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William the Conqueror was the first to build the castle on this site. It is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. It is one of the official residences for the Queen.Sep 08, 2010
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This is Kensington Palace, which has been in the Royal Family since the 17th century. It was also the home of Princess Diana from the time of her marriage until her death.Sep 08, 2010
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This is a good view of the Tower Bridge.Sep 08, 2010
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I had to have my photo taken with a "Beefeater." The official name is The Yeoman Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Tower. Originally, they were in charge of the prisoners in the Tower. Now they act as tour guides, and are a tourist attraction in their own right. One theory for the name is that they were rewarded for good service with a ration of beef, which would otherwise be hard to get.Sep 08, 2010
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A Queen's guard at his post.Sep 08, 2010
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It's creepy to think that all of these people were executed right here!Sep 08, 2010
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Here is the sign that tells who was executed at this site. Queen Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII second wife. She couldn't give him a son, so he had her imprisioned in the tower, and executed here at this site.Sep 08, 2010
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A very close-up photo of the Goat Guard! = )Sep 08, 2010
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Nice looking goat. I never could find out what it stood for. There are lots of Goat Pubs, Goat Street, but don't know about the Guard Goat!Sep 08, 2010
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This is Her Majesty's Tower Guard band.Sep 08, 2010
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This sign gives you a good idea of the story behind the tower.Sep 08, 2010
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The Tower of London is an ancient fortress that draws tourists by the thousands. I believe it because it was a long wait to get in. It is associated with the legendary figures imprisoned and executed here. They say there are more spooks here per square inch than in any other building in Britain.Sep 08, 2010
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I'm waiting to go into the Tower of London.Sep 08, 2010
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I wanted to get the old against the new. The strange black and silver building is called The Gherkin, a skyscraper in London's main financial district.Sep 08, 2010
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From this view, you are looking down on Parliament, Big Ben, the Westminster Bridge, and, of course, the Thames River.Sep 08, 2010
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This was taken inside the pod. I recommend this ride if you are going to go to London. Just make sure you make your reservation before you go, or as soon as you arrive in London. It fills up fast.Sep 08, 2010
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I thought riding on it would be scary. It isn't at all. There are 32 "pods" that make a complete revolution every half hour.Sep 08, 2010
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This was one of my favorite shots.Sep 08, 2010
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The London Eye was opened in 2000. It is the world's largest observation wheel. If the weather is clear, you can see over 25 miles.Sep 08, 2010
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Had this photo taken before I headed over to the London Eye.Sep 08, 2010
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This is a three for one. I got Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye in the photo. BTW, if Parliament is in session at night, the light will be on in the bell tower of Big Ben.Sep 08, 2010
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Visiting Bucking Palace was great, but now I'm ready to sit down at Starbucks for a hot cup of coffee.Sep 08, 2010
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I would think this would be a fun job for a London Bobby (police).Sep 08, 2010
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Another "rear" photo. My dad would be proud.Sep 08, 2010
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And......the Queen's guard from the back! It was my dad that taught me to take photos of the back of people, too. Sometimes they are just as interesting, if not more interesting, than the front. Case in point, not until I saw this photo, did I realize they had "horseshoes" on their feet. No wonder the sound was so loud.Sep 08, 2010
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The Queen's guard up close.Sep 08, 2010
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Even though it's a great event, I had to laugh at Mutt and Jeff in the back.Sep 08, 2010
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The statue is the Imperial Memorial Statue to Queen Victoria, and it faces the front of the Palace. If you can get there in time, it's also a great place to watch the parade.Sep 08, 2010
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This is the balcony where the royal family comes to greet the people. It is also the balcony where Princess Diana greeted everyone after her wedding.Sep 08, 2010
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I tried to find out who this was, but no one around me knew. How thrilling it must be to enter and exit the Palace in a carriage like this. Once again, it got quiet, and all you could hear was the clip clop of the horses.Sep 08, 2010
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The Changing of the Guards is one of the events you want to see when you go there. It gets real quiet when this is happening. There again, the sound gives you goose bumps.Sep 08, 2010
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You can hear the bands coming from a long way away. There is nothing like the sound. Everyone around you starts getting really excited, and try to volley for a space to get the best shot.Sep 08, 2010
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This must have been someone very special, because the family enters the palace by a side entrance. Just watching something like this is so exciting.Sep 08, 2010
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A tourist favorite is Buckingham Palace. It is the official residence of the Queen of England. The red brick building was built as a country house for the Duke of Buckingham. In 1762, King George III bought it because he needed room for his 15 children. It didn't become the official royal residence until Queen Victoria took the throne.Sep 08, 2010
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There are 24 bridges that span the River Thames, but I think this is one was my favorite. It is the Tower Bridge, a beautiful suspension bridge that is confused a lot with the London Bridge. It is close to the Tower of London.Sep 08, 2010
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This is Westminster Abbey, a large Gothic church sitting close to Parliament. It is the traditional place for coronations, and a burial site for British monarchs.Sep 08, 2010
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This is a closer view of a section of Parliament. It is also known as the Palace of Westminster, and is the seat of Britain's two parliamentary houses: the House of Lords, and the House of Commons.Sep 08, 2010
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Another shot of Big Ben.Sep 08, 2010
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It was time for dinner, so I decided to go to the pub. I picked this one since my son's name is Adam. I wanted to try the shepherd's pie that I've always associated with Britain. I tried it, didn't especially care for it.Sep 08, 2010
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I heard that they were getting rid of these great, red telephone booths, so I wanted my picture taken in one. They are such an icon of London, and it would be a shame if they weren't there anymore.Sep 08, 2010
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These are called Duck boats. They are amphibious crafts that were first used in the D-Day landings. In WWII, they were known as DUKWS. Of course, now they have been totally refurbished, and comfortable hold 30 people. No, I didn't get a chance to take one of these.Sep 08, 2010
