Prague, Czech Republic

When you hear people telling their "trip from hell" stories you never think it's actually going to happen to you.  Well... it did.  But, it has a good ending so at least there is a silver lining!

Here's a "brief" play-by-play.  Arrive 1.5 hours early for our flight from Madrid-Frankfurt-Prague.  Check in, check luggage (don't normally do this but we had to pack all the winter gear plus some), go through security, sit for a few drinks (this has become standard procedure), get to gate... and everyone is standing around.  We hear some random English and someone saying, "Flight to Frankfurt is canceled."  Turns out it was about 20 military guys returning to their base in Germany that were on our flight and they heard from so-and-so who heard from so-and-so that something was going on with the air traffic controllers.  We debate whether e should stay at the gate and see if things get resolved or go back out through security to the check-in counters to see what the deal is.  We decide to leave the gate,.  They close security behind us and now all departure TV's have "Canceled, Canceled, Canceled" flashing across them.  As we rush to the check-in counter my bag breaks and tumbles to the floor, with my fancy camera inside.  Luckily, it was protected by my 500-page book and 2 scarves.  So... we keep running and then we see it.  No joke, no exagerration... at least 3,000 people waiting in the terminal.  And in just the Lufthansa line, at least 500.  This terminal is not large.  Probably 300 yards by 50 yards.  Filled with 3,000 Spaniards whose flights just got cancelled due to striking bastards?  Are you catching my drift yet?  And now... it's filled with international journalists too. Newscameras, flashes, spotlights, microphones, etc.  No one knows what the hell is going on, women are going hysterical, men are pounding their fists and screaming.  And what do the three of us do?  Fall to the floor in a heap of laughter.  What else can you do at this point?  It was such an outrageous scene I'm not even doing it justice.  We begin calling the Lufthansa customer service number and by the grace of God, someone answers, helps us and rebooks one of the three flights.  Then the phone goes dead.  Sidenote:  we have to use pay-as-you-go phones here until you prove you have lived in the country for 2 years... and the phone ran out of money.  On another phone we try to start calling again but by this time the 500 people in line are doing the same thing.  Waiting... waiting... waiting.  Finally get through and get the agent from hell.  She begins to yell, and in true Lindsay fashion, I start to yell back. I ask for her name, her boss, then click.  She hangs up on me.  Sweet.  We all start calling again and finally get someone, an hour later, who helps us, gets all the tickets rebooked... but for two days later.  By this time all of our friends who are at home are trying to call us telling us we are on all the news channels.  If I'd had known that I'd have made myself look presentable!  We go to reclaim our luggage and head home (now 5 hours after we got to their airport) and our friend Fil, who went to the bathroom, is no where to be found.  I finally go to try to find him and I hear him, yelling my name.  He got locked in the bathroom stall.  No one would help him, he couldn't climb under or over.  And now at this point, I really start to laugh.  Uncontrollably....  We finally make it home at almost midnight.  It's Friday.  We were supposed to be in Prague at this point.  And now we don't leave until Sunday night.  :)

Hope you enjoyed the tale.  Once we finally made it to Prague we had a wonderful time full of snow flurries, holiday cheer and lots of beer.  Sometimes it's the trips where nothing seems to go right where you have the most fun.  And this was one of the most interesting to date, that's for sure!  I'll spare you the details of our journey through the enchanting city that is Prague but if you choose to view the pictures, you can find out about all that we discovered in the captions.  Enjoy!

Hezké prázdniny!  ~Linds

The Best Job

Everyone has the days where they hate their lob and they love their job.  Luckily, I'm typically very excited to go to work because every day is truly different. 

Today I had a moment while watching some of my students in a Christmas concert where I sort of tuned everything out, looked around the auditorium and thought to myself, "This is the coolest job.  I can't believe I get to do this every day."  Why did this come about?  I'm not quite sure.  I think part of me is really struggling with the fact that I know I won't be here at this school next year.  I love my coworkers and my students and it's hard to think of life without either of them.  If I didn't have such a strong desire to live a life with some sort of normalcy and/or if I was in a city where I felt more at home, then I would probably never leave.  But maybe this perspective has been good for me because it has made me not take any of my time here for granted and really cherish the moments at school when the students aren't annoying the hell out of me!  :)

Another reason I felt so lucky today is because the students that I have are some of the most inspiring people I know.  They are so overly talented it's sickening sometimes.  I look back at my middle school days and all I can remember is playing sports and doing homework.  The majority of my students here speak 3+ languages fluently, play an instrument or sing, play a sport, and still excel at school.  It boggles my mind.  Many of these students do all of this without the support of their parents at home because the reality is, many of them are being raised by their nannies, butlers, drivers, etc.  They crave love and attention and I think that's why many of them enjoy coming to school-- they have the attention of 8+ adults at all times!  As I always do, I've become pretty attached to the majority of my students and the thought of the last day of school nearing breaks my heart... I don't even want to think about it (and luckily I have 6 more months of not having to).

Here's a video that I think any educator, past or present, can appreciate and enjoy:



I'm so proud of my students and what they accomplish on a daily basis.  Getting to see them grow and mature and become knowledgable global citizens is so rewarding.  And they aren't even my own!  I can't imagine what I'm going to be like as a Mom...

