Friday July 17 Mark and I left the family to enjoy each other and the Richerts took off for Paris today. We drove north to the Cavene de Pont u Arc, The Ardeche Gorge is an area with natural stone bridges, lots of kayaking and, especially, the Chauvet Cave reproduction. A few months ago we read all about how this cave was discovered in 1994 but was too fragile to allow visitors. The French have built a massive reproduction cave and learning center all about the original homo sapiens who replaced the neanderthals and painted their images in this cave. No pictures possible, but it was impressive! Back to dinner out at Don Carmines on its first day of business, in Coussellet, lovely Italian meal and a quick visit to a nearby playground. More wine, of course, and then to sleep. Thursday July 16 Pont du Gard with Liesl's family We spent the day swimming in the Rhone river under the Pont du Gard, a three tiered Roman bridge carrying an aqueduct from the mountains to the south. The water was lovely, the cliff jumpers crazy, the lunch lovely and the kids wonderful. Came home to find Kim and Jake and their kids arriving. We had a lovely dinner at home which we made with the Richerts, Liesl's fam and Kim and Jake. Pasta, green salad, italian bread salad and, of course, more wine. Shauna introduced us to a pastis, mint simple sugar, and basil drinmk which captivate dliesl and I...a very easy way to slip into oblivion. It iw what all the old men around France drink. A sweet Jack Russel from next door joined us , played with the kids and attacked the blow up beach balls vigorously.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Wednesday July 15
Took off to have breakfast at Cafe de la Post, a lovely little town about 4 km from here as the crow flies. Much further by foot or by car. This is a tiny little cafe with lots of personality, every European newspaper known to man. French families everywhere eating their brioche and other pastries, and drinking their morning espressos. Off to the grocery store and back to the mas to pick up Liesl and Nate, Cooper and Grace, and head to Gordes for the evening sunshine on the cliffs and buildings
BAck to Goult for dinner with Liesl and family. The meals here are not as diverse as we like, but are always lovely. They always have menus enfant which are hamburgers, chicken nuggets or pasta, often with fries or salad. The kids have been very good and adapted to strange menus and bedrooms quite well. Our meals, for the most part, have been different versions of roast pork, salad nicoise, salad with chevre cheese toasted on croquettes etc. Lots and lots of wine. We have switched to rose from riesling without any effort ")
BAck to Goult for dinner with Liesl and family. The meals here are not as diverse as we like, but are always lovely. They always have menus enfant which are hamburgers, chicken nuggets or pasta, often with fries or salad. The kids have been very good and adapted to strange menus and bedrooms quite well. Our meals, for the most part, have been different versions of roast pork, salad nicoise, salad with chevre cheese toasted on croquettes etc. Lots and lots of wine. We have switched to rose from riesling without any effort ")
Tuesday July 14 – Bastille Day!!! Woke up and took a walk, me a mile or so, mark 2-3 miles to the next little village. Nobody in the fields of mown hay and mustard…it’s Bastille Day! We had a filling breakfast in the hotel garden, lots of lavender, blue thistle, honeysuckle, and other flowers – very pretty. I see I need more of that blue thistle!!! 3 minute boiled eggs, muesli, yogurt, fresh fruit and amazingly tasty light croissants…no need for butter, it is already layered in. Off to Provence as soon as Mark showered! The drive south was about 4.5 hours. Mark got to play with all the new toys in his car. Hey look, Ma, no hands and it stays in its lane! Hey look, ma, cruise control keeps the right distance between me and the next car. Now all it needs to do is learn dermatology so he doesn’t have to go to work! Without joking, though, the safety features are great! Got to the mas near Gordes. Lovely stone farmhouse, cool inside if the windows are opened at night and closed to the heat during the day. Shauna and her family and Liesl and hers showed up an hour or so later and we all hit the pool. 95 degrees and humid was instantly relieved. To sleep off the drive, perchance to dream
Monday July 13, Woke up early and headed out on the town to try to find some yummy pastry breakfast, having missed breakfast yesterday in our early start to watch/support Jake. Oh my, we found various kuchens, strawberry topping, fruit and cheese filled, and chocolate with cream filling. We ate them all, oink. We avoided the schneeballs, though, deep fried batters in the shape and size of snowballs rolled in different toppings. Then we hopped in to the car and off to visit Colmar for lunch and afternoon walking before heading to Montagny les Beaune. Colmar was a picturesque village with numerous half timbered leaning buildings and portions of it on canals, reminiscent of both Venice and (I know) Ketchikan Alaska…it’s that waterfront! Had wonderful “pizza” type lunch on very thin crust (think crisp crepe) and some local Edelzwicker white wine…back in the car and heading further south to Beaune. Mark is having a great “toy” day playing with his new car and the cruise control. It is “driver assist” tuned. With the right settings, it keeps a set distance from the car ahead (slowing and speeding up as needed), lane assist keeps you in your lane unless you turn on a blinker – all that stuff we older folk need to keep us safe. He can add more!
Pulled in to Montagny les Beaune, 4 km from Beaune. Checked in to a lovely old farm house/vineyard recently renovated to be a charming hotel. Old vineyard implements abound and the owner tells us they were all in use by him 15 years ago, then it became difficult for him and his wife to keep up the vineyard, so now it is a lovely hotel with charming French gardens. Utterly charming. Then off to dinner in Beaune at Le Gourmandin on the town square. Service typically French (surly, not good), and the food was iffy. My Bouef Bourgignon was lovely, Mark’s Bernaise sauce was good, but his meat was awfully gristley and tough. The young burgundy wine, though, was worth two glasses each…oh my, back to bed and sleep.