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Other times I would take the train, like to Windsor Castle.Sep 08, 2010
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Most of the time I walked around the city, but sometimes I would take one of the scenic busses. They were a lot of fun and gave you a great view.Sep 08, 2010
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Sitting across from Big Ben and Parliament.Sep 08, 2010
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The foyer was so aristocratic.Sep 08, 2010
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This is the hotel I stayed in. It was very old, but very nice. It was across from the new Scotland Yard.Sep 08, 2010
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Sep 08, 2010
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We toasted each other on our last night of the trip.Sep 06, 2010
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I sat there the longest time just relaxing and basking in the beautiful scenery, and watching all of the boats go by.Sep 06, 2010
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The bathroom wasn't too shabby either! If a bath room can be gorgeous, this one was gorgeous!Sep 06, 2010
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I'll have to say that this was probably the nicest room I stayed in on the whole trip. The room was large, it had a pretty balcony, and you could look out over Lake Lucern.Sep 06, 2010
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Are you dizzy yet? This was taken from the top floor looking down through the staircase.Sep 06, 2010
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I had this taken in front of one of the entrances of the Grand National Hotel. This was the hotel we stayed in while we were in Lucern.Sep 06, 2010
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There were so many promenades to walk along. This one led to my hotel.Sep 06, 2010
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This was a beautiful clock made from grasses and flowers, and it kept perfect time.Sep 06, 2010
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My son asked me to bring him back a Rolex from Switzerland. Yeah, right! Well, I did anyway. I brought him a Rolex.....a PICTURE of a Rolex! = )Sep 06, 2010
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I especially liked this little guy.Sep 06, 2010
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I loved watching the ducks.Sep 06, 2010
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I thought the bridge looked pretty with the sun shining through it, and all of the beautiful flowers along the side.Sep 06, 2010
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This is the Lucern's famous landmark. It's called the Chapel Bridge, and it is a wooden bridge that was erected in the 14th century. It is just so picturesque.Sep 06, 2010
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We've come to Lucern, which is in the north-central part of Switzerland, and is in the German speaking portion of the country. It is within sight of Mt. Pilatus. Lucern has been voted as the 5th most-popular tourism destination in the world.Sep 06, 2010
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We are heading back to Switzerland, and this was the scenery we saw along the way.Sep 06, 2010
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I got tired of waiting for a table, so I finally asked these people if I could sit down with them. Ah, the hot chocolate tasted so good.Sep 06, 2010
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I wanted a close up of the cow bell since I had bought one in Zermatt. Mine is a bit more decorated. I was surprised she wasn't afraid of me. I guess the cows are used to all of the tourists.Sep 05, 2010
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I quickly put my clothes on and went down to get a closer photo of her. I didn't see the farmer anywhere.Sep 05, 2010
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The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a cow bell. I don't know why, but it's such a delightful sound. I took this photo from my room.Sep 05, 2010
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I milked cows a couple of times as a kid, but these just didn't feel the same.Sep 05, 2010
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This is one way to advertise your sales. It was a clothes sale, not a mooooving sale. Sorry, just had to do it.Sep 05, 2010
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It was a very emotional event, and it felt good to do some silly things afterward to relax. These painted cows were everywhere. Behind me is the orchestra getting ready to put on an evening of music.Sep 05, 2010
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This is the theater where the play is held. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed. To see photos of this extraordinary event, and it is extraordinary, you can Google it. To me, the most amazing part of the play was when Judas hung himself. The man who plays Judas actually hangs himself. Believe you me, there was a gasp in the audience. Somehow he swings behind the curtain, where the prop people have to immediately get him down. From what I heard, it's pretty risky, and there have been some close calls. I don't think I would want that part.Sep 05, 2010
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Oberammergau is also known for its woodcarvers.Sep 05, 2010
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This is another example of the designs on the buildings. It was like being in fantasy land.Sep 05, 2010
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So many of the hotels and restaurants had these beautiful paintings on them.Sep 05, 2010
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The next day was a big one. We came to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play, which is a dramatic presentation depicting the suffering and passion of Christ. It is put on by the townspeople, and is held only once every ten years. It is amazing and incredible. On my way to the theater, I went through the town.Sep 05, 2010
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At dinner that evening, we heard cowbells. I went outside, never wanting to miss a photo, and saw this man bringing his cows down from the mountain. That was so much fun to see.Sep 05, 2010
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When we left St. Moritz, we headed over the Fern Pass with awesome views of the Zugspitze mountain. We entered Germany, and headed to Oberammergau. We stayed at this delightful hotel called the ParkHotel Sonnenhof.Sep 05, 2010
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The room was wonderful. I love the beds in Europe because they always have these down comforters. So snuggy and warm.Sep 05, 2010
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I didn't get a photo of St. Moritz when we were coming up to it, so I got one when we left.Sep 05, 2010
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We ate dinner here, and I just took this photo because I thought the sign looked so ornate.Sep 05, 2010
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The following day, we boarded Switzerland's famous Alpine train, the "Glacier Express." We went through the Furka Tunnel, which is over a mile long. We continued through the beautiful Engadine Valley until we came to St. Moritz, the resort of the rich and famous. The Crystal Hotel was our home for the night.Sep 05, 2010
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We're back to the hotel where we stayed with time enough to go shop. It's the Hotel Mont Cervin, a very nice hotel.Sep 05, 2010
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Well, I just had to have one more picture taken with the St. Bernards.Sep 05, 2010
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All of the cold fresh air was making me hungry. I wanted to sit down and order some hot chocolate, but everybody else had the same idea.Sep 05, 2010
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You get an amazing panoramic view from the Gornergrat telescope.Sep 05, 2010
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This is my official "been to the Matterhorn" photo. They were so sweet, but I could just hear them saying, "Geesh, here we go. Another tourist wanting us to pose with them." = )Sep 05, 2010
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Ahhhhhhhhhh...it looks like they are both worn out. I would imagine just standing for these huge dogs is a struggle.Sep 05, 2010
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A Bernhardiner Swiss Mountain dog. It looks like he has had a hard day.Sep 05, 2010
