tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51269320960485608812024-03-06T04:00:51.485+08:00Guess where I'm writing from?
A travel and food blog with a little extra in between......toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-54682955524592977602016-07-02T10:52:00.000+08:002016-07-02T11:50:42.951+08:00Touring the Languedoc: Albi and its environs<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the road again!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the things the big K and I look forward to every time we visit France are the wonderful, not to mention thrilling road trips we get to do. Nothing compares to the joy of driving along the picturesque countryside (we love that there's hardly any traffic!), exploring towns and villages that seem to have come straight from a storybook along the way or just simply absorbing the beautiful scenery as we whiz by. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I mean REALLY whiz by! Just imagine hurtling along a VERY twisty country road up in the mountains with space barely enough for two cars to fit in. Tight, blind corners, sheer drop-offs, no safety barriers and a sign that says you can do 90kph. Really?! I don't think so. I kept reminding my need-for-speed-wannabe-race-car-driver husband to slow down. It's no wonder some of the best rally car drivers are French!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But that's getting ahead of the story. And so with much anticipation, the big K and I drew up an itinerary to some of the charming places in the Languedoc and Provence regions for the next couple of weeks. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CfzxiGXorlTaHiYgqldH1O0LgTaRxN73FydPBwRQB5IovZee7p0TUzbls_dMmwXJCLD4XzyHceI_d2doqMGZgiXbGthInsGKjWmdxx96VqEm98BigzFajUzuerqyyompskTZ5w1BqVf6/s1600/DSC02878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CfzxiGXorlTaHiYgqldH1O0LgTaRxN73FydPBwRQB5IovZee7p0TUzbls_dMmwXJCLD4XzyHceI_d2doqMGZgiXbGthInsGKjWmdxx96VqEm98BigzFajUzuerqyyompskTZ5w1BqVf6/s400/DSC02878.JPG" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A lavender field in early bloom.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Albi, the Red City </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First stop, the episcopal city of Albi.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2016/06/bienvenue-toulouse.html" target="_blank">Toulouse</a> is known as the Pink City (La Ville Rose), Albi is nicknamed the Red City (La Ville Rouge). An hour's drive north east of Toulouse, Albi stands out with its distinctive red and orange hued brick architecture. It's old medieval city center together with its two distinctive buildings, the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cathédrale Sainte-Cécile</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and the fortress-like Palais de la Berbie are listed in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The big K and I stayed here for two nights and used this as our base for exploring some of the nearby towns. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0R0X_TGM3bttuW-gA7xExHUky4yBs4YTVPoIBgWiijtPAvGwhhPB0F6i0L5fLZ_CNLDSQfLp4O65RzmMVP8cPJZnIQG-Qr4IdLGbPa-YCVrK4CMmQQUZtsgJrtuFfngthqL4ZZxXWike/s1600/DSC01535-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0R0X_TGM3bttuW-gA7xExHUky4yBs4YTVPoIBgWiijtPAvGwhhPB0F6i0L5fLZ_CNLDSQfLp4O65RzmMVP8cPJZnIQG-Qr4IdLGbPa-YCVrK4CMmQQUZtsgJrtuFfngthqL4ZZxXWike/s400/DSC01535-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> with the Pont-Vieux spanning the Tarn river.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrGLqu-XPVe6PwPjW6ZIeownPvtR-RlBtZ8DjOj6Pb1gx5QxO3Xa0Cq7rJPrpfMyrc1DjYCScY918LKTiLlI_NWnwLMNRZB5RXbVmluR1XlVQIG-5P9pCFF2x-NN1rBDP9OcfzMnLXqMr/s1600/DSC01544-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrGLqu-XPVe6PwPjW6ZIeownPvtR-RlBtZ8DjOj6Pb1gx5QxO3Xa0Cq7rJPrpfMyrc1DjYCScY918LKTiLlI_NWnwLMNRZB5RXbVmluR1XlVQIG-5P9pCFF2x-NN1rBDP9OcfzMnLXqMr/s400/DSC01544-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The imposing Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is the largest red-brick cathedral in </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the world.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRkiD9AULWRRl4W4I1H0lda35juwBNx5ZenYNxfSHeBLQYUY8LIiF6anKD3BVzJj8luA7djCB7PS85so43Wn88BtlrhRKbX6iRAI7jESMDU1MttnCMwgEsqbrAv-nl0nPU_Yam8tl52Q6/s1600/DSC01495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRkiD9AULWRRl4W4I1H0lda35juwBNx5ZenYNxfSHeBLQYUY8LIiF6anKD3BVzJj8luA7djCB7PS85so43Wn88BtlrhRKbX6iRAI7jESMDU1MttnCMwgEsqbrAv-nl0nPU_Yam8tl52Q6/s400/DSC01495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Palais de la Berbie (Bishop's Palace) housing the Toulouse-Lautrec </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">museum.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5kMngL-idlYjcA6BZIjB9DP65VCYB7LgWhw4Wop-NU4_nWRbL1RaihBpa44xWDqGGWeOzE4Kh2Szyyflce7AuOakXiG5jQrNd9vsW2WHHP7jIclNqz0MoytMVy5tHZ9nwL1n-ORtpPUF/s1600/DSC01548-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5kMngL-idlYjcA6BZIjB9DP65VCYB7LgWhw4Wop-NU4_nWRbL1RaihBpa44xWDqGGWeOzE4Kh2Szyyflce7AuOakXiG5jQrNd9vsW2WHHP7jIclNqz0MoytMVy5tHZ9nwL1n-ORtpPUF/s400/DSC01548-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Castelnau de Montmiral</b></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A village founded in 1222 by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, that later served as a stronghold during the Hundred Years' War. The village is a member of France's "Most Beautiful Villages" (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France), an association created in 1982 to promote small and picturesque villages in France.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "verdana";"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nn6upMtMCU6X_r2Fvk4y4OZobWqe0BmzAppoY05-6Mq1g7cSgd7FvV0WHyi6LeHGbB5x72zMscFk2Wvg7lFJPKdXTjekMrk1_uZWpodV3RQ6VWtiKDT2DQvMTMrrdjwJ-crZROR5SNJD/s1600/DSC01156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nn6upMtMCU6X_r2Fvk4y4OZobWqe0BmzAppoY05-6Mq1g7cSgd7FvV0WHyi6LeHGbB5x72zMscFk2Wvg7lFJPKdXTjekMrk1_uZWpodV3RQ6VWtiKDT2DQvMTMrrdjwJ-crZROR5SNJD/s400/DSC01156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Castelnau de Montmiral's main square.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB09cP_miiLrEx3aTGkc95gPacW9XjzZ3kMsBKH5dIW_B-FGBojxr7HZ6L2d7SYXwOL2YSzkuZUT4f9eAOwVycPdFco0JkZiMv0g6MHFIKTo1Soc_jLuh3yIWtiXeNrrIk-br_hbOYFlL/s1600/DSC01138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB09cP_miiLrEx3aTGkc95gPacW9XjzZ3kMsBKH5dIW_B-FGBojxr7HZ6L2d7SYXwOL2YSzkuZUT4f9eAOwVycPdFco0JkZiMv0g6MHFIKTo1Soc_jLuh3yIWtiXeNrrIk-br_hbOYFlL/s400/DSC01138.JPG" width="276" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oy3pyQpNYqM2DCDZjoa_mm9cNdQZCoNIijjcAD0vVNhWf9zEjKRqLCb0JR3IlEOtNZSvw1DnJvd2ETBAZh6Sg9cTsyM__DzejIWb8l4-rEV3ZeN2iS6F4X63EsOrL09natPiuLpVR6RT/s1600/DSC01167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oy3pyQpNYqM2DCDZjoa_mm9cNdQZCoNIijjcAD0vVNhWf9zEjKRqLCb0JR3IlEOtNZSvw1DnJvd2ETBAZh6Sg9cTsyM__DzejIWb8l4-rEV3ZeN2iS6F4X63EsOrL09natPiuLpVR6RT/s400/DSC01167.JPG" width="298" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lLnKtJC7k1KdxOF1K_LE1um3gT_OWDXLs1uB2ycnB7idfdII5E_Nfc4Fxf1WrMilk415W22d-00xNB0qcwxfmzNMXCQratOTxqCEI0BNubnxswcKmwdbaQsbgurx4WSfjuyt2pEEtdyj/s1600/DSC01170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lLnKtJC7k1KdxOF1K_LE1um3gT_OWDXLs1uB2ycnB7idfdII5E_Nfc4Fxf1WrMilk415W22d-00xNB0qcwxfmzNMXCQratOTxqCEI0BNubnxswcKmwdbaQsbgurx4WSfjuyt2pEEtdyj/s400/DSC01170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Cordes-sur-Ciel</b></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was an overcast day when the big K and I arrived at the fortified village of Cordes-sur-Ciel. T</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">all, centuries-old stone houses jostling each other on both sides of the road greeted us as we slowly crept up the narrow, gently winding hilltop lane. It was like being transported back to the middle ages with the gloomy weather to complete the scene. It was surreal. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Approaching the top, the houses gave way to a scenic-view of the valley below. Then as if on cue, the clouds parted with the sun bathing the vineyards below in a breath-taking panorama. Ah! It's a sign! </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7dJ9Ia1QLFtBZwY-Lm39tSTfKPiFSgdZ6IpnbeeAsD5kWqvfYxWLZLH7NfcFEr_MURdTcPCpNFlgygxYhmI-91nyTiZG4aieCiK6wXKaP6fUP3Ag5CRTP1btUnVHBodEnu7kg78-cZwe/s1600/DSC01242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7dJ9Ia1QLFtBZwY-Lm39tSTfKPiFSgdZ6IpnbeeAsD5kWqvfYxWLZLH7NfcFEr_MURdTcPCpNFlgygxYhmI-91nyTiZG4aieCiK6wXKaP6fUP3Ag5CRTP1btUnVHBodEnu7kg78-cZwe/s400/DSC01242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fortified hilltop town was founded by the Count of Toulouse, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Raymond VII </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">at the same time as Castelnau de Montmiral in the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">13th century.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYHANq0M5jrbfxLsLtJiA4svMLkI3dJhOUf_h-06cZUhyWi4mZVuQ1NxHzzFHzqzMYGuSoZMBDDbinESMuRfpZdP8RjNjDR6JueqeIrWGtSmrCCLI9RDxeafASWLEvU3UfNG6M2MUQ7Ai/s400/DSC01369.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During misty mornings, thick fog would envelop the valley below giving</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">the impression of the town floating on a bed of clouds. Hence, the name </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Cordes-sur-Ciel meaning </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">"Cordes in the sky".</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiZqwy3XjQd0y11YO6Mg_urXX2Q7SSIW0xT7mzvFR311gXZcjKdq__h0xyw0SOQZoyl153-lrjXdIEVfeEu_VJmpNesNuEXr2czR_6s-D8z2qeuAs01gukMyeuh7Z-XMkFaurCIumdENS/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiZqwy3XjQd0y11YO6Mg_urXX2Q7SSIW0xT7mzvFR311gXZcjKdq__h0xyw0SOQZoyl153-lrjXdIEVfeEu_VJmpNesNuEXr2czR_6s-D8z2qeuAs01gukMyeuh7Z-XMkFaurCIumdENS/s400/DSC01237.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnZvTvQYDAwNyabWqxqchGICC2KVavlRhthfW5BOb9qgz9O-iZ5HiqcHtJTX_EdRfQzkQbY0HHyIzt87IP6S1TVzyI7sHh3eTjKlgjDiLf_QNuTqqV1RW1_JYGC97CgKSDggwsmmbvBDY/s400/FullSizeRender+%252810%2529-001.jpg" width="350" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jtDnNm0kTqF7ztsHVraOUdu51M_TovQqRRI6bm1vCI2gq3otrE3_uZGRTO4guexr7Y6G3AzHw0x2FmM0t6la4r-0uxcUIaJPzY9lLfoWvKZy1mpdsg-UysLPIeuhYL_HEujwlYPgs428/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252813%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jtDnNm0kTqF7ztsHVraOUdu51M_TovQqRRI6bm1vCI2gq3otrE3_uZGRTO4guexr7Y6G3AzHw0x2FmM0t6la4r-0uxcUIaJPzY9lLfoWvKZy1mpdsg-UysLPIeuhYL_HEujwlYPgs428/s400/FullSizeRender+%252813%2529-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Monestiés</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A member of Les Plus Beaux Villages, the tiny village of Monestiés was once a popular stop on the St. James pilgrimage route that ended at the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "verdana";"></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkJowxd4Y7VKeJxJgsqE_k2COsKo6IkC-We81VFF_l6Kj74PUMAjOsbkZboFFpfaDiBGwpkgW0YfitU1vLHrMfNrzR1T7-8QGqr7_NA0ggpALbc_T1HNLIEb2Q9Ax_aRAonA5Py78_JDq/s1600/DSC01417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkJowxd4Y7VKeJxJgsqE_k2COsKo6IkC-We81VFF_l6Kj74PUMAjOsbkZboFFpfaDiBGwpkgW0YfitU1vLHrMfNrzR1T7-8QGqr7_NA0ggpALbc_T1HNLIEb2Q9Ax_aRAonA5Py78_JDq/s400/DSC01417.JPG" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPBJ4Cat55PSKAjK_41pxEGAmIEtFgw8sJxbsyVgPiNW90yEJdD0_GVIbzDV42XeRzh7_FcaecTqn25JNs9wcgoxWyP4ugskN160u-z3UrnbMCuBfIpEp6Nml4fc0HLSQ3x4U9pa9NZb0/s1600/DSC01403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPBJ4Cat55PSKAjK_41pxEGAmIEtFgw8sJxbsyVgPiNW90yEJdD0_GVIbzDV42XeRzh7_FcaecTqn25JNs9wcgoxWyP4ugskN160u-z3UrnbMCuBfIpEp6Nml4fc0HLSQ3x4U9pa9NZb0/s400/DSC01403.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 11.84px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Pont de Candèze built in the 12th century spanning </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 11.84px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 11.84px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font: small/18.2px arial,sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Cérou river.</span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6azSApyiT0_8SwESh8QWf62H3POZzxkKKMhptyD-UrEaPHJ6zXxwqEpzSed9nMBR6s19HOETl78bgLX22pUqnI9BxSAjbRj2QMyvIdU3o16stVtwJ4MyUy6RiuBwJSnicmWMUASUqhZU/s1600/DSC01411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6azSApyiT0_8SwESh8QWf62H3POZzxkKKMhptyD-UrEaPHJ6zXxwqEpzSed9nMBR6s19HOETl78bgLX22pUqnI9BxSAjbRj2QMyvIdU3o16stVtwJ4MyUy6RiuBwJSnicmWMUASUqhZU/s400/DSC01411.JPG" width="292" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDg-PGh_5SNSsqil7kYneAwN8rBliICzPOH36DmyMXqrm2_wSHPpnDoYkt789gDfRMAJtBiNJFYJUkjLwm0A-VjdAFFnB9ibEQC00R2G3pIGkm2OMAvzZYXt0UJOQwXJY8irCH0DjdS4z/s1600/DSC01381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDg-PGh_5SNSsqil7kYneAwN8rBliICzPOH36DmyMXqrm2_wSHPpnDoYkt789gDfRMAJtBiNJFYJUkjLwm0A-VjdAFFnB9ibEQC00R2G3pIGkm2OMAvzZYXt0UJOQwXJY8irCH0DjdS4z/s400/DSC01381.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chapelle St. Jacques Billeterie.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Réalmont</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b><span style="color: #252525;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The big K and I were pleasantly surprised when we visited this historical town as it turned out to be their market day. It was a clear, sunny day, perfect for a picnic. So getting us some buttery croissants, a tub of soft, gooey aligot cheese, paella and a couple of Cokes to wash it all down, the big K and I had a nice lunch at the nearby park. I know, I know, we were in France and we should have gotten a bottle of wine. We made up for it though at dinner with a couple bottles of Gaillac wine!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"> <span style="color: #252525; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjxfWRddYARcYZ907AyQqnEkFU6Tj8I5e0_ry_-1xEuQgTS3m-rJutqsunNiXi5us_G9PtHJ_PqgxVEVEvsyQoqnY79NOxrw4ZhGQI83StoLRhi4tMeH5wpb1WPIPFPGwlpKw_DWHXXYo/s1600/DSC01618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjxfWRddYARcYZ907AyQqnEkFU6Tj8I5e0_ry_-1xEuQgTS3m-rJutqsunNiXi5us_G9PtHJ_PqgxVEVEvsyQoqnY79NOxrw4ZhGQI83StoLRhi4tMeH5wpb1WPIPFPGwlpKw_DWHXXYo/s400/DSC01618.JPG" width="282" /></a><b><span style="color: #252525;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnNm2EqdsxexSD6NAbh8uLuC5cl05MiK9XfhsXQiqau-bSUr9dzAjd-0p2IS0u5Hzic-jX92ev3nI1PBOm5Xq4KUDPaOL-diCeJltGUkK3BY1Tlg9NvPdbflS2qQMFE7I7b-exiBoEUos/s1600/DSC01590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnNm2EqdsxexSD6NAbh8uLuC5cl05MiK9XfhsXQiqau-bSUr9dzAjd-0p2IS0u5Hzic-jX92ev3nI1PBOm5Xq4KUDPaOL-diCeJltGUkK3BY1Tlg9NvPdbflS2qQMFE7I7b-exiBoEUos/s400/DSC01590.JPG" width="266" /></a><b><span style="color: #252525;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggey9bfPN_N8kSA9JKzpPgkQa6-Ze5pT8iVUFl2b2giBB4gAvofqD7vXw4EsVdZEGjL6l_7CEyZaX52c92WJS5Cjw7tbE38omjTTZ8uWzYAABwWd8J5zuH9wnwWBg0hccsPk-9W8Wgjbgk/s1600/DSC01597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggey9bfPN_N8kSA9JKzpPgkQa6-Ze5pT8iVUFl2b2giBB4gAvofqD7vXw4EsVdZEGjL6l_7CEyZaX52c92WJS5Cjw7tbE38omjTTZ8uWzYAABwWd8J5zuH9wnwWBg0hccsPk-9W8Wgjbgk/s400/DSC01597.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu_1VCerjFknlTb61Fru6Rr5y3lbzcOtQvzF_01AgLui2w0VONt2qYx4FeydNKY4Am4yrA-mFRSHiPEsCMqlKwi0Zor9X-ULL66cDCsAnBSjfoX_LzdE8sEPHk6EYbYlU0Nr4GE9GmVO0/s1600/DSC01608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu_1VCerjFknlTb61Fru6Rr5y3lbzcOtQvzF_01AgLui2w0VONt2qYx4FeydNKY4Am4yrA-mFRSHiPEsCMqlKwi0Zor9X-ULL66cDCsAnBSjfoX_LzdE8sEPHk6EYbYlU0Nr4GE9GmVO0/s400/DSC01608.JPG" width="266" /></a><b><span style="color: #252525;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87kwJRL_bga8y4SK4h8N6EOK7BbdsVpowTsHJ8ziUuQKt939eyO2v0WzrMsVK0Wo9eVY86VirbqFfvlsx03KHBo7PE0nKbB1EvdXmUFe8lkq1mYV7mC6llZv_IXezXAPyzKxohIFuiA_E/s1600/DSC01613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87kwJRL_bga8y4SK4h8N6EOK7BbdsVpowTsHJ8ziUuQKt939eyO2v0WzrMsVK0Wo9eVY86VirbqFfvlsx03KHBo7PE0nKbB1EvdXmUFe8lkq1mYV7mC6llZv_IXezXAPyzKxohIFuiA_E/s400/DSC01613.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdEwQBKChMIJoYnMTBpTpigHult9M3HtMPKk6-_sKXkvnmUo2wJGLKIgn3dKTN3w8UGit00laQtPl2Kjyahk2xr5VSmij6Cjr_Eb-vtxwcfUR5opqV8LzgJqS4cL-IF2BpvMkD9KpwlMS/s1600/DSC01603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdEwQBKChMIJoYnMTBpTpigHult9M3HtMPKk6-_sKXkvnmUo2wJGLKIgn3dKTN3w8UGit00laQtPl2Kjyahk2xr5VSmij6Cjr_Eb-vtxwcfUR5opqV8LzgJqS4cL-IF2BpvMkD9KpwlMS/s400/DSC01603.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EhZGZppm7dva2z3aVG1Funqg7_Z7uPRVX81EWP9ax_lCqSmwP9svN9JkYgj2fGBC9DKPlKBSdNTPXhbzbh0b13qJOP8pAVDN4YM0RI5qnlyQ0IiRP4hhhRq_V60RWvbsZE9Z-bqp2R7D/s1600/DSC01634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EhZGZppm7dva2z3aVG1Funqg7_Z7uPRVX81EWP9ax_lCqSmwP9svN9JkYgj2fGBC9DKPlKBSdNTPXhbzbh0b13qJOP8pAVDN4YM0RI5qnlyQ0IiRP4hhhRq_V60RWvbsZE9Z-bqp2R7D/s400/DSC01634.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXkgDI74WTKM1zIq2hjdFt-z82AYAB73vuubFC07kIASVVvyIfu8VyK0AVnmHbmyeKYnBlmOjICuzRaHeg0aeLYM6Jo6_GWk8anPw47DZDcFsWZVVzqQ3VEIabPbEsRb7PEBFelcWFRff/s1600/DSC01614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXkgDI74WTKM1zIq2hjdFt-z82AYAB73vuubFC07kIASVVvyIfu8VyK0AVnmHbmyeKYnBlmOjICuzRaHeg0aeLYM6Jo6_GWk8anPw47DZDcFsWZVVzqQ3VEIabPbEsRb7PEBFelcWFRff/s400/DSC01614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHBKEkMjSllxhPVh869CUVLup_iXtCZcLq2U_rZSPi-5MehLKZuIShyt2BAP3OappmtslKoAd7FZjj0ZiS6sVx832e2dMwoaD-K_kibmL33mbFYXJ81Ez5Y1rkkYxbuZT_MhiAxg3xC5I/s1600/DSC01624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHBKEkMjSllxhPVh869CUVLup_iXtCZcLq2U_rZSPi-5MehLKZuIShyt2BAP3OappmtslKoAd7FZjj0ZiS6sVx832e2dMwoaD-K_kibmL33mbFYXJ81Ez5Y1rkkYxbuZT_MhiAxg3xC5I/s400/DSC01624.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #252525;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b>Lautrec</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The small medieval village of Lautrec is known for its sweet and subtle-flavored pink garlic (l'ail rose). The quiet town becomes a big party place every August when they hold their annual Pink Garlic Festival. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqShs2wl-h1tOFW286xyLLm7dAJ6IdUo2Zkmj321adv07BkCgjlTKjyy_pwA_sicvFvLZU8Lym2FbqxmNaKImNIb8QnlTT047rQTIi8TQcW2480mV4UE3dvuF-s-5ShkWvVbN8OIMuDgJ/s1600/DSC01655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqShs2wl-h1tOFW286xyLLm7dAJ6IdUo2Zkmj321adv07BkCgjlTKjyy_pwA_sicvFvLZU8Lym2FbqxmNaKImNIb8QnlTT047rQTIi8TQcW2480mV4UE3dvuF-s-5ShkWvVbN8OIMuDgJ/s400/DSC01655.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
The town's 14th century market square with its half-timbered buildings.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa4iXz0rfcrtQfrJX9kL7_whDz0uzDqIqqCWqMwLBVCARGDCRZsj6uP4msoaZCGsgQG6iO3LhDnFuykdojPmr_wu_GceNuar66OkuxacuUshCjtpIN8-z-fXlh0d-cfOjxzXUd5TWfoB3/s1600/DSC01695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa4iXz0rfcrtQfrJX9kL7_whDz0uzDqIqqCWqMwLBVCARGDCRZsj6uP4msoaZCGsgQG6iO3LhDnFuykdojPmr_wu_GceNuar66OkuxacuUshCjtpIN8-z-fXlh0d-cfOjxzXUd5TWfoB3/s400/DSC01695.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
The 17th century wind mill on the hill above Lautrec.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7rCrsa8QYfsLCkymmApBydf7xGsCV1J0WMlbvuiQ9Y1OJwhfKC-bFhex_TYF80A_KnbQRsNg3ZfLHdDYJXBteTlh56A_kfFFXZSDkWypig86GE7Rt7r0zIfukyo8u-Y-xe6WhnV5xyPl/s1600/DSC01702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7rCrsa8QYfsLCkymmApBydf7xGsCV1J0WMlbvuiQ9Y1OJwhfKC-bFhex_TYF80A_KnbQRsNg3ZfLHdDYJXBteTlh56A_kfFFXZSDkWypig86GE7Rt7r0zIfukyo8u-Y-xe6WhnV5xyPl/s400/DSC01702.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBERHUFDi9CjKvX0JLueJwxdRhI0_IqqQokws6fNEhA2nBHltCnfhqMj9TnCr1tlwJPdC3etxcDjsISZo742-B7aEHuhfVnzDJFLD6vpmI_IqJOGjt1gdRn-bpYCGCZEL_41qqFdmRC5q/s400/DSC01694.JPG" width="400" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Where we stayed:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.lescuelledeschevaliers.fr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">L'Escuelle des Chevaliers</a> - a charming bed and breakfast within the ramparts of Cordes-sur-ciel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-1211-mercure-albi-bastides-hotel/index.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mercure Albi Bastides Hotel</a> - a former 18th century flour mill along the banks of the Tarn river with great views of the river and the episcopal city of Albi. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-51668434617141030462016-06-28T19:48:00.000+08:002016-06-29T13:46:26.992+08:00Bienvenue à Toulouse!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With an ongoing beach house project, supplier meetings and a hectic work schedule, the big K and I weren't planning on any long haul vacation anytime soon. So for our birthday getaway treat we were looking forward to simply relaxing by the <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/02/my-childhood-playground-bohol.html" target="_blank">beach</a> in the company of a good book while sipping our favorite Mojito drink all day long. Sweet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But happily, things don't always work out as planned..... because </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">my darling big K, on short notice, was asked to attend a training on his requested leave days, our birthday getaway! If that weren't enough, his training was all the way in Toulouse, France! (Insert big smiley face here!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Needless to say with barely a month to prepare for the trip, I was all in a frenzy gathering papers needed for my Shengen visa application (Aah! The perks of a citizen from a 3rd world country!). Aaaand.... I also had to come up with a two-week itinerary. Yup! The big K got his vacation days moved after his training so we could go on a side trip. (Insert another BIG smiley... wait, make that grinning-Cheshire-cat face here!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s6ucFnubF3Nxl1-7eU0Fnd4x0T_v2FWUsE4VqShVXa85TRjJEImQixZrztCkoxqDkrLbYseHNvAKgkO0bs0Rqd_YvGDf_47Eem-MKsEydksHLouZn_aBagx0hq9ikLR6Gs0GdrwELlPU/s1600/IMG_0587+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s6ucFnubF3Nxl1-7eU0Fnd4x0T_v2FWUsE4VqShVXa85TRjJEImQixZrztCkoxqDkrLbYseHNvAKgkO0bs0Rqd_YvGDf_47Eem-MKsEydksHLouZn_aBagx0hq9ikLR6Gs0GdrwELlPU/s640/IMG_0587+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The oldest fountain in Toulouse at Place <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saint-Étienne.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">La Ville Rose (The Pink City)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"> My first visit to Toulouse was few a years back with the big K when he was part of a crew who took delivery of a brand new aircraft from Airbus. It was such a short visit that we really weren't able to see much of the city. This time I was looking forward on a more leisurely sight-seeing tour of the place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Nicknamed la Ville Rose or Pink City because of its unique pinkish terracotta brick architecture, Toulouse is located in the southwest of France and is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Canal du Midi and the largest remaining Romanesque building in Europe, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Going around the city is no problem as it is served by an easily, accessible <a href="http://www.tisseo.fr/en/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">public transportation network</a> (metro, tram and bus). Most of the tourist sites are located within the city center which is pretty compact and is best seen on foot as you get to discover its charming nooks and crannies most often reserved for pedestrians. Plus you get that much needed exercise to justify pigging out on their mouthwatering local specialties! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">On y va!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAep8b77V559X-pcMvNmsvnHg5wGhfFtdIy8zARh951huTOFSTjcV9NTExhBw3X-HMR2KMC6xM9eSkSHIGG5oBgGQEQj_QMenDnJsKt7rYKcyri_s31fC3R0601NOf6fSauf9mLELKS9WA/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252826%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAep8b77V559X-pcMvNmsvnHg5wGhfFtdIy8zARh951huTOFSTjcV9NTExhBw3X-HMR2KMC6xM9eSkSHIGG5oBgGQEQj_QMenDnJsKt7rYKcyri_s31fC3R0601NOf6fSauf9mLELKS9WA/s640/FullSizeRender+%252826%2529-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Le Capitole de Toulouse.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZrfFDZJCzEgUFDFSR5gbNzBW2C9gBE_nEvjNdsGuEaGF3D3c-T8B2HZzisaCWeVGx-D5CWf1bnNFn9m6cabILb1LIVoU0JY_CKeIRhp1FlllXbJ6wdhHXTcNVlnaXS5-4-lcEZWIdm9j/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252827%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZrfFDZJCzEgUFDFSR5gbNzBW2C9gBE_nEvjNdsGuEaGF3D3c-T8B2HZzisaCWeVGx-D5CWf1bnNFn9m6cabILb1LIVoU0JY_CKeIRhp1FlllXbJ6wdhHXTcNVlnaXS5-4-lcEZWIdm9j/s640/FullSizeRender+%252827%2529-001.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">La Basilique Saint-Sernin, a UNESCO World Heritage </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Site.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw4Bz9drplNRwvZj41dh9KPBED_i7gsoyQBrTJW806lExfhiqm7Zoc0A6sHVsuDrLn9fj70sGYW-BuyFNv5wkqJdwswmIPyrbKvGk0yYzBvHpv_qhxVyH1qhh8Ty6B2kUNBWc3q-C0FvE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252828%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw4Bz9drplNRwvZj41dh9KPBED_i7gsoyQBrTJW806lExfhiqm7Zoc0A6sHVsuDrLn9fj70sGYW-BuyFNv5wkqJdwswmIPyrbKvGk0yYzBvHpv_qhxVyH1qhh8Ty6B2kUNBWc3q-C0FvE/s640/FullSizeRender+%252828%2529-001.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Les Couvents des Jacobins contains the relics of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">St. Thomas Aquinas.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLc4IX6mdWhzOfi4dDhfzRA-g2v7tyT1IA-Zh71SaKOpiwv3ZNDds9hjUeRuujAGcunkSLTYvIoKJpz9YjEmQj0q_Rpj6gdl1Xihq_bBIDAur5aCtXPftnBwvC1T_MT0SZvskgSnNinIO/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252829%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLc4IX6mdWhzOfi4dDhfzRA-g2v7tyT1IA-Zh71SaKOpiwv3ZNDds9hjUeRuujAGcunkSLTYvIoKJpz9YjEmQj0q_Rpj6gdl1Xihq_bBIDAur5aCtXPftnBwvC1T_MT0SZvskgSnNinIO/s640/FullSizeRender+%252829%2529-001.jpg" width="571" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Le M</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">usée des Augustins</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> de Toulouse used to be a monastery of the Hermits of St. Augustine, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">an order </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">dependent on charity that was founded in the 13th century. It is now a fine arts museum. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVKOK1dcK9lRdlaRlex0rpBFHr3gm961mgYHR9ZsdRUi3Mhi6P4LJ-tIIv8b7_44MpwVRqROAnrkEvTainsJMDQwwBeVpX1smkzNWDIMnR9Qr-jArBLhO6Aq_fOQWA-W5OZUA8hDhwJvI/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252830%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVKOK1dcK9lRdlaRlex0rpBFHr3gm961mgYHR9ZsdRUi3Mhi6P4LJ-tIIv8b7_44MpwVRqROAnrkEvTainsJMDQwwBeVpX1smkzNWDIMnR9Qr-jArBLhO6Aq_fOQWA-W5OZUA8hDhwJvI/s640/FullSizeRender+%252830%2529-001.jpg" width="544" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Toulouse consisting of two </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">incomplete churches resulting in its peculiar </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">façade and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">interior.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO55p1G-1ScPGoStAcAC8jR98ThXBs9G-Aj7G17_UjC4IabCuLa_tb7ipsfOhUi6ykMQnFDtBJ-4wND90OoeaTas6FXE9JPhPzUUdJ_yLvF-Jf0wIKSAjINP-nRrWNMFDddeeqoiQSPz4u/s1600/DSC01018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO55p1G-1ScPGoStAcAC8jR98ThXBs9G-Aj7G17_UjC4IabCuLa_tb7ipsfOhUi6ykMQnFDtBJ-4wND90OoeaTas6FXE9JPhPzUUdJ_yLvF-Jf0wIKSAjINP-nRrWNMFDddeeqoiQSPz4u/s640/DSC01018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Canal de Brienne connecting the Garonne river to the Canal du Midi.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbqwFxBqnRhNIkNaiB3h36YzA0Hh9xY8hGv17web9qx5HLXmnGN6MCFfrurIiAGZbApqQiq6VUQdYj5z5RNpK_sUXbbMU1sVKf5Q5ngfGcDzoBBEvEetBINNSG4Aj5mlF9ptyuqCUtsiZ/s1600/DSC01008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbqwFxBqnRhNIkNaiB3h36YzA0Hh9xY8hGv17web9qx5HLXmnGN6MCFfrurIiAGZbApqQiq6VUQdYj5z5RNpK_sUXbbMU1sVKf5Q5ngfGcDzoBBEvEetBINNSG4Aj5mlF9ptyuqCUtsiZ/s640/DSC01008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Pont Saint-Pierre spanning the Garonne River with the<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> l'</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hôpital de La Grave</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on the background.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6nV67QBV9R6Mb594nFeS5PgjPILADtMCBtVMy8Pq452CFnZusnV59oqYbIxTjDEph_p4ooECyPn-NyyjQ7HwsysicV1EuZ4xGTxVhnTHzY-1j3Oqi8zxSIGAVfWJnUqirMM7cOjbn5vo/s1600/DSC01004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6nV67QBV9R6Mb594nFeS5PgjPILADtMCBtVMy8Pq452CFnZusnV59oqYbIxTjDEph_p4ooECyPn-NyyjQ7HwsysicV1EuZ4xGTxVhnTHzY-1j3Oqi8zxSIGAVfWJnUqirMM7cOjbn5vo/s640/DSC01004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pont-Neuf and the Hotel Dieu Saint-Jacques along the Garonne river. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BTHwRy41Skm1XZQ1nXVf4gdhLCuz-o7IXj8ipDzX75bV1AuapvbHSVQSHId3CzNxUKnmIPCGna_5kCANypSFtO6FbjMq0OpYJJ37k2TWneLT4SsjMXCIOAGPUgJ7YWmPFiK_VHjzlZN_/s1600/DSC00973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BTHwRy41Skm1XZQ1nXVf4gdhLCuz-o7IXj8ipDzX75bV1AuapvbHSVQSHId3CzNxUKnmIPCGna_5kCANypSFtO6FbjMq0OpYJJ37k2TWneLT4SsjMXCIOAGPUgJ7YWmPFiK_VHjzlZN_/s640/DSC00973.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A hidden gem, the Chapelle des Carmelites, stark in its simplicity</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR8MpWrvsDoOQQrsWZAPhpPyanbvpDHtQnGZ4irDXCV3Ed0vBXK_STxhNZUXWGNLpnpo68CdDuiAyOixgxdnVu6s7KGPcgwVNZYdfuag2Y22efQRi6P_PP_iKcleSnSe6BrqzlvnS9M0e/s1600/DSC00975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR8MpWrvsDoOQQrsWZAPhpPyanbvpDHtQnGZ4irDXCV3Ed0vBXK_STxhNZUXWGNLpnpo68CdDuiAyOixgxdnVu6s7KGPcgwVNZYdfuag2Y22efQRi6P_PP_iKcleSnSe6BrqzlvnS9M0e/s640/DSC00975.JPG" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">holds a lovely surprise inside! </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SWZsw19X8lBkqxWDWkGEpSbnDMYkSC5H2CdIA5rTrEkYDUhWCoH9QRlxbsZufY46VF556dOYS-pOoBGqS7GXhRcNEvPUGx7gt4A3SNLSyvSxWHQMBHqrf6lcE2wSVzzODngB7BpgKPEJ/s1600/DSC01032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SWZsw19X8lBkqxWDWkGEpSbnDMYkSC5H2CdIA5rTrEkYDUhWCoH9QRlxbsZufY46VF556dOYS-pOoBGqS7GXhRcNEvPUGx7gt4A3SNLSyvSxWHQMBHqrf6lcE2wSVzzODngB7BpgKPEJ/s640/DSC01032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perfect place for a picnic, the beautiful and peaceful Japanese Garden near </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">the Canal du Midi.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WRu_F5BjVxRfvg4_ll4YKTWckHLQuaEcVugoCbJQVtb4Kd_j-xu1OfPYP1JYLXn3noJBq3ckCYgWXCEitgb4regnmJj6s_EmeI3rGvD0yMbrbUPrCUG9_C5nU3pwLKpApBJG394ODETj/s1600/DSC00992-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WRu_F5BjVxRfvg4_ll4YKTWckHLQuaEcVugoCbJQVtb4Kd_j-xu1OfPYP1JYLXn3noJBq3ckCYgWXCEitgb4regnmJj6s_EmeI3rGvD0yMbrbUPrCUG9_C5nU3pwLKpApBJG394ODETj/s640/DSC00992-001.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Toulouse Tourist office at the back of the Capitole.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMevRwStzkTq_lvukBElGuZp1JWs0blcWWVBCJfS9n3LunHgoy-Wm6Yw6FbOeDrcxu5FzJh8TGVX6Ag7SyX_wXke8Yz6pt9pl9ACE6rg4STVQqk_uru6FaYbf45w1hYQgVH0obSzvTKGhH/s1600/DSC00984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMevRwStzkTq_lvukBElGuZp1JWs0blcWWVBCJfS9n3LunHgoy-Wm6Yw6FbOeDrcxu5FzJh8TGVX6Ag7SyX_wXke8Yz6pt9pl9ACE6rg4STVQqk_uru6FaYbf45w1hYQgVH0obSzvTKGhH/s640/DSC00984.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDYZ4lTdiTAnc4ATVOutsgT95nUu36_4vr5fAZFSQAJBOOORNZpvPq4VILvXvNVukNaSKRYgniXu34QMr5Uarqyi-so_rQf6ndiWt8yBlR5SutRERH3fQTQSTfn3uKcfQBRso4Rqj_GCw/s1600/DSC00981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDYZ4lTdiTAnc4ATVOutsgT95nUu36_4vr5fAZFSQAJBOOORNZpvPq4VILvXvNVukNaSKRYgniXu34QMr5Uarqyi-so_rQf6ndiWt8yBlR5SutRERH3fQTQSTfn3uKcfQBRso4Rqj_GCw/s640/DSC00981.JPG" width="498" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><i>More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/guesswhereimwritingfrom/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1868843016723228" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Where we stayed:</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://www.citadines.com/en/france/toulouse/wilson.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citadines Wilson Toulouse</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-1910-aparthotel-adagio-toulouse-parthenon/index.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aparthotel Adagio Parthenon Toulouse</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8505-novotel-toulouse-centre-wilson/index.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Novotel Toulouse Centre Wilson Hotel</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>How to get here: </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">By air : <a href="http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en?lgue=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toulouse-Blagnac Airport</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">By train : <a href="http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SNCF</a> (</span><span lang="fr"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Société nationale des chemins de fer Français)</span></span><br />
<span lang="fr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="fr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b><br /></b></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-57797179256924822412016-02-01T19:45:00.000+08:002023-09-13T21:54:49.745+08:00Barefoot Luxury in Dedon Island, Siargao<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'd been in the resort for two hours or so before I realized what had been nagging at me since we'd arrived. It was almost eerily quiet. Sounds silly, I know, but being a full-on, born and bred city mouse, it takes a while in real QUIET to fully grasp how tremendously noisy a city can be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Had a massage at 3:30PM in the afternoon, heard ONE motorcycle, that's it. No other engines of any kind, no radio, no TV, no karaoke (thank heavens!), no telephones. Perfect.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now it's 6:30PM, and someone's got a generator going somewhere but you almost have to strain to hear it. The main soundtrack for tonight seems to be cricket songs. There are a lot of them out here, and I think they're all in love. Perfect.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPck574mal_kvr-NZCU8Pl4olfjT1c7aYOa0NWm1McQBnOeL7xjnB6nkR4CuY5qYDQHIjFhHVUrHyFJgNzkIcXwKrBC-6413MHh8HQ2RbUsa292dMJs0SRRz8j0jne2ObYsjbEl9YcrICK/s1600/DSC00074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPck574mal_kvr-NZCU8Pl4olfjT1c7aYOa0NWm1McQBnOeL7xjnB6nkR4CuY5qYDQHIjFhHVUrHyFJgNzkIcXwKrBC-6413MHh8HQ2RbUsa292dMJs0SRRz8j0jne2ObYsjbEl9YcrICK/s640/DSC00074.JPG" width="484" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dedon Island</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PERFECT. No other words to describe the place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few years back the Big K and I were in one of our quick getaways in Mactan Shangri-La when I first came across the name. It was the brand of the resort's outdoor furniture. DEDON. Sounds foreign. I later learned it was indeed an international brand but was locally made right here in Cebu. They were really nice, well-made chairs. Looked sturdy enough (read: cat proof) and had clean, simple lines. This was the kind of furniture that would go well with our future beach house. Mental bookmark! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to the present with a beach house in the works. Was it by chance or simply great timing that we had a change of travel plans for our anniversary trip this year when we decided to re-visit some of our favorite island getaways, Cebu, Siargao and Bohol. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Big K and I already booked our stays in Cebu and Bohol. But where to stay in Siargao? You guessed it! Where else but at <a href="http://www.dedonisland.com/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dedon Island</a>! Yup, it's the very same brand we took notice of years ago. And what's a better way to check out their latest collection than trying it out in a beautiful setting. Sure beats any showroom! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX3pUVejRF6362ilej9ulrZnZLyre3Wx3k_H6_h20r1YoNOeAdfjV-9icCnXgEUBGIh1AhJ7x4cMOhPv8gMRs8bl9wz6nmdizRv3GaiZrvnF1ZRPjvegOhejwVCdb4fw9ItaAPVrsHnBQ/s1600/DSC00369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX3pUVejRF6362ilej9ulrZnZLyre3Wx3k_H6_h20r1YoNOeAdfjV-9icCnXgEUBGIh1AhJ7x4cMOhPv8gMRs8bl9wz6nmdizRv3GaiZrvnF1ZRPjvegOhejwVCdb4fw9ItaAPVrsHnBQ/s400/DSC00369.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We knew we were in for something special when our Dedon experience started even before we arrived at the resort. On the day of our flight to Siargao a Dedon staff picked us up from our <a href="http://www.shangri-la.com/cebu/mactanresort/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hotel</a> in Cebu and brought us to the airport. Now who else does that? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a short flight on <a href="https://www.cebupacificair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cebu Pacific</a>, we arrived at the small island known for its surfing waves. At the arrival area we were greeted by a smiling Dedon staff named Larry and led to a pimped-up jeepney and promptly offered cold drinks, snacks of dried fruit from the resort's kitchen and cold towels. Aahhh! I'm feeling pampered already! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pujbWVvbjRw_vf_RtnirceJBamT5JZHR3e1oWsi-BLCCiXwQCx6B6HBp6lzHXtpcKZj29dBAMyKqOa-JTrNA4GJbP7gJo8Gz5c0AZND053a4cIYP-DKtTO0unotW0N7aXyw2vuree0uk/s1600/DSC00685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pujbWVvbjRw_vf_RtnirceJBamT5JZHR3e1oWsi-BLCCiXwQCx6B6HBp6lzHXtpcKZj29dBAMyKqOa-JTrNA4GJbP7gJo8Gz5c0AZND053a4cIYP-DKtTO0unotW0N7aXyw2vuree0uk/s640/DSC00685.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our limo awaits! This is no ordinary jeepney, even the interior has been Dedon-ized.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With blue skies and the sun shining brightly it was a pleasant hour's drive through Siargao's scenic countryside. So much improvement from the last time we visited, concrete roads for one! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the resort we were warmly welcomed by the Dedon team lead by resort managers Nicolas and Lucia, adventure manager Sean and chef Justin. Seeing most of them on barefoot already set the tone for our stay. Barefoot luxury, indeed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the way to our villa there was a lot of oohing and aahing from us. Well, who wouldn't? I'll just let our photos do the talking..... </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtX7oEzUQoir7_2rMeqHC7HNxHDhzZYnu8ClduAPaOgzz8awDz51d0Gye4KZS_7ZpPd-Lv9gYtwU2KIVEi_ZMhSBR7zOjzw0PfWObJ-4KJxAZ7HUG-xMDZJBVb16Ntc2LVBkrWQrkEZKq/s1600/DSC00368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtX7oEzUQoir7_2rMeqHC7HNxHDhzZYnu8ClduAPaOgzz8awDz51d0Gye4KZS_7ZpPd-Lv9gYtwU2KIVEi_ZMhSBR7zOjzw0PfWObJ-4KJxAZ7HUG-xMDZJBVb16Ntc2LVBkrWQrkEZKq/s640/DSC00368.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We couldn't wait to find out what's in store for us beyond the resort's impressive entrance. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhb5J8WF_pMn8915ROT_VxgFjn6Pt7Ul-z2OJYtYlB7IRxYdFb5orMmIcwXnnjSBcx7c9gC8bYMjaAXs6stV1IUCYOCipDk4kPFLmVqcrBaimT1uLWyB8Hp-SyYf3KmXsHKEMMoO7cadF/s1600/DSC00347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhb5J8WF_pMn8915ROT_VxgFjn6Pt7Ul-z2OJYtYlB7IRxYdFb5orMmIcwXnnjSBcx7c9gC8bYMjaAXs6stV1IUCYOCipDk4kPFLmVqcrBaimT1uLWyB8Hp-SyYf3KmXsHKEMMoO7cadF/s640/DSC00347.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The resort's inviting sunken lounge. A perfect place to curl up with a good book and a glass of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">wine.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYCbGwAaP8hQQe7m3qga2X3jhSz0kPpsRT2k6oYj22oLKrR366HLrXtUwd81IdkRZKQrctzZlH22wfoqKzBpkYoTrbwAiuCS7RMV0BRaCRIz2dcdxZ-KZsiGH3CFfpHE-z9TQ4m-hDsh1/s1600/DSC00336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYCbGwAaP8hQQe7m3qga2X3jhSz0kPpsRT2k6oYj22oLKrR366HLrXtUwd81IdkRZKQrctzZlH22wfoqKzBpkYoTrbwAiuCS7RMV0BRaCRIz2dcdxZ-KZsiGH3CFfpHE-z9TQ4m-hDsh1/s640/DSC00336.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nFRv6R3Kp3b3-LzYK1GM9wtFrvbcaf08zn8OSxrxHmkASfb-xmTPJwJFHTGrGAjrFzeEK1CsoGCXbSH2GZfEGxNTHMNPdl_3ZXqJdqR7KMwIyqerUZjerOoYA26UwIzTrN-CoYiotWuY/s1600/DSC00240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nFRv6R3Kp3b3-LzYK1GM9wtFrvbcaf08zn8OSxrxHmkASfb-xmTPJwJFHTGrGAjrFzeEK1CsoGCXbSH2GZfEGxNTHMNPdl_3ZXqJdqR7KMwIyqerUZjerOoYA26UwIzTrN-CoYiotWuY/s640/DSC00240.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The outdoor bar and library.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfA7CQCIHgZIBtq7dPioxoEQyslRqFtZpTnn9yiP7cK5MH5DfjRGsAJS72WPnduKWmd1RcuLSPca2vGeIR-x-N2NP6kxzCOwQS0_c-QZEQIJO-jAHKnhfSZDbVPSlKWJw234tbS2vwkkJ/s1600/DSC00290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfA7CQCIHgZIBtq7dPioxoEQyslRqFtZpTnn9yiP7cK5MH5DfjRGsAJS72WPnduKWmd1RcuLSPca2vGeIR-x-N2NP6kxzCOwQS0_c-QZEQIJO-jAHKnhfSZDbVPSlKWJw234tbS2vwkkJ/s640/DSC00290.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The game and dining pavilions overlooking the pool. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_ztRkUZu81hJ3rSvnPP3lYn8tkwt4rdUoWW9_O_xatBVxRh75Jh0lRPuLfkNbSJKfrVxBqlaHVMefW_Vz8NKvUPKq4_vOzH1CUG2aW80tPEPyyILmpxLXjTqyltu4z7lWJ7nJW5aLSa9/s1600/DSC00056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_ztRkUZu81hJ3rSvnPP3lYn8tkwt4rdUoWW9_O_xatBVxRh75Jh0lRPuLfkNbSJKfrVxBqlaHVMefW_Vz8NKvUPKq4_vOzH1CUG2aW80tPEPyyILmpxLXjTqyltu4z7lWJ7nJW5aLSa9/s640/DSC00056.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="r" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Et voilà! This gorgeous villa will be our home for </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">the </span></h3>
<h3 class="r" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">next few days. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASnENhRm-iwjYBIBE9Fpg3MUDOL77fsnJKvJhERyf110lSw5d1NzhzgWLz_Nw4yK4_iO477qofJexmBbCzHqPO9XG1mwp00PlAZ5hQxbs83gp8FG2MbZAkP347tqFajYcEyW1Mok9J2Bh/s1600/DSC00058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASnENhRm-iwjYBIBE9Fpg3MUDOL77fsnJKvJhERyf110lSw5d1NzhzgWLz_Nw4yK4_iO477qofJexmBbCzHqPO9XG1mwp00PlAZ5hQxbs83gp8FG2MbZAkP347tqFajYcEyW1Mok9J2Bh/s640/DSC00058.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu2uPWfC95rPXNOZrNu7p4D4ONnTTPIzoZvU1kyksoS-b_a4CgL8EN4IrcZn7CGtsrO5lp5YSzar2Rpri8FN40sv0bEFv_HLZjdvVa0uyRMGjBWLYuDVVP27mKOgIDu9mJuzHj4AOq5n_/s1600/d2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu2uPWfC95rPXNOZrNu7p4D4ONnTTPIzoZvU1kyksoS-b_a4CgL8EN4IrcZn7CGtsrO5lp5YSzar2Rpri8FN40sv0bEFv_HLZjdvVa0uyRMGjBWLYuDVVP27mKOgIDu9mJuzHj4AOq5n_/s640/d2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULMAib_rWGJet1yDm25rX-yiwa8rpmnlwDHrFth6Agn7o-hQlddS4Nz9rzptoG_8jTx8tKPMlUuIYfdbAJ_ogWusMo2tayP35rgJZDqVR9bYBvrZfYxuI1rpOJK0j_XGurC3LLIdzqikN/s1600/DSC00250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULMAib_rWGJet1yDm25rX-yiwa8rpmnlwDHrFth6Agn7o-hQlddS4Nz9rzptoG_8jTx8tKPMlUuIYfdbAJ_ogWusMo2tayP35rgJZDqVR9bYBvrZfYxuI1rpOJK0j_XGurC3LLIdzqikN/s640/DSC00250.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looove the shower!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx5NX_li62kB2qbgEoOQIUKKx8OXygQaRYbuR7m23sjk7VYRBf3LH6f19Pxayx6Jnj2_ucgz_8HBY5_pvXwaD6YYYIOy_0tDrSjnQtAWidemj49mwrrN6VvMLgLFs_WsbniFkDqJUKdhU/s1600/DSC00565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx5NX_li62kB2qbgEoOQIUKKx8OXygQaRYbuR7m23sjk7VYRBf3LH6f19Pxayx6Jnj2_ucgz_8HBY5_pvXwaD6YYYIOy_0tDrSjnQtAWidemj49mwrrN6VvMLgLFs_WsbniFkDqJUKdhU/s640/DSC00565.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The iconic Nestrest with the Sea Pagoda in the background. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgXe5E1ks5wzoGPt4XopBKU2TjAfwKMrGkcUeguSwWgIQO9UuKoIlEkXd0FH-qzn3zrrBX3cy8goA0L68zn0gEVWPiUGl5SUBGzZ5v1t1BjzcWx3vsqIVqznd7XgQAsG4jw5NsTIHEggq/s1600/DSC00379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgXe5E1ks5wzoGPt4XopBKU2TjAfwKMrGkcUeguSwWgIQO9UuKoIlEkXd0FH-qzn3zrrBX3cy8goA0L68zn0gEVWPiUGl5SUBGzZ5v1t1BjzcWx3vsqIVqznd7XgQAsG4jw5NsTIHEggq/s640/DSC00379.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Mangrove Pagoda.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW3r52lLlnFaoICgevWE_tHWipqddCM7o6ZXzhjH9GNPePPMJ6jsDp7rLsahJEhrr-mhprDkaYxooRhWWOwtQNW_NgVy4L3HeorCAmh3YDbhb6A2ryeLkRaq6XjccSi9MV9Zhahx7aJtH/s1600/DSC00407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW3r52lLlnFaoICgevWE_tHWipqddCM7o6ZXzhjH9GNPePPMJ6jsDp7rLsahJEhrr-mhprDkaYxooRhWWOwtQNW_NgVy4L3HeorCAmh3YDbhb6A2ryeLkRaq6XjccSi9MV9Zhahx7aJtH/s640/DSC00407.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Living in the slow lane</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Slow, blissful, pampered. That perfectly summarized our time at the resort. Daily massages, lazing at the beach or at our villa's porch swingrest, watching the sunrise along an empty beach or waiting for the sun to set at the sea pagoda or at the mangrove pagoda with a bottle of chilled champagne to keep us company. We even went on surfing lessons at Cloud 9 (never thought I would have fun, little ole me who didn't even know how to swim. Sad! I know.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Oh! And the food! Oh my word! Let's not forget the tummy-bursting-gourmet-cooking-should-earn-a-star food prepared for us. Meal time was always a feast fit for a king. Literally. And to showcase the mouth-watering food, we would have our table set up in different parts of the resort complete with floral and foliage arrangements. The dinner set-ups were particularly romantic with candles and fire torches all around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhicJOMfLGae-GAtGIkH-D375r0FL-kxMKhN8Ec1V9GW0iSEWt7o-JdwgPIQ9m4XXl-qicnV0m3s0t12IDMwGASKcLhK51WMkf75ajHOvv3Z5UtfpGK971G0F1tn9KhwYnB6aeQ3FGQbH/s1600/DSC00184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhicJOMfLGae-GAtGIkH-D375r0FL-kxMKhN8Ec1V9GW0iSEWt7o-JdwgPIQ9m4XXl-qicnV0m3s0t12IDMwGASKcLhK51WMkf75ajHOvv3Z5UtfpGK971G0F1tn9KhwYnB6aeQ3FGQbH/s640/DSC00184.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgteCOocCGBDhc485MQxXglNB6VTrnw5zefEj1el1fO1o1gHwBNUIH1iA14h8pcw0Ovk0cAEWBhDj0ZJ3JxZMuMstLUA1nItM5hqZQsVqS43lOy2nttaDCA3Y_osHWLBI4jWu-nM46ENE/s1600/DSC00147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgteCOocCGBDhc485MQxXglNB6VTrnw5zefEj1el1fO1o1gHwBNUIH1iA14h8pcw0Ovk0cAEWBhDj0ZJ3JxZMuMstLUA1nItM5hqZQsVqS43lOy2nttaDCA3Y_osHWLBI4jWu-nM46ENE/s640/DSC00147.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">If Dedon Island were a train, it would be the </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Orient Express</a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> of resorts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Thank you Dedon Island for letting us experience a luxurious <i><a href="http://www.dedonisland.com/the-resort.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">barefoot state of mind</a></i>.</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A special shout-out to Dedon staff </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry, Ryan, Edmer and Joan who took care of us during our stay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Guess-Where-Im-Writing-From-1389503424657192/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How to get there:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.cebupacificair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cebu Pacific Air</a> flies once daily to Siargao from Cebu.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-1496224983591105932016-01-10T19:24:00.000+08:002016-01-10T20:30:49.332+08:00A Double Dose of Healthy Living <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Year! New journeys! I wonder what adventures await the Big K and I for the year. One of the things I always look forward to at the start of each year are the travels the Big K and I will be embarking on be it for work (well his work, I tag along), celebrating milestones like our anniversary and birthdays. Or just simply packing our bags and see where our itchy feet will take us.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To start the year and to celebrate our anniversary we were off to one of our favorite places in the country. A short drive south of Metro Manila, Tagaytay, is a great place to visit this time of the year when the air is still cool and the holiday crowd has just gone back to their regular daily grind. Ah! Peace and quiet!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJilIyublIA5hSrv-mpzlWzBVwTwjbQjE_bHsyjuglLljsGLaOxt68c1hxeZXoyxp0h0A1cg3bPyGwYJlCfChb-ZDVVKEPAFkCIymm-IgmjlZw5-5V5Sqm1VidW3bCvWMtxlqk7CGPRRjC/s1600/DSC09894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJilIyublIA5hSrv-mpzlWzBVwTwjbQjE_bHsyjuglLljsGLaOxt68c1hxeZXoyxp0h0A1cg3bPyGwYJlCfChb-ZDVVKEPAFkCIymm-IgmjlZw5-5V5Sqm1VidW3bCvWMtxlqk7CGPRRjC/s640/DSC09894.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sonya's Garden </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First stop, a healthy buffet lunch at one of our favorite places, <a href="http://www.sonyasgarden.com/about.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sonya's Garden</a>. What started as a retirement home amidst a lush garden of Ms. Sonya it later evolved into a bed and breakfast, a restaurant and a popular wedding venue. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bYv94W_sloe6vWg5tJ9ko8qSJ3VOHhAEn_JAqLQnnZ9vVMqYCymkx8NvPGg3hz8_ScVKUhUxKj7ktXWP5THAB8sBznl787GQmkALHOQandpu-INbxJOjpzizAW0ujefsRW5gdiHu2T9k/s1600/DSC09871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bYv94W_sloe6vWg5tJ9ko8qSJ3VOHhAEn_JAqLQnnZ9vVMqYCymkx8NvPGg3hz8_ScVKUhUxKj7ktXWP5THAB8sBznl787GQmkALHOQandpu-INbxJOjpzizAW0ujefsRW5gdiHu2T9k/s640/DSC09871.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Many a romantic proposals have happened here. Little wonder this pavilion is called <br />the Proposal Garden.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPb-sP9Nw_rEALezmNFvwv7B1iFZcTDcXUsnwBkOnFnGgddGNhfbqS1de5DjQdeqtXqiWX6oUHj__JvrFDzlJZ-ClEZKqdulLqzB8LbX5Lgd64UbSXTViiX5S42yDxnWZbsGWNdYAdXke8/s1600/DSC09883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPb-sP9Nw_rEALezmNFvwv7B1iFZcTDcXUsnwBkOnFnGgddGNhfbqS1de5DjQdeqtXqiWX6oUHj__JvrFDzlJZ-ClEZKqdulLqzB8LbX5Lgd64UbSXTViiX5S42yDxnWZbsGWNdYAdXke8/s640/DSC09883.JPG" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Table for two at the Morning Glory pavilion.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOlGbJcqTHgU_O4XKf-KQUR68g1SG8bYRt8_-fhMuaZZgpE6V7PXfiXbHVWg8nFnSp3a-EUts9Et3ts6NF9dVcuxfVbun1e_U94EuaqRhHPefsKgEXvdjB4rVJymxUN7ASNnhq1oab13A/s1600/DSC09896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOlGbJcqTHgU_O4XKf-KQUR68g1SG8bYRt8_-fhMuaZZgpE6V7PXfiXbHVWg8nFnSp3a-EUts9Et3ts6NF9dVcuxfVbun1e_U94EuaqRhHPefsKgEXvdjB4rVJymxUN7ASNnhq1oab13A/s640/DSC09896.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Freshly harvested green salad to start our meal. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDau-5rLYQjAdPyxvAPCRmzrcLFt298XMfK-JG3_uqYxKTVkePzdwYmzItl4J89Jx_G5HjSlvop1ZVLusxim2BqrEYIOX2klkbIF7SpHVWaFUNiZk3xSzv2681esrkrN0badroOhwdHksw/s1600/DSC09897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDau-5rLYQjAdPyxvAPCRmzrcLFt298XMfK-JG3_uqYxKTVkePzdwYmzItl4J89Jx_G5HjSlvop1ZVLusxim2BqrEYIOX2klkbIF7SpHVWaFUNiZk3xSzv2681esrkrN0badroOhwdHksw/s640/DSC09897.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Homemade sesame bread with different dips: pesto, white cheese, <br />anchovies, bruschetta tomato toppings and mushroom pate.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k4n5HZzWndPFap-q_OfkXB9zzG4-OHUAyJxI0_jNjs2vsf0gQHpFY4h7ZMgtDrUoFlr8Z1JRlB4CITKJkvikJSIjHMGcwTC7IoN6CCbAiVEyVR00iAIx7gWYmROzAEABr9Xn9rYUteez/s1600/DSC09882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k4n5HZzWndPFap-q_OfkXB9zzG4-OHUAyJxI0_jNjs2vsf0gQHpFY4h7ZMgtDrUoFlr8Z1JRlB4CITKJkvikJSIjHMGcwTC7IoN6CCbAiVEyVR00iAIx7gWYmROzAEABr9Xn9rYUteez/s640/DSC09882.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lunch was pasta, salmon belly, tomatoes in olive oil, chicken cream with mango, ratatouille, <br />shitake mushrooms, glazed sweet potatoes and chocolate cake. Simple but plentiful. Sorry <br />no photos of the food as the Big K and I were already famished by that time. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>QiWellness Living Tea House + Bath House Tagaytay</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While looking for a new place to stay in Tagaytay, I came across an article about a wellness spa that had a great view of the lake and offered overnight stays. Oooh! Did someone say spa?! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Checking on their website I was further intrigued by the description of one of the packages offered and to quote:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<pre style="border-radius: 4px; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px !important; text-overflow: initial; white-space: pre-line; word-break: keep-all; word-wrap: normal;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We are neither a hotel nor a resort. We do not offer hotel amenities and facilities. What we offer is a unique and intimate overnight experience specifically designed for couples wishing to '<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://qiwellnessliving.ph/guesthouse/escape" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">escape</a>'</span>.</i></span></span></pre>