Sunday July 12. The final “toy day.” Got up at 4:00 a.m. to head to Roth to watch Jake’s triathlon effort. The Roth Triathlon is the supreme triathlon in the world, voted most loved by professionals and amateurs the last four years, where all records are made. Unlike the Ironman franchise, this one – though the same distance- is family oriented and aimed at the challenge and experience rather than the hype. We got there in plenty of time, but hit a traffic jam that took about 45 minutes to travel 10 km. Parking for 15,000 cars; more than 250,000 spectators at this race. Most arrive on bicycles from nearby, a huge event! We caught the beginning of the swim from a bridge over the Donau canal. Fantastic loud music and the first wave took to the water with hot air balloons, cannon fire, music and cheers. Jake took off on the fifth wave. We were down on the banks of the canal by then and he heard my yell and waved at us before the cannon fired. He came out of the 2.5 mile swim in the amazing canal at about 65 minutes , made a 3 minute transition and passed us pumped up on his bike for the 110 (+?) mile bike ride. We caught him after walking a fast two miles after the start and then just before the “solar hill” phase near Hilpoltstein which takes him up a steep hill; he was pressed on each side by thousands of people ala Tour de France as he approached and went up the hill. We enjoyed the hour wait for him to reach that point in front of jolly German host Marcus’ house. He kept reappearing with trays of small German sandwiches, cheese and grapes and finished it off with gummi bears. He served his guests this and just added in his new “american friends” to the party. I do love travelling. We then caught Jake after he came off the hill and back through the town after which we had a small lunch and then hoofed it the 3-4 miles back to where we parked. Drove rapidly into downtown Roth to catch Jake at the second transition and the start of the marathon (26.2 miles for those who don’t know) We met up with Kim, Paige and Mason as Jake passed us on the start of the run. Then we went to find Kale, Val and Gery and a lunch in the shade, with lots of beer. Soon Nate, Liesl, Cooper and Grace showed up and we all got to watch Jake cross the finish in the small stadium with Kale and Mason joining him. Total time for all that work was 10 hours 17 minutes a personal PR by about 1:45. The day was about 95 degrees and very humid. He wanted to break 10 hours but even many of the pros were off by long times because of the extreme heat. Our feet were hot on the pavement, and got blisters just walking. Back to Rothenburg ob der Tauber but missed the exit to RodT though as we fiddled with car manuals and stuff, driving 60 km too far…oh well. Late dinner with Liesl’s family, then to sleep for a good start to France tomorrow.
Saturday July 11 We woke up early at Legoland , had breakfast and drove to Rothenburg ob der Tauber while Liesl and Family had their special toy day at the park, finding the “king” in their room – wallpaper behind the bed…hide and seek. Mark got to “play” with his new toy on the drive to RodT - got it up to 120mph sans hands. Didn’t feel like we were going that fast. The German autobahns are so well built. Mark was quite discouraged later in the day, though, when he met an Audi team specialist who told him 120 kilometer per hour should be the limit until he reached at least 2000 km on the odometer….he is so sad. Had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants – we have been here many times and it is our favorite medieval German city. We then slept for a few hours before having dinner at one of our other favorite restaurants. Walked home to hear “Hallo’s” from the window above. Liesl and Nate were here! Nate is really getting into this travel stuff, he has “ja ja” and Hallo down and is taking lots of pictures! Imagine that. We watched the kids (we slept) while L/DN did the Nightwatchman’s Tour and went out to dinner together. Then off to sleep, knowing we would be arising very early to head to Roth to watch Jake and meet up with his family.
Friday July 10 MARK’S TOY DAY…!!! Mark was up at 4 and down working out to pass time until the car picked us up from Audi. At 8:30 we were in the car with an Audi driver on our way to pick up the new car. Mark has a mistress now, must figure out her name. She is quite beautiful, an Audi S7 in Moonlight Blue metallic….very subtle and sexy. It was the envy of the Audi Forum where people pick up 300 new Audis daily, many to overseas buyers. Mason and Kale joined us in the pick up tour while Jake biked for an hour or so, then L/N and her family and Jake, Mason and Kale joined us for a tour of the Audi factory, three car lines being built there and we watched them build an A-3; 500 a day, one completed every 88 seconds. All the boys enjoyed the tour. Cooper and Kale were especially entranced by the robots, budding scientists/engineers. Grace was afraid the robots would come out of their cages and get her, too many evil cartoons in the past. The entire family got free food, drinks and treats for the whole day…we were treated well there! Jake and boys headed back to Nurnburg, L/N to Legloand and us to the Audi museum.
Monday July 13, Woke up early and headed out on the town to try to find some yummy pastry breakfast, having missed breakfast yesterday in our early start to watch/support Jake. Oh my, we found various kuchens, strawberry topping, fruit and cheese filled, and chocolate with cream filling. We ate them all, oink. We avoided the schneeballs, though, deep fried batters in the shape and size of snowballs rolled in different toppings. Then we hopped in to the car and off to visit Colmar for lunch and afternoon walking before heading to Montagny les Beaune. Colmar was a picturesque village with numerous half timbered leaning buildings and portions of it on canals, reminiscent of both Venice and (I know) Ketchikan Alaska…it’s that waterfront! Had wonderful “pizza” type lunch on very thin crust (think crisp crepe) and some local Edelzwicker white wine…back in the car and heading further south to Beaune. Mark is having a great “toy” day playing with his new car and the cruise control. It is “driver assist” tuned. With the right settings, it keeps a set distance from the car ahead (slowing and speeding up as needed), lane assist keeps you in your lane unless you turn on a blinker – all that stuff we older folk need to keep us safe. He can add more!
Pulled in to Montagny les Beaune, 4 km from Beaune. Checked in to a lovely old farm house/vineyard recently renovated to be a charming hotel. Old vineyard implements abound and the owner tells us they were all in use by him 15 years ago, then it became difficult for him and his wife to keep up the vineyard, so now it is a lovely hotel with charming French gardens. Utterly charming. Then off to dinner in Beaune at Le Gourmandin on the town square. Service typically French (surly, not good), and the food was iffy. My Bouef Bourgignon was lovely, Mark’s Bernaise sauce was good, but his meat was awfully gristley and tough. The young burgundy wine, though, was worth two glasses each…oh my, back to bed and sleep.
