We had to get up at 6:30 (which just happens to be 12:30am in Texas) to get to the airport in time. All went very well traveling back to Lubbock. I added it all up and we were on an airplane for 13 hours yesterday. Other than sitting on the plane for so long all went well. No delays and made it home right on schedule.
I have a ton of pictures ready to show anyone. I put together a Powerpoint with a limited amount of pictures. 226 as of now.
It was a great trip and we hope that you have enjoyed the blog and our adventure through Europe and England.
Calvin & Dawndra
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Last day in Birmingham
Wow. The time sure has flown by. It seems like for ever ago that we were in Rome, but it sure does not seem like we should be coming home yet. Today we went to the international food festival. It was very fun. There were a ton of vendors selling everything from candy to olives to salami. We were hungry so we got a hand made sausage sandwich. It was very good. We then walked around more and made it to the Bullring Mall. It is huge. We are not big shoppers but we did find some good stuff there. Instead of going out to eat tonight we decided we would just go back to the food festival and get some pizza and baguettes and take to the condo. We were hungry so we got a Spanish dish, then some kind of french potato dish to eat while we were there. It is fun to people watch. People here dress much different than in the US. We did get our food and now back at the condo getting ready to pack to come home. We leave the airport at 9:00 so figuring to head out about 6:30. We have to walk to the train station to get to the airport, and then from there it is a little walk to get checked in and to the gate. We are on different airplanes for about 13 hours tomorrow. Yuck!!!
Will talk to all of you later.
Calvin & Dawndra
Will talk to all of you later.
Calvin & Dawndra
In Birmingham
6/25/09
Today we just relaxed and stayed in Birmingham. We ate dinner at an Indian place called The Blue Mango. Birmingham is known for it Indian food. Our waiter said there is a very large Indian population here. You can tell just looking around. The food was great. Very different and could not tell what spices were used, but good. It is fun to just walk around and see everything that is different. People actually live in boats on the canal here. The boats are very long and skinny.
Tomorrow we are going to a food and drink festival. It should be fun.
C&D
Today we just relaxed and stayed in Birmingham. We ate dinner at an Indian place called The Blue Mango. Birmingham is known for it Indian food. Our waiter said there is a very large Indian population here. You can tell just looking around. The food was great. Very different and could not tell what spices were used, but good. It is fun to just walk around and see everything that is different. People actually live in boats on the canal here. The boats are very long and skinny.
Tomorrow we are going to a food and drink festival. It should be fun.
C&D
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6/24/2009
After a long day before we headed to London around 10:30. To get the cheaper tickets you go at the less busy time. We got there in a little over an hour. After figuring out we wanted to do a hop on/ hop off bus, we got the ticket and walked the 15 minutes to the closest site. We got on a blue bus first. On it you have to listen to a prerecorded message about the city. We got off in the SOHO district. We walked around a while and found a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. It is always scary eating over here not knowing for sure what you will get. But at a Chinese restaurant it went to a whole new level. They had a few pictures, but not on the main dishes. We ate a crab meat and shrimp appetizer, and I had a mixed seafood and noodles and Dawndra had the hot plate with chicken and vegetables and white rice. It was all great. We were very impressed. We headed back to the bus and got on a red line. It has a person talking about all the sites. The person we had was ‘Pat’. I finally noticed the name tag, Alison, so we assumed girl. She was pretty knowledgeable but very dry. She would try to make a joke, but it did not come over well at all. It was better than the pre recorded. We rode around for quite a while just taking in the city. We got off at Buckingham palace and saw the guards there. They did something, but we were not sure what. At that point we got back on and rode for two stops till the end. Then we decided to walk to eat and then the theater. It was a longer walk than we thought. We made it in plenty of time and went to eat at a place called Leon’s. It was ok. It was a very casual place and quick. Then the theater. We went to see ‘A Duet for One’. It is a two person play about a violinist that get MS and goes to her psychologist. It was ok. The theater was a very cool building. I wish I could have got to know some history about it. After it was over we high tailed it to the underground to catch it to the train station. And yes, Philip, we did ‘Mind the Gap’!! It was a rush but we made it to the train after running through the station. The train back to Birmingham was much longer. We are not sure why, but is was running at about half speed compared to the way there. We did get to read a lot. I was hoping on the train we would get to see a lot of the country side. But the train is in between trees most of the way and it is very difficult to see much. We finally made it back to our condo at about 1:30.
