I am a little late in posting this...sorry!
The last day in Frankfurt was super fun for me...I slept in a little and then headed to the tallest tower in the city! I made my way there and went right in the the elevator...of course I made friends in the security line...super hot men that only wanted each other...of course...but in any case we rode to the top of the building - 200 meters or kilometer or something high! Bottom line, it was tall! I got to see how far I got lost on the previous days and sorta got my bearings for where everything was! I loved it! The video from this high turned out really cool!
Next I took a walk - aka got lost - even though I sorta knew where I was...and yes, I was lost in the same spot as before...so not really lost, just taking the long way to my target destination. The destination was lunch...and of course I ended up in the old city center area...had yummy bratwurst, potato salad, and yes, some wine! Yummers! Then I watched a wedding come out of city hall and the reception ended up being where I was eating - so I stayed longer and watched them - pretty cool!
Then I ran back to the hotel to change my shoes and headed to Steven's conference. I was later than intended - like over an hour late - so I didn't get to see the conference in its fullest but it was still super impressive to see what S does...the booths were just so fascinating for an outsider like me!
Then we went back to the hotel to rest for a minute, visited with our favorite bartenders at the hotel, and headed to the Culinary Mile for dinner!!! So fun! We ran in to a wine/beer fest and watched the performers out on the street - two crazy girls dancing and then a lady who just couldnt sing to save her life! ...and dinner was soooo yummy - I had Ravioli with Ricotta cheese and spinach - and the red sauce was soooo terrific!
Then it rained and we went back to the room to pack and try to get some sleep before our long day on the flight!
SO FLIGHT DAY..all I have to say is 15 hours on a plane - well, two planes...we had a layover - and screaming babies...I am going to write the airlines and offer to pay for as much liquor and/or benadryl that is needed to keep babies unconscious on planes...that is all I can say here...that and maybe I prefer german old ladies to crying babies on a plane...
Ok so that last part is a bit extreme but seriously when I am tired and trapped in a 12 inch square and that is all I hear I go nuts...oddly I never ordered an alcoholic beverage while on the plane...but looking back that may have made the flight easier...Steven had a beer...maybe that is why the baby didnt bother him. Its funny, sometimes a baby cries and I could care less about the noise but put a baby on a plane and it just makes my blood boil. ...and I am a firm believer in payback so I know that the first time I take my kid on a plane he/she will scream his/her little head off as payback for me writing this rant ... and Ill remember writing this and wish I would have deleted it...but like I said I am ranting so this will stay here...
So in closing...Steven and I spent 384 hours together nonstop and we still like each other, enjoy each other, and are looking forward to our next trip - which is only a week and a half away...Bonnaroo here we come!
PS...a BIG thank you to my mommie who took great care of Lucy...Mom, it isnt your fault that Lucy lost all of her hair and dropped a few pounds...!! (really, she loves you I promise - and she is looking forward to your time together next week while I am in TN!)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Frankfurt Adventures!
I have managed to complete basically an entire tour book in only a few days! I feel so proud - and also have walked at least a million miles in the past 3 days! I have been everywhere except the zoo and locals even recognize me on the street! (more to come about that in a minute!)
Where did I leave off? That's right, I was up super early and ready to go. I had breakfast with S before he went to work - and while our hotel may be a minihotel, let me tell you, the continental breakfast blows any US breakfast out of the water! I had toast with amazingly fresh strawberry jam, eggs that tasted good, sausage, a selection of cheeses, and some yummy juice - no cheerios or luke warm milk in sight! (Note here - I am missing the milk from Holland - omg still cant get over how good the milk is in holland - trust me - not the case in Germany - not sure why but I saw lots of cows in holland and zero in germany - i believe that has something to do with it...)
Then after breakfast I got dressed and ready for the day. I started in the old square and went from there - I went in tons of old buildings and churches - saw about 15 coronation "outfits" (for some reason can't think of the proper word - there were collections of crowns and goblets and all that jazz...what is the word? Not a thrown but the cape thing kings/emperors wear...silly me I just can't think of the word...) but in any case these "cape things" were beautiful as were all the jewels on the goblets...I somehow imagine little ceremonies where they crown the emperor and they take communion...I wonder what the little wafers tasted like back then?
Oh and I filmed everything...it must be hilarious to anyone walking by me - I just walk around and talk to myself...I love it!
One cool place I went in was where the government houses their constitution...they have an exhibit set up showing the building being built and rebuilt a few times...gotta love how good a few bombing raids are for the construction industry in Europe...and they even have awarded a few nobel peace prizes in the building! And if I got the gist right from reading German and some broken English of the tour guide - the "session" meets in this building still to this day...or at least that was what I understood...I could be totally wrong...
I then had a yummy lunch out in the city center - Potato Soup and some crazy cheese with vinegar and bread...sounds weird but was SO tasty...I had the same waitress that S and I had the night before...Germans somehow lack a fun sense of humor...or maybe they just don't like Americans who listen to ipods and drink wine at lunch? who knows? But let me tell you - this outdoor patio holds maybe 50 people so I sit down at a table at the end of a row where NO ONE is sitting...about 3 minutes later 4 old ladies...I know I will get flack for saying old but they were old bitty ladies...you will see...so they sit down at the table next to me...I find it weird since there are plenty of tables open and the American way is to give people their space but I could care less at this point...but it gets better...more old ladies come to sit with them and they sit AT MY TABLE! And let me tell you - there were PLENTY of seats in the row on the otherside so they still would have been by their friends...so I was like ummmm...."would you like me to move?" and of course they dont speak English because I am sure they do not like Americans or probably even people from the UK so I just get up and say all sweet and southern like..."here, let me give you more space..." I am sure I rolled my eyes but then they all did this weird bow thing to me as if they were suddenly Japanese and thanking me...very weird moment...but in any case this is the one and only rude experience I have had on the trip...rude old ladies would probably do the same thing in the US but it just happens that I have formed a sterotype in my mind because of the German lady down the street - Gerda - who repeatedly told my mom and me that we bombed her house and it is all our fault she lives in America...Duh, my mom and I certainly didn't run the war or the raids and further more were not alive...