~L

Istanbul, Turkey

It has become a tradition of mine to go somewhere for Thanksgiving (although since living in Europe... I go "somewhere" just about every weekend!) The past five years I've spent the holiday at Macchu Picchu in Peru, diving in Dominica, cruising through the Caribbean islands, lounging in the Canary Islands... and Turkey Day 2010 was spent in, none other than, Turkey!

Istanbul has been near the top of my list of places to visit since I moved to Spain, so I had high expectations and was armed with my guidebook and camera.  The city did not disappoint.  I'm not sure which gained more weight during the trip: me or my luggage!  The sights were breathtaking, the food incredible, the shopping, oh, the shopping.  There was even a marriage proposal (from our waiter one night at dinner... he informed me he wanted to have seven kids together... I was frightened). 

We made many friends during our four days of traversing the city.  Everyone was so warm and knowledgable and always invited us in for a cup of tea.  I'm a total coffee snob (unfortunately) and have never been particularly fond of tea but I accepted every offer and am now obsessed with their version of tea-- basically glorified apple cider, delicious!  I was totally shocked by the liveliness and buzz in the modern area of Istanbul and the availability of alcohol.  My ignorant perception of Turkey was that every woman would be in a burka, younger Turks would be very conservative and it would be hard to find a good time.  Boy was I wrong.  And I thought Madrileños liked to party... damn!

It was a wonderful trip with three of my closest friends.  I don't often just stop and realize I have quite an amazing life with the most supportive friends and family, a job that fullfills me, and a thirst for adventure and travel that is quenched by living in one of the best continents in the world for both.  I truly am thankful for the ability to do everything I could ever want at this time in my life. 

Istanbul

Aşk için tüm, Linds

America's Favorite Cities 2010

Travel and Leisure, a magazine that I always thumb through in the airport, recently came out with a list of American's Favorite Cities.  They picked 35 cities from across the country and ranked them on their culture, food, shopping, nighlife, etc.  I found it very ironic that this article just came out since many of the cities listed are ones that have been on my "wish list" of places to move back to.  Embedded in the article is a tool where you can compare two cities to each other.  So, of course, I spent the next hour seeing how Portland vs Seattle, San Francisco vs San Diego, and San Juan, PR vs anything stacked up. 

Here are a few highlights:

Portland: #1 for summer, microbrew beer, farmer's markets, intelligent people, environmental friendliness and public parks (hence why I want to move here...)

Seattle:  worst for any season other than summer (duh...), but high up for coffee bars, skyline views and intelligent people.  Not really many surprises here.

San Diego:  #1 for weather, and also high for athletic and attractive people (why am I not moving here??)

San Juan, PR:  This one really cracked me up.  Having lived on the island for 2 years, there were many things I knew it was known for (highly ranked for good weather, spending the winter, romantic escape, and happy hour) but two things that San Juan was highly ranked for I can assure you are false:  New Years and attractive people.  Let me explain both.  Spending New Years in San Juan might rank in the bottom 2 of places I've ever spent it (with the bottom being at home when I was 14).  Nothing was open and what was closed at 1 am (when most places in PR stay open till 4 or 5 on a regular night).  It was a complete let down.  Not worthy of making the list AT ALL.  And attractive people?  Just because someone is tan and in a bikini does not qualify them for being attractive.  Now, if you only took the cross section of people that live in Rincon and surf everyday, this might be correct.  But PR has to have one of the highest obesity rates of any place I've ever been and unless you like men with long, greasy mullets, this is not a place to find a significant other.
 
If you'd like to see the article for yourself (and not just my commentary on it) you can find it at the following link:  http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-cities/2010

As you can see, it looks like Portland suits me the best.  Not that I haven't known that since July...but this was some good reassurance.

Cheers!  Linds

Tunis, Tunisia

One perk of teaching internationally is that the schools have a lot of money.  When all students, K-12, are paying on average 30,000 euros/year to attend, you know you aren't hurting for money.  At ASM, our headmaster throws money around like it grows here--- want a new computer?  ok.  want to go to grad school?  ok.  want to go to Africa for a conference?  ok.  How about taking 70 staff to said conference?  ok.

So... off we went to Tunisia for 5 days for the annual Mediterranean Association of International Schools's conference.  I was in charge of arranging/planning the aforementioned conference this year, so while last year was all about eating and sightseeing (what else would you do in Florence?!?), this year I actually had to be responsible and in attendance.  Luckily, the conferences were excellent.

We did have some downtime where we were able to explore a bit of the country.  One day we spent driving to Dougga.  It reminded me a lot of the ruins I saw in Greece this past summer but the amazing part was that it was so well preserved.  And we were the only people there (that'd never happen at ruin in Greece, or any other European country for that matter).  Another afternoon we spent in the picturesque town of Sidi Bou Said.  Again... reminded me of Greece.  The colors and ornate doors were beautiful.  On the last day I had to be in meetings but many of my friends went into the medina of Tunis.  I've stolen their pictures to pretend I was actually there, too!

Of course, when you think of Africa, Tunisia probably isn't what would come to mind.   And while it isn't a country I'll ever return to, it was another African country to "check off the list."  Now I wait for my ultimate, dream vacation, the real African experience, a safari.  That'll be the day...

