Well we made it.
I made the entire trip without bolting for the airport to go home early like a lot of people thought! We had a great time, but it was so nice to have Alex & Tara pick us up at the airport last night.
The rest of the kids along with our contractor Scott and his main guy Maricio, were at the new house waiting for us Sean & Carley had picked up dinner at Goode Co. BBQ. It was a great evening we were like little kids at Christmas walking around the house seeing all the stuff Scott and Camille had achieved while we were gone. Its really a beautiful place and cant wait to have everyone over.
Spent our first night in the new place last night and it was great, it looks like we have got another winner for a home.
This is it for the blog, thanks for following its been fun sharing our stories. Sometimes the hardest part of the posting was trying to think of a title for the post!
Thanks to everyone, talk to you soon.
D&D
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Houston Bound!
Well its been one heck of a 5 week journey.
Thanks for all the comments we appreciate them. Just to give you the amount of travelling we have done in order to get back from Amsterdam yesterday we went through 4 countries and a 2 hour ferry ride between France and England. We travelled over 10,000 kilometers (6250 miles) an average of 240 miles every day.
Got back into London yesterday about 5 PM and met up with a few of the folks from the tour for drinks to say goodbye.
The great thing that we will take back from this tour is all the new friends we made on this trip. It was a great group, Brent our tour director did a great job of getting us off the beaten tracks and to places we would have never thought of going.
A big thank you to three groups of people.
First off all of my staff at work, Dustin, Todd, Blake, Patti, Darrel, Kim, Neal, Sue, Clay, Brock, Trena, Leddie and Christina. If it weren't for my full confidence in all of you I would have NEVER been able to take this trip THANK YOU all so much.
To our contractor Scott, decorator Camille and Ebi for looking after completing (or close to it) the finishing of the home, packing, moving and unpacking.
To our family for looking after things while we were away, Sean & Carley, Dustin & Taylor, Blake & Tamra and Alex & Tara.
Cheerio,
D&D
Thanks for all the comments we appreciate them. Just to give you the amount of travelling we have done in order to get back from Amsterdam yesterday we went through 4 countries and a 2 hour ferry ride between France and England. We travelled over 10,000 kilometers (6250 miles) an average of 240 miles every day.
Got back into London yesterday about 5 PM and met up with a few of the folks from the tour for drinks to say goodbye.
The great thing that we will take back from this tour is all the new friends we made on this trip. It was a great group, Brent our tour director did a great job of getting us off the beaten tracks and to places we would have never thought of going.
A big thank you to three groups of people.
First off all of my staff at work, Dustin, Todd, Blake, Patti, Darrel, Kim, Neal, Sue, Clay, Brock, Trena, Leddie and Christina. If it weren't for my full confidence in all of you I would have NEVER been able to take this trip THANK YOU all so much.
To our contractor Scott, decorator Camille and Ebi for looking after completing (or close to it) the finishing of the home, packing, moving and unpacking.
To our family for looking after things while we were away, Sean & Carley, Dustin & Taylor, Blake & Tamra and Alex & Tara.
Cheerio,
D&D
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Out in Nether Netherland
Good evening all,
Well we are at our last overnight stop in Europe in Amsterdam. Got in here mid afternoon stopped in at Cologne (spelled Koln in Deutschspeak).
Magnificent old church that they are restoring and saying it will take 100 years to finish. The place originally took 700 years to complete so I guess some techniques have improved huh? The material that they built the original facade from is so soft and porous that any attempt to clean it will destroy the stonework. So what they are doing is taking each stone out and replacing it with a new one. I said its just a little bit slower than putting new siding on a house :)
Hit the Netherlands about 1 pm interesting seeing still some old style windmills pumping water out of the lowlands into the canals and the waters held back by dikes. Apparently the Dutch have a saying that God created the world in six days and the Dutch created Holland on the 7th. Almost 50% of the land here has been reclaimed from the waters and the seas. Since all pasture lands here are separated by canals there aren't any barb wire fences so rumor has it that Rolls Royce only buys there cowhides for their leather upholstery from here. (so they say) :)
Got in to Amsterdam about 4 and walked around a bit downtown. Saw some of the places that Lary and Linda Fisher took us to almost 5 years ago. Lary they're still working on the bridge and road way around the train station. Went on a canal tour and then were dropped off at a floating restaurant for dinner. After dinner went for a quick walk through the red light district but nobody bought me anything there :(
Its actually pretty demeaning to even walk through there in my honest opinion but to each their own.
