and were proud to be wearing orange.

Then in Berlin, we saw the Germany vs. Argentina game and witnessed first hand the madness that consumes the German football fans. But my hat goes off to the Dutch for their enthusiasm and commitment to the Netherlands football team. Our city was covered in orange (the national team color) for 30 days straight and we were right there cheering them on.

Bike Drama

2010-06-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

I've talked about our main mode of transportation a few times in the past; but may I remind you that we ride bikes EVERYWHERE. When friends come to visit us, we have to collect them from the train station with our bikes and fasten their luggage to the front and wheeling suitcases to the back.

So, with a large collection of bikes we were always prepared for flat tires, house guests and any sort of late night bike abandonment (for collection the next day of course). The total at one point was 5 bikes and each one had a story and a special place in our hearts.

First, one of Jesse's favorite Gazelle's was taken from our metro station while he was working late. Next, Jesse's 2nd favorite Gazelle lost it's breaks and it cost more than the bike was worth to fix it. Now it's just sitting in front of our house with no lock on it... unrideable.

Recently, among the construction in our neighborhood Jesse was hit by a speeding taxi while riding is only working bike. The poor bike was swept under the wheels but Jesse was ok.

With our beautiful bike ride to work is pretty appropriate to have a bike. Right now Jesse has been borrowing a bike from a friend and in the meantime we're looking for a new bike for him. Cross your fingers that he'll find a new favorite!

Night at the Orchestra

2010-06-13T06:07:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to get dolled up and pretend that you're a star in 'Sex in the City.' My friends and I were inspired to do just that when we scored some tickets to see the famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the stunning Amsterdam Concert Hall. With highly regarded acoustics, the Concert Building itself is considered one of the finest concert halls in the world, along with places such as Boston's Symphony Hall and the Musikverein in Vienna.

Right in the heart of Amsterdam’s museum quarter, the neoclassical Concert Hall presides over the Museumplein. The golden lyre on the roof leaves no doubt: this is a temple for classical music.

The hall opened on April 11, 1888, with an inaugural concert in which an orchestra of 120 musicians and a chorus of 500 singers participated, performing works of Wagner, Handel, Bach and Beethoven.

Walking along the slightly dim corridors, the crystal chandeliers and red velvet carpets seem to breathe musical history. World famous for its impeccable acoustics, the Concert Hall is home to the Royal Concertgebouw orchestra, an ensemble that is as respected as its residence.

Even though we found ourselves in a slightly more sophisticated mood, while sitting back in the plush seats and enjoying the sounds of the orchestra... we still got up to our usual mischief.

Ibiza!!

2010-06-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

Picture this; it's Friday morning and you're thinking of hitting up the coffee corner near your office. But then, instead, you decide to wait until you get to the airport for a starbucks because you're just about to leave work early to board a plane. This aircraft will take you to an island off the coast of Spain, known as 'The White Isle.' Here you will find sunrise dance clubs, beaches with cafes & bars in addition to the most breath taking sunsets in the world. This is my life; only I skipped the starbucks and got a glass of champagne instead.

Ibiza was amazing! The whole time we were there we were partying it up at a wedding with some of Jesse's old friends. The bride was called Tina (she's Spanish) and she used to work at Audi when Jesse was working in Herzo. Their crew (JO, Tina, Lars the German and Nico the Frenchy) traveled on the weekends together and got into some crazy shenanigans. Remember the story of Jesse's first experience in Amsterdam; when the car got robbed and boots were fitted to the tires when they discovered the broken glass and missing items? These unlucky travelers are the ones I'm taking about. For me, it was the first time I was able to witness the original 4 friends together in action and things got nuts.

The wedding was beautiful! In the cutest little Spanish church on the top of a hill surrounded by olive trees. We were all dressed in white and the decorations were bright colored daises. Then the reception was held at a beautiful villa with a infinity lap pool and awesome white tent coverings. At one point we were sipping champagne and munching on Pata Negra tapas when synchronized swimmers (with suites to match the wedding decor) jumped in the pool and put on a 30 minute show. Later in the evening a Bollywood Indian dancer showed us her moves and then gave a dance lesson... needless to say, very entertaining.

