Halloween 2009

Well, if any of you out there are actually still following this thing, you will be happy to know we lived, and are back on American soil!

Halloween was great fun this year! My aunt Peggy made a fabulous Soutern Belle dress for our theme at work. I drove my car, the golf cart, went to the bathroom, and bowling in this thing. I can do anything, bring on child birth! :) My family ward also had a block party and I helped with the cake walk...round and around we went! Everyone loved the costume...thanks aunt Peggy!! Enjoy the pics...

Krystal and Lynne

A girl's still gotta work...eventhough I couldn't sit on my normal chair

L toR: Dark Angel (Pam), Scarlett (Lynne), Rhett (Patrick), me

I even scored over a 100pts, twice!!

The Master Bowler in action
Proof! My next game was even better at 111...I should go pro.

First day in Roma

Tuesday morning found us hitting the pavement early. We tried to have the hotel breakfast but there are no less than 50 teenagers staying in same hotel so the breakfast room was filled to over capacity. We found good food down the street on the way to the colosseum. Paid for a guided tour, very informative, it also included admission to other big buildings across the street. After a while all the old rocks start looking the same. Paid for a Hop on, Hop off tour and made it to many other old buildings via the comfort of an open top bus. Weather here today has been great. Recovering from minor sun burns from Pompei and Vesuvius so the overcast skies and sprinkels felt good. Hopped off the bus at the Trevi Fountain and pitched in our euro's. Waiting for good luck or good love, whatever you're suppose to get from it. How much luck or love does ,50 £ buy these days anyway ? We'll let you know. Had celebratory birthday dinner (late) for Char, italian food, and now doing post.

Ride to Roma

Arrived Roma via very entertaining ride Monday evening. Char had the good fortune to sit next to an Italian doctor, general surgeon, and Krystal sat next to an old (sweet) Sicilian woman that spoke no english. On the other side of Char was an old (sweet) Sicilian man who spit a lot when he talked. He spoke broken english and was very chatty. Char kept the blue eyed, dark haired doctor engaged in ANY kind of conversation she could, wouldn't you have ? First she picked up a newspaper that was in the seat where the doctor would be sitting and started fanning herself. When he sat down he asked if she were through with it. . .because it was his paper! Not long after that she asked him if he were done with her fan! Krystal caught a cat nap while riding and explained later to everyone that she had to sleep during the day because Char's snoring kept her awake at nights. Laugh at Char's expense - on her birthday no less. We all parted ways in Rome and when Char shook the doctors hand and told him how nice it was to talk with him, he told her that she was his 'first' Arizona. His 'FIRST'. Char will snore all she wants! Had to find a bathroom and sanitize from all the Sicilian spit, still sweet. The 6th person in our train cabin was a young man that Krystal thought was traveling with the old woman. He helped her with her luggage and made sure she safely stepped off the train, then left. He treated her as though she were his own nana and yet he had no association to her, somebody raised that boy right. While still on the train the ticket guy came by, and after a very, very, heated Italian 'conversation' we found out that all they were talking about was a broken train door. At least 6 minutes of 5 Italians ALL speaking at once-over a broken door! This scenario of everyone speaking at the same time is common place here. Crazy.

Had the good fortune of walking by a man standing in train station asking people passing by if they needed a hotel room. He was unable to accomodate us for the 3 nights needed, but he called and called and then walked us to a hotel that could room us. We expected him to ask for a finders fee but he simply said 'ciao' and left.

After a quick shower, we headed out to a 'wanna be' Texas Roadhouse resturante. All they have to eat here is italian food and we needed meat. he he he Char ordered her steak medium well and got bloody meat. Sent it back and got less bloody, but still bloody meat. Covered steak with baked potatoe and ate as much as possible. Waitress cut meal price by 4,00 £ which made bloody meat still costs 17.50 US dollars. We need to give them a few more years before they get this grilling meat thing down pat. Watched italian TV, no CNN at this hotel, and finally fell asleep to tons of street noise because air conditioner costs 10,00 £ more per night.

