May 29th - Welcome home and what I learned in Europe

Phoenix under very gusty winds

   After a 2 hour run around at the airport in Berlin (all I can say is new guy) passport check point, customs, security screenings and two flights totalling 14 hours, we finally made it home to Phoenix.  Although I had a great time in Poland, I was so happy to see my beloved dusty desert come into view as we made our decent into Phoenix.  Im so glad that we went, met some of Jonathan's family, and got to see some beautiful parts of Poland, Czech Republic and Germany.  Here are a few things that I have learned while traveling abroad.

1.   Land in a country where you know the language.  None of us knew German and that was something I didn't think about when booking this trip.  I was being a "typical" American thinking that at least somewhere, there would be English. I was proven incorrect.

2.   Not everyone knows English.  I was told by many of my well meaning friends and family that I don't have to worry about learning Polish for everyone knows English.  This is a half truth. Yes, everyone knows some English, but not enough for a full on conversation. I think my trip would have been alot more fun (not that it wasn't) had I known what everyone was saying. Next time to Poland, I will know more Polish.

3.  Pack lighter.  Jon packed like a chick.  I packed Connor as if he wasn't coming back. We had some troubles with heavy and too much luggage and I'm sure half the stuff didn't need to come to Poland with us.

4.   Pre-arrange travel from airport.  This was an issue for us going to Poland and back.  The train there was a nightmare only because we had enough luggage for an American football team.  The ride back was confusing because we waited till the last minute to arrange something.  Also, land closer to our destination.  We pretty much landed in Phoenix but needed to be in Tucson.

I'm sure there is plenty more things I could think of, but nothing comes to mind right now.  What an AWESOME trip!  I'm so glad I was able to go on this trip with Chris and Jon. Connor was an absolute DREAM child!  I couldn't have asked for a better Happy on this trip.  All of Jonathan's family (and the host family) were awesome. I wish that they were closer so I can see them more, they are such an awesome people.

So glad, to be home :)

Kolson's in Czech

May 28th - Berlin



The Berlin Wall

     So after some confusion on traveling back to Berlin, we all finally made it to Berlin, Germany on the evening of May 27th.  We stayed in ther Mercure Hotel which was a very nice hotel.  We woke up the next morning and headed out for a guided tour of Berlin.  The morning started off a bit interesting to say the least.  Since people in Europe are all about public transportation, we hoped on a bus that was to take us to the first stop of the bus tour, so we thought. There was an accident on the bus involving a stroller and an very small baby.  According to Jon and Chris, apparently the baby was not strapped into the stroller, the stroller was weighted down by all the shopping bags (something we all do) and when the bus moved the baby was shot out of the stroller like a basketball.  Baby screaming, woman beside herself (as any woman would be) After about 5-10 minutes we were all ordered off the bus.  Not sure what happened to the baby, when someone lifted it up, it appearted to be ok on the outside but have no idea how they were on the inside.  I pray and hope that the little one is ok.
  Ok so moving on, we decided to get on another bus and got off and would you know it, the main street was blocked off for an American car show (ugh) So it took us a good hour or two to find the bus and get on the tour.  We finally got on the top of the bus and began to enjoy the sights of Berlin.
  At first I wasn't that impressed. I mean not that Berlin wasn't beautiful in its own right, but it was a big city, similar to Phoenix. We drove thru the parts of town, seeing the sights of different museums and churches, then we hit Checkpoint Charlie.

Check Point Charlie

     Here is a photo of Check Point Charlie.  This was the allied (US) check point for people to pass between Eastern and Western Berlin when the Berlin was erected in 1961. It was the most famous (AKA Checkpoint C) border crossing during the standing of the Berlin Wall.

The sign upon leaving the American Sector

     Once we passed thru checkpoint Charlie, we got off the bus to see the only original standing piece of the Berlin wall.  Once the wall came down in 1989, about 90% of the wall is gone now.  This part was saved and turned into a Memorial to honor those who lived and died because of this wall.   With all that being said, here are some of the great shots, of the city of Berlin.

Marker at the Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall

World War II Memoral

  In addition to the Berlin Wall Memoral, there was also a time line regarding the rise and fall of Hitler and the Nazi's.  It was so amazing and scary at the same time that one man could rise so quickly and brain wash so many, and kill so many innocent people.

I believe this goes around the city where the wall was

Cathedral and Concert Hall

Parts of the Berlin Wall that were moved and painted by world Artists

Hotel Inn and TV Tower

Jon and I at the start of the boat tour

Connor at the start of the boat tour

Red Town Hall

Humbolt University

Victory Column in the Grosstern Roundabout

Cheesy Mommy!!

After all the craziness of the morning, this trip around Berlin did turn out to be pretty cool. Alot of the buildings I have no idea what they are for the guilded tour was a bit off because of the auto show, but all in all it was a great adventure.

