tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29781860386596157542024-02-19T02:46:10.306+01:00Walking in Stilettos on Cobblestone StreetsStilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-12158084133900775782010-08-08T15:42:00.000+02:002010-08-08T15:42:46.223+02:00Where to shop online?If you haven't already bought clothes online, now is the time to start! Below is a list of my favorite online clothes stores. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6jKqqGCBI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/ZAnbf12koSU/s1600/zappos+logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="76" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6jKqqGCBI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/ZAnbf12koSU/s200/zappos+logo.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.zappos.com/"><strong>Zappos</strong></a> - The gold standard of online shopping. And the best shoe store ever. Zappos sells shoes all shoes from every brand, and recently began selling clothing. It offers items for women, men, and children. The search function is quick and easy-to-use. The website has "wish list" and favorites" sections where customers can add items the like, then come back later to review price changes and decide about purchases. If you find an item that is out-of-stock or full price, Zappos will notify you via email if it comes back in stock or goes on-sale. The customer reviews are the best of any online store, filled with input to help shoppers better pick a size (Ex: "fits true to size" or "fits a half size smaller"). Zappos offers free shipping on all orders and returns. The return process is hassle free, requiring ~5 mouse clicks (UPS will even pick-up returns directly from your house). The customer service is the best part. The service team, available 24/7, goes above and beyond to help you (this includes overnight shipping for free to ensure that you have your purchase for an important event). Zappos prices are frequently much lower than other stores. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6miQwfD5I/AAAAAAAAAnY/TitG7bP4Rko/s1600/Shop+style.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="50" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6miQwfD5I/AAAAAAAAAnY/TitG7bP4Rko/s200/Shop+style.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/"><strong>ShopStyle</strong></a> - The focus of this website is everything fashionable. It consolidates clothes, shoes, accessories, beauty products and home stuff from all major designers into a single-platform for shoppers to search. It offers items for women, men, kids, and the home. Users are encouraged to sign-up (for free), and create "stylebooks," where they put together an entire look or pick designs from their favorite designers, to share with other users. The search function is easy-to-use. This website has the "wish list" and "favorites" sections where shoppers can add items they like, and come back later to review prices and decide about. Shoppers can also sign-up to be notified when items are back in stock or going on sale. Shoppers can also sign-up to follow other users fashion ideas (when they post a new look or stylebook, you'll be notified) And if looking like a celebrity is your thing, the website shows who's wearing what and where to purchase it (this includes items seen on celebrities which are not yet in stores). Items are not actually sold via this website, instead you will be forwarded to the applicable online store for purchase. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6wG4ZIqGI/AAAAAAAAAnw/UlSoc75U7xI/s1600/gilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="103" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6wG4ZIqGI/AAAAAAAAAnw/UlSoc75U7xI/s200/gilt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://www.gilt.com/"><strong>Gilt Group</strong></a> - This is a hidden gem in the US shopping world. When designers and up-and-coming designers need to clear out their showrooms quickly (usually to make way for new items), they send the items to the Gilt Group. The Gilt Group consolidates them, takes new pics of them, and then has a 2-3 day sale where the items are discounted 50-80% (think $500 Coach purse for $75). To participate in these sales, you need to subscribe to the Gilt Goup (<a href="http://www.gilt.com/invite/robinpolitte">click here to subscribe</a> - membership is free). All Gilt Group subscribers are notified via email of sales 5 min before they start (or you can check on the website each week to see what sales will happen in the upcoming week). There are usually 3-4 designers on sale per week. Word to the wise: when you receive this emails, open immediately, browse, and order. With the stellar prices, items sell-out quickly. As a bonus: some Gilt Group sales include delas on travel (like 50-80% off for amazing boutique hotels or cruises).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6r2OouwuI/AAAAAAAAAno/OWp2sxUMEvw/s1600/Asos+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="76" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6r2OouwuI/AAAAAAAAAno/OWp2sxUMEvw/s200/Asos+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://www.asos.com/"><strong>Asos</strong></a> - This is a UK website selling chic clothing at reasonable rates. Shipping is free only within the UK (however, I've heard that Asos will soon set-up in the US and will offer free shipping within the US). It offers items for women, men, and kids. Asos only exists as an online store. And only Asos-brand items are sold via the Asos website (this is actually a huge inventory, especially compared to brick & mortar stores who also sell their clothes online). Asos has a philosophy similar to Forever 21 or H&M, but produces higher quality items. The Asos designers take ideas from the runways, change them to fit the mainstream population (and add a very "London/Euro" vibe to the items), then produce the items at lower costs. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6yQT2BNdI/AAAAAAAAAn4/qBwIUzgnrFs/s1600/ebay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6yQT2BNdI/AAAAAAAAAn4/qBwIUzgnrFs/s200/ebay.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://www.ebay.com/"><strong>Ebay</strong></a> - No introduction should be needed for ebay. eBay is especially great for finding items which are no longer sold at stores or are speciality clothing items. Items are often sold here at the lowest prices you'll find (however to obtain the lower price, you'll need to participate in an auction where you risk not winning the item in the end).<br />
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<strong>Tips for online clothes shopping:</strong><br />
1. Sign-up for an account on each website. These are usually free and will keep a record of your preferences.<br />
2. Add items to your "favorites" or "wish list" (to do this, you usually must be a member). This will enable to you to come back at a later point, check if the items are on sale, and order the items.<br />
3. Wait a couple days/weeks before purchasing. There is a good chance the price will be reduced.<br />
4. Click on "suggested items." The website tracks your preferences and will suggests other items which you might like.<br />