Just got back in, we are off at 7:00 am tomorrow to catch the ferry at Calais back to London. We will be traveling through Brussels to get there. In total we will have visited England, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy,The Vatican City, Austria, Lichtenstien, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Brussels in the span of 27 days. Its been a great trip VERY busy really no chance to relax except for the pictures that you see of me sleeping on the bus :) but we have seen and done a lot. I liked the tour and of course all the great people we have gotten to meet!
Will do a recap tomorrow night or Friday morning before we head for the airport back to Houston.
Good night all,
D&D
Well we are at our last overnight stop in Europe in Amsterdam. Got in here mid afternoon stopped in at Cologne (spelled Koln in Deutschspeak).
Magnificent old church that they are restoring and saying it will take 100 years to finish. The place originally took 700 years to complete so I guess some techniques have improved huh? The material that they built the original facade from is so soft and porous that any attempt to clean it will destroy the stonework. So what they are doing is taking each stone out and replacing it with a new one. I said its just a little bit slower than putting new siding on a house :)
Hit the Netherlands about 1 pm interesting seeing still some old style windmills pumping water out of the lowlands into the canals and the waters held back by dikes. Apparently the Dutch have a saying that God created the world in six days and the Dutch created Holland on the 7th. Almost 50% of the land here has been reclaimed from the waters and the seas. Since all pasture lands here are separated by canals there aren't any barb wire fences so rumor has it that Rolls Royce only buys there cowhides for their leather upholstery from here. (so they say) :)
Got in to Amsterdam about 4 and walked around a bit downtown. Saw some of the places that Lary and Linda Fisher took us to almost 5 years ago. Lary they're still working on the bridge and road way around the train station. Went on a canal tour and then were dropped off at a floating restaurant for dinner. After dinner went for a quick walk through the red light district but nobody bought me anything there :(
Its actually pretty demeaning to even walk through there in my honest opinion but to each their own.
Just got back in, we are off at 7:00 am tomorrow to catch the ferry at Calais back to London. We will be traveling through Brussels to get there. In total we will have visited England, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy,The Vatican City, Austria, Lichtenstien, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Brussels in the span of 27 days. Its been a great trip VERY busy really no chance to relax except for the pictures that you see of me sleeping on the bus :) but we have seen and done a lot. I liked the tour and of course all the great people we have gotten to meet!
Will do a recap tomorrow night or Friday morning before we head for the airport back to Houston.
Good night all,
D&D
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Damn German Keyboards!
Good Morning All,
Sorry for the delay in posting but have been a bit under the weather the last couple of days and could not get internet access either.
Excuse any typos as I am using the hotel computer and this German keyboard has the y & z interchanged along with a whole bunch of other modifications.
Munich was a beautifull hotel but after staying in the small hotels the big chain ones sure lose there charm in a hurry. Sundaz morning went down to the town square early on the town hall has a huge glockenspiel about 3 stories high. There were about 20 teams of horses being harnessed up and they were going to church to get blessed then off to the Vatican for some other blessing. The teams, harness's and carriages were all polished and looked very sharp.
From there it was on to Lichtenstien a principality that is protected by the Swiss. Then into Switzerland went through Zurich which is the banking center. Todd I checked on your account there and its all looking fine. :)
Stayed in Luzern which is on the shores of Lake Lucerne beautiful buildings and great history. Took a cog wheel train to the top of Mt. Rigi to an elevation of about 6000 feet a little foggy but got to see all the little dairies and farms all the way up. They move the cows up to the summer pastures and take the milk for cheese and bring the cheese and cows back down at the end of the summer.