Sunday July 12. The final “toy day.” Got up at 4:00 a.m. to head to Roth to watch Jake’s triathlon effort. The Roth Triathlon is the supreme triathlon in the world, voted most loved by professionals and amateurs the last four years, where all records are made. Unlike the Ironman franchise, this one – though the same distance- is family oriented and aimed at the challenge and experience rather than the hype. We got there in plenty of time, but hit a traffic jam that took about 45 minutes to travel 10 km. Parking for 15,000 cars; more than 250,000 spectators at this race. Most arrive on bicycles from nearby, a huge event! We caught the beginning of the swim from a bridge over the Donau canal. Fantastic loud music and the first wave took to the water with hot air balloons, cannon fire, music and cheers. Jake took off on the fifth wave. We were down on the banks of the canal by then and he heard my yell and waved at us before the cannon fired. He came out of the 2.5 mile swim in the amazing canal at about 65 minutes , made a 3 minute transition and passed us pumped up on his bike for the 110 (+?) mile bike ride. We caught him after walking a fast two miles after the start and then just before the “solar hill” phase near Hilpoltstein which takes him up a steep hill; he was pressed on each side by thousands of people ala Tour de France as he approached and went up the hill. We enjoyed the hour wait for him to reach that point in front of jolly German host Marcus’ house. He kept reappearing with trays of small German sandwiches, cheese and grapes and finished it off with gummi bears. He served his guests this and just added in his new “american friends” to the party. I do love travelling. We then caught Jake after he came off the hill and back through the town after which we had a small lunch and then hoofed it the 3-4 miles back to where we parked. Drove rapidly into downtown Roth to catch Jake at the second transition and the start of the marathon (26.2 miles for those who don’t know) We met up with Kim, Paige and Mason as Jake passed us on the start of the run. Then we went to find Kale, Val and Gery and a lunch in the shade, with lots of beer. Soon Nate, Liesl, Cooper and Grace showed up and we all got to watch Jake cross the finish in the small stadium with Kale and Mason joining him. Total time for all that work was 10 hours 17 minutes a personal PR by about 1:45. The day was about 95 degrees and very humid. He wanted to break 10 hours but even many of the pros were off by long times because of the extreme heat. Our feet were hot on the pavement, and got blisters just walking. Back to Rothenburg ob der Tauber but missed the exit to RodT though as we fiddled with car manuals and stuff, driving 60 km too far…oh well. Late dinner with Liesl’s family, then to sleep for a good start to France tomorrow.
Saturday July 11 We woke up early at Legoland , had breakfast and drove to Rothenburg ob der Tauber while Liesl and Family had their special toy day at the park, finding the “king” in their room – wallpaper behind the bed…hide and seek. Mark got to “play” with his new toy on the drive to RodT - got it up to 120mph sans hands. Didn’t feel like we were going that fast. The German autobahns are so well built. Mark was quite discouraged later in the day, though, when he met an Audi team specialist who told him 120 kilometer per hour should be the limit until he reached at least 2000 km on the odometer….he is so sad. Had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants – we have been here many times and it is our favorite medieval German city. We then slept for a few hours before having dinner at one of our other favorite restaurants. Walked home to hear “Hallo’s” from the window above. Liesl and Nate were here! Nate is really getting into this travel stuff, he has “ja ja” and Hallo down and is taking lots of pictures! Imagine that. We watched the kids (we slept) while L/DN did the Nightwatchman’s Tour and went out to dinner together. Then off to sleep, knowing we would be arising very early to head to Roth to watch Jake and meet up with his family.
Friday July 10 MARK’S TOY DAY…!!! Mark was up at 4 and down working out to pass time until the car picked us up from Audi. At 8:30 we were in the car with an Audi driver on our way to pick up the new car. Mark has a mistress now, must figure out her name. She is quite beautiful, an Audi S7 in Moonlight Blue metallic….very subtle and sexy. It was the envy of the Audi Forum where people pick up 300 new Audis daily, many to overseas buyers. Mason and Kale joined us in the pick up tour while Jake biked for an hour or so, then L/N and her family and Jake, Mason and Kale joined us for a tour of the Audi factory, three car lines being built there and we watched them build an A-3; 500 a day, one completed every 88 seconds. All the boys enjoyed the tour. Cooper and Kale were especially entranced by the robots, budding scientists/engineers. Grace was afraid the robots would come out of their cages and get her, too many evil cartoons in the past. The entire family got free food, drinks and treats for the whole day…we were treated well there! Jake and boys headed back to Nurnburg, L/N to Legloand and us to the Audi museum.
Monday, July 6, 2015
My bags are packed, la la la, I'm ready to go, I'm standing here outside your door...oh, wait a minute, you're coming with me!!! At least most of my fam is!
Tomorrow night, Mark and I get on an airplane with Liesl, Nate, Cooper and Grace to head to Europe...Kim and Jake touched down there today and are currently enjoying Legoland with Mason, Kale and Paige - or maybe sleeping before enjoying it tomorrow...You know that time change may be difficult with three little ones! Unfortunately, Ian, Candace and their three could not join us as her brother is getting married while we are gone - next time maybe!
We land and acclimate on Thursday with Cooper and Grace while Liesl and Nate visit Dachau. Maybe we will take them to a Bierhalle while we wait. Then, on Friday, Mark picks up his Audi s7 mistress, as he calls the new car, and we head off on adventures. We will try to keep you posted!
Friday, February 20, 2015
Last days ...