The party went on until late in the night. The boys swam in their underwear and I fell asleep on a lounge chair. Although we didn't have time to sun ourselves on the beach, we did have breakfast in Ibiza town the next morning before we left for the airport.

It was so fantastic to have this much needed reunion and it was special for me to be apart of the fun celebration for Tina's marriage. While the trip was short we still managed to have an epic weekend.

On the way home we had a 5 hour layover in Madrid; which wasn't bad at all. Upon landing, I pushed Jesse into a cab and we went into town for a picnic in the park. We stopped at Mallorca (Since 1931 they've made the best sandwiches EVER) and picked up some small finger sandos and some tapas.

We took a nap in the park and we even enjoyed a serenade of traditional Spanish guitar music. Experiencing these few hours in Madrid made me want to return asap. We will need to plan a weekend trip to Madrid soon, I hope! Either, I'm really Spanish in my heart or I'm just in love with Spain.

Welcome Summer!

2010-06-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

At the first sign of sunshine in Amsterdam, people show up at work wearing white pants. So after 3 sightings of the white pants in one week, I declared an outdoor weekend, 'Amsterdam style'. We packed our blanket, mini amp and farkle (aka the best dice game ever) and we headed to the Amstel Park for a picnic. Our friends; Todd, Julia, Brian and Krista joined us. The sunshine felt so good and the time passed too quickly.

At one point, us girls wanted to see what was on the other side of the fence... but once we got up we didn't want to get down.

The next day we decided to hit the beach. We went to our friends, Laura and Nate's house for breakfast and then set off for Zaandvoort before noon. It was a beautiful day and our crew multiplied very quickly. Julia and Beans joined us, in addition to the Schmidt's, Dorothy, Sietze and Rigel. So we were 10 deep and 4 blankets wide when we noticed that the crew next to us was having alot of fun playing a game none of us had ever seen before.

We noticed that they were speaking German so I asked Jesse how to introduce myself properly auf Deutsch and in a tick they were teaching us their fun game.

This is basically how you play;
1. An empty beer can sits on a frisbee between the two teams which face each other. Each player has their own full, uncracked beer in front of them in the sand.
2. One at a time the players throw a tennis ball at the empty beer can in the middle. If someone on your team hits the can over, everyone on your team gets to drink their beer as fast as possible.
3. In the meantime, one person from the opposing team has to run and set the center beer can upright. As soon as the player returns to their line, the drinking team must put their beers down and stop drinking. Usually there was a judge on the sideline to regulate this activity.
4. The team that entirely completes their beers first and throws the empty cans in victory to the center wins.

We had a championship match between our group and then a final ultimate championship match between our group of friends and the Germans. Team USA expats won. It was victorious.

Champagne Region Road Trip and Tasting Party!

2010-06-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

Looking at the map, you probably would have assumed that we should have taken a trip to the champagne region of France sooner, considering my love for bubbles and the champagne capital of the world is only 4 hours from Amsterdam. Well, we finally did it!

Rented a car on Friday, packed lightly so there would be room for champagne on the way home and picked up our friends to make a pilgrimage to Reims, France.

We stopped for lunch in Brussels, so it took a little longer than expected but we made it to our adorable little guesthouse in the center of town before dark. We went to bed early that night to prepare ourselves for the appointments we had the next day.

It all started at the Pommery House. We toured the caves and learned the interesting history of champagne. It turns out that Louise Pommery developed the Brut Champange recipe - so we bought a few bottles after our tasting.

Next, I had my heart set on the Veuve Cliquot House but I was never able to secure an appointment because they are always booked! Therefore a drop in was necessary.

Upon arrival we discovered that the place was closed for lunch. With much disappointment, I refused to leave the area until Veuve reopened. However, the troops were restless and hungry. Just then I saw a fancy sign which stated 'Cafe du Jardin, 300 meters'. Unfortunately, the arrow pointed up a big hill and we are not used to seeing those in the Netherlands. It took some convincing to get the guys on board but I promised them a good time as my intuition kicked in.