5. Order 2 sizes in each item you purchase. With free and easy returns, you can keep the size that fits and send back the other size. <br />
6. Read the customer reviews - these will often provide a good indication of how the items fits. <br />
7. Suggest items for friends (and ask them to do the same for you). You'll end up looking at clothes which you wouldn't normally pick, but which look great.<br />
8. Sign-up for email notifications regarding sales of your favorite brands or to notify you if something is back in stock.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-84546033318739961882010-08-08T14:21:00.000+02:002010-08-08T14:21:15.485+02:00Hop on the train: online shopping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6fxDf6umI/AAAAAAAAAnI/CIPmUhKi1dc/s1600/online+shopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="160" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-mfPSCHhC2w/TF6fxDf6umI/AAAAAAAAAnI/CIPmUhKi1dc/s200/online+shopping.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Online clothes shopping is one of my favorite hobbies. At night, I often relax at night by shopping online. I even for clothes & shoes my friends (although I fail miserably at accessories).<br />
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Online shopping is great for many reasons... it's quick and easy to find an endless list anything you want, including vintage items. You can shop from anywhere. Often online retailors provide free shipping for purchases & returns. Online shoppers bypass the crowds and long check-out lines at malls. Returns are much simpler online than at a store. Online items are often cheaper than those in stores. It's easier to do price comparisons and to be notified of sales. If you're not sure about a purchase (or want to wait until it's cheaper), you can add it to your "wish list" or "favorites" and decide later to purchase it. Lastly, your friends can easily send purchase suggestions to you (or you can easiy create a list of which friends can purchase items for you). <br />
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Those against online clothes shopping state 2 reasons for not doing it: 1) the inability to feel the fabric or see the quality of the item and 2) the inability to know if the item will fit and which size to purchase. However, both of these concerns are negligable nowadays. All websites provide a list of body measurements and their size equivalents and they publish customer reviews stating how customer's have found the item to fit. With free/easy shipping, a shopper can purchase 2 sizes, try both on, and send the wrong size or both items back. There is the option to try-on the item in a brick & mortar store and then order it online (because it's cheaper). After a while, online shoppers know the quality of their favorite brands and they know their size in the brand anway.<br />
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Online clothes shopping has been most quickly adopted in the UK & US (I've heard that Japan, Singapore, S. Korea, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are close behind). This is largely because the online shopping is so price and consumer-friendly in the UK & US, compared to other countries. Items sold in the UK & US are usually cheaper than the same item sold in another country (i.e. "capitism vs. socialism" and also price-sensitive consumers). Additionally, the UK & US stores can offer sales whenever they want. Stores in other European countries can only offer sales at certain times of the year, as governed by law. The US & UK online stores tend to offer free shipping to individuals in the UK & US. While consumers in other countries have to pay for expensive shipping (even when shipping from a store within their country). The UK & US charge minimal tax on shipments from another country. Wheras other countries pay a huge tax on these if ordering from a country outside your residence.* Lastly, customer service is usually much better at the online stores in the UK & US - it's clear that they want your repeat business. <br />
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As I'll be visiting the US soon, I've spent the last months adding items to "favorites" list online, waiting for the price to drop, then ordering the item and shipping it to the US address. This allows me to get many different items of good quality at good prices. I'm looking forward to coming home and spending the first afternoon trying on items. If you haven't already tried online shopping, I highly encourage it. <br />
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*In Germany, this tax can be as high as 100% the price of the item. Because of the tax, a huge item delivery service has been established at my work. When UK & US colleagues come to Germany on a business trip, they often "volunteer" (bless them) to bring over items for us which we've ordered online and had shipped to their houses. StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-26742566821551132442010-08-01T16:38:00.005+02:002010-08-01T17:30:40.901+02:00Destination: Madrid<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">In early June, a friend and I travelled to Madrid. I was very excited for the trip as I had never been to Madrid (yes I know, that's weird considering where else I've visited) and I was travelling there with an old friend (who made an excellent tour guide as he lived in the city for 1 year during undergrad). Highlights included:</div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsaIWMI4s5-QMDz76U464LMaSh6X4VQlLBvtWt5eTdtuv6XD-7gvZ9e6IrUuDKXwXagrBxhys1eun2ciBqphLTWRgHSiFTPc5IgD8xSBS1rqEDXI2WYmdaXTAE23G2qFDlP66FbD-B-4/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsaIWMI4s5-QMDz76U464LMaSh6X4VQlLBvtWt5eTdtuv6XD-7gvZ9e6IrUuDKXwXagrBxhys1eun2ciBqphLTWRgHSiFTPc5IgD8xSBS1rqEDXI2WYmdaXTAE23G2qFDlP66FbD-B-4/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+010.JPG" width="200" /></a>Growing up, my family would always take the double-decker bus tour when visiting new cities. It's a great way to see the highlights of the city and figure out parts to visit later. Bonus if the bus is a hop-on, hop-off bus. This remains my favorite thing to do in new cities. The Madrid bus tour was great, as it allowed us to see all the sites without over heating (the temperature made it miserable to be walking outside during the day). </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjweBEnyAe-8oPkQdLs5kXp9FS5crGBACNw9djzbCp9l8-Ofv75aqlHrTAWnfYkoVoacA7BlRM01wZgxPbmMrUhb6zBc7WJgXGAFwoJ78o2DttvaScJkemgEm1oCxNtTz5ujZjJtHblY/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjweBEnyAe-8oPkQdLs5kXp9FS5crGBACNw9djzbCp9l8-Ofv75aqlHrTAWnfYkoVoacA7BlRM01wZgxPbmMrUhb6zBc7WJgXGAFwoJ78o2DttvaScJkemgEm1oCxNtTz5ujZjJtHblY/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+035.JPG" width="150" /></strong></a><strong>2. Seeing pictures on buildings.</strong> Many buildings in Madrid are covered in pictures. Usually these are painted on the building or created from tile mosaic, however some are more unique and of wood carving, etc. Even the street signs have pictures on them (and not graffiti). Word to the wise: if you're not constantly looking up, it's easy to miss the pics. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<strong>3. Visiting the </strong><a href="http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/"><strong>Mercado de San Miguel.