Did a lake tour as well as a tour and carriage ride at a local farm. Went to a beer garden with an oompah papa band, accordians and alpen horns very entertaining evening. NO I did not get up on stage in liederhosen :)
Left Switzerland yesterday morning and the traffic on the autobahn was dead slow with all the truck traffic and construction. Stopped in Hiedleberg and then got on a boat cruise down the Rhine river to Boppard. There is a castle or watchtower on every hill along the river. Tax houses along the bank that used to collect tolls from foriegn traffic. Vineyards that seem to grow straight up the side of the hill. Very relaxing and the views were stunning. Great little hotel along the waterfront the Hotel Bellevue in Boppard.
Up this morning and on to Amsterdam. Then tomorrow on to London and home Friday :)
Talk to zou later.
D&D
.
Sorry for the delay in posting but have been a bit under the weather the last couple of days and could not get internet access either.
Excuse any typos as I am using the hotel computer and this German keyboard has the y & z interchanged along with a whole bunch of other modifications.
Munich was a beautifull hotel but after staying in the small hotels the big chain ones sure lose there charm in a hurry. Sundaz morning went down to the town square early on the town hall has a huge glockenspiel about 3 stories high. There were about 20 teams of horses being harnessed up and they were going to church to get blessed then off to the Vatican for some other blessing. The teams, harness's and carriages were all polished and looked very sharp.
From there it was on to Lichtenstien a principality that is protected by the Swiss. Then into Switzerland went through Zurich which is the banking center. Todd I checked on your account there and its all looking fine. :)
Stayed in Luzern which is on the shores of Lake Lucerne beautiful buildings and great history. Took a cog wheel train to the top of Mt. Rigi to an elevation of about 6000 feet a little foggy but got to see all the little dairies and farms all the way up. They move the cows up to the summer pastures and take the milk for cheese and bring the cheese and cows back down at the end of the summer.
Did a lake tour as well as a tour and carriage ride at a local farm. Went to a beer garden with an oompah papa band, accordians and alpen horns very entertaining evening. NO I did not get up on stage in liederhosen :)
Left Switzerland yesterday morning and the traffic on the autobahn was dead slow with all the truck traffic and construction. Stopped in Hiedleberg and then got on a boat cruise down the Rhine river to Boppard. There is a castle or watchtower on every hill along the river. Tax houses along the bank that used to collect tolls from foriegn traffic. Vineyards that seem to grow straight up the side of the hill. Very relaxing and the views were stunning. Great little hotel along the waterfront the Hotel Bellevue in Boppard.
Up this morning and on to Amsterdam. Then tomorrow on to London and home Friday :)
Talk to zou later.
D&D
.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
The Hills are alive.... with the sound of Dale Snoring.... :)
Good Evening,
Left Vienna early this AM and went to Salzburg. The home of Mozart and the Von Trapp family from the sound of music. Pretty amazing Mozart lived in about 20 homes each claiming to be his residence and apparently Julie Andrews stepped on every stone on the cobble stone streets ( Can you tell i am being a little sarcastic?) :)
It is a very picturesque city in Bavaria, Austria and the name takes it self from the Salt mines that date back to 700 BC and even the river here has a high concentration of salt in it. It is like a story book setting with the homes and farms and mountains.
Off to Switzerland for two days in the morning we will talk to you tomorrow night.
D&D
Left Vienna early this AM and went to Salzburg. The home of Mozart and the Von Trapp family from the sound of music. Pretty amazing Mozart lived in about 20 homes each claiming to be his residence and apparently Julie Andrews stepped on every stone on the cobble stone streets ( Can you tell i am being a little sarcastic?) :)
It is a very picturesque city in Bavaria, Austria and the name takes it self from the Salt mines that date back to 700 BC and even the river here has a high concentration of salt in it. It is like a story book setting with the homes and farms and mountains.