Off my soap box now...and on with the fun!
So I get on this awesome double decker tourist bus for an hour tour around the city...saw EVERYTHING from the banking district to the Opera house to gardens to the Stock Market building to the museum district, etc...made friends with 2 French ladies - who speaking of stereotypes - were actually completely nice...we took pictures for each other - it was a mother and daughter - MOM - we need to schedule a trip to tour the UK! back to the story - the tour was awesome because I sat in the front row on the top - popped open a nice cold Coca Cola, had my camera on, sat back and put my feet up and just chilled and checked out the sites! Loved it!
After my tour I finished off the rounds in the old district and accidently ended up in the upper east side - or west side - as I just walked and wondered around until I suddenly noticed I was lost...so I bought a Chocolate Ice Cream cone and retraced my steps round and round until I found a subway stop I recognized...I enjoyed my "lost walk" because I saw some really cool neighborhooods. (I cant help but mention an old German lady tried to skip me in line for the icecream...luckily the icecream guy liked me more than her...so I am really trying hard not to dislike old german ladies in Frankfurt but it is becoming incresingly more difficult...maybe they are just mean if they are hungry...all the rudeness comes out when they are trying to get food...)
So I find my way back and Im exhausted and have about 45 mins until S gets back to the room so I take a nap...Im officially old because I am forming a nice relationship with naps...except they make me wake up in the night...but I still like 'em!
Then we go to dinner over in the applewine district. Apple Wine is this huge phenomenon in Frankfurt...its basically cheap wine made from Apples and tastes like dishwater - it is disgusting - another reason old ladies might be grumpy...But our dinner is amazing - I say amazing alot but goodness I have had some yummy food on this trip! I had a salad that had saurkraut on it...I couldnt eat it fast enough...so tasty for someone like me that loves that tart sour taste! Then I had some sort of pork - like a pork chop sortof - with potatos - just a heavenly meal - oh and it had sauteed onions all over it...yummers! I forgot what S ate but I know when I tasted it I loved it. So at this meal while we were ordering our drinks we made friends with these 2 guys - such a cute couple - one is a graphic designer (design Club Med publications...cool!...and the other a private Chef...omg I bet he can cook) so we made friends with them and when it started to rain moved to their table (after being extended an invitation...we did not intrude like old german ladies) and they shared the umbrella with us. Fun times!
Then we went to the Cocoon Club...the convention - IMEX - hosted a big celebration at this club so we had to go... whatever we wanted to go! So this club was SO COOL inside...the walls were like Coral shaped/web like and were white and then they did super neat light shows on the walls...and they had "cocoon" seating built in to the wall..and the DJ - who looked Spanish but wore a beret - played fun 80s music from the US and German rap/techno - I loved it! S and I danced and danced...it was fun!
Then we went home cause S has to be up for work at like 8 and I have to as well so I can see all the sites!
So Wednesday...I did sleep in a wi little bit...until 10! Then I went over to the museum district...walked a lot...had a yummy lunch outside again...and then went to a few museums...so let me sum up artists for you...they do lots of drugs and somehow always have extravagent houses...this one exhibit I saw was this Expressionist exhibit of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - and he was funny messed up little man - he would see a Picasso painting (they were buddies) and then go paint one like it except date it for 2 years prior and pretend like he came up with the movement...he did this to several artists...its like people knew he was lying but he threw fun parties in Berlin so they liked him...he ended up killing himself by shooting himself twice in the heart...so apparently it was not an instant death if he had time to take 2 shots...sounds terrible...but Hitler had taken all of his artwork and included it in the "degenerative art exhibit" and make a mockery of him so when the axis forces got about 10 miles from his vacation house in the alps (see...extravagant lifestyles..not always good...) that is when he decided to kill himself...he asked his longtime "companion" - this crazy dancer lady named Erna - to kill herself too and she said no...smart lady...
I also went to the museum of communication - super cool - my favorite part is when they put the Guttenburg Bible next to the Kindle to show how far communication has progressed - all that info from a giant book can be downloaded in 60 seconds...made some videos here to put on LCG website!
Then I came home...got to the room about 10 mins before S - we took a nap - gosh we are old...and then went to dinner...had Chinese...we were too tired to go further! Then hung out at the bar planning BoLo again and then to sleep!
So today I am going to - if weather permits - do a little boat ride around the city for lunch and then go to the IMEX convention...should be fun! Then dinner tonight on the Culinary Mile and then packing...
Where did I leave off? That's right, I was up super early and ready to go. I had breakfast with S before he went to work - and while our hotel may be a minihotel, let me tell you, the continental breakfast blows any US breakfast out of the water! I had toast with amazingly fresh strawberry jam, eggs that tasted good, sausage, a selection of cheeses, and some yummy juice - no cheerios or luke warm milk in sight! (Note here - I am missing the milk from Holland - omg still cant get over how good the milk is in holland - trust me - not the case in Germany - not sure why but I saw lots of cows in holland and zero in germany - i believe that has something to do with it...)