As we entered the grounds of Du Jardin, it became apparent immediately that this place was a big deal. The view overlooked 3 famous champagne houses and boasted an amazing 4 star Michelin rating. My instincts once again took over and I announced to our group that we indeed had a reservation.

Approaching the front entrance I told our guys in their plaid shirts to hang back as Julia and I (in our fancy champagne tasting outfits) do the talking. I informed the hostess proudly our reservation @ 1pm for 5 under my name and they frantically searched their system. 10 minutes later they obviously came to the conclusion that the reservation was lost, but they were completely full. However, the look on my face and my reassurance that a reservation was made weeks ago must have compelled them to change their tune. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and said that a special table near the terrace would be made up for us immediately.

Following the best meal of our lives including Foie Gras, lamb chops and of coarse champagne, we skipped down the hill to Veuve where Jesse bought me the sweetest gift; a case of Veuve Cliquot Brut bubbles. There we learned that miss Veuve herself is the scientist who invented the yeast measurement to keep the carbon dioxide from foaming everywhere.

We continued our quest for champange at the Taittinger, GH Martel and Demoiselle houses. Along the way we heard the stories of Dom Perignon (the Priest) who wanted to celebrate the first hot air balloon flight with his newly invented beverage. The drink turned out to be a huge flop as the sugary bubbles sprayed everywhere until it was all foam. But between this famous Priest, and 2 clever ladies; Champagne was perfected!

Of course I invited all my friends over to taste the delicious bottles (we ended up with 16) later that week. The kitchen was filled with ladies and we enjoyed our time to the fullest!

Amsterdam Presents Queen's Day - The Funnest Day Ever

2010-05-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

Every year on April 30th for the past 50 years, the Netherlands turns Orange with celebration for the Queen Beatrix birthday. As Amsterdam is always the life of the party, tourist come from afar to partake in this Dutch tradition called 'Queen's Day'. On this special day the queen lifts all tax as its the one day of the year when rummage sales are allowed. Sidewalks are taped off weeks in advance so people can secure their selling posts.

I however had a different plan in mind - traveling champagne sales lady. With the help of Jesse and our German Brother, Patrick, we created a contraption which allowed me to carry cups of champagne handS free. As we walked up the Prinsingracht we faced packs of hungover tourists who enjoyed the fun of Queen's night only hours before.

With a bottle in hand I shouted 'champagne, champagne, 2 Euros to start your party.' Groups of girls surrounded me with their 2 euro coins to purchase the bubbles I had for sale. Bottles were popping and when I went through enough to pay for a case I figured that I was allowed to enjoy my own product.

Just then we got an invitation from our friends to hop aboard their boat for a Queen's Day cruise. It turned out that my friends and I were the best customers of the day.

So, our boat was quite lively, but it was also fun to watch other people on their boats. We saw a few casualties throughout the day (you're never promised to stay dry on a booze cruise through the canals of Amsterdam), but we managed to make it out unscathed.

Until next year's Queen's Day I'll be thinking of a new business plan and shopping for orange clothes.

Easter in the British Virgin Islands!

2010-05-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Since last November we had been looking forward to Easter! Of coarse we were excited to celebrate Jesus, hunt for eggs and eat chocolate bunnies & marsh-mellow peeps; but we were most enthusiastic to meet our friends in the British Virgin Islands for a week long maiden voyage!

It was as wonderful as it sounds... maybe even better. We chartered a private yacht (captained by our strappingly handsome men), drank champagne for breakfast, snorkeled and swam in the tropical waters, conducted beach races until dinner and danced in the sunset as if we were starring in a rap video.
The first island we stopped at was Jost Van Dyke; it was four miles of white sand delight! The drink of the islands is called "the pain killer" which is a shady drink for colorful characters.