Oh yeh, received a birthday wish from Lisa, and a picture text of a tomato from Donita, (Char's neighbor entrusted to water Char's plant while she's gone). Must say, tomato is looking good. Notice that just a single tomato is referenced, that's right, 20 bucks for planter, soil, and plant, for one stinking tomato. Pass the salt.

Finally made it to Pompei (either spelling is correct)

Saturday evening - our connecting train to Pompei has an hour + 10 min delay, because of this we reached our destination very late on a scary regional train with tons of graffitti on the platform signs. Because of this, we were never really sure just how far we'd gone. Krystal is standing in the train galley checking our route and a guy standing there asks her out of the blue where she was getting off. She answered Pompei and he said quite directly that we needed to get off at the next stop. The scribbled note from the train station all of sudden seemed to make sense. The destination was not very clear but we made the stop and hoped for the best. After departing the train we were joined by a stray dog, very friendly looking to us, and apparently intimidating to other's we passed because no one bothered us. This dog walked with us even crossing a busy street and then sat right down when we came to the gates of a hotel. Ringing the bell got us buzzed in and turning back to see the dog, it was gone. Hotel Vittoria turns out to be a parking lot away from the entrance to the Pompei ruins. Freaky. Spent a leisurely 7.0 hours there Sunday, and it was OK because come to find out we missed the Brothel and the Garden of Fugitives. That night we walked 15 minutes to the town square, watched some hottie Italian police book it on foot after some bad guys, half the people there followed the action but we just found a place to eat and chowed out.

Monday, Char's official birthday, we headed out early to get a ride to Vesuvius. Hooked up with a family from Ireland ( those Irish like Italy) and took one of the scariest rides in a mini van ever. Too much scarey to write about here, we can give you the details later. The Irish man was in the front seat on the way to the volcano, but he offered the seat up to Char on the way back and still jumped when he saw a bus was approaching us - funny, now. The ride takes you almost all the way to the top, but the last part you hike requires your mother to be a mountain goat and you dad to be a mule. Heart pounding out of chest, calves tied up in knots, sweating bullets, WHAT A RIDE. We made it to the top and stood there breathing in clouds, realing breathing the clouds in, they were all around us. Looked down to the bay of Napels and could barely see it. Hiking down proved to be almost more dangerous than hiking up. Krystal almost biffied it twice, guess grandmother was a ballerina, good genes.

Caught a train outta town headed for Roma (Rome, either spelling is correct).

Pisa is still leaning! and Volterra is like a windy Taylor, only pretty

Friday afternoon found the bell tower, pushed it up, took photos, bought trinkets, had quite possibly the worst pizza and burger ever! We interacted with a Irish family that was touring the Pisa as well, and they misplaced thier oldest son (about 7). Mom says, "In Ireland you're required to have a license to have a dog, but not to have children." They recovered thier son. We missed last train to Volterra, so we had to get the last bus that night. While waiting for the bus, Krystal observed that practically all vehicles are hatch backs, no trunks. The bus ride was about 1.5 hours long with Char having to sit behind a stinky B.O. boy and listen to thier loud iPods. Krystal however just enjoyed the view, looking for Volterra signs to make sure we hadn't missed our stop. We got in late, found a hotel by the main square of Piazza di Priori. Had an expensive vegetarian meal, and crashed for the night. Oh, Krystal took some night pictures of the alley while Char went inside because she was freezing from the wind.

Saturday morning we headed to the square so we could walk (or run, not that we did) the same path that Bella, in the book New Moon (Twilight fans will know what this means, wahoo!) only to discover that thier ain't no frickin' fountian in the middle of the square! Krystal was going to run across it, but no possible. Writers and thier creative liberties just sunk Krystal's little heart. We managed to walk the rest of the route Bella took to find Edward and made it back to the clock tower at 11:58 (that's two minutes before Edward is about to reveal himself). If Krystal were using an old school camera, she would have blown through the equivalent of 3 rolls of 36 exposure on the alleys and buildings in Volterra. Volterra is worth going back to, the Tuscan views are breath taking, although it was a little misty that day. Not having much time there, we left much of Volterra unexplored. We caught the bus and headed to Pontedera on our way to Pompeii.

