New Thing #112: Sightseeing, Shopping, Sweet Toothing

Yes, I know sweet toothing is not a word, but I needed something for alliteration. Our second day in Barcelona was spent...

sightseeing

sagrada familia. construction on this church began in the 1880's and is still underway. it is thought it will take about 50 more years. 

shopping

this has nothing to do with shopping I just liked this turtle. I did however make my first H & M purchases and I can't wait to go to the one in Atlanta when I visit home!

and sweet toothing.

as you know ice cream is my first love, besides new orleans, and I had to have my first gelato in europe. 

New Thing #111: Ole, Ole Ole!

Barcelona was about as crazy as we had predicted based on our experience in the train station, all the while, the day was filled with fun experiences!

seeing fish eating loaves of bread. there is a video to accompany this if you would like to see it.

TWO free twix ice cream bars each at the Barcelona harbor. manna from heaven.

my first tapas in Spain, at probably the worst restaurant in the country. at least we had the sangria to ease our pain :)

being in Spain when they won the Euro Cup! this picture is a mild scene from the beginning of the match, which was followed by thousands of people on La Ramblas, all of which we watched from the comfort of our balcony.

New Thing #110: Enjoying España

Although this day had its rough patches, I think we enjoyed what Valencia had to offer!

fresh peaches from the market for breakfast

first double-decker bus city tour

first time in the mediterranean

first sangria in Spain

New Thing #109: Day of Trains

For my 109th thing I decided to spend the ENTIRE day, from 9:30am to 1:00am the next day either waiting for a train, on a train, or wandering around a train station. Ladies and gentleman, I would not recommend trying this at home.

professional loiterers 

best thing of the day. port bou. if you would like your own signature port bou bag let me know.

singing "shout!" on a ghetto, oversized marta, graffiti covered train with a casio keyboard sound system on our way to Barcelona. needless to say we were getting some looks.

New Thing #108: Composting, Checking out Toulouse, and Chocolate Cake

After a night train from Munich, some more loitering in Paris, we were on our way to Toulouse!

first time composting a train ticket. who really knows why France is the only country that requires this or what the point is, but it made me feel important.

checking out Toulouse. or should I say "checked out in Toulouse". I have no idea what this statue is, or anything about Toulouse. we do know that the architecture is pretty, it looks like New Orleans, and if you go you should go to Pizzeria Vecchio.

our lovely dinner consisted of pizza which I had been craving, I ate pizza with an egg on top, if you can believe that, accompanied by Italian wine and the best chocolate cake France had to offer.

New Thing #107: World's Largest

Back in Munich our day was filled with "world's largest" or the largest in Germany at least.

largest glockenspiel in germany

largest green lion I've ever seen

largest beer hall in the world

largest pretzel we found

New Thing #106: The rhinoceros is Dortmund's coat-of-arms animal

Monday we traveled up the Rhine River, unfortunately not by boat, but by a very nice German train, to visit Erin's friend Aisha whom she worked with in Montpieller. It was a relaxing and enjoyable train ride, welcomed with a home cooked meal (loaded with fresh vegetables!), meeting Aisha's family, and fun night out with friends.

dinner with Aisha's family in Dortmund

picture with a painted rhinoceros

as Corinne pointed out I like series of painted things so there are MANY more rhino pics

playing electric darts in Germany

a talking dart board combined with german beer, what more could you want!

New Thing #105: Munich, München, Myyyooonich

So limiting my pictures for this city is probably the hardest, so I allowed myself just one more. We fell in love with this German town from the Englisher Gardens, to the world's largest beer hall, to the tent. Myyyooonich we love you.

learning how to prost. this is a very serious seven year matter.

a bike tour through Munich. Lenny's is better than Mike!!!

dinner at Hofbrauhaus Munchen. One of munich's oldest breweries, the world's largest beer hall, complete with sauerkraut, sausage, beer of course, and an oompa band!

one tram partner pass to get to the tent 9.00

one pad lock 2.00

one rainbow colored mat and 4 burlap blankets 7.50

cereal, coffee, and fruit 2.50

a bonfire, waking up to REM, cherry trees, hammocks, serenity, fellowship, sleeping on the floor of a circus tent with two of your best friends...

PRICELESS

New Thing #104: Aux champs élysées

a day spent on the champs elysees  shopping for perfume in paris, buying gummies,  and trying to find the cheapest coke

loitering and lounging in a 4 star hotel 

first time in a sleeper car, very nice!

New Thing #103: Picturesque

I've realized I've been too ambitious so I limiting myself to 3 pictures per blog day. The rest, or a smattering of the rest (there are almost 2000), of the pictures will be on a picasa album!

monet with mama

carrying groceries to the top of the eiffel tower...notice the baguette :)

a midnight picnic at the foot of the eiffel tower. could this be more picturesque?

New Thing #102: Prisons, Monuments, Museums, and 4 Star Hotels

picture in a fireplace at the conciergerie. also our new album cover

the room prisoners went to be prepared for beheading. yikesabee!

sex and the city meets charlies angels

dominating the best picture spot on the arc de triomphe and then taking approximately 10 other peoples pictures. we should have set up a table to collect funds.

taking a picture of the mona lisa at the louvre. we weren't allowed to last year.

documentation. erin is drinking a soft drink AND eating french fries.

novotel. our 4 star hotel in europe. only a brief "30 minute walk" or "at the foot of the eiffel tower" according to the concierge who needs to go to the conciergerie :)

New Thing #101: Contentment

Life is full of moments of contentment. Contentment in the old and the new.

cafe creme and almond croissants 

elephant gargoyles

gargoyles that remind you of friends

the picasso museum

picnic on the steps of d'orsay, i.e. thanksgiving dinner

first time seeing whistler's mother. even rick steves doesn't know why it's famous

art capturing art

my mom's first crepe and possibly one of the 

funniest experiences of our trip to accompany it

my first crepe with nutella AND banana

kir vin blanc with erin's friend claire and friends at 

la bucherie across from notre dame