BAD KITTY TUESDAY
If it’s a rainy Tuesday in the Virgin Islands it must Bad Kitty Tuesday. We decided to take a chance on the weather for a full day whirl-wind trip of the major British VI close to us so here goes. Got up early and hustle down to the boat dock. Load on a nice 42’ cat and head south 40+ very bouncy (6-8 foot swells in one direction and wind at 90 degrees) miles to Spanish Town Virgin Gorda in the BVI. Customs and ashort Taxi to the Baths where huge Inca temple sized granite batholiths have been lifted, rumbled and tumbled by uplift and surf to make an amazing labyrinth of caves and swirling waves. Fun 30-40 minutes of geology and demo of waterpower. Back on the boat and start the staged trip back with Cooper Island (how about that Cooper) for lunch on the beach. Dah, sort of unnecessary to say, everything is on the beach here. And what beaches they are. Could not be whiter and water could not be more blue green. No dock, so we poor people had to jump off the boat and swim to shore for lunch , and back after lunch. Back in the boat and off to do the work of the day. 30-40 minute snorkel at the Indians at Peter island. It was somewhat better coral and fish than Buck Island off St. Croix but not a lot better. Getting the idea that if you expect shallow water coral and fish like Hawaii you are going to be disappointed. We hear the diving is great but the snorkel is less rewarding. The water is too warm and hurricanes have killed off lots of coral. Oh well, Get back in the boat and go drown our sorrows, literally, at the Soggy Dollar bar on Jost Van Dyke. Again, no dock here. Just dive off the boat and swim in, hence the name Soggy Dollar Bar. Who would have figured that making you swim in would be your bar’s main attraction. Well, not the main attraction. They make “Pain Killers” and “Soggy Man” 10 at a time and the barmaid can make them faster than a good pair of sunglasses can sink to the bottom of the deepest part of the bay. But wait, there is more. After literally hundreds of thirsty sun soaked tourists have thrashed their way in triathlon style race to the bar, nothing compares to the comical and certainly much more drama packed and dangerous return to the boat. Envision everything from pontoon to sailboat to 80-meter yachts with 30’ tenders bobbing in pristine turquoise waters. Then, a mass of rum soaked inebriates begin their return swim journey like lemmings. Just to make it interesting occasionally ones who seem to be unable to complete the flailing journey wave what left-over green they have and a rubber raft appears tied to a speedboat, at the peril of all in the surf at the time. IF the drunk can get on the mattress, the boat will pull him or her out to their boat, then the shoving and heaving and pushing of fat butts happens while trying to get them back into their boats….oh…my. I would expect the real treasure of Black Beard can be scooped from the bottom of the bay at the end of the day, if the end of the day ever comes at the Soggy Dollar. What a fun place. Good thing they leave that stop to the end of the trip. When all had returned to Bad Kitty, including the 75+ y ear old lady who did nothing else on the trip but this last event, we are off. Last trial under fire is to consume all the rum you can before you get back to US customs. Have I mentioned Kathie has acquired a liking for coconut rum and especially “pain killers” a mixture of Banana rum, coconut rum, and nutmeg ground over the top? Notice the dilution of nutmeg. Must be interesting posting for the customs agents. Not much recollection of that night,
Next day, Wednesday, is off to St. Thomas and our room at the Green Iguana. It wasn’t ready for us so we rushed to the foot ferry to Water Island and spent the afternoon on Honeymoon Beach. After a walk up a steep hill, and then back down again, we found ourselves on yet one more perfect beach with bars (think rum) behind us and massive cruise ships pulling in to the piers in Charlotte Amalie. A mile away. We stayed and swam on the beach until the 6000 plus people of the cruise ship started to appear. Then, it was back to town and dinner before a nice sleep.
With only one day left of vacation, we set off on Thursday to tour the island of St. Thomas. First to “Mountain Top” which we thought was a restaurant. Thought we could find breakfast there. Nope, only a fantastic view out over all the US and BVI and lots of junky souvenirs. Had to walk through the junk to see the view. Then it was off to Magens Bay, a mile wide beach deep at the end of a log horseshoe bay. Perfectly calm, decent lunch at restaurant and a long swim for me while Mark slept. Still no fish. Tried to get to one more beach, but failed and the water was too rough there for snorkeling. So, back for a shower, tour of the docks with mega yachts everywhere and dinner at Blue Beard’s castle at “Room with a View” to watch the sun set. This has been a great trip. If our phones hadn’t said we needed to catch a plane, we might have been there for longer. Lost track of time, day and ourselves pretty easily. Again, there’s that rum!
Home today, see you soon!