</strong></a><strong> </strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVt_jpcwNqeaPIxAcwCelSR25XieJzhbjtjouQ8frKLeQYU-Rhl2BQXYO2OfbHXXExrv9hZi8OVLYJSEty5fgP2VwzS8QlnorGZZIxSAx06vZ_M-22k0f9aof1uFd-_2ErM2y7L0_VdU4/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVt_jpcwNqeaPIxAcwCelSR25XieJzhbjtjouQ8frKLeQYU-Rhl2BQXYO2OfbHXXExrv9hZi8OVLYJSEty5fgP2VwzS8QlnorGZZIxSAx06vZ_M-22k0f9aof1uFd-_2ErM2y7L0_VdU4/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+024.JPG" width="200" /></a>The Mercado de San Miguel is an indoors, up-scale farmer's market with small booths selling the speciality foods and drinks of Spain. People meet here after work to snack on tapas from the different stalls and drink good wine. The few bar tables in the center of the building are always packed. This is a good place to make Madrid friends and share a table. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <strong>4. Watching the Sunset on the Calle de Bailen (near the Jardins de Sabatini).</strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFN0twW_ozwGngvlPr6MAVL49Kkf3_1QgwAREZGKwjUkL-CUkBNDn6TWJJs3SZhSx17YHwT7fYbfOFLhBD42NPG0MdJP7a79-_ywmA-fsDCFOqKF44DH2izYKyYSk7SkZ0lISLBi9RlUU/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFN0twW_ozwGngvlPr6MAVL49Kkf3_1QgwAREZGKwjUkL-CUkBNDn6TWJJs3SZhSx17YHwT7fYbfOFLhBD42NPG0MdJP7a79-_ywmA-fsDCFOqKF44DH2izYKyYSk7SkZ0lISLBi9RlUU/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+059.JPG" width="200" /></a>Madrid locals make an event of the sunset viewing. Around 8:30pm, groups of friends go to the park next to the Royal Palace, eat tapas and drink Spanish wine, enjoy the company of friends, and watch the sunset. Madrid locals definitely know how to enjoy life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<strong>5. Window shopping on the Calle de Claudio Coello.</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPv-6WyLr34F_1Lnfxs4nOQz83WFW0Wpe1ok5_7nslUjArLh0QbR8TElqxvkYpcS1Jx9qWPcC_Pg3DKypDEVfi4v23TmMMrTR60aCSXiFno1SweAoJCfjUwWJT5LV0CfWs6CFkni2Gs_s/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPv-6WyLr34F_1Lnfxs4nOQz83WFW0Wpe1ok5_7nslUjArLh0QbR8TElqxvkYpcS1Jx9qWPcC_Pg3DKypDEVfi4v23TmMMrTR60aCSXiFno1SweAoJCfjUwWJT5LV0CfWs6CFkni2Gs_s/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+086.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The southern most part of the street is crowded with the stores of many designers. I like the the northern part of the street better which had stores of up-and-coming designers selling things at reasonable prices. This area is great for people watching. It's also interesting to see the reaction of sales people when you walk into their store (I looked very unglamourous on my afternoon visit as I spent the entire morning walking around and sweating in 100 degree temps). Madrid has great fashion. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All in all, it was a very good trip. On my next trip, I'll stay out later. Madrid is a town that comes alive at night and should be seen then. Also, I'd like to go to a club where locals are dancing modern flamenco. And I'd like to visit the Museum of the Americas, which I've heard provides a great history of Spain and showcases it's relics.</div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Restaurant & Hotel Review. </strong>(for all who wanted to know my thoughts on where to stay and eat)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PZyQ3aRMSJYet2hsGs_lZyem2RXE1OCrLWkV1Oy__LRwAERduMyaigGrO_InQF_k2kNjifxt9cCNo75nFO05SGe1iqcV5hMvre4OsgWnxHBBfkVj6kzsF3Zmi_1fdHwxnjdwIXvnvZ0/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PZyQ3aRMSJYet2hsGs_lZyem2RXE1OCrLWkV1Oy__LRwAERduMyaigGrO_InQF_k2kNjifxt9cCNo75nFO05SGe1iqcV5hMvre4OsgWnxHBBfkVj6kzsF3Zmi_1fdHwxnjdwIXvnvZ0/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+043.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Restaurant: El Estragon</strong> (Plaza de la Paja 10, 28005 Madrid). Great vegetarian restaurant in a non-veggie town. Thie dishes were flavorful and contained large amounts of the essential nutrients which vegetarians have a tough time getting (protein, calcium, iron). The service & location were great - I wanted to sit there for hourse and people watch. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Restaurant: Teatriz</strong> (Hermosilla 15, 28001 Madrid). This has an amazing set-up as it's in an old theatre. Tables are located in all audience sections, including the box seats. On stage was a bar with huge mirrors around it. And the food was amazing (my descriptions of food only go far). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Hotel: </strong><a href="http://www.suites33.com/EN/hotel.html?gclid=CKTWv4CxmKMCFQ0gZwodLCkTsQ"><strong>Suites 33</strong></a><strong>.</strong> This was a good hotel at a good rate (I stayed here the 1st night when I was by myself). It was located 2 min from the Plaza de Espana, but it was on a quiet street. The hotel room & bathroom were large and clean (by American standards). The A/C worked. And there was free wi-fi for all guests. The concierge was very helpful.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Hotel: <a href="http://www.westinpalacemadrid.com/">Westin Palace</a>.</strong> Fabulous is the only way to describe the Westin (my friend and I stayed here the rest of the trip by using friequent flier points). The room, bathroom, and service was all fabulous. The highlight was the breakfast buffet. It included every breakfast food possible, including champagne, and was served in a gorgeous atrium. On weekends, a piano player and opera singer serenade everyone. Bon Jovi was also staying at the hotel while we were there. Groupies camped out 24/7 to catch a glimpse of the band.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUmSmn87nSDgRJ8kqgyu-xXW50BF-ZuZbVEVC7Ic-RSj_oKz9oUlVaCS86dtUK8S_AAe5Go9ONlSXdNpzpQrurlzeeTLaIKleIcsa7qqBs6PgR62WZAtAuEssbhcNMiYSWDOjtYG7n_o/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUmSmn87nSDgRJ8kqgyu-xXW50BF-ZuZbVEVC7Ic-RSj_oKz9oUlVaCS86dtUK8S_AAe5Go9ONlSXdNpzpQrurlzeeTLaIKleIcsa7qqBs6PgR62WZAtAuEssbhcNMiYSWDOjtYG7n_o/s200/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+067.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 452px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1422px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /></a></div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-36834121328650217562010-07-21T12:41:00.005+02:002010-07-21T13:55:59.790+02:00All girls should play football (or some team sport)<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_ZZ66ksni4Fh1eBBzmQo99n9ODwinuMEmjlickOFCVCntqHGQ2uUxZws9BvxxxkWTE0jfPv9-RN2_5xJMrvFtMVpweeK92cmKUCwxJqFMxw9sOejNSk4ppoRcHDT-Zb0EjLh80hKU04/s1600/girls+soccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_ZZ66ksni4Fh1eBBzmQo99n9ODwinuMEmjlickOFCVCntqHGQ2uUxZws9BvxxxkWTE0jfPv9-RN2_5xJMrvFtMVpweeK92cmKUCwxJqFMxw9sOejNSk4ppoRcHDT-Zb0EjLh80hKU04/s320/girls+soccer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When my older brother joined a football team in Kindergarten, I was jealous that he got to play and that I had to wait 2 more years to join an official team (1st grade was when the girls teams started in my hometown). Much of my time growing up was spent on a football field. Playing football taught me about teamwork and not quitting, gave me confidence, and introduced me to many friends. Iwould like to say that I also developed superstar skills, however I was okay - which I'm very happy with. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">About 6 months after moving to German, I started playing football again. And again, the sport helped me in many ways... improving my German language skills, making friends, meeting very cute guys, and staying in shape.* Playing football also helped me establish myself as an equal amongst the guys in the "old boys network" at work, which still very much exists in Germany (football in Germany is the equivalent to golfing in the US).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Arriving in Germany, I was surprised to learn that very few German females play (or like) football or any team sport.** However, German females are a group which could benefit most from the lessons of football. In the German workplace, the stereotype of a female is someone who is delicate, emotional, and unable to make competent decisions. Few females in Germany advance to management because of this stereotype. Of the female managers, the majority (at my company) are ex-pats who present themselves as feminine, yet tough, and capable of competent decision making. They understand how to get along with men and women, and foster teamwork... All skills learned in football. Ironically, almost all grew up playing team sports and still participate in our company's annual football competition. These female managers are often very respected.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>While growing up, there were many times I didn't appreciate football... times when my parents had to drag me kicking to practices. Now looking back, I'm very appreciative that my parents let/made me play football. All kids, especially little girls, should play football. This will better set them up for success later in life.<br />
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*Running for 2 hours x 2-3 times/week does wonders for the figure. And there is no chance to be lazy and miss a work-out as your teammates will force you to attend the next practice (or guilt trip you into it).<br />
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**The typical German female deeply dislikes football and other team sports. If their is a spoting event on TV, they will often criticize it (and those watching it) and then ask that the channel be changed. Many only watch a football match during the EuroCup or World Cup. Artsy things are promoted more amongst females in Germany.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-84987045853924267662010-07-10T11:58:00.002+02:002010-07-15T10:35:31.509+02:00Paul was right again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxMMOtPFmdvstBkKvVp8XImPg03XPRObaSZtwK4umY86s9P5PkjHRqaekILJ7opog2krzxxP6Znr9bIekhCW49p-69FUlIoF6GhHIRg_-Zd6Ue_ubqQw_ZpXXgSojcmp3Tx_im8L62g8/s1600/Paul+the+Octopus+-+DE+v.+ES+prediction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxMMOtPFmdvstBkKvVp8XImPg03XPRObaSZtwK4umY86s9P5PkjHRqaekILJ7opog2krzxxP6Znr9bIekhCW49p-69FUlIoF6GhHIRg_-Zd6Ue_ubqQw_ZpXXgSojcmp3Tx_im8L62g8/s320/Paul+the+Octopus+-+DE+v.+ES+prediction.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Paul, a German octopus, has predicted the results of every World Cup match. While his forecasting techniques may be questionable, he has been 100% correct. And unfortunately, he correctly predicted that Spain (ES) would beat Germany (DE). Needless to say, the atmosphere in DE is now very somber. Gone are all the flags, loud football songs, and streets packed with cars honking their horns. Instead, all the Germans are sitting at the doner kebab stand to eat away their sorrows.* <br />
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Video: DE fans cheering at the match start (the song in the video is the most famous German football song which basically says "shoot a goal, shoot a goal...")<br />
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Video: ES fans cheering after the goal<br />
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Note: These videos were taken at the Heidelberg University Mensa public viewing. <br />
*Doner kebab stands are the equivalent to 24/7 Mexican & Pizza places in the US. They provide the late night food in Germany (unfortunately, there are no shops selling vegetarian kebabs).StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-71458401924300021702010-07-07T15:34:00.006+02:002010-07-07T16:11:05.908+02:00And the rain came pouring down for the DE v. AR football matchBad decision to watch the DE v. AR football match at the <a href="http://www.zollhofgarten.de/">Zollhofgarten</a> (an outdoor public viewing site) instead of opting to watch it inside at a friends house. Having hot, humid morning weather, we were completely unprepared for the torrential downpour that happened midway through the 1st half. Within 2 min, all of us were soaking wet. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Note for future: when the weather forecast predicts an "80% chance of rain"... plan for rain (even if there are no clouds in the sky). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. And the rain starts.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W12AckQrbFLqUosUyP74D0MXHaMzqwr_ELy_BxqQaTztrgjYdgG7qq1AIedm-ZpxFZsOrVRgtKandu5ayRB-cyiEybOrjoJ95jlktuPUJmwm-yBq-DSa_2YHyNiULW_tg7TB-nln8HY/s1600/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W12AckQrbFLqUosUyP74D0MXHaMzqwr_ELy_BxqQaTztrgjYdgG7qq1AIedm-ZpxFZsOrVRgtKandu5ayRB-cyiEybOrjoJ95jlktuPUJmwm-yBq-DSa_2YHyNiULW_tg7TB-nln8HY/s200/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+035.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_opaxAU-Dmb2cg8GhDJoDQsgRwzvqjqsnv6hHY04KI_F5Xl_B72LkQpAI4DfiQm1o37jkbuzE3iNlpCtIicJs4y0PW8UojMAPv6e2Z9veAu2AusdKgQGR3gpfSX-8732aWs8wAPSwAl8/s1600/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_opaxAU-Dmb2cg8GhDJoDQsgRwzvqjqsnv6hHY04KI_F5Xl_B72LkQpAI4DfiQm1o37jkbuzE3iNlpCtIicJs4y0PW8UojMAPv6e2Z9veAu2AusdKgQGR3gpfSX-8732aWs8wAPSwAl8/s200/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+039.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. Security guards tried to save the TV (and the film crew filmed the viewers escaping the downpour).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHOhZiPw9nz5Xn-_bqkm31-jpLEiAxgvdRJgtJiGn2KB6_KRM5xnILTI2cvEPuQbNfILBz6gLyjeg7ISV1KVTTaoBMlLxSggUIMGiDwLwmjmUeLki7_BJkj-iTrBMGBAKF3K_QNht0kw/s1600/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHOhZiPw9nz5Xn-_bqkm31-jpLEiAxgvdRJgtJiGn2KB6_KRM5xnILTI2cvEPuQbNfILBz6gLyjeg7ISV1KVTTaoBMlLxSggUIMGiDwLwmjmUeLki7_BJkj-iTrBMGBAKF3K_QNht0kw/s200/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+038.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Moved to an indoor location across the street.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmnoHArj681Ms7jTBMm9HeSf0TFJcvWuF38rJoGFRhyphenhyphenVsImdGAHdGcdKQMnWAsh124CT7JkzA324fNgr2orTrVQT8R1wRt6CCzoxiWHwAZVTJMjKBkalhp5zGYGwPkiO3nJ5ttwi5VZU/s1600/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmnoHArj681Ms7jTBMm9HeSf0TFJcvWuF38rJoGFRhyphenhyphenVsImdGAHdGcdKQMnWAsh124CT7JkzA324fNgr2orTrVQT8R1wRt6CCzoxiWHwAZVTJMjKBkalhp5zGYGwPkiO3nJ5ttwi5VZU/s200/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4. DE fans "boo" Diego Maradona. Unfortunately, I don't have videos of this which happened a lot & loudly. (I like Maradona, he's a entertaining coach)<br />
