Merry Merry Christmas

(Christmas Market at Frankfurt, Germany)

Well....I just wanted to wish everyone a great holiday and a Merry Christmas....

We leave in the morning for our little trip around Central Europe....we are not taking our laptop, so we may not have much internet access......we will be in the Swiss Alps for Christmas...and may not be able to wish everyone a Merry Christmas on that day....of course we will be thinking of all of our friends and family and wishing we were with you...or probably we will be wishing you could be there with us....

We will start in Frankfurt, Germany tomorrow. We are going to visit the Christmas Market there...the Christmas Market started in Germany, but many countries have now adopted the annual tradition. Frankfurt's is supposed to be one of the first and most important...I'll let you know why.....when I find out.....

Merry Christmas Everyone!

We will post more pics when return....then we have only one more week and we must head back home ourselves....all good things must end.....right?....but what a ride......

We love you guys....

Bob and LaDonna

Happy 60th Birthday!

Isn't he handsome! My Piddle turned 60 Today! I think he is dealing pretty well with it.....Gil came to visit and help him celebrate.....that made his whole birthday......
We got a little culture this morning at the Hermitage Museum...it was a flop...but we got our culture in...then we set about pub crawling our way through Amsterdam.......celebrating Piddle's Birthday


You're Drunk.....No, You Are!


Well....maybe I am....


Maybe we all are....I can't remember who this guy was...but he was helping us celebrate.....

Finally...later that evening after we sobered up a bit....we had Piddle's birthday dinner at our favorite Thai Restaurant......we can't get enough of this place...it is located in our favorite square De Waag.....

And that's the two drinking their favorite beer in town....I think they have about had enough...think our next stop was home.....big surprise....

Happy Birthday Piddle!

May your next decade have many adventures in store for you.....

Gil Came to help Piddle Celebrate his Birthday

Standing in the Dam Square

I thought this was a handsome picture of the two...don't you?.....Sexy 60-year-old!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!!

I absolutely love Christmas....and they go all out here....lights are everywhere...we love strolling around at night...except for lately...Gil brought the ice cold weather with him...has been freezing since he arrived...and I know you guys have been freezing.....

These decorated bicycles were everywhere....So So Cool!

Picking up his Christmas Tree....and taking it home...didn't get my camera out quick enough to get his full view...but.....I just love Christmas Time!!!!! Doesn't this picture just make you smile?

Iceskating Anyone??????

In one of the square's they have set up an iceskating rink...it's magical...and so romantic...sparkling lights are everywhere....I love Christmas....


Bob tried to get Gil out on the ice...but he was afraid......

It Snowed Today....might'n we have a White Christmas

Well...this is what we woke up to this morning...yes, it was just a dusting...but it's white and it's snow.....
This was the view from our window this morning....it was soooo exciting!
Was mostly melted by the time we got out and about....but we enjoyed it while we could....

And just like the snow...all good things must end.....time for Gil to head back to the real world......

Bonjour! Fast Train to Paris

Took the fast train to Paris through Belgium....the first long trip we have taken by train...the only way to travel..it was much more comfortable than flying...it was a nice 4-hour train ride...went through 3 countries in 4 hours...can't beat that...and with a bar in car 14....we're in 17...

The Eiffel Tower

Didn't know this...but did you know that the Eiffel Tower was erected for the 1889 Universal Exposition? ..who knew? ...as a matter of fact...according to automated voice on our tour...it was kind of controversial....lots of Parisians didn't like it..because they thought it was useless and appalling...isn't that an interesting little tidbit....we were impressed!

We finally made it to the baseof the tower.....freezing cold....we endured.....yes, that's us on the top, yes, top of the open bus tour....and even when it started the freezing rain...we were the last ones to climb down to the bottom...we held out as long as we possibly could...

Had a great time....just too short...a little advice..plan to stay a few days when you go...it is such a huge and very busy city...with much to see...and lots of traffic between you and your points of interest...so it takes a while to see 'stuff'..ya know...great place...and no one was rude...which we were prepared for...but we definitely got the impression..that they really don't care for America so much... :)...to each his own....we loved their city....

Full Moon over Notre Dame

Paris truly is the City of Lights....we were lucky enough to visit during the full moon...spectacular....

I wish I could have captured more night time pictures of all the lights...

Our little slice of Paris....

Standing on our corner waiting for the bus...we stayed just across the Siene River from the Notre Dame Cathedral.....

In front of our hotel

Notre Dame Cathedral

Our corner

Down our little street...

The Louvre

So if you have read the Da Vinci Code...or if you paid attention in school.....you know that the Mona Lisa is in the Louvre Museum.....
We were set to pay Mona a visit..but apparently things are tough all over....the security guards were on strike and the museum was closed the day we were there....go figure...but we did at least get to see it and the pyramid in front....

The Louvre is horse-shoe shaped....and was a palace at one time that dates back to 1200. It was originally built as a defense fortress ....and converted into a palace by some of the following kings

This is looking around

This is an entrance portal and all that is left from yet another palace that burned down in the 1800s.....

Toodling around Paris

Lots of nice fountains...

Got to see St. Nick again....

This is an amazing city..you know I was a little worried that I would be disappointed.....there are such mixed reviews out there about Paris.....so I was trying not to expect too much....

I was truly in awe.. of the beauty..and I tend to agree with the "It's such a romantic place"..mindset......I have never seen so many palaces...I mean really....it is unbelievable how many palaces are in this city....and we didn't even make it to Versailles...for that monstrosity of splendor.....

And oh.....I love the French Language...wish I would have studied that in school...I love how it sounds.... "Bonjour Monsieur" is my favorite....I have been walking around for days saying it over and over....It is wearing a little thin on Piddle I think....it'll wear off... LOL!..

Toodling around Paris

There were tons of little shops along the Champs Elysees...we had lunch from this big skillet of Swiss goodness...yum!

Louis Vuitton Girls......

This is a really cool building that was erected for another world fair or exhibition of some sorts in early 1900 maybe.....not positive...actually you know...I'm not really 100% about any of this information I'm feeding you....I could be making half of it up....but to the best of my knowledge...I'm getting half the facts correct anyway...it may be that these facts belong to a different structure all together...but they are in the ballpark anyway...really...what more can you ask for...