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Looking from another vantage point, there was a lot more snow.Sep 05, 2010
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And this was my first stop: the WC, water closet (bathroom).Sep 05, 2010
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After we got off of the railway, this was our first view.Sep 05, 2010
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Another day, another adventure. We took the Gornergrat cog railway up to the Matterhorn. It's in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy.Sep 05, 2010
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I always see pictures of the Matterhorn snow covered, but since it's fall, the snow hasn't come yet. I still think it's beautiful.Sep 05, 2010
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This is the Matterhorn. When I was 16, I bought my first painting, and it was of the Matterhorn. I remember my parents had a huge mural of the Matterhorn in their bathroom.Sep 05, 2010
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Moving down toward the end of the village, I found this pretty cemetery. Sep 05, 2010
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I just had to get a close-up of this pretty horse. You could tell he was well taken care of.Sep 05, 2010
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I could have taken hundreds of pictures in this one little village because of how beautiful it was.Sep 05, 2010
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Since no cars are allowed in the village, it was easy to walk around and look at things.Sep 05, 2010
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After coming down from the Jungfrau, we went back to the Hotel Regina. The next morning, we boarded a narrow gauge train for a short ride to Zermatt, one of Europe's most enchanting villages. They took us to our hotel by horse-drawn carriage.Sep 05, 2010
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After walking over the snowfields, and going through the ice hallways into the Ice Palace, I was cold. This hot chocolate hit the spot.Sep 05, 2010
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I loved these dogs. It's so amazing that they don't get cold.....and it was cold out there.Sep 05, 2010
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And then........I got to take a dog sled ride. OMG, that was so much fun.Sep 05, 2010
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Wow! All I can say is that this is freakin' awesome!Sep 05, 2010
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We made it to the top!Sep 05, 2010
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I'd say we are getting closer to the top!Sep 05, 2010
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There was one stop, so I was able to get a photo of the outside of the train.Sep 05, 2010
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The altitude is getting higher, and it's getting really coldSep 05, 2010
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I got a shot of another train going back down.Sep 05, 2010
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These are two nice gals I had met on the first night. The one on the left had made it to the first base camp of Mt. Everest a couple of years ago. I was so impressed!Sep 05, 2010
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The Swiss have engineered railways that can reach even the most inaccessible mountain locations. Here I am boarding the highest rack railroad in Europe, heading to the top of the Jungfrau.Sep 05, 2010
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In a few minutes, we will be heading up to the of the Jungfraujoch, ususally called the Jungfrau. My mom and I had been there before, so this was going to be a good memories trip.Sep 05, 2010
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Ahhhh...then there was the bathroom. The window opened onto the most beautiful scenery. The air was so crisp and clean. I wanted to break out in song, "The hills are alive......"Sep 05, 2010
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I took a picture of my room from the outside.Sep 05, 2010
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We stayed in the Grand Hotel Regina, nestled in the Alps. The staff was so friendly.Sep 05, 2010
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After a refreshing and delightful cruise, we arrived at the year-round resort of Grindelwald.Sep 05, 2010
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As you can see, I really enjoyed being outside.Sep 05, 2010
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We were fortunate to have a clear, beautiful day for this boat cruise. I wondered if some of these chalets were summer homes. That would be nice.Sep 05, 2010
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If you didn't care to be out in the wind, you could enjoy the trip inside this nice dining area.Sep 05, 2010
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Believe me when I say that this boat was much more relaxing than that rowboat trip!Sep 05, 2010
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This ferry boat brought back some scary, but funny memories. When I was sixteen, and my brother was ten, we were visiting Thun with our parents. Mike and I took a rowboat out on the lake. We had been out there awhile, when before we knew it, one of these boats was barreling down on us. It's horn alone was loud enough to almost blow us about of the water! HOW FAST CAN A PERSON ROW A BOAT.......really, really fast. Years later we were still laughing about that.Sep 05, 2010
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After arriving near the Bernese Oberland highlands, we got to take a cruise on Lake Thun.Sep 05, 2010
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I didn't expect to see anything like this on our trip. We went by a small bird statuary, and saw this beautiful owl.Sep 05, 2010
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As we walked along the road, another family went by with their hay loaded on the wagon.Sep 05, 2010
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We stopped and watched these farmers getting their hay raked up. The woman was working as hard as the men. You go girl!Sep 05, 2010
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This was one of the biggest chalets that I had seen yet.Sep 05, 2010
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I just couldn't get over how beautiful this was.Sep 05, 2010
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We stopped to visit this very well-kept cemetery. Next to it was this nice chapel.Sep 05, 2010
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One thing I really loved about these small towns were the flower boxes. This was September, so everything was still in bloom.Sep 05, 2010
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Here we are visiting another small village where we had lunch.Sep 05, 2010
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We travelled over Col Des Mosses Pass where we saw more scenes like this.Sep 05, 2010
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The Castle of Chillon is a 13th-century fortress, and an infamous prison made famous by Lord Byron's poem.Sep 05, 2010
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After travelling awhile along the alpine roads, and still along Lake Geneva, we came to Montreux, and went through the Castle of Chillon.Sep 05, 2010
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I loved looking at all of the chalets.Sep 05, 2010
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The tour I was on was sponsored by Maupintour, and I met the group the night before. There are a lot of great people. Today we left Geneva, and headed along the northern edge of Lake Geneva. There was one beautiful scene after another.Sep 05, 2010
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I don't remember who this was, but she sure was a skinny thing, with very long arms. She almost looks like an alien.Sep 05, 2010
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I found this cute little park, and, of course, I had to get on the teeter-totter. It's not quite as much fun bouncing yourself up and down, but I still had fun. = )Sep 05, 2010
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As you can see, there are a lot of motor cycles, which they would need to go in and out of these small streets.Sep 05, 2010
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I would love to have one of these.Sep 05, 2010