Then after breakfast I got dressed and ready for the day. I started in the old square and went from there - I went in tons of old buildings and churches - saw about 15 coronation "outfits" (for some reason can't think of the proper word - there were collections of crowns and goblets and all that jazz...what is the word? Not a thrown but the cape thing kings/emperors wear...silly me I just can't think of the word...) but in any case these "cape things" were beautiful as were all the jewels on the goblets...I somehow imagine little ceremonies where they crown the emperor and they take communion...I wonder what the little wafers tasted like back then?
Oh and I filmed everything...it must be hilarious to anyone walking by me - I just walk around and talk to myself...I love it!
One cool place I went in was where the government houses their constitution...they have an exhibit set up showing the building being built and rebuilt a few times...gotta love how good a few bombing raids are for the construction industry in Europe...and they even have awarded a few nobel peace prizes in the building! And if I got the gist right from reading German and some broken English of the tour guide - the "session" meets in this building still to this day...or at least that was what I understood...I could be totally wrong...
I then had a yummy lunch out in the city center - Potato Soup and some crazy cheese with vinegar and bread...sounds weird but was SO tasty...I had the same waitress that S and I had the night before...Germans somehow lack a fun sense of humor...or maybe they just don't like Americans who listen to ipods and drink wine at lunch? who knows? But let me tell you - this outdoor patio holds maybe 50 people so I sit down at a table at the end of a row where NO ONE is sitting...about 3 minutes later 4 old ladies...I know I will get flack for saying old but they were old bitty ladies...you will see...so they sit down at the table next to me...I find it weird since there are plenty of tables open and the American way is to give people their space but I could care less at this point...but it gets better...more old ladies come to sit with them and they sit AT MY TABLE! And let me tell you - there were PLENTY of seats in the row on the otherside so they still would have been by their friends...so I was like ummmm...."would you like me to move?" and of course they dont speak English because I am sure they do not like Americans or probably even people from the UK so I just get up and say all sweet and southern like..."here, let me give you more space..." I am sure I rolled my eyes but then they all did this weird bow thing to me as if they were suddenly Japanese and thanking me...very weird moment...but in any case this is the one and only rude experience I have had on the trip...rude old ladies would probably do the same thing in the US but it just happens that I have formed a sterotype in my mind because of the German lady down the street - Gerda - who repeatedly told my mom and me that we bombed her house and it is all our fault she lives in America...Duh, my mom and I certainly didn't run the war or the raids and further more were not alive...
Off my soap box now...and on with the fun!
So I get on this awesome double decker tourist bus for an hour tour around the city...saw EVERYTHING from the banking district to the Opera house to gardens to the Stock Market building to the museum district, etc...made friends with 2 French ladies - who speaking of stereotypes - were actually completely nice...we took pictures for each other - it was a mother and daughter - MOM - we need to schedule a trip to tour the UK! back to the story - the tour was awesome because I sat in the front row on the top - popped open a nice cold Coca Cola, had my camera on, sat back and put my feet up and just chilled and checked out the sites! Loved it!
After my tour I finished off the rounds in the old district and accidently ended up in the upper east side - or west side - as I just walked and wondered around until I suddenly noticed I was lost...so I bought a Chocolate Ice Cream cone and retraced my steps round and round until I found a subway stop I recognized...I enjoyed my "lost walk" because I saw some really cool neighborhooods. (I cant help but mention an old German lady tried to skip me in line for the icecream...luckily the icecream guy liked me more than her...so I am really trying hard not to dislike old german ladies in Frankfurt but it is becoming incresingly more difficult...maybe they are just mean if they are hungry...all the rudeness comes out when they are trying to get food...)
So I find my way back and Im exhausted and have about 45 mins until S gets back to the room so I take a nap...Im officially old because I am forming a nice relationship with naps...except they make me wake up in the night...but I still like 'em!
Then we go to dinner over in the applewine district. Apple Wine is this huge phenomenon in Frankfurt...its basically cheap wine made from Apples and tastes like dishwater - it is disgusting - another reason old ladies might be grumpy...But our dinner is amazing - I say amazing alot but goodness I have had some yummy food on this trip! I had a salad that had saurkraut on it...I couldnt eat it fast enough...so tasty for someone like me that loves that tart sour taste! Then I had some sort of pork - like a pork chop sortof - with potatos - just a heavenly meal - oh and it had sauteed onions all over it...yummers! I forgot what S ate but I know when I tasted it I loved it. So at this meal while we were ordering our drinks we made friends with these 2 guys - such a cute couple - one is a graphic designer (design Club Med publications...cool!...and the other a private Chef...omg I bet he can cook) so we made friends with them and when it started to rain moved to their table (after being extended an invitation...we did not intrude like old german ladies) and they shared the umbrella with us. Fun times!
Then we went to the Cocoon Club...the convention - IMEX - hosted a big celebration at this club so we had to go... whatever we wanted to go! So this club was SO COOL inside...the walls were like Coral shaped/web like and were white and then they did super neat light shows on the walls...and they had "cocoon" seating built in to the wall..and the DJ - who looked Spanish but wore a beret - played fun 80s music from the US and German rap/techno - I loved it! S and I danced and danced...it was fun!
Then we went home cause S has to be up for work at like 8 and I have to as well so I can see all the sites!
So Wednesday...I did sleep in a wi little bit...until 10! Then I went over to the museum district...walked a lot...had a yummy lunch outside again...and then went to a few museums...so let me sum up artists for you...they do lots of drugs and somehow always have extravagent houses...this one exhibit I saw was this Expressionist exhibit of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - and he was funny messed up little man - he would see a Picasso painting (they were buddies) and then go paint one like it except date it for 2 years prior and pretend like he came up with the movement...he did this to several artists...its like people knew he was lying but he threw fun parties in Berlin so they liked him...he ended up killing himself by shooting himself twice in the heart...so apparently it was not an instant death if he had time to take 2 shots...sounds terrible...but Hitler had taken all of his artwork and included it in the "degenerative art exhibit" and make a mockery of him so when the axis forces got about 10 miles from his vacation house in the alps (see...extravagant lifestyles..not always good...) that is when he decided to kill himself...he asked his longtime "companion" - this crazy dancer lady named Erna - to kill herself too and she said no...smart lady...