If it’s a rainy Tuesday in the Virgin Islands it must Bad Kitty Tuesday. We decided to take a chance on the weather for a full day whirl-wind trip of the major British VI close to us so here goes. Got up early and hustle down to the boat dock. Load on a nice 42’ cat and head south 40+ very bouncy (6-8 foot swells in one direction and wind at 90 degrees) miles to Spanish Town Virgin Gorda in the BVI. Customs and ashort Taxi to the Baths where huge Inca temple sized granite batholiths have been lifted, rumbled and tumbled by uplift and surf to make an amazing labyrinth of caves and swirling waves. Fun 30-40 minutes of geology and demo of waterpower. Back on the boat and start the staged trip back with Cooper Island (how about that Cooper) for lunch on the beach. Dah, sort of unnecessary to say, everything is on the beach here. And what beaches they are. Could not be whiter and water could not be more blue green. No dock, so we poor people had to jump off the boat and swim to shore for lunch , and back after lunch. Back in the boat and off to do the work of the day. 30-40 minute snorkel at the Indians at Peter island. It was somewhat better coral and fish than Buck Island off St. Croix but not a lot better. Getting the idea that if you expect shallow water coral and fish like Hawaii you are going to be disappointed. We hear the diving is great but the snorkel is less rewarding. The water is too warm and hurricanes have killed off lots of coral. Oh well, Get back in the boat and go drown our sorrows, literally, at the Soggy Dollar bar on Jost Van Dyke. Again, no dock here. Just dive off the boat and swim in, hence the name Soggy Dollar Bar. Who would have figured that making you swim in would be your bar’s main attraction. Well, not the main attraction. They make “Pain Killers” and “Soggy Man” 10 at a time and the barmaid can make them faster than a good pair of sunglasses can sink to the bottom of the deepest part of the bay. But wait, there is more. After literally hundreds of thirsty sun soaked tourists have thrashed their way in triathlon style race to the bar, nothing compares to the comical and certainly much more drama packed and dangerous return to the boat. Envision everything from pontoon to sailboat to 80-meter yachts with 30’ tenders bobbing in pristine turquoise waters. Then, a mass of rum soaked inebriates begin their return swim journey like lemmings. Just to make it interesting occasionally ones who seem to be unable to complete the flailing journey wave what left-over green they have and a rubber raft appears tied to a speedboat, at the peril of all in the surf at the time. IF the drunk can get on the mattress, the boat will pull him or her out to their boat, then the shoving and heaving and pushing of fat butts happens while trying to get them back into their boats….oh…my. I would expect the real treasure of Black Beard can be scooped from the bottom of the bay at the end of the day, if the end of the day ever comes at the Soggy Dollar. What a fun place. Good thing they leave that stop to the end of the trip. When all had returned to Bad Kitty, including the 75+ y ear old lady who did nothing else on the trip but this last event, we are off. Last trial under fire is to consume all the rum you can before you get back to US customs. Have I mentioned Kathie has acquired a liking for coconut rum and especially “pain killers” a mixture of Banana rum, coconut rum, and nutmeg ground over the top? Notice the dilution of nutmeg. Must be interesting posting for the customs agents. Not much recollection of that night,
Next day, Wednesday, is off to St. Thomas and our room at the Green Iguana. It wasn’t ready for us so we rushed to the foot ferry to Water Island and spent the afternoon on Honeymoon Beach. After a walk up a steep hill, and then back down again, we found ourselves on yet one more perfect beach with bars (think rum) behind us and massive cruise ships pulling in to the piers in Charlotte Amalie. A mile away. We stayed and swam on the beach until the 6000 plus people of the cruise ship started to appear. Then, it was back to town and dinner before a nice sleep.
With only one day left of vacation, we set off on Thursday to tour the island of St. Thomas. First to “Mountain Top” which we thought was a restaurant. Thought we could find breakfast there. Nope, only a fantastic view out over all the US and BVI and lots of junky souvenirs. Had to walk through the junk to see the view. Then it was off to Magens Bay, a mile wide beach deep at the end of a log horseshoe bay. Perfectly calm, decent lunch at restaurant and a long swim for me while Mark slept. Still no fish. Tried to get to one more beach, but failed and the water was too rough there for snorkeling. So, back for a shower, tour of the docks with mega yachts everywhere and dinner at Blue Beard’s castle at “Room with a View” to watch the sun set. This has been a great trip. If our phones hadn’t said we needed to catch a plane, we might have been there for longer. Lost track of time, day and ourselves pretty easily. Again, there’s that rum!
Home today, see you soon!
Monday, February 16, 2015
Monday, Feb 16
I have been given the job of writing about the last 2-3 days. I am holding out for more rum. That is what the islanders did. You ask, how is it going for me? Not so good mon.
Wednesday - Checked in to San Croix. In hindsight, it was very nice and a good place to start. Kathie worked so hard to stay in a nice place and if you look at Trip Advisor it is a 4+ out of 5. Lesson one, read all the reviews. We started to be in rm. 310 which was rated 5 and ended up being given 210 which as it turns out is owned by a very elderly now nursing home couple who have not been there in more than 3 years. Our “knows a lot neighbor” says everything rusts here, even the rubber and we can attest to it. Suffice it to say the room was not so good but the Island was lovely. Snorkeled off Buck Island, a protected Heritage site. Ouch. Hugo in 1989 sat on St. Croix for 18 hours and the island and the protected reef off Buck have not been the same. Coral mostly dead in the area where snorkeling was allowed and few fish... Was a great trip and chance to swim though.
Friday, driving around the island. ... off to Point Udall, farthest most eastern spot of US and territories.
Quick drive back to clean up and off to “Jump Up”. I understand they do it 4 times a year as a celebration of the island. Complete with Mocko Jumbies. Had a great island fusion dinner at Zion, which consisted of frozen drinks and Mahi-Mahi and after the frozen who can remember. The Jumbie are young men who climb up on 6-7 foot walls and the leader hands them up 2x3 poles with towels and long torn bed sheets to tie to their legs. Then comes the great bright costumes and as fast as you can say Jumbie they become a sort of really tall dancing mischevious spirit. They were fun.
Saturday was a travel day. We had a late plane so up and able to go to Fredricksted for a few hours. Well worth it. Nice walk through what Christiansted is trying to be. Shops all full and people all out and about. Likely had a lot to do with Big boat in the harbor. Nice breakfast and and bought a few things at the market. Then on to the Whim Plantation museum (restored sugar plantation). The main house was great. Fellow at a grand piano playing Chopin and Mozart while the chandelier swayed in the breeze gently crossing the room through open windows. I can’t stress enough how the swaying of the chandelier put the whole scene in motion and transported you back to 1830. Livery/stable, dry moats around the big house, kitchen set off from the main house to protect from fire, slave quarters, sugar cane grinding mills, first horse drawn then wind mills and finally steam. What an operation. Then in 1848 the slaves stood up and in a peaceful rebellion won freedom throughout the USVI. 