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5. Celebration after DE won (please excuse the shakiness; this video was filmed while biking).</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy9JZ6q22atXXI2gXrfmoXc01x9Q0oA0SveLBPZsgChyGUkJFFt7kz0zrHq318UW6jsq_LDBoXMfMRBkHHzOw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-50228560263686906532010-07-07T13:05:00.000+02:002010-07-07T13:05:23.876+02:00DE v. EN football match... feel the energyThe DE national anthem... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxAy2rSO4btgHszPMItC6hLLw93yyggoE37LgHlhULhq195jNunkOXhD4jUUoVJW0iKAfmKDirHWPslUigxow' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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After the 1st goal (this video was shot 1 min after the 1st goal; note the dust rising... we were standing on sand which went into the air from everyone jumping up and down)<br />
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After the 2nd DE goal... (craziness)<br />
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After the 3rd DE goal... (even crazier)<br />
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DE fans booing the EN coach... (these were nice "boos" compared to those which Diego Maradona received during the DE v. AR match)<br />
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Note: videos were taken at the <a href="http://www.schwimmbad-club.de/">Schwimmbad</a> public viewing in Heidelberg, Germany.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-66768081426906565092010-07-07T10:48:00.003+02:002010-07-07T11:46:05.343+02:00The World Cup has arrived in Germany!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXLURJlvzveQCXB8JX7jkmjeqs5biG-Wt0l0VqUpqPNYEwuJ4S3-VIPJFkiuHof9mvDK3QmCHs0WWBbX_qXGXkcvLARiLuPYL7Qa3yUVbVxQo0JdNCVwg9cHHL6fxICs132GxYTYpm2Q/s1600/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXLURJlvzveQCXB8JX7jkmjeqs5biG-Wt0l0VqUpqPNYEwuJ4S3-VIPJFkiuHof9mvDK3QmCHs0WWBbX_qXGXkcvLARiLuPYL7Qa3yUVbVxQo0JdNCVwg9cHHL6fxICs132GxYTYpm2Q/s320/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+030.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Being in Germany (DE) for any football championship is an amazing experience. The fans go all out supporting the DE team, which creates a great atmosphere. The after-match celebration (assuming DE wins) is wild with people lighting fireworks in the streets, cars flooding the streets with horns blaring, and people standing on street corners waving the DE flag. The noise is loud and the celebration goes on all night. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The public expressing of support and enthusiasm for DE's football team only started in 2006 when DE hosted the World Cup. Before 2006, all Germans were taught to restrain any pride for their nation. As one friend put it "When you cause 2 world wars, you learn not to enter into any more wars and not to sing praises outloud about your country." DE won the World Cup in 1954, 1974, and 1990. However, there were no public celebrations, cheering or flag waving after these wins. Typical Germans support their local canton (i.e. state) teams, instead of the national team.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KXGg0ua3yl7ottiRTnT1ZfWiK4RVLwdKdtsN5ImMpWlqnXCFNrY9rE84-LWu89qZ3F9f4OqT4f0lxmQHm0HhXVnX0QKk5uawhFAjBFwM1gQ0pz79F_i34APGs8m90VJ9k3twysgCccg/s1600/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KXGg0ua3yl7ottiRTnT1ZfWiK4RVLwdKdtsN5ImMpWlqnXCFNrY9rE84-LWu89qZ3F9f4OqT4f0lxmQHm0HhXVnX0QKk5uawhFAjBFwM1gQ0pz79F_i34APGs8m90VJ9k3twysgCccg/s200/(2010.07.03)+DE+v+AR+football+match+027.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">To show the world that DE could "put on a good party" for the 2006 World Cup, the government set-up public viewing sites in all cities. At the public viewings, tourists and locals came together to watch the matches on huge screens. The govenment also offered deals, like cheap rail tickets to matches, to inspire Germans to get out, spend money, and support their team. The 2006 DE football team showcased 50% of the players from different ethnic backgrounds - a first for the DE national football team. This acceptance of diversity prompted many German immigrants to support the DE team. Additionally, many DE teachers used the World Cup to teach (ex: teaching foreign language by using football words). </div><br />
The 2008 EuroCup was great. The 2010 WorldCup has also been amazing... Germans are still out in full force supporting their team. This evening, I'll watch the DE v. ES match at a public viewing and will be rooting for DE!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQvzkbQ8c3wYO947YD1KwjAMtxEo-NnaSnAOv8E00_diTO_M4DIKZBsGTXaTlkrtjvdNRJ9T5KRR-rxzR6ug' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">(Video footage shows the round-about in HD center after the DE v. AR match; normally there is no traffic here)</div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-40457516345230186632010-06-26T15:38:00.005+02:002010-06-26T16:04:05.976+02:00Cupcakes in Different CountriesI'm not a "sugar" person. A bag of chocolate or sweets could sit unopened at my apt. for months (this requires no self-restraint). On my first birthday in Germany, everyone gave me sweets and chocolate. These remain unopened until 8 months later when I returned to the US and gave them to my family and friends. A bag of salty chips is a completely different story...*<br />
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With that said - on all recent trips, I somehow ended up at a cupcake shops. There is something about cupcakes that make them difficult to resist. The cupcakes (seen below) all received a 100% rating on the "yummy" scale.<br />
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From <a href="http://www.candycakes.com/">Candy Cakes</a> in Covent Garden, London:<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From <a href="http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/">Mercado de San Miguel</a>, in Madrid: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC69MnuvnXRtQS3NInUGUT3DAhW-qbK1PZgO88-WYl0WQGgegjw-r0JXbC5xLCUGy_VWtzrm2GfJmLJWacn6w_IxgG_5gfOlxMbGFMKqaTok_4kpOWoZg-WS7iIU-MD4DlbjB1oqfbHmQ/s1600/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC69MnuvnXRtQS3NInUGUT3DAhW-qbK1PZgO88-WYl0WQGgegjw-r0JXbC5xLCUGy_VWtzrm2GfJmLJWacn6w_IxgG_5gfOlxMbGFMKqaTok_4kpOWoZg-WS7iIU-MD4DlbjB1oqfbHmQ/s320/(2010.06.03-06)+Madrid,+Spain+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From <a href="http://hummingbirdbakery.com/">The Hummingbird Bakery</a>, Nottinghill, London:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7M9Ew692eZmKXdJdZhfIBJq1_cY3gLlbk2YXknB0IvYCwqo5gblcwnGXsDphj_z9clv3r9RkfRb1a8xrNJ9c8KHhY8C9FPRLalxnKxqwg-0jvTEEyBvRDm3ZXpjboOYWoptHluMI23o/s1600/London+(May+2009)+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7M9Ew692eZmKXdJdZhfIBJq1_cY3gLlbk2YXknB0IvYCwqo5gblcwnGXsDphj_z9clv3r9RkfRb1a8xrNJ9c8KHhY8C9FPRLalxnKxqwg-0jvTEEyBvRDm3ZXpjboOYWoptHluMI23o/s320/London+(May+2009)+089.