TIMING is everything… Haven’t we all heard that saying at one TIME or the other? So, when it comes to our TIMING around visiting London, at first glance it might seem that TIME was working against us. We prefer to think of it as the right TIME to see London from a unique viewpoint. A SMALL NOTE HERE: We are seriously behind on our blogs! TIME waits for no man. We left the UK on July 16th. The next couple of blogs (hopefully) will come fast and furious. Maybe we'll be able to get back on TIME! Our original plan was [View Full Entry]

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What do you think of when you think of Scotland? Misty Mountains, Castles, Knights and Sea Monsters? Or maybe Bagpipes, kilts and Brave heart? Scotland is all that and more. On our way to Scotland we stopped to visit medieval Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England. The castle is the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. It’s earliest sections were built in 1096. The picturesque castle has been used for the backdrop of many famous movies. Some of the films include “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves” with Kevin Costner, “Elisa [View Full Entry]

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The White Cliffs of Dover …a symbol of home for so many British soldiers who fought to protect England’s freedom during WWII. Today, July 10 2005 was Veterans day …a time to remember the sacrifices of the brave men and women of WWII. In the face of terrorist’s atrocities, the patriotic British rose above their fears today to come in vast numbers and honor the sacrifices of their veterans. A fitting tribute! On July 7th we were on our way to London from Paris when we heard on the car radio of the tragic bombings. We boarded the ferry to cross [View Full Entry]

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I’ll take a Big Mac and a Mc Room with a view. Staying at a McDonald’s Hotel in Switzerland? That’s right… our hotel has a McDonalds theme. Sounds cheesy (pun intended) but it’s really a great place. The hotel’s actual name is The Park Inn. It’s very near the airport, yet quiet and serene,. Although you can watch the flights coming and going from our windows. It’s not at all what you might expect; the rooms are immaculate. (no greasy residue) The hotel and adjoining McDonalds have a high tech, modern design. The family rooms include separate, [View Full Entry]

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Of course we couldn’t come to Egypt without taking a camel ride. We had lots of fun but we have to admit camels are not the best smelling creatures. The groaning, gurgling noises they produce make you wonder, if you could understand what they were saying it would be something like…Oh boy another heavy tourist riding me through the 100 degree desert ! As you approach the pyramids their sheer size is surprising. The hot sun was beaming down as we walked up to the base of the giant pyramid . It’s hard to imagine how the workers were able to [View Full Entry]

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Tell King Tut “I want my Mummy” …words from a song the kids learned in school years ago. Since we’re in Egypt, the land of Pyramids, Tombs and MUMMIES, wanting our “mummy” is precisely how we find ourselves feeling. Egypt has a way of making even the toughest among us feel like a child. Standing at the feet of a vast temple, thousands of years old, with awe inspiring artwork carved into it’s facade is akin to a child’s wide-eyed wonder on Christmas morning. While the travel challenges of Egypt remind us of being a kid in the back seat [View Full Entry]

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After 4 months of independent travel we weren’t sure if we would like being on an organized tour…it was a golden opportunity. An opportunity to cover more ground in a shorter time, to learn more history from our guide and to meet wonderful fellow travelers we now call friends. WARNING…WARNING … THIS IS THE LONGEST TRAVELBLOG WE HAVE WRITTEN! We have seen so much in the last 10 days that we can’t do it justice in words. This is our attempt… but our advice is to try to see Israel for yourself. The pilgrim tour offers the opportunity to be baptized [View Full Entry]

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Not to be outdone by the boys. While making a visit to the ladies room we met two young, beautiful Israeli soldiers. They were very friendly and happy to let us take a picture of them. We found they spoke perfect English (with American accents) and explained they had once spent almost a year in the United States. It’s such a foreign concept to go into the ladies restroom and have a conversation with young girls WHO JUST HAPPEN TO BE CARRYING BIG GUNS. We have learned that in Israel everyone including the girls are required to serve time in the [View Full Entry]

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This is a quote from our Jewish tour guide. The struggle for the promised land makes life difficult for the people of Israel. An air of danger and insecurity is part of daily life. You need not look far to see checkpoints, barbwire, armed guards and security fences. Yet the people are willing to fight to the death to stay in the land they hold dear. On a deeper examination his quote can hold another meaning. Jesus also lived and died for Israel. After 4 months of travel this is the first escorted tour we have taken. We chose the Pilgrim [View Full Entry]

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The answer is go! Where else can you stay on a tropical island, relax by a gorgeous pool AND help support a deserving economy, all at incredible bargain prices. The rebuilding is going strong and the people are as determined as ever to restore the splendor of Phuket. We have to admit we spent several days trying to decide if we should go to Phuket or not. After all we had seen the devastating news reports of the tsunami. The terrible pictures of loss of life, pain and destruction were still in our minds. We had such fond memories of visiting [View Full Entry]

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