From there we went to the Eagles Nest which is a solid stone building built on the top of a 6000' mountain. Martin Boorman and the engineer who designed and built the Autobahn in Germany prior to WWII designed and built this place as a present for Hitler for his 50th birthday. The amazing part was they built this place in 13 months which included building about 4 miles of road up the mountain including digging tunnels to get to the building site.
From there it was on to Munich and got in about 7 tonight. Just finished up dinner and too tired to hit the beer halls. OH WELL :( I hate getting old.
Off to Switzerland for two days in the morning we will talk to you tomorrow night.
D&D
Friday, June 3, 2011
Austrian Wake Up Call, Roust!
Started the day with a great laugh. In Italy we were lucky to even get a wake up call. They are rather a relaxed country. Lunch about 2 supper about 8 or 9, if you want to get up in the morning ok.. if not thats ok too.
This morning the phone rings and I hear in a clear German accent,
"Goot morgen! You are at the Renasaince Hotel in Vienna. It is 6:15. The weather is cloudy vit a chance of rain. Pach your oombrella and a coat!"
Good gawd they not only give you a wake up call but tell you how to dress! I was laughing all day about that one :)
They had a very nice breakfast buffet here but I have been sticking to fruits the entire trip. (Can't stand the ketchup here so no sense having the eggs) Man no ketchup no TV for 5 weeks its a wonder I haven't murdered someone yet.
Went to Schumburg Palace which was the summer palace of the Hapsburgs. Quite a place 1400 rooms and 3000 workers on site at its peak. To this day there are still people living in the servants quarters whose ancesters worked for the royal family. They are allowed to live there rent free and the lease can be passed down to their heirs. I liked it a lot better than the Versaille which was pretty well stripped during the French Revolution here everything is still intact. The Hapsburgs were quite the dynasty ruled for 640 years until the start of WWII. Had kingdoms from Asia (the Phillipines) South America and to the Russian border. I believe my great grandfathers immigration papers had said he was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire which entailed present day Ukraine.
From there it was a city driving tour of the Winter Palace (3000 rooms), Museums and the Hapburg Crypt which has 145 of the Hapsburgs buried there.
This evening we went about 30 minutes out of town for dinner to a small town called Marchfelderhof to a family restaraunt that has been in existence for almost 200 years. And everything that the family ever collected is on the walls the ceilings everywhere. Pictures and autographs from movie stars and dignitaries it was truly cool. They had the entire staff outside the restaurant to greet us (about 15 of them) and had a red ribbon cutting ceremony for us to enter the place. After supper the band played Vieneese Waltz's and they had a couple do a dance for us and then the couple took some of us up to dance with them.
D&D
This morning the phone rings and I hear in a clear German accent,
"Goot morgen! You are at the Renasaince Hotel in Vienna. It is 6:15. The weather is cloudy vit a chance of rain. Pach your oombrella and a coat!"
Good gawd they not only give you a wake up call but tell you how to dress! I was laughing all day about that one :)
They had a very nice breakfast buffet here but I have been sticking to fruits the entire trip. (Can't stand the ketchup here so no sense having the eggs) Man no ketchup no TV for 5 weeks its a wonder I haven't murdered someone yet.
Went to Schumburg Palace which was the summer palace of the Hapsburgs. Quite a place 1400 rooms and 3000 workers on site at its peak. To this day there are still people living in the servants quarters whose ancesters worked for the royal family. They are allowed to live there rent free and the lease can be passed down to their heirs. I liked it a lot better than the Versaille which was pretty well stripped during the French Revolution here everything is still intact. The Hapsburgs were quite the dynasty ruled for 640 years until the start of WWII. Had kingdoms from Asia (the Phillipines) South America and to the Russian border. I believe my great grandfathers immigration papers had said he was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire which entailed present day Ukraine.