<pre style="border-radius: 4px; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px !important; text-overflow: initial; white-space: pre-line; word-break: keep-all; word-wrap: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em;">Unique and intimate in one sentence? Okay! That sold me. We're staying at the </span><a href="http://qiwellnessliving.ph/experience" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em;" target="_blank">QiWellness Living Tea House and Bath House.</a></pre>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmue8bXf-gYkcoJqmRCiu0leWEQeR10m6QyrzRQrxZqjdEnvRSf6Mg_b25JCiLGVjXJzgy2q409XkXL7PasVpBGW73qTQbjxajhyphenhyphen6eGWcOt-HkhBgK6D0O42CALyQUOkcMNv7o_LT05dC/s1600/DSC09898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmue8bXf-gYkcoJqmRCiu0leWEQeR10m6QyrzRQrxZqjdEnvRSf6Mg_b25JCiLGVjXJzgy2q409XkXL7PasVpBGW73qTQbjxajhyphenhyphen6eGWcOt-HkhBgK6D0O42CALyQUOkcMNv7o_LT05dC/s640/DSC09898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A huge pair of bright red doors boded of an exciting hedonistic experience.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sent a quick email inquiry about the package and was pleasantly surprised with the prompt response I got. I later found out that it was the owner himself, Ken, who I was corresponding with. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Browsing their website I also learned that the tea house offered a <a href="http://qiwellnessliving.ph/teahouse/menu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">9-course degustation menu</a> that would be perfect to end our day. Quite pricey but hey it was our anniversary dinner. When I expressed my interest in booking the menu, Ken offered their degustation package (not found in their website). It was basically the "escape" package plus the 9-course meal but check in was at a much later time. It actually worked out for us since we scheduled to have our massage while waiting for check in.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPff_l-R_y1Ly5Elu4vrA2sS0T31fZk0VqP-U5gRhgA85tfFxbNT_a8hD5YBswqaSYyOxkc3nBf0Q7tFt0bvLHoLPVACP_c-RP1d0nsazOj8vTVRtkT7hcGrDDXd8oSvjw2lp6fIy-2sG1/s1600/DSC09903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPff_l-R_y1Ly5Elu4vrA2sS0T31fZk0VqP-U5gRhgA85tfFxbNT_a8hD5YBswqaSYyOxkc3nBf0Q7tFt0bvLHoLPVACP_c-RP1d0nsazOj8vTVRtkT7hcGrDDXd8oSvjw2lp6fIy-2sG1/s640/DSC09903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBmQBHEWOzciTNim20Y7128bx6O1vaVHnLUA4qvPp1eo-5Z2SZq1McwajVPh3U2D6XWi_E1NdZStC9t0FBBnhgs5DiaKvvmk8eW0gpj4eS8vUKD6jrYZ27N-FMKBoFIm7i6B6G4DSNlhW/s1600/DSC00029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBmQBHEWOzciTNim20Y7128bx6O1vaVHnLUA4qvPp1eo-5Z2SZq1McwajVPh3U2D6XWi_E1NdZStC9t0FBBnhgs5DiaKvvmk8eW0gpj4eS8vUKD6jrYZ27N-FMKBoFIm7i6B6G4DSNlhW/s640/DSC00029.JPG" width="433" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now that is a perfect view of the lake!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0peGYLM202jXKGVn6DRoVruJsT4sr-4vUlcOmUWz97K6wSNqxpaCATl_oLA1HXurbxdrS_luSmirUpeKuemtm-_iapZTezBp4urVISxi1F514vAXc7jU8voWNqW-dKNC6R6VYVyEBaVi0/s1600/DSC09906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0peGYLM202jXKGVn6DRoVruJsT4sr-4vUlcOmUWz97K6wSNqxpaCATl_oLA1HXurbxdrS_luSmirUpeKuemtm-_iapZTezBp4urVISxi1F514vAXc7jU8voWNqW-dKNC6R6VYVyEBaVi0/s640/DSC09906.JPG" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">QiWellness sits on a hillside overlooking the Taal lake. It has three</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">floors, the kitchen and reception area is on the street level. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Go down </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">one floor and you find yourself at their tea house and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the Opium den </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">where we had our massage. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The lowest floor is where the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">two </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">guest </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">rooms and the hot and cold </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">dipping pools are located.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhqMm3vIGnLe8G61wYFaMwfg5F1BHmSSgM47bL20sYzNEmiWb-VwXvzKTiSPUA1dUBwux_y0u7FcMCa7oTA4wCKvr2dLgBw44-wiVY1IguycIqBgB3K57xgl1gY1GzuM0eHMNuXqgObDv/s1600/DSC00010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhqMm3vIGnLe8G61wYFaMwfg5F1BHmSSgM47bL20sYzNEmiWb-VwXvzKTiSPUA1dUBwux_y0u7FcMCa7oTA4wCKvr2dLgBw44-wiVY1IguycIqBgB3K57xgl1gY1GzuM0eHMNuXqgObDv/s640/DSC00010.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A dip in their Yin Yang (hot and cold) hydrotherapy pools. The perfect way to end and start the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8n7_Eeh75JfGpl-QXYI8QHKXnDJRkw1z_etYTU36uqbEN5JAL4E31eL0QykCWOlNs2pSPMUel0rCtyhCqdUaIyw5S4aH0WitowrtVeNMfAgqkF_PkuQaB8hGGOVmQ4r-lJTkMp8D8wwe/s1600/DSC09924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8n7_Eeh75JfGpl-QXYI8QHKXnDJRkw1z_etYTU36uqbEN5JAL4E31eL0QykCWOlNs2pSPMUel0rCtyhCqdUaIyw5S4aH0WitowrtVeNMfAgqkF_PkuQaB8hGGOVmQ4r-lJTkMp8D8wwe/s640/DSC09924.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Big K and I thoroughly enjoyed the 9-course degustation. We were even given a bottle of <br />Pinot Noir that went well with the degustation. Too bad my photos of the food didn't turn out well. <br />Hmm.... I'm seriously thinking of getting that nice camera next time.<br />"No, you're not!" says the Big K.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprnxnTAhlF-oKMPEDGim4UF_y9yMElxumVQs7t0CD6J-mi7yWY_uzjx5yOGqbgMA9N2IR33LhNr4ggLuVwJG3M9oYLbCfvKltxK1-JXUsyk2b4rajkbJ9z7mWQeKyLmnxC7BZrpimItZa/s1600/DSC09920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprnxnTAhlF-oKMPEDGim4UF_y9yMElxumVQs7t0CD6J-mi7yWY_uzjx5yOGqbgMA9N2IR33LhNr4ggLuVwJG3M9oYLbCfvKltxK1-JXUsyk2b4rajkbJ9z7mWQeKyLmnxC7BZrpimItZa/s640/DSC09920.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The two guest rooms. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0QjtXP1uRgWbx4o14M1dPAAkCCBQ4QAAGssmpjn4m2N-VaHdyGjI_7pv4CuwPFYADIybO9f5c58B5yIUtvpkga2H41NKl2BPKb6xUFKCiq6_yM14sbQh0EXbWhVCUQB4tNTA5WWz5f4I/s1600/DSC09908.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0QjtXP1uRgWbx4o14M1dPAAkCCBQ4QAAGssmpjn4m2N-VaHdyGjI_7pv4CuwPFYADIybO9f5c58B5yIUtvpkga2H41NKl2BPKb6xUFKCiq6_yM14sbQh0EXbWhVCUQB4tNTA5WWz5f4I/s640/DSC09908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVM0FEIphyphenhyphenyYKgm5xwNRNfYfLxtWVXfK3hiZKfWFzx3al4wJmVxvw_c1_FICcWjNco_YrpPgF3huZRhUGwt0JzBKXAu3cMWx4N_sfTghbAE_z6t4EzDCYnLgLU6nXxplVbp3bqndlvMdP/s1600/DSC09912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVM0FEIphyphenhyphenyYKgm5xwNRNfYfLxtWVXfK3hiZKfWFzx3al4wJmVxvw_c1_FICcWjNco_YrpPgF3huZRhUGwt0JzBKXAu3cMWx4N_sfTghbAE_z6t4EzDCYnLgLU6nXxplVbp3bqndlvMdP/s640/DSC09912.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9RHa6fx7_hVrHghH4w1k3vWNcidSKwTNr7SFkl4t7qOlsPuRx-BMulDHfdTiuzS_1SLr6ZjihaBztpyG8UV42xaMxsftD9b9eBm2tCOyaiJpxrpjJqqSr4f6c6dTjILKR8dfjIS0y5U6/s1600/DSC09954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9RHa6fx7_hVrHghH4w1k3vWNcidSKwTNr7SFkl4t7qOlsPuRx-BMulDHfdTiuzS_1SLr6ZjihaBztpyG8UV42xaMxsftD9b9eBm2tCOyaiJpxrpjJqqSr4f6c6dTjILKR8dfjIS0y5U6/s640/DSC09954.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Waiting for the sunrise.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRur97f9-P_oR03ROzgS5eRHMMkCJtXJOaosxmisDL1BmZtXZhTpQv-RybHKUaaCkTwYCqpuwl1x9p-RS0YlozmhnibkJyKwmnAlar9nkmTiJoEzst1uYlo9ole3b-8NaeJnSDJgZdFoWi/s1600/DSC00021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRur97f9-P_oR03ROzgS5eRHMMkCJtXJOaosxmisDL1BmZtXZhTpQv-RybHKUaaCkTwYCqpuwl1x9p-RS0YlozmhnibkJyKwmnAlar9nkmTiJoEzst1uYlo9ole3b-8NaeJnSDJgZdFoWi/s640/DSC00021.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Congee and dimsum breakfast! Yummy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aQYzco62910ALR9CfvWymYBEpjQa1sKkoe9Ec3NLH08qRIxGsOFsJzTyIgo9o4UZjoYOUWktpdutmF4n9zFdYIjTQmedR_ZT9UyrBdijBVk4Kr2EM-dUdaO-twT6iQJweO9xR1KRj_ro/s1600/DSC00019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aQYzco62910ALR9CfvWymYBEpjQa1sKkoe9Ec3NLH08qRIxGsOFsJzTyIgo9o4UZjoYOUWktpdutmF4n9zFdYIjTQmedR_ZT9UyrBdijBVk4Kr2EM-dUdaO-twT6iQJweO9xR1KRj_ro/s640/DSC00019.JPG" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Forget about asking for coffee, they only serve tea! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">True to what was promised, the Big K and I thoroughly enjoyed our time. It was a short but unforgettable experience. We also got to chat with the owner, Ken, and he seems to be a real nice guy. A foodie with a real hands on approach who cares about his product as what we have observed from his well-trained staff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Definitely another favorite to be added to our list!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1802682466672617.1073741850.1389503424657192&type=3" target="_blank">Facebook page.</a></span><br />
<br />toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-68831244349302112182015-10-15T19:27:00.000+08:002015-10-15T19:27:18.232+08:00Blue, Blue, the Mountains are Blue!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now where do you find blue mountains? Uh, no, it has nothing to do with a mental state. Okay, it might not be as bright as the clear blue sky but it still is a shade of blue. So, where is it you ask? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOGK89JF70Qh2G2JS8VH1gSqTqteolsowfrqHNLwnkafyaPFct2r_EJSm1gBSAB1nNVdYXHxFyfmzs9U1_IE_ork25IsQ9vhZgAn7qg21cN1M3PiwNy3Op7UUkAfy3S3zbuwN_EVWx6tG/s1600/DSC09620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOGK89JF70Qh2G2JS8VH1gSqTqteolsowfrqHNLwnkafyaPFct2r_EJSm1gBSAB1nNVdYXHxFyfmzs9U1_IE_ork25IsQ9vhZgAn7qg21cN1M3PiwNy3Op7UUkAfy3S3zbuwN_EVWx6tG/s640/DSC09620.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">They really are blue!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a>The Blue Mountains (what else should they be called?) is a mountain range located approximately 100 kilometers west of Sydney, Australia. The region was listed by UNESCO in 2000 as a World Heritage Site. And what gives it its distinctive color? <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The characteristic blue haze is a result of the finely dispersed droplets of oil from the dense forest of Eucalyptus trees around the mountains combining with dust particles and water vapour in the atmosphere. Or so I'm told. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmmm..... That would be quite an intriguing sight to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW6FXVXAw0k0hwnnkNWn2npm5zE9Kj1G5zFbdghd75adrP0cinchqylXbSHrJaKttM1RcHEMnZuP7JulPsTJPXOm-Vr72vULwnRffi00xlTAHSerJ_tiB5PE90Aj4Bzf4dZbDW_xUQae3/s1600/2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW6FXVXAw0k0hwnnkNWn2npm5zE9Kj1G5zFbdghd75adrP0cinchqylXbSHrJaKttM1RcHEMnZuP7JulPsTJPXOm-Vr72vULwnRffi00xlTAHSerJ_tiB5PE90Aj4Bzf4dZbDW_xUQae3/s640/2-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Katoomba</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had almost been a year since my <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/12/36-hours-down-under-preview-of-sydney.html" target="_blank">last visit to Sydney</a> and I had been waiting for the opportunity to go back before my visa expired. Roster's out! And what do you know?! I get to go with the big K again! Another 36 hours in Sydney! This time we were going to see the Blue Mountains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />A visit to the Blue Mountains can be done as a day trip from Sydney. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A two-hour train ride from Sydney's Central station will get you to the town of Katoomba, the main jump-off point for the Blue Mountains. But a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> last-minute decision to stay overnight in the small town proved to be a better choice for us. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvHkTwYRs-vVv-U_tMqn-RVPv3bPwXg9irh2zVRar5ytqEeGV3016Y4UN4f0kTpzEc5cYOETopG2tQy9l3XNSbBsXrkS7rNNS174tQlQnadE3DJXoqcY2z0GzffB0jbzpkfHQm9DVJi73/s1600/DSC09597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvHkTwYRs-vVv-U_tMqn-RVPv3bPwXg9irh2zVRar5ytqEeGV3016Y4UN4f0kTpzEc5cYOETopG2tQy9l3XNSbBsXrkS7rNNS174tQlQnadE3DJXoqcY2z0GzffB0jbzpkfHQm9DVJi73/s640/DSC09597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Carrington Hotel, one of Katoomba's heritage-listed building where we stayed. A quaint, convenient place to stay as it was just 50 meters from the train station. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was approaching 5 o'clock in the afternoon when our train pulled into Katoomba. After bustling Sydney, the big K and I were momentarily taken aback of how quiet the place was only to realize it was a Sunday. Shopping and businesses were already winding down, we only had time for a quick look around before everything closed for the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For dinner we found a doner kebab place that was right by the hotel. The food was pretty tasty with huge servings. Memories of our <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/05/paris-cheap-eats.html" target="_blank">Paris cheap eats!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4ac_1c9jlkJtgkRNIXOMVzRleOlQC2AAUSIHl6w11SLxvCA3MxXzrh7fQyvHC4PS3KtWk3iCac2MepuFkrpwXK_kkKIYFKZcwIn1Vl5b9z9O7KItQmXqyc7azJpNHQPka_1vf1SzsUjB/s1600/DSC09559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4ac_1c9jlkJtgkRNIXOMVzRleOlQC2AAUSIHl6w11SLxvCA3MxXzrh7fQyvHC4PS3KtWk3iCac2MepuFkrpwXK_kkKIYFKZcwIn1Vl5b9z9O7KItQmXqyc7azJpNHQPka_1vf1SzsUjB/s640/DSC09559.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-oOrB-6-OEHO1RLMpDXEwzwl-nkZKByGSsXMsUf_SaHR3m93YacS7dM6a7lq7QUx6YhvZps-N8WFeK_o4lpuPhlffCdAjemPkCefq0sUJFHe9dj8nnfcY8FsDAaiiHhcC2-mDDWkCnXI/s1600/DSC09553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-oOrB-6-OEHO1RLMpDXEwzwl-nkZKByGSsXMsUf_SaHR3m93YacS7dM6a7lq7QUx6YhvZps-N8WFeK_o4lpuPhlffCdAjemPkCefq0sUJFHe9dj8nnfcY8FsDAaiiHhcC2-mDDWkCnXI/s640/DSC09553.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GFkASAAz-ewKTZekSnLWEIqE86EflCosmE9-S7ynUh7nmNUDPd3AciwhOgILEeaM0Wu0HNOo5gILyedIbXvyrCngFU0uEcDpXklTZ4GcFBqbquwBFVvtRV4k8VQC_qHFPlXOGXwAzYhQ/s1600/DSC09557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GFkASAAz-ewKTZekSnLWEIqE86EflCosmE9-S7ynUh7nmNUDPd3AciwhOgILEeaM0Wu0HNOo5gILyedIbXvyrCngFU0uEcDpXklTZ4GcFBqbquwBFVvtRV4k8VQC_qHFPlXOGXwAzYhQ/s640/DSC09557.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Scenic World</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next day after a hearty breakfast from the hotel's breakfast buffet, the big K and I were ready for the day's adventure. Hopping on the first bus of the day at 9:30AM, we were at Scenic World in 10 minutes. Surprise, surprise! No crowd, no umbrella-toting-herds of tour groups! We practically had the place all to ourselves. It didn't last long though as tour groups started pouring in just before noon which was great timing because we were almost done with our visit by that time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUqyKSWanEG1RZEPO8SZ_77_jv9hPJ1b7lz1I3YcWMYP1sejXnuuj4hS6rJpJZ7OidstH_274-la5TS8kjGYK1gUeDpeKBhcmDam_awns4FBbIgte9EnWHeTDq4xDYt_CCCMhTb6DERsF/s1600/DSC09608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUqyKSWanEG1RZEPO8SZ_77_jv9hPJ1b7lz1I3YcWMYP1sejXnuuj4hS6rJpJZ7OidstH_274-la5TS8kjGYK1gUeDpeKBhcmDam_awns4FBbIgte9EnWHeTDq4xDYt_CCCMhTb6DERsF/s640/DSC09608.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The AUD35.00 admission fee gets you unlimited rides at Scenic World's Railway, Skyway, Cableway and access to their Walkway. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8_vTa3VA8GUkVqfMoQALuZp_7tBSrKIPYzLlmJthiIQyPCR9baCq9KHKiqgjixfzbqbeH0t0QgkVaCoHN-bnuq1nQRZ-blPg21yjAyGFzJJAP56zPu4dVi1HyO9EAWEwUFxfxBe83K10/s1600/DSC09622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8_vTa3VA8GUkVqfMoQALuZp_7tBSrKIPYzLlmJthiIQyPCR9baCq9KHKiqgjixfzbqbeH0t0QgkVaCoHN-bnuq1nQRZ-blPg21yjAyGFzJJAP56zPu4dVi1HyO9EAWEwUFxfxBe83K10/s640/DSC09622.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.scenicworld.com.au/experience/scenic-skyway/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Scenic Skyway</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6LBpxgP5OVL_uArIR8bIXW5Ym7mm1wN8polMmKPQiQlJ2dxgIUDn63grW9ihYiO-5OfBZvb7e_DiRLX3N1UW2UuxcK-qh7byQHv9BdJd5LHerIsfxfFSu8n5jQAYWAgktgY0TnAvxB_K/s1600/DSC09617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6LBpxgP5OVL_uArIR8bIXW5Ym7mm1wN8polMmKPQiQlJ2dxgIUDn63grW9ihYiO-5OfBZvb7e_DiRLX3N1UW2UuxcK-qh7byQHv9BdJd5LHerIsfxfFSu8n5jQAYWAgktgY0TnAvxB_K/s640/DSC09617.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e1NVNYp3V-8jUg3ptgN_87kKoXIn1dT_LiH0VCoq1mROw-CWDi2RtlRoqrOW0o7WHhYskoor2QTx49I6d5ee9Rf9lgCIDx489XbUdFDKZcLbsyduuG3sG4qUzxx12TzX_a8umiy5G5Q5/s1600/DSC09619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e1NVNYp3V-8jUg3ptgN_87kKoXIn1dT_LiH0VCoq1mROw-CWDi2RtlRoqrOW0o7WHhYskoor2QTx49I6d5ee9Rf9lgCIDx489XbUdFDKZcLbsyduuG3sG4qUzxx12TzX_a8umiy5G5Q5/s640/DSC09619.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hair-raising view of the valley floor as seen from the glass floor of the Skyway. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7RMcqAIDgg2g_RvSwplxNIshzu10Sw-kdHzMNCf1Pi7E1GkNnH2y-X6bhwVgz8YOtkGQ0ZBkHHPk34KTuuvI4rTtnvE8vwfwAMl5PPYlHC4Sb3pxbQesVvFlGs3MlRQzbpZK6ozVP5SZ/s1600/DSC09685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7RMcqAIDgg2g_RvSwplxNIshzu10Sw-kdHzMNCf1Pi7E1GkNnH2y-X6bhwVgz8YOtkGQ0ZBkHHPk34KTuuvI4rTtnvE8vwfwAMl5PPYlHC4Sb3pxbQesVvFlGs3MlRQzbpZK6ozVP5SZ/s640/DSC09685.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous rock formation known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(Australia)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Three Sisters</a> (Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo). </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwyHGI2SufJhehE1XSW8ona-boSxYLHthSR8aNuFOdCFrx73vtwoP3rv6BvRBmyJ00YEwdyrLeXwE9pWdPSc2tMV5VqDzi0ztVUAcYLG25MufBSfNvbCpyBCDHNev3Ot8h8UjK2-MbnUZ/s1600/DSC09686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwyHGI2SufJhehE1XSW8ona-boSxYLHthSR8aNuFOdCFrx73vtwoP3rv6BvRBmyJ00YEwdyrLeXwE9pWdPSc2tMV5VqDzi0ztVUAcYLG25MufBSfNvbCpyBCDHNev3Ot8h8UjK2-MbnUZ/s640/DSC09686.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.scenicworld.com.au/experience/scenic-cableway/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Scenic Cableway</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvQ8lz0zTHQpTgjnQtX79KWZ67XcTTPhh7YaY5rivlM5KjwbgOryhO4EWoxsm4yuIT66PTJx_UwOjxGm-Ew7DCy5HOWrvux-4xuBHcLn_wPUCwF8dA1jWFTNR3DxYT0YMAUU1dw3miikK/s1600/DSC09692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvQ8lz0zTHQpTgjnQtX79KWZ67XcTTPhh7YaY5rivlM5KjwbgOryhO4EWoxsm4yuIT66PTJx_UwOjxGm-Ew7DCy5HOWrvux-4xuBHcLn_wPUCwF8dA1jWFTNR3DxYT0YMAUU1dw3miikK/s640/DSC09692.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another spine-tingling ride this time down to the valley floor on board the Cableway.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P5X0DPqtfOOnV3SU-p96cD9xMap8-gMdKs5fGgEWjxUop9Vu3WeGQ6FZ-MMoun2ZCwUNqtl3uo4hhTbrm3aS1WNkyN30FLy2AAJZQ2CD-Wbc_vfI3G1yVGYdDkpSznddRvVBvO7yGEmw/s1600/1-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P5X0DPqtfOOnV3SU-p96cD9xMap8-gMdKs5fGgEWjxUop9Vu3WeGQ6FZ-MMoun2ZCwUNqtl3uo4hhTbrm3aS1WNkyN30FLy2AAJZQ2CD-Wbc_vfI3G1yVGYdDkpSznddRvVBvO7yGEmw/s640/1-001.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xbzcLCDuiR_gd7_wTl__IlBBvQ3-KwUp8PYa0HW72OYttHUNiEbi1hJizdJHNnjlXJSlIX2fiwDvdf_X5beAUklAslgmafCpFzGqajIZJwjRL62KMyiPzl22JfcBXMUV5SsZ7iMOVorP/s1600/DSC09729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xbzcLCDuiR_gd7_wTl__IlBBvQ3-KwUp8PYa0HW72OYttHUNiEbi1hJizdJHNnjlXJSlIX2fiwDvdf_X5beAUklAslgmafCpFzGqajIZJwjRL62KMyiPzl22JfcBXMUV5SsZ7iMOVorP/s640/DSC09729.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On board the <a href="http://www.scenicworld.com.au/experience/scenic-railway/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scenic Railway</a>, the steepest passenger railway in the world.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX66kSN1lq5a0NbiAok_nNErw4DoXajhYGUbpuBwadl23kvEYKDKkqqps93eBjqIyKoPJJTRKwrRrx1zJB34Wk7VNfLeGjPII36PPYn-f-HjHxenbxiUY0br9mcEk4V9urRco-A5bLhw-/s1600/DSC09723-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX66kSN1lq5a0NbiAok_nNErw4DoXajhYGUbpuBwadl23kvEYKDKkqqps93eBjqIyKoPJJTRKwrRrx1zJB34Wk7VNfLeGjPII36PPYn-f-HjHxenbxiUY0br9mcEk4V9urRco-A5bLhw-/s640/DSC09723-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mount Solitary as seen from the Scenic Railway.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Leura</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our way back to Sydney, the big K and I decided to have a late lunch at Leura. One of several small towns in the Blue Mountain region, the town is also known as The Garden Village because of its many gardens, most of them privately owned. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI__nMbJ6aQp2SpbOwNpZb3U1sWepaV5X3PnE-khfDAp3d7ds8xn7ctUT2XOsTNVFzFBT6MDOvdR-F7s0uzAwczDG5_sraOJmCIhxDBYS-7y8tN8oYPml2JEtvcf4T9n4SBa-mgaepVqe/s1600/DSC09768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI__nMbJ6aQp2SpbOwNpZb3U1sWepaV5X3PnE-khfDAp3d7ds8xn7ctUT2XOsTNVFzFBT6MDOvdR-F7s0uzAwczDG5_sraOJmCIhxDBYS-7y8tN8oYPml2JEtvcf4T9n4SBa-mgaepVqe/s640/DSC09768.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo8ybKTtRa1lB2jWbHuFPtmx0NFmCl3HKh1XmtY8jRpMhTfcetSBbL7auVhbYiDVOcX26TRQwUdyW_ZARplApB9700xmPLb-yCbYxiKm2GyJgDA-oiNYyCma625JrEMG_RUHCfhBt6xTb/s1600/DSC09784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo8ybKTtRa1lB2jWbHuFPtmx0NFmCl3HKh1XmtY8jRpMhTfcetSBbL7auVhbYiDVOcX26TRQwUdyW_ZARplApB9700xmPLb-yCbYxiKm2GyJgDA-oiNYyCma625JrEMG_RUHCfhBt6xTb/s640/DSC09784.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leura's Tower Clock near the train station.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgol0k0ahum3tW083bnabrPQ0mEBfVY7giIkRt3hjN9IpNDvElTd64n2qOczjQoonVvbur83NPxtkO0lOUqeoJSqXAI9P4BXO7tASj0WDRKCkiA8iyKO1fBGIen3kcnif4rSG0cjYwbFR1P/s1600/DSC09761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgol0k0ahum3tW083bnabrPQ0mEBfVY7giIkRt3hjN9IpNDvElTd64n2qOczjQoonVvbur83NPxtkO0lOUqeoJSqXAI9P4BXO7tASj0WDRKCkiA8iyKO1fBGIen3kcnif4rSG0cjYwbFR1P/s640/DSC09761.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Small cafes and restaurants line Leura Mall. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-7c7Su60yooIUzVzywomhB-nYT9vE-sgsPcrcE3dX3OEESch6Tm2bRv6HnKBbxLRiyR0NRvqf0RHaD3e6twaSJGATwe6BElxJ4Et52xVdgkwM_41rX247efHiJwwZC7uu8uM6iCLZvpV/s1600/DSC09769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-7c7Su60yooIUzVzywomhB-nYT9vE-sgsPcrcE3dX3OEESch6Tm2bRv6HnKBbxLRiyR0NRvqf0RHaD3e6twaSJGATwe6BElxJ4Et52xVdgkwM_41rX247efHiJwwZC7uu8uM6iCLZvpV/s640/DSC09769.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMmx8KzdGlhedGhuYc_Vc37Pe-XpgSqIpmjES-OcVWx-6GPAVi-X1KCuGGMUUeRdm_Ve9Ps1KEVd1_3qSw5d_Gj6qaGp0dGgoK41kTKt8fU1eeKAokR9yEEo-TJ2sKOnJ7HI7MtbnH5Wz/s1600/DSC09780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMmx8KzdGlhedGhuYc_Vc37Pe-XpgSqIpmjES-OcVWx-6GPAVi-X1KCuGGMUUeRdm_Ve9Ps1KEVd1_3qSw5d_Gj6qaGp0dGgoK41kTKt8fU1eeKAokR9yEEo-TJ2sKOnJ7HI7MtbnH5Wz/s640/DSC09780.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xlUCuck1xIlwnBkzYVi-4gO-Q44BDX1mNykA-vkipdV22MJXavET5blo1sJjgoa8mnEDjvmKoamoCWyeOf9n4FMY26DSy3AX2X7_61O-SNHGOxeq27WV57FRKjbLQA5QGGVMGqvMTwqY/s1600/DSC09763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xlUCuck1xIlwnBkzYVi-4gO-Q44BDX1mNykA-vkipdV22MJXavET5blo1sJjgoa8mnEDjvmKoamoCWyeOf9n4FMY26DSy3AX2X7_61O-SNHGOxeq27WV57FRKjbLQA5QGGVMGqvMTwqY/s640/DSC09763.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Got us some shockingly-sour lemon drops at The Candy Store.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in Sydney!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzmLBuKEMkKT8NzxFFb_I7l70ZK7zdDG11SIuFlFsZob_Is69s2Nf7dKqnDcb0uGkEKHBAq3YwzbcabBkZobqhp1bIrN9bxnV9Z6L9wXjzF_aXmng_LBARUw7_LxRfLKRMkVlEZOYgu7X/s1600/DSC06021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzmLBuKEMkKT8NzxFFb_I7l70ZK7zdDG11SIuFlFsZob_Is69s2Nf7dKqnDcb0uGkEKHBAq3YwzbcabBkZobqhp1bIrN9bxnV9Z6L9wXjzF_aXmng_LBARUw7_LxRfLKRMkVlEZOYgu7X/s640/DSC06021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can't leave Sydney without our meat pie fix!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Itinerary details (prices based per person):</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Train fare from Sydney's Central station to Katoomba: AUD2.50 using the Opal card (Sunday travel).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Public Bus #686 Katoomba to Scenic World: AUD2.10 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scenic World entrance fee: AUD35.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Public Bus #686 Scenic World to Katoomba: AUD2.10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Train fare Katoomba to Leura: AUD2.36</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Train fare Leura to Central (Sydney): AUD5.81 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">**<a href="https://www.cebupacificair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cebu Pacific Air</a> flies 5 times a week to Sydney from Manila**</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>More pictures of our Blue Mountains adventure in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Guess-Where-Im-Writing-From-1389503424657192/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-19575234801041799532015-02-02T22:12:00.001+08:002015-02-04T19:11:38.250+08:00Up, Up and Away! Hot Air Balloon Over Bagan (Myanmar Part 3)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Call it excitement but I was already awake before the phone rang at 5AM. It was our wake up call. Yes! This was the day! Ever since we decided to go on this trip, I could hardly wait for this moment to come. We were going on a balloon ride! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do have to confess something though, the first time I mentioned the balloon ride to the Big K he didn't like the idea and was quite adamant. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Nope! Not doing that. No engines!" </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I guess I can somehow understand his feelings since him b</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">eing an airline pilot he'd want to know where he's going and not be at the mercy of the wind. But truth be told I knew he was somewhat intrigued when I showed him pictures of balloons floating across a vast field of temples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, little ole me just kept quiet and secretly booked us a spot. Haha!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYcYDSFVowY_ZF_kOMdNnLKDkQ6cvd2-XBwOjcvVlek8kjxvU1y8j6Yl7X7ZM0DrS-XON6nnsKr8dIYxJZUyKuBbW-7XA4xgBwFzIVH61mm8ntvQsjQQFiX1N5OaUjmU9yAluNu88VjOQ/s1600/DSC07464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYcYDSFVowY_ZF_kOMdNnLKDkQ6cvd2-XBwOjcvVlek8kjxvU1y8j6Yl7X7ZM0DrS-XON6nnsKr8dIYxJZUyKuBbW-7XA4xgBwFzIVH61mm8ntvQsjQQFiX1N5OaUjmU9yAluNu88VjOQ/s1600/DSC07464.JPG" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sunrise Balloon Ride</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scouring the internet for information and reviews about which ballooning company to book in Bagan (there are 3 right now), I decided to go with <a href="http://www.orientalballooning.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oriental Ballooning</a> as they had fewer passengers per balloon that meant we didn't have to worry about somebody blocking our view or anyone looking over our shoulders. Plus the company has very good feedback from their customers. Oh! And did I mention their balloons are green? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH_b0VzS2kpJ6nJdvr-zyGZU_BCbccTv9k4nJPjiRLXNVfQZSIxKPNUd1ysI-EXtSwEBn_N-VznmiXxe5S0RuG3kRcPg9sUH4iY6KP8Qhs_gqPgwQ2dDZCyAWgkBvrVSRGiJdh-4wfuC3/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH_b0VzS2kpJ6nJdvr-zyGZU_BCbccTv9k4nJPjiRLXNVfQZSIxKPNUd1ysI-EXtSwEBn_N-VznmiXxe5S0RuG3kRcPg9sUH4iY6KP8Qhs_gqPgwQ2dDZCyAWgkBvrVSRGiJdh-4wfuC3/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="640" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We're good to go!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was still pitch black when we arrived at the launch site (good thing we brought flashlights!). We were then led to some chairs and tables and served a light breakfast of coffee and sweet rolls while waiting for the other passengers to arrive. Farther afield, we could see a lot of activity going on and felt another burst of excitement for the upcoming ride (pun intended). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After an introduction of the pilots and a roll call of all passengers (no stowaways here!), we were given a safety briefing and told what to expect during the flight. We were all each assigned to a pilot and led to our respective balloons. Another safety briefing by our pilot, Piers, was done while waiting for our balloon to be inflated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY7vmeGj40kLNnkSHx3JF9luQg1Cv57uq6YkHGMsnGJ_SjoXsU0wTFueBj_1lkDwxLOiNOWguCOe83fH6RoAcEq5bhfwh1DFB_sBHVGAMpR8P0lXZCDH_9WXKPtE60aeivQ5h0acxqVWW/s1600/DSC07337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY7vmeGj40kLNnkSHx3JF9luQg1Cv57uq6YkHGMsnGJ_SjoXsU0wTFueBj_1lkDwxLOiNOWguCOe83fH6RoAcEq5bhfwh1DFB_sBHVGAMpR8P0lXZCDH_9WXKPtE60aeivQ5h0acxqVWW/s1600/DSC07337.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj80UCfcVZEx9OcLBkEpQKczO8EhSBOmn9jJTZgzaf4a798lNsMWETOZeVy277SaBRIMIHRfL379fVQUJFuEoR_7ky4FxSvwQQR38uSeSTj-de1_xZBOqAg5XDvhnHCv-Mw7OhB3cuk2zQ/s1600/DSC07345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj80UCfcVZEx9OcLBkEpQKczO8EhSBOmn9jJTZgzaf4a798lNsMWETOZeVy277SaBRIMIHRfL379fVQUJFuEoR_7ky4FxSvwQQR38uSeSTj-de1_xZBOqAg5XDvhnHCv-Mw7OhB3cuk2zQ/s1600/DSC07345.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFc2CMbkn4c5H-5bfYDnl0A64QD0tXA0n5VcFnV9Y3_24klBF977-hIovn2UJxk8p7RbMKepqxb2wbnvnOInO04WFDeN0pAj0wyXHTKGC3gShaBtP-AVCkylTt6EVP4w4TPIQBI_ldXYQ/s1600/DSC07346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFc2CMbkn4c5H-5bfYDnl0A64QD0tXA0n5VcFnV9Y3_24klBF977-hIovn2UJxk8p7RbMKepqxb2wbnvnOInO04WFDeN0pAj0wyXHTKGC3gShaBtP-AVCkylTt6EVP4w4TPIQBI_ldXYQ/s1600/DSC07346.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxE0p1uulZuOmBp5MuM4DYVD-ViUjWkE0PN7bNS-J6Y0vYHZ130EjbkdVVTlCVphd_l0ASvoMWfsjiwoc3CN3-LfmK_4E2qv201EeS3h_SGSIrO17EOabvdjqCkcXRG2mDsFolQ50oBPe/s1600/DSC07352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxE0p1uulZuOmBp5MuM4DYVD-ViUjWkE0PN7bNS-J6Y0vYHZ130EjbkdVVTlCVphd_l0ASvoMWfsjiwoc3CN3-LfmK_4E2qv201EeS3h_SGSIrO17EOabvdjqCkcXRG2mDsFolQ50oBPe/s1600/DSC07352.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As soon as the balloons were up, we were asked to clamber into the basket.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ts1-zZmQJD8R7shhBcjTzRAZyAmWvl8DLQx8AqzWsL4a7wTLaXZAyeFD5ho79_YgdI0UD0hsOBvp-0Wu_UG-AFmh_nwdIjujD8eal9NssYgjVezW6mggormOMbAAUlNfFCzw35UmNxiN/s1600/DSC07375.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ts1-zZmQJD8R7shhBcjTzRAZyAmWvl8DLQx8AqzWsL4a7wTLaXZAyeFD5ho79_YgdI0UD0hsOBvp-0Wu_UG-AFmh_nwdIjujD8eal9NssYgjVezW6mggormOMbAAUlNfFCzw35UmNxiN/s1600/DSC07375.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFLFGJpkMBtaveVClRQ95P2f0OrCL3iv5qQRNmopuIiBudM14hE2k49jpcBQxx2IJ4KNJrIQ0vj3JOumGg4MzXl1hupqYy5nE4Yl8gW5Ryqoh3u2sBy8kb6ASsBqi0GBTsttkqB6hM_87/s1600/DSC07376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFLFGJpkMBtaveVClRQ95P2f0OrCL3iv5qQRNmopuIiBudM14hE2k49jpcBQxx2IJ4KNJrIQ0vj3JOumGg4MzXl1hupqYy5nE4Yl8gW5Ryqoh3u2sBy8kb6ASsBqi0GBTsttkqB6hM_87/s1600/DSC07376.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One more blast of the burners.....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVLSAmn_ViOLUZaNw9z95ZYnDnRyMSiDYwP7W925lsbxmsUTkvfAr2xaxsDaYzUefSg1RoPLo2RFhrnKKuUcjI_p_5W_5yVRPbk_p9VXmMZMFy7tQgsy3DujuEPZ1jjNY2KZ17-Kntny6/s1600/DSC07379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVLSAmn_ViOLUZaNw9z95ZYnDnRyMSiDYwP7W925lsbxmsUTkvfAr2xaxsDaYzUefSg1RoPLo2RFhrnKKuUcjI_p_5W_5yVRPbk_p9VXmMZMFy7tQgsy3DujuEPZ1jjNY2KZ17-Kntny6/s1600/DSC07379.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and we're off!!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhAd5hz1vEhxV6gGRgMx0heEOCVXrTYEaYFx7LgQyKjblChX37erqTmbtw2XW6oqo7TEmrgEm9TTENFaC9s9CwTCC_NTZLOyCPDMxgQh0PAMuAQqOe7RWjUPAgOVnYmq7qHETgA3il3aj/s1600/DSC07381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhAd5hz1vEhxV6gGRgMx0heEOCVXrTYEaYFx7LgQyKjblChX37erqTmbtw2XW6oqo7TEmrgEm9TTENFaC9s9CwTCC_NTZLOyCPDMxgQh0PAMuAQqOe7RWjUPAgOVnYmq7qHETgA3il3aj/s1600/DSC07381.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DHuq9KvE5I5jbGpSf7jRyXv1GRPq5kXtQinBoIFs6qcAESyt6L4a8D0auRffF3WKA247AN6OhEVtTstVMVjAkYzvW1U6GP_kDA08sC9vZ6o5KWIyw_mq5kJn01PhbRZKh5Ols1CmAZEW/s1600/DSC05868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DHuq9KvE5I5jbGpSf7jRyXv1GRPq5kXtQinBoIFs6qcAESyt6L4a8D0auRffF3WKA247AN6OhEVtTstVMVjAkYzvW1U6GP_kDA08sC9vZ6o5KWIyw_mq5kJn01PhbRZKh5Ols1CmAZEW/s1600/DSC05868.JPG" height="441" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here comes the sun!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmilg3cezFdMFQx5QsYdFtjO8Nfum03oTYz2B9baGCx64hMjhuBQJWsp_JuZ_VKHzlJZEqqLP_XXs2MfZmFYL-8yOrw7MyEKaioBvgqyhk4LcXuG5an_Ih0mf8IiSlcmGM2DjaeVtxcXR/s1600/DSC07392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmilg3cezFdMFQx5QsYdFtjO8Nfum03oTYz2B9baGCx64hMjhuBQJWsp_JuZ_VKHzlJZEqqLP_XXs2MfZmFYL-8yOrw7MyEKaioBvgqyhk4LcXuG5an_Ih0mf8IiSlcmGM2DjaeVtxcXR/s1600/DSC07392.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xYuNw2_OrukpCis1DTYg40Ro9PS3VgXDjQSyxO9T7J6ujuCLwx_JYRsUtQGQiRGq8FeV79aCpRmsi93jE5VY3tRKOqOo9Fju80du9DAGYcPKlj9kX_vRUln4deKNW6dLbMEEzVUR09Tk/s1600/DSC07508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xYuNw2_OrukpCis1DTYg40Ro9PS3VgXDjQSyxO9T7J6ujuCLwx_JYRsUtQGQiRGq8FeV79aCpRmsi93jE5VY3tRKOqOo9Fju80du9DAGYcPKlj9kX_vRUln4deKNW6dLbMEEzVUR09Tk/s1600/DSC07508.JPG" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Great profile shot of my favorite subject if I may say so myself.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTbpwqFK4d6L_vFpMKCca77eRzPPuc24An8QKhrnnTnVle6Z5qJPNX-8GXBQQ2O2QgK4rQJpLa-PqEIuEsiVMGYKqE647dsxmg4nFUCl_SgKEtMb8lJ1b22KLnHAPSXgPRummkKT1cFVZ/s1600/DSC07409-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTbpwqFK4d6L_vFpMKCca77eRzPPuc24An8QKhrnnTnVle6Z5qJPNX-8GXBQQ2O2QgK4rQJpLa-PqEIuEsiVMGYKqE647dsxmg4nFUCl_SgKEtMb8lJ1b22KLnHAPSXgPRummkKT1cFVZ/s1600/DSC07409-001.JPG" height="344" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKxFaqRbyXJ9RxwQsWstLPntEoTLVgrMj_PGTO65YpfTk-lyu6-fqexpD3bGfmHXFEod_t4T_obIcSevzDpzVbdRqTaHs_tAedp-rGIZpvcbrOIb1vD4_Ge2gQNXlF9i2kdXoPXisOFl2/s1600/DSC07414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKxFaqRbyXJ9RxwQsWstLPntEoTLVgrMj_PGTO65YpfTk-lyu6-fqexpD3bGfmHXFEod_t4T_obIcSevzDpzVbdRqTaHs_tAedp-rGIZpvcbrOIb1vD4_Ge2gQNXlF9i2kdXoPXisOFl2/s1600/DSC07414.JPG" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaKhqRzcMRxlm7SnK3dtWmp_PPpZMNW-K2P8yN-oc-2loNziQXtg0Ms0b5qgdDy_iY_2huZe8qkVVSRKVcsGz2Z58lqdLuZdl0eAvJqQGF7nqIkIEiSBemqoJktTbVfgV4Pj8mB8QKmY3/s1600/DSC07455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaKhqRzcMRxlm7SnK3dtWmp_PPpZMNW-K2P8yN-oc-2loNziQXtg0Ms0b5qgdDy_iY_2huZe8qkVVSRKVcsGz2Z58lqdLuZdl0eAvJqQGF7nqIkIEiSBemqoJktTbVfgV4Pj8mB8QKmY3/s1600/DSC07455.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Temples as far as the eye can see! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVPA6orrmPtT_EDB8QWaXjFzEa1rJGeTbHjPFplVbdK6bIQFkJN6RcPsDHD-kwtOpIUg0pw8o4J11C16xxJHl1WKkxsq9ORAbXMctvYxu5Yh7M_Ed66HKVdEg-Dy9CGGZiGN8o3pkCSBE/s1600/DSC05898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVPA6orrmPtT_EDB8QWaXjFzEa1rJGeTbHjPFplVbdK6bIQFkJN6RcPsDHD-kwtOpIUg0pw8o4J11C16xxJHl1WKkxsq9ORAbXMctvYxu5Yh7M_Ed66HKVdEg-Dy9CGGZiGN8o3pkCSBE/s1600/DSC05898.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZScOrK7vjaRMoy5IydINTxHQoqNSvs5LIT2YwWzxtbp336gryFDws8PhwQqUWo28QFVvZ16dqwiP1ve09Co1FTWHEslmTbkpwz8doa_QmNVEOBzRv3A6P0P4wbK3Ss1X1wDQV9fFzl8v3/s1600/DSC07490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZScOrK7vjaRMoy5IydINTxHQoqNSvs5LIT2YwWzxtbp336gryFDws8PhwQqUWo28QFVvZ16dqwiP1ve09Co1FTWHEslmTbkpwz8doa_QmNVEOBzRv3A6P0P4wbK3Ss1X1wDQV9fFzl8v3/s1600/DSC07490.JPG" height="640" width="634" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3i0y0J46AshyNx-tsXVL7LU7SvZAeFijxL8MgND54taMCqPuFjLPyRX_8cmxneqmtoGz9iCfA2bgu6BQjXQV2uVMYkcP0IQPovfZ2fx97Y4nW0xfM8frxWaXgWKbxCfI0zAIwu-pV8QG/s1600/DSC07459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3i0y0J46AshyNx-tsXVL7LU7SvZAeFijxL8MgND54taMCqPuFjLPyRX_8cmxneqmtoGz9iCfA2bgu6BQjXQV2uVMYkcP0IQPovfZ2fx97Y4nW0xfM8frxWaXgWKbxCfI0zAIwu-pV8QG/s1600/DSC07459.JPG" height="548" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUdQ1iAE36Oe5jcEzAS9oAbn8lCE6sxUdN_dqgIWFiLsK5AGW5P2qNJD5_mEDdzNDltVAlx3yRbj4svhQ158BNM95TwMZ2-kBDtWUBPheGZpRU_eMTkE904LqyMFF7cU4K4ms6ZzHAKNE/s1600/DSC07531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUdQ1iAE36Oe5jcEzAS9oAbn8lCE6sxUdN_dqgIWFiLsK5AGW5P2qNJD5_mEDdzNDltVAlx3yRbj4svhQ158BNM95TwMZ2-kBDtWUBPheGZpRU_eMTkE904LqyMFF7cU4K4ms6ZzHAKNE/s1600/DSC07531.JPG" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LXrbatwmCcWsRCp9S1fryKOg5UP0rOuy_iyVR-_F6NfbG-wKZwHpdaa3-mKqTw06Ex8Z7wJyUzmpRoL1AFE7MeaCWxtYFkKGztQgj5QW9FSegjY1sHLC0sRX-uIsIBEsRKLGXStUr3Ks/s1600/DSC05901-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LXrbatwmCcWsRCp9S1fryKOg5UP0rOuy_iyVR-_F6NfbG-wKZwHpdaa3-mKqTw06Ex8Z7wJyUzmpRoL1AFE7MeaCWxtYFkKGztQgj5QW9FSegjY1sHLC0sRX-uIsIBEsRKLGXStUr3Ks/s1600/DSC05901-001.JPG" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrexkDdIJ8NYRUkKwZcsHwWQF8gHHdZ4aITH09lgVBD3iXsaeFEuvkJ9x2PxUUFjAZFlDCRwuRG3MBryEZSYApkPW-gzZTrpu_4_pi8rLR65BuND5a9Lu8q9h1NBVZyIJTJFG1Bowc8ye9/s1600/DSC07385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrexkDdIJ8NYRUkKwZcsHwWQF8gHHdZ4aITH09lgVBD3iXsaeFEuvkJ9x2PxUUFjAZFlDCRwuRG3MBryEZSYApkPW-gzZTrpu_4_pi8rLR65BuND5a9Lu8q9h1NBVZyIJTJFG1Bowc8ye9/s1600/DSC07385.JPG" height="366" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-zqiy-QNP9JzmYXzEKeGuYYGJlsC8SVIaMgOwdlTTOdMU-qMlA6Dnj5N4WtepUten7qW1kd6KnYHxQhBZ1D_jvJxX0XFV8JXsQq-NlNnd6dI5DmQBeyymBfPfkGm7I5A6zdfpuS5jHnq/s1600/DSC07536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-zqiy-QNP9JzmYXzEKeGuYYGJlsC8SVIaMgOwdlTTOdMU-qMlA6Dnj5N4WtepUten7qW1kd6KnYHxQhBZ1D_jvJxX0XFV8JXsQq-NlNnd6dI5DmQBeyymBfPfkGm7I5A6zdfpuS5jHnq/s1600/DSC07536.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmXiaUnojlv1TdG5q-HGZDXAkJxobLNCK8-hEsRVOUso1AgUadAyXVfW0P9HDC6QZZEW-L5fgFSd_rlejvRzbVKBw06PAkkVvCdHlb_7QbQxPLN2oFo8MZo0HW-a5r9LQ11qp1MnlL8Q-/s1600/DSC07528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmXiaUnojlv1TdG5q-HGZDXAkJxobLNCK8-hEsRVOUso1AgUadAyXVfW0P9HDC6QZZEW-L5fgFSd_rlejvRzbVKBw06PAkkVvCdHlb_7QbQxPLN2oFo8MZo0HW-a5r9LQ11qp1MnlL8Q-/s1600/DSC07528.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was one exhilarating ride! Absolutely fantastic! The Big K and I couldn't stop oohing and aahing the entire time. Hmmm.... Wait a minute. Remind me again, who didn't want to go on the balloon ride? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Champagne Breakfast!</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little over an hour from our launch we were slowly descending back to earth. Now here comes the tricky part. According to our pilot, he has to find a suitable landing site that his ground crew can easily get into. We didn't want to end up in a fenced off area, would we? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a short while Piers calls out to brace for landing. Landing position everyone! After a couple of bumps and a shower of dust we were on solid ground once again. Perfect landing! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_rpEP_gSl3lJZPMvUKiSF__P4kCjInoyQQunO4xpJ2LaQqJqHrIC7QqpEylJizZEOQwU6xzkNnoVsJ_iK8bm94BkH-zrEdePgogXvpJ9qpSkwAO5_fYRtddbBVvN6Yf5gpaM40PRaAw9/s1600/DSC07611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_rpEP_gSl3lJZPMvUKiSF__P4kCjInoyQQunO4xpJ2LaQqJqHrIC7QqpEylJizZEOQwU6xzkNnoVsJ_iK8bm94BkH-zrEdePgogXvpJ9qpSkwAO5_fYRtddbBVvN6Yf5gpaM40PRaAw9/s1600/DSC07611.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpizmHNfHdtyNnQU46vA5kHqKArFVp_Jmy1LtPyBcs-eoAht_aaQ2cw3aQRTwtOx_uYtdJ3M1Bs5fbjpPNjUUX79b0HxWZ1fhyoxSLm0JktQiU1jLhYZpn15hrgDWf0iQOzUgFtj5zQdb/s1600/DSC07608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpizmHNfHdtyNnQU46vA5kHqKArFVp_Jmy1LtPyBcs-eoAht_aaQ2cw3aQRTwtOx_uYtdJ3M1Bs5fbjpPNjUUX79b0HxWZ1fhyoxSLm0JktQiU1jLhYZpn15hrgDWf0iQOzUgFtj5zQdb/s1600/DSC07608.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cheers everyone!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp14JKtPFQ4oQ0RIh4Cdnk-ITK73dAuXUzWafSg00V41rjsj8oA7QfCgl11KypsnGqyOY4xp-YmzXzXNxHMKyy3C_db-564n4HYRIoJCpy0k6dMmeLTr1DN53ujCJf359zH_qcitv4sn6/s1600/DSC07621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp14JKtPFQ4oQ0RIh4Cdnk-ITK73dAuXUzWafSg00V41rjsj8oA7QfCgl11KypsnGqyOY4xp-YmzXzXNxHMKyy3C_db-564n4HYRIoJCpy0k6dMmeLTr1DN53ujCJf359zH_qcitv4sn6/s1600/DSC07621.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a champagne celebration and our certificates on hand, we were brought back to our hotel. Just in time for second breakfast! </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, now back to <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2015/01/amazing-bagan-myanmar-part-2.html" target="_blank">pedal power</a>!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1636113959996136.1073741848.1389503424657192&type=1" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Experience hot air ballooning in Myanmar with <a href="http://www.orientalballooning.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oriental Ballooning</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-50250089492471795492015-01-31T11:00:00.000+08:002015-02-04T19:10:51.383+08:00Amazing Bagan! (Myanmar Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can be more exciting than being in a hot air balloon gently rising off the ground, the cool silky breeze tickling your face as the warm whoosh of the burners' flames effortlessly lift the balloon into the early morning sky. Eyes fixed on the horizon, giddily anticipating the sunrise that would soon be bathing the temple-filled landscape in fiery hues....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whoa! I'm getting way ahead of the story. Let's rewind and start again.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6whTamBMoZQMMinwELyGklcTgOa5rQ_FGb6xpHuKp4g9x8FRFL4fk2yW5lOI0X5vCMHmZPFu_1mVnRMUOxXOxhf8Ipvhm8zKQ4OtUCKkQwMjUaxMkZUb93EiH2K9soUjbaElYkOdxc5fy/s1600/DSC07434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6whTamBMoZQMMinwELyGklcTgOa5rQ_FGb6xpHuKp4g9x8FRFL4fk2yW5lOI0X5vCMHmZPFu_1mVnRMUOxXOxhf8Ipvhm8zKQ4OtUCKkQwMjUaxMkZUb93EiH2K9soUjbaElYkOdxc5fy/s1600/DSC07434.JPG" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mingalabar Bagan!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bagan or its ancient name, Pagan, was the first kingdom to unify the regions in Burma that would later give rise to modern-day Myanmar. It was during this period that the Burmese language and culture would develop. At one time 13,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were built in the plains of Bagan. Today only 2,200 have survived. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiedm71A5rJDRdtNj8_yYF8cakVDcOyGzvteozxjarDa2-j3mQy_pwzzxxu4v2RpI1p1t5a-oM9jyiEGqTsub8TdGep8xE-VFw4ly5tdlw7R7g00irpd-CQjv9rPD5oI9bsceIXpxTgBhB/s1600/DSC07421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiedm71A5rJDRdtNj8_yYF8cakVDcOyGzvteozxjarDa2-j3mQy_pwzzxxu4v2RpI1p1t5a-oM9jyiEGqTsub8TdGep8xE-VFw4ly5tdlw7R7g00irpd-CQjv9rPD5oI9bsceIXpxTgBhB/s1600/DSC07421.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2015/01/on-road-to-mandalay-myanmar-part-1.html" target="_blank">Mandalay</a> the Big K and I were off to Bagan. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now there</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> are several options on how to get to this vast temple complex depending on one's budget and the time one is willing to spend traveling. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By train - there are regular rail services between the two cities. Cheap but travel takes 9-10 hours. I also read that it isn't the most comfortable ride.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By bus - there are several daily departures. Cheap but expect to travel from 7-8 hours. Although the air-conditioned buses that some of the bus companies use are quite comfortable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By boat - there are the no-frills river ferry, read cheap. And there are the luxury river cruises ergo expensive. Still the minimum travel time takes the better part of the day or an overnight in the case of the luxury cruises.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By air - the option the Big K and I took was a mere 30-minute flight. Take off, cruise, land! Mingalabar Bagan!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PiLDEBWWwJnoNdmVrzdy8NGuBVjZGLnHOleQ-Tsq98R2y9ljJFDC9j3ARN1ohk5Ca7_9opFQ8vwGuvO0hB0kVDFPC5uRIm1GpYHOZan_581Gv4S1kgbRNW09C2nCPmGTiBlAe2z41SR9/s1600/DSC06995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PiLDEBWWwJnoNdmVrzdy8NGuBVjZGLnHOleQ-Tsq98R2y9ljJFDC9j3ARN1ohk5Ca7_9opFQ8vwGuvO0hB0kVDFPC5uRIm1GpYHOZan_581Gv4S1kgbRNW09C2nCPmGTiBlAe2z41SR9/s1600/DSC06995.JPG" height="253" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We took Air Bagan, one of several domestic carriers in Myanmar.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC-2eBKb6uP7e2dH5M3mXwkV_Uaceiira8DRz471kzxYCTwEvJ9NPzVkFQJXeHIwRyxWCEYeyFlyEr2n_i20lrlwG0JbtOGkPGHVBmH0XV4Bg4UJATlaTLoDpmhtJGtJ4aOdddXyOx2-l/s1600/DSC07004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC-2eBKb6uP7e2dH5M3mXwkV_Uaceiira8DRz471kzxYCTwEvJ9NPzVkFQJXeHIwRyxWCEYeyFlyEr2n_i20lrlwG0JbtOGkPGHVBmH0XV4Bg4UJATlaTLoDpmhtJGtJ4aOdddXyOx2-l/s1600/DSC07004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our first glimpse of Bagan.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before exiting the airport, we had to pay an admission fee much like what one would pay at a museum. After all, Bagan is one huge museum! The Bagan Archaeological Zone fee costs USD20 or EUR20 per person good for 5 days. We decided to pay in their local currency, the Myanmar Kyat. That's a whopping K20,000.00 each! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFWu7wPFVdq4Cd0mbYybEn4u2VhH3fcIEng3tDbsm3Rz_enN8dhiVIRSeOSpmVGnNEIrG0yPz-UkTHvjl2wLzyeEzA7EC-as1q6jyJX08za9rhvUd8MIDhmZMjcf72YJgWVgpWrGuXwdq/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFWu7wPFVdq4Cd0mbYybEn4u2VhH3fcIEng3tDbsm3Rz_enN8dhiVIRSeOSpmVGnNEIrG0yPz-UkTHvjl2wLzyeEzA7EC-as1q6jyJX08za9rhvUd8MIDhmZMjcf72YJgWVgpWrGuXwdq/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" height="400" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Be sure to always have this ticket with you when you go around the temples.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fail to show one to an inspector and you'll be required to pay for a new one.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Temples, temples everywhere!</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are three areas in Bagan where most visitors stay, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nyaung U where the airport and railway station are located. Lots of restaurants, tea houses plus most budget hotels and guesthouses are found here. Then there is Old Bagan where several of the main temple sites are located. Lastly, New Bagan where the government relocated the villagers of Old Bagan in the 1990s. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I chose to <a href="http://www.tharabargate.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">stay</a> in Old Bagan so we would be near to most of the temples and have the option to walk or simply bicycle our way around town. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQtMnprntXuZe6BMnig0q6nHD_ZP4Qe-Hs6cR1BajJunFZfZVp9Z4m5ZRUyr33HussZA9D98pez-5LAYf6I7RR_tCEjU741SxnCSGT1xnQTzJyyv4fKy6XXwV0Bt5MtwqSMMjFOrBB3Jq/s1600/DSC07673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQtMnprntXuZe6BMnig0q6nHD_ZP4Qe-Hs6cR1BajJunFZfZVp9Z4m5ZRUyr33HussZA9D98pez-5LAYf6I7RR_tCEjU741SxnCSGT1xnQTzJyyv4fKy6XXwV0Bt5MtwqSMMjFOrBB3Jq/s1600/DSC07673.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pedal power!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walk and pedal we did for 5 days! Okay, revise that. Walk, pedal and on our last day we rented an electric bike. Talk about getting an unexpected work out on our glutes. Yup, still sore! But it was worth it! Check out our pictures below (more on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1634796550127877.1073741847.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=77" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzOo_6-gQGZXU6GNflAPpEdi90Bz9txZ4r-1q-o3uGvqngDYYe5vDmtbkzaX2SqnK-EsHbVwTWnmGRcenqae2I0e_RYnHVuDG1dg5W81qoWLX7F80qNGbr56c4Bg-3oOuxeexuknPevxu/s1600/DSC07067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzOo_6-gQGZXU6GNflAPpEdi90Bz9txZ4r-1q-o3uGvqngDYYe5vDmtbkzaX2SqnK-EsHbVwTWnmGRcenqae2I0e_RYnHVuDG1dg5W81qoWLX7F80qNGbr56c4Bg-3oOuxeexuknPevxu/s1600/DSC07067.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mahabodhi Temple</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshBRIb9tkDlWg85xuVoCrEDOWQi0DIsJ6L6_Hp6CH3RCqJU51IKoi1v2CpzfB60jaHUUiodXrN4ay7gtrpFGLSL7bnEE8nrkoo7XOJlQO-SVeDCYT9LKuP8QSWUSyZdh0HZ5-Lh0KxOap/s1600/DSC07124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshBRIb9tkDlWg85xuVoCrEDOWQi0DIsJ6L6_Hp6CH3RCqJU51IKoi1v2CpzfB60jaHUUiodXrN4ay7gtrpFGLSL7bnEE8nrkoo7XOJlQO-SVeDCYT9LKuP8QSWUSyZdh0HZ5-Lh0KxOap/s1600/DSC07124.JPG" height="640" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thatbyinnyu Phaya</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2V8UgBtOGmtWWrAWycrHFrQj2GLbkzMFZDsFkheXflbYprju1n6xU2RtxVJAlzChM5U0VtIS4DuMOZ7Tnib6wzvf5izsnaDA-5j_NVtKZh5LDvlEOy23zhA4iIISU988ggm6q42k5Qyze/s1600/DSC07639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2V8UgBtOGmtWWrAWycrHFrQj2GLbkzMFZDsFkheXflbYprju1n6xU2RtxVJAlzChM5U0VtIS4DuMOZ7Tnib6wzvf5izsnaDA-5j_NVtKZh5LDvlEOy23zhA4iIISU988ggm6q42k5Qyze/s1600/DSC07639.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shwe San Daw Pagoda is always packed with visitors during sunset.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJCkTBagTBqZ4shIWnzG9dvU5dLkHHOheYljs2thLVXAZ_hRdUxzFyqKppUyCkze-EqQbWcspM6hR2IAqJ0BdLwf8sJylUC8TOVujLPjGIEWYM2XGSAWXM4KHO1l6UIm02KVSwCF6kx13/s1600/DSC07760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJCkTBagTBqZ4shIWnzG9dvU5dLkHHOheYljs2thLVXAZ_hRdUxzFyqKppUyCkze-EqQbWcspM6hR2IAqJ0BdLwf8sJylUC8TOVujLPjGIEWYM2XGSAWXM4KHO1l6UIm02KVSwCF6kx13/s1600/DSC07760.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Htilominlo Guphaya-Gyi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuzuoHeaY-WxDH6W6Hk2CJYoReLWUbsCYDURLTXLYrdYLWi6sJRm6da00Shswe7JYBROAsXH-c0RGK_4e8l4af1iS3P_0Atdv8bY_chW5x4G6dBrM18cGLVbssFPYrzBlsBZWuIXkmPqg/s1600/DSC07192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuzuoHeaY-WxDH6W6Hk2CJYoReLWUbsCYDURLTXLYrdYLWi6sJRm6da00Shswe7JYBROAsXH-c0RGK_4e8l4af1iS3P_0Atdv8bY_chW5x4G6dBrM18cGLVbssFPYrzBlsBZWuIXkmPqg/s1600/DSC07192.JPG" height="640" width="528" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASQCc2BUN2mQx34eLkIlrJmXuosINfHHSgMyWOX3l3Ap8859CjW9y33vwOG8O2UaRZPeZLZvSX6sqmPieXIir5L4ii25Q6YzAJ-BThssX5e65TrgwnLmGMqMbFH8RDCiw82BL3URgdHpn/s1600/DSC07191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASQCc2BUN2mQx34eLkIlrJmXuosINfHHSgMyWOX3l3Ap8859CjW9y33vwOG8O2UaRZPeZLZvSX6sqmPieXIir5L4ii25Q6YzAJ-BThssX5e65TrgwnLmGMqMbFH8RDCiw82BL3URgdHpn/s1600/DSC07191.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhfvsvvh6ehiqgtSBe0Wtp3dd13UtHRtjDP0hh0dxR4WguACjApT67X593-En5ov21auBkiYPDBFHfpma3fbmYte2kkedU-ko1AXY24BJ4qQoiz3AYCQEvQHHGJ97RNZR5owr-UOYPE4M/s1600/DSC07764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhfvsvvh6ehiqgtSBe0Wtp3dd13UtHRtjDP0hh0dxR4WguACjApT67X593-En5ov21auBkiYPDBFHfpma3fbmYte2kkedU-ko1AXY24BJ4qQoiz3AYCQEvQHHGJ97RNZR5owr-UOYPE4M/s1600/DSC07764.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We stumbled upon these two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayan_people_%28Burma%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kayan</a> women weaving scarves. Ended up buying one of their creations. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2GsevkveXhhQBOcttR8RA1F8A-dxE7tRnlUDrhrUAcQ8d3mSsljnVavP3yiN1Bh7_2VjrxYm7oovDniJHPzYMS3ctP1bs1u8iJ1u6ocfFfpsqGflScYZi0Mrq9tL-9yTsBJoetPaC4yA/s1600/DSC07701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2GsevkveXhhQBOcttR8RA1F8A-dxE7tRnlUDrhrUAcQ8d3mSsljnVavP3yiN1Bh7_2VjrxYm7oovDniJHPzYMS3ctP1bs1u8iJ1u6ocfFfpsqGflScYZi0Mrq9tL-9yTsBJoetPaC4yA/s1600/DSC07701.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Boats for hire on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) river.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Am7aC-IxX9xj65_rXXLdCkRAB78u-x1UeXNUxUnwdwt7EdEaWxVmXTHGvF1q5niG6vjhHR6S_GwCnVYqhgiEjpU9bNcJFcf3tIEaTcUIaDtYohEo3CW_7nz6sID6nFojxpk6A0-C1UFh/s1600/DSC07290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Am7aC-IxX9xj65_rXXLdCkRAB78u-x1UeXNUxUnwdwt7EdEaWxVmXTHGvF1q5niG6vjhHR6S_GwCnVYqhgiEjpU9bNcJFcf3tIEaTcUIaDtYohEo3CW_7nz6sID6nFojxpk6A0-C1UFh/s1600/DSC07290.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dhammayangyi Temple, the biggest temple in Bagan made of bricks and built in only 3 years.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV3y69ZJ8o6wCuBjklSwvgbM21Q6pQZetuzH8uOKPkRC5J3oq3luSevKxwfec_HoyRMnszl-tahxCvdREFokGJmYCzYlaBQTk02pQDKeR74eKGHBD5W1f9Mc04aVSKAybLFzuUif6J8Mr/s1600/DSC07777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV3y69ZJ8o6wCuBjklSwvgbM21Q6pQZetuzH8uOKPkRC5J3oq3luSevKxwfec_HoyRMnszl-tahxCvdREFokGJmYCzYlaBQTk02pQDKeR74eKGHBD5W1f9Mc04aVSKAybLFzuUif6J8Mr/s1600/DSC07777.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shwe Zi Gon Pagoda</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>**Some helpful tips: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Leave your shoes and socks at home. Instead wear slippers or easy to remove sandals since you will be required to go barefoot inside the temples. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Bring lots of wipes to get rid of sticky sweat and dust. Don't bother wiping your feet after each temple visit, just shower when you get back to your hotel.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Bring sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Bring flashlights in case you decide to go to the temples before sunrise and after sunset. </i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sunrise, Sunset, Sunrise, Sunset!</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps the most photographed scenery and what Bagan has been popularly depicted are its temples and stupas back dropped against the dazzling colors of a setting or rising sun. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To witness these brilliant displays, one can climb any of the temples or stupas that are open to visitors. The Big K and I found one stupa near the Thatbyinnyu temple that didn't have a crowd of camera-touting tourists. And these are some of the shots we got.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbo85FZGbwmi6RV1nuUY_vl431eil93cN94fujFU-3quf-4XhJJ4KGySeAGeTBMNLgH-vYCr60z8Ra2AJPTDg77jnp8AeDjQdR1uRtoJ5C6-TK1ITZWaGEvrhSkaBp6l00X-iEvdbBDXj/s1600/DSC07166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbo85FZGbwmi6RV1nuUY_vl431eil93cN94fujFU-3quf-4XhJJ4KGySeAGeTBMNLgH-vYCr60z8Ra2AJPTDg77jnp8AeDjQdR1uRtoJ5C6-TK1ITZWaGEvrhSkaBp6l00X-iEvdbBDXj/s1600/DSC07166.JPG" height="334" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5ESNw5JMNHllZGBvApbRuXAGSSx0y3jGF-IMVYt3k_EVV8coyShrsOTQziOBVwh90V8bgJmmxVZHB6-4SivaOUO7hTSkTdXgHLCVmMXZYISjWg4-zyoHJ4f-cTnCXtuY_nzxnNwTViKJ/s1600/DSC07173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5ESNw5JMNHllZGBvApbRuXAGSSx0y3jGF-IMVYt3k_EVV8coyShrsOTQziOBVwh90V8bgJmmxVZHB6-4SivaOUO7hTSkTdXgHLCVmMXZYISjWg4-zyoHJ4f-cTnCXtuY_nzxnNwTViKJ/s1600/DSC07173.JPG" height="324" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswWG7IBcF8t6MwA5h4P2nj-ud2L4PnHoLxwp_5_nFvcDI4w7ua-RjHrmsyYCnHOY3wI__rRur12Y9kVNFbfux5hJyFirXlcB_quXzFYFOTuNOnJBMSpZ60zjn0ob3gLcA-WJ2ofbNEFfO/s1600/DSC07174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswWG7IBcF8t6MwA5h4P2nj-ud2L4PnHoLxwp_5_nFvcDI4w7ua-RjHrmsyYCnHOY3wI__rRur12Y9kVNFbfux5hJyFirXlcB_quXzFYFOTuNOnJBMSpZ60zjn0ob3gLcA-WJ2ofbNEFfO/s1600/DSC07174.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for the ultimate experience, which happens to be the highlight of our visit to Bagan, a sunrise hot air balloon ride! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are three hot air balloon companies operating in Bagan, Balloons Over Bagan (red balloons), <a href="http://www.orientalballooning.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oriental Ballooning</a> (green balloons) and Golden Eagle (yellow balloons). We booked with Oriental Ballooning as they offered fewer passengers per balloon (we're no fans of big crowds). Oh! And green is my favorite color! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9e6wk4mEvo3wy5oMys09TdFTZFMjiw27XcpsQ8EuiDwgYG7FN3IGeZING2amthOD3biDcgilcxb86L3UuJaap4f_66q_8IxsbXYhVY3fKcwJ2WrXy2P8FcdUXHZgHRKKeZNw4xRThIM0/s1600/DSC07385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9e6wk4mEvo3wy5oMys09TdFTZFMjiw27XcpsQ8EuiDwgYG7FN3IGeZING2amthOD3biDcgilcxb86L3UuJaap4f_66q_8IxsbXYhVY3fKcwJ2WrXy2P8FcdUXHZgHRKKeZNw4xRThIM0/s1600/DSC07385.JPG" height="366" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be sure to visit our blog for our next post about our <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2015/02/up-up-and-away-hot-air-balloon-ride.html" target="_blank">hot air balloon ride</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos of Bagan in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1634796550127877.1073741847.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=77" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-45485007892018149712015-01-28T20:05:00.000+08:002015-01-31T12:40:59.221+08:00On the Road to Mandalay! (Myanmar, Part 1)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was planning our anniversary trip last month we were all set to do a temple run </span><span class="Latn headword" lang="fr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">à </span>la</span> Angelina Jolie's Lara </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Croft in Siem Reap, Cambodia and stuffing our faces silly with yummy Vietnamese food on a back of the bike foodie tour in Saigon. But then I came across a picture of a hot air balloon gently floating across a vast plain dotted with temples as far as the eye can see. It was an early morning scene with mists still blanketing the surrounding countryside. WOW! Talk about taking your breath away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Change of plans! We're going farther north into a country famous for its thousands of temples, a nation just starting to open up to visitors and the home of Nobel Peace Prize awardee Aung San Suu Kyi. The land of the golden pagodas, MYANMAR.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP71-b8JXyi4PsAr3tQZeH7KPWNK3P_RMOKalR14LFKyu4alXXQLMlspj8KyF6f7YT0fwRtx5YB-NZfralKIHMP6BGFxhILLmujfRbMlj08FdLnJpOEJVah-sNi4viANih9d6aBnvVJi1/s1600/DSC07409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP71-b8JXyi4PsAr3tQZeH7KPWNK3P_RMOKalR14LFKyu4alXXQLMlspj8KyF6f7YT0fwRtx5YB-NZfralKIHMP6BGFxhILLmujfRbMlj08FdLnJpOEJVah-sNi4viANih9d6aBnvVJi1/s1600/DSC07409.JPG" height="346" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Totally awesome! My picture does not really do justice to the scene we've experienced.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mingalabar!</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the first words I learned while planning (or should I say cramming) our Myanmar trip is the Burmese greeting of <i>Mingalar Bar</i> or <i>Mingalabar. </i>It rolls off your tongue quite nicely and I love how melodious it sounds. Literally it means "Auspiciousness with you". Or simply hello. The greeting is a guaranteed smile-generator as even the dourest-looking local or the little kid hiding behind his mother's longyi (the sarong-like traditional Myanmar garment) would burst into a smile and return the greeting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I had a week-long visit in Myanmar, specifically in Mandalay and Bagan. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are no</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> direct flights from Manila to Myanmar so we took a flight via Bangkok on Bangkok Airways to Mandalay, one of three international airports in Myanmar. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other two are in Yangon (the former capital) and Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar's current capital).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwK0ZpqylmAB_QDCdIgKTYfwmIUPGJUrqdHT52i5F7oqwR3IifdOM6Ung1wbd98xFLLMi1YP8oQxjZqlYwTvyA-c2xAgK6Ul_-jfnh3NbOY_W3PbK9oE1Y5irhmGaBPICEVB_bTXpA95h/s1600/DSC05585-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwK0ZpqylmAB_QDCdIgKTYfwmIUPGJUrqdHT52i5F7oqwR3IifdOM6Ung1wbd98xFLLMi1YP8oQxjZqlYwTvyA-c2xAgK6Ul_-jfnh3NbOY_W3PbK9oE1Y5irhmGaBPICEVB_bTXpA95h/s1600/DSC05585-001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1MKl3BVeOt5IBSPNGv8apomVcgO-5AJXSpdHNNJPrrco2sWWhyphenhyphenqavTYIFXwL8ngKe5hyphenhyphenfkRM5IRQg7tB2DJJrNTmQ8lnG_YtnltKuRrMD-7Iopx9y3is-BNkESUmRU9u_ylk2vPpyiog/s1600/DSC05587-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1MKl3BVeOt5IBSPNGv8apomVcgO-5AJXSpdHNNJPrrco2sWWhyphenhyphenqavTYIFXwL8ngKe5hyphenhyphenfkRM5IRQg7tB2DJJrNTmQ8lnG_YtnltKuRrMD-7Iopx9y3is-BNkESUmRU9u_ylk2vPpyiog/s1600/DSC05587-001.JPG" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Big K and I were impressed with Bangkok Airways:<br />airport lounge access even for economy class passengers <br />and a full meal service (complete with silverware!) for an <br />hour and a half flight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>First Stop, Mandalay</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><i>Come you back to Mandalay</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Come you back to Mandalay</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excerpt from Rudyard Kipling's poem, Mandalay, that famously portrayed the exotic city of Mandalay filled with mystery that one can only expect to find in the Orient.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar (Yangon being the largest) and considered as the center of Burmese culture. It is the best jump off point for tours of upper Burma and the famous temple-dotted plains of Bagan (which was our main destination) . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I spent two days in Mandalay, it was a bit short to see all the attractions it had to offer but with the help of a tour guide (with the sights spread far and wide and with limited time we had to get the services of a travel agency this time) we were able to see some of the popular must-sees. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtdtW2eAnuiJiS_7gfNM9Dppif3_y6rOpTYqtzvtW066awvZTSqZjOEvy7PIIl8rIyzPfN9H_Jm9xBn-FIPmwtcAVIYH2LlOh-wQevstYI8ND7knFRUKpIdl5og7Cx90l8y5G0Zr0hQcJ/s1600/DSC06877-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtdtW2eAnuiJiS_7gfNM9Dppif3_y6rOpTYqtzvtW066awvZTSqZjOEvy7PIIl8rIyzPfN9H_Jm9xBn-FIPmwtcAVIYH2LlOh-wQevstYI8ND7knFRUKpIdl5og7Cx90l8y5G0Zr0hQcJ/s1600/DSC06877-001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/seasia/mandalay/sn01.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shwenandaw Monastery's</a> intricate teak carvings.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAjceuUscjoUlGhyphenhyphenHHfaTb3cFfdObTqSDFhI0uPFJBatuKFPnHTaB8IHKMHSK-zNUK5zzC87JQLqaX-nqKXIG4VfZrr971dU45WHpCx8UksTa_vGAme_2fzfNptP456YGrljFc_2lI-1T/s1600/DSC06914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAjceuUscjoUlGhyphenhyphenHHfaTb3cFfdObTqSDFhI0uPFJBatuKFPnHTaB8IHKMHSK-zNUK5zzC87JQLqaX-nqKXIG4VfZrr971dU45WHpCx8UksTa_vGAme_2fzfNptP456YGrljFc_2lI-1T/s1600/DSC06914.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kuthodaw Pagoda is known as the world's biggest book wherein 729 upright marble slabs are</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">inscribed </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">with the complete Buddhist Scriptures. These marble slabs are housed in white stupas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">surrounding </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the golden pagoda.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwdvKMSH8ueW2Y8y5kwP14aGcAQpOpipLN8Bl8x2NQPHmcN65D5fJ4akz3D-IDAz7io0xgMdwq_RjUJ562WYDvUzJjweCHfawQetqXdI_-qKYMJmyk8EK8f4A3fLzvulxcZF47Y1QRk2b/s1600/DSC06921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwdvKMSH8ueW2Y8y5kwP14aGcAQpOpipLN8Bl8x2NQPHmcN65D5fJ4akz3D-IDAz7io0xgMdwq_RjUJ562WYDvUzJjweCHfawQetqXdI_-qKYMJmyk8EK8f4A3fLzvulxcZF47Y1QRk2b/s1600/DSC06921.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The gilded <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuthodaw_Pagoda" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kuthodaw Pagoda</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQlL0JeRCncoFD8MRsylQNRYLN0xbIn43yzTs70gxuuZrS1FB8k3G_rXv0kigan36AIMPaQG4A9HoazYX1Ek7MeUpq4Ke9bY6RVrXfCnOhrnlOfNP4bnB96A2V1qBTVXjYXCnyZSU4pNY/s1600/DSC06960-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQlL0JeRCncoFD8MRsylQNRYLN0xbIn43yzTs70gxuuZrS1FB8k3G_rXv0kigan36AIMPaQG4A9HoazYX1Ek7MeUpq4Ke9bY6RVrXfCnOhrnlOfNP4bnB96A2V1qBTVXjYXCnyZSU4pNY/s1600/DSC06960-001.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sutaungpyi Pagoda on top of Mandalay Hill.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aEOH4xbcMmvqCTUqdJ7E9QrcsgAdYIhcWXk_nXf_agKTvL8Bxl1AcDSbTRJEw21zfn5VqWrC7WGiI6OxQQ9_BfDezdSV_lpchmLyZtD94fps6eEsIQts1RCVJkYeBGs3y94ZoC1khrio/s1600/DSC06978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aEOH4xbcMmvqCTUqdJ7E9QrcsgAdYIhcWXk_nXf_agKTvL8Bxl1AcDSbTRJEw21zfn5VqWrC7WGiI6OxQQ9_BfDezdSV_lpchmLyZtD94fps6eEsIQts1RCVJkYeBGs3y94ZoC1khrio/s1600/DSC06978.JPG" height="370" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spectacular sunset from Mandalay Hill.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Around Mandalay (Amarapura and Inwa)</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The former royal capital of Myanmar in the 1700s, Amarapura is known for its traditional silk and cotton weaving. The Big K and I were so fascinated with the painstakingly intricate weaving demo we had to get ourselves some of their fabrics. I'm not ashamed to admit it but the Big K and I always get suckered by good quality merchandise. Hey! We're not complaining! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wapZ7MZj_2ns_wLQpnTUfVx2YAxZF2Jbuqe0R7eRHiC2EHVutopZzWg0JIktJfouFHK4K2TxZdd_oOzbsdJ4ROeytu1HRYP0BycQoGNzcSc8xeiG841478B0fMEfSso32DB9I8cjNDqq/s1600/DSC07870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wapZ7MZj_2ns_wLQpnTUfVx2YAxZF2Jbuqe0R7eRHiC2EHVutopZzWg0JIktJfouFHK4K2TxZdd_oOzbsdJ4ROeytu1HRYP0BycQoGNzcSc8xeiG841478B0fMEfSso32DB9I8cjNDqq/s1600/DSC07870.JPG" height="472" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbRqWnD6yCZGG10WlwhSEi9oMr1hhPpHb8dULJ6zm9zzGbYYxOHS46HsC6yADTswtZY4bygVe0wzlojQ4JFZKjo8stV-WZZmZUivif7igT4WWPdmUa0w1fgv_pAC6rWzL0YP5A5XFnqoq/s1600/DSC07868-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbRqWnD6yCZGG10WlwhSEi9oMr1hhPpHb8dULJ6zm9zzGbYYxOHS46HsC6yADTswtZY4bygVe0wzlojQ4JFZKjo8stV-WZZmZUivif7igT4WWPdmUa0w1fgv_pAC6rWzL0YP5A5XFnqoq/s1600/DSC07868-001.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeIVCiVuhVfpoZ3VAbXQlQyDMi9GkgkRIFwU25DaQG9ITgOvs0ZD9MWz-7-oSD-DLj-a1mIS50a8YcB_i4YUXqurx4ujany7baEBvT0MwncZ9cmRcxnGnPIJYmjDLcsSipOFfxi0LORbs/s1600/DSC07872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeIVCiVuhVfpoZ3VAbXQlQyDMi9GkgkRIFwU25DaQG9ITgOvs0ZD9MWz-7-oSD-DLj-a1mIS50a8YcB_i4YUXqurx4ujany7baEBvT0MwncZ9cmRcxnGnPIJYmjDLcsSipOFfxi0LORbs/s1600/DSC07872.JPG" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country and is the most religious in terms of the proportion of monks to its population. Burmese parents are obligated to send their sons to a monastery once they are seven years old or older to be admitted as novice monks. This rite of passage is called the shinbyu. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the biggest teaching monasteries in Amarapura is the Mahagandayon monastery where over two thousand monks live and study. It has become a major tourist attraction with visitors jostling each other trying to take pictures of the monks lining up along the street with their alms bowls on their way to lunch. Watching the red-robed, barefooted monks silently walk with dignity along the narrow street was riveting which was in stark contrast to the unruly and noisy tourists. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX8B0E0r-Fo9bcE6uqF7KPYG1y54cLwVfxB0FAfOGauwg3FGHarkdmCF-uoTVE_F46VIr8pFuOfRWheylEk9u5gfcLAI_UTuLAglk9g9TDkF_sVBwyvMku6z7XL62PPlnRiKOI7yqGWra/s1600/DSC05969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX8B0E0r-Fo9bcE6uqF7KPYG1y54cLwVfxB0FAfOGauwg3FGHarkdmCF-uoTVE_F46VIr8pFuOfRWheylEk9u5gfcLAI_UTuLAglk9g9TDkF_sVBwyvMku6z7XL62PPlnRiKOI7yqGWra/s1600/DSC05969.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbxNdp6SMLY5NNxND7f_ZOSqQNX3PXwmHZGgJJVG3qgZKCyh5dbGK-xowqj7H2itJz5_Nvb1gAvBTrQV9QMzu89gkydd0sHmPMzNVA4qtM46F87sYwHT_4KEVJ0_EnfqAnazdJGMNvq04/s1600/DSC07920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbxNdp6SMLY5NNxND7f_ZOSqQNX3PXwmHZGgJJVG3qgZKCyh5dbGK-xowqj7H2itJz5_Nvb1gAvBTrQV9QMzu89gkydd0sHmPMzNVA4qtM46F87sYwHT_4KEVJ0_EnfqAnazdJGMNvq04/s1600/DSC07920.JPG" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The U Bein bridge in Amarapura is the oldest and longest teak wood footbridge in the world. It is 1.2km long and spans the Taungthaman lake. The bridge was made from salvaged teak from dismantled temples and was named after the local mayor who commissioned its construction. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMx12BJzFEsJkMt2Zliew1RzxiJTEJc7yM96AwV_KyAfg9uhcKHDNYiS8cKWNUuV_8Bjs_cLANjyFpE1Lsro5oFTyBu4KBIJ2E6-911sOjJ8neT_7HpjXdifFWu_J4iBBjzqPbEaKqT0M/s1600/DSC07965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMx12BJzFEsJkMt2Zliew1RzxiJTEJc7yM96AwV_KyAfg9uhcKHDNYiS8cKWNUuV_8Bjs_cLANjyFpE1Lsro5oFTyBu4KBIJ2E6-911sOjJ8neT_7HpjXdifFWu_J4iBBjzqPbEaKqT0M/s1600/DSC07965.JPG" height="268" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5R1UdORfoJ_Y3tpyoiSrVrYpt76wA_k7HfvFxcgtkLfmIYF9oGRY9-tMTkkG7U9N8Vtm-St_1A7QOQFU74h-eSxYpPwRW6zPRKcBZIHYTKw0gKwI7ek4Xs2N6yqg2CTeUG9GbKXjcMBy/s1600/DSC07947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5R1UdORfoJ_Y3tpyoiSrVrYpt76wA_k7HfvFxcgtkLfmIYF9oGRY9-tMTkkG7U9N8Vtm-St_1A7QOQFU74h-eSxYpPwRW6zPRKcBZIHYTKw0gKwI7ek4Xs2N6yqg2CTeUG9GbKXjcMBy/s1600/DSC07947.JPG" height="310" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_Gu62OqCP-NXr190VJk58Ia7K8Sd92QFsDjT7xvyu445CqKclTijFdxzVHtIz0RR9PWq3nVtA6cfk1Gr2EYrLIMyLoS7Z_Y4sLazeKPxP0u64JqDXqb5pthcxhWfifyLw7ljOU-Muyb_/s1600/DSC07969.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_Gu62OqCP-NXr190VJk58Ia7K8Sd92QFsDjT7xvyu445CqKclTijFdxzVHtIz0RR9PWq3nVtA6cfk1Gr2EYrLIMyLoS7Z_Y4sLazeKPxP0u64JqDXqb5pthcxhWfifyLw7ljOU-Muyb_/s1600/DSC07969.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Amarapura, it was a 25-minute drive and a quick boat ride across the Myitnge river to get into Inwa. Inwa or Ava was the capital of Myanmar from the 14th to the 19th centuries. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF69z4HO7IWox4b81LuIPtgurPMmKmsNu68519qmJZy1rjJuKTv89oswqJ_uRI2dunkN494Ju_4V82Er2jKLulgVyuGvOHB0UsKuvwN2iUHLBGNwynApesGrDaDWzRxbHH0FN4p0JRdhM/s1600/DSC08092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF69z4HO7IWox4b81LuIPtgurPMmKmsNu68519qmJZy1rjJuKTv89oswqJ_uRI2dunkN494Ju_4V82Er2jKLulgVyuGvOHB0UsKuvwN2iUHLBGNwynApesGrDaDWzRxbHH0FN4p0JRdhM/s1600/DSC08092.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting off the small boat onto the makeshift pier on the other side of the bank, we were greeted by colorful horse-drawn carts along a stretch of muddy dirt road. Uh-uh, we would be taking the horsies to see the sights. Not exactly the most comfortable ride but it was the best way to get around. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zQatK2yfL0E2AkRftSze7Gsw038-uFYhBtPPcSXUlESKNGzreqRoA_-XnRJG5x-AWtsnFDjt1aC-uBJeRHl5fYfSfE1GIn4Pi3lEMN4Tr9ZEm5H1ud0n1T0D5QSjKpRdgjC0oHRZQ30W/s1600/DSC08022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zQatK2yfL0E2AkRftSze7Gsw038-uFYhBtPPcSXUlESKNGzreqRoA_-XnRJG5x-AWtsnFDjt1aC-uBJeRHl5fYfSfE1GIn4Pi3lEMN4Tr9ZEm5H1ud0n1T0D5QSjKpRdgjC0oHRZQ30W/s1600/DSC08022.JPG" height="364" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJCIEWlJ0jpiuJA9Gva2goooCnwCRYUgF9QC1hMQJXOw-TZDLuipMfJY6Vx4FxoJyRtZ3nPrse4-pxF2xKCWWhiEYxCi_xyebiXXAAoG3cVznLoE8W9mp4Pu5mYQH5Bj-OeGjbD7qCe_S/s1600/DSC08083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJCIEWlJ0jpiuJA9Gva2goooCnwCRYUgF9QC1hMQJXOw-TZDLuipMfJY6Vx4FxoJyRtZ3nPrse4-pxF2xKCWWhiEYxCi_xyebiXXAAoG3cVznLoE8W9mp4Pu5mYQH5Bj-OeGjbD7qCe_S/s1600/DSC08083.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our carriage awaits!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dgqXhU903W_kFC1V5B1i3u5E1e0VNYmP5SzTFnkYqsF4ZGXh9Zo0dg3X47xZMQ4VedlHNfO0BpOqUKR8V6AqCIYrWZ2-mpVZ5dLRgnhD2djkK-77ud8pnLkD07t57d_sgcleW_U1brMJ/s1600/DSC08070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dgqXhU903W_kFC1V5B1i3u5E1e0VNYmP5SzTFnkYqsF4ZGXh9Zo0dg3X47xZMQ4VedlHNfO0BpOqUKR8V6AqCIYrWZ2-mpVZ5dLRgnhD2djkK-77ud8pnLkD07t57d_sgcleW_U1brMJ/s1600/DSC08070.JPG" height="370" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The massive-looking Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery built entirely of bricks. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtPDbY-B6QeXf6kSItXsmiYAHAM80oi3UE7QWmJh5g4N_mNeeKanBEaiIsl8LnhwjoAhRpDWEHqPJvmmyMpoBwtivcxhegPUhyphenhyphenfgbD4JDUpqEBTlxNxd0zqSb_uHT92a9F6Tcjuoc-KYn/s1600/DSC08040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtPDbY-B6QeXf6kSItXsmiYAHAM80oi3UE7QWmJh5g4N_mNeeKanBEaiIsl8LnhwjoAhRpDWEHqPJvmmyMpoBwtivcxhegPUhyphenhyphenfgbD4JDUpqEBTlxNxd0zqSb_uHT92a9F6Tcjuoc-KYn/s1600/DSC08040.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Bagaya monastery entirely made of teak. It has 267 huge teak <br />posts, the biggest one measuring 60 feet high and 9 feet around.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahNLORowUn3B9fYMBY94bnt6XiDMQL5GtijSVfu6-COf8LqtOZ-4yovEND0cGTyqdd_14qY981OD_z_PXA7HaGCfcErMOE8FOgvjcjqlA_O8bUZlsstGX50RcyvOXHaarDGAMnePrkfmE/s1600/DSC08058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahNLORowUn3B9fYMBY94bnt6XiDMQL5GtijSVfu6-COf8LqtOZ-4yovEND0cGTyqdd_14qY981OD_z_PXA7HaGCfcErMOE8FOgvjcjqlA_O8bUZlsstGX50RcyvOXHaarDGAMnePrkfmE/s1600/DSC08058.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEwWd3DrmGBrKRHnFv2urMXfh9x7o3Q0IuftW9KHXfjuTkK2WIjFNCwp4ALkHXUfclvdpVXYxk611UAQ9xH5lk_9QnszG6fLbT-YmDiKQMkGrUNASdtjun7WLvXur6YsVmJ_ggKGq-yfg/s1600/DSC08091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEwWd3DrmGBrKRHnFv2urMXfh9x7o3Q0IuftW9KHXfjuTkK2WIjFNCwp4ALkHXUfclvdpVXYxk611UAQ9xH5lk_9QnszG6fLbT-YmDiKQMkGrUNASdtjun7WLvXur6YsVmJ_ggKGq-yfg/s1600/DSC08091.JPG" height="538" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to head home!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1633706173570248.1073741846.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=33" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helpful links:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our tour guide: Min@ Hla Zaw Min</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Email him at minmingmt@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Call him at 95-9-256132883 , 95-9-797744011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://onestopmyanmar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One Stop Travel & Tours Myanmar</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next post: <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2015/01/amazing-bagan-myanmar-part-2.html" target="_blank">Amazing Bagan!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-88018290253764903112014-12-04T12:24:00.000+08:002014-12-04T13:24:27.763+08:0036 Hours Down Under - A Preview of Sydney <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a two-week wait I received an email from the Australian embassy with my visa grant. Unlike my other visa applications, in particular for the US and Europe, getting an Australian visa was the easiest and most hassle-free application I have ever experienced. Everything was done online from filling out the application form, paying the visa to scanning all my supporting documents. I never had to leave the house. Easy peasy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now all I have to do is wait for the Big K's roster and hope he'll get a flight to Sydney. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw8AdmyL4x1aRx4eA7lGwyd0pmmY1DCtBvy8WyEQvaqEq3Q16eX_dJPmRl7dVFGnF8c1g4ssL3S8V7PsYkcm45BFZTwUOE4mOI6nKaMjbzXQK5ulmZZwk2L3Xy4_ksFrXK9Mfj4D4226h/s1600/DSC05871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw8AdmyL4x1aRx4eA7lGwyd0pmmY1DCtBvy8WyEQvaqEq3Q16eX_dJPmRl7dVFGnF8c1g4ssL3S8V7PsYkcm45BFZTwUOE4mOI6nKaMjbzXQK5ulmZZwk2L3Xy4_ksFrXK9Mfj4D4226h/s1600/DSC05871.JPG" height="640" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sydney here I come!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hello, Sydney! (Day 1)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Roster's out! Well, what do you know? Not only does the Big K get one but he gets scheduled for two flights down under. I decided to ride shot gun on his second flight where he gets a two-night layover. Time to pack my bags!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the day of my departure, I was excitedly waiting for our ride to the airport when the Big K receives a phone call from flight dispatch. Uh-oh! I hear the words "planned delay". Oh no! Every air travelers' bane - delayed flights. Short as my visit was, the delay will make it even shorter! Oh well, nothing I could do about it now. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmvQhZ-GLF2iucqSO5RrNhfk2WcMbXwR6M85CYHIigmES_F_7dLceuzW6qml5CQqilz8JRjAAji15gqPfAk9hel_Qe36UVQjmEBAsYGfoM9Y1vgPLJXkdCzKUZVGfNhjpMHuyVcaLoTRh/s1600/DSC05769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmvQhZ-GLF2iucqSO5RrNhfk2WcMbXwR6M85CYHIigmES_F_7dLceuzW6qml5CQqilz8JRjAAji15gqPfAk9hel_Qe36UVQjmEBAsYGfoM9Y1vgPLJXkdCzKUZVGfNhjpMHuyVcaLoTRh/s1600/DSC05769.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the many charming old buildings in Sydney. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, touch down Sydney! After dropping off our bags at the hotel and a quick late lunch at the food court at the nearby mall for the Big K's lemon chicken fix, we were off to Circular Quay.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkZ3NwXgH1JomkUFl6b_2HfJhtEvSaYZTdswX5UGHS9TJaomYfDb0K8mKYKCG1sYRyO904D48r7Ki6_SjTtiwxLkTL2MAXIaRjzul1-ITOuJRyIVkqoivT-yrim-pFAsX0NWzTFuUSvzl/s1600/DSC06588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkZ3NwXgH1JomkUFl6b_2HfJhtEvSaYZTdswX5UGHS9TJaomYfDb0K8mKYKCG1sYRyO904D48r7Ki6_SjTtiwxLkTL2MAXIaRjzul1-ITOuJRyIVkqoivT-yrim-pFAsX0NWzTFuUSvzl/s1600/DSC06588.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just my luck! I got pooped on by one of the seagulls here. I<br />swear I even heard him squawk "Welcome to Australia, mate!" </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Circular Quay is the founding site of Sydney and Australia. It is here where the first ships from Great Britain landed to set up a penal colony that later became the first European settlement in Australia. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Originally known as Semi-Circular Quay because of the actual shape of the harbour, it was shortened to Circular Quay for convenience. It is a major transport hub serving as the main terminus for Sydney's earlier trams (1861-1961) later replaced by bus and light rail lines. It is also the main pier for commuter ferries not to mention huge cruise ships. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the tourist attractions located in and around Circular Quay are the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden, Museum of Contemporary Art, Harbour Bridge and The Rocks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4rKAwruhuTe5NIFjpnj51cO675hITwms1mT3Eg18KMLj2aJaaQ2POVlXRThodtjOtuhshnaQepm1ES5JAA72SkuOInD-waVyztYkiANjt7DWv2TSC-RiX6BEzOxacaYfg6_4RvoT90P_/s1600/DSC06690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4rKAwruhuTe5NIFjpnj51cO675hITwms1mT3Eg18KMLj2aJaaQ2POVlXRThodtjOtuhshnaQepm1ES5JAA72SkuOInD-waVyztYkiANjt7DWv2TSC-RiX6BEzOxacaYfg6_4RvoT90P_/s1600/DSC06690.JPG" height="380" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/homepage.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sydney Opera House</a> opened in 1973 was listed in UNESCO's World Heritage Site in June 2007.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_IVMc5FhTd_IvQ4gkBlWbpKsQB9fNnaavPq8-Y1q4etVajehznuvZUrTGkOS9z0OZOFJXxAgteO0eEgf06oFmcP46ZTPQf9-DUTyoC2pB5-HMY6VPuas1SF_AdP2GOgBHtWkbMLcEWu8/s1600/DSC05802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_IVMc5FhTd_IvQ4gkBlWbpKsQB9fNnaavPq8-Y1q4etVajehznuvZUrTGkOS9z0OZOFJXxAgteO0eEgf06oFmcP46ZTPQf9-DUTyoC2pB5-HMY6VPuas1SF_AdP2GOgBHtWkbMLcEWu8/s1600/DSC05802.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.mca.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art Australia</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel8YE4a5Wyq49_EnH4AD4vh1tQ1tFEKx6PbKaKMhgqgmvJ1R0cdFKGqbL3NRI0oYUsnMQeWjF0D2duzvdF2RT3JA5sienJ1FotTZ1MQAA-bfJy6rrVsss2VkpvUlUEhS71-5VCaMZJy2g/s1600/DSC05887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel8YE4a5Wyq49_EnH4AD4vh1tQ1tFEKx6PbKaKMhgqgmvJ1R0cdFKGqbL3NRI0oYUsnMQeWjF0D2duzvdF2RT3JA5sienJ1FotTZ1MQAA-bfJy6rrVsss2VkpvUlUEhS71-5VCaMZJy2g/s1600/DSC05887.JPG" height="340" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sydney Harbour Bridge also known as the Coathanger because of its shape is the tallest steel <br />arch bridge in the world. You can even <a href="http://www.bridgeclimb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">climb the bridge</a>, for a fee of course.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A Hole in the Wall Burger Joint</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Always mentioned in the top ten best burgers list in Sydney, the Big K and I just had to try Mary's burgers. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So for dinner we and a couple of friends trooped off to Newtown in search of this much talked about burger joint. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrY0Kgo8OcvRg8Ulxnd_83pCrfYe_ehWdFrvANOqFkmqSy_XtJJC5nGjH_PhkHJi8guyM1CYHR2HcpKxHqzX7ECIL9LL7QsMMYj8kSFItsKJsVqmeCKbwBx7tQYUFZZ7DN58j6ZK9VIKV/s1600/DSC06631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrY0Kgo8OcvRg8Ulxnd_83pCrfYe_ehWdFrvANOqFkmqSy_XtJJC5nGjH_PhkHJi8guyM1CYHR2HcpKxHqzX7ECIL9LL7QsMMYj8kSFItsKJsVqmeCKbwBx7tQYUFZZ7DN58j6ZK9VIKV/s1600/DSC06631.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mary street is one of the side streets along Newtown's main street, King street. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbJmg0GMZUF5josWVJNKKY5golVkbMKk6BL9ZuadxmLSPoBavGPPVgVO-R7dXy7uVs9NX03U4By7wfrUHznfhhwxp6JUVotBekHRU_1lVSRt2dYb7sFUUMMyP5_O30aB6Gdq-e1TtBS5i/s1600/DSC06630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbJmg0GMZUF5josWVJNKKY5golVkbMKk6BL9ZuadxmLSPoBavGPPVgVO-R7dXy7uVs9NX03U4By7wfrUHznfhhwxp6JUVotBekHRU_1lVSRt2dYb7sFUUMMyP5_O30aB6Gdq-e1TtBS5i/s1600/DSC06630.JPG" height="640" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We nearly missed the joint since there was no sign outside except </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">for the huge bouncer manning the door. We went early at around </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">6PM </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">so we </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">got a table right away unlike these guys who were </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">for </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">long wait. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ1LFVBNPQQZ8sfBQhW1HdOOL6qOE6a4IUtqLY1KYJcwH5YcqlB_X5UpF9dAM3mXYI4AB8B_zLAOA0E0Qp-8fd4AHT6Oj318878PTj49nn8bBFFEnuDy_oQo4zYjU22QY9F2nD49sIO1j/s1600/DSC06626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ1LFVBNPQQZ8sfBQhW1HdOOL6qOE6a4IUtqLY1KYJcwH5YcqlB_X5UpF9dAM3mXYI4AB8B_zLAOA0E0Qp-8fd4AHT6Oj318878PTj49nn8bBFFEnuDy_oQo4zYjU22QY9F2nD49sIO1j/s1600/DSC06626.JPG" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Entering the dimly lit room was like a Dusk Till Dawn's movie scene complete with loud music <br />thumping, demon-inspired wall-art and a heavy scent of melting candles. I was half expecting <br />a fight to break out with a Danny Trejo look-a-like.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwYhGa6kZStIC8c6Yq4YAyaS48jABqvmn1jDmnGFQpCZTzoPWayNI3c52ksNmqP9frPwsNlTig6krtQWTMR4YpiXkP1aNXXNScon3hx8lsx0lHsKwPRFNTxjGtYHoScjNkAiJiFB04Hq_/s1600/DSC06612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwYhGa6kZStIC8c6Yq4YAyaS48jABqvmn1jDmnGFQpCZTzoPWayNI3c52ksNmqP9frPwsNlTig6krtQWTMR4YpiXkP1aNXXNScon3hx8lsx0lHsKwPRFNTxjGtYHoScjNkAiJiFB04Hq_/s1600/DSC06612.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yup! That's the only food on the menu. And as they say, do one thing but do it well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hmm... We shall see. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9wN8uNVQud_jBfgo_PHnairlwyFLhiXM_ZHNQoMhByNCeqBubf8KzXQO4TT7eLI8Zy0gGlsuVAOL7lPRayGY01IEZ90lA38g8IOKbLpUzYk5W1lPLWy1XEjR0pc0u2uop35hc9IVH2fi/s1600/DSC06625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9wN8uNVQud_jBfgo_PHnairlwyFLhiXM_ZHNQoMhByNCeqBubf8KzXQO4TT7eLI8Zy0gGlsuVAOL7lPRayGY01IEZ90lA38g8IOKbLpUzYk5W1lPLWy1XEjR0pc0u2uop35hc9IVH2fi/s1600/DSC06625.JPG" height="458" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We ordered Mary's burger, of course! It was basically a cheeseburger with a slice of fresh </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">tomato </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and lettuce leaves served with fries. The verdict: it was good, not spectacularly great </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">but </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">worth the $15 cab ride.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Good Morning, Sydney! (Day 2)</b><br /><br />We woke up to a bright, beautiful, sunny day. It was the perfect day to take in more of the sights the city has to offer. First stop, Hyde Park. The oldest parkland in Australia, Hyde Park was named after the original Hyde Park in London. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLppsmGh7PFvrl0gbwrbYEecaq7sIwFq980YTSk_6pE0OrS_C8hJzuMx4PYKTcdkCXzwbem93mZgoJRz-l4lb1JJsXf7KwozCGYYV90YIcWTRYe7VNwkrEM43EdOTops0uAJZJsswWnkmk/s1600/DSC06636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLppsmGh7PFvrl0gbwrbYEecaq7sIwFq980YTSk_6pE0OrS_C8hJzuMx4PYKTcdkCXzwbem93mZgoJRz-l4lb1JJsXf7KwozCGYYV90YIcWTRYe7VNwkrEM43EdOTops0uAJZJsswWnkmk/s1600/DSC06636.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hyde Park is located right at Sydney's Central Business District.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXNZ_n8XHT2Tl5YE7fa6YIJwGOz-QRmYISoyvj4epku6JOiH2XIc4tLCU-lf3q56GSoz__fIS6fO3-dpmKtwvHiwfnNMu1nW-IthOAIOn_XMt7VxrxmsQcgycvnVn26ZhTkwdYgOBTo9c/s1600/DSC06646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXNZ_n8XHT2Tl5YE7fa6YIJwGOz-QRmYISoyvj4epku6JOiH2XIc4tLCU-lf3q56GSoz__fIS6fO3-dpmKtwvHiwfnNMu1nW-IthOAIOn_XMt7VxrxmsQcgycvnVn26ZhTkwdYgOBTo9c/s1600/DSC06646.JPG" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>"Let silent contemplation be your offering"</i> The ANZAC War Memorial (Australian and New Zealand </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Army Corps) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">was built to commemorate </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the Australian Imperial Force of World War I. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3go5_irSmn9E_O8wfzips7W31-hpEy3v2TKo697DRyp9d6D5E8RFA7VnOv854uPJswo6R9o-i9pAFAO0DkYQ0ZrX3Ux5mbd9XMd3ej3H__rQ-pPOyUlxM0RdoUBraIOo6ZOiEGdlkgURA/s1600/DSC06648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3go5_irSmn9E_O8wfzips7W31-hpEy3v2TKo697DRyp9d6D5E8RFA7VnOv854uPJswo6R9o-i9pAFAO0DkYQ0ZrX3Ux5mbd9XMd3ej3H__rQ-pPOyUlxM0RdoUBraIOo6ZOiEGdlkgURA/s1600/DSC06648.JPG" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Gothic cathedral of St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Archbishop </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of Sydney.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXc3o68uId-MIfAB9N0bq2cZDtjGAKONkIp05LIWlmKBs5EEz6b2DWWMnpkfFgLfYJidiS2eyL62ioThRrjHZXBinPCSFTvN0QPovitfK-fgUE4LPNwcDO5PxGAK23CssgEUj9yIycXXS/s1600/DSC06649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXc3o68uId-MIfAB9N0bq2cZDtjGAKONkIp05LIWlmKBs5EEz6b2DWWMnpkfFgLfYJidiS2eyL62ioThRrjHZXBinPCSFTvN0QPovitfK-fgUE4LPNwcDO5PxGAK23CssgEUj9yIycXXS/s1600/DSC06649.JPG" height="640" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A monument of Capt. James Cook, British Royal Navy captain </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">who </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">discovered the east coast of Australia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeb1KvBERGvVnOXb1oErabll-pNgINvBxw-7I1zduc0XGju9Bz4bMkwKxPtRJAmU9QIl9Y0W183Z9BCJCa1QjXV4nntJ80MBugPYdqkfgFbLoaaySHPkcTvt3dgXx7M-DK5Lk0pE7K60A/s1600/DSC06653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeb1KvBERGvVnOXb1oErabll-pNgINvBxw-7I1zduc0XGju9Bz4bMkwKxPtRJAmU9QIl9Y0W183Z9BCJCa1QjXV4nntJ80MBugPYdqkfgFbLoaaySHPkcTvt3dgXx7M-DK5Lk0pE7K60A/s1600/DSC06653.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">JF Archibald who commissioned this fountain that was named after him was the owner of the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">now </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">defunct </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Australian </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">weekly magazine, The Bulletin. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7gTuw_Y2Xg6Fcq7GqWQGMt5CPBc_p8WaAJM3JmR2sYgpYm3Cp3CvmajtuLe3Hjz9b4CvtxoGpQvHy-QGCehRg7-7bt3ToQv7TdrkfbpuxyAFtjhvk0eWGokszzsNZIGe4ZfSBi6on9OX/s1600/DSC06664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7gTuw_Y2Xg6Fcq7GqWQGMt5CPBc_p8WaAJM3JmR2sYgpYm3Cp3CvmajtuLe3Hjz9b4CvtxoGpQvHy-QGCehRg7-7bt3ToQv7TdrkfbpuxyAFtjhvk0eWGokszzsNZIGe4ZfSBi6on9OX/s1600/DSC06664.JPG" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Sydney Tower as seen from Hyde Park. The tallest </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">structure </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sydney, it has an observation deck, sky walk </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and a restaurant </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and bar with 360-degree views of the city. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XTffZkgAYxlK0vyDeIM-DUXSrO0IpZaz2GvUBBypYJtP3Txrt0eQgFrgDom_XLnhkfpr-wWjFb6xOMX0oKgV7N7rk7YLOlB8bpX-5m8m9e_tQw2jDKagSet48OItU5nD3AbWCC6F32Yu/s1600/DSC06669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XTffZkgAYxlK0vyDeIM-DUXSrO0IpZaz2GvUBBypYJtP3Txrt0eQgFrgDom_XLnhkfpr-wWjFb6xOMX0oKgV7N7rk7YLOlB8bpX-5m8m9e_tQw2jDKagSet48OItU5nD3AbWCC6F32Yu/s1600/DSC06669.JPG" height="640" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sydney Hospital's Il Porcellino (the piglet) was inspired by the same bronze </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">fountain of a boar in Florence, Italy. Drop a coin and rub the swine's </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">snout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">for good luck. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Plus your donation also helps care for the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">sick at the hospital.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pPewngwXpALthEDa90cnpTQQq3DWx8XPD2iVWD3xqf5qR8oOTGAzWel4ZbM2mnpXslKTUGk6OqbebOk-ga8smTEa9DBBMsvnQJg7So9IqmGHpvhQHmhfZtkG-vVh7oIFnLEbVldetlNN/s1600/DSC06675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pPewngwXpALthEDa90cnpTQQq3DWx8XPD2iVWD3xqf5qR8oOTGAzWel4ZbM2mnpXslKTUGk6OqbebOk-ga8smTEa9DBBMsvnQJg7So9IqmGHpvhQHmhfZtkG-vVh7oIFnLEbVldetlNN/s1600/DSC06675.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Palace Garden gate entrance of the Royal Botanic Garden.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGJNGoqnNqWOhZbZhCvAOHR6phO925Vd5_M9ZLFnKUi5TgclAQxQOJgQlgql6yUpxUAUoTYyVBHwNc-xtlMLdkWyqPD-N2fwMWo4gRq7hpF9RIRzJsPGlvKiDvm4jywrJZy62zQl8MlR3/s1600/DSC06679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGJNGoqnNqWOhZbZhCvAOHR6phO925Vd5_M9ZLFnKUi5TgclAQxQOJgQlgql6yUpxUAUoTYyVBHwNc-xtlMLdkWyqPD-N2fwMWo4gRq7hpF9RIRzJsPGlvKiDvm4jywrJZy62zQl8MlR3/s1600/DSC06679.JPG" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Harbour Bridge on the far left and the Conservatorium of Music on the right as seen from </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the garden. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Manly Beach</b><br /><br />It was nearing noon and our tummies were starting to grumble. So where's the perfect place to have lunch on a beautiful, sunny day? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where else but the beach! After a 30-minute <a href="http://www.transportnsw.info/sites/en/tickets/ticket-types/ferry/index.page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ferry ride</a> from Circular Quay, we arrived at Manly, a beach-side suburb of Sydney. According to history, Manly got its name from Capt. Arthur Phillip (first governor of New South Wales and founder of the settlement that became Sydney) when he described the indigenous people living there stating "<i>their confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name Manly Cove to this place</i>". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqDtX5oq5hpKgSznlE0IlGQeefCYM1awvGDC3j7kNLk5Cv21DD6lMiwuGksWWZWBU9Ucb2tzDoBdvpYWbKrUbieNq6CzjSIJm6DxCJ45nuVVuldP0jggIWVtMq1nIRarsEDdptzZLsh4U/s1600/DSC06741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqDtX5oq5hpKgSznlE0IlGQeefCYM1awvGDC3j7kNLk5Cv21DD6lMiwuGksWWZWBU9Ucb2tzDoBdvpYWbKrUbieNq6CzjSIJm6DxCJ45nuVVuldP0jggIWVtMq1nIRarsEDdptzZLsh4U/s1600/DSC06741.JPG" height="640" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Corso is one of the main streets in Manly lined with shops and restaurants.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjign_8uhOogzFa53ffyblS7e56whfxdh3Mqir5Y02zIk4JnVmqhckZkY75vQm2fKBfwnQe2RQm-qKokgRuHAtsYPqTycQMWUw36IpcQaEkj56tU1hPqF70WVXyXnXGRfYGHtHCKLYUeaOT/s1600/DSC06742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjign_8uhOogzFa53ffyblS7e56whfxdh3Mqir5Y02zIk4JnVmqhckZkY75vQm2fKBfwnQe2RQm-qKokgRuHAtsYPqTycQMWUw36IpcQaEkj56tU1hPqF70WVXyXnXGRfYGHtHCKLYUeaOT/s1600/DSC06742.JPG" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO7vWCyggU37Xan-3glflsKoo81p3nTx295JL6HRFPjxFkXyFDXYWLlXFdO2sndnFvWIhjJ3uT8sxst-A-kfDEBYDeHeeiReo4UrjJCeQ0BmGvC0NdwquXm2uKUyqoKLrMLyq32UE5BwU/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO7vWCyggU37Xan-3glflsKoo81p3nTx295JL6HRFPjxFkXyFDXYWLlXFdO2sndnFvWIhjJ3uT8sxst-A-kfDEBYDeHeeiReo4UrjJCeQ0BmGvC0NdwquXm2uKUyqoKLrMLyq32UE5BwU/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZC4qHX8AQIwr_zWKJIpJL0HnE9XuAVrJ7222dnUxrUde0X7lSo2WjwQJZSdedc4eFIcR4dbP5_Bjolqyn5FXLSOCRwAW_jwMGGrxCWL0U4wlKuGRqRSM05gmaVQjitPSbSoAtITbUAHUZ/s1600/DSC06757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZC4qHX8AQIwr_zWKJIpJL0HnE9XuAVrJ7222dnUxrUde0X7lSo2WjwQJZSdedc4eFIcR4dbP5_Bjolqyn5FXLSOCRwAW_jwMGGrxCWL0U4wlKuGRqRSM05gmaVQjitPSbSoAtITbUAHUZ/s1600/DSC06757.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mMqzXm8Wiaxy7YFHoSHIgSrNt3j2w5t4bCAhzA7qwutgbkyn0TGYtNQxIjHUJQTQg8TMthB6Ke0U42c_7g-ZGkyrrzEk4kvgLed9Fi5N_sun5UvQvzQJYc14dsk4yfF6b6wuTsEIHmfZ/s1600/DSC06761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mMqzXm8Wiaxy7YFHoSHIgSrNt3j2w5t4bCAhzA7qwutgbkyn0TGYtNQxIjHUJQTQg8TMthB6Ke0U42c_7g-ZGkyrrzEk4kvgLed9Fi5N_sun5UvQvzQJYc14dsk4yfF6b6wuTsEIHmfZ/s1600/DSC06761.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX30a-C8G8ge7Bj4fcsfSebhR-c0g3m6hRfLpEB1-02zXWIYtOIH9odar-JhGVfImZkszsBw984qb4hFuimxU27M8N9ZbYUGps5Enhtr4Lp49-p3vpVNtemJf-G9Lr5br_XPu7WHsJPnia/s1600/DSC06794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX30a-C8G8ge7Bj4fcsfSebhR-c0g3m6hRfLpEB1-02zXWIYtOIH9odar-JhGVfImZkszsBw984qb4hFuimxU27M8N9ZbYUGps5Enhtr4Lp49-p3vpVNtemJf-G9Lr5br_XPu7WHsJPnia/s1600/DSC06794.JPG" height="640" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What's a better picnic lunch than having calamari and fish and chips <br />by the beach? Just be sure you don't go waving your food around. The Big K <br />found this out the hard way. They sure have pretty aggressive seagulls there!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmKyAVNsfZMlg4n7sU2f-IkIv71oUjwd2DK-N5FPoyfsXcrlW3Fb0k0dkfVPuxiCxJctb3-wVyxH6emDFTt7ZbDaXAywtnn89y1JeIJlkedlKi2YODingN5mk7jVrZjFlrtHwEWKGBhki/s1600/DSC06799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmKyAVNsfZMlg4n7sU2f-IkIv71oUjwd2DK-N5FPoyfsXcrlW3Fb0k0dkfVPuxiCxJctb3-wVyxH6emDFTt7ZbDaXAywtnn89y1JeIJlkedlKi2YODingN5mk7jVrZjFlrtHwEWKGBhki/s1600/DSC06799.JPG" height="318" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hooroo, Sydney!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a short but sweet visit to Sydney. I can't wait to go back! In the meantime, my aching feet needs some attention. Excuse me but I'm gonna get me some nice long foot massage..... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkl1oLM_I8rpHnXVgYa5o-m31iRkh6L_w8CWXMvXu4tw2HQosuLPJGojDas29iH4772KpITiI8B6mo3CoDi0wAMmKK68bg2MBadXPMQZeMyOvNKem-8ZW2AcKr1PRe2beQT_68QmfF70Jl/s1600/IMG_4077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkl1oLM_I8rpHnXVgYa5o-m31iRkh6L_w8CWXMvXu4tw2HQosuLPJGojDas29iH4772KpITiI8B6mo3CoDi0wAMmKK68bg2MBadXPMQZeMyOvNKem-8ZW2AcKr1PRe2beQT_68QmfF70Jl/s1600/IMG_4077.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.cebupacificair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cebu Pacific Air</a> flies 4 times a week to Sydney.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />More photos of our Sydney adventure in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1537298186544381.1073741845.1389503424657192&type=1" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-25223375951354371532014-10-23T19:01:00.000+08:002014-10-24T15:02:30.826+08:0036 Hours in Xi'an (Well, sort of....)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the main reasons I wanted to come with the Big K on his trip to China was the opportunity to see the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The story of these life-sized clay sculptures have been frequently featured in magazine articles and TV documentaries. And what makes these statues remarkable is the sheer number of them. No, we're not talking of a handful nor a hundred but think thousands! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thousands upon thousands of warriors and horses, all created to accompany a single person in the afterlife. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And where do you find this incredible army? It's in Xi'an, the ancient city in the Shaanxi province. Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in China and was once the eastern terminus for the Silk Road. It was also the capital city of 13 dynasties (there were 26 dynasties in all) where a total of 73 emperors once ruled.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8WrPSoLqQNTcu_WOiY_L2jRF0Tb1ZKO88IXm4QcHFuUIqTF_U42yAYXP0GJ1SKFMSee0dkAbue2dgCHW0g-d8FIFeTDTBetR5-abkamIz_RJM7RIx91qlCgVH6vkcnFJ4qIoK1YY9ywi/s1600/DSC06243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8WrPSoLqQNTcu_WOiY_L2jRF0Tb1ZKO88IXm4QcHFuUIqTF_U42yAYXP0GJ1SKFMSee0dkAbue2dgCHW0g-d8FIFeTDTBetR5-abkamIz_RJM7RIx91qlCgVH6vkcnFJ4qIoK1YY9ywi/s1600/DSC06243.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My First Long Distance Train Ride in China (Beijing-Xi'an)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, how do I get from point A to point B?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had three options: a two-hour plane ride, a six-hour high speed train or a 12-hour overnight train ride. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plane fare was too expensive on my travel dates while the high speed train schedules meant a hotel stay in the city. Since I figured one whole day was enough time to see the Terracotta Army, probably squeeze in one or two more popular tourist sight/s, an overnight train would be perfect (arrive in the morning, do a whole day tour and return at night). Plus it came out the cheapest among the three options. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's going to be another train ride for me! Hmmm... I'm seeing a pattern here. It's turning out to be the year of train rides for me. You can check out my earlier train rides <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/08/the-california-zephyr-chicago-to-san.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Jw_DFl7fhhWCqysOCpt7mI-rjAZhO-2eh1Ff-zq49_r9wUj0r9j3XoEgOklPT7XWQkdHq64odKfYCvq-W0CxskTRtb-eZ_-kQMn2-WenE9mYuXAhOgDWwNO1fNVTDbTz-TtujUJkhMtk/s1600/DSC06449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Jw_DFl7fhhWCqysOCpt7mI-rjAZhO-2eh1Ff-zq49_r9wUj0r9j3XoEgOklPT7XWQkdHq64odKfYCvq-W0CxskTRtb-eZ_-kQMn2-WenE9mYuXAhOgDWwNO1fNVTDbTz-TtujUJkhMtk/s1600/DSC06449.JPG" height="378" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The huge Beijing West Railway station (Beijingxi). There are 5 railway stations in central Beijing:<br />Beijing (Central) Railway, Beijing North, Beijing South, Beijing East and Beijing West. <br />My train for Xi'an left from Beijing West Railway station.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After deciding to take the train now comes the question on how and where to get my tickets. Well, one can do it the hard way: buy train tickets at the train station. Quite a challenge if you don't speak or understand Chinese (although the railway company has a website where one can purchase tickets online but then again it's only in Chinese). If you do decide to go this route, buy your tickets as early as you can (not hours but days before your travel dates) as trains get filled up fast. Train travel is very popular in China.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I did it the easy, stress-free way and got the services of a reliable <a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">travel agent</a> because I didn't want to find myself waking up in a strange city hundreds of miles from my intended destination. Or worse getting standing room tickets for a 12-hour ride (Yup! They do sell these tickets there.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SyYUi7mw46m1kn_3wBHu_LGHtyhCnQd6GJ7IOa9bu0ZzERHA_2fxhcmD3jzoCvxqZDSDuhzJhnFEvNgSDhvsa8cPGvDGAcUhXvBEfOdqeq6lK8EXw-lBCGrFVyJwmwE-00HUhiwxQlOn/s1600/DSC06172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SyYUi7mw46m1kn_3wBHu_LGHtyhCnQd6GJ7IOa9bu0ZzERHA_2fxhcmD3jzoCvxqZDSDuhzJhnFEvNgSDhvsa8cPGvDGAcUhXvBEfOdqeq6lK8EXw-lBCGrFVyJwmwE-00HUhiwxQlOn/s1600/DSC06172.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Unlike with European and American train stations where the waiting areas are common, <br />Chinese train stations have assigned waiting rooms for different trains. The big departure board <br />indicates the train number, destination, departure time and the waiting room number. <br />No platform numbers here!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWFbmPUQZZNtfZFWz-xjXeT9OriIoBBqphpAFm2vs1Mnv6gOAnS2BBNhj1Ertw-nSmoabmQUECxQKzy-IiB1R0GRLYowqsP7EAZdn9z9YjT1ds_yWHiVVdHamI5zgFDrFtfC-CugD9xyf/s1600/DSC06173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWFbmPUQZZNtfZFWz-xjXeT9OriIoBBqphpAFm2vs1Mnv6gOAnS2BBNhj1Ertw-nSmoabmQUECxQKzy-IiB1R0GRLYowqsP7EAZdn9z9YjT1ds_yWHiVVdHamI5zgFDrFtfC-CugD9xyf/s1600/DSC06173.JPG" height="348" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My train Z19 was assigned at waiting room number 4.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivNk4-mjOUGR9vhLGEKel0R_ZYSauatuIKQDniz1Zv4ewcJ3KT7nY4y2R-woSEeUOKxn8Q3BTig6ryVqeO8NUKmSCVOcFzQZHCsJbrPZl3BsOQ_sNPUs0Wgs_h8jR8RDUfuGgdQ9nlGSg/s1600/DSC06177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivNk4-mjOUGR9vhLGEKel0R_ZYSauatuIKQDniz1Zv4ewcJ3KT7nY4y2R-woSEeUOKxn8Q3BTig6ryVqeO8NUKmSCVOcFzQZHCsJbrPZl3BsOQ_sNPUs0Wgs_h8jR8RDUfuGgdQ9nlGSg/s1600/DSC06177.JPG" height="328" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jam-packed! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupRdMftjsanFbyRYO9PY1hU7AcNbxPDvBy1tL3gmZjt2AUUDq_3B5sd_yI4aYBSvr8PUPzumjfEiZQeWg2rV4_iBbOeoJ9HgGYCIL6OWM-YWKK1GWZCZOWP1zR9M5r7z_FfX1IoNccWGO/s1600/DSC06178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupRdMftjsanFbyRYO9PY1hU7AcNbxPDvBy1tL3gmZjt2AUUDq_3B5sd_yI4aYBSvr8PUPzumjfEiZQeWg2rV4_iBbOeoJ9HgGYCIL6OWM-YWKK1GWZCZOWP1zR9M5r7z_FfX1IoNccWGO/s1600/DSC06178.JPG" height="632" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I arrived a bit early for my train and yet I couldn't find any vacant seat in the crowded <br />waiting hall. I did find one at the snack bar but of course I had to buy something. Yup, a pretty <br />expensive cup of coffee that costs RMB28 (USD5). Oh well, at least it was served in a beautiful <br />tea cup. I should have ordered the chrysanthemum tea, it came with refills. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTtIBAP52nQ5Wyj038GHSfMDUvGJDIjFBnk9O2UqoyOp-htF2xyxe7NRRE6yLiC8O2EXzd2dPbbSHse9ceLcwT1ehSnARxuLUQwqAyCAd9OD0G37U5udLmhkG9O0rBPtukhPNA1X07qeW/s1600/DSC06176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTtIBAP52nQ5Wyj038GHSfMDUvGJDIjFBnk9O2UqoyOp-htF2xyxe7NRRE6yLiC8O2EXzd2dPbbSHse9ceLcwT1ehSnARxuLUQwqAyCAd9OD0G37U5udLmhkG9O0rBPtukhPNA1X07qeW/s1600/DSC06176.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you're wondering where to find your train's platform, it will be displayed on the LED board<br />at the ticket check gate once the train is ready for boarding 20-25 minutes before departure. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHbQU-6mhGt6_-sOrfpIkOC6r0KGfrp8pkTL9KXpe028PU8MBtgws7GcfA3hjnPJqufgBwI3jxFnt4teQ2NV5jUcMyy1-SsXp61n8GPC-E7vszNPT0wM2nAw1-IHQKb_K-Imcn9t852XZ/s1600/FullSizeRender+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHbQU-6mhGt6_-sOrfpIkOC6r0KGfrp8pkTL9KXpe028PU8MBtgws7GcfA3hjnPJqufgBwI3jxFnt4teQ2NV5jUcMyy1-SsXp61n8GPC-E7vszNPT0wM2nAw1-IHQKb_K-Imcn9t852XZ/s1600/FullSizeRender+(3).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I booked the Deluxe Soft Sleeper compartment both ways. It came with only 2-bunks, an </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">armchair and its own toilet. Not to the <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" target="_blank">Orient Express train</a>'s standard but this will do. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">lucky </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the train wasn't full going to Xi'an so I had the compartment all to myself. Different</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">story coming back! But still it was a good train ride experience.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Good Morning Xi'an!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I usually DIY my travels but for this trip I decided to hire my own tour guide as I found out that the Terracotta Army museum was another hour and half drive away from the city. And since I only had a short stay, I didn't want to waste my time figuring out how to get there. Oh and my no-speak-Chinese didn't help my cause either.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph0PAac1CncbrE3SjyXuTRUka_cNbfx4gJY5f1l_s_YQnbsxG9DZZ8ofph3qEmwZ2MmZLWFnSqmLqdqT18Fm12F14uTLymxbHnlXZTeu729tw_TwYhiGA5Uc7RZaXGGOjoDvr7yotF2LE/s1600/DSC06223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph0PAac1CncbrE3SjyXuTRUka_cNbfx4gJY5f1l_s_YQnbsxG9DZZ8ofph3qEmwZ2MmZLWFnSqmLqdqT18Fm12F14uTLymxbHnlXZTeu729tw_TwYhiGA5Uc7RZaXGGOjoDvr7yotF2LE/s1600/DSC06223.JPG" height="444" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is it! The golden ticket!