How to Make a Pusser’s Painkiller:
2 oz Pusser’s Navy Rum
3 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Cream of Coconut

Shake all ingredients with ice and stain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a dash, or three, of nutmeg. This smooth, full-flavored rum cocktail has the essence of the Caribbean and the remedy for the salty swim into shore.

Next stop was the saltly spit which is a deserted island. We spent the afternoon exploring the tiny island, kiting and sipping champagne. This itty bitty white sand island offered some great views and memorable moments.

Pusser's Marina Cay was next on the agenda. I think I knew as soon as we began the hike up the hill to the pirates cove, that it was going to be a fun night! Among the pirate cheers, the rum shots and the conch shell blows there is a bit of fuzziness. However, you know it was a good night when you wake up with a cuban hat signed by a pirate, still wearing the clothes from the night before and the sound of a recorded tape of sea tunes like the old classic "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, I'll sail the seven seas!"

We were certainly feeling the island love the night we stayed in Marina Cay but we all knew it was time to relax on Virgin Gorda island and Saba Rock.

While the boys went fishing the girls went on a mission to find the perfect spot to lay in the sun. Luckily we came across a private dock on the far side of the island facing nothing but blue skies and seas. This location was soon declared, 'the topless dock' and I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

All of us really enjoyed this area of the islands and decided to stay a while. Among the fishing, swimming, and playing dice (farkel of coarse) the time passed and the next mooring ball hunt was on, only this time in a new location in the sleepy bay of Norman Island. This was a peaceful place to stay. We didn't venture out to the commotion of Willy T's (the famous floating pirate ship dance club) in the next cove over but no one really cared. Team Relax was in control and nothing could stand in our way.The next morning I had the most amazing snorkeling experience of my life. Bright, neon blue, yellow, orange and red fish were traveling in schools and we swam right along with them.

Last stop was Peter Island; the dreamiest island ever! Private sun huts, hammocks and a glorious beach were just a few of the reasons I loved Peter Island. It was bitter sweet as the trip was coming to an end but motivated us take in the view!

So, we did thank the Lord for his beautiful creations and hunted for eggs in the form of Mooring Balls to tie up over night. However, instead of indulging in chocolate and marsh-mellow sugar we sprung for large cocktails served in buckets :)

Valentine's Day in Chamonix-Mont Blanc

2010-02-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

You might remember our friends, Andy & Elyse, whom we met in Amsterdam. They are from Portland and work in the same field, so our friendship with them was natural as we have a lot in common. Last July we traveled with them to Alsace, France (refer to the previous blog to refresh your memory).

Andy recently scored a job in Portland. This is pretty exciting news considering he and Elyse have been apart for 7 months since her job required her to move back to Portland last August. When we heard the news from Andy, it seemed obvious to take advantage of KLM's "World Deals" discount airfare tickets to take one last trip together... to the mountains.

When we started planning the trip it seemed like it would be a small group of Amsterdamers meeting a small group of friends living in Geneva. In the end, Elyse made a surprise appearance along with Greg and Summer from Portland and there were 10 of us from all corners of the world in Chamonix France.

Upon arriving in Chamonix the sun was setting and the group was already setting things off for the evening. We went out for dinner while the boys mentally geared up for heli skiing and the girls discussed the plans for shopping and exploring the village the next day.

Andy, Greg and Kyle were more excited than little kids in a candy shop for the Heli Ski trip. Those boys were gitty and full of energy the next morning at 7am amped for what their day would hold. The stories that we heard that evening over fondue got me so jazzed up for a day of skiing/snowboarding.

Sure enough, we had a great day together shredding and it was my favorite Valentine's Day EVER! I hope that we can make it a tradition.

A Purposeful Pet

2010-02-17T13:59:00.000-08:00

I think most of you already know that Amsterdam is riddled with mice. I keep a very clean house, but that didn't stop a mouse from getting into our pantry food through the tiny cracks within the pantry closet. Several times we had come home and saw the mouse in the pantry before he scurried down to his exit; which looked like a paper thin crack. I tried to duct tape all the places that I thought this rodent could get through immediately after the first sighting.