May 25th /26th Wroclaw



Wroclaw Market Square

     Now you are really going to get a 2 for 1, for I'm only doing one for yesterday the 25th as for today, we didn't even leave the house.  It is convient enough that Jon would get food poisioning on our last day in Poland, hence not having to drive anywhere nor trying to cram all our stuff into 3 pieces of luggage (we originally had 4 but our airline charges you $$ for the extra bag so we got screwed on the way in and we are trying not to get screwed on the way back.)   Not that I don't fully doubt that Jon is not feeling well, he is not one to cop out on stuff like this but none the less it really sucks that I've had to do all the laundry and pack on my last day here in Poland.   So here i sit at almost 4pm, Jon, Chris and Connor have been sleeping most of the day and I. . .well, being a mommy.
   I could go on but what good what that do (ha ha!) So, on to what we did yesterday.  We went to the city of Wroclaw.  Now this is an actual city, according to Tomek it is about 500K strong with people.  Its your typical city with Poland thrown in the mix.  Tomek was kind enough again to go with us into the city and show us around.  His youngest brother Michal just started college here, but we were unable to see him as he was working till 11.

 Of course there were many churches, and they all so stunning that its hard to not stare at them in wonder.  What was different about this church, as the buildings around it, is where are the clergy live.  So priests and nuns all live here.  It was interesting to see all the priests and nuns walking around.   This church was built I think around the 1300's. We actually got to go inside this church, which was great for me as I have not been inside one of these European churches since we got here.

Inside the church

There was an interesting bridge that we crossed to get to these churches. See photo below.

Lover's Bridge

I believe that is what it is called, but those are all padlocks!  They were on both sides of the bridge. They were small, large, old and new, they were all engraved (wither professionally or not) and then I guess is what they do it they lock it on the bridge and then toss the key into the river. According to Tomek, you have to dive in and get your key if you break up (Ha ha!)

Menu

  So the dinner that Jon is currently paying for was at an Italian restaraunt in Wroclaw.  I had just plain pasta with red sauce and it was great!  But I found it funny that these "Pizzas" are dedicated to the Dwarfs.  Of course I had to ask what that meant and I guess there are little dwarf status all over the city!  So funny!  We only found four though.

Now you behave littel dwarves

Drunk dwarf! Wee!!!

Happy Dwarf!  Oh no its just Connor :)

We started to head back to Jelenia Gora around 10pm which put us back here at around 11:30.  When we were leaving though the church and college were lit up so of course, I took a few snap shots of those.

They DO have Starbucks in Poland :)

     We are supposed to be heading out soon so see our relatives one last time before we head to Berlin.  Hopefully Jon will be feeling better when he wakes up so we can see them.  Tomorrow will mostly be a travel day to Berlin and then Saturday I hope to do a tour of Berlin.  I'm going all "American" on this one, getting on a double decker bus with an English speaking headset and hitting as much of Berlin as I can, for I'm not sure if (nor if I even want to) I will be back to Berlin, but I would still like to at least see it.

Till Berlin!

May 24th - Adrspach Rocks - Czech Republic

Gate to Narnia

  Well I finally made it to Narnia and I didn't even have to go thru a wardrobe, I just had to go to a park in Czech.  Ha ha, no its not really Narnia but alot of the beginning scenes to the first movie we shot in this park!  I was so excited when I came around the corner and I saw this gate that I knew IMMEDIATELY what is was and was so excited I could hardly contain myself! 
  We made the trek back to Czech today, but this time to the Adrspach Rocks which are located about 50-60 miles from Jelenia Gora.  These rocks and park are AMAZING!  To see the size of these rocks and how they are all just sitting here together just the way God wanted them to be!  The walk was great, took us a few hours to go thru most of the park, it was the perfect day out but when we got into some of the caverns man did it get chilly in there.  It wasn't towards the end till the hike got a little crazy with all the steep steps and so forth.  Jon of course took Connor and about half way thru Connor fell asleep (hence why in some photos he looks like a rag doll)  Enjoy my trip "thru the wardrobe!"

Silly Happy

Do you see Chris under there?



My two favorite guys!



You know what THIS is!!

Gate to Narnia

Inside the Gothic Gate

Artist Shot

Carved into the stone by the man who discovered this place

Inside the Big waterfall (freezing!!)

Watch your step!

Whats with all the stairs!!

Panaramic Shot (with Connor sleeping)

look how steep!

Going thru the pathway titled "Mouse Hole"



Truly Amazing

     We walked alot (again) thru this park and it was truly breath taking.  I wish I would have had my iPod with me it would have made it that much more amazing for me, but still if anyone goes to Czech they should check out Gods Beauty in this wonderful park.

   To check out scenes from Narnia to compare to what I got to see today, visit the link below.  We plan on visiting the bridge on Thursday, which would be the PERFECT ending to this AWESOME trip.
http://www.cinema-astoria.com/cinematography/filminglocation/locations/narnia/index.html

Tomorrow. . . Wroclaw!