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the greatest archaeological finds of the century, the Terracotta Army has been inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1987. It is an active dig site as local archaeologists have been working here since its discovery in 1974 by local farmers digging for water wells. And one of the more interesting facts here is that archaeologists are still finding a lot of ancient objects. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The whole site is actually a part of a huge necropolis that belongs to the first emperor of unified China, Qin Shi Huang (the same emperor responsible for the building of the Great Wall of China). Talk about a penchant for construction on a grand scale!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVRo4UECiQryB7ITWnJxp4imViqm62z-UJyjBOBG1-Q4oX6aiM7AIeOAdDnCn9Mjo6K6L9nxwcnIzSDp3j89peivofNOi0fY12sRc-f7fdzZEsaRCOxuKIJMp2P-cVnFtBT8Cule7PkGx/s1600/DSC06227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVRo4UECiQryB7ITWnJxp4imViqm62z-UJyjBOBG1-Q4oX6aiM7AIeOAdDnCn9Mjo6K6L9nxwcnIzSDp3j89peivofNOi0fY12sRc-f7fdzZEsaRCOxuKIJMp2P-cVnFtBT8Cule7PkGx/s1600/DSC06227.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The entrance to Pit no. 1, the largest of three pits and the first one to be discovered.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GBuRd9sWcIKTDFL0KSmgDs_9Erj7evqeip4tw7UBm09NpMz0bsMwYE6VAMFYhV-svVhDTzyA_GdB-Q2grBtKvT16Ja7qJJN6LB0HGYitDLug3VKgh-V7ZHjPyY2l-Ibq5LLgPYjOoTZM/s1600/DSC06239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GBuRd9sWcIKTDFL0KSmgDs_9Erj7evqeip4tw7UBm09NpMz0bsMwYE6VAMFYhV-svVhDTzyA_GdB-Q2grBtKvT16Ja7qJJN6LB0HGYitDLug3VKgh-V7ZHjPyY2l-Ibq5LLgPYjOoTZM/s1600/DSC06239.JPG" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What a sight to behold! It gave me goose bumps! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD0GDYqq2ETgnQPEcqm8ZZC_CiPlC2xEeR2A4pe9px-SgQploEF7gtwsnyuqd9eGJv2bxhQfnFjreJw8M0ovI2EMqf_pvGKqcWpQMpJFEvYXRiwC0fQoV_rJxfScbBczjdlSXL6ZFTUa0/s1600/DSC06253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD0GDYqq2ETgnQPEcqm8ZZC_CiPlC2xEeR2A4pe9px-SgQploEF7gtwsnyuqd9eGJv2bxhQfnFjreJw8M0ovI2EMqf_pvGKqcWpQMpJFEvYXRiwC0fQoV_rJxfScbBczjdlSXL6ZFTUa0/s1600/DSC06253.JPG" height="254" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pit no. 1 contains the infantry soldiers. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KVGXrq1biw25mSRziRfWmFjvvEaSjwfaO_PBZJaNd-71wQlyXT1bKeFSaBvTu0P7rw7QG6ss11KMOpu7u6JDElqfyNDkqhrSgVTRPaoMhag15cM1mGlHbfQEFMw0p6hH4oX9mUAsXY7Y/s1600/DSC06268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KVGXrq1biw25mSRziRfWmFjvvEaSjwfaO_PBZJaNd-71wQlyXT1bKeFSaBvTu0P7rw7QG6ss11KMOpu7u6JDElqfyNDkqhrSgVTRPaoMhag15cM1mGlHbfQEFMw0p6hH4oX9mUAsXY7Y/s1600/DSC06268.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Story has it that each of the soldiers' faces are different, modeled after the artisans who created<br />them.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU6eiJZKzJmyy4sf7efSTRHNyzFqxT0y6GOHK-r9xhbBBapbOGCtVOg6hNcxbh8ToqtQCuUAyBfLRgFVhx72Sojh8G4lLAsri4cBiYQnvNoWPAfXMhS2h6LE8cJNK-6vRjXodIrjj2CA1/s1600/DSC06270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU6eiJZKzJmyy4sf7efSTRHNyzFqxT0y6GOHK-r9xhbBBapbOGCtVOg6hNcxbh8ToqtQCuUAyBfLRgFVhx72Sojh8G4lLAsri4cBiYQnvNoWPAfXMhS2h6LE8cJNK-6vRjXodIrjj2CA1/s1600/DSC06270.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Most of the unearthed sculptures were found in fragments and had to be carefully pieced together </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">much like 3-D jigsaw puzzles. Here are some of the assembled soldiers on display to the public. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5Jqhyphenhyphen5hUQUMlVvq9c0YtmFZwFi1bInU62SBmHriFo_yE9Nf9u_HuS-d63CUsoRSBdkMtRujvD3bQTd_q2rQoy5qekxJ2ugXIYoPhGp7QcXqBp2nNsEz2TSaW-KfPURl1VYoOVf9tyU67/s1600/DSC06284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5Jqhyphenhyphen5hUQUMlVvq9c0YtmFZwFi1bInU62SBmHriFo_yE9Nf9u_HuS-d63CUsoRSBdkMtRujvD3bQTd_q2rQoy5qekxJ2ugXIYoPhGp7QcXqBp2nNsEz2TSaW-KfPURl1VYoOVf9tyU67/s1600/DSC06284.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Underneath all that earth is the cavalry at Pit no. 2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBDUak-PeRC-bs8XAtKR4zP6_ziVN3E3t50FHETtMRutvSvq53WSegyK0iqMvvvPIdU8AC5elD0N4YaxZaeU6GtJnGddX3czQcGNFTHzijArQ20TloS0XKaZd4mcYzLRGd0KbqOMPz0ED/s1600/DSC06283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBDUak-PeRC-bs8XAtKR4zP6_ziVN3E3t50FHETtMRutvSvq53WSegyK0iqMvvvPIdU8AC5elD0N4YaxZaeU6GtJnGddX3czQcGNFTHzijArQ20TloS0XKaZd4mcYzLRGd0KbqOMPz0ED/s1600/DSC06283.JPG" height="526" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A depiction of what Pit no. 2 would have looked like with the cavalry unearthed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdt8W9EdCkj6j2g1kU4x4_6nPrd_deKs1DGkA25eEt7MSjU4sqBWFlwOfo2LFMkgRYFyNovKaYE5eV3OPC0kXOjmi-RiywldF2ir-tbg1Lcd3stHLuU3STZZLKAryC7eaCA26at2_xzkL/s1600/DSC06273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdt8W9EdCkj6j2g1kU4x4_6nPrd_deKs1DGkA25eEt7MSjU4sqBWFlwOfo2LFMkgRYFyNovKaYE5eV3OPC0kXOjmi-RiywldF2ir-tbg1Lcd3stHLuU3STZZLKAryC7eaCA26at2_xzkL/s1600/DSC06273.JPG" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pit no. 3 is the command center.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VXrE_T1IFJR1zL5pHivDdlD_zuZUSRz2Bc16j_xMDAxAHguqv4DnxDh5qss6OB8doxMM74HmDAhDlubYpdoIvPiaqyKoJlURLFTsO79ksYxGkYwGHAOHkuY1dsBG8JoTMpLpoXT7Olrd/s1600/DSC06285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VXrE_T1IFJR1zL5pHivDdlD_zuZUSRz2Bc16j_xMDAxAHguqv4DnxDh5qss6OB8doxMM74HmDAhDlubYpdoIvPiaqyKoJlURLFTsO79ksYxGkYwGHAOHkuY1dsBG8JoTMpLpoXT7Olrd/s1600/DSC06285.JPG" height="640" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Terracotta kneeling archer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLpF9VycIAveqT40FkCg8PyKZLcUs5UjOtAFEbRRNISBEH4eVkdrcUtaC8zjkNHSi5tkOFhbgA0DrwhHKoob_EDAeiDQuRqbXSkRBwynRO_04ydOFSxnwrfIf-H8AvEyat8N3Liyqt0eD/s1600/DSC06289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLpF9VycIAveqT40FkCg8PyKZLcUs5UjOtAFEbRRNISBEH4eVkdrcUtaC8zjkNHSi5tkOFhbgA0DrwhHKoob_EDAeiDQuRqbXSkRBwynRO_04ydOFSxnwrfIf-H8AvEyat8N3Liyqt0eD/s1600/DSC06289.JPG" height="640" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cavalry man and his saddled war horse. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a hearty lunch and a free tea-tasting ceremony (I've always been a coffee person but the demo was pretty interesting), it was back to the city to see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Si28NyzSvgtsuLKJfQsbDJHQ2tCs2Ommtx4OXioe5rtDHrV_H25AJ1c_NB5khWoU5KMC-bGv27APVBXwa_fwydxIJIz8KVJwt7ApeYexH0t7_JXPYLG-SYVl_7-FBmmwxKiC2xZOjkBe/s1600/DSC06317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Si28NyzSvgtsuLKJfQsbDJHQ2tCs2Ommtx4OXioe5rtDHrV_H25AJ1c_NB5khWoU5KMC-bGv27APVBXwa_fwydxIJIz8KVJwt7ApeYexH0t7_JXPYLG-SYVl_7-FBmmwxKiC2xZOjkBe/s1600/DSC06317.JPG" height="640" width="578" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is an ancient Buddhist temple where sutras (Buddhist canonical<br />scriptures) and figurines of Buddha were kept. It was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L-uRrgMWFjONR5m2exS1zxW_3P6wwgy8RHLMfHF7kRHUu_2y-4IQqKSyKfr1VVyBBRJjn5a9T5WeYptN1ecELlH0xHlGom9MTuwNIYfy6OC2xfdytXowwwEGIwolzugpysQjqYjypF2r/s1600/DSC06346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L-uRrgMWFjONR5m2exS1zxW_3P6wwgy8RHLMfHF7kRHUu_2y-4IQqKSyKfr1VVyBBRJjn5a9T5WeYptN1ecELlH0xHlGom9MTuwNIYfy6OC2xfdytXowwwEGIwolzugpysQjqYjypF2r/s1600/DSC06346.JPG" height="640" width="538" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site as part of <br />the Silk Road network (June 2014). </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bY0D3xlYimBCZwGnK1JcsM99SlWoLN1JvXncRt2VahIlcOoRdT94w0ETkS8LMpuNS3DzQi5SaCVWS5VTFZ_Myix3s3hCqE9-725O3z-tX8pixlA9Bh-8MyEMLki6qKgBFnls-hVm4cQ6/s1600/DSC06411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bY0D3xlYimBCZwGnK1JcsM99SlWoLN1JvXncRt2VahIlcOoRdT94w0ETkS8LMpuNS3DzQi5SaCVWS5VTFZ_Myix3s3hCqE9-725O3z-tX8pixlA9Bh-8MyEMLki6qKgBFnls-hVm4cQ6/s1600/DSC06411.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Muslim Quarter in the city is the hub of the Muslim community in Xi'an. As the terminus<br />of the Silk Road, this was the neighborhood where Muslim foreign diplomatic envoys and <br />merchants settled. Most of the present residents here are descendants of those immigrants.<br />The place is a veritable food and souvenir heaven! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBn4e5ePnZdafW5P9x04KgAkM2bpXQMLDRu7IVhKq00z98W1wg_Uehst9rmv3kgbeS-xCD2WfzYpijq7h4IyH-bOoUca0KRPwL64HLF81GRqP591_I35_aPya1duEFFohlqcAHeyFlHKx/s1600/DSC06362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBn4e5ePnZdafW5P9x04KgAkM2bpXQMLDRu7IVhKq00z98W1wg_Uehst9rmv3kgbeS-xCD2WfzYpijq7h4IyH-bOoUca0KRPwL64HLF81GRqP591_I35_aPya1duEFFohlqcAHeyFlHKx/s1600/DSC06362.JPG" height="398" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Persimmon cakes! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-pFxT1knux9P6RLzOth5mxQ3t_XxHaMChvt6RYV1ZHCdjq88qEhRpmvLT_Cb1BAC86P2Aa3iQbBnKR4MYJitdrC4ZVunj5zDcGjHZjVce2rClbHJc1IR6TtkCZ2btkuQenluVZTsVBGA/s1600/DSC06365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-pFxT1knux9P6RLzOth5mxQ3t_XxHaMChvt6RYV1ZHCdjq88qEhRpmvLT_Cb1BAC86P2Aa3iQbBnKR4MYJitdrC4ZVunj5zDcGjHZjVce2rClbHJc1IR6TtkCZ2btkuQenluVZTsVBGA/s1600/DSC06365.JPG" height="438" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Big K is surely missing this!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3YjK_SG4KTfGoAfGzETvWNj51XGrbQPlP8K5ktmf3JVN40H4Tbdp8WdhGf9tOmQ1mEaoxygLQNvuEKnPtBubib2Py7kQ-hNbXchimAHQGSGVZ5EEwnEyRPEKLNmg1JujvKl49Ohz0OnL/s1600/DSC06381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3YjK_SG4KTfGoAfGzETvWNj51XGrbQPlP8K5ktmf3JVN40H4Tbdp8WdhGf9tOmQ1mEaoxygLQNvuEKnPtBubib2Py7kQ-hNbXchimAHQGSGVZ5EEwnEyRPEKLNmg1JujvKl49Ohz0OnL/s1600/DSC06381.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After the hustle and bustle of the Muslim street market it was a <br />welcome relief to enter the peaceful garden of the Great Mosque. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk_5z2My1dEAsy38Af0tTCmYGTwXztgDF-v57OCYZJrR91rCYcT7lDHIhM9JtgWBy8sH5Ah3UM9cIYLFIbmIrLgJIbeK7C8VqHn7go8AVSoV01laedqHKYR2l2mUqqoDRL6-KYTAabQL5/s1600/DSC06388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk_5z2My1dEAsy38Af0tTCmYGTwXztgDF-v57OCYZJrR91rCYcT7lDHIhM9JtgWBy8sH5Ah3UM9cIYLFIbmIrLgJIbeK7C8VqHn7go8AVSoV01laedqHKYR2l2mUqqoDRL6-KYTAabQL5/s1600/DSC06388.JPG" height="364" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The main prayer hall of the Great Mosque, built entirely in Chinese-style architecture. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a long and tiring day but definitely worth the visit especially after seeing the Terracotta Army up close and personal. That was a totally mind-boggling experience! I hope I get to come back with the Big K in tow next time. And, yes, stay a little longer....</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV7VpO3Z5zf5AjjqhWGn8ia22WcH4VxNpt4jbgXO_0LSLbEz6b8WH3ElXPPti9PfNJu6fpdjGRFm_rqx0FJrgc-Stl0M_MGlXsndPay-UDvBKWruU1f5O2pfNynqqXDyu17iDjSts5zCv/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV7VpO3Z5zf5AjjqhWGn8ia22WcH4VxNpt4jbgXO_0LSLbEz6b8WH3ElXPPti9PfNJu6fpdjGRFm_rqx0FJrgc-Stl0M_MGlXsndPay-UDvBKWruU1f5O2pfNynqqXDyu17iDjSts5zCv/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And it's a date with the Sandman. Good night!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can check our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1486122361661964.1073741844.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=166" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> for more photos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-51824993373837115302014-10-20T14:07:00.000+08:002014-10-21T11:40:33.330+08:00Beijing's Temple of Heaven and Qianmen Street <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having barely unpacked our bags from our <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/08/bangkok-and-night-at-museum.html#more" target="_blank">last adventure</a>, the Big K told me to get my gear back on as we were going on another trip. Yay! To be more exact he was going on a two-week training. Read: Do Not Disturb Me I Will Be Working. But I was more than welcome to join him (refer to previous statement: You're On Your Own. Which was totally fine with me!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, where to this time? The beautiful city of Beijing! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike my <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/48-hours-in-beijing-china.html" target="_blank">previous visits</a> to this ancient city, this time I was looking forward to a more relaxed tour of the place. Or so I thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4z8ZOjXZiXmyQLWYnQpPfiWI3KVKEoYq6Nl4wvAUnlwJ0eDxmJhSYlIKfC1uxTOVB6UQpz2HhY3plAsNPbCns2MvAxu3uTW-k1iwWwnp2A04Far35h288V0j19UE0kshB1LqZPqChfttD/s1600/DSC06101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4z8ZOjXZiXmyQLWYnQpPfiWI3KVKEoYq6Nl4wvAUnlwJ0eDxmJhSYlIKfC1uxTOVB6UQpz2HhY3plAsNPbCns2MvAxu3uTW-k1iwWwnp2A04Far35h288V0j19UE0kshB1LqZPqChfttD/s1600/DSC06101.JPG" height="640" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I joined the Big K a few days after he got there. Arriving late at night and seeing thick soupy fog I thought to myself it must be freezing cold out there. Hmmm... I hope I brought enough warm clothes. The lovely thick <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/noellezambetti" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">handmade scarves</a> from the Gorgeous H would definitely help! (Notice the not-so-subtle advertising there?) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hang on! Why were the flight crew putting on face masks before exiting the terminal?! Uh-oh turns out I arrived in the middle of Beijing's infamous smog season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWZ4045hkW-iHJ0-VBC-b8Opf_tXJYQg0V0WHGnOPQsviaGAMM1yUnRXFVHbPKsFCUUhP9bYcj6-xwgbQ1VuS1O4hq78yrgzCmBQl17r_KgP4qOyOXsVmoYSWURLtWOsWNnZLShlWNkbd/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWZ4045hkW-iHJ0-VBC-b8Opf_tXJYQg0V0WHGnOPQsviaGAMM1yUnRXFVHbPKsFCUUhP9bYcj6-xwgbQ1VuS1O4hq78yrgzCmBQl17r_KgP4qOyOXsVmoYSWURLtWOsWNnZLShlWNkbd/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was what greeted me the next day! Oh well, it's indoors for me in <br />the meantime. If there's a rain dance, I wonder if there is such a thing<br />as a smog-away dance?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Temple of Heaven</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thankfully the smog cleared up in a couple of days! Time to put on my trusty walking shoes. First stop, the Temple of Heaven. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Located in central Beijing's southeastern part, it is easily accessible via their convenient subway system (Line 5 to, Tiantan Dongmen station. Take exit A. Turn right once at street level). You enter through the park's Eastern Gate. Entrance Fee: RMB35.00 plus another RMB10.00 for an English guide of the place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. It covers an area of 273 hectares with ancient buildings scattered all over the serene, pine and cypress shaded garden. It was built during the Ming Dynasty (1420) and was used as the sacred altar by both the Ming and Qing Dynasties to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for good harvests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iWGuoL8dl9503wCKa2mLeG_mxZ7h-avlGMZmrAmbSNKfJ9YR9wsVg0w5OwbR8MKeSiPFv-h5CLH-_hMG06t8NmuF_XbbpTXNAkL9ISy2QEzLwBmPrKL9ZUgmuxs4nK5_XYZq16MtVyVH/s1600/DSC06094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iWGuoL8dl9503wCKa2mLeG_mxZ7h-avlGMZmrAmbSNKfJ9YR9wsVg0w5OwbR8MKeSiPFv-h5CLH-_hMG06t8NmuF_XbbpTXNAkL9ISy2QEzLwBmPrKL9ZUgmuxs4nK5_XYZq16MtVyVH/s1600/DSC06094.JPG" height="640" width="466" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznjBPBPbjEMOGcRP16wh0zsC45__Mk5FTtf6_Zoiupl3Nn2v3CsHrqGxsPaKh7nv3OhvZl-9wufGaOrDcDeQLemOpCLhJ8MiphiZsyODIL9WdDQp5wj7vvcbc-9dG0QO5OX_fShTtWQPP/s1600/DSC06095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznjBPBPbjEMOGcRP16wh0zsC45__Mk5FTtf6_Zoiupl3Nn2v3CsHrqGxsPaKh7nv3OhvZl-9wufGaOrDcDeQLemOpCLhJ8MiphiZsyODIL9WdDQp5wj7vvcbc-9dG0QO5OX_fShTtWQPP/s1600/DSC06095.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Long Corridor that connects the Divine Kitchen and the Butcher House with the Hall of Prayer <br />for Good Harvests. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dkuNwGReYjPDYzp_msIjEpv4T4UNmqWQWqr9GYumOETDQCXz-wVqm9mKao-PzTm7peYotPlxEEj3CzcuH02z6KfvGHL0llOGra1x3ioCBC6Fal1YDXneX3nN4m1uwYq_tozEsOBOI9me/s1600/DSC06112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dkuNwGReYjPDYzp_msIjEpv4T4UNmqWQWqr9GYumOETDQCXz-wVqm9mKao-PzTm7peYotPlxEEj3CzcuH02z6KfvGHL0llOGra1x3ioCBC6Fal1YDXneX3nN4m1uwYq_tozEsOBOI9me/s1600/DSC06112.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests rests on a three-layered white marble round altar. Each layer <br />is surrounded by marble balustrades with intricate carvings. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkcGmTAaaf-GbKLapv5qQpByDK4jEqLx9dSQB5CTTucL4P4B6ODZmdD6sNwtjQxUn_kSN-x6reL6XzGFPnUUSNCBWdDd1Olpv6ku_rKLjw-FHTrTeUiLGhTyw8i3ihgv3Tt0B_JED-RoB/s1600/DSC06152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkcGmTAaaf-GbKLapv5qQpByDK4jEqLx9dSQB5CTTucL4P4B6ODZmdD6sNwtjQxUn_kSN-x6reL6XzGFPnUUSNCBWdDd1Olpv6ku_rKLjw-FHTrTeUiLGhTyw8i3ihgv3Tt0B_JED-RoB/s1600/DSC06152.JPG" height="542" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Danbi Bridge connects the northern part of the park where the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is <br />to the south where the Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar are located.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLROFi05eeNHXLo5f7EUioe3p6Gzd63-BN-KJPS4VFKE1ZOW2xw9mkUEi0pZgeopSbOnB2s2gKuAr-V7f4qBbxBOQpkfIW1zm-Eo5Jx4-KnS_AXb9jH8gL2uW6EHYDqU4FkAkTqnoPmuB6/s1600/DSC06128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLROFi05eeNHXLo5f7EUioe3p6Gzd63-BN-KJPS4VFKE1ZOW2xw9mkUEi0pZgeopSbOnB2s2gKuAr-V7f4qBbxBOQpkfIW1zm-Eo5Jx4-KnS_AXb9jH8gL2uW6EHYDqU4FkAkTqnoPmuB6/s1600/DSC06128.JPG" height="640" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 500-year old Nine Dragon Juniper Tree with its gnarled trunk<br />twisting up looking like 9 dragons coiling to the heavens . </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4GeRhkWQbS72OFALKVpNe8Q6z0WVbo0CegnJu-f1fihYSqS1LevS_eg1i75w04fg8fUWIMjOXYuT0WtNbL-CIEw0r21sw6C4Bio8qYRc0KXGKRrCR95prStm7d2hS6YyBMmDaPZSqjox/s1600/DSC06139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4GeRhkWQbS72OFALKVpNe8Q6z0WVbo0CegnJu-f1fihYSqS1LevS_eg1i75w04fg8fUWIMjOXYuT0WtNbL-CIEw0r21sw6C4Bio8qYRc0KXGKRrCR95prStm7d2hS6YyBMmDaPZSqjox/s1600/DSC06139.JPG" height="414" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Echo Wall surrounding the Vault of Heaven. According to the brass sign posted at the gate, <br />the perfectly circular inside wall is so perfectly engineered to carry sound waves that if two <br />people stand on opposite sides of the wall (a distance of 60 meters apart) they can <br />still hear each others voices clearly. Too bad the Big K was not with me so I couldn't try it myself.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqplEFZJUFgLWV7nMDPcYjzuq8zOMA_NcolClpmCs-YjuiREASNOA83974i82KB4qcWcx1oh6d6-y50j9fvWcu1ZtfePv08fJ7NizHqfu5ui4zyFbqKr8-6h9MHnGUpZTAp24Ljv5C0F0H/s1600/DSC06149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqplEFZJUFgLWV7nMDPcYjzuq8zOMA_NcolClpmCs-YjuiREASNOA83974i82KB4qcWcx1oh6d6-y50j9fvWcu1ZtfePv08fJ7NizHqfu5ui4zyFbqKr8-6h9MHnGUpZTAp24Ljv5C0F0H/s1600/DSC06149.JPG" height="640" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Imperial Vault of Heaven where the Gods' tablets are stored that are <br />used during the Heaven Worship Ceremony.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl_KDKQOjIqxy-GZ1vn407vrBZqnYrtg4tKSC22JDTwM-t1OZeiLlkFhhJ0PVMTYKNqWd_wHlwHezCbIDjwqvLfV2kXgsvKeonrf9SZzEihiYincDzPZwNpOYVyL4-OQyfn_uue4lSvzY/s1600/DSC06132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl_KDKQOjIqxy-GZ1vn407vrBZqnYrtg4tKSC22JDTwM-t1OZeiLlkFhhJ0PVMTYKNqWd_wHlwHezCbIDjwqvLfV2kXgsvKeonrf9SZzEihiYincDzPZwNpOYVyL4-OQyfn_uue4lSvzY/s1600/DSC06132.JPG" height="506" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Circular Mound Altar where the Heavenly Center Stone is located. The altar was used in<br />the Ming and Qing Dynasties to worship the heavens during winter solstice every year.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8DmxXM67kZj96r-tJvfwSMzBHAwjzhnFCxgbBX_nm6R-rLe0c0spXsYko0fzvIrHj_Q0CkPs6TbAkYTZDsRQTm37tkTbvB_GMKyhZla1Z00Bk0K7SDXZen8G0n8A51QJh24HIyeF3KhJ/s1600/DSC06153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8DmxXM67kZj96r-tJvfwSMzBHAwjzhnFCxgbBX_nm6R-rLe0c0spXsYko0fzvIrHj_Q0CkPs6TbAkYTZDsRQTm37tkTbvB_GMKyhZla1Z00Bk0K7SDXZen8G0n8A51QJh24HIyeF3KhJ/s1600/DSC06153.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One can even have a nice picnic lunch after touring the place. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Qianmen Street</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The oldest shopping area of the city happens to be the latest shopping attraction in Beijing. Uh, say that again? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Qianmen meaning front gate started as a commercial street 500+ years ago. It had specialty shops such as silk, jewelry, meat and much more. It was recently overhauled, in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics becoming one of the city's latest attraction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Subway line 2, stop: Qianmen. Entrance: Free!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyM3_3LpryZxTy9aAlaQvoYZIKsv5tsf6kJkqKvpPtRDkOX73VWseYyz2UVuzm7FgThgKeNLaDsItBmT4SY8nAT2q3I93N-ck9Qb7lVZvJRja4IlUAoNcEpIXQFdN1iceDJ0TZhOJ7JrH/s1600/DSC06158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyM3_3LpryZxTy9aAlaQvoYZIKsv5tsf6kJkqKvpPtRDkOX73VWseYyz2UVuzm7FgThgKeNLaDsItBmT4SY8nAT2q3I93N-ck9Qb7lVZvJRja4IlUAoNcEpIXQFdN1iceDJ0TZhOJ7JrH/s1600/DSC06158.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Archery Tower in front of the start of Qianmen street.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIfwiPfzGWe0lEBsWdO_MfDyYGIAJGTczHCADm9w6zpzVCd7aIjl-JGwel1lV1t_vx_2VhkOp_I4eKKpZDssEYBPBHGpu9Lb6H96Smx45EY3WqWDmML14qzDmaJIz1RBz9MnugrVioVtv/s1600/DSC06160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIfwiPfzGWe0lEBsWdO_MfDyYGIAJGTczHCADm9w6zpzVCd7aIjl-JGwel1lV1t_vx_2VhkOp_I4eKKpZDssEYBPBHGpu9Lb6H96Smx45EY3WqWDmML14qzDmaJIz1RBz9MnugrVioVtv/s1600/DSC06160.JPG" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Quanjude restaurant famous for its roast duck. It was right around lunch time so you <br />get long lines of hungry tourists and locals alike.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNZH2JYt-1jtWw-8R7oPTpuQoP5lreXNRb1YNnKOc32KMP3vNi_Cqih11D-ANQSPZSa0SWuxuRdHBMubD_CWOKX1svSBJoNMVh8P50GIEZQemYo7vx6BHXclEKy2je3MupTXOUa-ug93S/s1600/DSC06161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNZH2JYt-1jtWw-8R7oPTpuQoP5lreXNRb1YNnKOc32KMP3vNi_Cqih11D-ANQSPZSa0SWuxuRdHBMubD_CWOKX1svSBJoNMVh8P50GIEZQemYo7vx6BHXclEKy2je3MupTXOUa-ug93S/s1600/DSC06161.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Life-size brass sculptures are scattered along the street depicting different scenes of <br />everyday life in ancient Beijing. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlfDMa2-FDH0wVvLkeKq1lgbo4odc5Jrm3PoHr74CnaMlWWFD4lXy61aRqMQ44Gq-F7FJ2Iv5YKnovIsKzdCI54kzuW-xo0FTF4tIlN1QtE9qw-YTJ7zh5EYiVw6Tt2hVLRo57o1Yx-M7/s1600/DSC06167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlfDMa2-FDH0wVvLkeKq1lgbo4odc5Jrm3PoHr74CnaMlWWFD4lXy61aRqMQ44Gq-F7FJ2Iv5YKnovIsKzdCI54kzuW-xo0FTF4tIlN1QtE9qw-YTJ7zh5EYiVw6Tt2hVLRo57o1Yx-M7/s1600/DSC06167.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni3M419ZwD4eo9PshatgpB-iyS0xgSn0wwo3y-HQ4MAEOqy65uvRjIvt0_4sS722nbVyudLxemUNuT481LPVfcGOTVfNdoVAOPKdRbk1hqmN5mq81Eqt_7SSptrEZ_1iOlsc7qzDOBSDY/s1600/DSC06165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni3M419ZwD4eo9PshatgpB-iyS0xgSn0wwo3y-HQ4MAEOqy65uvRjIvt0_4sS722nbVyudLxemUNuT481LPVfcGOTVfNdoVAOPKdRbk1hqmN5mq81Eqt_7SSptrEZ_1iOlsc7qzDOBSDY/s1600/DSC06165.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sanitized shopping area of the Qianmen hutong. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1uCpsFIfV7irDOZRbtQarIoD5fvKOn4WnCwa73Q-77_Fs5ty_DZhX52rCoHK-JuceohzO_z1BtNeEucmVpt_ik876BuZWpoZcVMxEtBebzYPMiKQWnLwCV1YglUF5aAtJOAaBQGauIUG/s1600/DSC06169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1uCpsFIfV7irDOZRbtQarIoD5fvKOn4WnCwa73Q-77_Fs5ty_DZhX52rCoHK-JuceohzO_z1BtNeEucmVpt_ik876BuZWpoZcVMxEtBebzYPMiKQWnLwCV1YglUF5aAtJOAaBQGauIUG/s1600/DSC06169.JPG" height="554" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1484669781807222.1073741843.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=42" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Previous Beijing posts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/48-hours-in-beijing-china.html" target="_blank">48 Hours in Beijing, China</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/48-hours-in-beijing-part-deux.html" target="_blank">48 Hours in Beijing, Part Two</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next post: Xi'an, the home of the Terracotta Warriors</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-53777783984077177022014-09-17T19:19:00.002+08:002014-09-17T19:19:51.968+08:00Planes, Trains and Automobiles <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After learning that the Big K will soon be <a href="https://www.cebupacificair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">flying to Australia</a>, Sydney to be exact, I've been excitedly planning an itinerary for if and when I get the opportunity to ride shotgun with him again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since we plan to be in Sydney might as well visit Melbourne, right? So how does one get from point A to point B? Aside from the obvious airplane ride, there are trains connecting these cities. If you've been a regular visitor of our blog you'll notice our preference for train travel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On second thought, maybe rent a car and drive along the coast? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmmm.... Train or car? Such a pleasant dilemma to be in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So while contemplating on what to do on our next adventure down under, here are some of the memorable train and road trips the Big K and I have taken.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDrKb4p0TLdmDmqgnj1q1ZN9QjBlAL3tY50uSz2lOtGOsO1mmMq7obVePt1CJnpzvlTJlP2xpMDFexB0xzRz4mNn3Uw9oEJG1ziyYvlgymxDvTjTWkAF73NHax9RHmWvm05uojQC1AwZF/s1600/DSC01604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDrKb4p0TLdmDmqgnj1q1ZN9QjBlAL3tY50uSz2lOtGOsO1mmMq7obVePt1CJnpzvlTJlP2xpMDFexB0xzRz4mNn3Uw9oEJG1ziyYvlgymxDvTjTWkAF73NHax9RHmWvm05uojQC1AwZF/s1600/DSC01604.JPG" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Are we there yet?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" target="_blank">The Orient Express</a></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps the ultimate luxury in train journeys! The Big K and I have long dreamed of taking this trip. And as the saying goes if you dream hard enough, it will certainly come true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-7TxegzD77Wz6faBZjoVNeCOJIbM2TfA7uhhzJ9TyKpwtex4kYIZgZSsDmVCuUP4CzB8knjv0Bu4mpMyF-RpNLIkyB9Llq6FJp5XHXGLWW8eLhzUXccJuu2qyCvvab95SXf6rzp8LD-N/s1600/10644206_10204991772301163_2724451895162387692_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-7TxegzD77Wz6faBZjoVNeCOJIbM2TfA7uhhzJ9TyKpwtex4kYIZgZSsDmVCuUP4CzB8knjv0Bu4mpMyF-RpNLIkyB9Llq6FJp5XHXGLWW8eLhzUXccJuu2qyCvvab95SXf6rzp8LD-N/s1600/10644206_10204991772301163_2724451895162387692_o.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/08/the-california-zephyr-chicago-to-san.html" target="_blank"><b>The California Zephyr</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Long distance train trip from Chicago to San Francisco. Though I wasn't with the Big K on this one it certainly was one unforgettable journey with my sister, the Gorgeous H.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmhVQGd1A3W_14F456ZxvS68zc6rZ41uW55JQOB4KsH4UxzXA32nNqLFhRDNNExxZw16xUFxSRsbnOX6hKHlZbAMBaDiBOLGR8n1hTHjo6aV4QSXMbfLs_BODIlZYGenSbm0_cdYVa0Xa/s1600/10275530_10204651942645634_41453035881580807_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmhVQGd1A3W_14F456ZxvS68zc6rZ41uW55JQOB4KsH4UxzXA32nNqLFhRDNNExxZw16xUFxSRsbnOX6hKHlZbAMBaDiBOLGR8n1hTHjo6aV4QSXMbfLs_BODIlZYGenSbm0_cdYVa0Xa/s1600/10275530_10204651942645634_41453035881580807_o.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2012/11/choo-choo-trains.html" target="_blank"><b>Vytopna Railway Restaurant</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, not exactly your typical train ride but a memorable experience in Prague nonetheless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqifEarA5f75lkiLwTX5qHL2j7bPyGR2yn9RjT2TmagKq5kuZ-lcF-bKWaXlwCLLFehpaHAJClhbixZRsmHRDIVH0Mhd_-tolQwtTr6oLSklLwHOnUlFkyzBK-Mdb018NS5Enf9E2qbdz_/s1600/333269_10200380071251519_408623021_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqifEarA5f75lkiLwTX5qHL2j7bPyGR2yn9RjT2TmagKq5kuZ-lcF-bKWaXlwCLLFehpaHAJClhbixZRsmHRDIVH0Mhd_-tolQwtTr6oLSklLwHOnUlFkyzBK-Mdb018NS5Enf9E2qbdz_/s1600/333269_10200380071251519_408623021_o.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/02/the-romantic-road-germany.html" target="_blank">The Romantic Road Tour</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know, I know, being with the Big K is always romantic but there really is such a route in Germany called the Romantic Road. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfvPONVh_HVbNcX7NUVuRXwX5P2nrj0k6nUIhMMdwwyZ5f_KJbPfYD60g-dYZ6_Khh8gctS5oYr_XNEcl8RvZMGtfVDhQArktgn5Unwb1EUfYA_4_ZIwO4W42ZLYmeGopKnem7JYmFTdh/s1600/1618305_10203293770812187_80733542_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfvPONVh_HVbNcX7NUVuRXwX5P2nrj0k6nUIhMMdwwyZ5f_KJbPfYD60g-dYZ6_Khh8gctS5oYr_XNEcl8RvZMGtfVDhQArktgn5Unwb1EUfYA_4_ZIwO4W42ZLYmeGopKnem7JYmFTdh/s1600/1618305_10203293770812187_80733542_o.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/03/la-route-des-vins-dalsace-alsace-wine.html" target="_blank">The Alsace Wine Route Part 1,</a> <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/03/la-route-des-vins-dalsace-alsace-wine_10.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A road trip visiting some of France's picturesque towns and villages in the Alsace region.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYVqWXOjKSRROM7ZTVxH7XuQLDApvWrQGG8yj0GfdW74sTMCT2b8blgqtct9aQxdtOj3nCVgfHVPBYvlPyEp3V-bEXvPljnWErS1aRb4T3Jsl4lG3GGo3aleUg7jlOoklFCpwS-xyn1zK/s1600/1960952_10203443009743067_1821360544_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYVqWXOjKSRROM7ZTVxH7XuQLDApvWrQGG8yj0GfdW74sTMCT2b8blgqtct9aQxdtOj3nCVgfHVPBYvlPyEp3V-bEXvPljnWErS1aRb4T3Jsl4lG3GGo3aleUg7jlOoklFCpwS-xyn1zK/s1600/1960952_10203443009743067_1821360544_o.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley.html" target="_blank">The Loire Valley Part 1,</a> <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/05/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley-part-two.html" target="_blank">Part 2,</a> <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/05/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley-part.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Probably the most popular road trip in France, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> C</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">hâteau-hopping at the Loire Valley.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmyyYB6Iu1MSzw6UCLZytCssjJWWW63QjlehgNajQPkmQDUuHlKdErwKjm6v-KjabLDSB3jMFTP6UHzlO2W6DPSm8yTqOGvO0BO_HQhYum8ZAZ8_nrJnHtMspZR2faKLZN2yETRM7ZxAe/s1600/10258478_10203854137100994_1583613220165882815_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmyyYB6Iu1MSzw6UCLZytCssjJWWW63QjlehgNajQPkmQDUuHlKdErwKjm6v-KjabLDSB3jMFTP6UHzlO2W6DPSm8yTqOGvO0BO_HQhYum8ZAZ8_nrJnHtMspZR2faKLZN2yETRM7ZxAe/s1600/10258478_10203854137100994_1583613220165882815_o.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Can't wait!!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-62277045594925141262014-08-23T22:08:00.000+08:002014-08-24T11:10:05.155+08:00Bangkok And A Night At The Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was looking forward to the Big K's August roster because I learned that he would be going to Bangkok for a series of company training sessions. And little ole me got all excited when I found out that he had a few days off before the start of one of his training sessions which meant I could ride shotgun again. Yay!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last time we were in Bangkok we stayed at the </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/the-bangkok-tree-house-thailand.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Bangkok Tree House</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at the Bang Namphueng area also known as the "lungs of Bangkok" because of its abundant greenery. Bang Namphueng is a 20-minute boat ride across the Chao Phraya river from busy metropolitan Bangkok and is also the site of one of Bangkok's non-touristy </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/bang-namphueng-floating-market-bangkok.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">floating markets</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On this visit we opted to stay right by the city but still along the Chao Phraya river. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMwDr26379JWQbMnOMlRHwfvGz1e0w9ZTbPwJAsPPyxENuSYGS9mso2FzrcWdpQ9Gp-tfWcizB6msPbqeBGuadzrHeVK0zn2bVlGyftw1IkNkyTEq39KlTaLCHcMP9bQJ39SoMqeoZZCr/s1600/DSC05588-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMwDr26379JWQbMnOMlRHwfvGz1e0w9ZTbPwJAsPPyxENuSYGS9mso2FzrcWdpQ9Gp-tfWcizB6msPbqeBGuadzrHeVK0zn2bVlGyftw1IkNkyTEq39KlTaLCHcMP9bQJ39SoMqeoZZCr/s1600/DSC05588-001.JPG" height="490" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok</b> <b>and Asiatique The Riverfront</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pretty much aware of Bangkok's infamous traffic much like it is in Manila, we opted to take the trains from the airport into the city. It was a mere 40-minute ride via Suvarnabhumi</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> airport's rail link and Bangkok's BTS (overhead city trains). The trains are pretty convenient and a whole lot cheaper at THB90 per person for the whole trip (airport to SaphanTaksin) as compared to the cheapest shuttle at THB900!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rzi4UTXOl2QT7dx6QrgKi8Wfz1JwRTScifbo6OSINRdLwsSUaatt8joyueKFHVkqqGHL8iD2fU2N1A7OjGxO4UCjbW_Ddj4trmDAZ-Ihfh-TDwogzoPy3KfUIRtU0m3_pSVZcEfv0A68/s1600/photo+1+(4)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rzi4UTXOl2QT7dx6QrgKi8Wfz1JwRTScifbo6OSINRdLwsSUaatt8joyueKFHVkqqGHL8iD2fU2N1A7OjGxO4UCjbW_Ddj4trmDAZ-Ihfh-TDwogzoPy3KfUIRtU0m3_pSVZcEfv0A68/s1600/photo+1+(4)-001.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We wanted a room with a view. And what a great view we had especially at night!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I didn't have anything much planned on this trip except to chill out and stuff our faces with yummy Thai food. We also wanted to check out Bangkok's latest night market/boardwalk, </span><a href="http://www.thaiasiatique.com/index.php/en" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Asiatique The Riverfront</a> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. So the S</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hangri-La Bangkok was the ideal place to stay on our first night as it was only a 10-minute ride away on board their complimentary boat shuttle. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz7Ail5g6_2on9oLa2p65RHK0zidGIxb_nICnxMkWzpI7iH1eXVsdfEYBAsyCqndij08C36fGn1a0qLb6xe8v3hGlu8NjPIXXcbTK9OMJymFZnFHR6N_FDRW3OtzcSzksShZGdv6sClSo/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz7Ail5g6_2on9oLa2p65RHK0zidGIxb_nICnxMkWzpI7iH1eXVsdfEYBAsyCqndij08C36fGn1a0qLb6xe8v3hGlu8NjPIXXcbTK9OMJymFZnFHR6N_FDRW3OtzcSzksShZGdv6sClSo/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are familiar with Bangkok's famous Chatuchak weekend market, Asiatique is its glamorized sister. It's been cleaned up, sanitized, maybe a bit dumbed-down but it is a good way for first-timers to have a relatively stress-free intro to the world of the Bangkok way of shopping and eating. Chatuchak-lite! Of course be prepared to pay a little bit more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike Chatuchak, Asiatique is open 7 days a week during the night starting from 5PM until midnight. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hangar-like buildings in the complex contain a plethora of shops, restaurants and entertainment centers. The well-known </span><a href="http://www.calypsocabaret.com/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Calypso Cabaret</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> show featuring Thai transgender artists also known as "ladyboys" can be found here. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFNm6sFLDkAHuLuKB6qLSiUjF-AYCPj5RmqprUttW0LDyC3_m_UPu6jZNOoQ91RgEFVLN9MjMSfSy2ZMYVtyrY9Yvz7ACkqYOVCDC7ukMJ-5-kNw0qLyRkfEZ1HIDYF6yBL0nW88WTmmT/s1600/photo+(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFNm6sFLDkAHuLuKB6qLSiUjF-AYCPj5RmqprUttW0LDyC3_m_UPu6jZNOoQ91RgEFVLN9MjMSfSy2ZMYVtyrY9Yvz7ACkqYOVCDC7ukMJ-5-kNw0qLyRkfEZ1HIDYF6yBL0nW88WTmmT/s1600/photo+(22).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoD_cSynR_PXkGjhBXxF1K2ERLnXRLS_aLGOk-iobWdYBtF12spmDsUa7R6r4_vbkNCzJfH9ZzyR-2Auv74fM8rDw_pg-KBt000ndmtr6kvkw_3Mrc51w99-OXgHp4AtWX9jHqgZb5YRy/s1600/photo+(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoD_cSynR_PXkGjhBXxF1K2ERLnXRLS_aLGOk-iobWdYBtF12spmDsUa7R6r4_vbkNCzJfH9ZzyR-2Auv74fM8rDw_pg-KBt000ndmtr6kvkw_3Mrc51w99-OXgHp4AtWX9jHqgZb5YRy/s1600/photo+(21).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9WgDcbI7W2VcEPRmy2tZ5oDUs5JVAsnuk22V01ddlKMJ5SNus_eEveCre0i5JMgvd6B3AUN1tQE_qS5rt5sKh_HFcCgvkimPBckvFqsuvY3RsgezyxyVUJhhM8V_-xNky3NHy5k1XVnL/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9WgDcbI7W2VcEPRmy2tZ5oDUs5JVAsnuk22V01ddlKMJ5SNus_eEveCre0i5JMgvd6B3AUN1tQE_qS5rt5sKh_HFcCgvkimPBckvFqsuvY3RsgezyxyVUJhhM8V_-xNky3NHy5k1XVnL/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can even watch pseudo-Muay Thai fights at The Stage @ Asiatique.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Siam Hotel</b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you've ever wondered how it feels like to spend a night in a museum, a stay at the Siam Hotel is the perfect experience! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, don't think musty, dust-filled relics, creatures coming to life and little people running around at night (hmmm been watching too many movies). But think more of priceless antiques and quirky collections displayed in spotless, elegant surroundings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3Rx3aueodUMtU89z1auvYy-EZp2Z3G5Bn798enFXt8gOSXsdc47JCl5tEjT723ZPtVq3uhayiP-1BVtyM0zZkxa42WbfqQOMn_FgG6LEW2xTYr_wp5-2GEQ8ojR_BdGcb0XZTBw5uN-s/s1600/DSC05678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3Rx3aueodUMtU89z1auvYy-EZp2Z3G5Bn798enFXt8gOSXsdc47JCl5tEjT723ZPtVq3uhayiP-1BVtyM0zZkxa42WbfqQOMn_FgG6LEW2xTYr_wp5-2GEQ8ojR_BdGcb0XZTBw5uN-s/s1600/DSC05678.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hotel's private jetty along the Chao Phraya river. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thesiamhotel.com/The-Hotel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Siam Hotel</a> is a 39-room luxury retreat set along a riverfront property in the Dusit area. It is located in a residential area and a bit farther away from the main shopping drag of Bangkok. Ahh! Peace and quiet! Although the hotel provides boat shuttles (roughly 30 minutes) to the central pier at Saphan Taksin where one can catch the BTS to central Bangkok.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmjEy_x7KgDjAZGUl1OjNsued13T4_FJqDCrBsl3tc6cibOXl49JWy99JsOlO0sU31E-eQFNQk4Ip5eBPLAXRj2s0a5iFkL3caxiVjqnwAawOesnDQuUtxuKOHKX1v1E2Ru3jc16jpbio/s1600/DSC05451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmjEy_x7KgDjAZGUl1OjNsued13T4_FJqDCrBsl3tc6cibOXl49JWy99JsOlO0sU31E-eQFNQk4Ip5eBPLAXRj2s0a5iFkL3caxiVjqnwAawOesnDQuUtxuKOHKX1v1E2Ru3jc16jpbio/s1600/DSC05451.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6R09a5ai8SqWW8UGVehRyu-fXbzWQuj-LCxbaNeL47DSecXnoeblv0qVuYeTGVrjKN2RRMw3Z_V7Ft4bk14QRN-fD2EhTnkLo6_waLedyXnT-z_QuH5oFF0TbdVZjp4Rp9ff1jDZK38i/s1600/DSC05541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6R09a5ai8SqWW8UGVehRyu-fXbzWQuj-LCxbaNeL47DSecXnoeblv0qVuYeTGVrjKN2RRMw3Z_V7Ft4bk14QRN-fD2EhTnkLo6_waLedyXnT-z_QuH5oFF0TbdVZjp4Rp9ff1jDZK38i/s1600/DSC05541.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY7wb4S12WeDsXySr6jyXVCUVHbg-WnB1f7lw3H9pZcGTrtlgwkw2LsL_9PcTO0rJ4wrJoYAiEVqXm9xZL-DaI4_wp_ytlyrMHJFc4JS-4EnrZf2QGW6v93g-n3_6a2-OH0EaXR4PAw7l/s1600/DSC05528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY7wb4S12WeDsXySr6jyXVCUVHbg-WnB1f7lw3H9pZcGTrtlgwkw2LsL_9PcTO0rJ4wrJoYAiEVqXm9xZL-DaI4_wp_ytlyrMHJFc4JS-4EnrZf2QGW6v93g-n3_6a2-OH0EaXR4PAw7l/s1600/DSC05528.JPG" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpMV8t_H6n7_rLMxU-scGnnpjg0wX14V-7OSsIAhTb79DXpqXEkM9D1XHEJEIY7bShngifkn8iEJ35o5eEbkR8usFoJQl4ObNLCSBYRskPvzZkuUCxDKc2gRB5RbDm_z8U67eLcxXJUaE/s1600/DSC05562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpMV8t_H6n7_rLMxU-scGnnpjg0wX14V-7OSsIAhTb79DXpqXEkM9D1XHEJEIY7bShngifkn8iEJ35o5eEbkR8usFoJQl4ObNLCSBYRskPvzZkuUCxDKc2gRB5RbDm_z8U67eLcxXJUaE/s1600/DSC05562.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW1I5S_o3wsU-amOlFLgLdIcKv21djRlS78f8eV2X1t9l5kMb0ksv4YUAo2NQpWW64CPE15J48DYF8ah1X65sJjrWoCJ5v48JviV8FdZacG7E8jllqi1evRjEgWcZ5XMdAUXCUEQPlycv/s1600/DSC05658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW1I5S_o3wsU-amOlFLgLdIcKv21djRlS78f8eV2X1t9l5kMb0ksv4YUAo2NQpWW64CPE15J48DYF8ah1X65sJjrWoCJ5v48JviV8FdZacG7E8jllqi1evRjEgWcZ5XMdAUXCUEQPlycv/s1600/DSC05658.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hotel's Chon Thai restaurant and cooking school is set in these century-old teak houses.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyridAt80HHinqHyTbwYzg87NWTAFeo-Q66_3J0K02U8ZSiW8m02kKwGyaNrBfnHJaW87fGOY4Mz_Ydwdb5L-LAWS_S8JiVVlqKRyK5YWm24mO2EB1HjvFS7VO3ovH6vW3S8U7XTS8oBZw/s1600/DSC05586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyridAt80HHinqHyTbwYzg87NWTAFeo-Q66_3J0K02U8ZSiW8m02kKwGyaNrBfnHJaW87fGOY4Mz_Ydwdb5L-LAWS_S8JiVVlqKRyK5YWm24mO2EB1HjvFS7VO3ovH6vW3S8U7XTS8oBZw/s1600/DSC05586.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bather's Bar and Riverside Infinity Pool.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I arrived at the hotel via their private river shuttle coming from the Saphan Taksin pier. Upon our arrival we were welcomed by the hotel staff including our own butler, Jill (hmmm... I wonder if we can send him to buy some Durian?) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After showing us around, Jill brought us to our villa. Our home for the next two days! Oh boy! When we saw our villa we didn't want to leave. The Big K and I have had our share of stays at 5-star hotels but this was one of the best places we've stayed so far. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZT2Vu1V1Z020F2womj3IAaxOzip5VOXVPH4vWpeaASCAtF8XTF0GBCaE8yaoUP9S8n3_BG-09alWi4Fo8T5YJZLTTZvWKMcx3_MCHIOEkxQXVcVY5rl-mAsyntunk2SOh2URCillNN0_/s1600/DSC05689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZT2Vu1V1Z020F2womj3IAaxOzip5VOXVPH4vWpeaASCAtF8XTF0GBCaE8yaoUP9S8n3_BG-09alWi4Fo8T5YJZLTTZvWKMcx3_MCHIOEkxQXVcVY5rl-mAsyntunk2SOh2URCillNN0_/s1600/DSC05689.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Bm1RqoRR7OuIYqg8rg9SvAHvFJSr2KuB5z9AIwl7G7erNv0mQ20YixSajdVmqR7Vb850HYQWedU4vG_EfMHGU9Vw_JJk9TyW6kZ2vNzta_oZ8KUit9-gQA5OxBLTfMjo8oIBOlkkl47f/s1600/DSC05706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Bm1RqoRR7OuIYqg8rg9SvAHvFJSr2KuB5z9AIwl7G7erNv0mQ20YixSajdVmqR7Vb850HYQWedU4vG_EfMHGU9Vw_JJk9TyW6kZ2vNzta_oZ8KUit9-gQA5OxBLTfMjo8oIBOlkkl47f/s1600/DSC05706.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our villa came with our own pool with jacuzzi and an open-air <br />roof terrace.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV6wfZisMjyfqe8Ec_rrHOPnqj5rHiiRaFPYQWNa7qgtWlEmQYFWA_p8utDzRCwUbntAiux0prH-sT-I4xFhgVMUg-6xs8Z9YWtMGweOomOT042gHgrFNOb5JQ2r_rtl8ozUCb9-37ATP/s1600/DSC05493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV6wfZisMjyfqe8Ec_rrHOPnqj5rHiiRaFPYQWNa7qgtWlEmQYFWA_p8utDzRCwUbntAiux0prH-sT-I4xFhgVMUg-6xs8Z9YWtMGweOomOT042gHgrFNOb5JQ2r_rtl8ozUCb9-37ATP/s1600/DSC05493.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the pool and courtyard from our bedroom.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_5zNYv76_jU1m-zVL3o8yaIQBEjk-md6goqxaT5lJXkwY1JM2BPhBdAQ4X_1uGd7oLveRgt4Ecw3L9PUzmP0M_vq1cTpHnujRJuVAQhQ23Pm9yfx9wK0dxkgVjoA2Lg6jn9AwSkEJd09/s1600/DSC05492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_5zNYv76_jU1m-zVL3o8yaIQBEjk-md6goqxaT5lJXkwY1JM2BPhBdAQ4X_1uGd7oLveRgt4Ecw3L9PUzmP0M_vq1cTpHnujRJuVAQhQ23Pm9yfx9wK0dxkgVjoA2Lg6jn9AwSkEJd09/s1600/DSC05492.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each of the villas are designed in three different themes: Thai Colonial, Chinese and Art Deco.<br />We stayed at their Thai Colonial themed villa.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cKd_Ix0y34jEr7Kaad4M5gVxcBKplHepyTNZ1PJhC_b5TD2wV-fwXQbOZQ6Ng1CR1SpJFF1N1LgxgPLfv2G2m4f67o-XOehOAzruRLebIKm2muV78mOuGsGfl4qQCZSZj_imIVdtJuWP/s1600/DSC05514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cKd_Ix0y34jEr7Kaad4M5gVxcBKplHepyTNZ1PJhC_b5TD2wV-fwXQbOZQ6Ng1CR1SpJFF1N1LgxgPLfv2G2m4f67o-XOehOAzruRLebIKm2muV78mOuGsGfl4qQCZSZj_imIVdtJuWP/s1600/DSC05514.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKzJEaqW5Q7TyL4HPb6wquKgVva0KFRdpMHKE3Z4bXemqVuxFJ8RUMiiP3SyMy2AOGUHL3XUJiATICnQX_wr_4pLfTs4g3KWDTaD1PAUD0E7t1IgQQvlk-NBlSMd5TKVS2uXbxiQfBH6Y/s1600/photo+(27).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKzJEaqW5Q7TyL4HPb6wquKgVva0KFRdpMHKE3Z4bXemqVuxFJ8RUMiiP3SyMy2AOGUHL3XUJiATICnQX_wr_4pLfTs4g3KWDTaD1PAUD0E7t1IgQQvlk-NBlSMd5TKVS2uXbxiQfBH6Y/s1600/photo+(27).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Huge bathroom! And boy that sure is a humongous tub!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvVY5-0ymdHB-3gmcXfa-rnl1dBePCfo51-FH03rGb-Ib3l1IPs157vaiXWbBzxKIIB1VDTEwBbLvbDXEr2t4SkCnI3BzIV1ta09GGlKI_AXdRTB9sfgLCZIn1w2ZnpxaRFJFYsLC1FQ1/s1600/DSC05488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvVY5-0ymdHB-3gmcXfa-rnl1dBePCfo51-FH03rGb-Ib3l1IPs157vaiXWbBzxKIIB1VDTEwBbLvbDXEr2t4SkCnI3BzIV1ta09GGlKI_AXdRTB9sfgLCZIn1w2ZnpxaRFJFYsLC1FQ1/s1600/DSC05488.JPG" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexMOtW5nr8Yq0uWWgt1KQuSTc21O2e-HjtiCEFZ56Ho5W2JAS9g_4rQdd8hJqkDwHsh-DhznJLh2_I9LXxZeih-2HE0YEne0uFfN-strkl1dLvo1nOV0xuat58XyCz7-lOLXhcT0H0HCH/s1600/DSC05553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexMOtW5nr8Yq0uWWgt1KQuSTc21O2e-HjtiCEFZ56Ho5W2JAS9g_4rQdd8hJqkDwHsh-DhznJLh2_I9LXxZeih-2HE0YEne0uFfN-strkl1dLvo1nOV0xuat58XyCz7-lOLXhcT0H0HCH/s1600/DSC05553.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjH9OamszhUw-W2TsFSAKsooK5atZdtab8YUmHvwR02oR6wte8ugWB86Yj1gQu0kBhMkjwtpcmS056p9VMhy_QCv-h90inl0JQpwQSSnBBFKeWxfs257WALjL6MlSsbiny92hOsbW-XiR/s1600/DSC05757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjH9OamszhUw-W2TsFSAKsooK5atZdtab8YUmHvwR02oR6wte8ugWB86Yj1gQu0kBhMkjwtpcmS056p9VMhy_QCv-h90inl0JQpwQSSnBBFKeWxfs257WALjL6MlSsbiny92hOsbW-XiR/s1600/DSC05757.JPG" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our butler, Jill, on the left and front desk staff, Kesupha on the right. Khob khun ka!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Awesome place, great food, good time! It was another fun adventure in Bangkok. I wonder what the Big K's roster will be next month? </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1454918638115670.1073741840.1389503424657192&type=1" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-79790742021256443142014-08-13T12:14:00.000+08:002014-08-13T12:14:34.003+08:00Unforgettable Bruges<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bruges or Brugge in Dutch was never in our original itinerary during our recent European holiday but as fate would have it the Big K was given extra vacation days that gave us the opportunity to make a last minute detour to this enchanting medieval city. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And oh boy are we ever glad we made that decision as we simply fell in love with this beautiful city.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNUIDC9V2r0Ujt1csjaVgTZ3IuO_JgQ7bk9chal7ZzY0hyphenhyphenCqD3YJDLumtCLevSqhCpvgm8bzkT0nZ_QhUOOrqRp6_Evkg1kwvEh8TI6ewaq-M7vz0p4nA1dXWg2R4USLiJTAC9lbbqC9-/s1600/DSC03869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNUIDC9V2r0Ujt1csjaVgTZ3IuO_JgQ7bk9chal7ZzY0hyphenhyphenCqD3YJDLumtCLevSqhCpvgm8bzkT0nZ_QhUOOrqRp6_Evkg1kwvEh8TI6ewaq-M7vz0p4nA1dXWg2R4USLiJTAC9lbbqC9-/s1600/DSC03869.JPG" height="309" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Minnewater Lake </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Historic City Center of Bruges</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bruges sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North because of its many canals was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century. The city's medieval architecture is so well-preserved it was a joy just walking around admiring old buildings along picturesque canals. It was like stepping back in time. Small wonder it is included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wf8xUEmoP4JW-JKK8DxwQI21feJEHkg8gsH_LiYqUu_ozhfhYp9pounuFVNRAK_fkfp-Aq7rb6IEjXuongMBrC1fQBACr4pg6JMW1yDyuGuGxZknwU7KPX6wtzrjapJ6vqh7jJtQ7iQs/s1600/DSC03744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wf8xUEmoP4JW-JKK8DxwQI21feJEHkg8gsH_LiYqUu_ozhfhYp9pounuFVNRAK_fkfp-Aq7rb6IEjXuongMBrC1fQBACr4pg6JMW1yDyuGuGxZknwU7KPX6wtzrjapJ6vqh7jJtQ7iQs/s1600/DSC03744.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the end of this former inner-city port is a small public square, Jan Van Eyckplein, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">where a </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">statue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of the famous </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Renaissance painter holds court.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyXyZ1gLNyV8NTGTqfSJw-PR7oB-SBomoL_ML0Jb9GETH9yU6fRvS5Brk2d3kifDgJolCtXPnoIVuypNjcdrB8-htU6SGw4j78-hghV0_I21MbcKB7DaDa9jMaXvVWBwsDJHz-vvhVKOO/s1600/DSC03554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyXyZ1gLNyV8NTGTqfSJw-PR7oB-SBomoL_ML0Jb9GETH9yU6fRvS5Brk2d3kifDgJolCtXPnoIVuypNjcdrB8-htU6SGw4j78-hghV0_I21MbcKB7DaDa9jMaXvVWBwsDJHz-vvhVKOO/s1600/DSC03554.JPG" height="362" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Markt (market square). The Big K and I chanced upon their market day during our visit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photos of Bruges market day in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1450886208518913.1073741839.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=130" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-0RuayRcUSLNRKxpAU9mKkM1cj3RNtD71BIYkunI9_kDeK2XL2gQ1tsOMkpMKUrU1AEREHVfI7pL9a_c9TRqWHQF4d3R4tv5n9Qk7K4NufjbmMKpS2hlCL3u3MVfyNLI_Kl4JAeMCqHB/s1600/DSC03553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-0RuayRcUSLNRKxpAU9mKkM1cj3RNtD71BIYkunI9_kDeK2XL2gQ1tsOMkpMKUrU1AEREHVfI7pL9a_c9TRqWHQF4d3R4tv5n9Qk7K4NufjbmMKpS2hlCL3u3MVfyNLI_Kl4JAeMCqHB/s1600/DSC03553.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Provinciaal Hof (Province Court) on market square.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBzYMiNay8YyInKQjeeTFojXlQNjpBet45cLRo7H_321xLZ9GBP1qb3PgQyPFpYSu2WbOtL3MgvSvUsJjxtWGIt8btO6iyiMXllpM2WWCJssR9eG8ycftqoGcEiuawH9E8K6p-0srV9cx/s1600/DSC03758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBzYMiNay8YyInKQjeeTFojXlQNjpBet45cLRo7H_321xLZ9GBP1qb3PgQyPFpYSu2WbOtL3MgvSvUsJjxtWGIt8btO6iyiMXllpM2WWCJssR9eG8ycftqoGcEiuawH9E8K6p-0srV9cx/s1600/DSC03758.JPG" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Belfry (Belfort) also on market square.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPeYngDVgqq-t-1ZrZMDpvx0uOcC_huo2HY9vk_QidN7_XldA1tkC_-7HKKIf30c8MqOyV5-htWk5fwJjerK25BUjVw5PeSiP4NbQX3V3UhzFhTvQu7rWYiFvC1ljVrmB5HyYRzE0j9ty/s1600/DSC03307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPeYngDVgqq-t-1ZrZMDpvx0uOcC_huo2HY9vk_QidN7_XldA1tkC_-7HKKIf30c8MqOyV5-htWk5fwJjerK25BUjVw5PeSiP4NbQX3V3UhzFhTvQu7rWYiFvC1ljVrmB5HyYRzE0j9ty/s1600/DSC03307.JPG" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The City Hall at Burg square.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW_C5CdXjEeCJefFsWctePvry0XpzVMsa2Fv8agaTI5UT88bjvlA43wguOgJc7zgLl0mRbfgPbBtuTnf7OAmD5ZWmg8UvrflhXrUVkp2hW7ZUKLa1fp-yptuuEA5rT8Zbfio44Hvp7gix/s1600/DSC03802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW_C5CdXjEeCJefFsWctePvry0XpzVMsa2Fv8agaTI5UT88bjvlA43wguOgJc7zgLl0mRbfgPbBtuTnf7OAmD5ZWmg8UvrflhXrUVkp2hW7ZUKLa1fp-yptuuEA5rT8Zbfio44Hvp7gix/s1600/DSC03802.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The oldest building in Bruges, the Oud Sint-Janhospitaal (St. John's Hospital) founded in<br />the 12th century. It now houses some of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Memling" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hans Memling's</a> works.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOkFtRRrZY2ESFVeBnsdWpGxSJCara1RLr6VAjcLXrW6yguPzrp1J0jNoL5oqjyMR8VjIhhmBq8ZSlwkG0ZskI22TTfGoyTUhJHcb1kG-u53fROceyVDEWQP8Arg8WB6SHIbl15lUz3tv/s1600/DSC03776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOkFtRRrZY2ESFVeBnsdWpGxSJCara1RLr6VAjcLXrW6yguPzrp1J0jNoL5oqjyMR8VjIhhmBq8ZSlwkG0ZskI22TTfGoyTUhJHcb1kG-u53fROceyVDEWQP8Arg8WB6SHIbl15lUz3tv/s1600/DSC03776.JPG" height="640" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The spire of the Church of our Lady is one of the tallest brickwork<br />towers in the world at 122.3 meters high.