Once we came home from a holiday weekend and Jesse opened the pantry door to find the mouse staring back at him. As we was within striking distance Jesse grabbed him by the tail. This of coarse led to a yelping, hollering, jumping up and down festival in the kitchen with Jesse instructing me to find something to trap the mouse and the mouse using it's little paws to run in place. Soon the tail was slipping and somehow the mouse fought his way free and went flailing down to the ground where he escaped to an invisible exit.

Needless to say, Jesse was pissed! He promised me that night that the next time he saw that mouse, it would be DEAD!

The next chapter of the story brings me to late autumn. This was when we started letting a friendly abandon little kitty into our house. It seems that his owner moved away and a few of our neighbors contribute to feeding him. As the colder weather set in, this cat came to visit us more and more and soon we gave him the name 'Little Stinky.' We didn't name him this because he smelt bad (he actually smells pretty good) but because his was skinny and homeless.

Little Stinky started to sleep over and became a pretty regular guest at our house. I grew to love him because he's just so lovable but Jesse had his doubts. That was until one night in December when I woke up to the sound of Little Stinky's toe nails running up and down the hard wood floors. I got up and turned on the light to find Stinky with the bathroom rug rolled up like a taco. When I unrolled the rug the reoccurring mouse fell out and before I could blink Stinky hit the mouse with his front paws back and forth; bam bam bam bam! I was screaming and Jesse stepped in and just as I covered my eyes Little Stinky snatched up the mouse in his mouth and ran to his food dish in the kitchen. I couldn't watch, but as Jesse was trying to find a plastic bag to take the mouse away, Little Stinky gobbled up the whole mouse; even the tail!

From then on out, Jesse was very proud of Little Stinky and we haven't seen a mouse since.

Berlin for New Years Eve!

2010-02-17T01:54:00.000-08:00

For New Year's Eve this year we decided to visit Berlin with John and Katie Toppel who traveled from Germany and Brian and Krista Schmitt who came with us from Amsterdam.

Berlin is a lively city that covers a total area of 340 square miles; it is 28 miles wide from east to west, and 24 miles long from north to south. However, it is easy to get around, once you learn the rail system which is laid out in an orderly fashion. We were able to go from the suberbs where we rented an apartment to the center of the city on the S-Bahn.

When I began my research on Berlin for our site seeing I quickly realized that we were going to see a historians Dream City! We started New Years Eve walking up the Unter den Linden street on the East Germany side to the famous Brandenburg Gate. This gate is the symbol of the German reunification as it was part of the wall before it fell.

Just one month prior to our visit to Berlin, crowds at the Brandenburg Gate celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9. These events marked two decades of Germany reunifed indicating the Cold War's end. Communist East Germany erected the 155-km (96-mile) concrete barrier in 1961 to encircle West Berlin and prevent citizens from fleeing into the capitalist enclave. At least 136 people are thought to have been killed at the wall while trying to escape.

The Berlin wall and its death strip ran just west of the Brandenburg Gate, cutting Berlin into West and East, until the wall's demolition

in 1989.

In the pictures we were near the very same place that U.S. President Ronald Reagan stood on June 12, 1987, demanding the razing of the Berlin Wall. Addressing General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, Reagan said, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

After our pictures were taken we walked under the Gate to the West side. From up close we could see that Gate was restored (from 2000 to 2002) but it was still easy to see the damage from the war.

The first landmark on the West side is the Reichstag building, the parliament of the German Empire. In 1999, Berlin once again became the capital of a united Germany, and the government moved to the newly renovated Reichstag building after being located in Bonn since the fall of the Third Reich.

The Tiergarten park facing the Brandenburg Gate is the location for the big New Years Eve Celebration. We found ourselves there with alomost 1 Million people to watch all the firewroks go off when the clock struck midnight. It was so snowy and cold outside that we had to crash a cirus tent party after the fireworks just to warm up. That was a crazy fun party... even though we were the youngest people there. I loved dancing to the sock hop music and eating the free Berliner donuts that were being served to us on a silver tray!

