Stephanie's Birthday and the Teva Mountain Games

Montie had been visiting us Coloradans for a week, so on my way over to Vail, I met up with him and the Petersens for supper.

I got into Beaver Creek around midnight, so I was happy our rafting jaunt didn't start until mid-morning. Joe's boat is not self-bailing so we had an epic adventure through flood-level almost continuos rapids that resulted in an almost swamped boat with poor Lindsey bouncing around like a pinball.  The water was so cold that both of my legs were bright, bright red.  Definitely memorable and fun.

We were celebrating Stephanie's birthday, and Joe chefed up two BBQ's for her during the weekend.

The Teva Mountain Games were going on, so we watched a few events including the Raft Cross and Speed Retrieve.

I love it when a good chunk of the Colorado crew gets together.

Darren had just driven all the way from Las Vegas and reached us by Sunday morning bearing an entire bag of California oranges

Stephanie's second BBQ

Revisiting Europe: Scotland

Remembering Europe in 2011:

Our last stop was in Scotland.  We took a train up, and on the way I remember reciting "Sweet Afton" with a Scottish man.  It was fabulous.  We stayed in a very cute cottage-y hotel with a charming garden.  I took a bazillion pictures of flowers and realized that peonies are my favorite flower.

Our hotel and garden

Exploring Edinburgh castle.  I remember the fellas practicing for a big Scottish festival, hearing a large canon from the castle, and seeing where prisoners made things.

Probably the most memorable party of Scotland was Arthur's Seat.  I climbed it twice, the first time in mid-day, the second in the early morning rain.

 

Buildering some ruins on the way up the seat

Look at how Romantic I'm being (Romantics love ruins, according to my literature professor)

The view from the top

My first jaunt up the hill

I learned what a westie is.  So cute.

Testing out vegetarian "haggis"

I think this was another Sabbath and we went up to the highlands.  Unfortunately it rained a lot, so we spent most of our time inside some castle, but didn't get to venture into the grounds much.

Wow, he was prepared.

Exploring Edinburgh at night.  I remember eating at the tiniest Asian food place, passing by spooky houses, and seeing an ancient stone church on the coast that had been converted into a climbing gym.

My second trip up Arthur's Seat.  I think I just knew we had such little time in our trip, and I wanted to squeeze every last little bit out of it I could.  I recall wishing I could stay another month or longer in Europe and being in disbelief when others said they were homesick.  What???

We got a bit soaked on the hike down

Drying off and enjoying a last European breakfast of beans and toast

A final look out the train before getting on a plane and returning to the U.S. of A.  Nooo!!!

Revisiting Europe: England

Remembering from 2011:

England is expensive, but England is wonderful.  Especially in the summertime.  I remember coming here on our way to and from Kenya when I was in high school and sort of hating it.  I hated it because it was cold, and I was half asleep with jet lag.  This time, however, I was drunk on art, full of knowledge from all of my English major classes (including History of England which I had recently taken before my trip) and super stoked to solidify my knowledge with experiential education.  But, I did have to buy my food in odd places like the train station in order for it to be affordable.

Here I am with a fellow English major at the British Library.  Awesome!

The Tower of London, I believe, where wives were locked in rooms (and scribbled on the walls) or beheaded.  Not a good time to marry a king.

The British were so nice to let us harass them with photos

London bridge is falling down...J/K

The Globe!  Or at least the rebuilt Globe

I have to admit, our pre-Shakespearean meal was from the Starbucks lateral to the Globe.  I think the new Millennium Bridge is in the background.

English major nerds super stoked!  We loved the play.  I want to say that it was either "Measure for Measure" or "As You Like It."  Sad that I don't remember.

Apparently there were some famous actors, but I didn't know them.

Get ready for a storm of stereotypical British images!

Changing of the guard at Buckingham.  There were loads and loads of people.

Yes, we watched Harry Potter in the theatre district.  We had assigned seats.

I remember we went to the British museum afterwards and got evacuated early because of some fire drill or false alarm.  Grr.

Hammurabi in the British Museum, I believe

Paddington Station to get cheap food and take a picture with the bear

We decided to splurge once more and get some nosebleed seats for Phantom.  For a pound we were able to pop some binoculars out from the chair in front of us.