Tunis

 خدى بالك وداعا‎, Lindsay (I think that means "take care and goodbye" but I'm not positive!)

Year #2 in Madrid

I had very mixed emotions coming back to Madrid after the summer; while I knew I didn't want to stay here past this school year, I also didn't know where I'd go when I left.  Now that my plans are a bit more solidified and I'm 99% sure I'll be moving back to the PNW, I've really been able to enjoy and cherish my time here in Spain knowing that I won't ever have this experience again.  It's made me have a bit different of an outlook than I had last year at this time when everything was so new and exciting-- while living in the middle of a European capital that lives to party has it's perks at times, what I most enjoy now is being with my friends, drinking a glass of wine at the Mercado, having a Belgian beer at Cafe Eke, a quiet dinner party, sitting on a terrace, an American dance party.  These are the times I'll miss when I leave here, not the nights we spent at the club partying till 7 a.m (although I never will forget our first clubbing experience when I chipped my front tooth on a beer bottle).  I've grown to love my job and second family here and it will be really, really hard to leave them in June. 

Included are some pics from my first few months back after summer vacation.  Enjoy!

Year #2 in Madrid

Dos besos a todo,  Linds

OKTOBERFEST

Wow.  That sums up our 48 hours in Munich.  Never will I have another experience that is quite like the last weekend of the biggest party in the world.  I always knew I loved beer (it just might be another food group in my diet as of late) but after this trip, I really love beer.  Words can't even describe the sheer magnitude of Oktoberfest-- this truly is one party you have to see and experience to believe.  Although there's no way to enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed living them, they give you a sneak peek into the crazy world of dirndls and lederhosen.

Oktoberfest

Genießen!  ~Linds

Alaskan Adventures

I have the best father (and mother) in the world.  No doubt.  A few examples:  he loves his family more than anyone I've ever met;  for three years he traveled from Ohio to Washington every weekend to see me play basketball; he still takes my brother and I out golfing whenever we are home, even though we never took advantage when we lived on a golf course our whole life;  he put my brother and I through college;  he lets my Mom spend money on clothes and shoes... sometimes even when it's for his daughter;  and of course because we have a common bond of migraines and a love for Mexican food!  My Dad has always been one of my biggest sources of support, encouragement and honesty and for a long time I've wanted him to retire so he could finally enjoy life at a slower, less-stressed pace.  Well, my dream came true in April when he reluctantly decided to leave Ohio (and the Buckeyes... Go Hawks!) for the good life of retirement in Phoenix. 

In celebration, our entire family took an Alaskan cruise from Vancouver, B.C. to Seward, Alaska, where we then spent a few days with my aunt and uncle who live in Anchorage.  It was one of the most amazing trips our family has taken together, made even better now that we all live so far apart.  We had many, many laughs and I don't think any of us wanted the vacation to end (unlike past years when as pesky teens, I'm sure my parents couldn't wait for us to get back to school!) 

While there are a lot of pictures, some of them have to be seen in sequence to truly understand the magnitude and beauty of Alaska.  My fancy camera doesn't even do the scenery justice... I didn't think Hawaii could be topped as my favorite state but it just might have been after this trip.

Alaska

Enjoy the pictures,

Linds

My Brother's Wedding Video

Although Collin got married in February, I have never gotten around to sending out the video I made for he and his wife.  And to be honest, I thought it was lost forever because I left the CD in the computer at the wedding site.  But have no fear, it was found today!

This video was played at the reception, although due to different systems in Mexico, the music didn't coincide with the pictures (all that time and then it doesn't work...)  So, for those of you who were at the wedding, THIS is what it was supposed to look like.  For those of you who weren't at the wedding, here's a look at a video I made for two of my favorite people on their special day :)

Collin and Erin's Wedding Video

Since it is quite long, it takes a while to load--- be patient!

Enjoy!  Lindsay

H.O.M.E.

When you live abroad (or are gone for an extended period of time) there really is no feeling like stepping back into familiarity, whether it be your house, your car (not that I have one...), old bars, friends' houses, where ever.  I hadn't been back to the States in a year so to be back was both shocking and relieving all at once.  I'd just gotten into the Spanish groove when summer hit (i.e. eating dinner at 10, staying out late, riding public tranportation everywhere, speaking Spanish), so to be back home where I understood everyone, drove a car, ate dinner at 6 and was in bed by 10 was strange yet so relaxing.  Being able to experience what I am at this point in my life is rewarding and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would never change.  Since catching the travel bug in 2005 I never would have dreamt I'd be able to see all the places I have in the past 5 years.  Yet with that being said, I can't wait to move back home.  I can't wait to own a house and a car and a dog and a blackberry and have a relationship and a somewhat "real" life, whatever that means.  My biggest fear, though, is that when I move back I'll realize I didn't really want all that after all.  But I guess it's the risks we take that can potentially give us the biggest reward.

Here's a small album from my time at home this summer

Summer '10

Whatever corner of the world you may be in, I think of you often and hope to see you soon!  