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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*This is a huge joke amongst my friends in Germany. A while ago, there was a dessert making contest between two German friends who both bragged that they were the better dessert maker. They spent 3 days making 5 desserts each. When the tasting happened - I ate the apples out the pie (leaving the crust), had a spoonful of something chocolatey, skipped the other desserts, and had some salty pretzels. Because of my "torturing" of the apple pie and lack of appreciation for the other desserts, I'm no longer invited to dessert contests. And whenever they hold dinner parties, they always bring out dessert for everyone else and a bag of something salty for me. :) To my defense, I did mention to both of them not to make me a portion as I probably wouldn't eat it. They are good chefs though!</div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-10582434854495226182010-06-20T12:50:00.009+02:002010-06-20T13:22:27.468+02:00Destination: London, England<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">London was my "city trip" of the summer. As I live in a small town where there is suburbia and students (and not much in between), London is always a welcome change. The goal of my weekend was to meet up with friends, to get away to a large city, and to have fun. All were successfully accomplished.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Highlights from this trip:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>1. Riding the </strong><a href="http://www.londoneye.com/"><strong>London Eye</strong></a><strong> at sunset.</strong> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUQ7ZegUt4gzuqxyplR-BLE0tZqxha1xpfC6U4vbMpEpH4zJ_smX4egLcB3P2ME54OuIKIGa5Y7NGior__6M4eb4_w_gOHiPkaKhZY2R7cNpi7_L4KV0pUmfppNB1-phcdsluRFiP0gY/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUQ7ZegUt4gzuqxyplR-BLE0tZqxha1xpfC6U4vbMpEpH4zJ_smX4egLcB3P2ME54OuIKIGa5Y7NGior__6M4eb4_w_gOHiPkaKhZY2R7cNpi7_L4KV0pUmfppNB1-phcdsluRFiP0gY/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+066.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The London Eye is the gigantic (135m tall) ferris wheel on the River Thames. Passengers ride in capsules. Sunset is my favorite time to go as you get to see London in daylight for the 1st half (15 min) and London lit-up by lights for the 1nd half (15 min). If you're lucky, there is a gorgeous sunset. <br />
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<strong>2. Visiting the </strong><a href="http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde_park/diana_memorial.cfm"><strong>Princess Diana Memorial Fountain</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTeC5x57kIGwQYzTZRkieKXolbwNQVgv0TUCpAd8Bgq7sBE-KIpjpOAd8nFWOXu7NrDItNF9YecwLf-YtZPLba9oMp_Mt-ZpcK7Q9eWnt3gAan22Zd5jC189TNO6DiL_Dejlzkx1Rsr0/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTeC5x57kIGwQYzTZRkieKXolbwNQVgv0TUCpAd8Bgq7sBE-KIpjpOAd8nFWOXu7NrDItNF9YecwLf-YtZPLba9oMp_Mt-ZpcK7Q9eWnt3gAan22Zd5jC189TNO6DiL_Dejlzkx1Rsr0/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+077.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo93nDCtKGQGWG80KuTmmNS2qAM5e6QlgsIWzkOUAp2jyP3KZWu2U3SnI3b6TRAQufIa4yRSeaUmZuB6KXciw6VBZ64UFRuL4W2dpn2_kZvwa4NiHEqrZ8Ax-mMCYLnD156usjr1ywPes/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo93nDCtKGQGWG80KuTmmNS2qAM5e6QlgsIWzkOUAp2jyP3KZWu2U3SnI3b6TRAQufIa4yRSeaUmZuB6KXciw6VBZ64UFRuL4W2dpn2_kZvwa4NiHEqrZ8Ax-mMCYLnD156usjr1ywPes/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+016.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This fountain is a small, circular stream with twists, twirls, and some small rapids. On warm days, hundreds of kids run in the stream. This is my favorite place to rest after a long day of walking. The water is reasonably chilled, which feels wonderful on tired feet.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Beware: Prepare to get wet if you're anywhere near the stream. Kids are running and splashing everywhere. A friend and I tried to walk the entire circular loop of the fountain (with our pants rolled up). Being very dry, some little girls decided to splash my friend... then their friends joined in the splashing... then they got cups for water and super-soakers. Apparantely these little girls really liked him. And they showed it by ensuring that he was drenched in water when exiting the stream.<br />
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<strong>3. Visiting Camden (Camden St., Camden Market, & Camden Lock).</strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ik0UO_hyN-nIeuXTrRxBGc9qLnhw41cEvj2YPS3TrHXPI1Wnki8oZm_Dx97I_Ib8PRkI000ntmJhxCfIdB5512U4s6-rUuT-uxEu20sKcNIHB3GbmLsgNBkncyH6PoLZl8s5Ccgkgug/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ik0UO_hyN-nIeuXTrRxBGc9qLnhw41cEvj2YPS3TrHXPI1Wnki8oZm_Dx97I_Ib8PRkI000ntmJhxCfIdB5512U4s6-rUuT-uxEu20sKcNIHB3GbmLsgNBkncyH6PoLZl8s5Ccgkgug/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+094.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Camden is an up & coming, edgier neighborhood in London. Day or night, this place is packed. Camden is made-up of 3 parts: Camden St, Camden Market and Camden Lock. Camden St. has great shopping. Small boutiques, featuring soon-to-be up & coming designers line the streets. At night, the street is alive with restaurants and bars. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33GQNoV_1YGLiAEQtNh2xizIoUh1aZDpdi1-rurM_4cLD6ql67DEz9Vxhmjf-aeBZNzv_2tpWgAtF7y7gAY9tDaibuWbJfk_DdGUsKvnunVCymVdSXvaJtlG35g-NJGsl3dn4OfP00bs/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33GQNoV_1YGLiAEQtNh2xizIoUh1aZDpdi1-rurM_4cLD6ql67DEz9Vxhmjf-aeBZNzv_2tpWgAtF7y7gAY9tDaibuWbJfk_DdGUsKvnunVCymVdSXvaJtlG35g-NJGsl3dn4OfP00bs/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+090.JPG" width="200" /></a>If you like flee markets, Camden Market is the place to go. It has stalls with cheaply made trendy clothes (think Forever 21) and mass produced items (like t-shirts). Only clothing, jewlerly, and shoes are sold here. The clothing selection here is better than many other flee markets that I've seen. If you don't like flee markets, avoid this place. The stalls are tightly packed and can make anyone clusterphobic.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH2lS6BrA1HhCVmCYF-MSo-NEk0UWRrH0s7e13unvZEQwggq3BAl-0LOgyzzJpXJWcM8wfY9-Su_78ZTO-g01Nt0Z30kQmVur5BM7MX6kj5JzmBwwCJlR7G5sXXXTyecOaYsS2afQAgU/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH2lS6BrA1HhCVmCYF-MSo-NEk0UWRrH0s7e13unvZEQwggq3BAl-0LOgyzzJpXJWcM8wfY9-Su_78ZTO-g01Nt0Z30kQmVur5BM7MX6kj5JzmBwwCJlR7G5sXXXTyecOaYsS2afQAgU/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+106.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Camden Lock is my favorite part of Camden. It used to be a horse stable (hence the horse statues everywhere). Now it's home to up & coming designer boutiques (selling very edgy and very Indy clothing), boutiques selling random clothing (think great place to shop for Halloween costumes), and tons of food stands (with every type of food). At lunch, you can wander around, sampling different foods. When you decide where to eat, you can purchase a large box for £3-4 and fill it with all food that you want from that food stand. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>4. Watching a football match at </strong><a href="http://www.wembleystadium.com/default.aspx"><strong>Wembley Stadium</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTxTYmVEJxwT6tXlieJQJsrAs1wDeAgcpMqc8wCFw9MFfzzknwd4h3mekY320IYntRw5fYtIh1EX4_Kftg0XFmPYck8nmO_q2piUlOk_ckgMA_OV4Afzll4vRUP-Twj6PYgnrBoFTajY/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTxTYmVEJxwT6tXlieJQJsrAs1wDeAgcpMqc8wCFw9MFfzzknwd4h3mekY320IYntRw5fYtIh1EX4_Kftg0XFmPYck8nmO_q2piUlOk_ckgMA_OV4Afzll4vRUP-Twj6PYgnrBoFTajY/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+110.JPG" width="200" /></a>One of my favorite things to do in when visiting a country is to watch a local, sports match. The crowd atmosphere at these matches tells a lot about the people in the country. Knowing that I love football, a good friend got us tickets to the England v. Mexico. As this was a pre-World Cup practice match, the atmosphere was even louder than normal. Everyone was decked out in England or Mexico colors. Almost everyone attending the match is a die-hard fan of their team... they attend both home and away matches of their team.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpBIIjr_SXEACbwBolgxnqIFMQ9CTkaE86vKX61b8YfGHvDknmiQ-hIvE65kT37y08iS2blJkK9nQel-jU6T9UiK3A0NgSVY2j-NzHLaYl3ciqD-i22VIi5-woDBhq-AwMZ4YTNbdvkc/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpBIIjr_SXEACbwBolgxnqIFMQ9CTkaE86vKX61b8YfGHvDknmiQ-hIvE65kT37y08iS2blJkK9nQel-jU6T9UiK3A0NgSVY2j-NzHLaYl3ciqD-i22VIi5-woDBhq-AwMZ4YTNbdvkc/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+111.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was during this match that I learned "Our Country Tis of Thee" was written to the tune of "God Save the Queen" (the British national anthem). Apparantely the British do not like the US lyrics and don't appreciate someone singing the US lyrics during the playing of their national anthem... they consider it butchering it. </div></div></div><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTeC5x57kIGwQYzTZRkieKXolbwNQVgv0TUCpAd8Bgq7sBE-KIpjpOAd8nFWOXu7NrDItNF9YecwLf-YtZPLba9oMp_Mt-ZpcK7Q9eWnt3gAan22Zd5jC189TNO6DiL_Dejlzkx1Rsr0/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+077.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 173px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 855px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EfeM3dYldOAYcZQik-jbJXpOVgIs4O4t1sOsgiw4pntNiIV0F8WzOV_FGxpc7WB36P8uhdHygcTbJBk9JaaKVXnP2UIL2Ky_jngYbLuzgur9FsiJKdfdmbz43po-pleRhH8COwr8iIs/s1600/(2010.05.20-24)+London+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EfeM3dYldOAYcZQik-jbJXpOVgIs4O4t1sOsgiw4pntNiIV0F8WzOV_FGxpc7WB36P8uhdHygcTbJBk9JaaKVXnP2UIL2Ky_jngYbLuzgur9FsiJKdfdmbz43po-pleRhH8COwr8iIs/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+067.JPG" width="200" /></a><strong>5. Visiting Hyde park.</strong> When the weather gets warm, Londoners spend all day in parks. They're a great place to meet friends. It's completely common to see many groups still in the park at 9pm (the sun is still out at 9pm in summer). On another note, it's also completely common to see (almost) naked people, specifically guys, in the parks during hot weather. Many Londoners like to strip down when it's sunny with the purpose of getting a tan. This can be a scary sight, depending on the person with their clothes off. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJj3HOe-Yxq1032dgWBLaSHFMHbqsDWaJGX2H7nP2MlGzHxB3Blno-ohXg02eiG-6H0Kj4GH5R3qsRE9zS4T_G4wQrEopgKPoTbxW7yi2EO_7B4EwYhfiKkKvsPwP0G7CC0fb6tRyNP8/s200/(2010.05.20-24)+London+020.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 224px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 770px; visibility: hidden;" width="72" /></div></div><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukLGPCypU_U8cCb00L6SRp8dfNN1UTVsvaf77uhW2UHh7OJUoUaREC8-gLU9H8pX-uSYVPa_36MnphjlbUrf0zNEkcx0hZm0TLzD8fMWPSAc5t5jaAvc74ukuyRCOiOyHqtIHUfrhuNo/s200/London+(May+2009)+013.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 240px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 270px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-14164348015418296202010-06-13T11:40:00.001+02:002010-06-13T11:40:52.838+02:00The blog where I explain why I have traveled so much lately...May & early June is the perfect time to travel if you live in Germany. Germany is cold & rainy at this time and every other weekend is a 3 or 4-day weekend (love those German holidays!) when stores/shops/restaurants are all closed.* <br />
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My first year in Germany, I didn't know about all these holidays. As a result, I was stuck inside (rain + cold + shops closed + friends all travelling home = me sitting inside all weekend) on perfectly good long-weekends. Now I've learned my lesson and make plans in advance to travel on these weekends. Additionally, summer has started in Europe. And summer is the best time to travel. Many ex-pats don't travel during the winter, thereby saving money & vacation days for summer travel. Hence the reason for all the recent (and upcoming) travel posts. Plus cheap (and quick) travel within Europe is one of the perks of being an ex-pat!<br />
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If you have any suggestions for places to visit (especially those off the beaten path) - I'm happy to hear them!<br />
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*Note to travellers planning trips to Germany in May/June - this is a bad time to visit Germany due to the rain & holidays.<br />
*Note to recent transplants to Germany - plan trips in advance for the holiday weekends, or you'll be stuck inside wasting a great chance to travel.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-52675351439124061382010-06-13T11:03:00.002+02:002010-06-13T11:05:26.373+02:00Heidelberg's Witch FestivalThe city of Heidelberg (HD) loves it's cult-related rituals. In fall, there is a Vampire ball where people dress in extravagant Vampire costumes (think "Interview with a Vampire" outfits). And in spring there is Walpurgisnächt, more commonly known as "witch night."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQfqiwNLkWqKu1mXNKkE9BjGS7lx0y_T9i6c8izbjSVU73OASVq8HmVa_S2w8k8CJidWB3g9Mg_Nn9XzDCJr8GUa5tF0tM2kod94TitL08DuISpu4guX7O-M4hPrzvWAjUR89ZENz0IA/s1600/HD+Crew+Races+(2010.05.16)+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQfqiwNLkWqKu1mXNKkE9BjGS7lx0y_T9i6c8izbjSVU73OASVq8HmVa_S2w8k8CJidWB3g9Mg_Nn9XzDCJr8GUa5tF0tM2kod94TitL08DuISpu4guX7O-M4hPrzvWAjUR89ZENz0IA/s200/HD+Crew+Races+(2010.05.16)+001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Witch night happens on the last night in April. According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night">Wikipedia</a>, this holiday originated by witches holding large celebrations with bonfires to celebrate the arrival of spring. Many in Heidelberg (HD) continue to celebrate the witch tradition.<br />