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd01lO0YrXeAW5WtmQpnfrPQJG0X66Ti24cMDC7pyHxY1HNqnIPKGW6iQjRD7ItThyTZ-CjQBgTGNvcHOte2EqUxLs_GsigNF6-3uewE2d4zZhfKoVvDVIofWsPinIuhgojj0ndcxHqLP/s1600/DSC03826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd01lO0YrXeAW5WtmQpnfrPQJG0X66Ti24cMDC7pyHxY1HNqnIPKGW6iQjRD7ItThyTZ-CjQBgTGNvcHOte2EqUxLs_GsigNF6-3uewE2d4zZhfKoVvDVIofWsPinIuhgojj0ndcxHqLP/s1600/DSC03826.JPG" height="640" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The chapel inside the Begijnhof (Beguinage). The Beguines are religious women, <br />widows or spinsters who wished to live an independent but committed life <br />outside of recognized religious orders with their vows of fidelity and poverty.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStENfY6GmzPbD9UVxD4kBTjjhd2DEhuSDbDzErcMR_cePMhEeWMgo7bHdKVpoXTgaSfsdjGdLoAitIudUpUu_HCjO99acjvZPXgDXDpcLXTQ-q8KkB1gwbgHgnq_fe3-t1ivQT-H4YboE/s1600/DSC03814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStENfY6GmzPbD9UVxD4kBTjjhd2DEhuSDbDzErcMR_cePMhEeWMgo7bHdKVpoXTgaSfsdjGdLoAitIudUpUu_HCjO99acjvZPXgDXDpcLXTQ-q8KkB1gwbgHgnq_fe3-t1ivQT-H4YboE/s1600/DSC03814.JPG" height="374" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The swans of Bruges. Legend has it that in 1488 the people of Bruges executed one of its <br />administrators from the court of then reigning monarch Maximilian of Austria named Pieter <br />Lanchals (long neck). Maximilian in return punished the people ordering them to keep swans on </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">their lakes and canals for eternity. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjal9CRPaWnZ5YtltNM4DlB4uetNItgygBAmZh83htF8BaKPM0g0Kj1fATT9nz6Gx8IO3kciVC42xX5Zrnte_8_LMAiq1xnuOQUDawm1qWugzeq9IpLhiIExj-2C-bxsor3SVE0AImuhTj/s1600/DSC03866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjal9CRPaWnZ5YtltNM4DlB4uetNItgygBAmZh83htF8BaKPM0g0Kj1fATT9nz6Gx8IO3kciVC42xX5Zrnte_8_LMAiq1xnuOQUDawm1qWugzeq9IpLhiIExj-2C-bxsor3SVE0AImuhTj/s1600/DSC03866.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Gun Powder Tower near the entrance to Bruges.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beer and Chocolates</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Did you know that Belgium has the most number of individual beer brands in the world? Some say it's close to 800 while others say it's more than a thousand. Whatever the number is that's still a whole lot of beers! Abbey beers, Trappist beers, brown beers, white, red, blonde, and so on and so forth..... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I were spectacularly overwhelmed with the extensive selection. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We didn't know which beers to try first in the very short time we were there. We were definitely in beer heaven! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6YgVY1NIQYm8oQcWACVoitdHvmF35HC67z93-a45WQNkZd38VgyWT7qgj8TFLjNfTlpHwDLbMa8SsxothB-S9H-YLERO8Ncc8ZIBsCXJ9DgpSC_ZdS43_e05OSM0rpyby4v_hyCVM0k7/s1600/DSC03389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6YgVY1NIQYm8oQcWACVoitdHvmF35HC67z93-a45WQNkZd38VgyWT7qgj8TFLjNfTlpHwDLbMa8SsxothB-S9H-YLERO8Ncc8ZIBsCXJ9DgpSC_ZdS43_e05OSM0rpyby4v_hyCVM0k7/s1600/DSC03389.JPG" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I want one!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLXs7zpjlMquE-HIlQvHjOvkR_R4HcPt88uCLvgG1sOQHTzgL49q55WduPKnA_GBS4l4RLVPtf4xog6INi32ckNHGNOmZkVasHwcoGH7XF7aoki99SCI8nRkoqAEvt2oX216hex8-I8WP/s1600/DSC03393.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLXs7zpjlMquE-HIlQvHjOvkR_R4HcPt88uCLvgG1sOQHTzgL49q55WduPKnA_GBS4l4RLVPtf4xog6INi32ckNHGNOmZkVasHwcoGH7XF7aoki99SCI8nRkoqAEvt2oX216hex8-I8WP/s1600/DSC03393.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ8E3V8IESVHAF3c9necJCpw39R5kUjs3TgT42IgVGZpwskTl7M51hZ5OL24f0AEpihWQfCgnppvXQ4qsqQYo_SUA_btpmK1FAkWpjVXq8FWQ7uHHoTQukmgHgHcQoMkTXxFQcbyYdIz0/s1600/DSC03390-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ8E3V8IESVHAF3c9necJCpw39R5kUjs3TgT42IgVGZpwskTl7M51hZ5OL24f0AEpihWQfCgnppvXQ4qsqQYo_SUA_btpmK1FAkWpjVXq8FWQ7uHHoTQukmgHgHcQoMkTXxFQcbyYdIz0/s1600/DSC03390-001.JPG" height="382" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Further proof, the best beers in the world are produced by monks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWg-kvvVMTKw7cH2eHhgZNqDtLueSTv1t2bx2UD6j6S2gCIPjzZPlXORg0UgjWRRb0yN59zPHNamDoUHwA8uhRchTdrR6_xb9Q2EKqqUyj8wuAW7F5nN-AOKNlrWv-QCdbob_-sEWxKly/s1600/DSC03391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWg-kvvVMTKw7cH2eHhgZNqDtLueSTv1t2bx2UD6j6S2gCIPjzZPlXORg0UgjWRRb0yN59zPHNamDoUHwA8uhRchTdrR6_xb9Q2EKqqUyj8wuAW7F5nN-AOKNlrWv-QCdbob_-sEWxKly/s1600/DSC03391.JPG" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.2-be.biz/en/fotos.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beer Wall</a> at the 2Be-Bar serving all kinds of beer!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now who hasn't heard of Belgian chocolates? Ever since the praline (chocolate shell with a soft center) was invented in Belgium in 1912 the country has been known for making the best chocolates in the world. And Bruges is home to 50 chocolate shops. Talk about chocolate overload! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiJ3pCwuAEVpRAAY1FczqTHRHVT8sK3HPh69DOIWocic4qwxAzhObhGPYdKdjZKUI1ltQAMB7_jmCRLA6TghEltOb7fZ1LeN7BYndnAv0mnAqsnEgkDdRRBufDea2TQacuGXSLjx-kq6O/s1600/DSC03754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiJ3pCwuAEVpRAAY1FczqTHRHVT8sK3HPh69DOIWocic4qwxAzhObhGPYdKdjZKUI1ltQAMB7_jmCRLA6TghEltOb7fZ1LeN7BYndnAv0mnAqsnEgkDdRRBufDea2TQacuGXSLjx-kq6O/s1600/DSC03754.JPG" height="640" width="470" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU1aJFUJs64Y-JDM-6nykLBLSBtBbXQ70fPvkM1rtDajNhYr58yy_3BVbV0KcMc23VtCkv4dhkqGgaJ1ZvPGKlvCSprPXg8iL5QQr1YjkV5prFiBBudzwDI43emwxpoPTgs_7w3aHiqFc/s1600/photo+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU1aJFUJs64Y-JDM-6nykLBLSBtBbXQ70fPvkM1rtDajNhYr58yy_3BVbV0KcMc23VtCkv4dhkqGgaJ1ZvPGKlvCSprPXg8iL5QQr1YjkV5prFiBBudzwDI43emwxpoPTgs_7w3aHiqFc/s1600/photo+(19).JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7ugjmjY74fUDkV8upAcoFEWftEDtsZEp1-dc26tk12MtgL_TEyOesjCdznvXEK5nkP9YmzHpDdVGhPkBgCSLRUD7M03V03MLVOsQL1krYbgLAeQY1vMA7BKIkiA0UhmVzDS7p0bPzX__/s1600/DSC03330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7ugjmjY74fUDkV8upAcoFEWftEDtsZEp1-dc26tk12MtgL_TEyOesjCdznvXEK5nkP9YmzHpDdVGhPkBgCSLRUD7M03V03MLVOsQL1krYbgLAeQY1vMA7BKIkiA0UhmVzDS7p0bPzX__/s1600/DSC03330.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We're on vacation I think we can be excused for having hot chocolate and Belgian waffles for lunch.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyrgwUC9Xpvo1EdCyKEFMbGnudsLObtMwltCCz1pOitbIRmiqcxickfv4-GsRvF2g-axi-Mh5vzMbJ1lZ3puqVt8KB_YjigDL3IAxj7JFPeRwnmFcQS6WUcnjl24uCH4DuR2UaH2O__jk/s1600/DSC03511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyrgwUC9Xpvo1EdCyKEFMbGnudsLObtMwltCCz1pOitbIRmiqcxickfv4-GsRvF2g-axi-Mh5vzMbJ1lZ3puqVt8KB_YjigDL3IAxj7JFPeRwnmFcQS6WUcnjl24uCH4DuR2UaH2O__jk/s1600/DSC03511.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Choco-Story, Chocolate Museum in Bruges</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrlDaBi2_ZLH2xD55ZHFsx53-l20UEBXvkhvQkLV-yoQ73WW2Q9z6_Qm1Fj5y-HjBqvjSOlzyucldHDV6PEOduZNZZGGa40zcDZ49TTUvw-mDTDjp8UgFK993qmpvmEjNEbB8n0bZw8rJ/s1600/DSC03497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrlDaBi2_ZLH2xD55ZHFsx53-l20UEBXvkhvQkLV-yoQ73WW2Q9z6_Qm1Fj5y-HjBqvjSOlzyucldHDV6PEOduZNZZGGa40zcDZ49TTUvw-mDTDjp8UgFK993qmpvmEjNEbB8n0bZw8rJ/s1600/DSC03497.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Free taste!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Fidel and Molly</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do a Google search for the most photographed dog in Bruges, or Europe for that matter, and you'll get this result.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAbXpgv5KIUU_XYK1KQliswU-BJ9EyHw9aHsuqtOzfQwNkdUQtzXtjlchmrE2hOesvUp6H9-3vSq-YyYqVkk6Vd6FRnM_PcUmgui9MSxI6IH_5KsFusK2shH667GH3di4DabfVfXIeWvQ/s1600/DSC03971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAbXpgv5KIUU_XYK1KQliswU-BJ9EyHw9aHsuqtOzfQwNkdUQtzXtjlchmrE2hOesvUp6H9-3vSq-YyYqVkk6Vd6FRnM_PcUmgui9MSxI6IH_5KsFusK2shH667GH3di4DabfVfXIeWvQ/s1600/DSC03971.JPG" height="640" width="384" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Fidel short for Fidelité is the most photographed dog in Bruges. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">And he happens to live in the same <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowUserReviews-g188671-d590867-r204569284-Cote_Canal-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house</a> where we stayed!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Fidel is a 12-year old yellow Labrador rescued by Caroline (<a href="http://www.bruges-bedandbreakfast.be/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">owner of Côté Canal B&B</a>) when he was just a puppy. His favorite spot to spend the entire day is on this window overlooking the canal being entertained by the passing canal cruise boats loaded with tourists. Before long he himself became a tourist attraction with boats momentarily stopping to take pictures. And because of his celebrity status, Fidel has appeared in several local movies and commercials.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTikLBnbdlclXac7EO_OQpwgYAX8N7ULJonA_b5miks2NI83SWuElKTEABPUV3_WHmeRZPZYJ42i5f0nSOKPztHM9u8SRImq1Jo6GXEs3JySOACcaa-jlRIKMzEiCqXgT9RdTSQCniXS-8/s1600/DSC03972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTikLBnbdlclXac7EO_OQpwgYAX8N7ULJonA_b5miks2NI83SWuElKTEABPUV3_WHmeRZPZYJ42i5f0nSOKPztHM9u8SRImq1Jo6GXEs3JySOACcaa-jlRIKMzEiCqXgT9RdTSQCniXS-8/s1600/DSC03972.JPG" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"And to your right is the most photographed dog in Bruges. Say Hi to Fidel!"<br />Ah! What a (dog's) life!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then there is Molly. Sweet, pretty sidekick to Fidel. Before her rescue Molly led a pretty miserable life, the worst was having almost all her bones broken because of abuse. Thanks to an abundance of TLC and Fidel taking her under his wing, Molly is now living a happy life.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuXq3Bzn_kK9tY1Hq4Gchc3Z-WMkN8PFc7b18QMA_R6FSbHEHzYilR_73dlCUbbqzxFGuq9zrcQNWYvVDLsGQY14WbnytKSvfOnpsQBFQbHSs5Us0C3rM5wCWRvyNFh3Rjl9lAZrgjl7w/s1600/DSC03940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuXq3Bzn_kK9tY1Hq4Gchc3Z-WMkN8PFc7b18QMA_R6FSbHEHzYilR_73dlCUbbqzxFGuq9zrcQNWYvVDLsGQY14WbnytKSvfOnpsQBFQbHSs5Us0C3rM5wCWRvyNFh3Rjl9lAZrgjl7w/s1600/DSC03940.JPG" height="594" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sweet Molly checking out the Big K. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Visit our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1450886208518913.1073741839.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=130" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> for pictures of Fidel and Molly. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was another memorable adventure with the Big K in the incredibly beautiful city of Bruges. Unforgettable Bruges..... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnv4kJYxiRVj1jxco2E_Ga9QCAYCVRPA_I1fPKtb9HWWqFmBUSpLP1x1uakRcMVDG026DFmnOmyGuL2IQd2iIm5Dovn0PrBD-PBIzzXdu36qYqpJWg2k4-W73X3Z2-ee0pAJUwQDY5-Mp/s1600/DSC03464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnv4kJYxiRVj1jxco2E_Ga9QCAYCVRPA_I1fPKtb9HWWqFmBUSpLP1x1uakRcMVDG026DFmnOmyGuL2IQd2iIm5Dovn0PrBD-PBIzzXdu36qYqpJWg2k4-W73X3Z2-ee0pAJUwQDY5-Mp/s1600/DSC03464.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>For more photos of Bruges, visit our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1450886208518913.1073741839.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=130" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-4587362171056567622014-08-04T15:46:00.000+08:002014-08-04T15:46:14.063+08:00The California Zephyr: Chicago to San Francisco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first long distance train ride in the US was a 12-hour trip to the East Coast with the Gorgeous H that I wrote about in an earlier <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/03/new-york-new-york.html" target="_blank">blog post</a>. During my recent visit with family, my train-loving sister talked me into yet another train ride this time to California. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our journey started in Cleveland, the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where my sister and her long-suffering husband, the Doctor A lives, an overnight in Chicago and finally the Can-I-survive-two-days-in-a-minuscule-cabin-with-my-energizer-bunny-of-a-sister-train-trip. Yup! You read it right. It was going to be a much longer train ride across some of North America's scenic countryside.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmdeFVURdJhgpQgS6FrY-0cRSLWcD03r6Dw-pXS01-rQtx2egg6ohY9XsosqopI0N1gIyGpOZjx1AkIuXj9M1icgaK5S42z5YyzPm_p3TINFdvJyXIP9_NQPNxXy7E2BWRR3jZqKqWlGx/s1600/DSC04465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmdeFVURdJhgpQgS6FrY-0cRSLWcD03r6Dw-pXS01-rQtx2egg6ohY9XsosqopI0N1gIyGpOZjx1AkIuXj9M1icgaK5S42z5YyzPm_p3TINFdvJyXIP9_NQPNxXy7E2BWRR3jZqKqWlGx/s1600/DSC04465.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chicago</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First stop, city of the famous deep dish pizzas! The Gorgeous H had some business to attend to in Chicago so we decided to stay over night and take the next day's train to California. Perfect plan or so I thought (more on that later) as I get to visit some more of the city's sights and most importantly satisfy my craving for their famous stuffed pizzas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1KA8Wl9pPq-aVk7Cs0aghR4cRx_6c9cQibE2SZzhxND-PwKTLZ44wPd85DCtGfa6Rq1Zw6lztkttyApBYEXHoqP7yRNPLAiR2LMh5-Pph9pMICVznc1yjrLa0Mep0oiy_xvJ7FZ5BYT5/s1600/DSC04279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1KA8Wl9pPq-aVk7Cs0aghR4cRx_6c9cQibE2SZzhxND-PwKTLZ44wPd85DCtGfa6Rq1Zw6lztkttyApBYEXHoqP7yRNPLAiR2LMh5-Pph9pMICVznc1yjrLa0Mep0oiy_xvJ7FZ5BYT5/s1600/DSC04279.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://chicago.langhamhotels.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Langham, Chicago</a>. Luxe all the way! Got the room at</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">half-off using Hotwire. I love Hotwire!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eqGE4hEl9f7VUs8O6vAz0FUvQH0KpNDEpoDXFW_YECFuhlLoDDp_wtMxD9MEiqZ35Qew5O5QKSKRnfZKMBtB2AOfIfFsgwjLXZ_L_if0ke2RNYJDuah6l5VhMLkI_2TDq107iwWulRdt/s1600/DSC04208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eqGE4hEl9f7VUs8O6vAz0FUvQH0KpNDEpoDXFW_YECFuhlLoDDp_wtMxD9MEiqZ35Qew5O5QKSKRnfZKMBtB2AOfIfFsgwjLXZ_L_if0ke2RNYJDuah6l5VhMLkI_2TDq107iwWulRdt/s1600/DSC04208.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the Chicago River from our room. More </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">photos</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of our room in our </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guess-Where-Im-Writing-From/1389503424657192?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Facebook page</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Millennium Park and Deep Dish Pizza</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now for the later part. As luck would have it our train from Cleveland was delayed almost 3 hours coming into Chicago because of freight train traffic. I later found out that Amtrak shares the tracks with freight trains whose companies own the rail tracks. Ergo freight trumps passenger trains! Hmmm.... Quite a different scenario from European rail transport where passenger trains are given priority over freight trains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because of our train's delay plus my sister's business running long, we only had time for a quick visit at the Millennium Park which was totally okay with me because I had my fill of deep dish pizza for dinner!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK5PVeoMNhMZRXjGZT6rQX3WWrROeru4HMfpS89fb2MV4TS8Dv5eJHWAbYFBDVT41U-3nSs6sYG0k0KPxxC5XAOq2wnXd8Iq_ceZZlysf8AEAtQoeExe2ocaPg2AuvH0jsw2nnmLkx15b/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK5PVeoMNhMZRXjGZT6rQX3WWrROeru4HMfpS89fb2MV4TS8Dv5eJHWAbYFBDVT41U-3nSs6sYG0k0KPxxC5XAOq2wnXd8Iq_ceZZlysf8AEAtQoeExe2ocaPg2AuvH0jsw2nnmLkx15b/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Crown Fountain (left) and Cloud Gate sculpture (lower right) at the Millennium Park. It was<br />nearing closing time at the Art Institute of Chicago (upper right) so we just dropped by their </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">museum shop. Another reason to go back!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Vkw4HgJ97lxaweR6nKLXbLwisOAA6rN4eNIxlJDccWGRVcArPKlOIP-8jSY1Ap1jyjLlWzQEp-jaXVJr2TuM3oK1EamCpkrygshGYeBcVKitiiCS1G2i9Zbxxkz1whyMbkmAr5LVnZVD/s1600/photo+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Vkw4HgJ97lxaweR6nKLXbLwisOAA6rN4eNIxlJDccWGRVcArPKlOIP-8jSY1Ap1jyjLlWzQEp-jaXVJr2TuM3oK1EamCpkrygshGYeBcVKitiiCS1G2i9Zbxxkz1whyMbkmAr5LVnZVD/s1600/photo+(17).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After having tried Lou Malnati's from a previous visit, I have been craving for Chicago's famous </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">stuffed pizzas. My sister and I decided to try another famous pizza maker, Giordano's. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can you spell Y-U-M-M-Y-L-I-C-I-O-U-S?! No wonder the windy city is known for their </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">deep dish pizzas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The California Zephyr</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is it! We were booked on <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amtrak's California Zephyr</a> leaving from Chicago's Union Station. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaMMPUCsWBwsrLEe9DiXSBEVZWpLF1D0hUNJHIo6iNs1i3sS9gVU8pkdh_x36kNDQ7D68BhLlP4w48to_jLRMo6s19JlEfdABB-Ebp9wE0fQSF3zV2MqfzFKr-a4lUex87t_tSUsnhFeZ/s1600/DSC04285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaMMPUCsWBwsrLEe9DiXSBEVZWpLF1D0hUNJHIo6iNs1i3sS9gVU8pkdh_x36kNDQ7D68BhLlP4w48to_jLRMo6s19JlEfdABB-Ebp9wE0fQSF3zV2MqfzFKr-a4lUex87t_tSUsnhFeZ/s1600/DSC04285.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chicago's Union Station</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCKhGLwCOTali0s8SRRsBoSoX1cbHBcoT7sNtVt-TbrysAnhGxZTFsBzFcHSKglAWL0DOU5T9AuO2U0_IGL7zMmqtWwnNCmG3GCi8b4TGCzM32dq3XEoMEZOMFeOQpf8YI-XTWuTfPYbM/s1600/DSC04286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCKhGLwCOTali0s8SRRsBoSoX1cbHBcoT7sNtVt-TbrysAnhGxZTFsBzFcHSKglAWL0DOU5T9AuO2U0_IGL7zMmqtWwnNCmG3GCi8b4TGCzM32dq3XEoMEZOMFeOQpf8YI-XTWuTfPYbM/s1600/DSC04286.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One advantage of train travel is the generous allowance </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of their checked-in and cabin bags </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">unlike with the airlines. And with my sister's propensity for </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">bringing the whole house with her </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">every </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">time </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">she travels, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">it's no wonder she loves taking </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the trains. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7duk8iCfczb3PH7EM6yapZSc5uXmLAiVk4a49V2BzWYXXw4k63PxX1JQRJcA6EfLn1ib2QNTA7wc9Hi4uY4HeuTq0U07UeE0TgThU_zWlpZATP4BtLLk-NsfAOePw9rfvEnBOW9mBQj6/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7duk8iCfczb3PH7EM6yapZSc5uXmLAiVk4a49V2BzWYXXw4k63PxX1JQRJcA6EfLn1ib2QNTA7wc9Hi4uY4HeuTq0U07UeE0TgThU_zWlpZATP4BtLLk-NsfAOePw9rfvEnBOW9mBQj6/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We booked a roomette on the train that included all our meals through out the trip. We also <br />got our own cabin steward who was ready to wait on us hand and foot, haha! NOT! <br />(I'm missing Vincent, our cabin steward on <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" target="_blank">The Orient Express</a>).<br />Anyway, our roomette also got us complimentary access to Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge while <br />waiting to board our (delayed!) train. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4igwkxkpUb0Ht1OXJf-w4lwgGVEF4Z8GTXPJgBmZZv9fHr3EXEHIrBb06l1Ic7GsVzPesQd0_LUWjiS2QZmH7_AjzmWr796Pwch5FnF46bmQbsrW0kqVLU-DEQ4eUoH44sh5qntdfcKS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The California Zephyr is a double decked train. Our tiny roomette was located on the upper deck </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of one of the train's sleeping cars. We didn't have our own WC this time (boohoo!). But there are </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">common WC and shower facilities at each car. Surprisingly clean if I may add. But I still had </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">to bring my trusty bottle of alcohol with me on each visit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBCW-wViorBAck6npZXMK-07FEGCUKQjVTS6aJAAyzeJRwwU7CZequQDb9-ZSdze521qfsohGfBBgpCpilSub0l_PdIEjS3FMBReDFAXM_hy65SNMMqb8pPKJ1lQyJVlQz3nrsqvVYrJf/s1600/DSC04314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBCW-wViorBAck6npZXMK-07FEGCUKQjVTS6aJAAyzeJRwwU7CZequQDb9-ZSdze521qfsohGfBBgpCpilSub0l_PdIEjS3FMBReDFAXM_hy65SNMMqb8pPKJ1lQyJVlQz3nrsqvVYrJf/s1600/DSC04314.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So long Chicago! Until the next time!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And Off We Go!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the highlights of the train's <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">route</a> was the climb up the Rockies. Unfortunately a week before our trip there were mudslides up in the mountains because of torrential rains. Well, that effectively closed off that part of the rail tracks so our train had to be re-routed. Nevertheless we still experienced some striking scenery along the rest of the train's route. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNArPzMNj0bXDJpTxOOCaRpjtsGsIDb3qbd4DmN4UuEvMheNZFebhHbq1d2Id4Lzj3Ku4wcQbIbCrLvgpByhlbwg23y0qzvSNlQ6SRcLmTLwtVsesVljvCfGtf37lMz6Vb2MY2g-ilfS42/s1600/DSC04326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNArPzMNj0bXDJpTxOOCaRpjtsGsIDb3qbd4DmN4UuEvMheNZFebhHbq1d2Id4Lzj3Ku4wcQbIbCrLvgpByhlbwg23y0qzvSNlQ6SRcLmTLwtVsesVljvCfGtf37lMz6Vb2MY2g-ilfS42/s1600/DSC04326.jpg" height="336" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crossing the Mississippi River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc96tgeI8vabTOlK6t7VQL8sU_ddiMQLI2KL06fSAl-eTMiuW7NKc8m9RDBU784YjvjJIlzCnFNgxg8hHxxK997Dx3CGsop78xzm4u8b4QDpDGiEwjpHZ2ewGdwIu0UGKDKN9hZNWPhEWx/s1600/photo+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc96tgeI8vabTOlK6t7VQL8sU_ddiMQLI2KL06fSAl-eTMiuW7NKc8m9RDBU784YjvjJIlzCnFNgxg8hHxxK997Dx3CGsop78xzm4u8b4QDpDGiEwjpHZ2ewGdwIu0UGKDKN9hZNWPhEWx/s1600/photo+(16).JPG" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Somewhere in Iowa.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk4vV0Cimldaw32_EcR6XNQUPSL4EfYYFQyCq7clL6G9t9RV9gfDMW2X_TzQ37jqzFKGcPsN7TGx17pvb9vPRaPd7fRDvHT0zJh2pSsVVmxtPNn-oDEJdz55iV-OpgZAxoMLsI9Z52G03/s1600/DSC04344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk4vV0Cimldaw32_EcR6XNQUPSL4EfYYFQyCq7clL6G9t9RV9gfDMW2X_TzQ37jqzFKGcPsN7TGx17pvb9vPRaPd7fRDvHT0zJh2pSsVVmxtPNn-oDEJdz55iV-OpgZAxoMLsI9Z52G03/s1600/DSC04344.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A brief stop in Denver.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y49M3mRi9ZvpqEpFit1SzTqIuNbhk6L8dbP-pHRSyEoekjwwR9k_w3D3y4ZcIbEnauBD70p_sshNZhqlmxCG0Qgch9yeNufHW3EJdc-AXK8Srhyphenhyphenju5QK0I5yj5SA7-Pet-FtvNhyphenhyphenY48k/s1600/DSC04377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y49M3mRi9ZvpqEpFit1SzTqIuNbhk6L8dbP-pHRSyEoekjwwR9k_w3D3y4ZcIbEnauBD70p_sshNZhqlmxCG0Qgch9yeNufHW3EJdc-AXK8Srhyphenhyphenju5QK0I5yj5SA7-Pet-FtvNhyphenhyphenY48k/s1600/DSC04377.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More Colorado scenery.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pC-4FS0lQS4BdIIqVzokNxOhSwYt9WUis-yPhw9-li5KFBtv1CHB1JI4LaslKEkFVTerGxb6_WPyewSEetBv7ZSQFftK-MK6azt8slvf-UPH_4iAXiDRGsypPUgs3qfmql19b5u3a0wB/s1600/DSC04392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pC-4FS0lQS4BdIIqVzokNxOhSwYt9WUis-yPhw9-li5KFBtv1CHB1JI4LaslKEkFVTerGxb6_WPyewSEetBv7ZSQFftK-MK6azt8slvf-UPH_4iAXiDRGsypPUgs3qfmql19b5u3a0wB/s1600/DSC04392.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At first I thought the white stuff was snow, turns out to be salt deposits.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Lb5qWe_NCM2PnY3DIB8tclgt6DH-ZsJYzg_LI6mpGwnAgLwnGTfgYJS0vtH7ZgdVybNaWBRB_WnaL3gUraYYdgeHMw8O0xF9tX0HREf5vX8jiRbRdOU2eUJCrZn2Z0oAP9jP_Yg6cibp/s1600/DSC04421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Lb5qWe_NCM2PnY3DIB8tclgt6DH-ZsJYzg_LI6mpGwnAgLwnGTfgYJS0vtH7ZgdVybNaWBRB_WnaL3gUraYYdgeHMw8O0xF9tX0HREf5vX8jiRbRdOU2eUJCrZn2Z0oAP9jP_Yg6cibp/s1600/DSC04421.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Start of the Sierra Nevada.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyK1PxP_piGc61Ra7CpMAStWjvgctI7w6kqZzsa076sQRz4_uTnXzwvnz5dV2gqB0GI53tp3VhFQTxdk4wT-QVG1UCxzdV564Fx6a9VvL0z3bXNQB3sPlDgqD02_FrheaZ7o8wB684y0b/s1600/DSC04425-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyK1PxP_piGc61Ra7CpMAStWjvgctI7w6kqZzsa076sQRz4_uTnXzwvnz5dV2gqB0GI53tp3VhFQTxdk4wT-QVG1UCxzdV564Fx6a9VvL0z3bXNQB3sPlDgqD02_FrheaZ7o8wB684y0b/s1600/DSC04425-001.JPG" height="286" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Small town America in Truckee.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7spbo2r1WmzgHDD6nCxQNP8Z-WaG3ys_uIiwgRvItlraT846Blmq9DcYMPSdNPzOo1OzbloDABhu6nq4DpVzKifhi3N7Q_pEu-6dEdkRSBE-8ofN7mu6Jaf6oQfujDc5I6hyphenhyphenmvxfWV8vu/s1600/DSC04445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7spbo2r1WmzgHDD6nCxQNP8Z-WaG3ys_uIiwgRvItlraT846Blmq9DcYMPSdNPzOo1OzbloDABhu6nq4DpVzKifhi3N7Q_pEu-6dEdkRSBE-8ofN7mu6Jaf6oQfujDc5I6hyphenhyphenmvxfWV8vu/s1600/DSC04445.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now those are snow on top of the mountains.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6PjovRZ5-vpd-mJzgaiDXS83CQqtOe8zqm9gr4fFJhvMdeJ3LJPmnjqJu_O75-Nolyr8CyW-2OKhbja-MG85oJOwV-CUk4DkxOHsT42epkk1jpcT3BIH0jgHT68unsCwIu-F3h3QZNSM/s1600/DSC04464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6PjovRZ5-vpd-mJzgaiDXS83CQqtOe8zqm9gr4fFJhvMdeJ3LJPmnjqJu_O75-Nolyr8CyW-2OKhbja-MG85oJOwV-CUk4DkxOHsT42epkk1jpcT3BIH0jgHT68unsCwIu-F3h3QZNSM/s1600/DSC04464.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Donner Lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6m69Ro_R4jKs0Dz1UgpX6cwFM7_3sqf1zyTEnAFV7Vi9V6is0NsT9e38LvAAxdNt2g0Eh321G94_ylueNZpZgkq3ke3Xla7C1HIlYDz1G-KOkwvFbJbF211UTcIFyh956CdnL5IyNfDHk/s1600/IMG_0867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6m69Ro_R4jKs0Dz1UgpX6cwFM7_3sqf1zyTEnAFV7Vi9V6is0NsT9e38LvAAxdNt2g0Eh321G94_ylueNZpZgkq3ke3Xla7C1HIlYDz1G-KOkwvFbJbF211UTcIFyh956CdnL5IyNfDHk/s1600/IMG_0867.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Zmho83dK5GudoIRT_DS2euHR3auMiyILBzECn5QRs4ISEea2jItirQEAx24_GTpmGcxYP6lFZhYhXnRB34kIAIaTvqmRn1PI6uNb7yoOVVq4loqvoM48BY9I21G9UUoXVNjvBk1sau/s1600/IMG_0872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Zmho83dK5GudoIRT_DS2euHR3auMiyILBzECn5QRs4ISEea2jItirQEAx24_GTpmGcxYP6lFZhYhXnRB34kIAIaTvqmRn1PI6uNb7yoOVVq4loqvoM48BY9I21G9UUoXVNjvBk1sau/s1600/IMG_0872.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkuGNZUfBJk2KWfyYz79AIg0a1w1vO58Fg5ajUxPFSU1xPTC1NR-UJWMlP4iOJ-T66_ZtHmRKVONm0ZM1kO76bOz2RgHXKRuzDgmqoSPiy6Hxucgk5T29B3UvTxn2pty5QYDl0R-svFbi/s1600/IMG_0877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkuGNZUfBJk2KWfyYz79AIg0a1w1vO58Fg5ajUxPFSU1xPTC1NR-UJWMlP4iOJ-T66_ZtHmRKVONm0ZM1kO76bOz2RgHXKRuzDgmqoSPiy6Hxucgk5T29B3UvTxn2pty5QYDl0R-svFbi/s1600/IMG_0877.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Approaching Emeryville/San Francisco station, nearing </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">our </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">journey's end.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXb6WYMCGmouqK7ycHhAZXfolOgfnrFgGgKDSxNJGPSyNpRZaVnPMss2Jz0-tJQtX6KFSJydiVn-SHDluQBNKOGqBMCHFwMQS54bNI-kZyBIvdVxgF0dm6pr0fEaVKuKZsuXbU-i8jK2J/s1600/IMG_0795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXb6WYMCGmouqK7ycHhAZXfolOgfnrFgGgKDSxNJGPSyNpRZaVnPMss2Jz0-tJQtX6KFSJydiVn-SHDluQBNKOGqBMCHFwMQS54bNI-kZyBIvdVxgF0dm6pr0fEaVKuKZsuXbU-i8jK2J/s1600/IMG_0795.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was another memorable adventure with the Gorgeous H! If you want to test your relationship with a sibling or any loved one for that matter I say share a tiny space on a long distance train. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm pleased to say though we survived the trip and did not end up tearing each other's hair out (barely! Haha!)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kidding aside I do love my sister to bits! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, now I can declare that I'm a certified cross-country-coast-to-coast "trainer". Is there such a term? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit our Facebook page for more photos: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1447862605487940.1073741838.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=113" target="_blank">Guess Where I'm Writing From?</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-77581953294882849902014-05-03T20:11:00.000+08:002014-05-05T18:40:51.510+08:00Châteaux of the Loire, Part Three<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's our third and the final in the series of blog posts about our week-long <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">visit </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the Loire Valley. </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can read Part One </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Part Two </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/05/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley-part-two.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7w8xOAefnS87vQeGxYqaZ82Hco4BQQaiEsxTf-eI0tKKhwnnVRK_-yr5Ay_V6h-G2GnQ2GhAGj4xnG8l8ryqQhRx4A6ICOoRxz_VAczLF4dnIRDbr-F7whVCNbWv7rgePcGjV4JcZjbx/s1600/DSC02809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7w8xOAefnS87vQeGxYqaZ82Hco4BQQaiEsxTf-eI0tKKhwnnVRK_-yr5Ay_V6h-G2GnQ2GhAGj4xnG8l8ryqQhRx4A6ICOoRxz_VAczLF4dnIRDbr-F7whVCNbWv7rgePcGjV4JcZjbx/s1600/DSC02809.JPG" height="380" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.599998474121094px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Cheverny</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Cheverny</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">For Tintin fans, does C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Cheverny look familiar? No? Okay, let's try this. Now imagine it without the two outer wings of the c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau. See it now? <i>"Blundering Bazookas! Bashi-bazouk!"</i> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">It's Marlinspike Hall! Or l</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">e </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Moulinsart if you like the original in French. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hergé, the author of Tintin, was inspired by the c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau when he created Marlinspike Hall, the home of Tintin's best bud, Capt. Haddock. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCo11DBfuB4cxWIb741Sjy2Fx4IZRmo7OSXXar5skvgOrDMDeQigbc32SsNeuCpWSBJa2WkvYafM_lHkXmxw4pMZKywwH9UlObiwQXLKwfb-pfGWq_p1s6UqPpy8bk8nLSaExuex2p-69/s1600/DSC05393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCo11DBfuB4cxWIb741Sjy2Fx4IZRmo7OSXXar5skvgOrDMDeQigbc32SsNeuCpWSBJa2WkvYafM_lHkXmxw4pMZKywwH9UlObiwQXLKwfb-pfGWq_p1s6UqPpy8bk8nLSaExuex2p-69/s1600/DSC05393.JPG" height="370" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuaZFkiMLUnpn_OxsWiRfG8r0a0DPInWydbWft1Iwvh7-ipd2jAb4dv5REdfqSaT6lLRzwVBq2lE0esiH3oD2rkeVba5V3TbTLxmr4g5hOCu-UYSnyNEuVVS7LKMbSDZJ6olaMISn8ysU/s1600/DSC02780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuaZFkiMLUnpn_OxsWiRfG8r0a0DPInWydbWft1Iwvh7-ipd2jAb4dv5REdfqSaT6lLRzwVBq2lE0esiH3oD2rkeVba5V3TbTLxmr4g5hOCu-UYSnyNEuVVS7LKMbSDZJ6olaMISn8ysU/s1600/DSC02780.JPG" height="640" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">See? It says so right here.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBd5mSiY7PluX2K1rtUMDu9tbR1Qs-Z9PkLkyapQtDUR62DwGiXAQtDiplU-XjANGH6pDcWAlKtzBcpwjWVr9Jv0Oxe59WcqMcOpTNJieY5xRvStqYqpGBT4XMt-c8xuKNK7wFeTkwORH-/s1600/DSC02762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBd5mSiY7PluX2K1rtUMDu9tbR1Qs-Z9PkLkyapQtDUR62DwGiXAQtDiplU-XjANGH6pDcWAlKtzBcpwjWVr9Jv0Oxe59WcqMcOpTNJieY5xRvStqYqpGBT4XMt-c8xuKNK7wFeTkwORH-/s1600/DSC02762.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau even has a permanent exhibition of the adventures of Tintin and Capt. Haddock. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Oh! Let's not forget Snowy too.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQXy8HK4Nf-qBQXtvlDCPdZFZ-fzD734VgOqs-TpD4WydoWPht4l3_KmwY577uHDyMYo4kK3icY8y8_6jy0BRcC8Pkfh2bF0VXc3ZkrrxncenRoVBI-uSFcNbNxSasevN548OdYQYAWLt/s1600/DSC02772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQXy8HK4Nf-qBQXtvlDCPdZFZ-fzD734VgOqs-TpD4WydoWPht4l3_KmwY577uHDyMYo4kK3icY8y8_6jy0BRcC8Pkfh2bF0VXc3ZkrrxncenRoVBI-uSFcNbNxSasevN548OdYQYAWLt/s1600/DSC02772.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau is also a hunting venue and it's</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> kennels house around a hundred French hounds. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau has been owned by the same family, the Huraults, for more than 6 centuries. There were only two occasions when </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau slipped out of the family's hands. First was in the 16th century when Diane de Poitiers (<a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/05/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley-part-two.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">remember her</a>?) bought it while renovations were being done at Chaumont-sur-Loire (more on this story later) when she was sent packing out of Chenonceau and the second was in the 18th century when the heirs lost interest in their inheritance and sold it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1825, Anne-Victor Huraults, the Marquis de Vibraye that time bought back </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The present Marquis de Vibraye and his family presently live at the right-most wing of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwasLrTDPsS-N4SMaKmZMZW8H5iN1Ei6pL8tVg793RN0BibzzENWb9hF5Jfx6_eF1aTTkzpwAvC6EPwtazfpGtkqrlvP9-EHZ02PYL7Jk3cMMgUuRhEFkOnWuNrWTzkWuN4uKi6yDxUtN/s1600/DSC02795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwasLrTDPsS-N4SMaKmZMZW8H5iN1Ei6pL8tVg793RN0BibzzENWb9hF5Jfx6_eF1aTTkzpwAvC6EPwtazfpGtkqrlvP9-EHZ02PYL7Jk3cMMgUuRhEFkOnWuNrWTzkWuN4uKi6yDxUtN/s1600/DSC02795.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The King's bedchamber at the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Every </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau had one</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> reserved for the King (of course!)<br />when or if he decided to visit. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Have you ever wondered why beds in the early centuries were shorter as compared to today's? Were people shorter then? The Big K and I have always wondered the same thing. One reason given to us during our </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau tours was that people during those times slept sitting up because the flat position was reserved for the dead. Another was that people were afraid of swallowing their tongues. True or not, they were pretty interesting explanations. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIesd3JUIbVg1EZOMWbcMEdLArbD4RQDKg-YFmcUyG5WP_7llyVSbhZ2n_nRu2WVFv4Lkb0cAzwC71VuxweVCyQ-Cw8RmOHvUHBFDBr0spY52_SMAO75g-m0zRWcpXfcVpTLJ_RoyFMPUu/s1600/DSC02788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIesd3JUIbVg1EZOMWbcMEdLArbD4RQDKg-YFmcUyG5WP_7llyVSbhZ2n_nRu2WVFv4Lkb0cAzwC71VuxweVCyQ-Cw8RmOHvUHBFDBr0spY52_SMAO75g-m0zRWcpXfcVpTLJ_RoyFMPUu/s1600/DSC02788.JPG" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The current owners, the Marquis and Marquise de Vibraye's photo on their wedding day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Marquise's actual </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">wedding gown is even on display. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.chateau-cheverny.com/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Official website of the C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Cheverny</span></span></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Chambord</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The largest </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau in the Loire, Chambord is located within a 52.5 square km. or 13,000 acre wooded area and game reserve and enclosed by a 32-km long wall with 6 gates. That's as big as inner Paris and just a few square kilometers shy of the Palace of Versailles! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">What started as a simple hunting lodge grew into an extravagant </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">with 426 rooms, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">282 fireplaces and 77 staircases. That's one tremendously expensive cleaning bill there! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tyoR1_lQ3XM8jyaYWCXPKko3lZ74A5GNIo8VcITs_9mANXx_NUQ48NffMWMGBUyTxXcC5zgeje1BC_lCfjdzDFOiTmnbs2siRF-YUsoyrhQcah9ZCbJ19uqmvveHS4ZKgw73fUaRnm-h/s1600/DSC02748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tyoR1_lQ3XM8jyaYWCXPKko3lZ74A5GNIo8VcITs_9mANXx_NUQ48NffMWMGBUyTxXcC5zgeje1BC_lCfjdzDFOiTmnbs2siRF-YUsoyrhQcah9ZCbJ19uqmvveHS4ZKgw73fUaRnm-h/s1600/DSC02748.JPG" height="330" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEsx7baFTde-Of14I1QQmGBM7JuoBS0ZaEUwGbSJUHgYIC-1DcKtPrLbztcuHsVpdyzMLQmm3FXs44CG_CVBAFRQ1OAYk4jxQaX3NHJr_kLxSuAjOqhNlTf1OOoM4RSSn3feVBuExp6HV/s1600/DSC02701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEsx7baFTde-Of14I1QQmGBM7JuoBS0ZaEUwGbSJUHgYIC-1DcKtPrLbztcuHsVpdyzMLQmm3FXs44CG_CVBAFRQ1OAYk4jxQaX3NHJr_kLxSuAjOqhNlTf1OOoM4RSSn3feVBuExp6HV/s1600/DSC02701.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EiVwcVoBV-Tg-6zjt3tPFzrN7t4uQtfk9ofWL4IwtnPGEtO1g2bE14Pwo5t6V7S3NFXRoOQHAU6j50OwR_hx1awztOMqP64UynjSZmY5LVw9adlmrU60HVBZMexfUiBN91zf1C5SJLO1/s1600/DSC02714.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EiVwcVoBV-Tg-6zjt3tPFzrN7t4uQtfk9ofWL4IwtnPGEtO1g2bE14Pwo5t6V7S3NFXRoOQHAU6j50OwR_hx1awztOMqP64UynjSZmY5LVw9adlmrU60HVBZMexfUiBN91zf1C5SJLO1/s1600/DSC02714.JPG" height="640" width="396" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW_9duCLBkKui2w9BT9lr4jdCuwETjEt9DFsakieDQWMjVrdgLVZsL99j8-i94rVqt8GAuRXna3XiQhqqlPW4kL_bHoUOkR7SW7nwhyphenhyphenPSl3Q3s-BsfRYsnDi58adZbDXvRT9jqeEGToTI/s1600/DSC05380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW_9duCLBkKui2w9BT9lr4jdCuwETjEt9DFsakieDQWMjVrdgLVZsL99j8-i94rVqt8GAuRXna3XiQhqqlPW4kL_bHoUOkR7SW7nwhyphenhyphenPSl3Q3s-BsfRYsnDi58adZbDXvRT9jqeEGToTI/s1600/DSC05380.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the more famous parts of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau is its double helix staircase located in the middle of the keep. The staircase comprises two flights that spiral round each other from the ground floor up to the rooftop terrace. What makes it interesting is if two people each take one flight, they can only see each other through the openings in the central column but never meet. Cool huh?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VwQm2KnB0qvTKgyuOYTPRdacjukC7ok9K6AxWQ4yRLrweaDZOqDOPIWz038hXWRyaC8-v2NgFBy2mp68rdSXq4QdtvA19hnT-IzCECO0awHmoFwq5DfhX78yGlnzkw81XWKlIjChLaw3/s1600/DSC02715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VwQm2KnB0qvTKgyuOYTPRdacjukC7ok9K6AxWQ4yRLrweaDZOqDOPIWz038hXWRyaC8-v2NgFBy2mp68rdSXq4QdtvA19hnT-IzCECO0awHmoFwq5DfhX78yGlnzkw81XWKlIjChLaw3/s1600/DSC02715.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tSJtV26qyRxdkQ86CrEMdqp02YqTRydMcODDyCgnUCvZaa2-Fy2L5iFqzRyjJNUT84MCdnq63XlChTC3OeNvUwetUqWiyurd9B_JTchif4pSKXqOIoAQYZiDILvqpjpnvfE05ey1BSKN/s1600/DSC02718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tSJtV26qyRxdkQ86CrEMdqp02YqTRydMcODDyCgnUCvZaa2-Fy2L5iFqzRyjJNUT84MCdnq63XlChTC3OeNvUwetUqWiyurd9B_JTchif4pSKXqOIoAQYZiDILvqpjpnvfE05ey1BSKN/s1600/DSC02718.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHE0saRU8Qqgyk-1Qof6pMSwo0QfwhfhkMlEv3TIiZSdNEtoisj2A9912hfO-4fnu63AYQDQy8Wu3wOBdRnYY1RPk3SqbE4D_GsPR-RqAbUx2XI7F8LYLeqQqgmC-GSJFNnItQt78-v9e/s1600/DSC02730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHE0saRU8Qqgyk-1Qof6pMSwo0QfwhfhkMlEv3TIiZSdNEtoisj2A9912hfO-4fnu63AYQDQy8Wu3wOBdRnYY1RPk3SqbE4D_GsPR-RqAbUx2XI7F8LYLeqQqgmC-GSJFNnItQt78-v9e/s1600/DSC02730.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The rooftop terrace where you get great views of the surrounding <br />grounds of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://chambord.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Official website of the C</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Chambord</span></a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span>
Chaumont-sur-Loire</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Situated on the south bank of the Loire river, this </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau was once the home of Catherine De Medici and Diane de Poitiers (<a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/05/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley-part-two.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">remember them</a>?). Catherine acquired the property and lived here until she gave the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau to Diane in exchange for Chenonceau.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoz0rxVEA6RNvfgBOSt6Py4sV9lmRJQ0E3uVLYrBUEenmnj_yVJbgQjIdBGD9p9BbDFGCcb36xwG7PpLzXedwStFVHr1WE3ZtUXPEWBhO01r1Tr30ROH-gJz0uiLBAHZaDEdRkqDnKfn9/s1600/DSC02826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoz0rxVEA6RNvfgBOSt6Py4sV9lmRJQ0E3uVLYrBUEenmnj_yVJbgQjIdBGD9p9BbDFGCcb36xwG7PpLzXedwStFVHr1WE3ZtUXPEWBhO01r1Tr30ROH-gJz0uiLBAHZaDEdRkqDnKfn9/s1600/DSC02826.JPG" height="418" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t2xIVMvpTjkeW9rtlbPeiapn5qq3mFE6qlU3kWUPJfAlM1K3VxpSi25SXYkQZWJmqtzDLn1jEWNPMI2cUvPRMPf3YS_5Nu7EaQtszcgjuiOtp8s-HpC1EsiXUL3n2cJUgKHxox9ac_wp/s1600/DSC02830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t2xIVMvpTjkeW9rtlbPeiapn5qq3mFE6qlU3kWUPJfAlM1K3VxpSi25SXYkQZWJmqtzDLn1jEWNPMI2cUvPRMPf3YS_5Nu7EaQtszcgjuiOtp8s-HpC1EsiXUL3n2cJUgKHxox9ac_wp/s1600/DSC02830.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsgXNylZJWkkWXv_xzUi1kgdh-js1ihZgwAaDAxjtJ3vtD9-zU8wsytbQoBqaho2L7hqqT0cX7DHR0IcxI_BFOpssR91oD0fObBcvMrDRIGIGc90uYBtdoFXgXdCqcE-c3rNn0BBA6krL/s1600/DSC02843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsgXNylZJWkkWXv_xzUi1kgdh-js1ihZgwAaDAxjtJ3vtD9-zU8wsytbQoBqaho2L7hqqT0cX7DHR0IcxI_BFOpssR91oD0fObBcvMrDRIGIGc90uYBtdoFXgXdCqcE-c3rNn0BBA6krL/s1600/DSC02843.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the river Loire from the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau's inner courtyard.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVQBT1Yr2IwMkh_ny8ZeyV5C5S3hVf0MBdXJSFtJYNGxpYrJ0DkV8qgvKSna5McAdn_UkH9CVAqdCAWU2tDtF4qn54M7MAIl-EdA_UQWbhrXSUrRhOILl4cjyCQOmj_MSYv3W02sDIi7B/s1600/DSC02835-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVQBT1Yr2IwMkh_ny8ZeyV5C5S3hVf0MBdXJSFtJYNGxpYrJ0DkV8qgvKSna5McAdn_UkH9CVAqdCAWU2tDtF4qn54M7MAIl-EdA_UQWbhrXSUrRhOILl4cjyCQOmj_MSYv3W02sDIi7B/s1600/DSC02835-001.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Catherine de Medici's bedroom and that's her full length portrait on the right wall.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xIGQHNk-eWQnnZfEP4vRHPOuZxs6nobiSWA7hm_axE4LHdJZnX22g3O2xf3uABQMJNB14dq5qt69sL6emvcxnzdKL_4QXpSauCAkgY5OMmiB9NK5xYtlZQgBvYDo61vx4434c_oR71iq/s1600/DSC02834-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xIGQHNk-eWQnnZfEP4vRHPOuZxs6nobiSWA7hm_axE4LHdJZnX22g3O2xf3uABQMJNB14dq5qt69sL6emvcxnzdKL_4QXpSauCAkgY5OMmiB9NK5xYtlZQgBvYDo61vx4434c_oR71iq/s1600/DSC02834-001.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Diane de Poitiers' bedroom.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nvtnaTyXf57DKvMIpX6fn0rMzyYUIDO5WTGJUKbT3rwISfZmB1QBhwcwjQh4KQd0fEdycSknY40E0mJF78bP6UBLf-RIZVCUJ47CQNMpLtNlkz97MRZPn_zc6MMBeFO6ewLq9BzSMIib/s1600/DSC02849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nvtnaTyXf57DKvMIpX6fn0rMzyYUIDO5WTGJUKbT3rwISfZmB1QBhwcwjQh4KQd0fEdycSknY40E0mJF78bP6UBLf-RIZVCUJ47CQNMpLtNlkz97MRZPn_zc6MMBeFO6ewLq9BzSMIib/s1600/DSC02849.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The stables added in the late 1800s was considered the most luxurious and modern in Europe <br />(it had electric bulbs installed!) by the end of the 19th century.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4GJ4Bvuw8uHXg__s9BbYx290II7VdOEIENQJNxSqKLac8DH5TmuqzMg3ZTdpBF_meoq0adC5OMcdGhRVpGWfqt2BI1mZNe8nEjGHldMLwlFc44zjDKdgSSGZzZYTDXRa_1PHHErBBwYW/s1600/DSC02854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4GJ4Bvuw8uHXg__s9BbYx290II7VdOEIENQJNxSqKLac8DH5TmuqzMg3ZTdpBF_meoq0adC5OMcdGhRVpGWfqt2BI1mZNe8nEjGHldMLwlFc44zjDKdgSSGZzZYTDXRa_1PHHErBBwYW/s1600/DSC02854.JPG" height="640" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Harnesses designed by </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hermès. It couldn't get more luxurious than that.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.domaine-chaumont.fr/en_general_accueil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Official website of the C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Chaumont</span></span></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Tours</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The biggest city in the center region of France, Tours is the perfect jump off point to tour the Loire Valley. It also has </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">the reputation of speaking the purest form of French. As the 19th century writer, Alfred de Vigny once wrote <i>"Their language is the purest French, with neither slowness, haste, nor accent - the cradle of language is there, close to the cradle of monarchy."</i></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mqc1kGAJnlgEFdM3GFAXH7lzU3nFFk3w4oVQ0JdmZCaIyNu-5SHaIl3a5HtUiVRQXQoEAe5cczrAKRoKOTyZ50UIHL6VNg-0vFG_i7PgbAtVJEJERzBPlwYwOW2raY29KAg-0GPaBcr9/s1600/DSC02876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mqc1kGAJnlgEFdM3GFAXH7lzU3nFFk3w4oVQ0JdmZCaIyNu-5SHaIl3a5HtUiVRQXQoEAe5cczrAKRoKOTyZ50UIHL6VNg-0vFG_i7PgbAtVJEJERzBPlwYwOW2raY29KAg-0GPaBcr9/s1600/DSC02876.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Place Plumereau with its Medieval timbered houses.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIcoacv3JSuuL8hXjDBm2ijos7foDu7n-gAc15uWQxO-hPXW1gyzQFKeXlEEYTK1hs0XWV9n2bRYFlKDNu6jeHMxssGVCC9nUcbI4qcZk7QjZJtPXk-YIqWltVxmJ12ER4g0z8JT1Rwt8/s1600/DSC02879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIcoacv3JSuuL8hXjDBm2ijos7foDu7n-gAc15uWQxO-hPXW1gyzQFKeXlEEYTK1hs0XWV9n2bRYFlKDNu6jeHMxssGVCC9nUcbI4qcZk7QjZJtPXk-YIqWltVxmJ12ER4g0z8JT1Rwt8/s1600/DSC02879.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Place Plumereau in Quartier du Vieux-Tours (old town) is a square filled with restaurants and c</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">afés. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">It was once a</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> fruit market.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfzFQrZHXthhT4xEPj6ISQyAertLNBEt35qN_pnOqHszYmimGBGWE671dV-68YGnabJLEkS-qem004Ca7UwiCcvAf4rd2qn0jLiSSgckGkncAFOt3z8hX6TWY0OTlD3-PCd74EWTRon61/s1600/DSC02892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfzFQrZHXthhT4xEPj6ISQyAertLNBEt35qN_pnOqHszYmimGBGWE671dV-68YGnabJLEkS-qem004Ca7UwiCcvAf4rd2qn0jLiSSgckGkncAFOt3z8hX6TWY0OTlD3-PCd74EWTRon61/s1600/DSC02892.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSN7LqeWGKCe_DpGS66HXMBoxFGP4ywuMkzkTifw6uHqlXieIHDqnxbmU5XYp6QC2HVi-RpMSqHJBrfWpCAXnCdfiqOj6M9FJbOCZa5_K0Y6YoQEsxIBSG45ls2YfVmlZ2k4nixCQH0PV/s1600/DSC02913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSN7LqeWGKCe_DpGS66HXMBoxFGP4ywuMkzkTifw6uHqlXieIHDqnxbmU5XYp6QC2HVi-RpMSqHJBrfWpCAXnCdfiqOj6M9FJbOCZa5_K0Y6YoQEsxIBSG45ls2YfVmlZ2k4nixCQH0PV/s1600/DSC02913.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH6q8hdaIR_kJXrDVe4wCO2_93jziESm9nCvhL-wez4fyQM_GnmPHuUpYw9-6dejozMh6GIwjZvlIMpdngAr_Ny_toEnzQRNOB3q7aBstbGVyU1oLcAsuyjJSq8HZs2Q3WEZvi507pZKy/s1600/DSC02896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH6q8hdaIR_kJXrDVe4wCO2_93jziESm9nCvhL-wez4fyQM_GnmPHuUpYw9-6dejozMh6GIwjZvlIMpdngAr_Ny_toEnzQRNOB3q7aBstbGVyU1oLcAsuyjJSq8HZs2Q3WEZvi507pZKy/s1600/DSC02896.JPG" height="640" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Charlemagne's Tower was part of the old Saint Martin church.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHfbM7ih15L04XLTOvzrcF1vBYDWBevxLcu8McYf2c7PCevCPm_XVKBH16CFaAo4j6TSqRvy7P_KgF9-aBZCTwi9ydIK_tRcogoosapsCscQ_Yw0ENcMakDbVcbsn4NTmR4whKfsDB48K/s1600/DSC02922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHfbM7ih15L04XLTOvzrcF1vBYDWBevxLcu8McYf2c7PCevCPm_XVKBH16CFaAo4j6TSqRvy7P_KgF9-aBZCTwi9ydIK_tRcogoosapsCscQ_Yw0ENcMakDbVcbsn4NTmR4whKfsDB48K/s1600/DSC02922.JPG" height="640" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tours Cathedral, Saint Gatien</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXfnDV3JEMhSwxoMOvAES9cvYeFU5XHYqFb3jqvjnU8fkSg2slA-LDNSyizzPme6Bncq7Bz0ECzG7dEWU8CWxSDoLQlxE7FZkCEM0Z3ldoWI3-yD0P9TKPiD_ioNrxi0DxB6k7BMLiZWo/s1600/DSC02903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXfnDV3JEMhSwxoMOvAES9cvYeFU5XHYqFb3jqvjnU8fkSg2slA-LDNSyizzPme6Bncq7Bz0ECzG7dEWU8CWxSDoLQlxE7FZkCEM0Z3ldoWI3-yD0P9TKPiD_ioNrxi0DxB6k7BMLiZWo/s1600/DSC02903.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tours Clock Tower</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvIATPG8KVdalLFye08M7qY_4swKLVaRada1Jfpr8ka-7TkUYaz6nZSFSWEcdllJdvReuoQ3pN67Bi1ByBZA2HwzSCRAYM0NIWe9hlIq0Cajl0F3V8P2K7aZsYW_-P7FGQIBu3jE535Ni/s1600/DSC02870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvIATPG8KVdalLFye08M7qY_4swKLVaRada1Jfpr8ka-7TkUYaz6nZSFSWEcdllJdvReuoQ3pN67Bi1ByBZA2HwzSCRAYM0NIWe9hlIq0Cajl0F3V8P2K7aZsYW_-P7FGQIBu3jE535Ni/s1600/DSC02870.JPG" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rue Nationale, one of the oldest street in Tours, is the city's main shopping street. The city <br />has no metro rail system instead they have a bus service and a relatively new tram network <br />that goes north and south along rue Nationale. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl52236kCJrsrtgxCF2WoNbJrqMQcW06ssZ9QmhIQVd6yZV8WN0w2ov3ThPMzN5iCMpFmxAKAdaFDvpl4u97V8QrJTFP4VK1XYn8DP6Hhli3vrAHOlGQwlY8R-mqyrRryyadwQaB4tirRf/s1600/DSC02955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl52236kCJrsrtgxCF2WoNbJrqMQcW06ssZ9QmhIQVd6yZV8WN0w2ov3ThPMzN5iCMpFmxAKAdaFDvpl4u97V8QrJTFP4VK1XYn8DP6Hhli3vrAHOlGQwlY8R-mqyrRryyadwQaB4tirRf/s1600/DSC02955.JPG" height="402" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tours train station.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://www.tours-tourisme.fr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Official website of the Tours Tourism Board</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1411888409085360.1073741837.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=37" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">More pictures in our Facebook page.</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">