Sinkie Terrie

Wednesday on the train, we're listening to an English woman, who says she's a professor, talk about the Cinque Terre but she says it as "sinkie terrie". We laughed our butts off. Check in finds us at a beach front hotel with an ocean view room for 2 nights in Monterosso. We walked the beach for a while, had dinner, met a couple from Colorado, had good conversation and called it a night.

Ocean views from window

Thursday found us on the hiking trail between 2 of the 5 communities that make up the Cinque Terre. It was a 3k hike that should have taken about 2 hours. Prayers were answered and we thank whoever it was that offered them because it d#mn near killed these 2 pudgy girls ! We looked closer at the topigraphical chart and determined AFTER that we hiked the hardest trail of all the cities.

Char on natural(?) bridge durning hike

Krystal enjoying her idea of hiking...sitting!

How much higher!?!

We then went swimming in the Mediterrainean Sea and later watched a lady change her swim suit right there on the beach - you read between the lines for that one. Dinner was an american steak at a nice resturante cuz most of the menue was sea food. We're heading to Pisa next.

Char basking in the sea

Krystal's first time swimming in fish pee :)

From Milan to Venice

Monday mid-day arrive in Venice. Actually, we've learned from other travelers that staying just outside major cities is often cheaper so that's what we did. We found a hotel in Venezia Mestre, and rode the bus to Venice. Spent rest of afternoon in search of crepes - unsuccessful. Found
St Marks square and the Rialto Bridge but the crepes remained illusive. Feet were howling like wild dogs by nights end.

Char on Rialto Bridge

Tuesday morning spent 20£ on 2 loads of laundry then back to Venice. Still after those darn crepes. Took a ferry to Murano island, known for their glass. Watched a glass blowing demo for 15 min, picked up some souveniers and headed back to Venice - you guessed it - crepes. June 2nd is a Nat'l holiday in Italy so shops were closing early. Somewhere around 5:00pm Krystal's prayers were answered and she found the crepe shop ! It would have been a wasted trip if she hadn't found them.

Finally....Crepes!

Back to St Marks square to watch the gondolier's drum up business. We found some other girls to share a gondola ride with us, cheaper because they charge for the boat not by the person. Umberto, our gondolier was a hottie, too old for all the girls except Char, how fortunate. He made the ride fun and informative. Got to the hotel late and crashed. Wednesday check out and head for Cinque Terre, the Italian Riviera.

Goodnight St. Mark's Square

From Switzerland to Milan

We just switched trains and are on our way to Milan. If ever there were a ghetto train on rails - we are on it for 1.5 hours - arghhh ! Give us a tick dip when we get off. Stayed in Milan at Alberts Hotel, nice place. Had pizza delivery to our room since everything else was closed. No time for shopping, need to get on to Venice (Venezia)

From Germany to Switzerland

Saturday, off to Zermatt, Switzerland by way of 7 different trains and a bazillion little stops elapsing 9 hours. Got a text last night from Char's neighbor. Someone busted out window on front of house. Lisa, Steve, Donita, and Gilbert PD got things taken care of. Thanks to all who helped out.

Our backpacks are getting heavier but they pale in comparison to some we have seen here. Today lost 2 hours of travel - they split the train and unbeknownst to us we were on the end going south, not north. The trains truely 'do' whistle stops, soooo cool. We got turned back around - found another bobsled ride (no time to take it) and arrived in Zermatt around 8:30pm. Walked to several hotels, all closed, until finding one with "last available room" for a whopping.. .don't ask. Suffice it to say Switzerland is VERY expensive. Dinner for 2 that night in their traditional Switzerland resturante setting was about 100 franc, including dessert. There was a 5 piece band playing foot stompin, table slappin toons.