Oh, and I can't forget that there was a huge snow hill in the middle of Potsdamer Platz. We all climbed to the top and tubed down. It's hard to believe that Potzdamer Platz was left desolate during the Cold War era when the Berlin Wall bisected its former location. Since German reunification, Potsdamer Platz has been the site of extensive redevelopment and how has several skyscapers and Corporate offices.

The Potsdamer Platz was where we found a fun little holiday market with traditional German hearts and crepes.

This was a great way to spend New Years Eve! Berlin is a lovely city was so many interesting sites and an incredible history. I want to go back in the spring to see more and enjoy the city in the sunshine.

Christmas

2010-01-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

Celebrating Christmas with our German family was so nice. You might remember the story of how we met our German family from a previous blog (http://michellejesse-lifeinamsterdam.blogspot.com/2009/06/our-german-family.html)
They are such an amazing family and wonderful hosts. For Christmas Eve we had an extravagant fondue spread and then exchanged gifts.
They spoiled us with so many wonderful things and overwhelmed us with their generousity.
We gave Petra the quilt that Jesse's mom started making 5 years ago and had my parents finish recently.
It was so touching to see her reaction to this handmade treasure. We can't thank our parents enough for helping us with the creation of this quilt; it turned out beautiful.
Our Christmas Eve was finished late in the night with me and Mareen putting together the Neuschwanstein puzzle. It was a very challanging one, but we completed the whole thing later the next day.

Christmas day was awesome with a traditional goose dinner, red cabbage and dumplings. After the dinner around 10pm, they took us out to a crazy rock show.
The band was like a deutschland version of zz top but they were dressed up in lederhosen. This bar in the middle on no where had fireworks and actual flames surrounding the musicians with other various pyro techniques on stage. It was out of this world-so I kept my eye on the nearest exit in case the lead singers leather capris caught fire. Nuts, but still awesome!
I'd say our holiday was a success!

Neuschwanstein Castle

2010-01-25T13:07:00.000-08:00

Neuschwanstein Castle, royal palace in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, the most famous of three royal palaces built for Louis II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig. Begun in 1869 and left unfinished at Louis's death in 1886, the castle is the embodiment of 19th century romanticism. Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public.

The exterior of the castle itself, with its outer facade of red and white and the mountains in the background, is a photographer's delight, especially in winter. The castle was not designed for royal representation, but as a place of retreat. Here Ludwig II escaped into a dream world - the poetic world of the Middle Ages. The castle is magnificent but the most magical part was the setting. The mountains are so stunning and the castle so well situated.
There is a long trek up a huge hill, but the exercise was definitely worth the view of the castle and the surroundings. The cobblestone road that led to the castle is also traversed by carriages that bring people to this fairy tale castle.In a fantastical imitation of a medieval castle, Neuschwanstein is set with towers and spires and is spectacularly sited on a high point over a river gorge.
The castle was equipped with all kinds of technical conveniences which were very modern, if not to say revolutionary at that time. The construction of the castle was carried out according to a well thought-out plan. Running water on all floors. The spring which supplied the castle with excellent drinking water was located 200 meters above the castle. There were toilets equipped with automatic flushing on every floor. A warm air heating system for the entire building. A hot water system for the kitchen and the bath.

The interior of the castle is superb of course and offers a remarkable insight into Ludwig II's romanic-obssessed mind. I was amazed by its beauty and elegance. There were beautiful chandeliers through out the castle. The Throne Room was created as the Grail-Hall of Parsifal. It was designed in elaborate Byzantine style. It was inspired by the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now Istanbul), the 2 story throne room with its series of pillars, was completed in the year of the Kings death in 1886. The most important object of this room, the throne, is missing.

In contrast to the other rooms, the Bedroom is sumptuously carved in the Neo-Gothic style. 14 woodcarvers are said to have worked 4 1/2 years to create this room. The Monarch's bed is crowned by the most intricate woodcarving and covered with richly Embroider draperies.