Con todo mi amor, Linds

Mallorca

In between my trips to Greece and my trip home I hopped over to Mallorca for a few days to visit two close friends of mine.  They are completing Masters degrees during the summer on the island so I came for the weekend to distract them for a bit!  And boy was I a distraction--- the conclusion we've made is that we think I was slipped something at a bar, which resulted in me being sick for the two full days I was there.  It was a total bummer because I missed our on visiting the bodegas (up in wine country) and having precious beach time (not that I needed it at that point) but most of all, Ididn't get to really see Mallorca for all it's cracked up to be.  The town, Palma, is adorable and the cathedral stunning.  But other than that, I didn't get to see much.  I hope to go back next summer before moving from Spain to see a bit more and really get a feel for what life is like on a Spanish island.

Mallorca 2010

Besos, Linds

24 days, 12 ferries, 9 islands.

I'm a beach girl through and through and traveling through the Greek islands has always been a dream I didn't think I could fulfill (since the ticket to get to Greece costs as much as the trip itself...)  Well lucky for me a ticket from Spain is about 1/5 the price as flying from the States, so off I went on a trip of a lifetime.  Now I will say this-- I normally try to seek out vacations that I know I won't want to do 10 years from now (i.e. Cambodia, Nicaragua, India, etc.) and while I saw my fair share of honeymooners and lovers walking hand in hand, I'm so glad I took this trip when I did because I think I was really able to see more out of each island than I would have had I been on a honeymoon or quick trip.  I've been really missing my life on an island and this gave me the fix I needed to get through another year in the big city! 

Greece lived up to all my expectations and in many cases exceeded them.  I didn't think it was really possible for a place to look as beautiful as postcards make it out to be but the Greek Isles proved that thinking wrong.  Time and time again I thought to myself, "This can't be real.  I'm not really in the Greek islands right now, am I?"  Since I went to so many places in such a short amount of time (and to prevent you from being bored out of your mind) I'll give a brief synopsis of each place but explain specific details in my photo album at the end of the post.

Naxos:  Naxos is one of the most fertile of the Cyclades and has its highest peak, Mt Zeus.  The port town, Hora, is divided into two towns:  Bourgos, where the Greeks lived and the hilltop Kastro, where the Venetian Catholics lived.  On Palatia Islet is Naxos’ most famous landmark, the unfinished Temple of Apollo.  The historic village of Halki is full of handsome facades of old villas and houses. 

Santorini:  Once you venture past the tourist and cruise ship portions, you see an island that is rich in beauty and history and it truly is a living postcard, perfect from many angles but always magnificent no matter where you see it.  Lonely Planet said it best when introducing Santorini:  “Fantastic, fabulous Santorini deserves all the superlatives.  Even the most jaded traveler succumbs to the awesome drama of this surreal landscape.”  Santorini was once called Stongili (Round One) until a volcanic eruption in 1650 BC caused the center to sink, leaving a caldera with steep cliffs.  Now, the caldera shimmers with white buildings, blue cathedrals, turquoise swimming pools, and hordes of tourists.  The main town, Fira, is breathtaking looking out from the edge of the caldera during the day and glistening with lights up and down the cliff at night.  Oia is much quieter than Fira... that is, until the sun begins to go down.  Then, it is a crazed frenzy to get the best spot for what has to be one of the most soughtafter sunsets in the world.  Even better is the hue that the town’s white buildings get when the orange and pink sun is setting against them, it’s magnificent! 

Paros:  Paros has the reputation of being a friendly island and it did not disappoint.  The main port of Parikia is not much to look at but once you venture out of the port you are pleasantly surprised.  On the northern part of the island the little town of Naousa is said to quickly be stealing the glitz and glamour of Mykonos.  It has a great waterfront area, wonderful restaurants, and an eclectic bar scene.  There was even a fish and wine festival going on while we were there, full of dancing, drinking and new friends.  Behind the waterfront is a maze of whitewashed streets filled with magenta bougainvilleaand small boutiques.  This was, by far, my favorite island because I felt it had the most charm and down-home feel.  I'd return in a heartbeat!

Sifnos: An island I wish I had gotten to spend more time in but due to ferry schedules we could only spend one night. With high barren hills, it was easily navigated in one day on a moto. The “capital” Apollonia isn't much to look at but the Kastro, a walled cliff-top village was incredible, with a small church perched on the tip of a long, rocky point.

Syros: The port town of Ermoupolis grew out of a refugee town that sprang up during the Greek War of Independence. The main square of Plateia Miaouli is lined by palm trees, bars and cafes, and the beautiful town hall. A small village to the north of town, Ano Syros, sits atop a large hill and was originally a medieval settlement.  Now, it is an eerie, quiet/deserted maze of homes and restaurants with a church at it's peak.

Tinos: This ultra religious island is home to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, which is said to be the spot where the sacred icon of the Megalochari, the Holy Virgin, was found in 1822. The icon is one of the most famous in Greece and its so-called healing powers lead to mass pilgrimages each year (not really my thing but interesting to see...)

Mykonos: What do I say about this island? I think I had the highest expectations for Mykonos just because I'd heard so much about its party scene.  And while I caught a brief glimpse, the "partying" was nothing I was looking to take part in.  While we stayed at Paradise Beach (along with thousands of other 18-year-olds), most nights we ventured into Hora, the small, seaside village dotted with restaurants, bars and boutiques.  The Little Venice area was an absolute maze and I'm sure I walked in a circle at least 10 times before I found my way.  So while I liked the island for nothing more than it's craziness, I would never go back and found it to be far to expensive and hyped for what I got from it.