</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-51189611432354932542014-05-01T00:08:00.000+08:002014-05-02T09:21:40.554+08:00Château-Hopping in the Loire Valley, Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next to our love for train rides in Europe, the Big K and I also enjoy road trips. We love speeding on autobahns or autoroutes, motoring along back country roads, traipsing from one picturesque village to another while trying to figure out what-the-heck-does-that-road-sign mean and all the other joys (and hair-raising excitement!) of driving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And since the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteaux of the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loire are spread out in a large area, they are better reached by a car. Yup! Definitely a road trip here. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our week long excursion (well, 6 days to be exact), we had set our sights on the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteaux located along the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">central part of the Loire that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (it would have been physically impossible to see all 300+ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteaux</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in the little time that we had). We wished we could have stayed longer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ended up visiting ten impressive </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteaux. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know of some people who would cram so much things to see in such a short time but the Big K and I prefer to take our time sightseeing. You could say we're the step-back-and-enjoy-the-moment kind of travelers.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQUU8c0nJklxxdEKRCWZH1s9GJT2Tt5nHtwcDNZ_D-JfyEhyphenhyphenBQ4Dn2xWuiKgDuEduUIKNs3gR06KhYGZfLuKG8hxD3Cn22FYqvnTmAJAfT6uP5ksVFlGEZl7zd2H4dY6WZHn6Y2YkMnFg/s1600/DSC02399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQUU8c0nJklxxdEKRCWZH1s9GJT2Tt5nHtwcDNZ_D-JfyEhyphenhyphenBQ4Dn2xWuiKgDuEduUIKNs3gR06KhYGZfLuKG8hxD3Cn22FYqvnTmAJAfT6uP5ksVFlGEZl7zd2H4dY6WZHn6Y2YkMnFg/s1600/DSC02399.JPG" height="362" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.599998474121094px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau De Chenonceau</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I already wrote about the first</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley.html#more" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">three châteaux</a> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we visited. This post is the second in the series and a third one soon to follow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is worth mentioning that you can save a little bit of Euros when you buy your tickets in one of the <a href="http://www.loirevalleytourism.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Loire Valley Tourist Information (TI)</a> offices. Although there are no all-in-one tourist passes</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> for all the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteaux in the Loire, individual discounted </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">tickets can be bought at the TI offices. The discounts range from EUR0.50 to EUR2.00 per ticket (as of this writing).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Blois</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau Royal de Blois, located on a hill overlooking the Loire river, was home to several kings. It was also here that Joan of Arc was blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before proceeding to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Orléans to put the fear of God into the English before driving them out of the city. <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau is comprised of several buildings built between the 13th until the 17th century. You can say that it is a hodgepodge of different architectural elements, four to be exact: Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classic. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoejg5XfXxQlivTQxtlkVHMYrNVjC0fRDD2RrgZ86h-ufGRBtoIOvHQQLl6BqFZ2Ko5v_RWL7t1Q8rmRS6QdSVlsd8yiADs4_4m0IZIMWXDbYk6Q47tF6LMflAzlM1xKv3yqpkQSowRDf/s1600/DSC02246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoejg5XfXxQlivTQxtlkVHMYrNVjC0fRDD2RrgZ86h-ufGRBtoIOvHQQLl6BqFZ2Ko5v_RWL7t1Q8rmRS6QdSVlsd8yiADs4_4m0IZIMWXDbYk6Q47tF6LMflAzlM1xKv3yqpkQSowRDf/s1600/DSC02246.JPG" height="346" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau's Gothic f</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">açade with the equestrian statue of Louis XII (left) and the Medieval </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau on the right</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PWhaweGwPwh6rzvDwxot5AgGNo_3LXFtGTsjHI9skZkqDOCyDz_OhBTz3E1QJGska3f_7HB8xmiMusAiiCtZJ_jBI8ZHAAs4ngoIRLdnJwjheArQjxemqzE9V18kUdoQRjiYGj0KCNGd/s1600/DSC02257-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PWhaweGwPwh6rzvDwxot5AgGNo_3LXFtGTsjHI9skZkqDOCyDz_OhBTz3E1QJGska3f_7HB8xmiMusAiiCtZJ_jBI8ZHAAs4ngoIRLdnJwjheArQjxemqzE9V18kUdoQRjiYGj0KCNGd/s1600/DSC02257-001.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Classic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">f</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">açade of the Gaston d'</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Orléans wing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJQPBtDzpWsjgL-fG20slOti3hZ7SqFWREuvQ9Z8JJuwx9LrPVJlegF1G4U0kK1EipjYueaUuE18hkKpyoaSBcJ4OTV2KWCmigYHbx2zz1CoQh1YmlRS-3ziyywhg2DptKOHahCOfwfUW/s1600/DSC02292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJQPBtDzpWsjgL-fG20slOti3hZ7SqFWREuvQ9Z8JJuwx9LrPVJlegF1G4U0kK1EipjYueaUuE18hkKpyoaSBcJ4OTV2KWCmigYHbx2zz1CoQh1YmlRS-3ziyywhg2DptKOHahCOfwfUW/s1600/DSC02292.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Renaissance-styled great staircase tower is the most </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">famous </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">part </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of the c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau. And it is impressive!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVbv40hg-bTkRTnoQIXpd9nNBuJQVupa_eFZUGUMp05h9Ai9o9Xxo1jdJ0vCkZ7IHyahMkFU050lWiKsZ5VShknnFem-r4kNdstVMGZ4HmytrrNTwBWcPMIwLb4pHRLhgtZfFgiW8rP2G/s1600/DSC02247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVbv40hg-bTkRTnoQIXpd9nNBuJQVupa_eFZUGUMp05h9Ai9o9Xxo1jdJ0vCkZ7IHyahMkFU050lWiKsZ5VShknnFem-r4kNdstVMGZ4HmytrrNTwBWcPMIwLb4pHRLhgtZfFgiW8rP2G/s1600/DSC02247.JPG" height="640" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Cathédrale Saint</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">-</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Louis</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> de </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Blois</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">It was a pleasant coincidence that it was Blois' food market day when we visited. That solved our lunch food! The Big K and I had a picnic lunch right by the Place Du C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau with some local cheeses, stuffed spicy olives and roasted chicken and a couple of Cokes. I know! We should have had some wine but we were saving our alcohol consumption for dinner.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLytrxy52GxU3jw8WvyBjugThYE7r4-MSp3i-23rAgugK0lWn9x7rj7kn1GRaxqppoGOFVz_N8-TN5t_bpEpyRMKh87nrW6pKPbe6zXK9ODkKt3I6x-2YQFDZPlg5JEfZyedrN0ANzS-CZ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLytrxy52GxU3jw8WvyBjugThYE7r4-MSp3i-23rAgugK0lWn9x7rj7kn1GRaxqppoGOFVz_N8-TN5t_bpEpyRMKh87nrW6pKPbe6zXK9ODkKt3I6x-2YQFDZPlg5JEfZyedrN0ANzS-CZ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaXPgB3sS_iM2RWKH8xhPNHkprcgB9If0vW0g6nquo4t4Q7f6M-Cg_YEX3TZjev12AKrcePyT3yqY93tA8c9gHa7zAX8fYRz9E88_-CgkryOUbvMbkzjF4WfK-moKWAH-m5zZWtu9iIiQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaXPgB3sS_iM2RWKH8xhPNHkprcgB9If0vW0g6nquo4t4Q7f6M-Cg_YEX3TZjev12AKrcePyT3yqY93tA8c9gHa7zAX8fYRz9E88_-CgkryOUbvMbkzjF4WfK-moKWAH-m5zZWtu9iIiQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.chateaudeblois.fr/?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Official website of the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de Blois</span></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Amboise</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">When we were deciding where to stay for the rest of our </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau-sightseeing days, we were choosing between Blois and Amboise. Wanting to stay in a place with a smaller town atmosphere, Amboise won out. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Aside from its royal c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau, t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">he town is well-known for the place where Leonardo Da Vinci lived during the last few years of his life. The Renaissance Man was i</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">nvited by</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">François</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> I and was given the manor house </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clos Lucé near the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau D'Amboise.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM99RMaydWlyljc0aDSUXMN180tgg22lutQeXm0gycAeXMppVMm2bRmmZGyjGf3ElEHgBpwZUQVDqEwBjeyNzK3chBmiyx7n5brVhUemJwtbVtnKGr3KP15I1IUSQ3dYh3oFh-LUUO91r/s1600/DSC02352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM99RMaydWlyljc0aDSUXMN180tgg22lutQeXm0gycAeXMppVMm2bRmmZGyjGf3ElEHgBpwZUQVDqEwBjeyNzK3chBmiyx7n5brVhUemJwtbVtnKGr3KP15I1IUSQ3dYh3oFh-LUUO91r/s1600/DSC02352.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau D'Amboise as seen from the Amboise bridge.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XHrmOBR_eI9VOOaMXss17r-AYWxY8he-hjCfTQM83ujkulsz8yaiuXUgCwDcOX_pTtH_fvduiKaqYbUNRj29Py9kevwYOtszFhFUBvEzZbEqdx_ZaPUxteGH4mI-G3dVEx6HqKl9O98i/s1600/DSC02649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XHrmOBR_eI9VOOaMXss17r-AYWxY8he-hjCfTQM83ujkulsz8yaiuXUgCwDcOX_pTtH_fvduiKaqYbUNRj29Py9kevwYOtszFhFUBvEzZbEqdx_ZaPUxteGH4mI-G3dVEx6HqKl9O98i/s1600/DSC02649.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSAutozzvfr9_VgRSrBCmfdlCfOs-z6WGgDml5u4s_GdJgwnkbyEQrQ2pHrh0liNVx0aoEsyrsClcmj3myPNvSguvMiUrFgyg9s3BTpsHWv97feJVi7QFsqSeEZ5SInz0FDZzAxbbNtxl/s1600/DSC02665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSAutozzvfr9_VgRSrBCmfdlCfOs-z6WGgDml5u4s_GdJgwnkbyEQrQ2pHrh0liNVx0aoEsyrsClcmj3myPNvSguvMiUrFgyg9s3BTpsHWv97feJVi7QFsqSeEZ5SInz0FDZzAxbbNtxl/s1600/DSC02665.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Chapel of Saint-Hubert at the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau grounds </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">where </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leonardo Da Vinci </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">is buried.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQgAPP5UE1CypBS9G42_IvmUQ4XjqYpxgLNVc9Ol-LjfknRW0pDQ724QnnRm4YpLtFHrGqPedgpYQyCydvhgQNDHX2jvye9r4n3rViWmpVY1u-O0mKRx6Qf49-DY9Ru4JtZeUhI2hdza6/s1600/DSC02640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQgAPP5UE1CypBS9G42_IvmUQ4XjqYpxgLNVc9Ol-LjfknRW0pDQ724QnnRm4YpLtFHrGqPedgpYQyCydvhgQNDHX2jvye9r4n3rViWmpVY1u-O0mKRx6Qf49-DY9Ru4JtZeUhI2hdza6/s1600/DSC02640.JPG" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflv30IH4WTx3T7sJium4RJqgZkD8XbRPCc7XmMZ3yi5tHgPrKrR3bxLWK_T1V9gyhSk2WLjBzgZG_b_52iq_35adycG3gl-9coJhLbgG5lxj751IeUR8AqWE-QPfluCUsVowbpexKgSki/s1600/DSC02690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflv30IH4WTx3T7sJium4RJqgZkD8XbRPCc7XmMZ3yi5tHgPrKrR3bxLWK_T1V9gyhSk2WLjBzgZG_b_52iq_35adycG3gl-9coJhLbgG5lxj751IeUR8AqWE-QPfluCUsVowbpexKgSki/s1600/DSC02690.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tour de l'Horloge (Bell Tower of Amboise) overlooking<br />the town's pedestrian street. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6ozIW4lQ1GyumHKTJJTL887udN1jvmkza43lofhKitkkr3uKE06WoTQWOVjSMOjBFE5gjAxIJMh4elMErEHHKJ4XOm_OFouxMGrU8dDXPUOJPLe55Rvydu3t6cJZLrMMPE-WQR73GYVy/s1600/DSC02625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6ozIW4lQ1GyumHKTJJTL887udN1jvmkza43lofhKitkkr3uKE06WoTQWOVjSMOjBFE5gjAxIJMh4elMErEHHKJ4XOm_OFouxMGrU8dDXPUOJPLe55Rvydu3t6cJZLrMMPE-WQR73GYVy/s1600/DSC02625.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwUjYg1KhOeUSfgsBqxMX_EfVawIurHHhEtRXNSNyncW3v23yi-oi5kIe-Y00Iw0dJEqg_QnKaZKjgE-5xR15ocboKA7nJm0NJKYNlnM0s-kwd7qUNlqhrFhQb4y7kspdiIkm0nj1ae4G/s1600/DSC02345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwUjYg1KhOeUSfgsBqxMX_EfVawIurHHhEtRXNSNyncW3v23yi-oi5kIe-Y00Iw0dJEqg_QnKaZKjgE-5xR15ocboKA7nJm0NJKYNlnM0s-kwd7qUNlqhrFhQb4y7kspdiIkm0nj1ae4G/s1600/DSC02345.JPG" height="640" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Le Clos D'Amboise, our home for the next few days.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.chateau-amboise.com/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Official website of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau d'Amboise</span></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Chenonceau</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Probably the most famous </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau in the Loire, Chenonceau is also called the Ladies' C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau because of the famous women who have made the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">their home. Two of these women were the cousins and rivals, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici (yup! that's the Medicis of Florence). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Diane de Poitiers was Henri II's long time mistress and love of his life despite their 19-year age gap (Mrs. Robinson French royalty style). Chenonceau</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> was given by the king to Diane despite Catherine, his long-suffering wife, wanting the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> for herself.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> When Henri died Catherine finally exacted her revenge and booted </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Diane out of Chenonceau. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7pKeG8cV8Txdmj2WtWhPegslidYcsUM-9beG5s0GVsUWgOiSArXhhFnig_UhKVv-iILAbWt6OZhNRvxS3foMPaicDGiYUyCPDNc0tiYp6sfz0dkd31dtzz9AxCsk7rzAYGLaLCiKK3UF/s1600/DSC02379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7pKeG8cV8Txdmj2WtWhPegslidYcsUM-9beG5s0GVsUWgOiSArXhhFnig_UhKVv-iILAbWt6OZhNRvxS3foMPaicDGiYUyCPDNc0tiYp6sfz0dkd31dtzz9AxCsk7rzAYGLaLCiKK3UF/s1600/DSC02379.JPG" height="640" width="520" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqLLv4ZkE5KP1ijoH-HWTx9eWWS7tzM_dRNJJqViiWmwALBiY7ebgoWVW2-JG6mtttZm86FPfyfx2Cn11hUYSjdZIFqm3nVqRhy3eLHuVrMyqjHM6KZKRFzQpYOQoV5aLrFT2OvdulZVQ/s1600/DSC02389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqLLv4ZkE5KP1ijoH-HWTx9eWWS7tzM_dRNJJqViiWmwALBiY7ebgoWVW2-JG6mtttZm86FPfyfx2Cn11hUYSjdZIFqm3nVqRhy3eLHuVrMyqjHM6KZKRFzQpYOQoV5aLrFT2OvdulZVQ/s1600/DSC02389.JPG" height="382" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau's long gallery served as a hospital ward during WWI. And in WWII the same gallery served as a means of escape from the Nazi occupied zone on one side of the river Cher to the opposite bank which was the free zone.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM7KgOb_AAAOsHPwMeGxVlAajm9u3y7JaQayazz8_pNoHUbRVSBrZWW_Wtd8XIoDwvHSIrIYFV1YLda0nXk5nte1yInntBzCgty_1qFLx2QF09r1xxORejIkhYvVKN5w911NzsSHSPCyt/s1600/DSC02461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM7KgOb_AAAOsHPwMeGxVlAajm9u3y7JaQayazz8_pNoHUbRVSBrZWW_Wtd8XIoDwvHSIrIYFV1YLda0nXk5nte1yInntBzCgty_1qFLx2QF09r1xxORejIkhYvVKN5w911NzsSHSPCyt/s1600/DSC02461.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Catherine de Medici's garden.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImsMAZAS9BbpJ-RIZy1dnPcj3WAZm7eeLrzJchW753RcHLon0Gvlm-7fsAr9-ujI_QeaqRvr3nKRPKHc0SP4Vqifu5dluUOlhERPFoP_8mk-KUQYQoB7pGPPijlDwgzXiyRpj1dojMiQT/s1600/DSC02431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImsMAZAS9BbpJ-RIZy1dnPcj3WAZm7eeLrzJchW753RcHLon0Gvlm-7fsAr9-ujI_QeaqRvr3nKRPKHc0SP4Vqifu5dluUOlhERPFoP_8mk-KUQYQoB7pGPPijlDwgzXiyRpj1dojMiQT/s1600/DSC02431.JPG" height="640" width="454" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjg9PH1kBfSwaKO6oiOrisAOIzJqtqGXzz8gQZtoPVVTCnp2jKj_mk5K3XiMjcQpJpvp3y7vHthHRRPiwSTG7X15g5xmmO_LkTItlnn0UVw7gG1WjOTM98wnVgSBx6Z28EjCD-hNltn0E/s1600/DSC02478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjg9PH1kBfSwaKO6oiOrisAOIzJqtqGXzz8gQZtoPVVTCnp2jKj_mk5K3XiMjcQpJpvp3y7vHthHRRPiwSTG7X15g5xmmO_LkTItlnn0UVw7gG1WjOTM98wnVgSBx6Z28EjCD-hNltn0E/s1600/DSC02478.JPG" height="640" width="518" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://www.chenonceau.com/index.php/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525;">Official website of the C</span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau de Chenonceau</span></a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Montrésor</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Montrésor, meaning "My Treasure" in French, is a village that has been named one of the <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/03/la-route-des-vins-dalsace-alsace-wine.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Most Beautiful Villages in France</a> (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France). The C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau de </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Montrésor is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15th century Renaissance </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau built within the grounds of a former medieval fortress. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24_01z2gQS99Yy-Q2U-uQEXtuvQ48qhTPuRSOP4MpxKxK0S5zHVojoV-zjrGF1PgENvGzHxauFI5YpuV41RoIPXR9bCmo0YpOvLWTbMTThtzVPcj16xbcaXB8eREUNjC-2yEFW6qNDdgN/s1600/DSC02542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24_01z2gQS99Yy-Q2U-uQEXtuvQ48qhTPuRSOP4MpxKxK0S5zHVojoV-zjrGF1PgENvGzHxauFI5YpuV41RoIPXR9bCmo0YpOvLWTbMTThtzVPcj16xbcaXB8eREUNjC-2yEFW6qNDdgN/s1600/DSC02542.JPG" height="640" width="436" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_40sCd8qZNVELFx1Zs9ma-49EsjFUPU3EWtJ_QzmalDDMLh-D2F8safKRUoEV51SiQ3EkHzGkkNKd4JhsC2oXV2bFUNjRfng-0BEU9p8EriEEXP-EIySJZ9MhM1trJGMLoPXZal2tG12s/s1600/DSC02534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_40sCd8qZNVELFx1Zs9ma-49EsjFUPU3EWtJ_QzmalDDMLh-D2F8safKRUoEV51SiQ3EkHzGkkNKd4JhsC2oXV2bFUNjRfng-0BEU9p8EriEEXP-EIySJZ9MhM1trJGMLoPXZal2tG12s/s1600/DSC02534.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlONij1KmHORsF5WcO7KpSS_xCkQdd0DKNo0j0Q_vd0dQCv0IcIzb2AGhG6aFyZ34K3yqrlDym5uBxApSWjaXsrzp3XEaDfHJ5YwfkGf2Bs0KT04h5QPufW6jM06Q_Lyv9wbLIuTqy30uu/s1600/DSC02565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlONij1KmHORsF5WcO7KpSS_xCkQdd0DKNo0j0Q_vd0dQCv0IcIzb2AGhG6aFyZ34K3yqrlDym5uBxApSWjaXsrzp3XEaDfHJ5YwfkGf2Bs0KT04h5QPufW6jM06Q_Lyv9wbLIuTqy30uu/s1600/DSC02565.JPG" height="538" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Only the west wall of the medieval fortress remains and serves as the entrance to the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">hâteau.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU4UlL87NFNuFcJs0U6C8M0pQKyvgta55fN5Vi02B7g1C3392V-4mBF_WHX_Sb4S_9D3edhLGcyG580etVKHyklt0ETj1XdFjInzgiEQCbB3EhcPEOkNcyp60W7LkTOIispzNBVHAIzPT/s1600/DSC02544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU4UlL87NFNuFcJs0U6C8M0pQKyvgta55fN5Vi02B7g1C3392V-4mBF_WHX_Sb4S_9D3edhLGcyG580etVKHyklt0ETj1XdFjInzgiEQCbB3EhcPEOkNcyp60W7LkTOIispzNBVHAIzPT/s1600/DSC02544.JPG" height="408" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The river Indrois runs along the town of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Montrésor.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39daljCfGbeLzWOV9l9zbwzOgtbCbEUQ_zlP5pZZeXNIiUDtybIvRbpnlve2QePPmigIIceGG_c96RfexhCcHvwaGBBN7Rhk_Mvgwt7aNGxANnmpwktirsbtMytXuC6zpwz3fz9_bUafW/s1600/DSC02559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39daljCfGbeLzWOV9l9zbwzOgtbCbEUQ_zlP5pZZeXNIiUDtybIvRbpnlve2QePPmigIIceGG_c96RfexhCcHvwaGBBN7Rhk_Mvgwt7aNGxANnmpwktirsbtMytXuC6zpwz3fz9_bUafW/s1600/DSC02559.JPG" height="640" width="464" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://www.chateaudemontresor.fr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Official website of the Château de Montresor</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1410893725851495.1073741836.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=42" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">More pictures in our Facebook page.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525;">Next post: Part Three of our Loire Valley Tour</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-14905789639665657242014-04-26T19:44:00.000+08:002014-08-25T12:50:15.140+08:00Château-hopping in the Loire Valley!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a cool, sunny morning when the <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Orient Express</a> pulled into Gare de l'Est in Paris. Perfect timing as the Big K and I had just finished breakfast that was served in our cabin. Much as we wanted to linger on board we had another train to catch. After retrieving our bags with the help of our </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">très gentil steward, saying our goodbyes and more last minute picture-taking with the blue and gold train, the Big K and I hurriedly hopped on the metro to get to Gare Montparnasse </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to catch the TGV that would take us to our next adventure - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau-hopping in </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the Loire Valley!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWVgEAfzsdOsh8E606mf8N1gbABrpTBJfZmU6AZ59T-5bc_hGr2VqAaFwY5e0rXWXF7EeWuNy3Kx1Ajqkm5ISorZi9JIGL90GNKN_uRiRuZ-JQI3RBVORWCTGJp3CQgJg3kCouwUZo4Ul/s1600/DSC01905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWVgEAfzsdOsh8E606mf8N1gbABrpTBJfZmU6AZ59T-5bc_hGr2VqAaFwY5e0rXWXF7EeWuNy3Kx1Ajqkm5ISorZi9JIGL90GNKN_uRiRuZ-JQI3RBVORWCTGJp3CQgJg3kCouwUZo4Ul/s1600/DSC01905.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hôtel de Ville de Tours (Town Hall of Tours) </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A quick Loire Valley 101: The Loire Valley is a region in France located right in the middle of the country. The region got its name from the Loire river that runs through its heart. The Loire is the longest river in France starting from the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cévennes mountains down in the south of the country and drains into the Atlantic Ocean to the north west. The Loire has given the region fertile land along its course, giving rise to vineyards that produce many of France's best wines. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Loire Valley was at one time the favored place of the aristocracy as evidenced by the 300+</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteaus (castles) dotting the area. And i</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">n 2000, UNESCO included the central part of the Loire Valley in its list of World Heritage Sites.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRj3H36-9ckPuQpsOz_l8MCGeYjxmp5Y6XXg5u0UIN4DULByI1CMSvFfwONsqBnBfs84M6Ve8ivk2NTu0yrtKhW2xM0fl2n1IXdUerDKRjaim64_g8toOpuCEJ4DzKpgzTCLFe8sJ0RrT/s1600/DSC02316-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRj3H36-9ckPuQpsOz_l8MCGeYjxmp5Y6XXg5u0UIN4DULByI1CMSvFfwONsqBnBfs84M6Ve8ivk2NTu0yrtKhW2xM0fl2n1IXdUerDKRjaim64_g8toOpuCEJ4DzKpgzTCLFe8sJ0RrT/s1600/DSC02316-001.JPG" height="294" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> De Villandry</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I picked up our rental at the Tours train station and with our trusty GPS, Emily, we were all set! Or so we'd hoped. Before pulling out of the garage, we had to say a little prayer that no road changes occurred since our last <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/03/la-route-des-vins-dalsace-alsace-wine.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">road trip</a> in France two years ago. We kind of forgot to update her.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First stop, the village of Villandry, 17 kms west of Tours. A medieval fortress once stood where </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the present c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> sits. It was in this fortress where</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Philip II of France met with Richard I (the Lionheart. Think Robin Hood!) of England to discuss peace between their respective countries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16th century the fortress was torn down to make way for the present c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau that was built for Francis I. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1754 the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> was acquired by the Marquis De Castellane and was redesigned to 18th-century standards. Finally in 1906 the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau was purchased by Spanish-born doctor Joachim Carvallo and his American wife, Ann Coleman whose descendants still own the place today</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBHT5taaN7B41zb7LKJm2hRhTpTLDX3kOFBLme6-m0mwEaTdbArqsFLlVYzgvxMWZpn1Pt5Dmbt7Ht9iCC8QJWLnYxLYApKypQIQVUjmFl7ZgpWXgXS63ws6YPIdM9lPOvJYLSg94qsBe/s1600/DSC02063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBHT5taaN7B41zb7LKJm2hRhTpTLDX3kOFBLme6-m0mwEaTdbArqsFLlVYzgvxMWZpn1Pt5Dmbt7Ht9iCC8QJWLnYxLYApKypQIQVUjmFl7ZgpWXgXS63ws6YPIdM9lPOvJYLSg94qsBe/s1600/DSC02063.JPG" height="382" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0kYrSBet7TiiEEoEfGl92LJivFPdaJVcDMJ0mcu7428XuudE19TRDw7kVIOI-KHnTTQM6sqTm4h0oPR-YtXsh2L0eVSldD0iNiuvK4bbwZ0KLXGKv4IasGCUci0QyS0phtbU36ecirZQ/s1600/DSC01992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0kYrSBet7TiiEEoEfGl92LJivFPdaJVcDMJ0mcu7428XuudE19TRDw7kVIOI-KHnTTQM6sqTm4h0oPR-YtXsh2L0eVSldD0iNiuvK4bbwZ0KLXGKv4IasGCUci0QyS0phtbU36ecirZQ/s1600/DSC01992.JPG" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xiRIDemL1diiPdw9ZN2fYYxFieqNA5Hdl8OysBDnrKE8Ao5JEk0wom0BwKdcksbdqPX_hItEFqRBdpZcUkgEqX76w74L1wGq_6Ti2jRKx0dGuiTlz8y-k1-LwOcu8cQgkNcP87jMCwzF/s1600/DSC02041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xiRIDemL1diiPdw9ZN2fYYxFieqNA5Hdl8OysBDnrKE8Ao5JEk0wom0BwKdcksbdqPX_hItEFqRBdpZcUkgEqX76w74L1wGq_6Ti2jRKx0dGuiTlz8y-k1-LwOcu8cQgkNcP87jMCwzF/s1600/DSC02041.JPG" height="392" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">De Villandry is better known for its Renaissance-styled gardens than its </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau. Because it was early spring when we visited only a few flowers were in bloom. Even then, the garden was still stunning!</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_ZBQ_DrNorYFLvHCEtoAZqTujgVuTViLZuqL2v4XP3iwVFUBXUgmFx9RJdga1huTvd3xiNEPCeXJyG-fqW1K2RcA4KkpuvFuTLdBp6tpFB5ClHeK6cQRsQBztcKWIOlHJeqa7wmTm9wA/s1600/DSC02025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_ZBQ_DrNorYFLvHCEtoAZqTujgVuTViLZuqL2v4XP3iwVFUBXUgmFx9RJdga1huTvd3xiNEPCeXJyG-fqW1K2RcA4KkpuvFuTLdBp6tpFB5ClHeK6cQRsQBztcKWIOlHJeqa7wmTm9wA/s1600/DSC02025.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRdn6kLN8qg47ULQdf7NaYXwScKd8sX1gpHpmOzzqfKxJC1h44EnA-n55vkO26Jb8nMxAe-A161_793gj-Tv6OiFgq_216oAjf-lee3U_gIJYQfsoBj-PluBeY-Rr7QFBWMw8xQGpMXTg/s1600/DSC01989.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRdn6kLN8qg47ULQdf7NaYXwScKd8sX1gpHpmOzzqfKxJC1h44EnA-n55vkO26Jb8nMxAe-A161_793gj-Tv6OiFgq_216oAjf-lee3U_gIJYQfsoBj-PluBeY-Rr7QFBWMw8xQGpMXTg/s1600/DSC01989.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh052icLm_4sd2kU0e_loKnpCtJTyRHKctBO7hacLEqVjlkyT9qtrHdhc4U0FpfCb_aBkC7StDt4dPhf2H1l6f-oWROnXUid8XNjESmPD1CS2_qIMgyeEwkHdhGe3HYY_-l4-LeiEBKs-HR/s1600/DSC01945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh052icLm_4sd2kU0e_loKnpCtJTyRHKctBO7hacLEqVjlkyT9qtrHdhc4U0FpfCb_aBkC7StDt4dPhf2H1l6f-oWROnXUid8XNjESmPD1CS2_qIMgyeEwkHdhGe3HYY_-l4-LeiEBKs-HR/s1600/DSC01945.JPG" height="366" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One can just imagine how fantastic the gardens would look in full bloom!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Official website of the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">De Villandry and its Gardens</span></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> D</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">'Ussé</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The town of </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ussé is where one can find Sleeping Beauty's castle. Or so it says in the </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> D</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">'Ussé's website. The c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> even has a tower and rampart walk dedicated to "Sleeping Beauty" complete with mannequin displays posed in different scenes taken from the fairy tale. It was a tad creepy but interesting nonetheless.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ75KeKLSCSQT_Zs-MFl4KQQMagZjwdayEajKKGa4Zxz4BkkOAbXfOtKUkAoAxIMPr9HN6UzWOdA3S0a0KMWlNID1haYEzlHIGyZiZ2ZLvmwOJ2QVmr-Lv6JJclBD9pfJk-Xrn4Y_8Cu2c/s1600/DSC02076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ75KeKLSCSQT_Zs-MFl4KQQMagZjwdayEajKKGa4Zxz4BkkOAbXfOtKUkAoAxIMPr9HN6UzWOdA3S0a0KMWlNID1haYEzlHIGyZiZ2ZLvmwOJ2QVmr-Lv6JJclBD9pfJk-Xrn4Y_8Cu2c/s1600/DSC02076.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-_qvTm6MaXGSWcX8I3-nMwll1-iubjOu0tp7EPg87X9isT5uhDhkvX2X4yXe8yy9NNfjYMDTNBGQigxHj-wdNOpPvrmBSQbu4ds81ebX0aORAoCmyN8G24ZPDHWqGXVrrUajOaacx-M-/s1600/DSC02078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-_qvTm6MaXGSWcX8I3-nMwll1-iubjOu0tp7EPg87X9isT5uhDhkvX2X4yXe8yy9NNfjYMDTNBGQigxHj-wdNOpPvrmBSQbu4ds81ebX0aORAoCmyN8G24ZPDHWqGXVrrUajOaacx-M-/s1600/DSC02078.JPG" height="640" width="470" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmqSlsNrQGiOyl8JXl5B3rPpRXf4IFMiRncqMc0ylr-lOzBIecTjaHRzztVDbK8M0Hvmxy30SSH1a7buIkZskCGUaiwx3TFUA_7RuhrYdsv6DOF5nL70DcL3nMn5h5xHaUl-N027kfRP4/s1600/DSC02077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmqSlsNrQGiOyl8JXl5B3rPpRXf4IFMiRncqMc0ylr-lOzBIecTjaHRzztVDbK8M0Hvmxy30SSH1a7buIkZskCGUaiwx3TFUA_7RuhrYdsv6DOF5nL70DcL3nMn5h5xHaUl-N027kfRP4/s1600/DSC02077.JPG" height="414" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUTXub0YhjpWE1URkZzVc0IZsO5u_cib8oovNPbJg5kptIz9elzYJMFBmtUyS7jvn-w7b2u64-5RxVo1Ist1Y-AWVXgHjrsa00O4kJjnArJCgJyitPym8B3TSYRtXYjM4uhz26bIMykxn/s1600/DSC02082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUTXub0YhjpWE1URkZzVc0IZsO5u_cib8oovNPbJg5kptIz9elzYJMFBmtUyS7jvn-w7b2u64-5RxVo1Ist1Y-AWVXgHjrsa00O4kJjnArJCgJyitPym8B3TSYRtXYjM4uhz26bIMykxn/s1600/DSC02082.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau's chapel, Notre Dame D'</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Ussé.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.chateaudusse.fr/EN/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Official website of C</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> D</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">'Ussé</span></span></a></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau D'</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Azay-le-Rideau</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our last stop of the day was the village of Azay-le-Rideau, the home of one of the more popular </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteaus of the Loire Valley. Just like Villandry, this used to be where a medieval fortress once stood. The fortress fell into ruins in the 15th century and it wasn't until 1518 during Francis I's reign (remember him from Villandry?) when the present chateau was built.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The<b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau is now the property of the state and is part of the Centre Des Monuments Nationaux. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobfK0lu0dIn1lOw3Dc8rUeCroj-GnY54P0X8nUaG_uuCgrAAjgEsVict-pmvh_te2UpInoKfpa9m9eyx0brjC_mWMTsYWTIl-G-gsXGS0LV-lVvMEb1knznjIx90fgCjv55p9tS_gG93U/s1600/DSC02113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobfK0lu0dIn1lOw3Dc8rUeCroj-GnY54P0X8nUaG_uuCgrAAjgEsVict-pmvh_te2UpInoKfpa9m9eyx0brjC_mWMTsYWTIl-G-gsXGS0LV-lVvMEb1knznjIx90fgCjv55p9tS_gG93U/s1600/DSC02113.JPG" height="402" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The<b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau is built on a small island in the Indre river.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T3tmnKpkJ3bN5pbAOLarxx2FLwHc4AZ_OJduN6TkCiLIeNAycM-lvWsNLyYiO3BcFkswSA47qCuwHZ3uJZiFQytlZNXbtxASjkn0UmeU2UQflmbbI83okpFyT7q-mh4LqMp2N-iuTlZL/s1600/DSC02121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T3tmnKpkJ3bN5pbAOLarxx2FLwHc4AZ_OJduN6TkCiLIeNAycM-lvWsNLyYiO3BcFkswSA47qCuwHZ3uJZiFQytlZNXbtxASjkn0UmeU2UQflmbbI83okpFyT7q-mh4LqMp2N-iuTlZL/s1600/DSC02121.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsq7slCHP1N_kgD8x8hwziD0NETRl94PQKUkXbRPOtgq28lhXAvxcL2Kz4yoDLkD1O8DcGUSG9zpHmjCS0-9ZuHxT7AxC8kp-y0fL5nyAxG9E3V5IUhyphenhyphenFIqI0AjUz8oCcdcq0jP_CwJ2d/s1600/DSC02125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsq7slCHP1N_kgD8x8hwziD0NETRl94PQKUkXbRPOtgq28lhXAvxcL2Kz4yoDLkD1O8DcGUSG9zpHmjCS0-9ZuHxT7AxC8kp-y0fL5nyAxG9E3V5IUhyphenhyphenFIqI0AjUz8oCcdcq0jP_CwJ2d/s1600/DSC02125.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMPHnknKrymXROldie35Vz6pN-dElb035xUzTYvp3m78sbrPXMmA7V1YBfZYH-MMKyteihdBO5bgNlEfpdN5dx9Yf1L0hUYkJxC3u2NIZlg_fiiiM3ZqC-Vi2spivmoSVrFglX9j-4Pu2/s1600/DSC02134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMPHnknKrymXROldie35Vz6pN-dElb035xUzTYvp3m78sbrPXMmA7V1YBfZYH-MMKyteihdBO5bgNlEfpdN5dx9Yf1L0hUYkJxC3u2NIZlg_fiiiM3ZqC-Vi2spivmoSVrFglX9j-4Pu2/s1600/DSC02134.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJubx3CkWeqeR3h16-h47pXwgAGRgZV0ShSIqLyyzxobXK1nE0xhQwajmJIMyOS96HH3A1fYvcJ7BftPsv0hlCXBt8sFcBoRcUNUHCxiMIkgP7LTv4a2e7snhht_h2_BTyw6JCOSycx1Cp/s1600/DSC02143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJubx3CkWeqeR3h16-h47pXwgAGRgZV0ShSIqLyyzxobXK1nE0xhQwajmJIMyOS96HH3A1fYvcJ7BftPsv0hlCXBt8sFcBoRcUNUHCxiMIkgP7LTv4a2e7snhht_h2_BTyw6JCOSycx1Cp/s1600/DSC02143.JPG" height="640" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was extensive renovation work going on during our visit so I couldn't </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">get a decent picture of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau's facade</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">. This will do I guess! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://azay-le-rideau.monuments-nationaux.fr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Official website of the Château D'Azay-le-Rideau</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5GIPm1LI1THmkAFmgPg7SwCybE0zY6TkIcDlSVK8kgl05BtuA8zBu13-AqohIJvdezGYOaJJnk68cLJAsZo3-PAx80j3fZ-yBeSB8M75O5jTOYfpJBa6QlvdKTZ1vAirb-_OPAwOYMKG/s1600/DSC02149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5GIPm1LI1THmkAFmgPg7SwCybE0zY6TkIcDlSVK8kgl05BtuA8zBu13-AqohIJvdezGYOaJJnk68cLJAsZo3-PAx80j3fZ-yBeSB8M75O5jTOYfpJBa6QlvdKTZ1vAirb-_OPAwOYMKG/s1600/DSC02149.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A former girls school built by one of the past owners of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau to educate the daughters <br />of the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hâteau's housekeeping staff. It is now a restaurant.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: small; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I stayed for the night at the charming <a href="http://www.legrandmonarque.com/en/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Le Grand Monarque</a> hotel. It was a former 18th century post house. No, not the letter-mailing kind, that came later. Back then, post houses were built every 20 kms or so for travelers to exchange their horses for fresh ones. The distance between these post houses is roughly how far a horse can travel before tiring out. Those were the days when horsepower literally meant horse power!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The good reviews we read about the hotel were spot-on. The Big K and I were greeted warmly by the hotel staff. We were then shown two rooms to choose from, one on the second floor and the other at the attic on the third. We chose the latter because it was bigger and airy plus we liked the look of the exposed beams of the ceiling. Though we immediately felt a bit guilty when we found out that the hotel didn't have an elevator so the hotel staff had to carry both our heavy bags all the way up to the third floor. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No wonder the guy was thin as a rake, he carries heavy bags for a work out! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAg8W2MiytRZewmZSKBFZttQTi-du0W3WunR7yOCfww3DEuPjlZRqpKMsW-Ax0FAaHmfsbkBaxmT42CpNJF07OsODKALlQAGtlOtxLAsWydgIWuYK9WzvPxdoR1giwpPxOB49-NaHXdRi/s1600/DSC02155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAg8W2MiytRZewmZSKBFZttQTi-du0W3WunR7yOCfww3DEuPjlZRqpKMsW-Ax0FAaHmfsbkBaxmT42CpNJF07OsODKALlQAGtlOtxLAsWydgIWuYK9WzvPxdoR1giwpPxOB49-NaHXdRi/s1600/DSC02155.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hotel also serves good food as we enjoyed their dinner tremendously. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1409160842691450.1073741835.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=50" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">More pictures in our Facebook page</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next post: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/05/chateau-hopping-in-loire-valley-part-two.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Part Two Of Our Château-hopping</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-10470747240325507422014-04-22T14:20:00.000+08:002014-04-27T10:53:51.135+08:00Glass and Lace, the Islands of Murano and Burano <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our day trip to the islands of Murano and Burano was a welcome respite from the tourist-filled sestiere of San Marco. Although the two islands get their own share of visitors, it wasn't as bustling (well, not during the time we were there anyway) as busy San Marco.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ha0JVH-cPms_WizYF-nSHnSzU4i5YMHhVbDM04Ii8QLdQ7P07YsaoWlGxSGF-aQFteA43po8t9R7Gzohb2oJxtchPRxaTxIlI2hjEuDWeRRLRklfbxOCmPVGEH8ZNWr3Hf0nhLJOFcgB/s1600/DSC01560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ha0JVH-cPms_WizYF-nSHnSzU4i5YMHhVbDM04Ii8QLdQ7P07YsaoWlGxSGF-aQFteA43po8t9R7Gzohb2oJxtchPRxaTxIlI2hjEuDWeRRLRklfbxOCmPVGEH8ZNWr3Hf0nhLJOFcgB/s1600/DSC01560.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The picture-perfect colorful houses of Burano.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a bit of a late start on the day of our island-hopping as jet lag finally caught up with us (reminded us of another jet lag incident from <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/search/label/Sunhead%20of%201617" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">another trip</a>). It was way past 10 in the morning when we finally got to the vaporetto (water bus) stop. By that time there was already a long queue of Murano-bound passengers. Good thing we already</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> had the <a href="http://www.veneziaunica.it/en/ecommerce/products/pack/biglietti-turistici-actv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">12-hour ACTV Transport card</a> that we </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bought online before we left for our trip. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting there: (Or how we got there)</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">San Marco to Murano - At vaporetto stop D at the San Marco-San Zaccaria (Jolanda) jetty we boarded vaporetto no. 4.1 and got off at the Murano (Faro) stop. Travel time was approximately 45 minutes with all the stops in between.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Murano (Faro) to Burano - At the same stop in Murano we got on vaporetto no. 12 direction towards Burano. Travel time was around 30 minutes.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burano back to Venezia - At the same Burano stop we took the same vaporetto 12 towards the direction of Fondamente Nove. Travel time was around 30 minutes.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.actv.it/sites/default/files/mappa%20linee%20di%20navigazione_01%20aprile_%202014_A4_nuovo_layout_DEF%20web(2).pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ACTV Map</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Fondamente Nove the Big K and I were supposed to hop on another vaporetto to take us to San Marco but seeing a lot of people waiting for the same ride and not wanting to be metro-squashed Venetian style, we decided to just walk back to San Marco. It was only a leisurely 30-minute walk anyway, right? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, more like an hour or more because once again we wonderfully got lost in the back alleys of beautiful Venice. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHbjGv0MnsAnwAJaOOMEe7ujCIjiAbFzT85kODsrL0i-lNNbDLnYQIsrmbGxsUQneIRbDt85z4dROjQoM_ATmZ-X7hksH7kR-8nEWoB5iIY2fmogJx7GuD9KSUn0OSNVWf2X2cLlc5kYa/s1600/Image+(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHbjGv0MnsAnwAJaOOMEe7ujCIjiAbFzT85kODsrL0i-lNNbDLnYQIsrmbGxsUQneIRbDt85z4dROjQoM_ATmZ-X7hksH7kR-8nEWoB5iIY2fmogJx7GuD9KSUn0OSNVWf2X2cLlc5kYa/s1600/Image+(14).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Murano</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glass factories were once located in Venice but in the late 1200s they were moved to the island of Murano for fear of fire breaking out in the city's mostly wooden buildings of the time. The move resulted to Murano's reputation as the center of glass-making. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I were hoping to watch a glassblowing demonstration when we got to Murano. Unfortunately because of our late start we arrived well past noon and every one of the factories/show rooms we peeked into were either on lunch break or had just finished their demonstration. Oh well! More reason for us to come back in the future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45DVHnAJ6ejiSYsOIgXxmwu6NLkGfmqrjdtR3d1EW8apulKnoxSanJZMy5rd3_WvwFVrVsvgKxGdAWsK_Kw6c6bOw5PFNG__9ZNW5eF99mQdnmWNldiZwngpUgOQxz4jGF4w_2qaa8MYA/s1600/DSC01502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45DVHnAJ6ejiSYsOIgXxmwu6NLkGfmqrjdtR3d1EW8apulKnoxSanJZMy5rd3_WvwFVrVsvgKxGdAWsK_Kw6c6bOw5PFNG__9ZNW5eF99mQdnmWNldiZwngpUgOQxz4jGF4w_2qaa8MYA/s1600/DSC01502.JPG" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Murano Faro (lighthouse) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnZG7im9ogqxP7fbJfk3Zv8qLWxyxl3r-NqzQ1NT-EdF1wXIC322XBjoxbkNauG3SmmLSbDKQ0sMQXyfMR2NCHVDtMzDV_s_3sZOrfL6yC8VddtufmztNRQpPephPRHAxgcubeCvTz3gM/s1600/DSC01500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnZG7im9ogqxP7fbJfk3Zv8qLWxyxl3r-NqzQ1NT-EdF1wXIC322XBjoxbkNauG3SmmLSbDKQ0sMQXyfMR2NCHVDtMzDV_s_3sZOrfL6yC8VddtufmztNRQpPephPRHAxgcubeCvTz3gM/s1600/DSC01500.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmE0TQF3425-d5oze67tInbHy3nOoTSOCmfkRVS7yGTlbf86x8b0mQE21eEOnYXC0boz26bnD3-uZmu9C9vfi_sCKAgZVBI0LW4KL43x6MMMXUNfYEZlQ5DcZCs_mfnEeBM-bjr3rEHNR/s1600/DSC01456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmE0TQF3425-d5oze67tInbHy3nOoTSOCmfkRVS7yGTlbf86x8b0mQE21eEOnYXC0boz26bnD3-uZmu9C9vfi_sCKAgZVBI0LW4KL43x6MMMXUNfYEZlQ5DcZCs_mfnEeBM-bjr3rEHNR/s1600/DSC01456.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfETOq8OSg7NZoCvy0rNr5eem8qMLGWpW38sHU9bYCKWuttZC9d8gXkeoFEUqM0hK3modg2a0PEGSB_XpPdVS_dVPGKKi2X8bZjwNcXEPcrko-Cx6HiYsyADSZ2_vstN2Oj88ARkK1T_Z4/s1600/DSC01458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfETOq8OSg7NZoCvy0rNr5eem8qMLGWpW38sHU9bYCKWuttZC9d8gXkeoFEUqM0hK3modg2a0PEGSB_XpPdVS_dVPGKKi2X8bZjwNcXEPcrko-Cx6HiYsyADSZ2_vstN2Oj88ARkK1T_Z4/s1600/DSC01458.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmLj82qWJUC6SH07067Pbj-Jvf3v5AF2JhtnWF8jghDU0AQXOH9r18VlBdaN1J4UoLi_M3k9CFbhIgzxZC4HTiqM_tzCM_tZXUXRG8Mlhmli7gqIjALTj3pl_UbgfuCPjNV8vkH0rwPPO/s1600/DSC01466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmLj82qWJUC6SH07067Pbj-Jvf3v5AF2JhtnWF8jghDU0AQXOH9r18VlBdaN1J4UoLi_M3k9CFbhIgzxZC4HTiqM_tzCM_tZXUXRG8Mlhmli7gqIjALTj3pl_UbgfuCPjNV8vkH0rwPPO/s1600/DSC01466.JPG" height="640" width="506" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQhyphenhyphentp64wxzz5L0XUH2M7FMYjDqwWBuFu5EIMbdA9BhnhTk3WFjA-sFy9mG2S90otfyKZUAQtPGwfRSRYUiMNNDc18cltxTv_T-I8JXHM6FCym0-GtPMPlxnmAzdK312Z2u8abnXdc3PS/s1600/DSC01496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQhyphenhyphentp64wxzz5L0XUH2M7FMYjDqwWBuFu5EIMbdA9BhnhTk3WFjA-sFy9mG2S90otfyKZUAQtPGwfRSRYUiMNNDc18cltxTv_T-I8JXHM6FCym0-GtPMPlxnmAzdK312Z2u8abnXdc3PS/s1600/DSC01496.JPG" height="366" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Murano's Grand Canal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNPGhetNtRbo8wxMI_OpKv8Gjcd7y0woW3vdT0bqIhu5MDuNW7-8kLuShLeoBVWIePe9N0ADn3KLA92lpnkjRbpD4zNHck5UBRrbSwQ2uvBgNMcbcfD-BUeOsfOpO7DjVqDhAFe7dsCED/s1600/DSC01490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNPGhetNtRbo8wxMI_OpKv8Gjcd7y0woW3vdT0bqIhu5MDuNW7-8kLuShLeoBVWIePe9N0ADn3KLA92lpnkjRbpD4zNHck5UBRrbSwQ2uvBgNMcbcfD-BUeOsfOpO7DjVqDhAFe7dsCED/s1600/DSC01490.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEdYFZkaYcVMPq3q0Q2bCqQ4rNHmEFQp4Bkmm2SvOWvlwzX0EnpsxsBKIRDFq2Rdml_7V5J75ufwyyOD9CBN9QTZzTJuNUo27K9YO96oBDerwKwTpPLWjky_OKBN8syvoGoOUj_JGq6Lm/s1600/DSC01494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEdYFZkaYcVMPq3q0Q2bCqQ4rNHmEFQp4Bkmm2SvOWvlwzX0EnpsxsBKIRDFq2Rdml_7V5J75ufwyyOD9CBN9QTZzTJuNUo27K9YO96oBDerwKwTpPLWjky_OKBN8syvoGoOUj_JGq6Lm/s1600/DSC01494.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1WE5lhD1zrVkqFYVckYIW_pkh0dp4-wsRvkz-ScTLVrg0GZZO8XE_Cz2b_R4Bw7i0bdFKFNRcSHOPjmTA-OAtC2l9wZmXOm6-iRIGqycU0WR48BvLSafRwQDazjQiwm7eJesry0TAddN/s1600/DSC01192.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1WE5lhD1zrVkqFYVckYIW_pkh0dp4-wsRvkz-ScTLVrg0GZZO8XE_Cz2b_R4Bw7i0bdFKFNRcSHOPjmTA-OAtC2l9wZmXOm6-iRIGqycU0WR48BvLSafRwQDazjQiwm7eJesry0TAddN/s1600/DSC01192.JPG" height="408" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Next stop, Burano!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />What glass work is to Murano, lace work is to Burano. According to an old legend, while navigating the lagoon a fisherman betrothed to a Burano girl resisted the temptation of mermaids singing. The Mermaid Queen was so impressed by the man's resistance she decided to reward him for his faithfulness to his </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fiancée. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She hit the boat with her tail and the water movement formed a foam which she created into a beautiful and delicate nuptial veil for the bride. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the wedding day of the fisherman and his </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">fiancée</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, the bride's veil was so envied by all especially the young girls who tried to recreate the veil by using a needle and thread. Lace making was born!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fyj2gwtwj0Pi15ejBB0sOcV6rg3YpeXYOKeuOkY9D11Hyn2vpvdT70sv9IeFN0pHd87bE6pmlRJnX1XC1wWWkT412V1bhvvErj1_yzKE7VirfkkaOGmL6nKPNLIOx_rkTwSwzctc24PW/s1600/DSC01550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fyj2gwtwj0Pi15ejBB0sOcV6rg3YpeXYOKeuOkY9D11Hyn2vpvdT70sv9IeFN0pHd87bE6pmlRJnX1XC1wWWkT412V1bhvvErj1_yzKE7VirfkkaOGmL6nKPNLIOx_rkTwSwzctc24PW/s1600/DSC01550.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tiny island is also known for their colorful houses. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking along the canals of Burano is like entering a giant coloring book with multicolored houses standing next to each other painted in vibrant colors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-W-dFh1GKkbSVERkBNsj5q0Btsmasjj0wuCHwj9ENJwgkQe6B03dzVckd4dCY9Q1s0DhpegsXJNsm1lb3Qu_xxTeOBpTK29HTLLAFWF0IojnN28nAdJQ3i4zRKVr4S5_dHANLtZL3_Xl/s1600/DSC01530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-W-dFh1GKkbSVERkBNsj5q0Btsmasjj0wuCHwj9ENJwgkQe6B03dzVckd4dCY9Q1s0DhpegsXJNsm1lb3Qu_xxTeOBpTK29HTLLAFWF0IojnN28nAdJQ3i4zRKVr4S5_dHANLtZL3_Xl/s1600/DSC01530.JPG" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj4Bp7ztvTyZZMJIFkaJXpKuhA3pYnFCBe3PeCP6NMmoEpkflYlFphH5GKYZJUcfXip1PHkzwovFsM1u16GzkWLGEioXpnvu5RqioIcDWlTqQ1uQxXZdpCDAxM3fwjztGhCoCgJ1vRhKr/s1600/DSC01538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj4Bp7ztvTyZZMJIFkaJXpKuhA3pYnFCBe3PeCP6NMmoEpkflYlFphH5GKYZJUcfXip1PHkzwovFsM1u16GzkWLGEioXpnvu5RqioIcDWlTqQ1uQxXZdpCDAxM3fwjztGhCoCgJ1vRhKr/s1600/DSC01538.JPG" height="398" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOpKeiKUGFnZm3oVk2RLkgCdQ66nPnwkyd7IQhgNAgyQR_wVLgyJC98BL7BgMf8cCBdSKKHbTp8f0vWqS4Mo9DoutUdESxshKXqcozOl1PXOJkA5U4MtmxvjgsfCAgBKjT720ENy8aGiT/s1600/DSC01541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOpKeiKUGFnZm3oVk2RLkgCdQ66nPnwkyd7IQhgNAgyQR_wVLgyJC98BL7BgMf8cCBdSKKHbTp8f0vWqS4Mo9DoutUdESxshKXqcozOl1PXOJkA5U4MtmxvjgsfCAgBKjT720ENy8aGiT/s1600/DSC01541.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Burano's own leaning bell tower of San Martino.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zZFff019nTUoEHgdqkRVjc7Fx7-whmAR2lt9UIv1NRKHVAisAl1kNwQumOBGnCiX0UBmXZh73uODQlNO7w1Q_D0AbKufsB-k-AbVY7nqNfqQ65UGwZrt2G0FgePCjPTLPjUwfV-xF-tP/s1600/DSC01543.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zZFff019nTUoEHgdqkRVjc7Fx7-whmAR2lt9UIv1NRKHVAisAl1kNwQumOBGnCiX0UBmXZh73uODQlNO7w1Q_D0AbKufsB-k-AbVY7nqNfqQ65UGwZrt2G0FgePCjPTLPjUwfV-xF-tP/s1600/DSC01543.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right about now the Big K and I felt our tummies grumbling. Time for lunch, a rather late one at that. At the island's main street an image of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ on the balcony of one restaurant caught our attention, we thought this seemed like a good place to eat. Of course, the sign for free WiFi didn't have anything to do with our decision to eat at the restaurant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We seated ourselves at one of the outdoor tables and looked forward to another opportunity to stuff our faces. Now what to eat? Seafood, of course! For starters we had tender octopus salad followed by huge servings of seafood pasta and squid ink risotto. Oh! And our drinks had to be the Spritz Veneziano, a cocktail made from prosecco wine and a dash of liqueur. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDKXqlpKN8rI1SfJns3hy7b4m4Esu5D36Bh0ULvB75Lf5mYZ90m9pjNsrqZ7o-BKmZcsvXjHxoVjza-7TkHXgS3J2X_9i7AsvF9CwcBrgP9hjNT3_NVvRmhKaS8B31SIjHEuy8td3Eh4K/s1600/Image+(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDKXqlpKN8rI1SfJns3hy7b4m4Esu5D36Bh0ULvB75Lf5mYZ90m9pjNsrqZ7o-BKmZcsvXjHxoVjza-7TkHXgS3J2X_9i7AsvF9CwcBrgP9hjNT3_NVvRmhKaS8B31SIjHEuy8td3Eh4K/s1600/Image+(11).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yummy!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to head back home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmwdZ_KH8-XsJvOt5TBnIaOPIocqInQ8SJaQgRKbA8U98o55eziwiZSkJT9C7m74E0wsF7l-y7fJgWEXbRU2zWvvJl8fkTJEOA-SSusmeCEiXBMBH5WX0mcaTxGQO2y-RwpVQW9TCWXnL/s1600/DSC01569.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmwdZ_KH8-XsJvOt5TBnIaOPIocqInQ8SJaQgRKbA8U98o55eziwiZSkJT9C7m74E0wsF7l-y7fJgWEXbRU2zWvvJl8fkTJEOA-SSusmeCEiXBMBH5WX0mcaTxGQO2y-RwpVQW9TCWXnL/s1600/DSC01569.JPG" height="640" width="460" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGCyMhfTdou5ch9N_XF_RkBKd_sHriRFdpyEi4SiBru8rPr2g0TQUWol7ZHXgnb8lJ04MI-zTG9i_Ov4Fr2dUu0MNHDJzIoVBXxN5wuI-G0W3RNQpXLuk8YPAXqm30P5DmOv-tvs0_Jvu/s1600/DSC01583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGCyMhfTdou5ch9N_XF_RkBKd_sHriRFdpyEi4SiBru8rPr2g0TQUWol7ZHXgnb8lJ04MI-zTG9i_Ov4Fr2dUu0MNHDJzIoVBXxN5wuI-G0W3RNQpXLuk8YPAXqm30P5DmOv-tvs0_Jvu/s1600/DSC01583.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.hotelcipriani.com/web/ocip/hotel_cipriani.jsp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Belmond Hotel Cipriani's</a> 24/7 complimentary boat service. No standing room here!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacB8X38xZ5zfUxg10oNAV3d086VK_gHXkEAqwHaeMEeRGldnpuW4eu6U4pqjzvvINoyfwuWhshIddmhGs4TO8SiyLXeaYix11sAl9xfkLIOQwr9ZtDNZya2SZ1INGl09hLmVRpReU-aKW/s1600/DSC01599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacB8X38xZ5zfUxg10oNAV3d086VK_gHXkEAqwHaeMEeRGldnpuW4eu6U4pqjzvvINoyfwuWhshIddmhGs4TO8SiyLXeaYix11sAl9xfkLIOQwr9ZtDNZya2SZ1INGl09hLmVRpReU-aKW/s1600/DSC01599.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We stayed at the Hotel Cipriani as part of our <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" target="_blank">Orient Express journey</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, my souvenir from our fun day trip? A lovely Murano scarf pin and a gorgeous delicate Burano lace shawl. I am a happy camper!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDEejiL4blmyIK_bBZcpjeV__6ePO4xNTfnLhRALTyKwBVYDqWaYkTNvlLLkncc03K_8QDX_kJbKQAiPKExD4CTaVSidHC8knn8ljkdUJW-EqdHNolc9U6a4DPKGHtkuZVRaO7fbO2tp7/s1600/DSC04128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDEejiL4blmyIK_bBZcpjeV__6ePO4xNTfnLhRALTyKwBVYDqWaYkTNvlLLkncc03K_8QDX_kJbKQAiPKExD4CTaVSidHC8knn8ljkdUJW-EqdHNolc9U6a4DPKGHtkuZVRaO7fbO2tp7/s1600/DSC04128.JPG" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More pictures of our fun-filled day trip to Murano and Burano in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1407587476182120.1073741834.1389503424657192&type=3&uploaded=41" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook page.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-50056569797578273922014-04-17T12:44:00.000+08:002015-03-01T07:39:51.000+08:00Venice, Italy <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our recent trip to Europe this year was extra special because it was the Big K's golden birthday treat (though his birthday isn't until June). If you are a regular visitor to our blog you already know that the Big K and I are big on celebrations. No, not the party kind of celebration but the going-away-someplace-special kind of celebration. We always try to make it a point to go somewhere </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to spend our </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/06/abaca-boutique-resort-and-restaurant-in.html?m=0" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">birthdays</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/01/not-your-everyday-farm.html?m=0" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">anniversaries</a>. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Uh-huh! Itchy feet we have. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as luck would have it or one can also say it was an early birthday gift as the Big K was given more time off from work than we had originally planned for. We were able to stretch our trip to 3-weeks adding two more cities to visit on our original itinerary. Ah! The beauty of DIYing one's trip! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First stop, Italy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhTggjSvlmqpd_lhWp7Y1xKw_sOqi3PQt776klJbdigY3c2-LKOS-uOb3iBwA8mxGwoLVolNemUW61GHu_tfVBrXanLctquYpWcA4S3cCERtSbEAjVmoG7UhHSmHKqE4PlJKoKzIhNXBt/s1600/DSC01128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhTggjSvlmqpd_lhWp7Y1xKw_sOqi3PQt776klJbdigY3c2-LKOS-uOb3iBwA8mxGwoLVolNemUW61GHu_tfVBrXanLctquYpWcA4S3cCERtSbEAjVmoG7UhHSmHKqE4PlJKoKzIhNXBt/s1600/DSC01128.JPG" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Venice</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were booked on the season-opening trip of the Venice Simplon Orient-Express train from Venice to Paris. The train journey was one of the highlights of our trip which I earlier wrote about </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/the-venice-simplon-orient-express.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The package also included a 2-night stay at the luxurious Hotel Cipriani. But t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he Big K and I wanted to do a little bit more sightseeing so we decided to arrive a day early.