From there it was a city driving tour of the Winter Palace (3000 rooms), Museums and the Hapburg Crypt which has 145 of the Hapsburgs buried there.
This evening we went about 30 minutes out of town for dinner to a small town called Marchfelderhof to a family restaraunt that has been in existence for almost 200 years. And everything that the family ever collected is on the walls the ceilings everywhere. Pictures and autographs from movie stars and dignitaries it was truly cool. They had the entire staff outside the restaurant to greet us (about 15 of them) and had a red ribbon cutting ceremony for us to enter the place. After supper the band played Vieneese Waltz's and they had a couple do a dance for us and then the couple took some of us up to dance with them.
Sean will post the photos here but I was doing well dancing but then Peter had to cut in on my action, the no goodnik! It was a lot of fun, amazing how dancing with a pretty girl could make me forget about the pain in my knee. Know I understand how my Uncle John always had a bad back but still loved to go dancing all the time!
The final photo is of the lady Peter and I danced with as well as Brent our tour director. Again another fantastic day thanks to Brent :)
Good night all we are off to Salzburg tomorrow morning touring the city, stopping in at the Eagles Nest which was Hitlers mountain retreat when he annexed Austria and then to spend the night in Munich.
D&D
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Ach der lieber Austria
Evening all,
It was a long day from Vienna but very picturesque. Left the hotel at 7:00 and took a water taxi over to where we met the bus. Then started traveling north towards the Austrian border.
Its a holiday in Europe today called Ascension Day and most people take tomorrow off as well so the highways were packed. So were all the road side truck stops and rest areas as all truck traffic is shut down until midnight tonight to accommodate the holiday traffic. Traveling through the Dolomite Mountains which make up the border between Italy and Austria reminded me a lot of our Rocky Mountains a lot of granite and limestone.
Once inside Austria it is a lot like the interior of BC a lot of logging some farm land lots of ravines, mountains and rivers. Steep roofs on all the houses for the snow and most farm homes have the barns attached. The odor must be wonderful!
Stopped in a little town called Kinderburg and had a rest at a little cafe called "Fritz" the owner's first name is Fritz, his last name is Fritz, his dad was Fritz and his son is Fritz. I am thinking George Foreman took a lesson from this guy in naming his kids :) (for those of you that don't know all of George Foremans sons are named George).
Got into Austria checked in and went directly to dinner. What a place, it was the original concert hall built for Johann Strauss. A great dinner then we were ushered into the next room where an orchestra played Strauss, Mozart and Chopin. There was a soprano and tenor singers as well as a ballet couple to do waltz's and some ethnic dancing as well.
It was a great evening quite enjoyable (It weren't no Asleep at the wheel or The Polka Kings but it was pretty damn good ) :)
Off to Shumberg Gardens, City tour and a tour of the Hapsburg Crypts tomorrow.
Gute Nacht
D&D
It was a long day from Vienna but very picturesque. Left the hotel at 7:00 and took a water taxi over to where we met the bus. Then started traveling north towards the Austrian border.
Its a holiday in Europe today called Ascension Day and most people take tomorrow off as well so the highways were packed. So were all the road side truck stops and rest areas as all truck traffic is shut down until midnight tonight to accommodate the holiday traffic. Traveling through the Dolomite Mountains which make up the border between Italy and Austria reminded me a lot of our Rocky Mountains a lot of granite and limestone.
Once inside Austria it is a lot like the interior of BC a lot of logging some farm land lots of ravines, mountains and rivers. Steep roofs on all the houses for the snow and most farm homes have the barns attached. The odor must be wonderful!
Stopped in a little town called Kinderburg and had a rest at a little cafe called "Fritz" the owner's first name is Fritz, his last name is Fritz, his dad was Fritz and his son is Fritz. I am thinking George Foreman took a lesson from this guy in naming his kids :) (for those of you that don't know all of George Foremans sons are named George).
