The best part of Scotland, is that it's full of Scots!

Travel has been really good...until we tried to get from Belgium to Scotland. The details of this tail are quite inconsequential...so I'll just give you the facts: 1) Hostels do lose power in the morning, 2) Brussels has 2 airports with the same name, and they're about 40 minutes apart, 3) Flights do get cancelled due to fog in Brussels, 4) I left/re-entered Begium and now have 4 passport stamps all time-stamped within about 20 minutes (which has to be a record of some kind!), and 5) It takes about 9 hours to get from Brussels to Edinburgh, Scotland by train (via the 'chunnel')...but hey, we did get here. We finally met up with Erin and everything is back on track for our tour of Edinburgh!

We've had a chance to run around the town of Edinburgh now and it's just as cool now as it was six years ago. We took a tour of Edinburgh Castle. Its full of history and old fortifications. Its definitely the kind of place that cost $20 to get in, but you can end up spending an entire afternoon there and it was defiantly worth it. We also toured the Royal Mile, which is a super-touristy stretch of road leading up to the Castle. Fortunately, it also has most of the museums, churches and shops you could ever hope for. It also had some really cool little pubs that had live bands and large 'telleys' where we could watch the World Cup games...by the way, not everyone in the UK cares about 'football'.

We took a day trip to Roslynn Chappel (of 'Da Vinci Code' fame). It was fantastic, and the carvings easily rank with some of the most impressive I've seen in all of Europe. The Chappel itself is about 25 minutes outside of Edinburgh by bus, but it only costs about a £1.00 to travel (so its a no brainer). When we showed up, there actually was a wedding in progress...which worked out well because there is also a pub just down the way. We played some cards and hung out, met some other Americans and just generally enjoyed ourselved out of the rain.

That evening we went to a pub called the 'Black Swan'. We met a ton of really cool locals and traded barbs about the USA v Italy game. The game itself was ugly. Neither team deserved to win, but atleast we came out with a tie and now potentially control our own destiney in our next match.

Like I said, we did meet a bunch of really cool locals, including the boys at left who where more than happy to talk 'international politics' with us...only problem is that they seemed to thing 'W' was the next coming of Christ...and, well...you know where I stand. In the end, we were put to work by the bartender and made some really cool friends...now keep in mind that we could only understand about 1/2 of what was being said because of the Scotish accent...and that was before the beers...but it was a freaking blast...we were actually told "the joke is a lot funnier if I can tell it to you in Scotish"!

A one legged duck...

By the way, a one-legged duck does not swim in a circle...I know for a fact, we saw one in Lucerne.

Random thoughts in honour of Chris Tarbell...

One of my best friends in the world (not Danny, but you should check out his blog at the lower right hand link on this page) Chris Tarbell sent me an email saying that everything sounded like it was fantastic and that he was insanely jealous to not be here with us...well Chris, this email is for you:


It was like 100 degrees in Brugges yesterday, which is the hottest its been here in 100+ years...and today its raining and 60 degrees...Hostels are dirty...thanks to George Bush, not everyone likes us Americans anymore...Hostels are dirty...Lake water in the Alps is really freaking cold...sunburn hurts, even if you are in Europe...the US World Cup team lost their first game 3-0 and we're ranked 5th in the world - 5th!...try checking in for a flight on Condor Air, which is run by Lufthansa, but you're plane is going to be a Swiss Air plane...just because the man works at "Information", does not mean that he may feel obligated to impart that knowledge on you...they take the Euro in Switzerland, but not the Swiss Franc in Europe...after our flight here is Business class, they actually made us sit in coach on our flight from Switzerland to Belgium!...if its time to take a picture, they you should be prepared to take 2...they're not just Americans, they're Sig Ep bro!...I'm not 22 anymore...backpacks are heavy...riding a bike around the lake is a blast, but does give you a nice case of "camp ass"...the term "hot shower", may mean that there simply is no cold water...if you don't understand someone speaking another language, them speaking louder doesn't help you feel any better about only speaking one language...Russo (the French lady from Lost) lives on the train from Brussels to Brugges and is really freaking scary...Oh, and hostels are dirty!

Fact is Chris, we're having a blast and do wish that you were here...but it ain't all roses...just mostly!
Cheers!

Have some pride!

We've moved on to Brugges in Belgium. Great town. And by the way, for all you Poway kids, I just ran into Jake Rosner! He's not coming to the class reunion. I told him I wasn't shocked, as I really hadn't figured he come when we graduated about 10 years ago!

Brugges is beautiful. The locals are great and have been very cool. We even hung out with one of the old gentlemen (Agustus) who plays Botchy ball on the square. He showed us around a little and gave some recommedations for places to check out.








The place were staying is a hostel...and not exactly the best one ever either. But it works. After a long day of travel to get here, all three of us needed a little therapy. Harris and I had our first really Belgian Ale and Kate did a little shopping. Grandpa Bill always called it "attitude adjustment hour". And he was right.







For the most part we've just been cooling our jets. There have been quite a few World Cup games. I almost hate to mention it, but the US got smoked 3-0 by the Czech team. There was a small (very small) contingent of Americans that we hung out with at a bar right next to the "we're not rooting for the Czechs, just against the US team" bar. Needless to say we had hoped for a better result. At one point things were looking bad. The score was 1-0 (5 minutes into the game) and the Czechs were dominating. At that point, Harris made the comment which has become a rallying cry for the entire trip. "Have some pride! Hey, we only need one goal! I'm mean, that's nothing! Don't forget that we walked on the moon!!! Everyone's spirits went WAY up and we were right back in it! Yeah, we did walk on the moon...one goal is nothing. The only bummer is that within another few minutes they Czech's hit another goal and the game was pretty much iced...thanks for nothing.