I also went to the museum of communication - super cool - my favorite part is when they put the Guttenburg Bible next to the Kindle to show how far communication has progressed - all that info from a giant book can be downloaded in 60 seconds...made some videos here to put on LCG website!
Then I came home...got to the room about 10 mins before S - we took a nap - gosh we are old...and then went to dinner...had Chinese...we were too tired to go further! Then hung out at the bar planning BoLo again and then to sleep!
So today I am going to - if weather permits - do a little boat ride around the city for lunch and then go to the IMEX convention...should be fun! Then dinner tonight on the Culinary Mile and then packing...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday in Frankfurt!
What a busy few days! Where did I leave off? That's right - I need to fill you in on Sunday through today...
Sunday, as I mentioned previously, was our All American Funday Sunday Grill Out! Our menu was:
Drumsticks
Steak (from the Turkish Butcher)
Mashed Potatoes (with butter milk garlic and chives)
Spinach (Brittany's famous overly garlic spinach)
salad
Vla (yep - that is the name of the yummiest pudding/icecream/yogurt concoction known to man - or at least to the Dutch peoples)
So we started cooking/grilling around 130ish and ate about an hour later outside on the deck...all of the food was super yummy - but I did hear the word Garlic alot...and we literally all had to brush our teeth after dinner...I saw seconds being dished out on the plates so im confident everyone enjoyed the meal!
Then we went to the town where S went to undergrad...looks like it was a fun place to go to school...I mean not as fun as FSU but pretty close...and I heard hilarious stories about S trying to get fresh bread at 4am because he could smell the baker's smells from his house...funny and perfectly in character for the S I know! Then we went to the Casino...and may I saw a Casino in Holland smells much better than a Casino in Vegas...reason number 1 - you cant smoke inside in Holland whereas in Vegas you are free to do whatever...so automatically I liked this Casino. As you know I don't gamble cause I can't stand not winning...but Steven started me helping him and then I sorta got good at it! On one slot machine we were up 40 euros (or around there) and then we went to Roulette - we did pretty good there and won either 20 or 40 euros there...at one point I was like "Steven, I have a gut feeling - trust me" ...and being the great man that he is...he trusted me to put our bet on one number in roulette and that is all we played...now as he was explaining to me this is just about the worst thing you can do because the odds of winning are next to nothing - but if you do win then you win big...
Yes...
We won! Lucky number 19 won us 72 Euros on one play! so from one euro to seventy two euros! pretty cool!
...and yes...we kept playing and then I was cocky and we ended up leaving ahead but not quite as ahead...hilariously fun and entertaining! Marrit ended up about 20 euros up I think - not too bad either! S's parents didn't speak of their not so big winnings so that remains a mystery forever more! (aka We are pretty sure they didnt win lol)
Then Monday morning we woke up super early...PS we have been sleeping to around 10ish everyday...oh so heavenly! ...and went to the train station to leave for Frankfurt. I had so much fun in Deventer it was sorta sad to leave...But Frankfurt is proving to be awesome, too! We first got in to the city and checked in to our hotel...it is a 4 star hotel but in Europe everything is smaller...so its sorta like a room on a cruise ship...again - the fact we still like each other must mean we really like each other because I'm pretty sure at any place in the room we can still reach out and touch the other one...it is pretty small! ...oh and get this...my American self cant even order room service beacuse they dont have it?!?! What is this about...y'all know I always order room service... I love hot chocolate in bed!
But anywho...
Monday afternoon we went to the IMEX conference - that is the conference Steven is here to participate in...and let me tell you it is HUGE! Take the Chicago International Quilt Festival and multiply it by 4 and you get how big this is...yes I filmed it so I will be able to share it...I was just blown away by how impressive the Visit Florida and all the other countries/states booths were. Steven made sure everything was set up right - I wandered around looking at everyone else setting up - pretty fun to do! And then we went to the supermarket to get snacks and drinks for the guests who come to his booth...again a funny moment was pushing a grocery cart through a ginourmous (yes i made that word up) conference center...so all is well and this morning he starts the conference with everything ready to go...
Then we went back to our minihotel and showered and changed for dinner. We went to this awesome place in the city center - the old district - and had Jagersnitzel and Bratwurst - both super traditional meat and potato meals from Germany - and they were heavenly. yes, I filmed our food, too! We enjoyed a little beverage and just sat for several hours talking and also planning BoLo Bash! We had a great time out there just hanging out - the waitress was super nice - a true German lady who is straight to the point - sorta like a brown haired Gerda from down the street. LOL! Then we went back to our hotel and we met Elke (elk-a) a lady from the UK Visit Florida office who works out of Holland and is here to help with the conference. Steven probably wont do this conference next year since it is 1. cheaper to send someone by train through Europe than by plane from America and 2. because he has tons of other responsibilities at work that have been added so he just doesnt have the time to plan it all. So this lady is sorta training this year under Steven so she can make it happen next year...I will say though, if our states tourism is riding on the person selling the state then personality is WAY important...and this lady just doesn't quite have it...You have to be fun to sell Florida and I think she may not cut it...and she has only been to florida once...that is like me trying to sell the state of utah...been there once and only in the airport...
