Ed in Europe

Part 4 - Crawling in Dutch Tunnels 

 

We're still in The Netherlands at the town of Maastricht, squeezed between Germany and Belgium. This has put it in the way of many European armies over the centuries.

200+yrs ago the towns-people hand-dug fortifications in earthen bunkers to resist Napoleon's armies. Since then, both German and French invasions caused them to expand the defenses until there are now several miles of bunkers and connecting tunnels!

Our teams of 2 were sent out separately to wander through the underground maze with only small floor-markers to guide us. ...Yikes!

Over the course of a couple hours, we had to look for wall signs giving us various military-intelligence puzzles/riddles to solve. The first 2/3rds of the walk was by flashlight alone, the last part by electric lights (above ...though they were a not as bright as they are in that picture!).

 Hans in a Maastricht Tunnel

Overcoming any latent claustrophobia, Hans and I managed to solve all the challenges correctly, earning each of us a "medal."

Outside the Tunnels-Battlements, many of us gathered for a group photo--

 That afternoon, we went a little stir-crazy trying to find our way through the next Challenge: a Dutch Hedge-Maze (aerial view, below).

The fastest time was about 20 min, some never did get out and had to be "rescued"! (FYI - Both Hans & I got through it ...eventually...)

 At least I had some great sausages to eat that day!

 Before leaving Maastricht, we learned that it is Andre Rieu's home-town.
He's the Dutch Violinist-Conductor you see a lot on American Public TV. 

Here is Hans and our youngest group-member, Stephanie, with Andre.
She and her Mom, from New York City, were teamed together on our Competitour.

...Next Challenge:  Climbing a 1300+ ft cliff in Switzerland!

--Ed

Ed  in Europe

  

Part 3 - Belgian Chocolate and Dutch Swords

 

Still in Brussels the next day, we walked to to a local chocolatier where we faced our next "Competitours" Challenge: Making real Belgian Chocolates, complete with artistic and taste judging. (That's some of the group above, wearing hairnets).

After seeing how chocolate is made from the cacao, we had several tastings to guess added flavorings; they included peppers, chiles, and various spices. ...My personal favorite chocolate turned out to have cardamom.

We made various decorated chocolates from:

" ---Yum-m! "

 Here is our hollow chocolate "Bambi" we made and decorated:

 

Maybe my eyes were closed ...meditating on the taste of chocolate (?)

After several hours there, none of us ate any more chocolate the rest of the trip!

Afterwards, we took a train across the Dutch border to the town of Maastricht. We went to a local Fencing Club (as in sword-fighting). You see, in America we have Tennis Clubs and Yacht Clubs; in the Netherlands, they have Fencing Clubs.

Our Fencing Master demonstrating a sword... that's some of our group on the floor.

The Fencing Master gave us a brief intro to Fencing, then showed us some basic moves. After more instruction, our teams paired off for our next Challenge: a judged Fencing Competition!

As it turned out, Hans and I did a duel. I'm the one on the Left, Hans on the Right:

 To the surprise of us both, I whupped him...!

The next part includes underground fortifications and 1300-ft high cliffs...

--Ed

ED IN EUROPE

Part 2 - Ghent, Belgium

Ed & Hans at the 12th century  Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, Belgium

In Belgium, we took a train to Ghent and met the leader of our "Competitour."

Note: I've received no remuneration from "Competitours," nor was I asked to write about them.)

Very loosely based on TV's "Amazing Race," 20 folks in 10 teams compete in a variety of pre-arranged 'Challenges' over 10-days. ...Details at  Competitours.com 

Unlike the TV show, there are no eliminations and the competition is much friendlier. Like the show, upon signing up we did NOT know in advance where we were headed; only the beginning and ending points (Brussels and Venice).

In Ghent, we found ourselves in a Medieval festival centered at Gravensteen Castle (above). We met costumed characters and toured the "Torture Museum"(!) where we saw a real 'Iron Maiden', a Guillotine and a Rack, plus other stuff we don't even want to describe.

We did our first day's Challenges, viz. A 'Scavenger Hunt'!

1st) ...Find a cafe serving a food illegal in US. Turns out it's a sausage made with horsemeat... didn't taste that bad.

2nd)  Find a pub serving Belgian beer in a glass requiring drinker to give a shoe as a deposit! They put all the shoes in a basket suspended from the ceiling...

The beer was really good, according to Hans (Were his tastebuds distorted from horsemeat?)

"By the way #1" while in Ghent--  We checked about seeing the famed "Ghent Altarpiece" at the local cathedral. Turns out the church displays a facsimile in the sanctuary; the real item is locked away, seen only by paying for a pricey ticket!  We passed...

The Ghent Altarpiece was featured in recent George Clooney Film,  "Monuments Men."

 "By the way #2, while in Ghent--  Hans saw this in the window of a used bookstore. He considered buying it as a self-help book for his career.  ;)

...but passed it up, instead taking this photo.

Check back soon!  We'll keep adding stuff about the trip  ...Next: Belgian chocolate and Fencing duels.

---Ed

Ed in Europe! - Part 1    (Thanks to Hans)

Yep, for the first time in my 68+ yrs, I actually made it to Europe. Our son Hans shared his "airline miles" making it possible (what a son, eh?"). We two shared a very unique two weeks together. (More on its uniqueness later)

Part 1 - London
 
 
Ed at Buckingham Palace  no sign of William & Kate

I flew a "red-eye" to London where I joined Hans who was finishing up a business trip in England ...yes, his work paid his flight over and back...

 We stayed in a 'very English' hotel 

Note Hans in red cap standing in Hotel doorway 
 

Among other things, we went to Greenwich Naval Observatory and Museum... 

