Although this is much delayed, we still wanted to summarize our June travels for our loyal blog readers. This is completely in note format, but includes our basic highlights. Our time in Germany and Europe was filled with so many irreplaceable experiences and we find ourselves feeling so blessed for the many amazing opportunities we had to make those 8 months possible. Many of you helped make our adventures possible, whether through monetary gifts, friendship and emotional support, parenting, example, educational enrichment, or offering whatever part of you it was that helped build our confidence to even think of pursuing something like living abroad. Thank you for being in our lives and for following our adventures by checking out our blog. Stay tuned for a special peek at our Alpine experience in a couple days and a wrap up post or two yet to come. Plus, who knows - we might start two new blog pages. We came to enjoy the medium.
Love,
Bryce and Dan
Oslo – first couch surfing experience, church party at bar and church rock concert at an old theater, ferried to island to hike around, walked on roof of the opera house, walked around to park (lots of naked statues), bus to ski jump but no bus down!, cooked Mexican meal for hosts, talked politics and healthcare and church, Norwegian WWII resistance museum, bus and train to Stockholm
Stockholm – enjoyed the series of islands each w/ a different feel, large parks/gardens, modern museum (Picasso, Dali, Miro, Matisse, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Magritte), fried and pickled herring, couch surfing, improv song contest in front of royal palace on the river w/ picnic dinner, old town Glama Stan, cooked dinner w/ hosts
Cambridge – David Priddy and friends, punting, garden party, England vs. USA World Cup match, saw many blazer and short combos, brunch (incl. fried toast), tea time with scones in an orchard, Queen’s College
Sevilla – flamenco dancing (feet so fast they blurred), tiled buildings, narrow streets, tapas, sangria, cerveza, late nights, balconies, terrace breakfast, olives, oranges, avocados, plants on terraces, interesting colorful architecture, filming of car stunts, Christopher Colombus’ grave, largest gothic cathedral in world, first class train to Barcelona w/ great view of the Spanish countryside
Barcelona – travelled 301 km (roughly 186 mi) per hour, Las Ramblas walk, busy busy market, beaches that would make Mark uncomfortable (optionally), wading in the Mediterranean, Gothic Quarter, Spain vs. Switzerland World Cup match, Picasso Museum, olives, Gaudi’s architecture (casa mila, block of discord), awesome Park Guell and in-process Sagrada Familia Cathedral, horchata, Argentina World Cup match, sangria, used Rick Steves’ guide map and info thanks to Amy and Camilla
Schinznachdorf – night train to Zurich (not the best night’s sleep but fun experience), stayed with Dorothee and Matthias (distant relatives of Dan), all produce eaten from garden, Hapsburg Castle, Roman ruins, very old stain glass in cathedral, ALPS!, wonderful hike, met more relatives for birthday celebration, saw the Rhein a lot, were asked what religion is like in America, walking tour of Schinznach, Stein am Rhein and castle, met three more relatives in Beringen (where Grandpa Becker’s mother was born), learned about Dorothee’s work (graphomotor skills), learned very much about everything from Matthias (solar panels, cars, computers, watering systems, electrical systems, combination of these, etc.), rode in ’74 Citroen
Freiburg – back in Germany!, water canal things in many streets, couch surfed (in dorm, not as cushy as previous places, but a lovely time with some fun people), hiked in Black Forest, hiked to Schlossberg, climbed tower for 360 views (saw Black forest, city, probably France, maybe Alps), ate lunch in park, farmers market at Cathedral, walked around city/university with host, walked to Herdern region, watched exciting US match (U..S..A, U..S..A), watched first half of Germany game amongst enormous crowd, walked back to dorm at half to join hosts, stopped for ice cream, too slow, missed goal (heard it on the way), another “camping” night with hosts
Dresden – reunited with former Potsdam roommate Conny, walked through historical rebuilt Dresden, delicious BBQ with Conny’s family, walk through neighborhood to castle, other castle and animal park, overnight at Conny’s parents’
Berlin – Saw Barbara and Martin again, Superhero and comic book exhibition at Jewish Museum*, Watched USA vs Ghana match with Martin and Barbara at public viewing in outdoor bar along the river, watched Germany match at a Turkish establishment, flea market, watched Argentina game at Argentinean restaurant, Döner!, Potsdam to see program coordinator from 2007 study abroad (who complimented Bryce’s German multiple times), concentration camp, bicycle ride to Schöneberg Rathaus (JFK speech site), reading at Treptow Park, swimming in barge on the River Spree, Chocolate shop, more Döner, goodbye to Germany and Europe