So now I am up wayyyyyyyy early this morning - can't sleep - thinking about all the work I need to do for Love Consulting - so I have been awake and working since 6am! Wild...poor S is just a snoring away sleeping...I took an hour nap before dinner yesterday, though and naps always make me not sleep well...
So we are still loving our trip and having fun! I'll post more later!
Love you!
B
Sunday, as I mentioned previously, was our All American Funday Sunday Grill Out! Our menu was:
Drumsticks
Steak (from the Turkish Butcher)
Mashed Potatoes (with butter milk garlic and chives)
Spinach (Brittany's famous overly garlic spinach)
salad
Vla (yep - that is the name of the yummiest pudding/icecream/yogurt concoction known to man - or at least to the Dutch peoples)
So we started cooking/grilling around 130ish and ate about an hour later outside on the deck...all of the food was super yummy - but I did hear the word Garlic alot...and we literally all had to brush our teeth after dinner...I saw seconds being dished out on the plates so im confident everyone enjoyed the meal!
Then we went to the town where S went to undergrad...looks like it was a fun place to go to school...I mean not as fun as FSU but pretty close...and I heard hilarious stories about S trying to get fresh bread at 4am because he could smell the baker's smells from his house...funny and perfectly in character for the S I know! Then we went to the Casino...and may I saw a Casino in Holland smells much better than a Casino in Vegas...reason number 1 - you cant smoke inside in Holland whereas in Vegas you are free to do whatever...so automatically I liked this Casino. As you know I don't gamble cause I can't stand not winning...but Steven started me helping him and then I sorta got good at it! On one slot machine we were up 40 euros (or around there) and then we went to Roulette - we did pretty good there and won either 20 or 40 euros there...at one point I was like "Steven, I have a gut feeling - trust me" ...and being the great man that he is...he trusted me to put our bet on one number in roulette and that is all we played...now as he was explaining to me this is just about the worst thing you can do because the odds of winning are next to nothing - but if you do win then you win big...
Yes...
We won! Lucky number 19 won us 72 Euros on one play! so from one euro to seventy two euros! pretty cool!
...and yes...we kept playing and then I was cocky and we ended up leaving ahead but not quite as ahead...hilariously fun and entertaining! Marrit ended up about 20 euros up I think - not too bad either! S's parents didn't speak of their not so big winnings so that remains a mystery forever more! (aka We are pretty sure they didnt win lol)
Then Monday morning we woke up super early...PS we have been sleeping to around 10ish everyday...oh so heavenly! ...and went to the train station to leave for Frankfurt. I had so much fun in Deventer it was sorta sad to leave...But Frankfurt is proving to be awesome, too! We first got in to the city and checked in to our hotel...it is a 4 star hotel but in Europe everything is smaller...so its sorta like a room on a cruise ship...again - the fact we still like each other must mean we really like each other because I'm pretty sure at any place in the room we can still reach out and touch the other one...it is pretty small! ...oh and get this...my American self cant even order room service beacuse they dont have it?!?! What is this about...y'all know I always order room service... I love hot chocolate in bed!
But anywho...
Monday afternoon we went to the IMEX conference - that is the conference Steven is here to participate in...and let me tell you it is HUGE! Take the Chicago International Quilt Festival and multiply it by 4 and you get how big this is...yes I filmed it so I will be able to share it...I was just blown away by how impressive the Visit Florida and all the other countries/states booths were. Steven made sure everything was set up right - I wandered around looking at everyone else setting up - pretty fun to do! And then we went to the supermarket to get snacks and drinks for the guests who come to his booth...again a funny moment was pushing a grocery cart through a ginourmous (yes i made that word up) conference center...so all is well and this morning he starts the conference with everything ready to go...
Then we went back to our minihotel and showered and changed for dinner. We went to this awesome place in the city center - the old district - and had Jagersnitzel and Bratwurst - both super traditional meat and potato meals from Germany - and they were heavenly. yes, I filmed our food, too! We enjoyed a little beverage and just sat for several hours talking and also planning BoLo Bash! We had a great time out there just hanging out - the waitress was super nice - a true German lady who is straight to the point - sorta like a brown haired Gerda from down the street. LOL! Then we went back to our hotel and we met Elke (elk-a) a lady from the UK Visit Florida office who works out of Holland and is here to help with the conference. Steven probably wont do this conference next year since it is 1. cheaper to send someone by train through Europe than by plane from America and 2. because he has tons of other responsibilities at work that have been added so he just doesnt have the time to plan it all. So this lady is sorta training this year under Steven so she can make it happen next year...I will say though, if our states tourism is riding on the person selling the state then personality is WAY important...and this lady just doesn't quite have it...You have to be fun to sell Florida and I think she may not cut it...and she has only been to florida once...that is like me trying to sell the state of utah...been there once and only in the airport...
So now I am up wayyyyyyyy early this morning - can't sleep - thinking about all the work I need to do for Love Consulting - so I have been awake and working since 6am! Wild...poor S is just a snoring away sleeping...I took an hour nap before dinner yesterday, though and naps always make me not sleep well...
So we are still loving our trip and having fun! I'll post more later!
Love you!
B
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 8ish? or 9ish?
We are not sure on the count of days...8 or 9ish? So the pictures right below are from our bike ride all around Deventer! We went through the brink - city center - stopped at the dry cleaners, rode up and down the river, rode a ferry across the river - yes, with our bikes, sat at a beautiful restaurant over looking the river and had a yummy drinkiepoo, rode the bike around - even by a real life windmill that cuts wood, then back to the city to the butcher - a Turkish butcher with incredibly beautiful meat (yes, really the meat!), then to the house.