...where we saw Admiral Lord Nelson's uniform he wore when fatally shot

at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar...

 

  Note the bullet-hole of Nelson's fatal wound on left shoulder
 
And up the "London Eye' - the massive ferris wheel that's 450 ft high at the top!

 Note Westminster Abby and Big Ben, on opposite bank of the Thames River

By a stroke of luck (blessing?), we were included in the "Champaign Guided Tour,"
even tho we had only paid for the standard ride(!). Portent of a great trip!

After two days, we left London via the Express "Chunnel" Train to Brussels.
We boarded at Paddington Station, seeing the 'Paddington Bear' Statue 
of children's storybook fame...

Arriving in Brussels, we immediately embarked on our VERY UNIQUE, 10-day "Competitour" of the continent.  We weren't sight-seeing, we were 'sight-doing!'

For some background, go to Competitours.com

(Note: I've received no remuneration from "Competitours, nor was I asked to write about them.)

  ---More to follow in subsequent Blog Posts---  Come back for more later!

--Ed 

"Wondrous Skies" New Year Greetings

  

     At this time of year, we remember how once Shepherds and Wise Men were in awe of the heavenly sights they witnessed in the night sky.  

     Karen & I can appreciate this to some degree; we have lived in both Yellowstone (1970's) and Grand Canyon (2000's) National Parks. Each is situated at high elevations, away from the lights of any urban areas. This made for some absolutely amazing night skies!

     At the Grand Canyon, one treat was to view the Canyon at night under a full moon. The Canyon actually "glows!" Indeed , the more adventurous employees on such nights would  hike down into the Canyon without using flashlights/headlamps (Park Service does not recommend this, however).

 

Here is a time-exposure photo of the Grand Canyon in the moonlight:

 

     While at Yellowstone, a treat was to watch the geysers erupt at night. Here is Old Faithful Geyser, erupting with a full moon behind it:

      The last two winters while still RVing, Karen & I lived at Park of the Sierras. POS is located only 30 mi south of an entrance to Yosemite National Park. Here is a time-exposure of Yosemite from Valley View Overlook on a winter night:

El Capitan is at left center of the valley. The bright object at the top is Jupiter, which was putting on a show that night.

 

     Finally, I want to share this video I recently downloaded from "Astronomy Picture of the Day." (The APOD site is worth bookmarking, as I have done on my computer.)

 

     Because we are presently at the height of the 11-yr sunspot cycle, the Northern Lights are really spectacular these days. This time-exposure video has several views of the Aurora Borealis ("Northern Lights") over Norway...    Enjoy!

 

--Ed and Karen
 

 

Merry Christmas ...from Sonoma!
 

 

 We are loving our one-bedroom "Funky Cottage" and feeling more settled. 

 

We enjoy the first "real" Christmas Tree in seven years, all three-feet-high of it

 

We are LOVING living close to...

 

...our Kids, Hans and Anne Marie (here w their Mom)

 

 

...Hans' wife, Vickie (on left, w her Mom)

 

...and, of course, the GRANDKIDS!

 

Here are Hans' and Vickie's boys, Jason (l, age 5) and Calvin (r, age 7)

 ...having a fun w their Dad's iPad

 

Annie w husband Aaron and granddaughter Olive (age 2)

 

...and Olive enjoying her Great-Grandmother's (Ed's Mom)100-yr old rocker

 

...which we got out of storage this year when we moved here.
 

 

This Christmas, we join Christians all over the world in proclaiming Good News;
that even in a world filled w contention, loss, and the shadows of strife ---

 

"The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness--

on them light has shined." 

--Isaiah 9:2

 

"When the magi saw that the star... they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother;

and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts
 of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

--Matthew 2:10-11

 

 

... We wish all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2014 ...

 

---Ed and Karen

 

 

BIG CHANGE !

(...Maybe We'll Have to Rename the Blog??)
 

     Yep... after seven years on the road, Ed and Karen are actually GIVING UP THE RV LIFESTYLE ("gasp!") ...moving into a "stick-and-brick" home! (photo above) ...a place not mounted on Goodyear tires!

     We are locating ourselves just outside Sonoma, California... in the middle of Sonoma Valley wine country (and Ed, a total abstainer!) north of the San Francisco Bay. This location is conveniently close to both our kids-and-grandkids (the ONLY reason strong enough to turn Ed into a Californian).

     For those who have followed our travels, you might remember that 5 yrs ago we were Camp Hosts at a State Park just north of here. So the area is actually familiar ..And it really is a beautiful area. Here's a picture from back then--

     We found a cottage for rent in our price range... a little "funky" (the realtor's own description) and in need of some work ...but then, that's why it's in our price range.

     Why this change?  Well, after tens of thousands miles of bucking down the road, the ol' Motorhome was starting to show some wear (and maybe us as well?). Plus, we were simply feeling the need to sink some roots and to establish ourselves, etc.  (We're not getting any younger, after all).

     Our place is "only" 700 sq ft with one bedroom, but after a 35' X 8' +slideout RV, it's more than roomy! It even has a deck outside so we can feel right at home.

 

     We spent over a month just moving our "stuff" I.E. emptying our Storage Unit in Kingman, Arizona ("Why did we keep all that stuff, anyway?"), sorting, unpacking, more sorting, many trips to Goodwill and Salvation Army, and more unpacking.

     We are finally starting to get settled. After some rough bumps in the process, we sold the ol' RV, though for less than of what we originally hoped.  ("It really was showing some wear.")

     We 'll keep you posted, but in the meantime, we'll be sending out an "blanket" Email with our new contact information... though our phone numbers and Email will remain unchanged.

A Blessed Thanksgiving to all!    ---Ed & Karen