Enjoyed the museum and as a result had to get off to the airport to catch that little mosquito plane. As it turned out wasn’t so tough. Hour late. Oh Well, It’s all good as Tony would say. I got to sit right behind the pilot at 155 MPH and 1500 feet. 20 min later we were on St. John. Trouble is, St. John was not ready for us. No Power at Thrifty rental in St. Thomas. This is a problem when no one can figure out how to use the generator and therefore power the computer to rent us a car. In the end they gave us the same car we had on St. Croix. Then it is a mad 2 hour late dash to Red Hook ferry to get over to St. John. Made it!
St. Johns is all St. Croix isn’t. Clean and much more up scale. And, the room. Well Let's say I am sitting on the balcony with a Jumbie strawberry rum smoothie watching the sunset as I write this blog.
First day on St. John got our feet wet, literally. Up the North side of the island to 2 beaches (Frances and Maho)for some sand and snorkel time. I guess the weather on the mainland has been producing some winds and swells here so the sand is sort of stirred up. A few fish but not what we were hoping.
Second day. I think the island of St. John is trying to tell me something. First it was pouring rain today so we took some time off and read this morning. Stopped raining at 11 so went snorkeling at Trunk Bay and Maho again. Still turbulent and a disappointment. When I tried to take a picture of a fish the camera flashed, CLOSE THE BATTERY DOOR!. That may have been my second clue after the rain. Underwater camera was not only under the water but full of water. Oh well, Kathie says it was well over 10 years old. But my watch was just 3 or so. Looked at it just a little while ago and all fogged. Are the US Virgin Islands in the Bermuda triangle or is this a not so subtle message to "leave the electronic world behind, mon”. Last we are eating lunch at Ship Wreck Cafe on the other side of St. John in Corral Bay when a feral burro, I understand there about 300 on the island, walks up the road and into the restaurant and eats the flowers in the pot at the door. I swear, if the car breaks down and I start going around on the ever-present “Taxi”, that is actually a pick-up truck with benches in the back, then I may just have to accept fate and go with the flow. Even Saturday Night Live started to make sense last night or maybe it was the Strawberry smoothie with rum. :), :)
Third and last day tomorrow on St. John will be an all skate. We are off on an all day snorkel/hike/sight-see to special places on the USVI and BVI. Oh and weather says 85 and sunny. Look out sunscreen here we come.
z
Quick drive back to clean up and off to “Jump Up”. I understand they do it 4 times a year as a celebration of the island. Complete with Mocko Jumbies. Had a great island fusion dinner at Zion, which consisted of frozen drinks and Mahi-Mahi and after the frozen who can remember. The Jumbie are young men who climb up on 6-7 foot walls and the leader hands them up 2x3 poles with towels and long torn bed sheets to tie to their legs. Then comes the great bright costumes and as fast as you can say Jumbie they become a sort of really tall dancing mischevious spirit. They were fun.
Saturday was a travel day. We had a late plane so up and able to go to Fredricksted for a few hours. Well worth it. Nice walk through what Christiansted is trying to be. Shops all full and people all out and about. Likely had a lot to do with Big boat in the harbor. Nice breakfast and and bought a few things at the market. Then on to the Whim Plantation museum (restored sugar plantation). The main house was great. Fellow at a grand piano playing Chopin and Mozart while the chandelier swayed in the breeze gently crossing the room through open windows. I can’t stress enough how the swaying of the chandelier put the whole scene in motion and transported you back to 1830. Livery/stable, dry moats around the big house, kitchen set off from the main house to protect from fire, slave quarters, sugar cane grinding mills, first horse drawn then wind mills and finally steam. What an operation. Then in 1848 the slaves stood up and in a peaceful rebellion won freedom throughout the USVI. 
Enjoyed the museum and as a result had to get off to the airport to catch that little mosquito plane. As it turned out wasn’t so tough. Hour late. Oh Well, It’s all good as Tony would say. I got to sit right behind the pilot at 155 MPH and 1500 feet. 20 min later we were on St. John. Trouble is, St. John was not ready for us. No Power at Thrifty rental in St. Thomas. This is a problem when no one can figure out how to use the generator and therefore power the computer to rent us a car. In the end they gave us the same car we had on St. Croix. Then it is a mad 2 hour late dash to Red Hook ferry to get over to St. John. Made it!
St. Johns is all St. Croix isn’t. Clean and much more up scale. And, the room. Well Let's say I am sitting on the balcony with a Jumbie strawberry rum smoothie watching the sunset as I write this blog.
First day on St. John got our feet wet, literally. Up the North side of the island to 2 beaches (Frances and Maho)for some sand and snorkel time. I guess the weather on the mainland has been producing some winds and swells here so the sand is sort of stirred up. A few fish but not what we were hoping.
Second day. I think the island of St. John is trying to tell me something. First it was pouring rain today so we took some time off and read this morning. Stopped raining at 11 so went snorkeling at Trunk Bay and Maho again. Still turbulent and a disappointment. When I tried to take a picture of a fish the camera flashed, CLOSE THE BATTERY DOOR!. That may have been my second clue after the rain. Underwater camera was not only under the water but full of water. Oh well, Kathie says it was well over 10 years old. But my watch was just 3 or so. Looked at it just a little while ago and all fogged. Are the US Virgin Islands in the Bermuda triangle or is this a not so subtle message to "leave the electronic world behind, mon”. Last we are eating lunch at Ship Wreck Cafe on the other side of St. John in Corral Bay when a feral burro, I understand there about 300 on the island, walks up the road and into the restaurant and eats the flowers in the pot at the door. I swear, if the car breaks down and I start going around on the ever-present “Taxi”, that is actually a pick-up truck with benches in the back, then I may just have to accept fate and go with the flow. Even Saturday Night Live started to make sense last night or maybe it was the Strawberry smoothie with rum. :), :)
Third and last day tomorrow on St. John will be an all skate. We are off on an all day snorkel/hike/sight-see to special places on the USVI and BVI. Oh and weather says 85 and sunny. Look out sunscreen here we come.
z
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Sleep and no dreams
Tuesday 10th. Went to sleep to the sound of at least three different tree frogs popping and tweeting musically away, like tiny xylophones with a periodic bass note. I was first trying to figure out what birds were singing at midnight! ... and trying to mimic their calls. Impossible! Woke up to sunshine and real birds singing melodically after a deep healthy sleep and then had a one hour massage. I am definitely in heaven, Off to visit old San Juan and trek through the giant 500 year old forts. Mark is planning his imaginary experience and it may appear here soon ......