Delos: Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and the most important in the Cyclades. With no permanent population, you really feel as if you are there thousands of years ago. Delos was the birthplace of the twins Apollo and Artemis and was first inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. Delos reached the height of its power in Hellenistic times, becoming one of the three most important religious centers in Greece. In 167 BC the Romans made Delos a free port, with up to 10,000 slaves sold per day. But by the 3rd century AD there was only a small settlement on the island and in the following centuries it was looted, which is how it remains today.

Ios:  Probably my second favorite island (although not much different than Mykonos--- not sure why I had such a different experience) I had the most fun here simply because of where we stayed.  Our hotel (Francesco's, recommened to ANYONE who visits this island) was on a hill overlooking the sea and surrounding villages.  The same view could be had from the pool, bar, and patio.  Each night everyone got together for drinks and then ventured into the city for what has to be one of the coolest bar scenes I've ever witnessed.  On one street alone there had to be over 100 consecutive bars, one after the other, all full and all fun!  One night when we went home at 2:30 people looked at us like we were crazy, most places were just opening then!  The beaches on Ios were also incredible and the party feel spread across all parts of the island.  People go there to have a good time and it's hard not to!  The only disappointing thing about the island was the 3 hour 4-wheeler ride (on our POS) out to Plato's grave, which ended up being nothing more than a pile of rocks.  All in all, I felt I had the most well-rounded experience on Ios because it captured all you think about when you think of the Islands:  sun, beach, party, beauty.

And Athens, there's far to much to explain about Athens.  The history is so rich there you could spend days in their museums looking at rocks and pottery and still not see everything.  Just walking around town and riding the metros feels like you are walking back in time.  The city is incredible and vibrant and full of energy and life.  The locals are so proud of their culture and their history and willing to share it with anyone that will listen.  I loved every minute I had in Athens and don't even feel like I scratched the surface of what there is to see and do.  Much more detail about Athens and what I saw will be described in the following photos.

So, as you can see, in typical Lindsay style, I crammed as much as possible into my 3.5 weeks and loved every minute of it.  I look forward to going back with someone special in the future to have a completely difference experience! 

Greek Isles 2010



Until then, yassas!

Madrid Madness

I often don't spend much time reflecting because I'm always planning for the future, whether it be what new job I want to have or what big trip I want to go on.  But with the school year over and summer about to begin, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I got here.  I don't want to call it fate but I can't imagine being anywhere else at this point in my life.  I've never felt more fulfilled and excited about life and all that lies ahead.  My job this year, while demanding and stressful, has allowed me to grow as a teacher and mentor for my students like I never imagined.  I'm lucky to go to work everyday and have students from around the world that are eager to see me, eager to learn, and willing to lend a hand.  For that I'm truly grateful.  I've never felt more ready and more excited to come back to start a new year. I'll be assuming a few new roles in my job next year (while still remaining a middle school math teacher); one being the new activities advisor and the other being one of four coordinators of the middle school.  It should be a lot of hard work but I'm ready to step out of my comfort zone and see if there are other areas of teaching I may want to explore.

Along with my job comes the many coworkers that have grown to be great friends.  Last night at a going away party for three very dear friends I looked around the room and wondered how in such a short amount of time our group of friends has become so close.  They are my second family and our common bond has made us all the more fortunate to have one another in times of joy and sorrow because with our job it's often thousands of dollars and many thousands of miles to be in the comfort of "home."  I'm grateful to have these wonderful people in my life and know that many of them will be lifelong friends.

The best part of living in Europe (as is pretty apparent in my many posts and is the true reason why I accepted the job here) has been the opportunity to travel.  I've always loved to travel but never thought I'd be able to have work and travel coexist as easily as they do.  Work hard, play hard is the motto around here... and that we do!  Often times people will be talking on the morning bus about what they are doing the following weekend and if nothing is planned, within 3 days we are in another country. When else will I ever have the opportunity to do this?  When looking back at old pictures I'm truly amazed at the experiences I've had in just the 9 short months that I've been here; I can't imagine what the next year brings.

Here are a few photos of what life has been like the past few months when we haven't been on vacation and instead have been here enjoying the wonderful city we live in!  At some point I'll post Madrid photos from the whole year... but that will take a while!

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Madrid Madness

 

I look forward to a relaxing month of July on the beaches of Greece, followed by a quick trip to the Spanish island of Mallorca to visit friends, and then a month home in August, where I finally get to go to the one place I've been dying to see for many years-- Alaska!  I can't wait to be back to shop at Target, eat peanut butter, sit on my deck at home and gaze out at the water, and catch up with friends.  It will be a fabulous summer!

I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable summer wherever you may be in the world and I look forward to catching up with many of you in the coming months.

All the best, Linds

Munich

I can't believe how long it has taken me to make it to this city!  My good friend (and former Puerto Rican roommate) Agnes has been teaching in Munich for the same amount of time that I've been in Madrid.  I was going to visit for Oktoberfest but the tickets shot up in price as the date neared (good thing I've already bought them for this year!) and I never made it.  But, with a weekend free and the weather across central Europe finally starting to warm, my friends and I decided to bombard Agnes for 48 hours.  What a weekend it was!