Got into Austria checked in and went directly to dinner. What a place, it was the original concert hall built for Johann Strauss. A great dinner then we were ushered into the next room where an orchestra played Strauss, Mozart and Chopin. There was a soprano and tenor singers as well as a ballet couple to do waltz's and some ethnic dancing as well.
It was a great evening quite enjoyable (It weren't no Asleep at the wheel or The Polka Kings but it was pretty damn good ) :)
Off to Shumberg Gardens, City tour and a tour of the Hapsburg Crypts tomorrow.
Gute Nacht
D&D
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Averaderci Italia Achtung Austria
Up and at em early this morning had a bit of rain as the picture will show but it wasnt much and didnt last long.
Off to the island of Murano which has been the glass center of the world for about 500 years. Went to a glass blowing demonstration, the gentleman doing the demonstration has worked there since 1953 and is now 70 years old. Its enjoyable watching a craftsman at work!
Afterwards we of course were shuttled off to their show room, some great art work the old renasaince style of glass work didn't appeal to us but we did manage to find some pieces that are going to look great in the new house!
From there it was back to St. Marks Square had a walk around looking in the shops, found a couple of souveniers and some jewelery Debbie couldnt live without. Went and had a couple of drinks in the hotel Danieli the lobby is like the inside of a palace.
On the way back to the Island of Murano past this little dinghy (at one time the largest yacht in the world), and we were told it is owned by Abromovich, you know the guy that owns the Chelsea football club, Evraz steel, etc.
Hit the island of Burano and all I can think of is a guy could make a fortune if you could sell these guys a plumb line that would work! The ones they keep using seem to be defective. All the buildings in Venice are built on piles that have been driven down into the subsoil but the water causes the ground to shift resulting in more leaning buildings here than you have seen anywhere.
Burano is known for lace making but also their brightly painted buildings. The colors are like a badge of honor with families keeping the same family colors for generations.
While on the island went to a family restaraunt for a late lunch. More like what we called back home dinner, we sat for over 2 hours eating a 5 course meal of seafood items like shrimp, calamari and of course wine and liquors. The family does all the cooking and waiting and of course they were very friendly and a great time was had by all. Its been 6 hours since dinner and I am still full!
This is it for Italy its been a great time and cant wait to return. Tomorrow its off to Vienna, Austria and a long day on the bus but it should be scenic.
Buona Notta (good night)
D&D
Off to the island of Murano which has been the glass center of the world for about 500 years. Went to a glass blowing demonstration, the gentleman doing the demonstration has worked there since 1953 and is now 70 years old. Its enjoyable watching a craftsman at work!
Afterwards we of course were shuttled off to their show room, some great art work the old renasaince style of glass work didn't appeal to us but we did manage to find some pieces that are going to look great in the new house!
From there it was back to St. Marks Square had a walk around looking in the shops, found a couple of souveniers and some jewelery Debbie couldnt live without. Went and had a couple of drinks in the hotel Danieli the lobby is like the inside of a palace.
On the way back to the Island of Murano past this little dinghy (at one time the largest yacht in the world), and we were told it is owned by Abromovich, you know the guy that owns the Chelsea football club, Evraz steel, etc.
Hit the island of Burano and all I can think of is a guy could make a fortune if you could sell these guys a plumb line that would work! The ones they keep using seem to be defective. All the buildings in Venice are built on piles that have been driven down into the subsoil but the water causes the ground to shift resulting in more leaning buildings here than you have seen anywhere.
Burano is known for lace making but also their brightly painted buildings. The colors are like a badge of honor with families keeping the same family colors for generations.
While on the island went to a family restaraunt for a late lunch. More like what we called back home dinner, we sat for over 2 hours eating a 5 course meal of seafood items like shrimp, calamari and of course wine and liquors. The family does all the cooking and waiting and of course they were very friendly and a great time was had by all. Its been 6 hours since dinner and I am still full!
This is it for Italy its been a great time and cant wait to return. Tomorrow its off to Vienna, Austria and a long day on the bus but it should be scenic.
Buona Notta (good night)
D&D
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