We spent Wednesday trekking through Fort
Morro, all six levels, and old San Juan. Hot as stink and, oh my, I do. Home for showers and dinner ant Nonna's - Italian, yum
Next day we headed out for the airport, small planes and our trip to St Croix.
Morro, all six levels, and old San Juan. Hot as stink and, oh my, I do. Home for showers and dinner ant Nonna's - Italian, yum
Next day we headed out for the airport, small planes and our trip to St Croix.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Aside from the red eye to Newark and just barely staying ahead of the northeastern ice storms, it's been a good first day. Touched down in San Juan Puerto Rico about 1, made it to our B&B about 2 and then set off to walk the Ocean Park neighborhood just east of old San Juan. A gated community in an urban renewal area, we walked for a few hours in this very local, non touristy area. The beach is full of locals and kite surfing, kids playing in the sand, wind and surf. Great fish tacos and Acai fruit bowl for lunch and then back for nap to try to eliminate that red eye effect. Mark then had a yoga session under the stars. I get my massage at 7:30 tomorrow morning, then it is off to explore old San Juan and the nearly 500 year old forts. Dinner at Nonna's, who can resist an Italian restaurant by that name, we cant! Excellent, will likely return tomorrow. More later!
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Off to the Caribbean
Well, there were no fish to see on the Croatian Tour, so decided we needed another vacation with better snorkeling and kayaking. So, Sunday to celebrate Mark's birthday, we head to Puerto Rico for 2 days and the US Virgin Islands for another 10. Weather there is 85 degrees and raining at the moment. We can handle that, after all, we intend to be under water most of the time anyway! Hope to post some pictures while away!
Kathie and Mark
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Christmas letter
December 25, 2014 or “”looking at 2014 through gelato colored and wine FILLED glasses
Dear friends,
2014 has us moving forward, maybe, typical for the Bauer family...lots of playful joking, often at the expense of ourselves, lots of newly invented things and lots of travel idiocy included.
First, new things: We have a new Granddaughter! Paige Marianne Bauer was born to Jake and Kim on January 22.
Around the same time, since they would be sleep deprived anyway, Jake and Kim also added a new puppy, Kula (an English crème golden retriever) 
There's some of that idiocy. Mason and Kale kind of like BOTH the new things.
Next, Ian and Candace moved to a new house in Puyallup (3 blocks from Liesl and Nate) and soon got two new kittens. Finally, as if the our new house weren't enough, we designed and built a new 1500 square foot apartment over the shop (come visit!) and a chalkboard stage and karaoke theatre for visiting grandkids and friends.
The kids have all tried it out. I suspect Mark sneaks up there to try it out in his underwear like Tom Cruise, but have failed to catch him in the act. All grandkids are dancing on the stage above!
Unlike the rest of us, Liesl and Nate have more reasonable things to report. Cooper and Gracie are growing more fun with each day and still cute as can be (say the grandparents) They both love pre-school and Cooper will be attending all day kindergarten next fall. Cooper has become a Lego construction fanatic. He is very adept at constructing monsters, buildings, planes and other assorted imagined items. He is very very good at this. Do we have a budding engineer or architect in the family? Time will tell.
Gracie is still a very (very) quietly self assured strong willed little girl. They both love to cuddle (at times) and we enjoy them when we get a day together. Nate's job at corporate Starbucks continues to provide him with opportunity to advance and the commute by train is pretty good compared to car travel. Liesl is still practicing psychotherapy in Olympia two days weekly and her calendar is packed, a very successful business. Doesn’t she look professional?? Uh, professional psychotherapist that is!
Nate played elf and delivered presents last night
Ian's new job (well, new last year) in Seattle is going well and he has had big successes with some important cases. He has been on the local Seattle NBC news a couple of times. Very weird to be getting undressed for bed and hear him speaking out of the TV. He crosses paths with Nathan on the commute train some mornings so they are enjoying their close Puyallup proximity. Candace is enjoying her retirement from the law and the three kids are certainly benefitting from lots of attention from parents and her efforts at teaching them what the schools don't.
All three are bright and active. Donovan is in kindergarten, Aidan in 1st grade and Nya in pre-school/day care a few days a week. Aidan is becoming all boy and is crazy about soccer; he is also a great big brother and led one team of the grandkid scavenger hunt this Christmas. Donovan’s sweet smile (on the right) shines through his high activity level and competes with this mischievous eyes; he is focused on art at the moment and quite productive when placed in front of a piece of paper with proper utensils to fill it in.
Nya is all about Disney and Disney princesses; she also is very strong willed and quite the athlete in her tutu/princess gowns. The family takes an annual cruise on a Disney ship and they are really looking forward to the next one in February (Caribbean).
Kim and Jake have been very busy this year with a new baby and a new puppy. Paige bears a strong resemblance to her brothers (in activity, intelligence and looks) and is just now starting to get around to messing up their toys, Legos and train sets. The best is yet to come, boys!
Mason is full out sports crazy and can quote many different statistics, some I didn't even know anyone could keep track of. He got a tackle dummy for Christmas from us so as to try to protect Kale and Paige, neither of whom look like they need much protecting!