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I loved these little restaurants tucked in along the boulevard. They are just so quaint.Sep 05, 2010
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You are looking at the spire, and bell tower, of the Cathedral of St Peter.Sep 05, 2010
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This is the onion-domed Russian Church.Sep 05, 2010
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I took a walk through the Old Town. I loved these buildings, and the small, steep, narrow streets.Sep 05, 2010
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Geneva is the headquarters of many international organizations including the Red Cross. This photo shows it's symbol: the Jet d'Eau, a fountain in Lake Geneva that shoots a plume of water 500 feet in the air.Sep 05, 2010
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After a long flight, I finally arrived at the Hotel Des Bergues in Geneva.Sep 05, 2010
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I'm leaving Tulsa International Airport for my flight to Geneva, SwitzerlandSep 05, 2010
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Sep 05, 2010
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This is a typical French scene with people sitting out in the open having a baguette and coffee.Sep 03, 2010
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It was such a fun day, but now we are back on the ship, just in time to see a beautiful sunset.Sep 03, 2010
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As we head back to Cannes to board our ship, we saw many beautiful beaches. The only problem I have with the beaches is that they have stones instead of sand. Ouch!Sep 03, 2010
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This is the House of Grimaldi, that was also the home of Princess Grace.Sep 03, 2010
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This is another type of architecture. As you can see, they are still able to hang their clothes outside.Sep 03, 2010
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For you racing fans, you know that Monaco is also the host of the Monaco Grand Prix, which is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. There were a lot of these great cars sitting around for us to view.Sep 03, 2010
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When you look the other way, you can see part of the palace, which is also known as the House of Gramaldi.Sep 03, 2010
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Another view of the harbor.Sep 03, 2010
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This was taken overlooking the harbor.Sep 03, 2010
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As you can see, we have arrived in the Principality of Monaco. What is interesting is that Monaco is both a city and a country. PrinceAlbert II is the Head of State.Sep 03, 2010
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This was the first time I ever saw a Smart car. I thought how nice it could be if we had them in the US. Now we do.Sep 03, 2010
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After that humiliating experience, I just wanted to find a place to sit down and relax. I found one next to this "not real" statue.Sep 03, 2010
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This is the Monte Carlo Casino. I have always wanted to see the inside. So...I paid my ten dollars and went inside. Wow! Talk about feeling like a dweeb!!! I had on jeans and tennis shoes, and every one in there was beautifully dressed. The men in their tux, and the women in their fancy dresses and unbelievable jewelry. I got a few dirty looks as I was SWIFTLY walking around to check the place out. I was so glad to get out of there. But now I've seen it!Sep 03, 2010
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When I think of housing in France, this is what I've always pictured, especially with the laundry hanging on the lines outside.Sep 03, 2010
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After a couple of hours, we came to Monte Carlo, which is best known for its casino.Sep 03, 2010
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Cannes is the best-known city on the French Riviera. It is where all of Hollywood goes for the Cannes Film Festival held each May.Sep 03, 2010
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We have arrived at the Port of Cannes, France. Those are the zodiacs that take us to and from the ship.Sep 03, 2010
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Sep 03, 2010
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I was able to get a photo of the ship before I boarded the shuttle boat that took us out to the ship.Sep 03, 2010
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Boy, this was a great one. He looked very real.Sep 03, 2010
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I had to go back through the plaza in order to get to the ship, so I found some more statues. These guys told me to come up and get a photo with them.Sep 03, 2010
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After getting off of the bus, I looked for the Hard Rock Cafe. I love to visit them to gets gifts for the kids....okay, and for me, too.Sep 03, 2010
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There is such beautiful architecture in Barcelona.Sep 03, 2010
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This particular bus tour didn't stop anywhere. It just drove around, and gave you a great feel for the city. I was the only one on the upper deck, and I had a fun time waving at people.Sep 03, 2010
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After I finished walking through the plaza, I had a couple of hours before I had to go back to the ship, so I took an hour long tour on this bus.Sep 03, 2010
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He was so adorable, but I rather felt sorry for him. He should be out running and playing with other doggies.Sep 03, 2010
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The dog was the main attraction. While the owner played the music, the dog just sat there and didn't move....well, not much anyway.Sep 03, 2010
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This was a pretty one, but once again, I marvelled at how still they were.Sep 03, 2010
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Hands down, this one was my favorite.Sep 03, 2010
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We had a few hours to spend, so I decided to stroll along the plaza. There were all kinds of statues along the way. I went up to this one and was studying it when....it moved! Let's say, at this point, my under ware wasn't exactly dry! Wow! I didn't see THAT coming!Sep 03, 2010
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If I had seen this statue first, I would have recognized that they weren't real. I'll have to give them credit for standing a long time and not moving. Incredible.Sep 03, 2010
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We docked in Barcelona for a few hours. It is really a beautiful city.Sep 03, 2010
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The next day it was cold and windy, but I still enjoyed being outside.Sep 03, 2010
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This is a closer view of the Strait of Gibraltar. It is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea.Sep 03, 2010
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You will notice that there are lights in the background, and lots of people along the rails. That is because we are entering the Strait of Gilbraltar.Sep 03, 2010
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Each cruise ship has a casino. I don't go there very often because I don't have very much luck. However, I found a quarter on the floor, and wound up winning $200.00. Yea! And, yes, I left with my winnings.Sep 03, 2010
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I'm doing my two of my favorite things. Reading a book, and eating chocolate chip cookies.Sep 03, 2010
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Depending on the length of the trip, they have B-B-Q lunches outside. There is nothing like being outside in the fresh air eating good ol' barbecued chicken.Sep 03, 2010
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I had an outside room, but no balcony. This ship didn't have them because of doing cross-Atlantic trips. The ocean can get pretty rough, and the last place you would want to be is on one of the balconies. In fact, if it gets really bad, they lock the doors that go out to the decks. Too easy for someone to get swept overboard.Sep 03, 2010
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Another night, another beautiful sunset.Sep 03, 2010