Then Marrit came over and all 5 of us went to the Turkish Restaurant by the Brink. OMG that Schwarma was TO DIE FOR! SO yummy! Then Steven's parents went home and the 3 of us went back to the witches kettle and that little area in the brink. Let me tell you, I surely make friends really fast here - my loud american accent surely carries through the outdoor cafes of Deventer! So we had a good time laughing and joking with everyone. Then we took a cab home - we didn't have the bikes with us and it was too dark to walk.
Then Saturday we met Marrit and the 3 of us went shopping - so much fun! I know I say "so much fun" all the time but everything really is so much fun! I even got a free pair of Orange Bunny ears - so now I really can be Konijntje (ko- 9- cha) which is what S calls me and it means little Rabbit. I somewhat think he is making fun of my big front teeth but it sounds cute when he says it so I let it slide! Oh and I must mention that Marrit totally scored the rabbit ears for me - she was super nice to the clerk in the store and pointed out I was a silly american tourist who loves bunny ears...it was quite funny - and yes I dared put them on in public!
Then we went to the flower shop - super fun again - and there was a kitty kat - yes we filmed it so dont worry, you will see the full encounter! Then we went to the butcher shop - so the previous butcher shop experience I mentioned a minute ago really happened here...I am getting confused what happened when...Then we went to the grocery store with S's parents. Wow, we got like 100 dollars worth of food for 24 Euros! Literally all the food we need for our All American Funday Sunday grill out was under 40 Euros total...no way in america could you get enough food for 5 with steak, chicken, salad, potatoes, spinach, dessert, spices, etc for under a hundred bucks...just wild...it was like we had never been in a grocery store before - funny!
Then we came home and Steven's Mom fixed a super yummy dinner and we all hung out on the patio - very pretty in their yard - birdies sing and the flowers are very pretty! Then we went to the brink again - the city center - and I had hot chocolate! SO GOOD! they even did tons of whipped cream for the crazy american - we had this waiter before and he remembered me! Then home for the evening - oh yeah I had a crink in my neck and I couldnt turn my head to the right - hilarious - but Steven's dad had this amazing cream that you rub on and it goes from cold to hot - yes this cream saved my little neckiepoo!
So today is Saturday and we went to Castricum - that is where Astrid and Jorn and Ninthe live. It is about an hour and a half away from Deventer and about 20 mins from Amsterdam - just so you get an idea of where we were. First we went to the campsite Steven's parents have - we rode our bikes to the beach and had a delicious lunch. I am seeing a reaccuring theme here...yummy food! Then we went and hung out at Astrid's hosue - little Ninthe is ADORABLE! ...but she is slightly scared of Steven...she likes him but she cried when he was near her...it was funny I was holding her and she was fine and then I went to hand her to S and she burst in to tears...hilarious! So dinner was Mustard Soup - I must learn how to make this - I love love love mustard and this rocked my world! Then we had Lasagna - a recipe from Jamie Oliver - OMG the food tasted as good as Jamie Oliver is hott! Then we had a yummy layered icecream thing - it was vanilla and chocolate and so incredible tasty! Then we left to go home - and I fell asleep in the car almost all the way home! (I think I was tired from the sun and the amazing food - Im like a baby, you feed me and I need a nap!)
So now we have been hanging out at the house for a few hours - Steven's Dad was watching the soccer tournament - pretty cool to watch - lots of sweaty boys :)...and Steven and I are sitting side by side typing - so time for me to help him - we are working on the top secret BoLo Productions Business Plan!
Doei
That means GoodBye - you say it Do-E.
Then Marrit came over and all 5 of us went to the Turkish Restaurant by the Brink. OMG that Schwarma was TO DIE FOR! SO yummy! Then Steven's parents went home and the 3 of us went back to the witches kettle and that little area in the brink. Let me tell you, I surely make friends really fast here - my loud american accent surely carries through the outdoor cafes of Deventer! So we had a good time laughing and joking with everyone. Then we took a cab home - we didn't have the bikes with us and it was too dark to walk.
Then Saturday we met Marrit and the 3 of us went shopping - so much fun! I know I say "so much fun" all the time but everything really is so much fun! I even got a free pair of Orange Bunny ears - so now I really can be Konijntje (ko- 9- cha) which is what S calls me and it means little Rabbit. I somewhat think he is making fun of my big front teeth but it sounds cute when he says it so I let it slide! Oh and I must mention that Marrit totally scored the rabbit ears for me - she was super nice to the clerk in the store and pointed out I was a silly american tourist who loves bunny ears...it was quite funny - and yes I dared put them on in public!
Then we went to the flower shop - super fun again - and there was a kitty kat - yes we filmed it so dont worry, you will see the full encounter! Then we went to the butcher shop - so the previous butcher shop experience I mentioned a minute ago really happened here...I am getting confused what happened when...Then we went to the grocery store with S's parents. Wow, we got like 100 dollars worth of food for 24 Euros! Literally all the food we need for our All American Funday Sunday grill out was under 40 Euros total...no way in america could you get enough food for 5 with steak, chicken, salad, potatoes, spinach, dessert, spices, etc for under a hundred bucks...just wild...it was like we had never been in a grocery store before - funny!
Then we came home and Steven's Mom fixed a super yummy dinner and we all hung out on the patio - very pretty in their yard - birdies sing and the flowers are very pretty! Then we went to the brink again - the city center - and I had hot chocolate! SO GOOD! they even did tons of whipped cream for the crazy american - we had this waiter before and he remembered me! Then home for the evening - oh yeah I had a crink in my neck and I couldnt turn my head to the right - hilarious - but Steven's dad had this amazing cream that you rub on and it goes from cold to hot - yes this cream saved my little neckiepoo!