From our airport drinking games and late night clubbing to the bike tour around the city; from the biergarten and soccer game to the Hofbrauhaus and Dachau and everything in between, we squeezed in as much as we could.  Agnes was a wonderful hostess and tour guide and I look forward to returning in a few months.

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Munich Blog

Auf Wiedersehen, Linds

Belgium

I can't seem to pinpoint why but if there was one place in Europe that I was most excited to go it was Belgium.  I finally got the chance over a long weekend in May.  The most accurate description of the trip would be "a beer lovers paradise!"  There are more beers on a list at a bar than most restaurants have food items.  Over 500 at one place, even 50 on tap!  It was truly amazing. 

Brussels is known for its waffle, its fries, its chocolate and the Manneken Pis (a small statue of a little boy peeing that is seen as a symbol of Dutch and French cohabitation).  It's a city where locals speak French, Dutch, Finnish, German and a bit of English (makes you feel really smart now doesn't it?)  Linguistic tensions still remain, as native French and Dutch speakers dispute over which language should be the official one.  Brussels is also known as the capital city of the European Union, so many people are in Brussels from Monday through Thursday, leaving on the weekends for home or other cities in the area.  Therefore, many say the city lacks excitement and nighlife.  I disagree completely, especially after you've tasted one of their many beers. 

Brugge, on the other hand, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often referred to as the "Venice of the North" due to its extensive canal system.  Tourists flock here for its medieval architecture and small town feel.  The buildings are well-preserved, the people friendly, the local beer delicious (of course), what's not to love?  Oh, wait.  The torrental downpour we were stuck in?  That might be one reason!

All in all, after two walking tours (aka bar crawls) I have to say Belgium doesn't rank too highly on my list of must-return-to countries but it would be at the top if I ever craved a beer!

(click on the photo below to view the album)



Belgium Blog

Tot ziens,  Linds

Ireland

Ireland had always been a place I wanted to go but just never thought I'd make it there.  But, when my newly-single best friend from grade school, Calli, decided she wanted to come over for her first European adventure, I told her to pick any place in Europe (expect Spain) and I'd meet her there.  She chose Ireland.  It couldn't have been a better choice. 

We based ourselves in Dublin and spent a few days exploring and drinking our way around the city.  We went to all the classic sights:  Trinity College, Book of Kells, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Green, Guinness Storehouse and Brewery and Jameson Distillery.  We spent many nights in the Temple Bar district, watching live music, meeting people from around the world, and drinking amazing beer! We rented a car and drove down to the Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny.  The following day we drove over to the western side of the country and visited Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.  The countryside was so gorgeous and green, something you would miss if taking a train or bus.  We got lost a few times but our trusty GPS, along with the helpful locals, always guided us back on track.   For someone with my pickiness in regards to eating, this was my mecca.  Meat and potatoes?  Yes, please.  And with a good beer?  I'm in heaven.

One of the best parts of the trip was the most unexpected.  Two great friends of mine that I taught with in Puerto Rico are now living in San Salvador, El Salvador.  They randomly told me a few days before I was to leave that they would be taking a group of students on a trip to Dublin for a week and it just so happened to be the same week I would be there!!  It was so fun to catch up with them, swap stories and be back together again, albeit on another continent.  I miss them dearly and I hope to visit them in Central America soon! 

Coincedentally, I also heard that Cheryl and Scott (another couple I know from Puerto Rico) would be in Dublin for a day while I was there.  We had a nice time catching up, having a few drinks, and buying some jewelry :)

After all my friends had left I had a couple days left until I had to go back to Madrid so I decided to go up to Northern Ireland, more specifically Belfast.  It was quite the experience to be in a place where in my lifetime The Troubles (a civil conflict that raged from 1969 to the late 1990's) had claimed thousands of lives, even as recently as 2001.  Many innocent people, mostly Roman Catholics, died on the streets of Belfast.  Bombing, assassination and street violence became a way of life for many people and my eyes were opened when speaking about that time with the owner of my hotel.  He said he has vivid memories of being a child in the 70's and being barracaded out of the city.  Tanks and armed men would patrol his neighborhood and he feared for his life on more than one occasion.  Now, the city is like any other, with restaurants, bars, parks and schools.  While it wasn't the most exciting city, it was interesting to walk the same streets that were the sites of so much bloodshed a few years back.

It was the perfect time to be in Ireland and a wonderful and relaxing way to spend Spring break.

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Ireland Blog

Slán go fóill, Linds

Lugano, Switzerland

Getting an international teaching job is a crazy process, especially at a job fair.  You are thrown into a conference room with 100+ schools and 500+ teachers wanting the same job as yourself.  So, for three days at a job fair in Boston last February I stood in long lines and waited for the opportunity to sell myself in two minutes to the director, who then decided if I was qualified enough to get an interview.  Well, as luck would have it, while standing in the line for The American School of Madrid, I started talking to Carol, who was in front of me in line.  Most people don't talk to each other because we are all competing for the same jobs but this was a long line and we both knew we'd be there for quite some time.  We did the usual "where are you from,"  "what do you teach" introduction.  But as we started to talk a bit more we realized that we had a very strange connection:  Carol's teaching partner at St. George's School in Spokane, WA is my mom's best friend of 30 years!  Crazy how worlds collide sometimes.  Once I found that out, I knew I'd see Carol again.  A day later I accepted a job in Madrid and Carol accepted a job in Lugano, Switzerland at TASIS. 