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If you like beautiful sunsets, you will see one after another on a cruise.Sep 03, 2010
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Most people were at dinner when I took this shot. The buffets are open 24 hours, so sometimes I skip the dining room and just do the buffet. This is one of those peaceful times I mentioned.Sep 03, 2010
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My favorite way of travelling is by cruise ship. A lot of people, particular those who haven't cruised before, ask me what it's like. One word: peaceful. This photo shows the open walkway around the ship. For the walkers and runners, it's marked off as to feet and miles so you know how far you have gone.Sep 03, 2010
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I am boarding the Norwegian Dream for a transatlantic trip. It is also called a repositioning cruise. When the seasons change, many cruise ships change their itinerary. This ship went from going to the Caribbean to European capitals. These cruises aren't as expensive as others, but you don't see as many places.Sep 03, 2010
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Sep 03, 2010
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This was the hotel where not only John stayed with his family, but the "Dream Team" stayed here. Ohhhhhhhhhh no! Oh well. I did get to stay there for one night, and it was wonderful!Sep 03, 2010
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Look at this elevator. This is in my $200 a night hotel. The sad part is, after I got with John, he told me he could have gotten me into the hotel where he was staying.....for free! See next photo!Sep 03, 2010
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If you have ever been to an Olympics, you know that buying and swapping pins is a big business. This is one of the places you could buy them.Sep 03, 2010
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Here we are: student and teacher.Sep 03, 2010
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Talk about role reversal. I met John the next day, and followed HIM around as he visited his sponsors. He had come a long way from sixth grade.Sep 03, 2010
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I had this one taken overlooking the field. I told everyone around me the story about being John's teacher, and that I would go see him when he was in the Olympics. By the time he came out for his event, and they announced his name, the crowd around me went wild. He told me later he heard the roar from my section. :O)Sep 03, 2010
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When I was in Frankfurt, I made this sign and carried it with me to Barcelona, hoping I would get to use it.Sep 03, 2010
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This is the Olympic stadium. It was amazing to be there.Sep 03, 2010
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This is the surgical part of of the plane.Sep 03, 2010
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Behind me is the Olympic Village. It was close to here where I was going to finally see John, one day before he had his event, the triple jump. It was also here where the nautical events were held. That was fun to watch.Sep 02, 2010
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While I was walking around, I saw this sign for the famous Michael Johnson. I didn't know it yet, but I was going to be able to see him run the next day. He is a famous American sprinter, and has won four gold medals as well as being a world champion eight times.Sep 02, 2010
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The next morning, I went to the main Olympic gate to wait for John. I came two hours early, and got to talking to a lot of the correspondents that were there. I told them my story about promising to be there when he was in the Olympics. They were so fascinated that they waited around for John to come out. FINALLY! After days of walking, sweat, tears of frustration, he came out of the gate. It was like in the movies...we ran to each other (in what seemed like slow motion) he grabbed me, twilled me around, set me down, and said, "Mrs. Smith, you are still crazy!" This is one of the journalist that wrote about the story.Sep 02, 2010
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There were so many beautiful stairways around the city.Sep 02, 2010
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I spent the rest of the evening just doing a little sightseeing. This was some police carSep 02, 2010
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I was in Barcelona six days. The first four were spent walking around the city trying to locate someone who new my student, John. He didn't know I was coming, and I had no way of getting in touch with him to let him know I was there because there was so much security. On the fourth day, at around 5:00 in the afternoon, I saw a couple walking along and I ran over to them and asked if they knew John Tillman. THEY DID......so I was able to get a message to him. FINALLY!Sep 02, 2010
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As it turns out, I was only a couple of blocks from one of Barcelona's biggest tourist sights. It is called Sagrada Familia, a massive Roman Catholic church.Sep 02, 2010
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I flew to Frankfurt, Germany, and stayed with some friends while I waited for a flight to Barcelona. It took several days, as most of the flights had been filled for months. Finding a hotel was another problem. After many inquiries, and three subway rides, I finally found a room at a hotel with no AC, and costs over $200.00 a night. I'm in front of the hotel eating a ham sandwich that I bought in a nearby deli.Sep 02, 2010
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At the very last minute, I headed to Barcelona for the Summer Olympic games. I had promised one of my former sixth grade students, that WHEN not IF he was in the Olympics, I would be there. I visited these fountains located in the Plaza Espanya. At the top is the National Museum of Catalunya.Sep 02, 2010
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Barcelona Summer OlympicsSep 02, 2010
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Bags are packed and ready to go home. Goodbye, Bolivia.Sep 02, 2010
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The Coke was safe to drink in this restaurant. Boy, did it taste good.Sep 02, 2010
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We went to a restaurant called Dumbo for lunch. What you see here is a kind of stew. It didn't look real appetizing, but it was actually quite good.Sep 02, 2010
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Here is another one of those colorful busses.Sep 02, 2010
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This was our gathering spot when the shopping was over. Time to buy one more post card.Sep 02, 2010
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I bought one of these bags hanging here.Sep 02, 2010
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Another lady selling those fresh veggies.Sep 02, 2010
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I think this was some kind of sauce she was making.Sep 02, 2010
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Here is another beautiful hat.Sep 02, 2010
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How about a little chicken for your supper.Sep 02, 2010
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Next to the delicious smelling pineapples were these big, juicy watermelons.Sep 02, 2010
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There were lots of bags of peanuts for sale as well as the fruit.Sep 02, 2010
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My mouth actually watered when I went by this stand. The pineapple smelled so sweet.Sep 02, 2010
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There was even a section where you could buy one of these musical instruments. I think a couple of the guys in the group did.Sep 02, 2010
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Ahhh....being a teacher for so many years, this little girl warmed my heart. She was doing her homework?Sep 02, 2010
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The Galeria was divided into many stalls with all kinds of things to buy.Sep 02, 2010
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The vegetables looked so fresh.Sep 02, 2010
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I loved these busses. They were all painted a different color and design.Sep 02, 2010
