http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Affinity/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Affinity en-us Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:00:31 +0000 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:00:31 +0000 From we to thee across the sea.HaPpY HoLiDaYs Everyone http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-356730.html We decided to spend Armistice Day in Brussels celebrating our freedoms of education travel language.... living. Upon arriving to our destination we were greeted with the fine scent of warm waffles Gluwine Mmmmm Deep Autumn in Europe has arrived. The streets were much more quiet than they would have been for a week day especially on the Wetstraat Rue de la Loi Law Street. Normally packe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Brussels-Capital-Region/Brussels/blog-344302.html Tiny tiny country. So small I even neglected to mention it when writing my Ardennes entry D Ok it's not as small as Vatican City which happens to be the smallest country in the world but it's about 14 the size of Puerto Rico smaller than even Rhode Island. However quite powerful. Over 200 banks many of them categorized as Secret or Private. While higher in taxes in some areas of busines http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Luxembourg/Luxembourg-City/blog-338831.html Christmas Tree Capitol The Ardennes it's green REALLY green.....well red orange yellow brown now but you know what I mean One could scarcely guess by looking these photos Belgium is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a density akin to that of Japan or India This statistic must be taken from Vlaanderen Flanders as the homes in villages are connected one http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Luxembourg/blog-337268.html There's something special about touring shopping visiting living the Antwerp experience with bona fide Antwerpenaren It's taken me years to get to know this city it's people. Antwerp is so multifaceted has so much to offer there's so much to tell. I'm going to break it down into bite sized pieces try to stick with the history fun of each entry in a limited style.The photo of the ele http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Antwerp-Province/Antwerp/blog-336123.html Home of the Couque De Dinant Probably one of the most popular souvenir's of the area. An unusually large cookie tasting of molasses but made only from flour honey. Created in the XV century by a people who suffered from famine disease destruction this cookie was a staple food. Think of the hardest most stale biscuit you've even eaten multiply it by 20 D DO NOT chew the cookie it http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Namur-Province/Dinant/blog-334955.html Caf of EuropeSpa.... Ville d'Eaux has given rise to the word we all know today. Where Pouhons source water wells run abundant. A French speaking village where the world's first beauty contest was held in the 1800's once home to EnglishCatholic dissidents now Circuit National de Francorchamps Formula One Grand Prix. It is considered to be one of the most challenging race tracks in the w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Liege-Province/blog-333370.html Straburg Grande le originally known as Argentorate with it's history spanning 700000 years. This celtic civilization of Rhnanie was ideally located in the middle of the Rhine trench. The waterways aided in northsouth access from Italy to Holland from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance 1213th centuries is a fine example of CatholicProtestant coexistence with FrancoGerman culture.Gor http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/Strasbourg/blog-332588.html Luzern gateway to the AlpsLittle is known about this amazing town before 1178 other than the Alemannic movement after the fall of the Roman Empire. Which I find incredible but considering the inhabitants were Benedictine Monks maybe not so hard to believe. GORGEOUS very Swiss probably a good reason for that relaxing bustling a delight for the eyes soul.The style of EVERYTHING is more http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/North-West/Lucerne/blog-331730.html What can I say about the leaning tower...other than it leans D Fascinating simply splendid to see even if just for a few minutes while enjoying breakfast en route to more adventures.Why it leans is a bit of a mystery to some. Hmmm my best guess Well in the language of Old Prussia Pisa means swamp. While there are the mountains on one side the Tyrrhenian Sea on the other there is litt http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Pisa/blog-331548.html O Have fallen behind....again D http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-327408.html Florence oh the JOY of it all DA veritable treasure trove of humanity Birthplace of Renaissance comparable to Athens so much to see it would take months to experience it all.Established in 59 BC by Caesar this city has seen more than its fair share of war strife. It is with ease one can appreciate what remains has been inspired here. If not for the cars it would be a very quiet c http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-319219.html Val d'Orcia The inspiration of Renaissance painters. Remoteish incredibly fertile medieval gothic relatively undiscovered by the masses. Here Montepulciano is in dozens of ways equal to Sienna. It's volcanic horizon famous worldwide for it's wines Nobile Rosso it's Etruscan heritage.... all pave the way to an amazing village. Both for the modern traveler those who enjoy history. B http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Montepulciano/blog-316531.html Sienna day or night rain or shine a city to spend days in Friendly relaxing so many American tourists one might just think English is the native language here Much to our delight we missed the Palio dell'Assunta horse race where many thousands gather from all over the world to watch. The sparse Piazza seen here looks considerably different when packed to capacity I'm sureThe small lane http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Siena/blog-315880.html Arezzo without a doubt one of the leading Etruscan cities in it's day. Much of it from 5th 4 century BC. Home to Guido d'Arezzo Petrarc Vasari Francesca.... even Michelangelo was born nearby. Of particular interest are the stained glass windows in the Catherdral of Arezzo by Guillaume de Marcillat latter 1400's. This Cathedral just screams Gothic Dark I mean REALLY dark dark reliefs da http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-314125.html As every parent knows children have a variety of screams The gleeful shriek the theatrical screech the angry I want Mommy's attention holler...then there's the cringing scream of fear that sends a parent flying in the child's direction to find.... a SCORPION in the bathing suit D LoL the children all standing on chairs like you'd imagine a grandmother hiding from a mouse. They're all maki http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/blog-313885.html Words alone cannot express the complete elation I feel here in Rome. I think it must be noisier than what I'm hearing but I've blocked it all out. Every moment is a dedication to my 56 senses making certain our children learn as much as possible while enjoying themselves. This is easily accomplished when for example one recites the story of Remus Romulus as we explore Palatine. Not to ment http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-313149.html Under the Tuscan Sun....... I understand why this book found it's inspiration here.One cannot help but notice how shadowy the lanes of these villages are. To an outsider it is often daunting odd. But the shadow while staving off the unbelievable heat gives an air of mystique. Of course in medieval times when fortresses walls were erected to keep the residents safe here for example Etruscan http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Castiglione-del-Lago/blog-312574.html Good Lawd I'm in HeavenBenvenuto alla terra dei tartufi Welcome to the land of truffles Woooo Black Truffles With my hearts desire I embrace Umbria for all it holds. Have you ever eaten with your eyes closed It is a MustDo in UmbriaA comment about the following photosI'm not religious I'm not one for pomp circumstance. I am however Christian as I feel I would be a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Assisi/blog-311999.html All Hail MilanWonderful beautiful city who's origins date back to 400 BC they have so very much to show for it Clean thriving with art business not to mention tourism on a HUGE scale with happy I mean HAPPY people....despite the heat. It's hot here I'm talkin' EQUATOR hot. Steaming sweltering hot D It's been around 40 Celsius I'm withering.One of the things that has surprised me a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan/blog-311650.html