Carol met up with Dana and I in January to ski for a day in Zermatt and we stayed with her in Lugano for the evening.  But Lugano is such a gorgeous Swiss city I knew I needed to go back, so over a long weekend in March, three friends and I visited Carol and explored her amazing little town. 

Lugano is the biggest city in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switerland and is 5 miles from the Italian border.  It lies on Lake Lugano and is surrounded by mountains, one of which, Monte San Salvatore, we climbed.  The view from the summit is stunning with lakes and mountains as far as the eye can see.  We visited Carol at school, became regulars at the local watering hole, and had many laughs.  Thanks for your wonderful hospitality!

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Lugano Blog

Can't wait for Carol to come to Madrid in May for San Isidro and a bullfight!

Ciao, Linds

Rome

Ahhhh... the land of pizza, gelato, coffee and fine sights.  A food lovers dream and one of my favorite places in the world.  Rome is a city you could spend weeks in and still not scratch the surface.  So with 3 days and a full itinerary, I set off to see it all!  Here are the highlights:

--The Colosseum:  Built in 80 AD, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire.  It was used for gladatorial contests and public spectacles and could hold over 50,000 people.  The overall condition is fading but the magnificence of it will never tire.  I went three times just because it's that amazing!

--The Vatican (and St. Peter's Basilica):  The Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled area within the city of Rome.  With only about 108 acres, it is thought to be the smallest independent state in the world (and amazingly enough has its own currency!)  Home of the pope and one of the holiest sites of Christianity and the Catholic faith, St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church building in the Christian world.  Started in 1506 and completed in 1626, St. Peter's Basilica holds the tombs of over 90 popes.  St. Peter's square is a magnificent plaza where people from all over the world come to rest, reflect and worship.

--The Trevi Fountain:  Completed in 1762, the Fontana di Trevi is busy at all times of the day or night.  Local legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.  I threw a coin in during my trip in '98 so I had to do the same this time!

--The Spanish Steps:  The steps were built in 1723 and are the meeting place for tourists, Roman teens, Italians and tour groups year-round.  At the foot of the steps is the beloved Barcaccia ("Ugly Boat") fountain.  Leading out from the bottom of the steps is the fashionable Via dei Condotti, Rome's trendiest street for fashion, with names such as Gucci, Valentino, Benetton, and Bulgari.   Fun fact:  Scalinata di Tinita dei Monti, or Stairs of Trinity of the Mountains, are the local name given because of where they lead, to the church of the same name.  But the name "Spanish Steps" comes from where the steps rise, Piazza di Spagna, or Spanish square, named because the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican lives on the square.

--The Pantheon:  The only ancient Roman temple to survive the millennia intact, it is an engineering marvel you have to see to believe.  After walking through the 20-ton bronze doors, you have to wonder how the massive dome holds up under its own weight- the tension around the ring of the oculus, along with the ribbed vaulting and the fact that the thickness of the concrete gets lighter towards the apex all aid in supporting the dome.  It is now a church dedicated to Saint Mary of the Martyrs.

-- Plaza Navona:  I spent much of my trip in this oblong plaza watching the world go by, sipping a coffee or eating some gelato.  The plaza is full of life at all hours of the day, whether with tourists buying art in its center or Italian couples walking hand-in-hand beside one of the many fountains or sculptures.

-- The Mouth of Truth:  An ancient Roman sewer-cover carved into a face with a gaping mouth, legend holds it will bite off the fingers of anyone who dares stick in his hand and tell a lie.  Strange...

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Rome Blog

It was a fabulous trip and I hope the legend holds this time around, too; I can't wait to go back!

Addio,  Linds

Collin and Erin's Wedding

"Finally... my brother found someone that is smarter than he is." 

I'm so grateful and thankful that my brother, Collin, and his wife Erin have tied the knot.  As many say but is very rarely true, they are truly meant for each other.  Family and friends were treated to an unforgetable week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico full of activities, meals, laughs, drinks and fun.  It was a wedding that no one will soon forget (and one that many will never be able to top, including myself!).

We all stayed in a villa just south of PV overlooking the ocean.  It was gorgeous and enormous, big enough for us all to stay yet intimate enough that we all got to know one another quite well!  We spent much of our time at the villa relaxing, reading, swimming, playing drinking games, eating meals, chatting and enjoying being away from the bitter cold back home.  The bridal shower was held at the villa, as was the rehearsal dinner.  One day was spent at a beach where we had a volleyball tournament while simultaneously another group went whale watching.  The wedding was held at a beach south of the villa that is only accessed by water taxi.  It was a beautiful beach wedding (the weather held out and didn't rain!), the bride and groom looked stunning and the reception that followed was full of surprises.  All in all, it was the perfect way for what I believe to be a perfect couple to start their lives together.  I'm sure I can speak for many other people when I say I did not want the week to end!