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They were setting up their covering, and getting ready to sell the crops they had brought.Sep 02, 2010
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On our last day, we went to the Galeria, the big marketplace in Cochabamba.Sep 02, 2010
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Our group photo with General Fernandez and the rest of our group.Sep 02, 2010
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Sep 02, 2010
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Lunch time was over, but the fun with everyone was just beginning.Sep 02, 2010
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This is Jaime, Jr. He is the son of the missionary, but he also does his work there, especially with his music. The guy was also hilariously funny.Sep 02, 2010
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I can't begin to tell you how great this lunch was. So delicious! It really hit the spot.Sep 02, 2010
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Many of his staff were invited to eat with us.Sep 02, 2010
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We were all treated by General Fernandez and his wife to a great lunch.Sep 02, 2010
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I couldn't have taken a trip with greater people than these guys were. The girl on the ground on the left was a daughter of one of the doctors, and she brought her friend. Such sweet kids.Sep 02, 2010
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All of these guys were like brothers, and I treated them like they were. Actually, for some of them, I was old enough to be their mom!Sep 02, 2010
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After we left the statue, we went to these beautiful gardens. You wouldn't know by looking at these photos how serious they had been a couple of days before. They are definitely relaxing. = )Sep 02, 2010
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These guys were crazy and so much fun.Sep 02, 2010
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It's time for a little group photo.Sep 02, 2010
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This is the El Cristo de la Concordia, a large statue of Jesus Christ. It is higher than the Cristo del Corvado in Rio De Janeiro. Standing at the foot of the statue you can see the whole city of Cochabamba. It was a beautiful view.Sep 02, 2010
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Part of our day we used the cars, and then we had a delightful little bus...with snacks.Sep 02, 2010
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After a couple of pretty intense days, it was time to relax and do some sightseeing.Sep 02, 2010
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My favorite photo.Sep 02, 2010
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The operation is over. She was such a brave little girl.Sep 02, 2010
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One more surgery, and this was on the hand of a little girl.Sep 02, 2010
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A couple of hours after surgery, she was feeling a lot betterSep 02, 2010
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Something must have been hurting.Sep 02, 2010
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If I remember correctly, I believe this was an appendix operation.Sep 02, 2010
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On to another surgery.Sep 02, 2010
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I liked this shot for the intense concentration.Sep 02, 2010
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Someone was photographing me while I was photographing the operations.Sep 02, 2010
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Working on her varicose veins.Sep 02, 2010
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A photo of the surgery being performed.Sep 02, 2010
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Her hand is being held down during the operation.Sep 02, 2010
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This is the lady that is being operated on.Sep 02, 2010
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Anesthetizing the area for surgery.Sep 02, 2010
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Surgery has begun. (If you are at all squeamish, I would suggest you skip the next few photos.)Sep 02, 2010
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Have camera, ready to shoot....I think!Sep 02, 2010
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Getting ready for surgery.Sep 02, 2010
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Well, since I was doing the photography, I had to suit up to take photos of the operations.Sep 02, 2010
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One of the other main things the doctors did was perform some surgery. These are four of the surgeons. One is a Bolivian surgeon.Sep 02, 2010
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What a treat! I got to sit in the pilot's seat.Sep 02, 2010
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This is a look inside the medical section of the plane.Sep 02, 2010
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They let us go aboard the plane, and I got to have my photo taken with the pilots.Sep 02, 2010
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There were tons of dignitaries there, which is why there was so much security.Sep 01, 2010
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There was a lot of security. I was surprised I was able to take his photo.Sep 01, 2010
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The plane from "Operation Blessing," an organization that helps in disaster relief and helping with medical aid around the world, was at the airport for a large ceremony. Our group was invited to come.Sep 01, 2010
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I was taking a photo of this one little guy's feet when the other two ran over and put their feet in the picture. It was so cute.Sep 01, 2010
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These little guys were NOT shy, in fact, they really showed off for us.Sep 01, 2010
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This little guy was very shy.Sep 01, 2010
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This little girl was so sad. Look at the tear in her eye.Sep 01, 2010
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By the time we were ready to leave, I was actually able to get some of them to come over and take a picture with me. This is when I wished I had a Polaroid so I could show them.Sep 01, 2010
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There was one little child that didn't get a bear, and I was trying to get him to come over and get it. He eventually did.Sep 01, 2010
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This little guy was crying. I don't know if he missed his mommy, or if all of these strange people were scaring him.Sep 01, 2010
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The doctors had brought along hand made bears to give out to the children. Most of the them had never seen a stuffed animal.Sep 01, 2010
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One thing I have found while traveling around the world is that kids will be kids no matter where they live.Sep 01, 2010
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If there is a sand pile around, kids will find it!Sep 01, 2010
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I have no idea what kind of plant/flower this is, but I thought it was really interesting.Sep 01, 2010
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When we got there, the kids were just going to school.Sep 01, 2010
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The white flag indicates it is a "pharmacy."Sep 01, 2010
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The doctors were asked to go to this house and help a very sick man.Sep 01, 2010
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It was hard to walk around these places because of the dirt and rocks. It was really easy to slip and fall.Sep 01, 2010
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Sometimes we went out into remote areas to treat people.....very remote!Sep 01, 2010
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After walking around for awhile, I saw this beautiful little building.Sep 01, 2010
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How do these women do this all the time. My back hurts just looking at them.Sep 01, 2010
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It seems that no matter where in the world you travel, you always see a Coke stand.Sep 01, 2010