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After travelling for the bigger part of the day that included a 15-hour flight and a two and a half hour train ride from Milan, we finally arrive in Venice. Aah! Beautiful Venice! A city known for its canals and bridges. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_zOaUCyvNKUbCwEVUFu272AiUTH22ojII9aET2jnvREUAX_Vh13iPbdtmriB2AfI4-oRjTK0IC9CJiJSKDfVG2N9kY93JGyUkqQQhjhN2zHK4ltzqE-tbucpKhwcEyThrU9_G-UgbJMZ/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_zOaUCyvNKUbCwEVUFu272AiUTH22ojII9aET2jnvREUAX_Vh13iPbdtmriB2AfI4-oRjTK0IC9CJiJSKDfVG2N9kY93JGyUkqQQhjhN2zHK4ltzqE-tbucpKhwcEyThrU9_G-UgbJMZ/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first thing we saw outside the busy Santa Lucia train station is the famous Grand Canal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcrdGgvhLtWJZ8z8PiYTXKQJojuDCAn4lwxwPySyvLDxjjoDm6rMT1_LShBqtFMP_Vx3IKeClOuq2FbtV8eqWivM0f4YH7JK_Rg7VTozU7vXDaZBPSCx2ntpXy4CbrfmHq_3HosWP1vcy/s1600/DSC01165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcrdGgvhLtWJZ8z8PiYTXKQJojuDCAn4lwxwPySyvLDxjjoDm6rMT1_LShBqtFMP_Vx3IKeClOuq2FbtV8eqWivM0f4YH7JK_Rg7VTozU7vXDaZBPSCx2ntpXy4CbrfmHq_3HosWP1vcy/s1600/DSC01165.JPG" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Grand Canal is Venice's equivalent to main street. It is not surprising to get caught in traffic, <br />boat traffic that is, along the Grand Canal. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymr8C-w3rT4DLkYr1ZXS1kwHQYqf7eU5dkl6fV2HygY8m4jFxRKPqBtXleIOaFA9F7dc_E6glpX6fzrhlZJ5MUoU0dTS1K8r2VWCS2ZbtNrw0GeFlB6V5x53FwD4eI-KxjNpJognjMvrh/s1600/DSC01175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymr8C-w3rT4DLkYr1ZXS1kwHQYqf7eU5dkl6fV2HygY8m4jFxRKPqBtXleIOaFA9F7dc_E6glpX6fzrhlZJ5MUoU0dTS1K8r2VWCS2ZbtNrw0GeFlB6V5x53FwD4eI-KxjNpJognjMvrh/s1600/DSC01175.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Rialto Bridge spanning the Grand Canal is the oldest bridge in Venice built in 1591.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBSwTnrADEBWCOQjgEh16krM7zD2PI0-B_DSvZJ_N7NZ_8XXsWpjdrQrR1_db8y1Kl6oFCYbmZ26NBmYu9JbmvZDZDQ0PVERAklXyErjN8i7U8DrYzsr0xvA88xgGf4FFmwsXN-h-wq9Z/s1600/DSC01129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBSwTnrADEBWCOQjgEh16krM7zD2PI0-B_DSvZJ_N7NZ_8XXsWpjdrQrR1_db8y1Kl6oFCYbmZ26NBmYu9JbmvZDZDQ0PVERAklXyErjN8i7U8DrYzsr0xvA88xgGf4FFmwsXN-h-wq9Z/s1600/DSC01129.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We stayed at the Hotel Al Ponte Dei Sospiri on our first night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">as the hotel's name suggests it was near the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">famous </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bridge of Sighs. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTGMoOiaC5RB7ukx7A4MMFJX3EHDAWLtBA8dtECThOggMeiDA5JdsyqSbx4BG9Um0t-r9nhV0-sbLgNAL7K2YjzC8-YlVBfQIVSxFBm9-C1YvaR8H03wh28Lq_p8c8oLevQccvMXPBXz8/s1600/DSC01132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTGMoOiaC5RB7ukx7A4MMFJX3EHDAWLtBA8dtECThOggMeiDA5JdsyqSbx4BG9Um0t-r9nhV0-sbLgNAL7K2YjzC8-YlVBfQIVSxFBm9-C1YvaR8H03wh28Lq_p8c8oLevQccvMXPBXz8/s1600/DSC01132.JPG" height="640" width="402" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The lovely view from our room. We could see and hear </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">gondoliers </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">singing as they passed right by our balcony. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yup! We were definitely in Venice!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Bridge of Sighs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bridge of Sighs is an enclosed bridge with two windows on each side that was built in the 1600. It links </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the Doge's Palace with the city's prison across the canal. It was mainly used to take the prisoners interrogated at the Doge's Palace to their prison cells. The name of the bridge came about as prisoners were led to their cells they would look out of the windows for their final view of Venice and sigh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkHLHcLw1yItPr0PtHsWpKlHnYywIsLl8NYyWInaNcaeRpOGFqwmVV-VwNC8XzGqVk-c7bDnk-9iXr98P7BVou7qwpwIGb4nBsVwy1kR_lxZ07dPWL-ITW-FXpiCjAXXsAa4PGFdR3iE2/s1600/DSC01430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkHLHcLw1yItPr0PtHsWpKlHnYywIsLl8NYyWInaNcaeRpOGFqwmVV-VwNC8XzGqVk-c7bDnk-9iXr98P7BVou7qwpwIGb4nBsVwy1kR_lxZ07dPWL-ITW-FXpiCjAXXsAa4PGFdR3iE2/s1600/DSC01430.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Venice in 2 Days</b></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>(and a half)</b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Our 3-day stay in Venice was basically cut to two days of sightseeing since we arrived quite late on our first day the remainder of which was spent walking around and getting lost in the back alleys of tourist central, San Marco. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I are the lingering type of travelers. We like to take our time to see a place and enjoy the moment. No Amazing Race for us, thank you! Since we only had two full days in Venice we had to make a list of all the tourist attractions and choose the ones that interested us the most. Hopefully we get to go back in the future so we can visit the other must-sees in our list. Here's keeping our fingers crossed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we chose to do the following: a visit to the Doge's Palace and go on the <a href="http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/the-museum/layout-and-collections/secret-itineraries/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Secret Itineraries" tour</a> (Palazzo Ducale Itinerari Segreti). Being book-lovers we just had to drop by the Libreria Acqua Alta plus they have cats (did I mention we have 15 fur kids of our own? Uh-huh!) and lastly a day trip to the islands of Murano and Burano. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhStg5eMYx8DKxqG1be9PVHjFtjwEHcPWzY8eBLM_4zUSDWCXoA804pji5-O-XrR7dtoLimnXViCPcb29k81dLCGDHEAgLclPLgkEFsxTXenMJrMG4zTYXXvJHJTew81BuPfms9xX0WV4T/s1600/DSC01291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhStg5eMYx8DKxqG1be9PVHjFtjwEHcPWzY8eBLM_4zUSDWCXoA804pji5-O-XrR7dtoLimnXViCPcb29k81dLCGDHEAgLclPLgkEFsxTXenMJrMG4zTYXXvJHJTew81BuPfms9xX0WV4T/s1600/DSC01291.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Doge's Palace with Saint Mark's Basilica peeping on the left side.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OVYZDIemLP8qEuq5TEfKYvS8ulTb8_vrytqcAB3AA6pFyd1wq9CNqoqzEpymSRCZ02mpQ2OKFt0KyjxCdcT7xMoBQeadTm4rSDxSn0_Ekt2cnGR1ymGDbMsr5V3ZoxxBVAgcemUsHpxr/s1600/DSC01247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OVYZDIemLP8qEuq5TEfKYvS8ulTb8_vrytqcAB3AA6pFyd1wq9CNqoqzEpymSRCZ02mpQ2OKFt0KyjxCdcT7xMoBQeadTm4rSDxSn0_Ekt2cnGR1ymGDbMsr5V3ZoxxBVAgcemUsHpxr/s1600/DSC01247.JPG" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Courtyard of the Doge's Palace.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I typically go our own merry way when visiting tourist attractions. We seldom avail of tours offered by the local tourist board unless it's something worthwhile. During our preparation for this trip, we would always come across the Secret Itineraries Tour offered by the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace). The tour is highly recommended and it takes one inside rooms and chambers of the Doge's Palace not open to the general public. Plus the story of one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giacomo_Casanova" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Giovanni Giacomo Casanova</a> (yup! That Casanova) totally intrigued us. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, yes, the Secret Itineraries Tour is definitely a two thumbs up! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi1jqDjlRsaZDC5wpN7J9WzvBEO5uoaU4YsGEcWiOm4_S0SEwsoA7dBIxBb2AsGMbb1gywvwsJj7tVLVYerHnEetuenYaFhnYl3ukIUjq8E5rawpuGPdrRoyktDgQIPeDDX-A_PljHv2y/s1600/DSC01198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi1jqDjlRsaZDC5wpN7J9WzvBEO5uoaU4YsGEcWiOm4_S0SEwsoA7dBIxBb2AsGMbb1gywvwsJj7tVLVYerHnEetuenYaFhnYl3ukIUjq8E5rawpuGPdrRoyktDgQIPeDDX-A_PljHv2y/s1600/DSC01198.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Torre dell'Orologio (Saint Mark's Clock Tower)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRmfPp66ppeFNgyijf-KzF9B2fm8QKib3KpUko0rAsLAdUJXCaJgGGU6w4lFBe13ROV2H7ierNPV_VGaCkHH2RkneD7ErjTSfV0zcI75yFVpfag9e58v-Y32_dg1ID7fNV55qGyxgIkkJ/s1600/DSC01286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRmfPp66ppeFNgyijf-KzF9B2fm8QKib3KpUko0rAsLAdUJXCaJgGGU6w4lFBe13ROV2H7ierNPV_VGaCkHH2RkneD7ErjTSfV0zcI75yFVpfag9e58v-Y32_dg1ID7fNV55qGyxgIkkJ/s1600/DSC01286.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Souvenirs! Novelties! Party tricks!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAQ4jU5m8C5-lx7wuxArcivsCqZl6zyWZaNWt1VJYqPI6lLHOC3ExXUBm59IGR5n1V-PfncEGpk3i1NoVCHrE1P7jg3fZmJ8PE7AnOSnPJLP37HCEo4HXFt417nWBlXNq3w0tMuv-ggAl/s1600/DSC01578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAQ4jU5m8C5-lx7wuxArcivsCqZl6zyWZaNWt1VJYqPI6lLHOC3ExXUBm59IGR5n1V-PfncEGpk3i1NoVCHrE1P7jg3fZmJ8PE7AnOSnPJLP37HCEo4HXFt417nWBlXNq3w0tMuv-ggAl/s1600/DSC01578.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2bQkFbvGzsZa6mOBOt0bqJc7Sz00nzlcA4wFnzuN_4VGNQv2QFzr2AkQYt26b5TkYcvV6Wzl-IBd2vW58lngeMLizJbvGawBVx77m_cawzvIJn_r3DZn4gkQtEdGclGmWLPdwvUaEhzb/s1600/DSC01438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2bQkFbvGzsZa6mOBOt0bqJc7Sz00nzlcA4wFnzuN_4VGNQv2QFzr2AkQYt26b5TkYcvV6Wzl-IBd2vW58lngeMLizJbvGawBVx77m_cawzvIJn_r3DZn4gkQtEdGclGmWLPdwvUaEhzb/s1600/DSC01438.JPG" height="640" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The wooden platforms scattered all over Piazza San Marco are a <br />constant</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> reminder </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">of Venice's periodic acqua alta (high water) that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">would flood the whole city. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65wp2yEBeWKxw5zBGwu-iSKXTT4KaFL5wNQh1ce7i57lzTJjVnRJiWGCG8U4dJ-ICquG2VNRI6woYwgq0gANFe-t4DvtRjX7BdDzvH4F7CLJ89K4nDxHPWDDIa3m2m9qOOIN8kWwJl7va/s1600/DSC01335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65wp2yEBeWKxw5zBGwu-iSKXTT4KaFL5wNQh1ce7i57lzTJjVnRJiWGCG8U4dJ-ICquG2VNRI6woYwgq0gANFe-t4DvtRjX7BdDzvH4F7CLJ89K4nDxHPWDDIa3m2m9qOOIN8kWwJl7va/s1600/DSC01335.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In every trip we take the Big K and I try to have a taste of the local food. So Venice being a coastal city, we definitely had to try their seafood. Walking around San Marco, well more like getting lost in the back alleys of the sestiere, we found this trattoria well-away from the usual tourist track.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRmRvzTVHD-MKoWn5BbZ0O5WNeNHfYsR9R6dPkvh_uVFV8GHy_mvFYnOJ-pahf4JJC2jcSXuFip_oR8EUsZ0BA7iHNsE1PB3JgQdubjUl5bNw-PnW-gGD56ETin_KVd21_lrUfGt3yzEQ/s1600/Image+(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRmRvzTVHD-MKoWn5BbZ0O5WNeNHfYsR9R6dPkvh_uVFV8GHy_mvFYnOJ-pahf4JJC2jcSXuFip_oR8EUsZ0BA7iHNsE1PB3JgQdubjUl5bNw-PnW-gGD56ETin_KVd21_lrUfGt3yzEQ/s1600/Image+(12).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The food was very good and the servings were big! We started with an aubergine timbale <br />Parmagiana style followed by Spaghetti Scogliera with seafood and Paccheri with cuttlefish <br />Venetian style. Oooh! So yummy! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to walk off that huge lunch and on to our next stop!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeMHst4q2Lk1t9b9WVnBT7A536W7DMUQ3tviWE2FBKCu1YIfiEs1nGaOGD9EQ9OR_FDCPOf6_KZ_tkidx_BpNyl1uEOkeIIYck7FUprO417sioC9AwjA1HPdlW_nJWRJcV6WmNPqt54ir/s1600/DSC01568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeMHst4q2Lk1t9b9WVnBT7A536W7DMUQ3tviWE2FBKCu1YIfiEs1nGaOGD9EQ9OR_FDCPOf6_KZ_tkidx_BpNyl1uEOkeIIYck7FUprO417sioC9AwjA1HPdlW_nJWRJcV6WmNPqt54ir/s1600/DSC01568.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvqMixjC4fKrgUdek2VYevN94gOikBcHDdyIBUhUvO38oH4AaAtA3AmItmdkyKRhOw1U27V8vItfNmTbaiWf-Qpjqbe-kLo1qIT1cyvwp5lnJ480-ss2sY7p1erp4ETQpx9rpWw2i5KD7/s1600/DSC01338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvqMixjC4fKrgUdek2VYevN94gOikBcHDdyIBUhUvO38oH4AaAtA3AmItmdkyKRhOw1U27V8vItfNmTbaiWf-Qpjqbe-kLo1qIT1cyvwp5lnJ480-ss2sY7p1erp4ETQpx9rpWw2i5KD7/s1600/DSC01338.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Campo Santa Maria Formosa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeB2IbZtS6qzpsbybszbEQP4Hdl_wxULIKqFnKXawkNu-jbxk1V-UoKsVEnnSFyoTPVt1HlmUjPwt_bogErvFjymwkHXX3OqOyAtJKCZB1sP1z6TTKpYuD0-hOsc2e2lxGCPSjF7BABbV/s1600/DSC01340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeB2IbZtS6qzpsbybszbEQP4Hdl_wxULIKqFnKXawkNu-jbxk1V-UoKsVEnnSFyoTPVt1HlmUjPwt_bogErvFjymwkHXX3OqOyAtJKCZB1sP1z6TTKpYuD0-hOsc2e2lxGCPSjF7BABbV/s1600/DSC01340.JPG" height="640" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Welcome to the most beautiful bookstore in the world" says the sign at <br />the Libreria Acqua Alta. Beyond any doubt it was one charming <br />bookstore. Did I mention they have cats?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxriv5vJCj7_0AUSND4nqAiDmy1xh6G3v5qY_e3DcZZxrLYPxB5Yn15HzF7voVJiIfZ-0DeI_w52TFGgUL9qqwIXPA9a6c_wMninfmLPxPl0eeGFABMDH4VBpRsbn16UADhSjV0FxJudRS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxriv5vJCj7_0AUSND4nqAiDmy1xh6G3v5qY_e3DcZZxrLYPxB5Yn15HzF7voVJiIfZ-0DeI_w52TFGgUL9qqwIXPA9a6c_wMninfmLPxPl0eeGFABMDH4VBpRsbn16UADhSjV0FxJudRS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc6rgZrcoG475PMsd2SIi9Fa2s3UXV3hpd86lEHNEeXbpZa2Ecu4xibqiUJquBRxXheFhxj0vmHKnfBpkB7XcuiZJiFVVdnzsmgO18O2IR0rE8N_B5hRFKq4fBn6p9wUz9NIwKFrtSFle/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc6rgZrcoG475PMsd2SIi9Fa2s3UXV3hpd86lEHNEeXbpZa2Ecu4xibqiUJquBRxXheFhxj0vmHKnfBpkB7XcuiZJiFVVdnzsmgO18O2IR0rE8N_B5hRFKq4fBn6p9wUz9NIwKFrtSFle/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Steps to a higher learning?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM_kvpzMNSTcSSuJpLh_aRg44ifnES50GtwNUCEnxmlTrlqxzFqFTErfiS90JRhPJjmWK4vcmaTEOrBMHPkkQysr5n8YAatlTcMRHIZtD7t0Eal3pi9tNAiI3cWkpwkYAX-AlUcLXvkMB/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM_kvpzMNSTcSSuJpLh_aRg44ifnES50GtwNUCEnxmlTrlqxzFqFTErfiS90JRhPJjmWK4vcmaTEOrBMHPkkQysr5n8YAatlTcMRHIZtD7t0Eal3pi9tNAiI3cWkpwkYAX-AlUcLXvkMB/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaYBGo-TfyrI3U-gFywPL3vD1D1POfM9Cdp2LivC60GM8uwIuVaDNwSnI1yTHtky0EfhhT_0fGmTsE2DfVsxiidB1SYEc9cTLRMdCC6VDYYxodbrqD5l59qpTgLgf0gtF3Vj3_xgKVVHL/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaYBGo-TfyrI3U-gFywPL3vD1D1POfM9Cdp2LivC60GM8uwIuVaDNwSnI1yTHtky0EfhhT_0fGmTsE2DfVsxiidB1SYEc9cTLRMdCC6VDYYxodbrqD5l59qpTgLgf0gtF3Vj3_xgKVVHL/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="640" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the bookshop's resident cats. His other buddies must be <br />on their lunch break. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next post: <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/04/glass-and-lace-islands-of-murano-and.html" target="_blank">A day trip to the islands of Murano and Burano</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1405212953086239.1073741833.1389503424657192&type=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">More photos of Venice in our Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-71078068205696002782014-04-10T19:36:00.000+08:002014-09-11T09:27:19.388+08:00The Venice Simplon Orient-Express<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love taking the trains in Europe. It may not always be the fastest way to get from point A to point B, and sometimes the WCs leave a bit to be desired (sometimes a lot to be desired, something the Big K and I are sensitive about. It's a thing of ours) but there is just something special about train rides. It might be the gentle swaying of the cars or the peculiar click-clack of the wheels against the rails or sometimes the beautiful scenery shooting by (and in some cases it does shoot. France's TGV does 300+ kms/hour).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K and I always talked about how it must have been to travel in the early years of train rides, in particular the golden age of train travel of the 1920s and 30s. And of course there is that matter of Agatha Christie's famous detective, Hercule Poirot in the Murder on the Orient Express that added to the intrigue of train travel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Orient-Express. A name that brings to mind the luxury and glamour of train travel. We'd always promised ourselves that one day we would hitch a ride on the Orient-Express. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And guess what? That day has arrived!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Jk-AYwcQ5R4vqpvYLyd7rDvbwoRA4O7De3WuScDBltf5tyyS-b-FXPSgGRW89FxjmwxFlGrq88rSorIAUkhC4gqYc9XTnqG8Q9p_1hnFwxB0oWFb2IlmAgCExkg1b2OVtWtyzn9huKdI/s1600/DSC01843-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Jk-AYwcQ5R4vqpvYLyd7rDvbwoRA4O7De3WuScDBltf5tyyS-b-FXPSgGRW89FxjmwxFlGrq88rSorIAUkhC4gqYc9XTnqG8Q9p_1hnFwxB0oWFb2IlmAgCExkg1b2OVtWtyzn9huKdI/s1600/DSC01843-001.JPG" height="458" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The distinctive blue and gold livery of the <a href="http://www.vsoe.com/web/vsoe/venice_simplon_orient_express.jsp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Venice Simplon Orient-Express</a> train.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A Trip Of A Lifetime</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Venice, Italy. It was a bright and cool morning on the day of our departure. The perfect day for a train ride! The previous day we received our boarding passes, luggage tags and a personalized briefing from the staff handling the train's departure. Uh-huh, you read it right. This was the first train ride where the Big K and I had to attend a briefing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgsLUPRMqmFO5Cqj-SmdnZubEFLBNSCXo4XWHpvQeLvCqaftp8Yngmd60lSpX8DNyrTgkWWWxORqMWIybg_ZBFBtSCNWpdqJ274d8RAi9Fo9s11g0IJw4R5XKBP1_S4pwnLgsr48FWsdV/s1600/DSC01605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgsLUPRMqmFO5Cqj-SmdnZubEFLBNSCXo4XWHpvQeLvCqaftp8Yngmd60lSpX8DNyrTgkWWWxORqMWIybg_ZBFBtSCNWpdqJ274d8RAi9Fo9s11g0IJw4R5XKBP1_S4pwnLgsr48FWsdV/s1600/DSC01605.JPG" height="640" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our bags ready for pick up!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our bags properly labelled, "X" bags to be loaded in the train's storage car much like what they did with those big leather trunks of yesteryear while the "J" bags would be reunited with us in our cabin. All bags were brought to the train station separately and ahead of us. Quite a pleasant change from our usual lug-your-heavy-bags-yourself-on-board-the-train-and-pray-that-you-get-a-space-at-the-bottom-rack kind of thing. Was that a sigh of relief I heard from the Big K?! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arriving at the Venezia Santa Lucia train station together with the other Orient-Express passengers, one definitely felt a sense of heady anticipation as we all gathered to board the famed Venice Simplon Orient-Express train. The Big K and I were giddy with excitement! It was such a big thrill seeing the shiny (yup, it was literally shining under the Venetian morning sun!) blue and gold train for the first time. Apparently, we weren't the only ones captivated by the sight of the iconic train as we saw other people at the station whip out their cameras and started taking pictures!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yup, this was it! Orient-Express here we come! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGlEUlD_e07sfjLDN7oOOHjt1mLRCMlyjn7HmOLtmfdfPSV_Js0Nan1-oEwA3Wc2quG-vpeW1RnNjNeaCiiQk79Zqnn6zuCXRoT1WG7sw8yfBKB1Hvevhy6D-aWrAzJhw7uf_KP8g04v4/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGlEUlD_e07sfjLDN7oOOHjt1mLRCMlyjn7HmOLtmfdfPSV_Js0Nan1-oEwA3Wc2quG-vpeW1RnNjNeaCiiQk79Zqnn6zuCXRoT1WG7sw8yfBKB1Hvevhy6D-aWrAzJhw7uf_KP8g04v4/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hustle and bustle at the Venezia Santa Lucia train station! All hands on deck or should I say platform! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All aboard! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNp8ahQzM2qDdVVG5HdSGBoTfjMeSEFMOH9G_mgHGIKcwPJdgITkJnAIHmlHJYV1LE46CIRkvkrDEl8_ZIePNi06dJVUYXbK76-1NipME8UpN4oUimMua6WQaMqKi_ern6eq5WSENloBt8/s1600/DSC01673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNp8ahQzM2qDdVVG5HdSGBoTfjMeSEFMOH9G_mgHGIKcwPJdgITkJnAIHmlHJYV1LE46CIRkvkrDEl8_ZIePNi06dJVUYXbK76-1NipME8UpN4oUimMua6WQaMqKi_ern6eq5WSENloBt8/s1600/DSC01673.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each sleeper car or wagon-lit of the VSOE train is attended by a carriage steward available at </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">all times throughout the journey. There is a bell inside each of the cabins that can be used to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">call him.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ag9elWn0dRyGxbaxfeQEIpPQ4N-l6P3sYwAkqlFIlgAATfOkuco84-cCYjxe4crU_N9eGVuYhUyY-8sfxi-CKVJuiSvGqqoxmFPs0dPnf5xQw8fKcF_t26S6yG3alOyX0dKHuWzsZtSY/s1600/DSC01677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ag9elWn0dRyGxbaxfeQEIpPQ4N-l6P3sYwAkqlFIlgAATfOkuco84-cCYjxe4crU_N9eGVuYhUyY-8sfxi-CKVJuiSvGqqoxmFPs0dPnf5xQw8fKcF_t26S6yG3alOyX0dKHuWzsZtSY/s1600/DSC01677.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All carriages of the VSOE are the original 1920s models beautifully </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">restored to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">their former glory.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlEsynAnx59XjB7rXrl013B2XQN09JhAkU7aV7Kb8MdZMtTYHiTQtAViLJR-fAPZz2pX-E-Gh_ciENtpaGB5U6THplnED8LJCN0W21BRQar1b2XI8Df_I940J8nuzLkJ_WxxdI-Df7Bwi/s1600/DSC01684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlEsynAnx59XjB7rXrl013B2XQN09JhAkU7aV7Kb8MdZMtTYHiTQtAViLJR-fAPZz2pX-E-Gh_ciENtpaGB5U6THplnED8LJCN0W21BRQar1b2XI8Df_I940J8nuzLkJ_WxxdI-Df7Bwi/s1600/DSC01684.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Voila our cabin! Each cabin still comes with its original brass fittings including the luggage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">racks and handles. True to its authenticity, each of the carriages are still coal-heated. No </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">modern-day aircon </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">here but the windows can be opened to let in fresh air.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiBXbKbNNgUgGXJIDUpQQxgg_Tl7mOIYvZk1AKsZqLXXX2KlYqRaFSPJGYeCmnpNkx5VgVdobrSZ8-1c2m9Dj7UCWasAj3egfmc2dTJf0TRT0XG4vLQspkcnf8x_W7BKxhw1pOhUlKkFL/s1600/Image+(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiBXbKbNNgUgGXJIDUpQQxgg_Tl7mOIYvZk1AKsZqLXXX2KlYqRaFSPJGYeCmnpNkx5VgVdobrSZ8-1c2m9Dj7UCWasAj3egfmc2dTJf0TRT0XG4vLQspkcnf8x_W7BKxhw1pOhUlKkFL/s1600/Image+(9).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our own wash-basin cabinet. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now you see it, now you don't! There is one WC at the end of each </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">carriage done in marble and the same shiny wood paneling found through out the train. And if I may </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">add, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the WC was always kept in pristine condition. That certainly gets a score of A+ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">from us!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF-IC2zHuiIeiU2nLceVSBT5O_neqG1V0ngZtRkgiRo6o9K4etBRjDcY_UPVzze_s2PwLS0tF8fkm1pCfIKvvJFsQf4wdNagZwwznLk9GVflUUttYGLuSyhU2gnpnXSt-gu2mk00j16FW/s1600/DSC01691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF-IC2zHuiIeiU2nLceVSBT5O_neqG1V0ngZtRkgiRo6o9K4etBRjDcY_UPVzze_s2PwLS0tF8fkm1pCfIKvvJFsQf4wdNagZwwznLk9GVflUUttYGLuSyhU2gnpnXSt-gu2mk00j16FW/s1600/DSC01691.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Salute! </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Santé! A bubbly welcome on board.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A Journey Like No Other</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After personally welcoming us on board by the Chef du Train, the Maitre D' comes along to take our lunch and dinner reservations. There were two sitting times for each meal, the Big K and I opted for the first sitting </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for both meals. Early meal times, it's an Asian thing.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs8qflHeNf5RPtefye7p616vQWHPXCOIEKS3CE5cY3yRxlZQqchPSXSNf-keEyCXnwbxVuovMwsZ5raD4rCJhusRKImsf-Pr9UNDZk7_pl5dtFBqpx_YdktGbCMQY1PI9nNrTrtbzBT6R/s1600/DSC01768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs8qflHeNf5RPtefye7p616vQWHPXCOIEKS3CE5cY3yRxlZQqchPSXSNf-keEyCXnwbxVuovMwsZ5raD4rCJhusRKImsf-Pr9UNDZk7_pl5dtFBqpx_YdktGbCMQY1PI9nNrTrtbzBT6R/s1600/DSC01768.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22px;">The Côte d’Azur restaurant car. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had our lunch at the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Côte d’Azur, one of three restaurant cars on the train. Check out the glass panels on the wall! This original 1920s carriage was decorated by the famous French artist, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">René Lalique.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lunch was a three-course affair. It was to be the most delightful lunch that we've ever had so far. Of course, having it on board the Orient-Express in a vintage carriage designed by a celebrated Art Nouveau artist totally made for an awesome experience. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNDvsohHQKR9ibY16ae6jwDL0Wsx13ozu4S6THcKLK8ACObmlG6ENYKNpaUyLVCiaAcIBGeR8CxbPh_hPoQXLgnJyFWRnsGjpKVhC9br7zNYZ8Do66_KC975Z3vx3vkEP1Q91Kq6a2YWS/s1600/Image+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNDvsohHQKR9ibY16ae6jwDL0Wsx13ozu4S6THcKLK8ACObmlG6ENYKNpaUyLVCiaAcIBGeR8CxbPh_hPoQXLgnJyFWRnsGjpKVhC9br7zNYZ8Do66_KC975Z3vx3vkEP1Q91Kq6a2YWS/s1600/Image+%25288%2529.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Buon appetito!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We started out with a soft baked egg on white Bassano asparagus with Colonnata lard and Tyrol speck (a unique lightly cured ham) and Mousseline sauce (a rich kind of Hollandaise sauce) with orange zest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />For our main course, we had Monkfish rolls with spinach salmon and pine nuts stuffing, tomatoes and basil. Snow peas buttered with beurre d'<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Échiré, the most exclusive and expensive butter this side of the world and saffron potatoes (saffron, another expensive spice). Nothing but the best, of course!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For dessert, it was a mocha mousse with a small </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crêpe and caramelised banana on the side.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What an enjoyable meal! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the way back to our cabin to catch some Zs, the Big K and I made a quick stop at the famed Bar Car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ou5IrDcxt9x0yg1g5FGIxjMJbW_aNP1Jyf5YOpabShD5rgzvcCtflJlru_ukwiy6bmMzeGsUReDtZFMCHQGPm7dtWvcYZVE30_VxPX0sux3j1mKNwwmm-Jy1LmroF6bC4yB-TiYK1kSW/s1600/DSC01764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ou5IrDcxt9x0yg1g5FGIxjMJbW_aNP1Jyf5YOpabShD5rgzvcCtflJlru_ukwiy6bmMzeGsUReDtZFMCHQGPm7dtWvcYZVE30_VxPX0sux3j1mKNwwmm-Jy1LmroF6bC4yB-TiYK1kSW/s1600/DSC01764.JPG" height="454" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Bar Car complete with a pianist playing on a baby grand piano.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Journey Continues</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUsedv3ryASwIROibLoD6PZ7MgXO87Z2QsWJkHkdHp1Lfq4tjZSYwdNxbcDp1C1vcLJIXBZ2_I_HLA3S9njw6H8tf1PWpDy1ZA33Dc-0eEmGD64sYLStppGX9-jgVrUyWW5PxDBXIm1HB/s1600/DSC01817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUsedv3ryASwIROibLoD6PZ7MgXO87Z2QsWJkHkdHp1Lfq4tjZSYwdNxbcDp1C1vcLJIXBZ2_I_HLA3S9njw6H8tf1PWpDy1ZA33Dc-0eEmGD64sYLStppGX9-jgVrUyWW5PxDBXIm1HB/s1600/DSC01817.JPG" height="252" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmln0cPLaFhKmJhhQ10iHfsO6Gz0Fpb_E9MX9wR-qEwNvSW_qfSqemihZx33XPnG8DqJ29_-n8Na2HOrfVftm1zVOgRIw88UEOuLZt1jGSSxz1k6OwBed96KUjpQ56foEeEZdULTar3ge/s1600/DSC01812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmln0cPLaFhKmJhhQ10iHfsO6Gz0Fpb_E9MX9wR-qEwNvSW_qfSqemihZx33XPnG8DqJ29_-n8Na2HOrfVftm1zVOgRIw88UEOuLZt1jGSSxz1k6OwBed96KUjpQ56foEeEZdULTar3ge/s1600/DSC01812.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The train's route took us up the Alberg Pass and through some lovely scenery.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc-FnJxtyvqZyiFuKz4ySZdVi1zyunPcYUw3rdwfR7chTwwg6MlrVuw7rphtlYBP90SufLYyFojItoHl12jOemj-PujiXMFUhxL_Ks0cbPgqoRN_q9gxDhSundd1oJPoZ5L0r8r_Sjcug/s1600/DSC05250-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc-FnJxtyvqZyiFuKz4ySZdVi1zyunPcYUw3rdwfR7chTwwg6MlrVuw7rphtlYBP90SufLYyFojItoHl12jOemj-PujiXMFUhxL_Ks0cbPgqoRN_q9gxDhSundd1oJPoZ5L0r8r_Sjcug/s1600/DSC05250-001.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shortly after our nap, Vincent, our carriage steward, comes along with afternoon tea</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(in our </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">case we </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">had coffee) and some pastries. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPs0N53OW4Wbdb_Odd20OcZN92Jg2utCXt3jDlHMP2wcu__dzpwmd5UHYeh0wxMhtQMIF2z-PHE8JsEwfKhlEXJ4SQ_4NEK6G4LS2yYg4LSm2d5ebdoGFSx8jcGT1LqTZmD5n09IOl1zo/s1600/DSC01831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPs0N53OW4Wbdb_Odd20OcZN92Jg2utCXt3jDlHMP2wcu__dzpwmd5UHYeh0wxMhtQMIF2z-PHE8JsEwfKhlEXJ4SQ_4NEK6G4LS2yYg4LSm2d5ebdoGFSx8jcGT1LqTZmD5n09IOl1zo/s1600/DSC01831.JPG" height="446" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzoUrEA2kKkKUaX2asxmY7M8n-VU8oFtOViYneCxTrKkFYfCFHR6Ue0M33aP2zOC9QmTMmnif9dA3Qw9dstJImGubysHrL_z4ueAORy4ugwaZi1B5_oZogsV4cWaaTXS-3ZF8AZc0tNBW/s1600/DSC01839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzoUrEA2kKkKUaX2asxmY7M8n-VU8oFtOViYneCxTrKkFYfCFHR6Ue0M33aP2zOC9QmTMmnif9dA3Qw9dstJImGubysHrL_z4ueAORy4ugwaZi1B5_oZogsV4cWaaTXS-3ZF8AZc0tNBW/s1600/DSC01839.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A much-welcomed stop in Innsbruck. Time to stretch our legs!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the brief stop in Innsbruck it was already nearing dinnertime. If you think our lunch was impressive, dinner was going to be something else. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner on board the VSOE is strictly formal and everyone is requested to be in their formal wear in keeping with the mood of sophisticated train travel. We're talking black tie or tuxedos for the men and cocktail or evening dresses for the ladies. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big K wanted to showcase his traditional Filipino formal wear so he brought his P</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">iña</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barong_Tagalog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barong Tagalog</a> the cloth of which is made from pineapple leaf fibers. For those of you familiar with the delicate </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">iña cloth you can just imagine the challenge of packing it for a trip without it coming out like crumpled paper after. We thank the high heavens it survived along with my evening gown with just a bit of crease here and there with no one the wiser. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now off to dinner!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjD_aw7PIkkVAj73RUsD-CPv2sK293614gphujS-mxxk5ilf2eRbQfkPnfpcqJhtA5bX5z7Hf-ToJfIpSAQ2AMEgH_pCr92srEKydkYqtKgNmYgz1hU7kAnAO8NseGva-nJW5fOSP0kuC/s1600/DSC05255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjD_aw7PIkkVAj73RUsD-CPv2sK293614gphujS-mxxk5ilf2eRbQfkPnfpcqJhtA5bX5z7Hf-ToJfIpSAQ2AMEgH_pCr92srEKydkYqtKgNmYgz1hU7kAnAO8NseGva-nJW5fOSP0kuC/s1600/DSC05255.JPG" height="592" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoF6cephY8Up4uT7pbbv_gxrbvnYGHEX1WMlNLKwz_saDlMNx9U1UZircC7VQ91PLU02sCBfMBI46J6ehlmpyKqpkkyMnGBiHy72iGt3cA5J0b6aKAxwuKOSnOnp0EBwjtPW1weg5KDR2/s1600/DSC05273-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoF6cephY8Up4uT7pbbv_gxrbvnYGHEX1WMlNLKwz_saDlMNx9U1UZircC7VQ91PLU02sCBfMBI46J6ehlmpyKqpkkyMnGBiHy72iGt3cA5J0b6aKAxwuKOSnOnp0EBwjtPW1weg5KDR2/s1600/DSC05273-001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Etoile du Nord restaurant car with its beautiful marquetry.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSXfPYhbJnwxfSJ9a0dIlUoL5iKGRu9fTAtmvssRFv0emCxK4PffVFKCWwuyEBkV-_ujrTsELy0CFxWwNFi9BIDEc9BtB2mKhWRyG-F0puMAZDH8HbwNIDF0aGefztJjvd5O-NfD_Exxt/s1600/DSC01877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSXfPYhbJnwxfSJ9a0dIlUoL5iKGRu9fTAtmvssRFv0emCxK4PffVFKCWwuyEBkV-_ujrTsELy0CFxWwNFi9BIDEc9BtB2mKhWRyG-F0puMAZDH8HbwNIDF0aGefztJjvd5O-NfD_Exxt/s1600/DSC01877.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A little bit of bubbly to start our meal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfcsjgbratLqOVG4G43Qn32D48VqNFzN6aOvmcOi4kb9e_GR8JcqC9Ip5y9Tctc5qgFqB92kjqf8Twh4eluPHz6kUdswkAdApxun2upEb2DzQ6XI9K2v-kRUU-ymxEd6Q3WhZOZcrP48R/s1600/Frame+Artist-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfcsjgbratLqOVG4G43Qn32D48VqNFzN6aOvmcOi4kb9e_GR8JcqC9Ip5y9Tctc5qgFqB92kjqf8Twh4eluPHz6kUdswkAdApxun2upEb2DzQ6XI9K2v-kRUU-ymxEd6Q3WhZOZcrP48R/s1600/Frame+Artist-001.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bon </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">appétit!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our four-course dinner started with a Prosecco risotto with tender octopus and pan-fried turbot fillet followed by the braised rack of lamb flavored with Rosemary sauce. An eggplant and zucchini gratin with mozzarella and fondant potato completed the main course.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then lemon and strawberry sorbet to prepare us for dessert, Gianduja (chocolate) and cereals sponge cake with red berry coulis. To finish off the perfect meal, c</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">offee was served with small pastries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh boy! That was one fantastic meal! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the time we finished dinner, our cabin was already converted into comfortable sleeping berths by the ever-smiling and attentive, Vincent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good night everyone! We got us a date with the Sandman.</span><br />
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9B36t-zImAxCaMejRHlTvVa1UJRM-TVI0X_Qgj9QH36DqAsBzTlEZ_pesGWkRoBXrNDPUC-TzAS_6gp7r9NodTH7V5nCLt0LcpFdbxz6fML0MmODwqXreN7Ae0ysSYef79NGfoz6CZZO/s1600/DSC01881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9B36t-zImAxCaMejRHlTvVa1UJRM-TVI0X_Qgj9QH36DqAsBzTlEZ_pesGWkRoBXrNDPUC-TzAS_6gp7r9NodTH7V5nCLt0LcpFdbxz6fML0MmODwqXreN7Ae0ysSYef79NGfoz6CZZO/s1600/DSC01881.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crisp white linens, warm wool blankets and comfy pillows.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Journey's End</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waking up the next day, we were served breakfast in our cabin by the amiable Vincent. The Big K and I couldn't help but feel a little bit nostalgic as the train neared Paris where our amazing journey was about to end. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will certainly miss the warm and wonderful service we have received from the train staff most specially from our genial carriage steward, Vincent, the first-class food skillfully prepared by one of the best team of French chefs there is headed by M. Christian Bodiguel (who happens to be celebrating his 30th year onboard the VSOE! Wow!), the food and drinks served by gracious white-coated Italian wait staff who patiently waited for me to take pictures of the food and more than willingly took pictures of the Big K and myself. But most of all the careful attention to detail that made our journey a truly memorable one. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trip may have taken a little dent in our pockets but the Big K and I came out of the experience richer in precious memories, something we will be reminiscing through the years.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLYBgvnutlSP3d6uVVOrdAVDzTB3uMk5Aq1E9E_lXjdKfLe9-4m9MqtmHcBCMdEPdAW1st4o34cimgjpAiDLzmjVgao18Ab9AZ3Wep7oBwQaN43-tGtkTdJf0hFGaEOmfLPpzWEJPzyxO/s1600/DSC01894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLYBgvnutlSP3d6uVVOrdAVDzTB3uMk5Aq1E9E_lXjdKfLe9-4m9MqtmHcBCMdEPdAW1st4o34cimgjpAiDLzmjVgao18Ab9AZ3Wep7oBwQaN43-tGtkTdJf0hFGaEOmfLPpzWEJPzyxO/s1600/DSC01894.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxrusB6TJ3OQeBdm0QBgJ1hZumFwJFmxekt7Ym8UYEnhDuerG8_CGY9MKl01WKt8xK86PEpm_sx5pSj_CAf7-w39_XYpti289JvXl-ixn6_Fxyyg2Zzojc1v-8m_qldbKihVgekU6jM0p/s1600/DSC01844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxrusB6TJ3OQeBdm0QBgJ1hZumFwJFmxekt7Ym8UYEnhDuerG8_CGY9MKl01WKt8xK86PEpm_sx5pSj_CAf7-w39_XYpti289JvXl-ixn6_Fxyyg2Zzojc1v-8m_qldbKihVgekU6jM0p/s1600/DSC01844.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Merci beaucoup Vincent! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>It was truly a trip of a lifetime. A journey like no other........</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos in our Face Book page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1403070206633847.1073741832.1389503424657192&type=3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.vsoe.com/web/vsoe/venice_simplon_orient_express.jsp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Venice Simplon Orient-Express website</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hotelcipriani.com/web/ocip/hotel_cipriani.jsp?hll=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Where we stayed in Venice.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-38975102119235918552014-03-10T19:40:00.000+08:002014-03-10T19:40:45.849+08:00La Route des Vins D'Alsace (The Alsace Wine Route) Part Deux<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does New York City and the town of Colmar in France have in common? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Answer: The Statue of Liberty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Colmar</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The capital of Alsatian Wine (capitale des Vins D'Alsace), Colmar, is the birthplace of <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Auguste_Bartholdi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi</a>, the sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty in New York. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The statue of Lady Liberty as you may already know is a gift of the people of France to the United States of America.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX45h0tYJXIdmMM8PVc17LWzcNBTkluSfCEyyuNPkEX4UQZdLilyZNFO4X1IXjVSoTJzBQda5XZ7rrHrJHAFzVvk4U4HVSeRqIx5ilSoYMfLLm7Dkm9RNcKcW5TuGx7zOpAefNIs5cv2Y/s1600/DSC03833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX45h0tYJXIdmMM8PVc17LWzcNBTkluSfCEyyuNPkEX4UQZdLilyZNFO4X1IXjVSoTJzBQda5XZ7rrHrJHAFzVvk4U4HVSeRqIx5ilSoYMfLLm7Dkm9RNcKcW5TuGx7zOpAefNIs5cv2Y/s1600/DSC03833.JPG" height="310" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A replica of the Statue of Liberty can be seen at the roundabout at Colmar's northern entrance to commemorate the 100th death anniversary of its creator, Monsieur Bartholdi.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Colmar is a much bigger town and has a more city-like feel to it as compared to the other towns and villages along the wine route. It is not as quaint or cute as Riquewihr and Eguisheim but its historic city center is picturesque just the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwkfLSC8CWf4Pr3TlhxpxU2tP7gPxI0qJvOxBHsyWZoHHlZUERbgbti7YDy6tJhvhyphenhyphenGRU2VjAZ79JDVHcTDo8cywGrWDl-IxJFlkQf2CJV4rwSm6XnCIYbP6mBloHAsIjhyphenhyphen7MtziOR-5s/s1600/DSC04074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwkfLSC8CWf4Pr3TlhxpxU2tP7gPxI0qJvOxBHsyWZoHHlZUERbgbti7YDy6tJhvhyphenhyphenGRU2VjAZ79JDVHcTDo8cywGrWDl-IxJFlkQf2CJV4rwSm6XnCIYbP6mBloHAsIjhyphenhyphen7MtziOR-5s/s1600/DSC04074.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzx_JjvmFQFXU_4rSBThPdlwbpCibvIIbuAi95UwiW3nwD1PKHqb-3Pxir1oVw4h7I_Qgm1VyvbFpJzOu6z6I1VQoScewt7Bpf2pU7eoEfnW51HeO0-KUEic4GqsWbXxWm5F3YitgAHac/s1600/DSC04068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzx_JjvmFQFXU_4rSBThPdlwbpCibvIIbuAi95UwiW3nwD1PKHqb-3Pxir1oVw4h7I_Qgm1VyvbFpJzOu6z6I1VQoScewt7Bpf2pU7eoEfnW51HeO0-KUEic4GqsWbXxWm5F3YitgAHac/s1600/DSC04068.JPG" height="402" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An area in the historic city center where the river Lauch runs through is called <b>La Petite Venise</b> (little Venice).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdy633_w8w0IDqRZXTt8j-ci0LyHFholhsGtPYs1hsWe6U4sp4kQ4_oxGo_UO1RkjXN8XvYFhB3FCiUIbgoqvtK_anGJ0K5nDZQ1JTc7LKjab-uXswDb1hYvqihW2KTCcspGxQoXxsPhI/s1600/DSC04069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdy633_w8w0IDqRZXTt8j-ci0LyHFholhsGtPYs1hsWe6U4sp4kQ4_oxGo_UO1RkjXN8XvYFhB3FCiUIbgoqvtK_anGJ0K5nDZQ1JTc7LKjab-uXswDb1hYvqihW2KTCcspGxQoXxsPhI/s1600/DSC04069.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One can even take a boat ride along the waterway. No gondolas here but small flat-bottomed boats, still a relaxing way to see the neighborhood. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv3HcltQ3PIUSu_SVfnE5ZV0InAAK7sAOWXyC0yLu6BK2JEe2bioxO6yN_rJUQw4IIWRZ4eDtdJVLLDeCUxMUgu1Xr4anKlZ6MPi-wUogyMt3kNQlRZNKIjMQQzoT9xKNlFUP2Co4AdJv/s1600/DSC04070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv3HcltQ3PIUSu_SVfnE5ZV0InAAK7sAOWXyC0yLu6BK2JEe2bioxO6yN_rJUQw4IIWRZ4eDtdJVLLDeCUxMUgu1Xr4anKlZ6MPi-wUogyMt3kNQlRZNKIjMQQzoT9xKNlFUP2Co4AdJv/s1600/DSC04070.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cité de l'Automobile in </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mulhouse</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk about being the nagging wife! Had to constantly remind the big K to close his mouth as he drooled in amazement over the hundreds of cars on display at the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://citedelautomobile.com/en/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cité de l'Automobile</a> in Mulhouse, a mere 30-minute drive south of Colmar.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all I'm not much of a car person, as long as the car runs with cool air conditioning (you have to have one where I come from) plus a good set of speakers for my music (to while away the hours stuck in traffic!) and I'm good to go. But even with my seemingly casual outlook of cars in general, I must say I was pretty much impressed with the museum's car collection.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt0o6Dpn0Vb15lBxOv5yoKjbGL4nmGiuhZSMVXqKCbypih2nnzAfDibt6iwQGtBv3nvtEwXcpPesJXz75Wku8-F4aJCE8AG3jJZxHQqNnNFtH54CK5rcY40ndrzX46ADuzuUkYML6fNic/s1600/DSC03847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt0o6Dpn0Vb15lBxOv5yoKjbGL4nmGiuhZSMVXqKCbypih2nnzAfDibt6iwQGtBv3nvtEwXcpPesJXz75Wku8-F4aJCE8AG3jJZxHQqNnNFtH54CK5rcY40ndrzX46ADuzuUkYML6fNic/s1600/DSC03847.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Flying cars!" We just knew we were onto something awesome upon seeing the impressive entrance of the museum. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeCDvcRDc4TV9krrHzeeU1lUUFl7yarb7PkuqyVqSAtv3c0mJzwcL5GMx9Meh3RjqcEOLiJW6H-EFXHwVR8rRY7RGokOK82oDkerSstGQce0WQC8qbjgAMM7kA7aB4peXxxr3G1qDTfU5/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeCDvcRDc4TV9krrHzeeU1lUUFl7yarb7PkuqyVqSAtv3c0mJzwcL5GMx9Meh3RjqcEOLiJW6H-EFXHwVR8rRY7RGokOK82oDkerSstGQce0WQC8qbjgAMM7kA7aB4peXxxr3G1qDTfU5/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The museum has hundreds of cars starting from the late 1800s. Some of them are even in running condition!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIGyETh0NMd0gIxW77dYT1s4BLpXuu-5EFAufXSXtYnJL2eGLJW0bUTr9vFAP_S5oD6ywv-7aSF9AmFOOHCZuU3cM5JEMsfJFCWHF7fLxL_ftuPeDxaBJZX8zn4FgzFb-loA7L1Iy_Yzw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIGyETh0NMd0gIxW77dYT1s4BLpXuu-5EFAufXSXtYnJL2eGLJW0bUTr9vFAP_S5oD6ywv-7aSF9AmFOOHCZuU3cM5JEMsfJFCWHF7fLxL_ftuPeDxaBJZX8zn4FgzFb-loA7L1Iy_Yzw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The museum even featured kid-sized replica cars. Lucky! Must be the envy of every kid in the neighborhood. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JXa_-rVzi1djPL1cCXc64-6pGHBZuU25GeG0cGo89B9EFowhB-5tNIGW4dpZaKdO7lCfTgnLewKTV0W2UNYxiPbbCREUVtJGHFaGLY9vforOQHwbYsdRY2qyMRHMgcup9Z1e1Ta4RLEn/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JXa_-rVzi1djPL1cCXc64-6pGHBZuU25GeG0cGo89B9EFowhB-5tNIGW4dpZaKdO7lCfTgnLewKTV0W2UNYxiPbbCREUVtJGHFaGLY9vforOQHwbYsdRY2qyMRHMgcup9Z1e1Ta4RLEn/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="622" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cars from the 1920s to the 50s.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ghte3LLj4QLXzMQZ36I0m1B4C8McyoyaXww1rfmk_8MBBtouIWzwTmBhldsW7sTXkSMCWA4zr9cXAV3XFKusMBzLX_cRW4doyXl0BLR5Xwondk9ZgzzVxzFZFVUr-61MecWFGw3QOqPd/s1600/Image+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ghte3LLj4QLXzMQZ36I0m1B4C8McyoyaXww1rfmk_8MBBtouIWzwTmBhldsW7sTXkSMCWA4zr9cXAV3XFKusMBzLX_cRW4doyXl0BLR5Xwondk9ZgzzVxzFZFVUr-61MecWFGw3QOqPd/s1600/Image+(1).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More cars from after the 1950s.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-7oKrWmr9ExhtAEM2ZTmsNMlP0BUfPQYrLymPYAH6vZGnBBRyj-SLUPRtZTVnFCpJ4qOp9KYKaLR7-WYlMRVR7KO-C4Jb2GrISPsVRE4gM5kwr6yPNGSO3_pZoqpuB1Q_Yq9OVWUhuZj/s1600/Image+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-7oKrWmr9ExhtAEM2ZTmsNMlP0BUfPQYrLymPYAH6vZGnBBRyj-SLUPRtZTVnFCpJ4qOp9KYKaLR7-WYlMRVR7KO-C4Jb2GrISPsVRE4gM5kwr6yPNGSO3_pZoqpuB1Q_Yq9OVWUhuZj/s1600/Image+(2).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HeUyqsaXnGZeu3z8lPM47Q8gCSAHBxxFygAeSxoBNMtWo8O9zqFzEoeCq8el0mfvtFYJBG6SGg_2ojd2KXUyVzBDao7ilvrS20bgmA4nhYZG3531hxOWG-DMFHKjp_ocf2Ta7VcyPOtc/s1600/Image+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HeUyqsaXnGZeu3z8lPM47Q8gCSAHBxxFygAeSxoBNMtWo8O9zqFzEoeCq8el0mfvtFYJBG6SGg_2ojd2KXUyVzBDao7ilvrS20bgmA4nhYZG3531hxOWG-DMFHKjp_ocf2Ta7VcyPOtc/s1600/Image+(5).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO_Ef-arjnoIsryEwaMJI7SGL6cQ50-H7fRDXBIlk5NPi0WYrP5AIcNwkRVbWM0KT-TKQHEt9wPU2QY6fmrctNAFMXlhhMqak6gV7yC_dgQvwLR3lUk0cqMJsPl_5kfuCK_F_HPkrJjod/s1600/Image+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO_Ef-arjnoIsryEwaMJI7SGL6cQ50-H7fRDXBIlk5NPi0WYrP5AIcNwkRVbWM0KT-TKQHEt9wPU2QY6fmrctNAFMXlhhMqak6gV7yC_dgQvwLR3lUk0cqMJsPl_5kfuCK_F_HPkrJjod/s1600/Image+(4).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The museum has the largest collection of Bugatti cars in the world.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX1D3cdLhQ8xa8c6QthkjPHnoTkL2v5LbFi78EVLu1rIqveIO1yxT9d3dlU2anWSefuuAwDrAwr5LBTThnKur_7ZKBJxzbg9D_IGhTjDFMCymZQo7Rm1jMM66Clk1szhbD8noqRS4twcz/s1600/Image+(6).jpg" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Formula 1 race cars!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOGhHCBVG7VDLS0x1eBYCDOoGg4nP135vVJEX8jnzVPYvTlGLNFhg_EMsws4EFN5o9l-WvJ-8oxn1Rd-2tU8LIo99OqKsxKzpSR_wufH5PCxffrYOBlSysZuCPFvItHT1FAet-Fm9YNfY/s1600/Image+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOGhHCBVG7VDLS0x1eBYCDOoGg4nP135vVJEX8jnzVPYvTlGLNFhg_EMsws4EFN5o9l-WvJ-8oxn1Rd-2tU8LIo99OqKsxKzpSR_wufH5PCxffrYOBlSysZuCPFvItHT1FAet-Fm9YNfY/s1600/Image+%25283%2529.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's one happy dude, my big K!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Strasbourg</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our trip to Alsace would not be complete without visiting its capital city, Strasbourg in particular a visit to its historic city center, La Grande<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Île or big island. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">La Grande</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Île</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aRHIRDHII-kHkW4KtDjvk1Mji_ENPPqPbCWuygWR137_sFPGXNcr3mceszgL8EWhzQpHD4ylqCf4pYhCpf_zfpGCWYN7R1kLjno6Fss1ysvLLFnsxky93_mXcW-hPA7jfIh5JdhZ7Rl2/s1600/DSC04563-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aRHIRDHII-kHkW4KtDjvk1Mji_ENPPqPbCWuygWR137_sFPGXNcr3mceszgL8EWhzQpHD4ylqCf4pYhCpf_zfpGCWYN7R1kLjno6Fss1ysvLLFnsxky93_mXcW-hPA7jfIh5JdhZ7Rl2/s1600/DSC04563-001.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Gothic Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg is one of five centuries-old churches at the Grande </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Île. Standing at 466 feet or 142 meters, it is the 6th tallest church in the world. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXbBSnY3QL20EcwhmsZuOL2uVFwNX5MdmzJDvYAyqT5N8UG5st0KG9oqd6WT3sNIjE2nUnjP7p0pI6EqQTINCVBVYqSKVRdPe1m40rSR809G8uATK-uqIzzEXnINJlZ6nua_GZADmeZos/s1600/DSC04419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXbBSnY3QL20EcwhmsZuOL2uVFwNX5MdmzJDvYAyqT5N8UG5st0KG9oqd6WT3sNIjE2nUnjP7p0pI6EqQTINCVBVYqSKVRdPe1m40rSR809G8uATK-uqIzzEXnINJlZ6nua_GZADmeZos/s1600/DSC04419.JPG" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.strasbourg.info/cathedral/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Astronomical Clock</a> inside the cathedral.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoU_0rV5mMMduNFczQHkzRZFtx3G6FnsfVkLdbg_LW3J9BWgRPNr5X9PqnK6u3S1YCAapZaeA2ZmhRVCjApTZydQfiWzkMdqUi2SBJ7dXIvN6Snzx5Eitd2nmei_-bejmfqIXmeq1heBo/s1600/Image+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoU_0rV5mMMduNFczQHkzRZFtx3G6FnsfVkLdbg_LW3J9BWgRPNr5X9PqnK6u3S1YCAapZaeA2ZmhRVCjApTZydQfiWzkMdqUi2SBJ7dXIvN6Snzx5Eitd2nmei_-bejmfqIXmeq1heBo/s1600/Image+(7).jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The intricate pulpit created in 1485 for the preacher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Geiler_von_Kaisersberg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jean Geiler de Kaysersberg</a> has a carving of a small sleeping dog carved at the foot of it. The story goes that the preacher </span></span></span><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">requested his followers not to bring their animals in church during mass. Wanting to lead by example he never brought his dog with him inside the church, but to ensure the faithful companion remained always by his side, the sculpture of a sleeping puppy was directly carved into the pulpit.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC7wgUU3mYgJCHDQqn4n4W84YWjmqPIFwuT5BeaDz3-4sBDH5p7bdOVj9CGRV2gvJJ5YM30DNP4iOq5dyrKGGy0MyLzm7qMkT9DWHO9NdpmeJT8Seb1i8eSDVzcc_ynv9YP_BDUnfVcDH/s1600/DSC04353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC7wgUU3mYgJCHDQqn4n4W84YWjmqPIFwuT5BeaDz3-4sBDH5p7bdOVj9CGRV2gvJJ5YM30DNP4iOq5dyrKGGy0MyLzm7qMkT9DWHO9NdpmeJT8Seb1i8eSDVzcc_ynv9YP_BDUnfVcDH/s1600/DSC04353.JPG" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">La Petite France is an area in the Grande </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Île filled with medieval half-timbered houses.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjEVtBnKkjtwaoZmo3SOeDLv5z_qtbfVCzdpLz4mDGAORY9-J4t1Qd59FsGFwvsEF72kK9ZBCsfBXREWmGpt2yb_6cyo2DbswY7hH9G3ZEuZNkAmxtCyaba4YKN6QExIE4wK18bY07-g7/s1600/DSC04351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjEVtBnKkjtwaoZmo3SOeDLv5z_qtbfVCzdpLz4mDGAORY9-J4t1Qd59FsGFwvsEF72kK9ZBCsfBXREWmGpt2yb_6cyo2DbswY7hH9G3ZEuZNkAmxtCyaba4YKN6QExIE4wK18bY07-g7/s1600/DSC04351.JPG" height="640" width="570" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQSmXtAUq51OE2XKkBkRMVQbT53GXmcu2JBPQpoj27NT15ala8NTsYjDCR8e-HESlulfFVIz0Y-VFmUvPdlTyyQsoUfaQ7RMMbXDHlD4KSSfDh2szdp86SxE-H5Pk5Q1mRFIlZRHKFkWo/s1600/DSC04359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQSmXtAUq51OE2XKkBkRMVQbT53GXmcu2JBPQpoj27NT15ala8NTsYjDCR8e-HESlulfFVIz0Y-VFmUvPdlTyyQsoUfaQ7RMMbXDHlD4KSSfDh2szdp86SxE-H5Pk5Q1mRFIlZRHKFkWo/s1600/DSC04359.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lp9YJDwTI01fXvIhjkbYWtKIoMLM3QfWDFgXjW5ytSuGpBeTwvRbBMmL6l7SyRzYRqshNf4q89jHeW82zLRziLXAHCZyRClvDgne8yNRvo71DUmcQSnoFaeeCt9u1otmCwrRqbdgh2fj/s1600/DSC04361.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lp9YJDwTI01fXvIhjkbYWtKIoMLM3QfWDFgXjW5ytSuGpBeTwvRbBMmL6l7SyRzYRqshNf4q89jHeW82zLRziLXAHCZyRClvDgne8yNRvo71DUmcQSnoFaeeCt9u1otmCwrRqbdgh2fj/s1600/DSC04361.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5jqs_SnBACrTZOdHfC5biGm5jNosF8U8g-KZNeQeEx-nYwr-7Ib66f21XJ5BET0VLGboMuQQxwgmVJqOtzwuuKDaj9lC1NDSnvv7TO8K68pkrQ15HBUx6G8LeMJ33LbsB2BjJ0xhKP9l/s1600/DSC04338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5jqs_SnBACrTZOdHfC5biGm5jNosF8U8g-KZNeQeEx-nYwr-7Ib66f21XJ5BET0VLGboMuQQxwgmVJqOtzwuuKDaj9lC1NDSnvv7TO8K68pkrQ15HBUx6G8LeMJ33LbsB2BjJ0xhKP9l/s1600/DSC04338.JPG" height="346" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Strasbourg's train station. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a wonderful week! Now onto the next adventure...... </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-90548060547266074782014-03-05T16:34:00.000+08:002014-03-10T19:41:54.262+08:00La Route des Vins D'Alsace (The Alsace Wine Route)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's another long overdue post on a road trip adventure the Big K and I did in the Alsace region of France. The trip was supposed to be a two-week Tuscany tour that we had been planning on and off for quite some time. But for one reason or another our adventure <a href="http://www.francesmayesbooks.com/under-the-tuscan-sun/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"under the Tuscan sun"</a> had to be put off for a later time. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our change in travel plans as it turned out, worked perfectly! The big K and I had one of our most memorable times driving around Alsace's Route des Vins. Our week was spent visiting picturesque towns and villages, sampling some of Alsace's mouth-watering cuisine (I wrote an <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/02/eating-our-way-through-alsace.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a> on this), a visit to an impressive mountain fortress, drooling (the big K mostly) over hundreds of classic cars in one of the world's biggest collections of vintage automobiles. Most of all, we spent a most delightful week just driving around (and getting lost!) while enjoying each others' company in the simple, welcoming beauty of the Alsace countryside. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAONtCG27Di_fZDsKalZvyvtICR8pvgx9JSuvvvyJ7Ca-x05qe9-3aeVQZcUtG16sTtKJwOHhyrGgnMWupf493QGLCL-rii9q8NRegfY0zOi-0rRdy7-_o6ivA5mw5iocnrPTK5I_apQk1/s1600/DSC04271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAONtCG27Di_fZDsKalZvyvtICR8pvgx9JSuvvvyJ7Ca-x05qe9-3aeVQZcUtG16sTtKJwOHhyrGgnMWupf493QGLCL-rii9q8NRegfY0zOi-0rRdy7-_o6ivA5mw5iocnrPTK5I_apQk1/s1600/DSC04271.JPG" height="640" width="442" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlwfVy-hpVWS1ZTZAp8H-AHtFsAl5vR6-tAA_wUY2j4r16sWnfN71R37fczu1sdmh4l2hQ34QvE3Z4siX-2GwlmqzBAHFgjGZ2okZGrACkTt45JET-RXMWJIsHdNmVndm5M8z0dLJSpF1/s1600/DSC03806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlwfVy-hpVWS1ZTZAp8H-AHtFsAl5vR6-tAA_wUY2j4r16sWnfN71R37fczu1sdmh4l2hQ34QvE3Z4siX-2GwlmqzBAHFgjGZ2okZGrACkTt45JET-RXMWJIsHdNmVndm5M8z0dLJSpF1/s1600/DSC03806.JPG" height="366" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who are geographically-challenged, Alsace is a region in the eastern border of France adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. It has always been known for its famous vineyards thanks to the early Romans who established Alsace as the center of viticulture.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Riquewihr</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a breeze picking up our rental at the Gare de Strasbourg and with Emily's help (our trusty GPS), we were on our way to Riquewihr where we booked our stay in a charming hotel, Le Sarment D'Or. Here's <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowUserReviews-g196500-d624368-r144983963-Hotel_Le_Sarment_d_Or-Riquewihr_Bas_Rhin_Alsace.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my review</a> of the hotel in TripAdvisor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Riquewihr is a quaint medieval town an hour's drive south of Strasbourg. It is included in the list of <a href="http://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Les Plus Beaux Villages de France"</a> (Most Beautiful Villages of France). The town sort of reminded us of <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/02/the-romantic-road-germany.html" target="_blank">Rothenburg ob der Tauber</a> and it also has a branch of </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas shop</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv-vpji16YrM9kz_CNh2qLHHOCcxLWVrpla71PW8JJmZhMVRTp65uXuWfSWlj9KhVI0lDJolk-YlN4GLeKeZVCkQjwOWKWpzZGMPPyuFeZXVM4NRmPMOK6ypeWxtLyCPzrHUbTckHzUP5/s1600/DSC03331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv-vpji16YrM9kz_CNh2qLHHOCcxLWVrpla71PW8JJmZhMVRTp65uXuWfSWlj9KhVI0lDJolk-YlN4GLeKeZVCkQjwOWKWpzZGMPPyuFeZXVM4NRmPMOK6ypeWxtLyCPzrHUbTckHzUP5/s1600/DSC03331.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lovely half-timbered houses along Riquewihr's cobbled streets. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoK8Bgu2JMCJpDBfgYTwaEn0YIrCy4lk7-UNvt-M3nuuf7qW9snTF2SCbMbNYBQ6_40snrZwMfo9ETocNZFp41hx7vCGd_bCeTlshS4UPSj6MKKDMZIoQ7ccuRh0P-3GRwCy5-J_AcXGY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoK8Bgu2JMCJpDBfgYTwaEn0YIrCy4lk7-UNvt-M3nuuf7qW9snTF2SCbMbNYBQ6_40snrZwMfo9ETocNZFp41hx7vCGd_bCeTlshS4UPSj6MKKDMZIoQ7ccuRh0P-3GRwCy5-J_AcXGY/s1600/photo.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Arriving in Riquewihr, the big K and I were a little bit surprised to see people walking around town in Venetian Carnival costumes. Turned out the town was celebrating a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/french-style-venetian-carnival-costumes-in-france/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grand Venetian Parade</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf7hmdTmFuFH7pCKd_bCfzcTs_XStaN41-stLhhYDwGrKm8eFZ58GKYQ0lY9tjV7BzDOJSebcRv57JwGtd_KrHq_oy6zYTedwnAd-ihslciKAvXVGklAAh5vThII2UZ_-xFqNwQSh6Fvr/s1600/DSC03324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf7hmdTmFuFH7pCKd_bCfzcTs_XStaN41-stLhhYDwGrKm8eFZ58GKYQ0lY9tjV7BzDOJSebcRv57JwGtd_KrHq_oy6zYTedwnAd-ihslciKAvXVGklAAh5vThII2UZ_-xFqNwQSh6Fvr/s1600/DSC03324.JPG" height="640" width="554" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Le Sarment D'Or Hotel and Restaurant (the building in red) is a family run hotel and its restaurant has been recommended by both the Michelin and the Gault & Millau guides. <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/02/eating-our-way-through-alsace.html" target="_blank">Their dinner</a> can be pricey but it was very much worth every Euro we spent.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHSLuZwzfbmp4gQ5JVcoDWztIXeCv_CzpC5zzzGcOdtYENXa5dEoi4BuVAxWkCnRe9w7qAL_gORFoBWvaeKXfDan6saH9l63JgSfgnBdHauCdw_85Xdh0kdtBlb5pEKmloPF7NE0VXyJK/s1600/DSC03370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHSLuZwzfbmp4gQ5JVcoDWztIXeCv_CzpC5zzzGcOdtYENXa5dEoi4BuVAxWkCnRe9w7qAL_gORFoBWvaeKXfDan6saH9l63JgSfgnBdHauCdw_85Xdh0kdtBlb5pEKmloPF7NE0VXyJK/s1600/DSC03370.JPG" height="640" width="432" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 13th century Dolder Tower (defensive gate).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Château du </span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Haut</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">-</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Kœnigsbourg</span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Château du </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Haut</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">-</span></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><a href="http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kœnigsbourg</a> is an</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"> impressive 15th century mountain fortress perched in the Vosges Mountains</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"> in the village of Orschwiller. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHkoF0lvUw4TkHi5W2wxwhviabz3iVX5jmUfLcxpilcq5LuCnYAiJIv55TujUE_D0rtp2caSfi2xV1DPSbvFKfCr8jf2XxQotytPKIQpMpm-m727xrZGT61e-8QkrNXND1UeyhviDBbPs/s1600/DSC03417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHkoF0lvUw4TkHi5W2wxwhviabz3iVX5jmUfLcxpilcq5LuCnYAiJIv55TujUE_D0rtp2caSfi2xV1DPSbvFKfCr8jf2XxQotytPKIQpMpm-m727xrZGT61e-8QkrNXND1UeyhviDBbPs/s1600/DSC03417.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQHQq_C7c6R0K7OfUoFWYRQPXZcHyoEzQBNumxyG7hOLStqoHMhRS5Ya8xw-YEnokovdusqDTLfgZO685wct0RQQBQgmENXhZ5Z8y55q7NDPe29Nh-eaEXkYkR17sh-T4E5eEnCiqWhhB/s1600/DSC03421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQHQq_C7c6R0K7OfUoFWYRQPXZcHyoEzQBNumxyG7hOLStqoHMhRS5Ya8xw-YEnokovdusqDTLfgZO685wct0RQQBQgmENXhZ5Z8y55q7NDPe29Nh-eaEXkYkR17sh-T4E5eEnCiqWhhB/s1600/DSC03421.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf2vYCLtjADGCwv_k0uvLBJWQ6mRncCDoZGGf0Q1YuW5MUaAsmSJYTbJArKvosxC1ohAYJuUtXDyZIsMGv8njfmm_1zhQ-DGuDOfMQQnzP6Li35HK4EojJ88cGDeH8rzkjhl69OfO8a7A/s1600/DSC03475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf2vYCLtjADGCwv_k0uvLBJWQ6mRncCDoZGGf0Q1YuW5MUaAsmSJYTbJArKvosxC1ohAYJuUtXDyZIsMGv8njfmm_1zhQ-DGuDOfMQQnzP6Li35HK4EojJ88cGDeH8rzkjhl69OfO8a7A/s1600/DSC03475.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fantastic view from the castle overlooking the Alsatian plain.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Ribeauvillé</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The home to three fortified castles, now in ruins, the Saint Ulrich castle (as seen in the picture below), the Girsberg castle and the Haut-Ribeaupierre castle.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gjEcHCzSn89FQqpsqqdyaZfmTJUAyreWeBd9cY1PGOPFkV-Nm0a9X_UEl9raX39BlbprOErPqTAra-yb1l5fouJT4U3NKOuE79Yx4MAwHvF_k88lQw0M96GLuU8cwHVOECohOIFR6Eta/s1600/DSC03683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gjEcHCzSn89FQqpsqqdyaZfmTJUAyreWeBd9cY1PGOPFkV-Nm0a9X_UEl9raX39BlbprOErPqTAra-yb1l5fouJT4U3NKOuE79Yx4MAwHvF_k88lQw0M96GLuU8cwHVOECohOIFR6Eta/s1600/DSC03683.JPG" height="640" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://xn--chteau%20de%20saint-ulrich-xfc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Château de Saint-Ulrich</a> as seen from the town of </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Ribeauvillé.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZrFlOOcWjQPsiDMIsdAOkTymcRuRkJg-v-YQ0FsDeV86isg6mxSY5JAZF6SvdnEr7sctVWBomDG9RSr4UUfwkyXrbhxDGYTmEYk9Sp30azCA-8u1G6Vwa3tGQaiHhkTCw4DfpdMEoxc6/s1600/DSC03719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZrFlOOcWjQPsiDMIsdAOkTymcRuRkJg-v-YQ0FsDeV86isg6mxSY5JAZF6SvdnEr7sctVWBomDG9RSr4UUfwkyXrbhxDGYTmEYk9Sp30azCA-8u1G6Vwa3tGQaiHhkTCw4DfpdMEoxc6/s1600/DSC03719.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4f0ocr2M8fihCba0QaBjup-rv9r_Sr7e1LYrUs65Uk_MlgU2_XDQQdwaIpR-Rc512mu1MqD08SieY1jCW6h4cIWXUC4Jk_edi6eElBHADNAdPTOhljfI-uDIFmOWzLqvcrqbl63jVSco/s1600/DSC03728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4f0ocr2M8fihCba0QaBjup-rv9r_Sr7e1LYrUs65Uk_MlgU2_XDQQdwaIpR-Rc512mu1MqD08SieY1jCW6h4cIWXUC4Jk_edi6eElBHADNAdPTOhljfI-uDIFmOWzLqvcrqbl63jVSco/s1600/DSC03728.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bergheim</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5b8FjmOQ8ecEEPR7_OJtBhulsqUMYdVhTWz-nXD3pnKVEiOIX6WceMYAl4UYEFuVPXDLX024Ax3nqbASHKT76MKzBxw5WNSZjUkN5ktRzfaUHe0HVMt9m6Nq9UVykj5nxH8YhbUsTAF2/s1600/DSC03650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5b8FjmOQ8ecEEPR7_OJtBhulsqUMYdVhTWz-nXD3pnKVEiOIX6WceMYAl4UYEFuVPXDLX024Ax3nqbASHKT76MKzBxw5WNSZjUkN5ktRzfaUHe0HVMt9m6Nq9UVykj5nxH8YhbUsTAF2/s1600/DSC03650.JPG" height="356" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Gothic High Gate (Porte Haute) of Bergheim.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuuQ5Gy8pTGG-_klJpqdoZA0ILBGPWOBoFCAfqoppD_elMloxjmrzGWeeSYd3NCutiCzbaQCx7VnqOn55ERSo8f_4KvEfe0bONxk5l6Mrk_L-e43IhgI4tvNryJCiCgsva43z8_dRi_Lg/s1600/DSC03657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuuQ5Gy8pTGG-_klJpqdoZA0ILBGPWOBoFCAfqoppD_elMloxjmrzGWeeSYd3NCutiCzbaQCx7VnqOn55ERSo8f_4KvEfe0bONxk5l6Mrk_L-e43IhgI4tvNryJCiCgsva43z8_dRi_Lg/s1600/DSC03657.JPG" height="454" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Colorful timber-framed houses with equally colorful flowers. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlvpgPMTTnMr8Jb6U_fRh-Gx6Kjw6edDthFGogu486GRSCCiDze4iSq8GYu6i9SI2HCvdEP0dVxbAlUKSLW9NljS2A9dqpFm6ab_I36KksLTno4CxpVR_WseEgKQCFZ7gfE4ina_Wfpym/s1600/DSC03633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlvpgPMTTnMr8Jb6U_fRh-Gx6Kjw6edDthFGogu486GRSCCiDze4iSq8GYu6i9SI2HCvdEP0dVxbAlUKSLW9NljS2A9dqpFm6ab_I36KksLTno4CxpVR_WseEgKQCFZ7gfE4ina_Wfpym/s1600/DSC03633.JPG" height="640" width="374" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Le Lack'Mi, an interesting bas-relief on the Porte Haute (High Door) of Bergheim shows a man thumbing his nose and mooning his pursuers. It was an illustration of the "right to asylum" wherein the town was known in the 14th to 17th century as a place where people guilty of misdemeanors seek asylum.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Eguisheim</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there is such a thing as cuteness overload, this village definitely takes the cake. Eguisheim has been in the list of the Most Beautiful Villages of France since 2003 and has won different awards for its floral decorations.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHxbfNvSe1FySBSNFNmsuc832HhNy52iZ4qQpvPMoxTNAHyXGpTjVO6xMpphv40mrXHjoTgE9mumd8ZkKrsOsklnEMd4A1unDrYU0UoZKGIysC9NAswJByTURrZpWfq5zzqxwsRzMXHoJ/s1600/DSC04172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHxbfNvSe1FySBSNFNmsuc832HhNy52iZ4qQpvPMoxTNAHyXGpTjVO6xMpphv40mrXHjoTgE9mumd8ZkKrsOsklnEMd4A1unDrYU0UoZKGIysC9NAswJByTURrZpWfq5zzqxwsRzMXHoJ/s1600/DSC04172.JPG" height="640" width="552" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXZ3foAJCJ0xLLaq118XLezSrIYJgKrGnoNCofmoqDWRgo9Mrvg8asCxHidrHI8PpgEQnRrCkKR9Ba6iryQgQKTff_H-rs21NrfUzlU-Yw-E380Wao0b83507FfQOVhlIy4wliN1ncfFM/s1600/DSC04248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXZ3foAJCJ0xLLaq118XLezSrIYJgKrGnoNCofmoqDWRgo9Mrvg8asCxHidrHI8PpgEQnRrCkKR9Ba6iryQgQKTff_H-rs21NrfUzlU-Yw-E380Wao0b83507FfQOVhlIy4wliN1ncfFM/s1600/DSC04248.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8oTid2BR7wwUGcgvx6zGCaga7UtCYsUjKDrcZ0eFMoT4L7VJy0GD5bftyVg0QQqf-d9zl4wv7L-q331pRcE4-OTUsHeKLSgu6gycFjYoK-2sla7nvl-c4bWnY9RvBrRuje19X_qYBlBq/s1600/DSC04297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8oTid2BR7wwUGcgvx6zGCaga7UtCYsUjKDrcZ0eFMoT4L7VJy0GD5bftyVg0QQqf-d9zl4wv7L-q331pRcE4-OTUsHeKLSgu6gycFjYoK-2sla7nvl-c4bWnY9RvBrRuje19X_qYBlBq/s1600/DSC04297.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIkSnjlWETYXzl3KdTfs1Q2Vs4mMCMGBBh7clBoyJu6kQhZVI1S1QIlAV_cGd51DDa8aAI9A3fOs2ylufeoZKJfiXlizsxbaUZa8LeKSE4ijYSkYSinDGvMgB83Muq_PAKcTg3FaBKZKL/s1600/DSC04211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIkSnjlWETYXzl3KdTfs1Q2Vs4mMCMGBBh7clBoyJu6kQhZVI1S1QIlAV_cGd51DDa8aAI9A3fOs2ylufeoZKJfiXlizsxbaUZa8LeKSE4ijYSkYSinDGvMgB83Muq_PAKcTg3FaBKZKL/s1600/DSC04211.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Obernai</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The town of Obernai is the birthplace of Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace. Born blind but later on miraculously recovering her eyesight, she is also known as the patroness for good eyesight. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri2x9yQcrb40BW9lWdya8ILuvh7S49ubPGBG6OmCCJGgVboSVxur1Ko0ObBmPYuzf5g7oD5uKhOlQnpcZWiibi0Rorm20mjCTV0yyNYi2CSxed-bmyTEnFsP-Cgm03hYwltnACsWgNo0H/s1600/DSC03548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri2x9yQcrb40BW9lWdya8ILuvh7S49ubPGBG6OmCCJGgVboSVxur1Ko0ObBmPYuzf5g7oD5uKhOlQnpcZWiibi0Rorm20mjCTV0yyNYi2CSxed-bmyTEnFsP-Cgm03hYwltnACsWgNo0H/s1600/DSC03548.JPG" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.824000358581543px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Obernai's Place du Marché with the Clock Tower and Town Hall in the background. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqgEe3wT8mcRp8DimGrB_1WoZv0baENkgmuzc4__dqN1nZmcHMUazdcErF0r_NagsAyWaQo9EMnDvS3kAnnFj2h9b7oAu7x9SZVXWO3-XRAxJgPew2-xYDgYwO-jMrL1D56673xgQc2ep/s1600/DSC03563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqgEe3wT8mcRp8DimGrB_1WoZv0baENkgmuzc4__dqN1nZmcHMUazdcErF0r_NagsAyWaQo9EMnDvS3kAnnFj2h9b7oAu7x9SZVXWO3-XRAxJgPew2-xYDgYwO-jMrL1D56673xgQc2ep/s1600/DSC03563.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The old six-bucket well built in 1579.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEgLAweFXFDvhCIGT5BgbymcIoyMQtIri7lvDD7dl7t1likq4z608PJfMpRqo1JAz8dPwkDvhyphenhyphenwH3KCFEYEOKGSk1XFp8MIMfa71aLUxpBym621jh6cVA5PsBwkuUMBXTB5roZRB4mmvm/s1600/DSC03554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEgLAweFXFDvhCIGT5BgbymcIoyMQtIri7lvDD7dl7t1likq4z608PJfMpRqo1JAz8dPwkDvhyphenhyphenwH3KCFEYEOKGSk1XFp8MIMfa71aLUxpBym621jh6cVA5PsBwkuUMBXTB5roZRB4mmvm/s1600/DSC03554.JPG" height="640" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Neo-Gothic church of Saints Peter and Paul.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next post: </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2014/03/la-route-des-vins-dalsace-alsace-wine_10.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cité de l'Automobile in </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mulhouse, Colmar and Strasbourg</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-53768803414842458612014-02-12T19:02:00.000+08:002015-03-06T09:55:34.413+08:00Germany: The Romantic Road<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a long overdue post not to mention a very long one too. I have always been meaning to write about our travels when I started my blog in 2012 but something would always come up, mostly another trip. I know, I know I should have started blogging a long time ago but hey it's never too late to start, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway in between waiting for our trip to Europe in March (Orient Express, baby! Yoohoo! I'm beside myself with excitement! I promise to write about it after the trip, definitely!) and planning another trip back to the US later in the year with my dear old folks to visit my siblings, <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/10/je-reviens-paris-my-first-year.html" target="_blank">the gorgeous H and stylish P</a>, here's a post of one of our road trip adventures in Europe.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVMosgMhZWwFfgYMc-YnvVaGjv0-wTRDKW8nArjF8yq64Dx6Wi9lp7_ODMnHwFinmU83gwaEr7gBrMTPAaa1plVX0V0bKf2tev_eq_V3bpMQiFk_SzeFzRYNI0IqKkDYRehSpQu1j-YaJ/s1600/DSCN4830-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVMosgMhZWwFfgYMc-YnvVaGjv0-wTRDKW8nArjF8yq64Dx6Wi9lp7_ODMnHwFinmU83gwaEr7gBrMTPAaa1plVX0V0bKf2tev_eq_V3bpMQiFk_SzeFzRYNI0IqKkDYRehSpQu1j-YaJ/s1600/DSCN4830-001.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the highlights of the Romantic Road tour is Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau. The castle was one of the inspirations of Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Romantic Road, Germany</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yup! There really is a Romantic Road in Germany as there is also a Fairy Tale Road which the Big K and I hope to do one day. The Romantic Road is a tourist-themed route started in the 1950s in southern Germany that passes through more than a dozen or two historic cities and picturesque towns starting from <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Würzburg and ending in </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Füssen.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>First stop, Würzburg!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXggT78fkTGsE4VW8jCE4QUvjUYc9I6Yq4ZzZtQuD-MnN19uy84QOsuSJfW2cKRWnmY7hyphenhyphenU-T7esYsC1dhBDICy2rSe0qvOpLicKTKsmB_-eIBGjLz41OrLOnnLyKUir9zSocIIZqBOU_/s1600/DSCN4118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXggT78fkTGsE4VW8jCE4QUvjUYc9I6Yq4ZzZtQuD-MnN19uy84QOsuSJfW2cKRWnmY7hyphenhyphenU-T7esYsC1dhBDICy2rSe0qvOpLicKTKsmB_-eIBGjLz41OrLOnnLyKUir9zSocIIZqBOU_/s1600/DSCN4118.JPG" height="342" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Baroque city of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Würzburg as seen from Fortress Marienberg.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h6LTF6bjQTv9wQjSCh7QgjILzaM_KIIh6RC_2npU9LiQNDrd0uTy4bRD-q6ZbsuabNSsvjAmg7yRb525H2JC6DKwg9L8Lmso-SlV-Q6liHbb9YF3L6OuI8-tAMUMiYSrIf3RHT_NQbd6/s1600/DSCN4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h6LTF6bjQTv9wQjSCh7QgjILzaM_KIIh6RC_2npU9LiQNDrd0uTy4bRD-q6ZbsuabNSsvjAmg7yRb525H2JC6DKwg9L8Lmso-SlV-Q6liHbb9YF3L6OuI8-tAMUMiYSrIf3RHT_NQbd6/s1600/DSCN4166.JPG" height="418" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fortress Marienberg is a castle on a hill that overlooks the city.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV-r0EhtCCZKe1_hvUnOLGpPMuUXJjIrfUAfE8BNlA2VmOI5tcs0jREffzRYe-Rym5-fM5WLKh42ohS61VmCPdCFJ0o7RenZxQ7JnDMjpcSCgpChy4r7IqEP5K52BhhRUnapZiREfaeCi/s1600/DSCN4097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV-r0EhtCCZKe1_hvUnOLGpPMuUXJjIrfUAfE8BNlA2VmOI5tcs0jREffzRYe-Rym5-fM5WLKh42ohS61VmCPdCFJ0o7RenZxQ7JnDMjpcSCgpChy4r7IqEP5K52BhhRUnapZiREfaeCi/s1600/DSCN4097.JPG" height="640" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The main entrance to the courtyard of Fortress Marienberg is Scherenburg Gate named after Rudolf von Scherenburg (1401-1495), the Bishop of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Würzburg from 1466 until his death.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9NKvPbVsvI0h1kDKKBC1K6Cnq6qZHe77Rm4XMn3f7PcPcN35qnBSBLIPxrH3rkZVS2qOd7__p2W1iT2xdRuEgnXkAI-8J5s9Bd4w-iNscfZs7jNQ58_6exLd8XtJ2Puq_rOw7LeFuQQO/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9NKvPbVsvI0h1kDKKBC1K6Cnq6qZHe77Rm4XMn3f7PcPcN35qnBSBLIPxrH3rkZVS2qOd7__p2W1iT2xdRuEgnXkAI-8J5s9Bd4w-iNscfZs7jNQ58_6exLd8XtJ2Puq_rOw7LeFuQQO/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Dom St. Kilian (left) is the fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany. The </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Neumünsterkirche (top right) is a Romanesque basilica with a Baroque facade and cupola. The Marienkapelle (bottom right) is a Gothic church located at the Markplatz.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicux-Nj8Dr_UbkaGvKHFVUQGcasFEWzfA9M2skKyrMY0zJzo6lE7NGhcWkPm3-MjVgk6DRilWH9PKdH8H5NWxYb9RBy3Eek8DRJFEdp5JEc9vaMXWcn-UN2CKxA8Kr7nD6wFIjWsH-fJL/s1600/DSCN4186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicux-Nj8Dr_UbkaGvKHFVUQGcasFEWzfA9M2skKyrMY0zJzo6lE7NGhcWkPm3-MjVgk6DRilWH9PKdH8H5NWxYb9RBy3Eek8DRJFEdp5JEc9vaMXWcn-UN2CKxA8Kr7nD6wFIjWsH-fJL/s1600/DSCN4186.JPG" height="370" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">The Residenz, the home of the Prince Bishops of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Würzburg. We were unlucky during our visit as the place was closed to the public because of a movie shoot of some guy named Orlando Bloom. Truth be told the Big K and I were hoping to get a glimpse of Legolas. Oops! Wrong movie. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span><b>Weikersheim</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtCXJkOskqN9o0W8-YkFU4thkiHxU3zbhgtrtMQzqVlNIgrMD1l-9a5mpvxBubGeSSqlr0ZDnZusjpcBcck7JAJfD5TWgjo12B5NbvTvgPyBIf3sSqUI1fnlI8TXIFcrItJvNUUTvuzYX/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtCXJkOskqN9o0W8-YkFU4thkiHxU3zbhgtrtMQzqVlNIgrMD1l-9a5mpvxBubGeSSqlr0ZDnZusjpcBcck7JAJfD5TWgjo12B5NbvTvgPyBIf3sSqUI1fnlI8TXIFcrItJvNUUTvuzYX/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Weikersheim's Markplatz (market place) with its lovely Rococo fountain and St. George's church.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Medieval Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The well-preserved old medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber which means "red fortress above the Tauber" because of its location on a plateau overlooking the Tauber River.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know that the town served as the inspiration for the 1940 Walt Disney movie "Pinocchio"? It was also here where the "Vulgarian Village" scene from the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty_Chitty_Bang_Bang" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"</a> was filmed (the Big K and I love that movie!). While the most recent film shot here was from Harry Potter's Deathly Hallows, the wand maker Gregorovitch's residence. Of course, it was such a quick scene you would have missed it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqz49Q3qR7ocVAKg3JLLp3nIkdseOt51aKi7BWhvMsyzthmW23VEPEdK7gWFpAwpF51FEs8M862c6WbSN6LxIUFXgkJ_Q1PX1qqNJcObiJLaUZ26jW6_YYCnglGERdDF23o5FX2HQYLCC/s1600/DSCN4516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqz49Q3qR7ocVAKg3JLLp3nIkdseOt51aKi7BWhvMsyzthmW23VEPEdK7gWFpAwpF51FEs8M862c6WbSN6LxIUFXgkJ_Q1PX1qqNJcObiJLaUZ26jW6_YYCnglGERdDF23o5FX2HQYLCC/s1600/DSCN4516.JPG" height="364" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can get a great view of almost the entire town by walking along the town's ramparts. It can be quite a walk but it was truly worth it. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs5M88sRPuoUiuYEYTlbHT0deLolTqyiJO0K6HeFPATf1PZtUvB04mvYFBC1tegtegEXdt7EaVVe1fSpMdy-1mmAy3rjrxFyNc8l0xB1GUPnCXpmI2tU2uH4YpP75r6nL0MEB73metjB0/s1600/DSCN4274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs5M88sRPuoUiuYEYTlbHT0deLolTqyiJO0K6HeFPATf1PZtUvB04mvYFBC1tegtegEXdt7EaVVe1fSpMdy-1mmAy3rjrxFyNc8l0xB1GUPnCXpmI2tU2uH4YpP75r6nL0MEB73metjB0/s1600/DSCN4274.JPG" height="640" width="606" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rödergasse with the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; text-align: justify;">Röder Arch and the Markus Tower up ahead built in the 12th century were part of the town's first defense fortification.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXUYMGKJY-sFd3A_fboWWLU2_nYRMu7x_RkFOcfkwiTmF4wBaaLEEBsys07it9AvNorc4wuDpUhJNCBmLvoOhygMV1eNbIwavvZ35I5KFTi_wYDv4mafUpcrTWQyr7P70oJUp0XLeBrPW/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXUYMGKJY-sFd3A_fboWWLU2_nYRMu7x_RkFOcfkwiTmF4wBaaLEEBsys07it9AvNorc4wuDpUhJNCBmLvoOhygMV1eNbIwavvZ35I5KFTi_wYDv4mafUpcrTWQyr7P70oJUp0XLeBrPW/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Big K and I stayed at this charming bed and breakfast, <a href="http://www.hotel-spitzweg.de/ISY/index.php?call=en-hotel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hotel Spitzweg</a>, located inside the city walls. The B&B is housed in a 400+ year old building, one of only a few that escaped damage from both the destructive Thirty Years War of 1618-1648 and bombing raids of the Second World War.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In all our stays in old places in Europe, it was in this B&B that I had an encounter with a ghostly presence. See the pillows on the right side of the bed? This was taken before we left the room. After the Big K and I came back from our walk in the evening, I found the big pillow now laid out flat with the small white pillow on top of it. Oh! The B&B had an evening turn-down service! But wait, how come it was only the pillows on the right side and the blankets were not even turned down? I asked the Big K if he moved the pillows but he didn't touch anything. Okay........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If that experience wasn't enough to give me the shivers, try the next day. It was in the middle of the night when I was awoken by a noise coming from the bathroom. Hmmm... It must be the Big K doing his business. What's he up to now? Fiddling with the radiator knobs? Okay, I admit I was grateful because I was feeling a bit cold. At breakfast I commented to the Big K that he woke me up in the middle of the night with all the noises he made. "Oh! Was I snoring again? I really had a good night's sleep." he said. Huh? "So no middle-of-the-night-excursion?" ..... Nope! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmmm... Of course it could have been the finicky 16th century plumbing.... But we're betting on the resident ghost. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj6l-WmWsn2GwhIHVr7pyIFpsYa7KtW83-CMJtiOXR4R5KcpQEqZrBs7ZL5dEMVdAqFM3JRCrjth1GtSTApMZCfXF0cgS63dGo_XbFxon5l5hmyy18l0pcLBhYtI-gH_jafxi5AxIqaLU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj6l-WmWsn2GwhIHVr7pyIFpsYa7KtW83-CMJtiOXR4R5KcpQEqZrBs7ZL5dEMVdAqFM3JRCrjth1GtSTApMZCfXF0cgS63dGo_XbFxon5l5hmyy18l0pcLBhYtI-gH_jafxi5AxIqaLU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.nightwatchman.de/index.php?cat=147&cl2=141&cl3=147&sprache=ENG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Night Watchman of Rothenburg ob der Tauber</a>. One of the highlights of our stay in Rothenburg was the Night Watchman Tour by Hans Georg Baumgartner. A great, informative and funny one hour walk along the streets of night-time Rothenburg. Slightly scary, slightly off-beat! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccgDPFKlb78Hu_c6Q8r7xm3ZGjJSgFLFgykE_03Rk2SMcME1wrSbt3eT2MAoGr6NdnkbH6u4083oMCDSa0_MZ5gtAXasRfPulGCtH1je6nyXY4OVCrmv54CAgQDaHxtLSx4V6ch9FiAc2/s1600/DSCN4317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccgDPFKlb78Hu_c6Q8r7xm3ZGjJSgFLFgykE_03Rk2SMcME1wrSbt3eT2MAoGr6NdnkbH6u4083oMCDSa0_MZ5gtAXasRfPulGCtH1je6nyXY4OVCrmv54CAgQDaHxtLSx4V6ch9FiAc2/s1600/DSCN4317.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Town Hall at the Market Square (Markplatz)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4AtFfq4B4mxmxBacFVoJnY3XTKCmEUcSqF5NxWQJB-x_gPxAdL_WyimvT42EKaAGBhbAeua-5OwzA1cKZ8Lmfm9j5BCK7DgknyM9NDEOIlArn-ELh6icsQVaiPboQJggwBXClnbDP6YM/s1600/DSCN4333.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4AtFfq4B4mxmxBacFVoJnY3XTKCmEUcSqF5NxWQJB-x_gPxAdL_WyimvT42EKaAGBhbAeua-5OwzA1cKZ8Lmfm9j5BCK7DgknyM9NDEOIlArn-ELh6icsQVaiPboQJggwBXClnbDP6YM/s1600/DSCN4333.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQGyxMJ8Xce154KJMJR0FFIBNOBwR3c-HFG1IrgCaeuZyjNJG4ihyphenhyphenR-z7f2goJQfQDYjPadaBF2NH6jRJ3YBKxrlwsEb6DHmADXGVa8z-pgeJ5qsmVA2-YngspUjr4GfGHzQt8AJkh7vo/s1600/DSCN4351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQGyxMJ8Xce154KJMJR0FFIBNOBwR3c-HFG1IrgCaeuZyjNJG4ihyphenhyphenR-z7f2goJQfQDYjPadaBF2NH6jRJ3YBKxrlwsEb6DHmADXGVa8z-pgeJ5qsmVA2-YngspUjr4GfGHzQt8AJkh7vo/s1600/DSCN4351.JPG" height="640" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Herrngasse was once the favored street of the town nobility. This is also where the Christmas Museum and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.498039); text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wohlfahrt.com/10-1-the_company" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Käthe Wohlfahrt</a>'s main Christmas Shop are located.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>Füssen </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5j3Gkx4IWcrNJCHBIgD-MdlzF5o_RPsDrqLiNKZjiTA2F7_qEtPJv0PV64fq0YvKcFryvny4in3r9_cTx4kJfdWv_ikpi3_DaBXXbwlkBHf6pb8R3s4xDG8nF4RRVoEvLfPKyW55pTcqN/s1600/DSCN4641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5j3Gkx4IWcrNJCHBIgD-MdlzF5o_RPsDrqLiNKZjiTA2F7_qEtPJv0PV64fq0YvKcFryvny4in3r9_cTx4kJfdWv_ikpi3_DaBXXbwlkBHf6pb8R3s4xDG8nF4RRVoEvLfPKyW55pTcqN/s1600/DSCN4641.JPG" height="640" width="528" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Füssen's town square. Check out the <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/oberammergau-passion-play.html#more" target="_blank">Luftmalerei painting</a> in the middle building. These kind of house paintings are popular in the Alpine region. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXraOw4UEn49thyphenhyphen23lDIa9S-XwPXKdJwqVyEF65PLfo3989NSAQUxSKcYAyhQda3j01QKAypd4XygiWmhTL_y2fJAg5ivxgSri8jnZ0c8tu-JtqwE_M0ME3Zgtq7FYKOOxvvdUq_w0vX9u/s1600/DSCN4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXraOw4UEn49thyphenhyphen23lDIa9S-XwPXKdJwqVyEF65PLfo3989NSAQUxSKcYAyhQda3j01QKAypd4XygiWmhTL_y2fJAg5ivxgSri8jnZ0c8tu-JtqwE_M0ME3Zgtq7FYKOOxvvdUq_w0vX9u/s1600/DSCN4654.JPG" height="454" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">The Lute-Maker's Fountain. Füssen was the center of lute-making in Europe and it is here that the first Guild for lute-makers was established. Later on the town also became the center for violin-making.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg7rbZnnkcf_I9vRPKG6sZY6zSl7sasdj0WcHJZdDz5VW8imiwf6zg4opb4z_BMjSVOWuMwW7-l4YaReVXKWaNVbSm1KkZ0MCUXLKHtPgnTVrdD4dgzo3lnu4PHEESFnEmseLP1eqayoq/s1600/DSCN4681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg7rbZnnkcf_I9vRPKG6sZY6zSl7sasdj0WcHJZdDz5VW8imiwf6zg4opb4z_BMjSVOWuMwW7-l4YaReVXKWaNVbSm1KkZ0MCUXLKHtPgnTVrdD4dgzo3lnu4PHEESFnEmseLP1eqayoq/s1600/DSCN4681.JPG" height="640" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.fuessen.de/en/romantic-soul/the-state-gallery-in-fuessen.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hohes Schloss </a>(High Castle) of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Füssen was the former summer residence of the Prince Bishops of Augsburg</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">The Castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">The village of <a href="http://www.hohenschwangau.de/430.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hohenschwangau</a> is a fifteen-minute drive from </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Füssen. This is where you'll find two castles within view of each other. One is a small, homey lived-in castle while the other is a fairy-tale like shell of a castle. </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3DFfelaUkj5FyFIOkKSkdr-LHMzpXgw4SRpISs5Ka2tk_C6UxObv-4ansWyfw7I_iBSKzljwf2uCGvnMOs_KdJY6ZJjB0ERS5B3noIRUkDmabWz-Wt_OWaoYHjFuUZmFrE9EhOj0LD-P/s1600/DSCN4776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3DFfelaUkj5FyFIOkKSkdr-LHMzpXgw4SRpISs5Ka2tk_C6UxObv-4ansWyfw7I_iBSKzljwf2uCGvnMOs_KdJY6ZJjB0ERS5B3noIRUkDmabWz-Wt_OWaoYHjFuUZmFrE9EhOj0LD-P/s1600/DSCN4776.JPG" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Schloss Hohenschwangau near the Alpsee lake as seen from Neuschwanstein Castle. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CHMHzkkiRpy_4QcK7FnnaYuEVTh1tYwMs5MyMl4_acBPVFGdus1N0zdmCLLsXp1Kk-cIVqW5QzxYVW_6dIid6PkrJxyUwqfEnXr0G1ifz0N860j37e20obnD_0vZej9V1G8LNqvXwmPH/s1600/DSCN4748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CHMHzkkiRpy_4QcK7FnnaYuEVTh1tYwMs5MyMl4_acBPVFGdus1N0zdmCLLsXp1Kk-cIVqW5QzxYVW_6dIid6PkrJxyUwqfEnXr0G1ifz0N860j37e20obnD_0vZej9V1G8LNqvXwmPH/s1600/DSCN4748.JPG" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This 19th century palace is the childhood home of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The castle started out as a medieval fortress in the 12th century that fell into ruins. The then Crown Prince, King Maximilian II (father of King Ludwig II), discovered the historic ruins and decided to reconstruct the castle that later on served as the family's official summer and hunting residence. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88mYLToczzZey5Eq4H8OhCvZbazWTHzNxKeswR34Bb_-J2xbSEQc_cyfkfhTLINa7xVqC9kqX52c4g6q_lPPXnHzZzxD2BA3YWfkddFMNBcmzq5osbZTPb_G-Rm3ak8KX2WKXbm3gbEnV/s1600/DSCN4828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88mYLToczzZey5Eq4H8OhCvZbazWTHzNxKeswR34Bb_-J2xbSEQc_cyfkfhTLINa7xVqC9kqX52c4g6q_lPPXnHzZzxD2BA3YWfkddFMNBcmzq5osbZTPb_G-Rm3ak8KX2WKXbm3gbEnV/s1600/DSCN4828.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Probably the most well-known castle in the region, Schloss Neuschwanstein was commissioned by the reclusive King Ludwig II as his personal retreat but only lived in it for 172 days. Construction started in 1869 but remains to be unfinished because of his mysterious death in 1886. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUHAgbT2ak8bRCYuDryJ9ia1Rn-vJfyYFamXKYJGgxIfQmilTPxYxo6oEcN02idebjSOzkBhgVk9ANlElsBlR47pXFIwXywvK_BG849BS50PZUJ5heXwQvlPfFHZ1rl6YtRll2OVctBeS/s1600/DSCN4790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUHAgbT2ak8bRCYuDryJ9ia1Rn-vJfyYFamXKYJGgxIfQmilTPxYxo6oEcN02idebjSOzkBhgVk9ANlElsBlR47pXFIwXywvK_BG849BS50PZUJ5heXwQvlPfFHZ1rl6YtRll2OVctBeS/s1600/DSCN4790.JPG" height="640" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) named after Queen Mary, King Ludwig's mother, constructed over the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pöllat Gorge as seen from Neuschwanstein Castle</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Helpful tip: We saved money on some of the attraction fees along the Romantic Road tour with the <a href="http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/jahresk.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">14-Day Bavarian Pass</a>.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Next stop: </span><a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/01/oberammergau-passion-play.html#more" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" target="_blank">Oberammergau and the Passion Play</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126932096048560881.post-88192702496460251882014-02-04T18:10:00.000+08:002014-04-30T23:20:22.665+08:00Mont Saint-Michel Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It felt like d</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">éjà vu</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> waking up early to catch the 7AM TGV to Rennes where my sisters, <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/10/je-reviens-paris-my-first-year.html" target="_blank">the gorgeous H and stylish P</a> and I would board the bus for the hour and a half ride to the famous rock at the coast of Normandy, Le Mont Saint-Michel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was way back in 2010 when the Big K and I first saw this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can read about how our trip went in my earlier blog post <a href="http://www.guesswhereimwritingfrom.com/2013/04/mont-saint-michel-in-france.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzvL_z00XzuThxHmbwz6Yult9CE8wsEDLDEEScPKK_Y74HMHfOVNq0hXmqFdAkiHnHjUPyHtePc3Myah998fesHNJuDDZYnVlHpEnD8UQ8NsZnp4B42DCj-9pNlHYxsp1vb9SvXYTwf-1/s1600/DSCN5912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzvL_z00XzuThxHmbwz6Yult9CE8wsEDLDEEScPKK_Y74HMHfOVNq0hXmqFdAkiHnHjUPyHtePc3Myah998fesHNJuDDZYnVlHpEnD8UQ8NsZnp4B42DCj-9pNlHYxsp1vb9SvXYTwf-1/s1600/DSCN5912.JPG" height="434" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This photo was taken in 2010 before construction began for the Mont's restoration.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8l3sFTZ5cXwYeEcOBJ3mjc3YdT_iJN1xJ9c1DxWQQI9bmHTCk7xmndH2rVcJUxMt73iyPJVzP4Y4VHhf6L-ydGs4gw82fZzGhgFzb7RBwi7mJYpnUl0KJqRoiJIUlQpAspjpxp4G7dcqd/s1600/DSC09128-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8l3sFTZ5cXwYeEcOBJ3mjc3YdT_iJN1xJ9c1DxWQQI9bmHTCk7xmndH2rVcJUxMt73iyPJVzP4Y4VHhf6L-ydGs4gw82fZzGhgFzb7RBwi7mJYpnUl0KJqRoiJIUlQpAspjpxp4G7dcqd/s1600/DSC09128-001.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rennes train station, our jump off point for Mont Saint-Michel. The TGV ride from Paris' Montparnasse station to Rennes took approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXF7rCVWkV_MUHdXUDzvk31qiknfRPuqmwH-m-EN5WBUYAXlhSP5cj5VR0G085rpQBzwFq-mM-F9fL3RCOqzvVldhlj9L0BTu17lQb054JDtJ0Xw3-XwcYbYN988vIhR1BvyyiAUYGTP5/s1600/DSC09133-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXF7rCVWkV_MUHdXUDzvk31qiknfRPuqmwH-m-EN5WBUYAXlhSP5cj5VR0G085rpQBzwFq-mM-F9fL3RCOqzvVldhlj9L0BTu17lQb054JDtJ0Xw3-XwcYbYN988vIhR1BvyyiAUYGTP5/s1600/DSC09133-001.JPG" height="314" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leaving the train station be sure to take the North exit to get to the bus station (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gare Routière</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rZxM3u12HwcZvLiUxYE9kUb95Gi9FpVlHhJ3Pcm4LA097jQR4xFsLThOPKxjBOtslr5fNGSO4Gi_0op56CRH9g88A0mdzYsGfaSrwHUwJf1ZlZqAoHFUgZkFYFHyTF28iHtGRmqyiS8A/s1600/DSC09130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rZxM3u12HwcZvLiUxYE9kUb95Gi9FpVlHhJ3Pcm4LA097jQR4xFsLThOPKxjBOtslr5fNGSO4Gi_0op56CRH9g88A0mdzYsGfaSrwHUwJf1ZlZqAoHFUgZkFYFHyTF28iHtGRmqyiS8A/s1600/DSC09130.JPG" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The plaza in front of the train station. If you don't see this place coming out of the station you might have taken a different exit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWXLfoo6xMNdYXnHV4vf_HJdZNNpaSZIYu4tyjp58KLZmCzDAsqZPqSMh6iOSLhmPCagwZUmtYNu9i85WKjrE7Nea48iJKfNLZw8jwX51xveJWppcSqe4Hf57AojTaNaa_ht-3gK72mXP/s1600/DSC09127-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWXLfoo6xMNdYXnHV4vf_HJdZNNpaSZIYu4tyjp58KLZmCzDAsqZPqSMh6iOSLhmPCagwZUmtYNu9i85WKjrE7Nea48iJKfNLZw8jwX51xveJWppcSqe4Hf57AojTaNaa_ht-3gK72mXP/s1600/DSC09127-001.JPG" height="640" width="592" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With the train station behind you, the Gare Routière is immediately to the right. Be sure to buy your bus tickets at the counter before boarding the bus (they don't sell tickets on board the bus when starting your journey in Rennes). Buy round trip tickets (billet aller-retour) if you'll be going back to Paris via Rennes.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The New Terminal and Car Park at Mont Saint-Michel</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike our 2010 visit where the bus drove all the way up to the walls of the Mont, this time we were dropped off at the new terminal and car park located at the mainland, a few meters at the start of the causeway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Starting in June 2013, access to the Mont through the causeway can only be by foot (30-45 minutes), free shuttles (les navettes) or horse-drawn shuttles (la Maringote). </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo1fJHuaiJ6kAwu0FzhPZCzVOWZaaqq6-rNl6coPhpv9fRjZEBC8eYNYobjSo5cOfyZ27QwcZAyIzpYGrX7scVdSvbIE0mDHidnTL6uDqDSGHxFCa6Y_Yd7OMVJdJLOLrOnP7EpFhqOAA/s1600/DSC09107-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo1fJHuaiJ6kAwu0FzhPZCzVOWZaaqq6-rNl6coPhpv9fRjZEBC8eYNYobjSo5cOfyZ27QwcZAyIzpYGrX7scVdSvbIE0mDHidnTL6uDqDSGHxFCa6Y_Yd7OMVJdJLOLrOnP7EpFhqOAA/s1600/DSC09107-001.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com/site/en/services-and-prices/tourist-information-centre" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tourist Information Center</a> at the new terminal/car park. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiQaMsFhqhACOZUbhqKsDYoHozFwyfijipOQQ8wEokQJ-pruWIjVuvswg0fwprO4-IUemgC0u9z6XPzvDhxIDvCdCx84UqN7k9p4_4x0RlraS4qrL73f0AWAt-MG_hZS4l618dRg-UBFd/s1600/DSC09096-001.JPG" height="304" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The plan to allow the tides back that will make the Mont an island again, <a href="http://www.projetmontsaintmichel.fr/index.html" target="_blank">Project Mont Saint-Michel</a>. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiQaMsFhqhACOZUbhqKsDYoHozFwyfijipOQQ8wEokQJ-pruWIjVuvswg0fwprO4-IUemgC0u9z6XPzvDhxIDvCdCx84UqN7k9p4_4x0RlraS4qrL73f0AWAt-MG_hZS4l618dRg-UBFd/s1600/DSC09096-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNoDd8T7NwxOMC6k6hHYvnFIXEDiPHWC8TKwkOfsqQOnwaJA2wfPVZN59RuVO71mM1SUDjFmu86jsHeBbavE65EdCefyKkyVXcugDvKN2WgpdJtReNJj739eytV0WZirC0m35DY49nRc4/s1600/DSC09112-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNoDd8T7NwxOMC6k6hHYvnFIXEDiPHWC8TKwkOfsqQOnwaJA2wfPVZN59RuVO71mM1SUDjFmu86jsHeBbavE65EdCefyKkyVXcugDvKN2WgpdJtReNJj739eytV0WZirC0m35DY49nRc4/s1600/DSC09112-001.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">La Maringote at EUR5.00 per person.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXaSOsitnaBKGMbsRCedGb5tjlk2Lllh19Iq6XqkAOR789JxPtrgxk6_Emfg9cg2fd2N6AstQPNujW6iIYwVZhk6Tu2TdJ4yCWPfO23wUI94qgKi5TJ5lWH2_CUNx5hgjnKxOINyDhNiV/s1600/DSC09116-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXaSOsitnaBKGMbsRCedGb5tjlk2Lllh19Iq6XqkAOR789JxPtrgxk6_Emfg9cg2fd2N6AstQPNujW6iIYwVZhk6Tu2TdJ4yCWPfO23wUI94qgKi5TJ5lWH2_CUNx5hgjnKxOINyDhNiV/s1600/DSC09116-001.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My sisters and I took the free shuttle.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZuqElOvwaNk515Zu9TVVt0886fPQ-mf2jsihp3XyrkyyKJgCgU0LbcwskNALW65NmtPw4zD46wE2tIjyA6ETMSZdK3g3XEbIuXybAzyrJR19Sf7tVN-x2qiSOMpzRAp5Eqc3_W07Df0P/s1600/DSC09075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZuqElOvwaNk515Zu9TVVt0886fPQ-mf2jsihp3XyrkyyKJgCgU0LbcwskNALW65NmtPw4zD46wE2tIjyA6ETMSZdK3g3XEbIuXybAzyrJR19Sf7tVN-x2qiSOMpzRAp5Eqc3_W07Df0P/s1600/DSC09075.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Even with all the on-going construction seeing the Mont again still takes my breath away. Just imagine my sisters awe-struck expressions upon seeing it for the first time. Then out comes the cameras! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oNKayLCJiSFMEePoL-wQa_SNRuMsJyyFd-qG1RykmwZjayXu5tbp_XV8zDgi-dIQEAWExkChyQROkWbtKjl1kpXyedflTnSgdUI6gvsgAxu8G0luU8XtuhbgCpKvD3h2zxp3DzNhyphenhyphenPjR/s1600/DSC08834-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oNKayLCJiSFMEePoL-wQa_SNRuMsJyyFd-qG1RykmwZjayXu5tbp_XV8zDgi-dIQEAWExkChyQROkWbtKjl1kpXyedflTnSgdUI6gvsgAxu8G0luU8XtuhbgCpKvD3h2zxp3DzNhyphenhyphenPjR/s1600/DSC08834-001.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the Mont's restoration project as seen from the abbey walls. Too bad we didn't get to see the tides on this visit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Inside Mont Saint-Michel</b></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOyQNWTBUgwQt_b-14pEXjMHGmZ6ZfM-A2EYl2dlGV4-UOpVn9C8UuMbQN8nsdWfL89NLxKyq3Y0XtNH_URvBGEvtbaN_1M_R-Jb_yawC5TfW8OMt_V1DIOOVl0FulNSLhZFPMdz6zAGq/s1600/DSC08826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOyQNWTBUgwQt_b-14pEXjMHGmZ6ZfM-A2EYl2dlGV4-UOpVn9C8UuMbQN8nsdWfL89NLxKyq3Y0XtNH_URvBGEvtbaN_1M_R-Jb_yawC5TfW8OMt_V1DIOOVl0FulNSLhZFPMdz6zAGq/s1600/DSC08826.JPG" height="640" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Grand Rue or main street. The only street inside the Mont that leads to the abbey can be overwhelmed with modern-day pilgrims aka day trippers. We were lucky it wasn't so busy during our visit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PhCD9QHOr9OK_4nBY6IjEx2tHqfD-MHFKqatPJTGmqYBDe20iLsLKtHiO65YzRtimZSRv2THx0PhLxQi3XzNRpbvvDxQ0YqbYxj3ug37jJ1HMuYoTNg-L5_AvHPvl_aZzEUqzepcLPBK/s1600/DSC08990-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PhCD9QHOr9OK_4nBY6IjEx2tHqfD-MHFKqatPJTGmqYBDe20iLsLKtHiO65YzRtimZSRv2THx0PhLxQi3XzNRpbvvDxQ0YqbYxj3ug37jJ1HMuYoTNg-L5_AvHPvl_aZzEUqzepcLPBK/s1600/DSC08990-001.JPG" height="640" width="438" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-YXeGu9ozJrEuDAFoBdxYcZaLchN7IZcBIX_3eaulETb-SoApmaTuSd7oyAawCTa6jpOR61BBOcJMY18tcYEea1vWRv5MQzs-gUydTTYg9sqqYTIQwb2_pftPrynJ9Bualg7O3wvEY3S/s1600/DSC09059-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-YXeGu9ozJrEuDAFoBdxYcZaLchN7IZcBIX_3eaulETb-SoApmaTuSd7oyAawCTa6jpOR61BBOcJMY18tcYEea1vWRv5MQzs-gUydTTYg9sqqYTIQwb2_pftPrynJ9Bualg7O3wvEY3S/s1600/DSC09059-001.JPG" height="640" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">La Vieille Auberge where my sisters and I stayed. The inn has rooms at their main building along the Grand Rue (above) and at their annex farther up the street. We got a room at the annex (below) with a great view of the abbey's spires. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuJZ6Y5zH19eVcNcM3j2HfTqVLEobpF7xIaXZNt1BVwrsPezL2DhzHOl9BZNBHq1nllQAAF9tYaLdebDKSUe5GRrxe-WRKCCxEgeA8PXUhcAgtGzUWDpXSVqmkGxAQxMtp3pn3oz6sOV3/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuJZ6Y5zH19eVcNcM3j2HfTqVLEobpF7xIaXZNt1BVwrsPezL2DhzHOl9BZNBHq1nllQAAF9tYaLdebDKSUe5GRrxe-WRKCCxEgeA8PXUhcAgtGzUWDpXSVqmkGxAQxMtp3pn3oz6sOV3/s1600/Image.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEhKI4IUNwcVEN4pkkc1tx9ZHQ_0k8i_fuK_CUH4QbhkQNy5LVoNLACMOMFCNJKXA4mivoIbAbdbGpLhHaJpgdf3_sZCPrCAx6YYhymoPO-ba_x29DcaGG26l7TgnvGmtTdJXwp-04zSX/s1600/DSC08978-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEhKI4IUNwcVEN4pkkc1tx9ZHQ_0k8i_fuK_CUH4QbhkQNy5LVoNLACMOMFCNJKXA4mivoIbAbdbGpLhHaJpgdf3_sZCPrCAx6YYhymoPO-ba_x29DcaGG26l7TgnvGmtTdJXwp-04zSX/s1600/DSC08978-001.JPG" height="364" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And a lovely view of the bay from our room's terrace.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWC4cbW-eNrHJNRoQoZmbkyLPKeaBia5a05Sq6Il9CPKP3Y1C-PzbQmXgTvhimHX355GYAdl-pSYj2i1eFaoSWJB5vM-iMvvZVh5nfhnGY5xqg-xW7dAFVsycXhZnG8-tpFjd7yrcQGW5t/s1600/DSC08977-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWC4cbW-eNrHJNRoQoZmbkyLPKeaBia5a05Sq6Il9CPKP3Y1C-PzbQmXgTvhimHX355GYAdl-pSYj2i1eFaoSWJB5vM-iMvvZVh5nfhnGY5xqg-xW7dAFVsycXhZnG8-tpFjd7yrcQGW5t/s1600/DSC08977-002.JPG" height="640" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We also got a view of Mont Saint-Michel's cemetery and the on-going construction at the bay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdif9Un14MEECaQKzwrdGoiPUIgDus0R7IkTElmpjdJGvUCErUc9dtVT2OEvUY9GZEfzMc5nTPqofkEhOn5a9SojQQZ3V7KYEdrAXI0Y-a6uhGcJ9B2AknyNTt3D9CkZDerGAsMkrSFTzt/s1600/DSC08958-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdif9Un14MEECaQKzwrdGoiPUIgDus0R7IkTElmpjdJGvUCErUc9dtVT2OEvUY9GZEfzMc5nTPqofkEhOn5a9SojQQZ3V7KYEdrAXI0Y-a6uhGcJ9B2AknyNTt3D9CkZDerGAsMkrSFTzt/s1600/DSC08958-001.JPG" height="640" width="398" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTSJTwvwY_WatmZzdRlTkw9CKHE8kKvX1itnP1HUj87C_9ZyzqVZdIc7HBba7hJGPdGIis4VpuRHKj47RcdqMa1dp5QbF35TP0AwVOmIUau9cnBzOLBejcweNS05fRKdDUuVnLN6PL6zM/s1600/DSC08955-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTSJTwvwY_WatmZzdRlTkw9CKHE8kKvX1itnP1HUj87C_9ZyzqVZdIc7HBba7hJGPdGIis4VpuRHKj47RcdqMa1dp5QbF35TP0AwVOmIUau9cnBzOLBejcweNS05fRKdDUuVnLN6PL6zM/s1600/DSC08955-001.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Abbey</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_7L16fmYfNlirVdjdej68TajOBtXopacCRXAASIVD_kbzrjRIujIDL_sAFAA8pgt5HrOnNXQbY235f4Y4lnirNZ6dPbxo2PEIW2SgW66inKx6fJqLReMWwqH5IiDx0LDwagZRaIU8yEw/s1600/DSC08840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_7L16fmYfNlirVdjdej68TajOBtXopacCRXAASIVD_kbzrjRIujIDL_sAFAA8pgt5HrOnNXQbY235f4Y4lnirNZ6dPbxo2PEIW2SgW66inKx6fJqLReMWwqH5IiDx0LDwagZRaIU8yEw/s1600/DSC08840.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The archangel Saint Michel at the top of the spire.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZB8F26QycB2getv1tr-DvpXoo8yJClEJp6tJJGPrLdUTk_IQtsiw13rPmGJYZUdrBs-3YIRv7XGQiP10w5lInqLR0ZbL0nvDbAQP57tXS2tr-9i_WxyNqXg9Okk0f8FqxkO_4zgbP6LM/s1600/DSC08899-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZB8F26QycB2getv1tr-DvpXoo8yJClEJp6tJJGPrLdUTk_IQtsiw13rPmGJYZUdrBs-3YIRv7XGQiP10w5lInqLR0ZbL0nvDbAQP57tXS2tr-9i_WxyNqXg9Okk0f8FqxkO_4zgbP6LM/s1600/DSC08899-001.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crypte des gros piliers (Great Pillared Crypt)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAollgOCltUr3TV8-HChGI4hPyyYU76TBGWHl_audPIpjzVtK9RgObxGAR3s3XL-iLIgEjtJkHEEr7fBU9woZJkTmQ9QNGnuUPSPSL_GiGA_9YMucevBHzYHhiB81N0gcRoW7XLvQThq/s1600/DSC08891-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAollgOCltUr3TV8-HChGI4hPyyYU76TBGWHl_audPIpjzVtK9RgObxGAR3s3XL-iLIgEjtJkHEEr7fBU9woZJkTmQ9QNGnuUPSPSL_GiGA_9YMucevBHzYHhiB81N0gcRoW7XLvQThq/s1600/DSC08891-001.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Is that a huge fireplace or a really tiny tourist? It's both actually (but it's still a huge fireplace)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIrwv_S15-RaqalNc0upLw7_Vwb9mi9gyJ6myw_ASX5_5TCXqhaxg-EhTrhgm18-OheFSADOENbV64V6uq1CcPmq_7EyhQFTvD5nJpefvoIMFY6VXLRjinPuWhMsjDgs7-R3LumC7ZgLN/s1600/DSC08924-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIrwv_S15-RaqalNc0upLw7_Vwb9mi9gyJ6myw_ASX5_5TCXqhaxg-EhTrhgm18-OheFSADOENbV64V6uq1CcPmq_7EyhQFTvD5nJpefvoIMFY6VXLRjinPuWhMsjDgs7-R3LumC7ZgLN/s1600/DSC08924-001.JPG" height="640" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My lovely sisters, the gorgeous H and the stylish P. at the salle des Chevaliers.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMZZjkbD3XqX1WD0hHF6kI98DbUeykcH9po6HvXrGrfTiQfvR3qO-5NP73eUNxgKkxYOywQMtNcARcZPeh75yjQtJb8HoddCF4q5SFj2D2hCWTUExQLjjA789PjuJ_WSyrnHhTGujy2oM/s1600/DSC08854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMZZjkbD3XqX1WD0hHF6kI98DbUeykcH9po6HvXrGrfTiQfvR3qO-5NP73eUNxgKkxYOywQMtNcARcZPeh75yjQtJb8HoddCF4q5SFj2D2hCWTUExQLjjA789PjuJ_WSyrnHhTGujy2oM/s1600/DSC08854.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The south wall of the abbey's church.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIkn_CjcAcOsak_G-k7iAgL8-jljADTdT69IrnUVcSXjETPJo2PSNecGwwuXwwalQr3uL1ElVxOWcSISymu0GoSUNgmIYOMQHCG1US0ZYpi-RpC1ZElvxMf9EDGYCTLqTkBilMycZ5r_1/s1600/DSC08885.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIkn_CjcAcOsak_G-k7iAgL8-jljADTdT69IrnUVcSXjETPJo2PSNecGwwuXwwalQr3uL1ElVxOWcSISymu0GoSUNgmIYOMQHCG1US0ZYpi-RpC1ZElvxMf9EDGYCTLqTkBilMycZ5r_1/s1600/DSC08885.JPG" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.599998474121094px;">As the story goes, the Archangel Saint Michael appeared in a vision before </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubert_of_Avranches" rel="nofollow" style="color: #064b6e; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Saint Aubert, the Bishop of Avranches</a><span style="line-height: 19.599998474121094px;"> and asked him to build a church on top of the rocky island to which the Bishop continuously ignored. Exasperated by the constant disregard to his request, Saint Michael drove his finger into the Bishop's skull and ordered him to complete the task. Voila! It is finished! Talk about getting the job done.</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATBc23w-gmM33_tGwjOmHOMsATWbvB1fg_AA7XXxLLV7ZrT2xScgtOE27XJrrsFZP_zx8wa61lCL0AfF0eNEPgeEAuumOGHmpZJBqiNXoUB7ji8BrLeEc5ygURF7ALfW0AO3fyAxmeHKT/s1600/DSC09026-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATBc23w-gmM33_tGwjOmHOMsATWbvB1fg_AA7XXxLLV7ZrT2xScgtOE27XJrrsFZP_zx8wa61lCL0AfF0eNEPgeEAuumOGHmpZJBqiNXoUB7ji8BrLeEc5ygURF7ALfW0AO3fyAxmeHKT/s1600/DSC09026-001.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An eerie quiet fills the Grand Rue after all the day trippers leave.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyVsFTsewda9hUXeBp5XUNuXOx8zjw5o9RW6VKNBA4vDPRUaPFMvoUVUfxCTLFzSnacHQSkzgGEolxskOW4rDg83GZmWtNNlVThvoGKDs7k0GlvAQTHvQM_bZw6ktay26UCKSht1Fandz/s1600/DSC09013-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyVsFTsewda9hUXeBp5XUNuXOx8zjw5o9RW6VKNBA4vDPRUaPFMvoUVUfxCTLFzSnacHQSkzgGEolxskOW4rDg83GZmWtNNlVThvoGKDs7k0GlvAQTHvQM_bZw6ktay26UCKSht1Fandz/s1600/DSC09013-001.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The abbey all lit up for the night.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MPFuZBhWHjldPAHAId8yb5QuoyOScMZBBuLWNiw0q5VSCut6lfV5iEbX1oIflu3Js6eUzBQ9vN6qVKPRpd25XNtywmMTQLDKjC_6u0FQvj_6t_zuKqOC3f6ixSege7eHztlx2mjZCTaG/s1600/DSC09085-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MPFuZBhWHjldPAHAId8yb5QuoyOScMZBBuLWNiw0q5VSCut6lfV5iEbX1oIflu3Js6eUzBQ9vN6qVKPRpd25XNtywmMTQLDKjC_6u0FQvj_6t_zuKqOC3f6ixSege7eHztlx2mjZCTaG/s1600/DSC09085-001.JPG" height="556" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a short but wonderful visit with my sisters at the Mont. I hope I get another chance to go back with the Big K after the restoration when Le Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island once again.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helpful links:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Official website of Le Mont Saint-Michel</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Access to Le Mont Saint-Michel</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SNCF website</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />toni d.p.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02362456854981439451noreply@blogger.com0