We've toured churches, the canals and hiked to the top of the Belfry over looking the square. We've seen works by Michelangelo, eaten Belgian waffles, and played futbol in the town square. We've eaten mussels/fries (local favorite), watched many a World Cup match and walked through the Baptistery where supposedly the "holy grail" was entrusted to the town of Brugges in 1152...I'm guessing that they didn't do such a good job watching it since...well lets just say that it's gone.



It's like Harris said...if having a good time is a crime, then I'm guilty as charged...oy.

Save the clock tower!

Kate tells me that in the movie "Anne", the little girl says "I think i'm gonna like it here"(refering to the mansion)....we'll, she must have actually been talking about Switzerland.

We spent the last few days in Lucerne, Switzerland. It's an old school Swiss town centered on...get this...Lake "Lucerne"(yeah I know, shocker). Anyhow. The Swiss are a very cool bunch and pretty down with just letting us run around and use their town.







We decided to rent bikes and cruised around the lake. Ended up at a really tiny resort town with no real main store. But we sat on the rocks overlooking the lake and 'recovered' from the long ride through the Alps. It was very romantic, but Danny was a perfect gentleman. The ride back to Lucerne went much quicker and we took advantage of the downhills. By the time we go back to town, it was time for a bite to eat and the World Cup was on. We caught some of the Germany game and had a few pints at the only English pub in town.


The next day we rented a paddleboat and cruised around the lake. Spent some time swimming in the lake but it was a little cold...remember it is the 'Alps'. The weather was fantastic, so we decided to check out one of the local beaches. Being the 'smart' college graduate that I am, I failed to put enough sunscreen on and ended up with a very nice red hugh on my back and shoulders. There were some topless sunbathers, but fortunately they were all over the age of 60.




Day three saw a trip to Pontus Kulm, which is the local giant mountain. We took a paddleboat around the lake and then a cog-wheel train at a 45 degree angle to the top. The view was incredible. After hanging out we took the gandola back to town. There were a few intense moments for Kate, but she survived. About halfway down there was a stop where we got out and rode on a bobsled. Pretty cool day over all. That evening it was more World Cup at the English pub. The crowd was a little roudy, but for some reason they held it together...might have had something to do with the gentleman from the Swiss Army there with his rifle...although maybe not, he was drinking and it looked like it didn't have any ammo.

Germany, the sunshine state...gorgeus!

We made it! Although honestlz, it wasn´t that hard. Buisness class actually is everything they say it is. Flight was great and after about 10 hours we landed in Frankfurt, Germany. A short ride to Heidleburg and we were checked into our hotel.

Heidelburg is beautiful. We walked around the town and ended up at the castle (where this picture is taken from). It overlooks the river and the "alstat" (old town). Basically most every German we`ve run into speaks great English...which seriously makes me butchering German even more painful. We had a nice lunch and beirs at a gärten...there´s a funny story about "schnitzel", but like I said butchering the language!

Sleep has been a little rough, but we´re finally getting on European time. And by "European time", I mean "world cup time". The first game is today, and even thought we´ve now moved on to Switzerland, everyone is getting into it. Every shop has something futbol related in the window. "Any extra room in that display?" "Well then put a soccer ball in there." "Yeah I know we sell sausage and cheese, but this is World Cup we´re talking about!"

Like I said, we´re in Switzerland (Lucerne) now. The weather continues to be perfect and t-shirts and shorts have been the order of the day (even if you do get made fun of for the shorts). Biking around the lake and general relaxing are the plans for today. Probably take a gondola ride tomorrow and hike to the top of the local peak (alps baby!)

All is well. Can´t wait to catch up with everyone else who makes the trip! Ash/Megan, have a blast a the US game and travel safe to France. Erin, we´ll see you in Scotland in a few days. Kins/JJ travel safe and enjoy Ireland. To everyone else (with the exception of Joe/Josh/Erin who have school)...SUCKERS!! Hope work has been fun! Oh, Marissa, you get a pass too. Thanks for looking out for Kelsea and your email about her trying to eat the tennis balls off your dads cane was the funniest damn thing I think i´ve ever read!

Cheers

Our trip starts on 06/06/06...Coincidence?

Some may say that a date with the numbers "666" might be a problem...I would tell them that I plan to ponder their concern repeatedly with each glass of champagne I'm served while I'm riding in Business Class on my non-stop flight to Europe for 2 1/2 weeks...now who's the monkey!? Besides, I once had a friend who claimed the world would end before the year 2000...we're not friends anymore.

Fact is that you can't let yourself get caught up in the lie...case in point, Nolan Ryan. Do you think he ever thought "wow, that gentlemen charging the mound seems very angry and he is very young...maybe I should go 'Paul Gascoigne' and take it'." (not sure who Paul Gascoigne is? see below). Nope! Nolan Ryan...all 43 years of him added 'injury to insult' when he proceeded to hand Robin Ventura a good ol' fashioned ass-kicking! The moral of this story? Most people don't live in reality, and it's up to the rest of us to call them on it...sometimes it just takes a half-nelson and a few punches to the dome. By the way, Robin Ventura has no class...to this day he has never apologized to Nolan Ryan for bruising Nolans hand with his face. And that's the bottom line!