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This was a real nice fruit stand. The bananas were so sweet.Sep 01, 2010
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It was a mighty small shop, but it had a lot to sell.Sep 01, 2010
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After throwing this over her shoulder, then she picked up this heavy pot.Sep 01, 2010
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A few streets over, it was a bit more active.Sep 01, 2010
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This was taken looking down one of the side streets.Sep 01, 2010
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While the doctors were finishing up, I took a little walk around the town.Sep 01, 2010
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Time to do the dishes.Sep 01, 2010
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Everybody seemed to be digging right in. I was pretty hungry, so I did, too. It tasted like dumplings and spinach.Sep 01, 2010
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How about some meat with those potatoes!Sep 01, 2010
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This gal got the potatoes ready.Sep 01, 2010
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The ladies were preparing our lunch.Sep 01, 2010
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I tried over and over, however, as you can see by their faces, I just couldn't get the hang of it. It was fun trying.Sep 01, 2010
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It was so fascinating watching them that I asked them to teach me how to do it.Sep 01, 2010
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While they were waiting, a lot of the women spun their yarn for blankets they would later make. Fascinating.Sep 01, 2010
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My job on this trip was mainly to do the photography, which, of course, I love.Sep 01, 2010
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Another great hat.Sep 01, 2010
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I just loved the children. They were all so sweet.Sep 01, 2010
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So many of the people wore blankets instead of heavy coats. That seemed to be the Bolivian way.Sep 01, 2010
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This guy was really pretty, but he sure had an attitude!Sep 01, 2010
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They just love their hats.Sep 01, 2010
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One of the women being checked out by one our the doctors.Sep 01, 2010
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So many sweet little girls waiting with their parents.Sep 01, 2010
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I loved how this man got so dressed up.Sep 01, 2010
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She was such a sweetie. She walked right up and sat on my lap.Sep 01, 2010
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I love this photo. This Bible belonged to the minister of this little church.Sep 01, 2010
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It looked like he was wondering who in the heck are all of these strange people.Sep 01, 2010
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She was such a beautiful young girl.Sep 01, 2010
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Eating a little something while waiting to be seen.Sep 01, 2010
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One of the many things I loved about Bolivia was how colorful everyone looked.Sep 01, 2010
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Even he ones that couldn't walk well still came to see the doctors.Sep 01, 2010
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Jaime helping one of the older ladies into the waiting area. Once again, so many people came for medical care.Sep 01, 2010
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The next day we headed out to this little church in one of the smaller villages. Sep 01, 2010
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We ended up the tour by going to his office. He let me wear his hat for the photo, and gave me one of those flags on his desk. It was a nice souvenir.Sep 01, 2010
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The Arkansas Razorbacks would be proud of this big ol' hog! Wow...he was huge!Sep 01, 2010
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Doesn't he look just like Wilbur from "Charlotte's Web?"Sep 01, 2010
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For some reason when I look at this picture I want to say: "What you lookin' at, Willis!"Sep 01, 2010
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OMG.......I had forgotten pigs do this.Aug 31, 2010
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Their squeals were so loud as they tried to butt each other out of the way to get to the feed trough.Aug 31, 2010
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Next he took me to the farm where they raise all kinds of crops and animals.....even guinea pigs.Aug 31, 2010
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I even got to get into one of the big helicopters. That was awesome!Aug 31, 2010
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I think this was my favorite one.Aug 31, 2010
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I felt pretty special being shown around the base. Some of these planes were so awesome looking.Aug 31, 2010
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Because I was Michael's sister, the general offered to take me on a tour of the air base. Next to me is his aide.Aug 31, 2010
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Ahhhhhh...he was so cute.Aug 31, 2010
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Step 3, show off baby! I'm afraid if I tried that, I would wind up slinging that baby across the road! = )Aug 31, 2010
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Step 2, do a quick snap with the blanket.Aug 31, 2010
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She wanted to show us how she wraps up and carries her baby. Step 1, lay him on the blanket.Aug 31, 2010
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When they first arrived, they were given a number. He was quite proud of his.Aug 31, 2010
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I just couldn't resist holding this little cutie.Aug 31, 2010
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I just loved the hats they wore.Aug 31, 2010
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Maybe it doesn't look like it, but this man was actually smiling at me. When I started to take the photo, his wife just grinned and turned away. She was quite shy.Aug 31, 2010
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There were a lot of little babies crawling around.Aug 31, 2010
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I found out this little lady had dressed up in her best to come and see the doctors.Aug 31, 2010
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This little gal had never been seen by a doctor, and she was so nervous.Aug 31, 2010
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After he was seen by the doctors, he headed back on that long trip home.Aug 31, 2010
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When he wasn't looking, I took a picture of his foot. And to think he walked so far on these poor feet.Aug 31, 2010
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I was worried about him because he stood almost the whole time. I wanted him to sit down and rest.Aug 31, 2010
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My heart broke for this man. He had walked five miles to try to get some help at the clinic.Aug 31, 2010
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Some of the scenes were so sad, like this man who came for help.Aug 31, 2010
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So many children were there. This is one of the many that received medical help.Aug 31, 2010
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My brother was so honored by this clinic. Before he died of ALS, Michael was able to travel here and see the clinic for himself. How proud he felt! He so loved the Bolivian people, and he had a real passion for their needs.Aug 31, 2010
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This is Jaime and Gaby Torrico, the missionaries that were close friends with Michael and General Fernandez. They are such great people.Aug 31, 2010
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This is the plaque they put up in front of the clinic.Aug 31, 2010