Kale is also very into sports and tackles as hard as he takes, and also likes to build things - Legos and trains rate high.
Kula likes to destroy things or dig really big holes in the yard...heh heh heh - been there and dealt with that. He is also a great water dog and wreaked havoc with our annual duck races in our stream. He is of English heritage (think stockier and shorter nose). He will be a fantastic dog once he matures a bit and is less muddy. Jake has been focusing on his work, triathlons and marathons. He completed the NY Marathon last month and is aiming at the Roth Triathlon in Germany next summer. Mark is envious of his speed, physical capabilities, and surgical skill. They still enjoy practicing together. Kim, well she has been more than busy with baby, puppy, 3 boys (Jake!) and so on, but still manages to run her businesses and take part in her own races. Admirable mom and woman combined.
Mark and I have been trying to decide what we want to do when we grow up. We each got new associates at work (Michael Elm with Jane and JackJack for Mark, Heidi Magaro for me with Garth, Lane and Brody) Great great additions! We therefore have each cut back to 3 days a week and seem to be filling our two extra days off with shopping, traveling, and having fun with our new house. It’s expensive to retire partially!! We took the attic of the shop and made it into a really cool art/music studio/apartment. Now if only one of us was just artistic or more musical!!! I am able to get a bit more exercise in with the extra days off. I swear the weight gain must be more muscle....HA!!! Mark still works out an hour or so a day and looks like he did in high school - no, he looks better - lucky me - porn for women of a certain age. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could all be better like that?!!
We took off in September to "adventure sail" on the Croatian coast. Took Sarah Lux with us…nice to have your personal physician along! We were supposed to be sailing on a catamaran, kayaking, biking and hiking. Weather was beautiful, but no wind. Put the sails up for 10 minutes and had to take them down. We biked and hiked through national parks and kayaked around a few different islands off the Dalmatian coast and further north before ending up with 2 days in Venice. I enjoyed looking at the world through gelato colored glasses 2-3x daily…there’s that weight again.
No, George Clooney didn't invite us to the wedding, but everyone else was there! More details and some pictures of the trip can be found below.
We also found time for a few trips to Gearhart and a visit with Majken in Phoenix after one of my meetings. Also, siblings, nieces, nephews and lots of friends came to our and the Judah's joint annual summer party; this time it was Mardi Gras in July.
A Dixie land band, oysters from our beach, jambalaya, costumes, snow cones for all, and idiocy was fun for all. Cooper especially loved the face painting and my brother and sister made it north for the fun.
We also had a Christmas Day cookie exchange as we used to, for those who find themselves needing a break from the Christmas Day hubbub, or need to be busy while family is elsewhere. We find this house perfect for big parties and try to have one often to let it fulfill its special purpose. Three so far this Christmas. Lots of fun!!!
Finally, our family of dogs still consists of Gunner and Zenyatta. They are sweet dogs. Gunner likes to watch the elk out our beach window and Zenya likes the attention of being groomed.
Pet me mom!!! What would we do without them!??
One last picture of all the grandkids…what would we do without THEM!???
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Donovan (6 ½), Kale (5) with Paige (1), Mason (almost 8), Aidan (almost 8),Nya (almost 4), Cooper (5), Grace (31/2)
Have a great holiday and please come visit. We have an empty apartment waiting for someone to mess it up!
Love from all of us.
Kathie and Mark, Gunner and Zenyatta (Think Kenya with a bit of Seinfeld on the end))
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Day 16
Two weddings and a funeral
Up early on our last full day in Italy. Caesare, our host, is up early as well to get us breakfast. He tricks us. First it looks like there is a small cereal, yogurt, juice and fruit fare ...then, when we have started that, out comes the good stuff. So, one hour, two croissants, and 2 cups of coffee, eggs, fruit and bread, yogurt and more fruit later we wiggle/waddle back to the room for a nap before we catch 4.2 to Font. Nuove and into the heart of the Venice canals. Rumor has it George Clooney is getting married today so we join at least 30,000 would-be paparazzi with cameras on sticks looking for the happy couple (I guess Brad and Angelina, Matt Damon and Bono are in the wedding party as well!!!!). Guess my invite to the bachelor party got lost in the mail. We had searched the entire city when at 11:30 the church bells went nuts. We were close by too. Well as close as you can get while winding in and over canals. We get there though and find a large group next to a bridge with a canal boat waiting in the water directly in front of them. We flank the group and … a funeral. I guess instead of a hearse there is a gray canal boat with casket on an hydraulic lift lowering it onto the boat. Actually very touching. So it’s noon and believe it or not we are hungry, thirsty, and tired. Time to sit and enjoy watching life on the canal. Then after quatro stagioni, water and wine the real wedding party shows up, well sans, Brad, Angelina, and George with what’s her name, oh, the bride. This has to be the only wedding going on today where it is not all about the bride.
Oh well, by 3 not even two scoops of gelato could revive our aching legs. Back to Murano and find those earrings Kathie saw yesterday in one of the 75 glass shops we were in. Took a while, then ...
Success. Woke up in time to go find more earrings and lass gCherries. Glass cherries are our tree ornament for this year. Then off to find dinner because bodyguards are not letting us go to the “B” restaurant we have gone to the last 2 nights. We went to Duomo across the canal from our host’s church. My-Oh-My. Did we have the 3 hour 5 course great local restaurant or what? Bellini peach prosecco , bresaeola with arugola and parma, Sea bass with tomatoes, shrimp with skinny tagliatini, house wine, coffee gelato, tiramisu, and limoncello. Sorry, I can’t be expected to remember anything more. Be thankful we made it back to #77.
Check on the M’s, read the mail, and shut ‘er down for the night, to rise at 3 a.m. to catch the water taxi and plane. See you all tomorrow (give or take a few time zones).
Love Mark and Kathie
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