C&D
After a long day before we headed to London around 10:30. To get the cheaper tickets you go at the less busy time. We got there in a little over an hour. After figuring out we wanted to do a hop on/ hop off bus, we got the ticket and walked the 15 minutes to the closest site. We got on a blue bus first. On it you have to listen to a prerecorded message about the city. We got off in the SOHO district. We walked around a while and found a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. It is always scary eating over here not knowing for sure what you will get. But at a Chinese restaurant it went to a whole new level. They had a few pictures, but not on the main dishes. We ate a crab meat and shrimp appetizer, and I had a mixed seafood and noodles and Dawndra had the hot plate with chicken and vegetables and white rice. It was all great. We were very impressed. We headed back to the bus and got on a red line. It has a person talking about all the sites. The person we had was ‘Pat’. I finally noticed the name tag, Alison, so we assumed girl. She was pretty knowledgeable but very dry. She would try to make a joke, but it did not come over well at all. It was better than the pre recorded. We rode around for quite a while just taking in the city. We got off at Buckingham palace and saw the guards there. They did something, but we were not sure what. At that point we got back on and rode for two stops till the end. Then we decided to walk to eat and then the theater. It was a longer walk than we thought. We made it in plenty of time and went to eat at a place called Leon’s. It was ok. It was a very casual place and quick. Then the theater. We went to see ‘A Duet for One’. It is a two person play about a violinist that get MS and goes to her psychologist. It was ok. The theater was a very cool building. I wish I could have got to know some history about it. After it was over we high tailed it to the underground to catch it to the train station. And yes, Philip, we did ‘Mind the Gap’!! It was a rush but we made it to the train after running through the station. The train back to Birmingham was much longer. We are not sure why, but is was running at about half speed compared to the way there. We did get to read a lot. I was hoping on the train we would get to see a lot of the country side. But the train is in between trees most of the way and it is very difficult to see much. We finally made it back to our condo at about 1:30.
C&D
Edinburg, Scotland
6/22/2009
Today was very busy. We got up at 5:15 to get to the bus station in time for a 6:00am departure to Edinburg Scotland. It was very eventful. We got to the bus station and the entrance we were use to was not open. So we had to run, and I mean run, about 1/2 of a mile or more to get to the main entrance and onto the train. We did make it but with a little rushed. It was a 5 hour train ride. We took breakfast stuff and sandwiches for on the train. That is what they sell too, so might as well take our own. Edinburg is very nice. It started sprinkling not too long after we got there, but not that bad. We went to Edinburg Castle and saw it. Then headed back to town. There is a Scottish Whiskey Experience and we did that. It was interesting to hear about how it is made and what makes it different. Also the difference in single malt and blended. We got to taste some. Straight. It was a little rough going down, but nice. They have the worlds largest collection of Scotch. From there we walked downhill to the Scottish Parlament building. We did not take the whole tour, just the basic. There is a lot of history in Scotland. We had walked past a Mexican restaurant, Pancho Villa’s, and wanted to eat there. Of course it was closed by the time we got there. So we found a little pub and had some fish and chips. The waiter there told us the Underground Haunted tour. It was interesting. Not sure if it is real, but neither of us took up the offer of walking through a circle of stones that was to bring bad luck. Just being in there was spooky enough. At that point we headed back to the train. We are always nervous about missing our ride. We were booked on the last train back, so there was no room for error. The ride back seemed much longer, but at least we could read and sleep.
We are missing everyone and sad our vacation is coming to an end, but so ready to see everyone.
C& D
Today was very busy. We got up at 5:15 to get to the bus station in time for a 6:00am departure to Edinburg Scotland. It was very eventful. We got to the bus station and the entrance we were use to was not open. So we had to run, and I mean run, about 1/2 of a mile or more to get to the main entrance and onto the train. We did make it but with a little rushed. It was a 5 hour train ride. We took breakfast stuff and sandwiches for on the train. That is what they sell too, so might as well take our own. Edinburg is very nice. It started sprinkling not too long after we got there, but not that bad. We went to Edinburg Castle and saw it. Then headed back to town. There is a Scottish Whiskey Experience and we did that. It was interesting to hear about how it is made and what makes it different. Also the difference in single malt and blended. We got to taste some. Straight. It was a little rough going down, but nice. They have the worlds largest collection of Scotch. From there we walked downhill to the Scottish Parlament building. We did not take the whole tour, just the basic. There is a lot of history in Scotland. We had walked past a Mexican restaurant, Pancho Villa’s, and wanted to eat there. Of course it was closed by the time we got there. So we found a little pub and had some fish and chips. The waiter there told us the Underground Haunted tour. It was interesting. Not sure if it is real, but neither of us took up the offer of walking through a circle of stones that was to bring bad luck. Just being in there was spooky enough. At that point we headed back to the train. We are always nervous about missing our ride. We were booked on the last train back, so there was no room for error. The ride back seemed much longer, but at least we could read and sleep.