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This is General Fernandez. Through the missionaries, he heard about Michael's desire to build a clinic, and pulled the strings to have it built on his air base.Aug 31, 2010
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They gave the doctors such a warm welcome. The band was even there to play our National Anthem.Aug 31, 2010
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The people started lining up very early in the morning for medical treatment. For most of them, this was the only place they could receive free help.Aug 31, 2010
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This is the medical clinic, and it was built in honor of my brother, Michael Correll. After my father died, Michael took over as president of my dad's mission. Michael was close friends with the missionary there in Bolivia, which led to the building of the clinic.Aug 31, 2010
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The next morning, we arrived at the Cochabamba Aeronautical Base.Aug 31, 2010
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When I opened my window, I could actually smell the clean scent of the laundry. So refreshing.Aug 31, 2010
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This is our hotel in the city of Cochabamba, which is the third largest city in Bolivia.Aug 31, 2010
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This was the view from out side my window. Lots of green.Aug 31, 2010
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This was my room. It was very small, but very clean and quite cozy.Aug 31, 2010
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The doctor next to me is Dr. Aubrey Knight. He was my mom's doctor, and that is how I found out about the trip.Aug 31, 2010
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Landing in Bolivia. I'm with a group of doctors from Roanoke who will be helping the Bolivian people with their medical needs.Aug 31, 2010
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Aug 30, 2010
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These are the Papal Swiss guards. The bodyguards for the Vatican was established in 1506 and are now the only Swiss Guards that still exists.Aug 09, 2010
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Well, my day of sighteeing is over, and it looks like his was, too. Could he be hungry and stopping for a panini? Yup.....he did.Aug 08, 2010
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These guys were everywhere, giving the tourists good photo shots from their trip to Rome.Aug 08, 2010
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After going through almost all of the Basilica, including the tombs underneath, I needed a rest. So I stopped here for a coffee and a cannoli cake. Yum!Aug 08, 2010
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This is the interior of St. Peter's Basilica. It has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, able to hold 60,000 people. It WAS huge, but I was stunned when they told how many people it can seat.Aug 08, 2010
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These are the apartments for the Pope's staff.Aug 08, 2010
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The windows that have the yellow banners over them indicate the Pope's residence.Aug 08, 2010
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The day I was there they were putting out the chairs for members of the Vatican. The Pope would later come out and address the massive crowd. Believe you me, it really WAS massive.Aug 08, 2010
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This is the central balcony and is called the Loggia of the Blessings, and is used for the announcement for the new Pope.Aug 08, 2010
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This is the large public square outside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. They call it St. Peter's Square, but it is actually round, with the perimeter marked by two huge colonnades.Aug 08, 2010
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Of course, we had to have a group photo.Aug 08, 2010
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The next day, as I headed toward St. Peter's Square, I met some kids on a field trip. No matter where you go, kids like the "high five."Aug 08, 2010
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Charles Dickens visited the Colosseum. In 1846, after his visit, he wrote the following: "It is the most impressive, the most stately, the most solemn, grand, majestic, mournful sight conceivable. Never in it's bloodiest prime can the sight of the gigantic Colosseum, full and running over with the lustiest life, have moved one heart, as it must move all who look upon it now, a ruin. God be thankful: a ruin!"Aug 08, 2010
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What an experience! It's certainly one that I will never forget.Aug 07, 2010
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I took the tour that takes you underneath the Colosseum where you could see many of the tunnels. That's where they kept the slaves and animals used for the gladiatorial games. The arena had a wood floor covered with sand. Not only was the sand there to hide the trapdoors, but also for catching the blood. The slaves and animals were let up through the hidden trap doors under the sand which provided continual surprises for the spectators and the contestants! Whoa.........SURPRISE!Aug 07, 2010
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Even though it seated more than 50,000 and had room for 10,000 to stand, they were still able to leave quickly because there were 80 exits.Aug 07, 2010
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This is my "I went to the Colosseum" photo.Aug 07, 2010
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The Colosseum was ruined because of devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers who wanted the stones for building materials.Aug 07, 2010
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This shows what is called the hypogeum, which means underground or the part of the building that was built below ground.Aug 07, 2010
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The Colosseum was capable of seating 50,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectaculars such as mock sea battles, animal hunts and executions.Aug 07, 2010
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This is the original facade, which I find unbelievable since construction began around 70-72 A.D. It opened in 80 A.D. Today it remains as standing proof of both the grandeur and the cruelty of the Roman world.Aug 07, 2010
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The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of Rome's most visited tourist attractions.Aug 07, 2010
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I thought this was such a beautiful photo of the top of the cathedral.Aug 07, 2010
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After leaving Pisa, I took the train down to Rome. This is the first view I saw of the Colosseum.Aug 07, 2010
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Here is a piece of trivia for you. In the movie Ocean's 12, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is mentioned in connection with their scheme to tilt a building in order to gain access to it.Aug 07, 2010
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Well.......I ALMOST made it look like I was holding it. :O)Aug 07, 2010
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It was even creepier going down the steps. You can really notice the lean of the tower.Aug 07, 2010
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This is the view you see from another side of the Tower.Aug 07, 2010
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A view from the top. Along the red tiled building were tons of souvenir shops with lots of fun stuff to buy.Aug 07, 2010
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Made it to the top after climbing 294 very tilted steps!Aug 07, 2010
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The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a good example of Romanesque architecture.Aug 07, 2010
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They started building the tower in 1174. The reason it tilts is because the foundation was built on unstable soil.Aug 06, 2010
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I've heard about this place all of my life, and here I am. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of Europe's great icons.Aug 06, 2010
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