I can appreciate the majesty of this piece of architecture, seemingly plucked from heaven. King Ludwig may have been mad, but he was a genius to have built such a work of art. Even Walt Disney recognized his genius when he designed his fairy tale castle after Neuschwanstein. It is documented that Ludwig led a very unusual life. I personally do not belief he was mad, eccentric perhaps.

I could go back there a hundred times and find different beautiful detail each time. The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic and the castle is absolutely enchanting. Everything about this place is gorgeous.

Mayrhofen Austria

2010-01-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

The week before Christmas we took a trip to Mayrhofen Austria with Jessica and Grant.
Mayrhofen is a traditional Austrian ski village with a river running through the center of town and a gondola to the tip top of the mountains on either side of the river. The house we stayed at was a family run hotel in a big chalet with 10 apartments.
Our apartment was on the top floor; from each window and balcony we had a perfect view of the alps that were all around us.
After a full day of shredding on the hill we enjoyed putting together a puzzle in the cabin while listening to MTV best videos of the year countdown.

We made most of our meals in our apartment, but when we out to eat we found some great places.

We discovered a cute little mountain cafe that us served cheese fondue with loads of fresh veggies, bread, meat , etc and we finshed the meal with delicious schnapps.

Another restuarant made us authentic spetzle served in a cast iron pan and the rustic decor made us feel like we were deep in the Austrian forest.

Mayrhofen is very well know for it's Apres Ski parties. We participated in the fun, but not too much. Our biggest night out included a 6 bar pub crawl that we conducted. From Mo's to the Tyrol Cafe, back to Mo's, the Rock Star bar, the local Irish pub, the Speak Easy and then finally the Ice Bar. The last part of the night is a bit fuzzy, but I do remember slipping on a patch of ice which made my bum ache the next day; a small price to pay for a fantastic night out in Mayrhofen.

Each time we go to the Alps, the fresh mountain air and the snowy slopes make me realize how lucky we are to be living this great adventure. Austria has not seen the last of us.

Jessica and Grant Visit Amsterdam

2010-01-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

At the end of 2009, one of my best buddies (she goes way back), Jessica, came to visit with her boyfriend, Grant. We didn't know Grant that well before they arrived, but we got to know him very well and found out why Jessica loves him so much.
We spent the first weekend in Amsterdam showing them around town. It was fun to show them our city. Each time we show a visitor the center, we learn something new about the place that we live.
Our Saturday started at Vondelpark, riding bikes, enjoying the greenery and sipping on hot chocolate.
From there, we wandered down to the center and found the red light district. Lots of interesting sights down there.
We came across a protest in Dam Square, but who knows what that was about? After Amsterdam, we were all on our way to the mountains of Austria!

Nürnberg Christmas Market

2009-12-28T10:57:00.000-08:00

The old center of Nuremberg with its imperial castle towering majestically over the city is certainly worth a visit any time of year. But starting in November, the famous Christmas market turns this city into a magical winter wonderland.
In December, we went with friends to Nuremberg to experience the best Christmas Market in the World. We strolled through this open-air market with its 180 wooden huts festooned with red and white cloth, lights and fresh garlands.

Stall holders present their traditional wares: Nuremberg spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, bakery goods and sweets, typical Christmas articles such as angels, manger arrangements, tree ornaments and candles, toys as well as arts and crafts products.
Favourite souvenirs include "Nuremberg Plum People", little figures made from prunes and walnuts and my favorite was the chunky hand painted wooden camel which was part of the cutest manger arrangement.
And of course, by way of refreshments, there are always rolls with Nuremberg 3 link roast sausages and mugs of Gluwine (mulled wine). We found a group of drum musicians and a random accordian player whose music filled the air with sweet Xmas tunes.
There was also a Christmas market just for kids, featuring a steam train and nostalgic carousels.

A magical moment for young and old is the procession, where over 1500 Nuremberg kids join in a lantern procession parading up to the castle on the hill.
The weekend spent at the Nuremberg Market was truly the best way to kick off the holiday season and will certainly become a tradition for us.