Swiss Band

Sunday morning found us on a train going even higher up to see the world (Disney) famous Matterhorn. Elevation was like 3136 m above sea level. Took pictures, played in the snow, had lunch for a combined 58 franc, saw the clouds start rolling in and decided to get down off that mountain. Sunday afternoon found us leaving Switzerland with 6.50 franc in our pockets. Since it was Sunday there were no banks open - Char so wanted to open that Swiss bank account!

Snow Fight!
Highest Shopping Mall...Char's in heaven

It's da Matterhorn

Munich to Fussen

Thursday, left Munich on train with a guided tour for the Neuschwanstein Castle toting all our belongings. Unlike rest of group, we were not returning to Munich. Arrived in Fussen, Germany, left bags in train station locker, rode bus through town, saw our hotel smack in middle of town center. Fell in love with Fussen, decided to book room for second night so we could explore.

Fabulous hotel in Fussen

Awesome fountain in city center...uh, right next door!

Toured castle Thursday, rode bobsled (twice it was so much fun) and took tram to peak of Tegelbahn Alp on Friday. Froze butts off on top of mountain. Route bus also doubles as school bus for the little kids there. Kindergartners with bus passes - no fear. So beautiful and scenic.

Aerial view of Tegelbahn Luge

Krystal being taken to top

Char's trip up

Neuschwanstein Castle-wind blows like crazy at top of hill!

Had to change floor/room for 2nd night in Fussen hotel, found out later why. Decided to celebrate Krystal's birthday (late) with dinner in our nice hotel resturante. Had bread and first course of soup before the Italian Hell's Angels bikers came in. They had booked the whole floor of rooms we were on the night before. Italian bikers are not much different than AZ bikers. Lot's of kisses, groping, and cheap cologne in that resturante. Atmosphere changed dramatically but food was still great. Left before dessert and walked downtown for gelato.

Krystal out for Gelato after B-day dinner

Munich

Tuesday, left Vienna traveled to Munich 4.0 hrs on train. Shared table with father & son. Father professor at Bellmont Univ in Nashville (?) Tenn, son going to law school in Paris - they were nice to chat with. They left train in Salzburg we continued on to Munich. Found hostel within a block of train station, dropped bags and headed off tho the town square, Marienplatz. Munich not as easy to manuver as Vienna, hopped on tram and must have looked pretty lost. Elder woman on train motioned for us to follow her - so we did. She took us to the subway and got on the orange line with us. One stop later she motioned us to get off with her then she waved goodbye and we were right where we needed to be. Only one word exchanged between us - Marienplatz. Town center is where the Glochenspiel clock is. We missed the 5:00 show on the clock but mother nature gave us one heck of a show with lightening and a downpour of rain. Stranded us for about an hour but we made it back to hostel, moist but safe.

Storm coming in

Wet Square at Marienplatz

Our hostel found us in a room with 6 beds, 4 beds had young men in them - squirm - but we survived, barely. Krystal on top bunk of wooden beds. Char lay on bottom bunk listening to every creak all night. Next day did tour of former concerntration camp, Dachau. Awesome tour guide, Gordon, from Ireland. Very passionate that whole spectrum be given about concentration camps. This tour changed our understanding of these camps.

Camp Remains-all bunkers were destroyed

Made it back for the 5;00 show on the clock today, whoopee! 12 minutes of hell. Moved to another ghetto hotel (Litty) walked 2 blocks to laundrymat, fought over when soap got dumped in and what temp to use, but clothes smelled better when done. Krystal going European on us, wore same clothes 2 days in a row. What next, hairy armpits ? Krystal's, actual birthday today but she thought Munich stunk so we'll celebrate elsewhere. Hotel room had 3 beds but the toilet was down the hall and the shower was elsewhere also, thankfully they were on the same floor.