So today is Saturday and we went to Castricum - that is where Astrid and Jorn and Ninthe live. It is about an hour and a half away from Deventer and about 20 mins from Amsterdam - just so you get an idea of where we were. First we went to the campsite Steven's parents have - we rode our bikes to the beach and had a delicious lunch. I am seeing a reaccuring theme here...yummy food! Then we went and hung out at Astrid's hosue - little Ninthe is ADORABLE! ...but she is slightly scared of Steven...she likes him but she cried when he was near her...it was funny I was holding her and she was fine and then I went to hand her to S and she burst in to tears...hilarious! So dinner was Mustard Soup - I must learn how to make this - I love love love mustard and this rocked my world! Then we had Lasagna - a recipe from Jamie Oliver - OMG the food tasted as good as Jamie Oliver is hott! Then we had a yummy layered icecream thing - it was vanilla and chocolate and so incredible tasty! Then we left to go home - and I fell asleep in the car almost all the way home! (I think I was tired from the sun and the amazing food - Im like a baby, you feed me and I need a nap!)
So now we have been hanging out at the house for a few hours - Steven's Dad was watching the soccer tournament - pretty cool to watch - lots of sweaty boys :)...and Steven and I are sitting side by side typing - so time for me to help him - we are working on the top secret BoLo Productions Business Plan!
Doei
That means GoodBye - you say it Do-E.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 7 - Deventer, Holland
Hello All!
We are having such a good time! Last time we updated you was while we were in the Tampa Airport. Since then we have been to Detroit - just the airport. It was much nicer than either of us expected - our layover was only mins so we made our way to our gate, grabbed McDs for dinner (not so amazing) and then waited maybe 15 mins for our flight.
Our seats on the plane were literally next to the door of the plane - and we were one of the first to board. So, that meant we got to see everyone walk on the plane - we played find the Dutch people vs American people. Sadly, how we could tell was belly and butt size - sorta funny, though! The flight attendants were pretty cool - this one guy was our favorite - he was spanish and made us laugh - this other lady was split personality - sometimes she was super nice and then all of the sudden she wasn't - well. part of that was because I wanted to prop my feet up on what to me looked like a foot rest built in the plane just for Brittany Love - but in reality was a life boat connected to the door - whatever - we werent going to use it and I wanted my feet up...so when they weren't looking my feet were up!
Then, we landed in Amsterdam around 930am Holland time - we got our luggage super fast and then walked through my favorite glass doors (i love the amsterdam airport - they have these great glass door you walk through at the end) and met Steven's parents. Then we jumped in the car and had a very pretty drive to Deventer - about an hour East of Amsterdam. Note - I have been to Nardeen and was told on the ride that Nardeen is home to the oldest castle in the country - guess who didn't see it - me - so hopefully this week there will be some castle time!
Then we got to the house, took a nap - or a long snoozle if you will. Next was an incredible dinner - porkchops (oh so yummy), potatoes, Fresh - and I mean OOBER fresh - green beans (again, so yummers!), and a tasty salad. I even ate the tomatoes and cucumbers in the salad - so you know it is a good salad if I eat it all! Marrit, Steven's youngest sister and yes she is older than me, came for dinner also. Oh and she and I went to her house before dinner - it literally is the same size as my house and decorated super cute! It is right in the city center so she doesn't even need a car - how nice! It is like when I lived in Chicago!
In the evening Marrit, Steven and I went to the city center for a few bevies (beverages). (and no that is not a Dutch word, it is my very own slang.) We went to a place called "the neighbor" and another place called "the kettle" for witches kettle. There is a beautiful fountain in the city center - brink - (that is the dutch word for city center/square) - and the fountain was dedicated the past queen who brought in the sewer system for Deventer. Yes, I agree, the queen totally deserves a monument - restrooms are very important! There is also this great old building that looks haunted - and it is - sort of! It is De Waag - and in the old days people would prove that they were a witch by sitting in a giant kettle of oil - yes the oil was hot. And if they lived, they were a true, bonafide witch. I suggested the theory that if you jump in and jump our really fast then yes you are still alive but people call you a witch cause your skin would then be all wrinkly and ugly liek the fables of witches...just a thoery...and it is funny that people in America worked so hard to prove they were not witches...remember the Salem witch trials...
Oh and at the second bar - the kettle - the waiter was hilarious and made fun of my "very obvious" American accent. Oh and we had these amazing fried sausage balls made of "horse, cow, pig, and whatever else we can find" - but again they were deep fried and then you dipped them in mustard - perfect soul food for any Dutch or American person! Those are called Bitterbals - just like English but with only one l.
Then we rode our bike home - yes all this time the mode of transportation is a bike...and yes I am so rocking it! Knock on wood I haven't fallen yet!
Then we went to sleep - omg I dont know if I am just tired or if the bed is amazingly comfortable but I am sleeping like a baby - poor Steven is having a hard time waking me up...Im so comfortable in my warm spot in the bed!
So we hung out today - Thursday - at the house, and while reading the paper (I just looked at pictures) Steven convinced his Mom and Dad - mainly by appealing the the "techie side" in any man - to buy a new TV. There tv is working just fine but yes it is a bit small and is not a flat screen or anything new fangled. So, within an hour of this conversation beginning we were in this GIANT best buy like store called Media Mart - and it is bigger than Best Buy - couldnt believe it but it is true! S's mom and I wondered the store looking at everything from coffee pots to car stereos, etc. I enjoyed seeing all the cool stuff - I am starting to think Dutch gadgets are cooler than American gadgets. Oh, but more expensive...ie the iPhone cost 600 euros...in the us it is 200 bucks with contract or 500 bucks wtihout contract...