Since it would take far too long to write a caption for each photo... I'm not going to.  The pictures are in chronological order and include our many dinners, days spent at the pool or beach, nights out on the town, bridal shower, rehearsal, wedding and reception.  You may also note that it seems there was a surgery going on at one point-- my aunt slipped and fell on the day it rained.  Instead of going to the emergency room and wasting the whole day, my brother and his friend sewed her up (if there was any wedding to get hurt at... this was the one, with 10 doctors in attendance)!  I hope you enjoy.

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Wedding Photos taken by Lindsay

I've also included a link to the professional photos taken at the rehearsal, wedding, reception, and "trash the dress" session the following day.  They are spectacular!

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Professional Wedding Pics

Felicidades Erin and Collin, I love you both!

Zermatt, Switzerland

After spending two weeks with my parents I still had one week of Christmas vacation left (oh, darn... what a rough life!)  One of my dreams has always been to ski in the Swiss Alps and it became a reality when I spent a week in Zermatt, a small resort town on the Italian border of the canton of Valais in the west of Switzerland.  Zermatt is home to the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world.  Almost one-third of the 4,000-meter mountains in the Alps are grouped around Zermatt, which has attracted mountaineers and thrill-seeking individuals for decades.  Zermatt epitomises every image you'd have of Switzerland- high-alpine, awe-inspiring, clean and environmentally friendly (there are no cars in the town, amazing!)

My friend Dana and I flew into Milan, Italy, took a train into Switzerland and tranfered onto the famous Glacier Express.  The train ride was incredible as we wound around canyons and past lakes and small villages.  So beautiful!  We stayed at a remarkably nice hostel the first night, from which we woke up with the Matterhorn basically crawling through our window.  The following 4 nights we stayed at probably the nicest hotel in town (we somehow had the stars alligned when we booked and found an amazing deal!)  We were served 5-course meals, had plush robes and slippers waiting for us each night, heated boot racks for our ski gear, a sauna and pool to relax by after a long day of skiing, and a facial to top it all off; it was heaven!  The highlight of the trip was beginning our day skiing in Switzerland and ending the day skiing in Italy; the only run that crosses an international border.  Amazing!

I think my perception of top-notch skiing is a bit jaded since I've skiied on some of the best mountains in the world.  Although I wouldn't say the skiing was as good as Vail or Beaver Creek (because the runs weren't as long or wide), the infrastructure was second-to-none and the snow on day three was the most incredible powder I have ever experienced.  You'll see in the pictures how amazing the scenery is.  It's really too hard to explain the overall beauty of the town and the country.  We are already planning a return trip next winter to do it again!

Zermatt

 

Uf widerlüge, Linds

Happy New Year!

As is the case with most of us, I rarely take the time at the beginning of the year to reflect on what has happened in my life in past 12 months. But as we enter a new decade I couldn’t help but think about what an amazing year 2009 was, and more importantly, how much has happened in the 5 years since graduating from college (time for a reunion!). My life has gone in the complete opposite direction that I thought it would in May, 2005 when I left the comforts of Tacoma and embarked on what was a life-changing journey around the world.

Since that time, I’ve traveled to 25 countries, visited 5 continents (and lived on 3!), received my Masters, taught on an island and in a big city, and met countless people from every nationality and background. I went from the dread of running while playing college basketball to embracing and loving the competition that running road races brings. I’ve gone from eating a very narrow diet to loving food from every country (still working on vegetables and fish…) I’ve gone from my hobbies being watching TV and talking on the phone to not wanting or needing either of them. Instead, I enjoy spending my time lying on a beach, reading a book, drinking a glass of wine, and watching the day pass by with few distractions. I think I have evolved into someone who knows how lucky and fortunate I am to live the life that I do and I embrace each adventure that comes my way. Yes, I still get extremely stressed by my job, have an addiction to candy and shoes, and often don't wear sunscreen. But, aren’t we all a work in progress?

It has been quite a ride and I can’t even imagine what is to come in the next 1, 5 or 10 years. I already have a pretty full travel schedule for 2010: Switzerland (to ski the Alps), Rome (to eat more fabulous food), Mexico (for my brother’s wedding), Paris (for my birthday), Ireland (for spring break), Netherlands (for a friends birthday), a month of travel in Eastern Europe in July and back home to Seattle for the month of August. I’m sure many other trips will pop up in between but if you’d like to visit I would be happy to show you around Madrid or Spain (that is… if I’m in town!).

With all of this traveling in the near future, I have thought a lot about a few things I hope to accomplish outside of seeing the world: receive my Masters in Counseling, run a marathon, learn to surf (I seem to only know how to play ball-related sports, this will change!), and take a photography course. The logical side of my brain says my biggest goal should be to settle down a bit, buy a house and car, and begin acting like a normal adult. But then again, the illogical side says I’m having too much fun. So, who knows when I’ll be returning to the States but I’m going to enjoy every minute until then.

I am fortunate that you were able to be a part of a few or all of my journeys of the past few years and hope you will continue to be a part of my future endeavors! All the best in 2010 and beyond.

New Years Eve with my Mom

Feliz Ano Nuevo!