We are missing everyone and sad our vacation is coming to an end, but so ready to see everyone.
C& D
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday afternoon.
2/21/09
We went to the convention opening ceremony. We had a little problem getting there. We were feeling real good about the train. We got on the right train, just did not get off of it. It look like we were waiting to get to the stop then we took off. We are still no sure how we were to get off there, but we had to go to Coventry to the next stop to get off and get on the train going back the other direction. So we were a little late. We also for got our tickets and the convention security would not let us in so we went back to a Rotary guy who said we could and he snuck us in a back door. It was very interesting and fun to see all of what Rotary is and how international it is.
PS: Kaylen, Aunt D is curious to know how summer camp was? Hope you had a great time!!
We then went back to the condo and changed a little and went to eat. We first ate a place called Pitchers and Piano Bar. They had pitchers but no piano. Interesting!! The food is always good but just a little different spices than we are use to. We had nachos, and they were good, but not quite our dive nachos. We were still hungry but decided to go to another place. They have an 'O bar' so we had to go there. It is much classier than the 34th st O Bar!
We did make plans for the next several days. Tomorrow we are getting up and leaving at 6:00 am for Edingburg Scotland. Then on Tuesday we are going to London. The ticket lady was very helpful in deciding what to do. She highly recomended Edingburg. Plus that will make the eighth country we will get to. We will just be winging it there, but I am sure it will be fun. Too bad that I will not be able to get some golf in there :( We will be going to a play in London, Duet for One. We hope it will be great.
Well that is it for today. Not sure if we will blog again for the next couple of days since we will be gone most of the time getting in very late.
Calvin & Dawndra
PS: Make some comments, i keep looking and not much>
We went to the convention opening ceremony. We had a little problem getting there. We were feeling real good about the train. We got on the right train, just did not get off of it. It look like we were waiting to get to the stop then we took off. We are still no sure how we were to get off there, but we had to go to Coventry to the next stop to get off and get on the train going back the other direction. So we were a little late. We also for got our tickets and the convention security would not let us in so we went back to a Rotary guy who said we could and he snuck us in a back door. It was very interesting and fun to see all of what Rotary is and how international it is.
PS: Kaylen, Aunt D is curious to know how summer camp was? Hope you had a great time!!
We then went back to the condo and changed a little and went to eat. We first ate a place called Pitchers and Piano Bar. They had pitchers but no piano. Interesting!! The food is always good but just a little different spices than we are use to. We had nachos, and they were good, but not quite our dive nachos. We were still hungry but decided to go to another place. They have an 'O bar' so we had to go there. It is much classier than the 34th st O Bar!
We did make plans for the next several days. Tomorrow we are getting up and leaving at 6:00 am for Edingburg Scotland. Then on Tuesday we are going to London. The ticket lady was very helpful in deciding what to do. She highly recomended Edingburg. Plus that will make the eighth country we will get to. We will just be winging it there, but I am sure it will be fun. Too bad that I will not be able to get some golf in there :( We will be going to a play in London, Duet for One. We hope it will be great.
Well that is it for today. Not sure if we will blog again for the next couple of days since we will be gone most of the time getting in very late.
Calvin & Dawndra
PS: Make some comments, i keep looking and not much>
Sunday in Birmingham
6/21/09
Today we have been just hanging out at the hotel. We walked to the gym so Dawndra could work out and I walked back and had a cup of Belgium Chocolate Mousse and am blogging. We will be going to the opening ceremony at 2:30. It is suppose to be very amazing. We will let you know.
C&D
Today we have been just hanging out at the hotel. We walked to the gym so Dawndra could work out and I walked back and had a cup of Belgium Chocolate Mousse and am blogging. We will be going to the opening ceremony at 2:30. It is suppose to be very amazing. We will let you know.
C&D
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