Then in the parking garage S's mom and I watched a photographer take pics of a bride and groom - we are both alittle unsure of pics in a parking garage for your wedding but it was a very clean modern garage...? They had a cool old car too - even had a cool old man driver! So we were entertained while the boys did their techie thing.
Now we are back at the house about to go eat lunch - we are hungry! Steven's mom and dad had to go back to the giant store because the box for teh HD cable didn't come with the smart card it is supposed to have...but it worked out for me to get to blog and S is still playing with the TV! (It is hilarious!)
So I will update more later - PS we are taking tons of video so we will share that soon!
Miss you and Love you,
Brittany!
We are having such a good time! Last time we updated you was while we were in the Tampa Airport. Since then we have been to Detroit - just the airport. It was much nicer than either of us expected - our layover was only mins so we made our way to our gate, grabbed McDs for dinner (not so amazing) and then waited maybe 15 mins for our flight.
Our seats on the plane were literally next to the door of the plane - and we were one of the first to board. So, that meant we got to see everyone walk on the plane - we played find the Dutch people vs American people. Sadly, how we could tell was belly and butt size - sorta funny, though! The flight attendants were pretty cool - this one guy was our favorite - he was spanish and made us laugh - this other lady was split personality - sometimes she was super nice and then all of the sudden she wasn't - well. part of that was because I wanted to prop my feet up on what to me looked like a foot rest built in the plane just for Brittany Love - but in reality was a life boat connected to the door - whatever - we werent going to use it and I wanted my feet up...so when they weren't looking my feet were up!
Then, we landed in Amsterdam around 930am Holland time - we got our luggage super fast and then walked through my favorite glass doors (i love the amsterdam airport - they have these great glass door you walk through at the end) and met Steven's parents. Then we jumped in the car and had a very pretty drive to Deventer - about an hour East of Amsterdam. Note - I have been to Nardeen and was told on the ride that Nardeen is home to the oldest castle in the country - guess who didn't see it - me - so hopefully this week there will be some castle time!
Then we got to the house, took a nap - or a long snoozle if you will. Next was an incredible dinner - porkchops (oh so yummy), potatoes, Fresh - and I mean OOBER fresh - green beans (again, so yummers!), and a tasty salad. I even ate the tomatoes and cucumbers in the salad - so you know it is a good salad if I eat it all! Marrit, Steven's youngest sister and yes she is older than me, came for dinner also. Oh and she and I went to her house before dinner - it literally is the same size as my house and decorated super cute! It is right in the city center so she doesn't even need a car - how nice! It is like when I lived in Chicago!
In the evening Marrit, Steven and I went to the city center for a few bevies (beverages). (and no that is not a Dutch word, it is my very own slang.) We went to a place called "the neighbor" and another place called "the kettle" for witches kettle. There is a beautiful fountain in the city center - brink - (that is the dutch word for city center/square) - and the fountain was dedicated the past queen who brought in the sewer system for Deventer. Yes, I agree, the queen totally deserves a monument - restrooms are very important! There is also this great old building that looks haunted - and it is - sort of! It is De Waag - and in the old days people would prove that they were a witch by sitting in a giant kettle of oil - yes the oil was hot. And if they lived, they were a true, bonafide witch. I suggested the theory that if you jump in and jump our really fast then yes you are still alive but people call you a witch cause your skin would then be all wrinkly and ugly liek the fables of witches...just a thoery...and it is funny that people in America worked so hard to prove they were not witches...remember the Salem witch trials...
Oh and at the second bar - the kettle - the waiter was hilarious and made fun of my "very obvious" American accent. Oh and we had these amazing fried sausage balls made of "horse, cow, pig, and whatever else we can find" - but again they were deep fried and then you dipped them in mustard - perfect soul food for any Dutch or American person! Those are called Bitterbals - just like English but with only one l.
Then we rode our bike home - yes all this time the mode of transportation is a bike...and yes I am so rocking it! Knock on wood I haven't fallen yet!
Then we went to sleep - omg I dont know if I am just tired or if the bed is amazingly comfortable but I am sleeping like a baby - poor Steven is having a hard time waking me up...Im so comfortable in my warm spot in the bed!
So we hung out today - Thursday - at the house, and while reading the paper (I just looked at pictures) Steven convinced his Mom and Dad - mainly by appealing the the "techie side" in any man - to buy a new TV. There tv is working just fine but yes it is a bit small and is not a flat screen or anything new fangled. So, within an hour of this conversation beginning we were in this GIANT best buy like store called Media Mart - and it is bigger than Best Buy - couldnt believe it but it is true! S's mom and I wondered the store looking at everything from coffee pots to car stereos, etc. I enjoyed seeing all the cool stuff - I am starting to think Dutch gadgets are cooler than American gadgets. Oh, but more expensive...ie the iPhone cost 600 euros...in the us it is 200 bucks with contract or 500 bucks wtihout contract...
Then in the parking garage S's mom and I watched a photographer take pics of a bride and groom - we are both alittle unsure of pics in a parking garage for your wedding but it was a very clean modern garage...? They had a cool old car too - even had a cool old man driver! So we were entertained while the boys did their techie thing.
Now we are back at the house about to go eat lunch - we are hungry! Steven's mom and dad had to go back to the giant store because the box for teh HD cable didn't come with the smart card it is supposed to have...but it worked out for me to get to blog and S is still playing with the TV! (It is hilarious!)
So I will update more later - PS we are taking tons of video so we will share that soon!
Miss you and Love you,
Brittany!
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