Monks walking around the square

Clock Tower

Vienna Bus Tour and Palace

Sorry for the lengthly delay but we'll pick back up now. Leaving Prater Square we were overrun with the crowd from the AC/DC concert - just let out. Guess the line for the WC was too long for the guy leaning against the tree relieving himself. Heading back inside the subway there is a guy passed out against the wall and before we made it to the stairs there is yet another guy relieving himself in the ashtray. Aren't women the one's with weak bladders ? Two more encounters with the intoxicated before we made it home, but safe and sound we were.


Monday in Vienna - 11:00 am started our hop on hop off self guided tour at the opera house. Spent most of our time at the Schoenbrunn(sp?) Palace, enjoy the pictures.

Which way?

Still Can't figure it out

Opera House

Scheonbrunn Palace

Maze in Palace

Hot Dog Snack

Vienna

Vienna led us to a hostel on the west side of town. It was an easy navigation with their underground and tram systems, which are fabulous. We had a big two bedroom suite, that was clean but poorly laid out with kitchen and bathroom behind the same door. Oh, and don't forget the entryway with some semblance of a lazy boy chair and desk. The conversion of these old family homes into hostel rooms are quite the adventure.

Hotel Hernals

The first night there we went to Prater square, and rode the oldest ferris wheel in Austria. It was built for the world fair in the late 1800's. Char was freaked out because of it's hieght and creakiness. Krystal walked from one side of the box (big enough to hold table and chairs for 6 people) to the other just to add to her freaked-out-ness!

Char trying to act calm

Loosing time on computer, will post more later!.... :)

Wrapping up Salzburg and off to Vienna (Wein)

Our hotel concierge suggested a restruant with traditional dishes. Char had the wiener schnitzel and Krystal had fried chicken (but just to try the cucumber dill potato salad!). Veal is quite tasty battered and deep fried with cranberry sauce. We ordered a very expensive traditional desseret, Salzburger Nockerl. It's just a big 'ol soufle served on cranberry sauce! We ate it, but cannot reccommend it. :) We gave 1/3 of it away to the people next to us, and they loved it...so be it. We wanted traditional regional food and we got it, along with italian children chucking food stuffs out of their 4th story window into the courtyard. But we ratted them out, and we are pretty sure their butts got canned.

The smiles were before we tried the stuff!

Do I have anything in my teeth?

Sunday morning took us to church where we met several other travelers. The ward is very friendly and accomdated us with headsets for translation. In sunday school we had an Elder sit behind us a talked into our ears for translation. He was from Maryland. After church we met 2 sisters serving from Ohio and Utah. The travelers we met, whom Char nicknamed as "Louisanna" and "Utah" shared the cab with us back to the hotel and saved us 5 euro's! The boys were too young for Charlotte and Krystal was too old for them.

After church we saddled up our backpacks and walked to the train station where we bought our train pass (ouch) and headed back to Vienna. Bye Salzburg, you have been good to us!

On the train we found ourselves sitting behind a mother and son (9 years or so). The darling little boy was a royal pain. He fought with his mom when she tried to take a toy away from him, and they had slap fight right there in front of us! Let's just say we were glad when that train ride was over.

Waiting for our train

Side Note Post

Free internet in the hotels don't allow us to use usb devices, so until we find one that does, you'll just have to use your imagination! :)

Day in Salzburg

Today we started with a tour of the Sound of Music sights where it was filmed on location, including the lake, gazebo, church where they were married, and the strolled in the Maribell gardens. Char decided to lead the tour bus in Do Re Mi (they loved her and took pictures!). Oh, and coming soon to Youtube our very own rendition of the song! :) We had some of the best known warm apple struedel with vanilla ice cream. Took lots of fun pictures, had a short power nap to rest the feet, and now we are off to go find some dinner! Oh, and hopefully some cute men! Salzburg is beautiful and exciting. Our feet are tired but we are loving it anyway. Salzburg is an old town but new to us, and has treated us well. Tomorrow we are back to Vienna after church in the morning. Gospels the same in all languages right?

Gazebo

Leading "Do Re Mi" on bus