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On the top of the hill opposite of HD are monastery ruins and a Nazi amphitheatre. These were all built on top of druid ruins. On the last night in April, people (mostly hippies and students) hike the mountain - in darkness - and go to the ampitheatre. Hiking at night to the ampitheatre is no problem... there is a constant stream of people walking up the forest trails to the mountain (as one friend put it "follow the dreadlocks, drum beats, and smell of pot"). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILGMJw8_CvTMx2O19t2c8FBRTMJtRpi1-McUMQNyiP9QJ_Wf1da4OQjRW8dRvRsFw3oM9etI72tVAsarKHI5iRwnM9Di9A3bKu97-gp7_qIpO3-8V6nNNKmNcwqaAzErITTy_9DUIAKw/s1600/Witch+Mountain,+HD+(2010.05.01)+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILGMJw8_CvTMx2O19t2c8FBRTMJtRpi1-McUMQNyiP9QJ_Wf1da4OQjRW8dRvRsFw3oM9etI72tVAsarKHI5iRwnM9Di9A3bKu97-gp7_qIpO3-8V6nNNKmNcwqaAzErITTy_9DUIAKw/s200/Witch+Mountain,+HD+(2010.05.01)+003.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>At the top of the mountain (which we made without injury!), we encountered 2 parking lots with 30+ ambulances. Seeing this was slightly alarming.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKudKVH3DUUcztkjT39XvkE9ZsefUJ85mjFCyYXTILguGftQhdXqpIXdjXEcjzraaFSSiIskGXm1eQTbS3ZDFCf2MI9eE8hvYSOZWvmLFmXc4AVrPZf5vpVo3FgReTM88S2CCElFfcdo/s1600/Witch+Mountain,+HD+(2010.05.01)+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKudKVH3DUUcztkjT39XvkE9ZsefUJ85mjFCyYXTILguGftQhdXqpIXdjXEcjzraaFSSiIskGXm1eQTbS3ZDFCf2MI9eE8hvYSOZWvmLFmXc4AVrPZf5vpVo3FgReTM88S2CCElFfcdo/s200/Witch+Mountain,+HD+(2010.05.01)+005.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The ampitheatre (a short distance from the parking lot) was easy to find as there were loud drum noises coming from it. In the ampitheatre, there were 3,000+ people, many bonfires (1 big bonfire, many small BBQs turned into bonfires), loud drums, people dancing (hippie style) everywhere, and random fireworks. In the 30 min which we were there, 2 people were carried out of the ampitheatre by paramedics. Many of the people in the ampitheatre were set to camp there overnight. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbTjgJirSv4XZZCqEzv_wJpl4OO4ayN9EOvnOgW5Nt4hWClDypv2iJB1q99DDHvJUwUjUHyyh4S2IilKLw92lVNIp3x_MGriCUTRmByTkStdNUx5rAPV8h1CYtwYf_i_FfwuSrIBVjlU/s1600/Witch+Mountain,+HD+(2010.05.01)+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbTjgJirSv4XZZCqEzv_wJpl4OO4ayN9EOvnOgW5Nt4hWClDypv2iJB1q99DDHvJUwUjUHyyh4S2IilKLw92lVNIp3x_MGriCUTRmByTkStdNUx5rAPV8h1CYtwYf_i_FfwuSrIBVjlU/s200/Witch+Mountain,+HD+(2010.05.01)+006.JPG" width="200" /></a>The walk down was much easier than the walk up. The path was filled with (drunk) people sitting and some (stupidely) attempting to walk in not-so-straight lines (this was done in a crooked path with frequent crashes into the trees and fences on either side of the path). All in all, we hiked about 5km that night. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next year, we decided that we're going to have a cart next to the ampitheatre where we sell ice cream, water, and hamburgers/hot dogs. None were there and we're sure many people would buy them.</div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-83002771385920866302010-06-12T16:21:00.003+02:002010-06-12T16:27:16.994+02:00German BBQs are Baffling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lk_to6x23YaIlF6QODXcyvnsV_6qO4o7fCzYvNKaXSkqbD0SQRfeVOrlbJQStF63XzTQp4u4Ak0euwbhP2-ViI0N8xZ20MfJQjUDrcXjr622Q5Hw6g8R75x1tcGMmk17PZAiGwWoXw0/s1600/Picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lk_to6x23YaIlF6QODXcyvnsV_6qO4o7fCzYvNKaXSkqbD0SQRfeVOrlbJQStF63XzTQp4u4Ak0euwbhP2-ViI0N8xZ20MfJQjUDrcXjr622Q5Hw6g8R75x1tcGMmk17PZAiGwWoXw0/s320/Picnic.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A German friend is holding a BBQ tomorrow at which the Germany v. Australia World Cup match will be shown. On the invite was the request "Please bring your own meat to cook + condiment/buns + $5. We will provide drinks and salad for the $5." Likewise, at a German-hosted BBQ in Silicon Valley, a group of us non-Germans showed up to the BBQ, and then had to leave, go to the grocery store and buy our dinner, before returning. <br />
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At BBQs with Germans, normally everyone is expected to bring everything (meat, salad, chips, drinks) which they would want to consume.* This completely baffles me. BBQs are a chance to get together, share good food, and enjoy the companies of others. I understand keeping the costs/expectations for each guest to a reasonable amount by having everyone bring "normal" BBQ foods/drinks. So anyone wanting something extravavagant - like Champagne, or expensive - like a steak, or out of the norm - like gluten free/veggie burgers needs to bring them themselves. But otherwise, sharing is a good lesson to learn and a BBQ is a great place to practice sharing. With that said, I'm not a fan of the German BBQ approach as it doesn't promote sharing. <br />
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After my first German BBQ in Silicon Valley, my non-German friends and I made BBQ rules (for our BBQs) that everyone was expected to bring 1 drink or dish to share with the entire BBQ group. It was met with resistance at first, but over time I've learned that everyone actually appreciates it.<br />
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*Some of my German friends (usually those who've lived outside of Germany) now prefer the sharing approach to a BBQ (or so I've been told) and hold sharing BBQs.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-65646128569255105592010-05-19T14:31:00.000+02:002010-05-19T14:31:51.637+02:00And the winner of the ugliest flower parade float is...With so many colors, textures, and types of flowers to choose from, a float dedicated to fashion could have been amazing. Instead, the monstrosity (see pic below) was included in the 2010 Holland flower parade. There are so many things wrong with this float inlcuding: a lop-sided chest, pastel colors which would have made a 1950's prom queen cringe, ruffles that are too excessive for even the 1980's, and a skirt with holes big enough to put Lindsay Lohen to shame (and to flash everyone else in the meantime). The dresses on the girls sitting at the back aren't helping either. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recommendation: Project Runway should create floats centered around fashion for the parade next year. Then the parade should drive through the streets of Paris during Paris Fashion Week. This wouldn't be a far stretch from some of the challenges which the designers already are asked to do. And the results would be gorgeous to see and smell wonderful! </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAI38v_Za7y9TyqttpayBNowKjt_laZMY7iLj6hgnL6ZBXJKPm1IyIGtM-edOg1aCPwBoWd_y3EwEE2-wB58GOM_fmNVBbwoYXqSRBqeLS6zZ4Wn-lr9Vlf5momTCRJWcxxxIjyEifGI/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAI38v_Za7y9TyqttpayBNowKjt_laZMY7iLj6hgnL6ZBXJKPm1IyIGtM-edOg1aCPwBoWd_y3EwEE2-wB58GOM_fmNVBbwoYXqSRBqeLS6zZ4Wn-lr9Vlf5momTCRJWcxxxIjyEifGI/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+292.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCD6mDoVqtrsqOIuLnWotbw4gMAWtyn1Lss26Q84GjU78uH-xEJ1hUXTzHNVQmuX06UcfalyX7sR3CNXMHsdRW-g6nk-K9hdHvcPnpQUiuHcGG5oxuS4rQWtJwYizgzMSMVCpPiq2QUo/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCD6mDoVqtrsqOIuLnWotbw4gMAWtyn1Lss26Q84GjU78uH-xEJ1hUXTzHNVQmuX06UcfalyX7sR3CNXMHsdRW-g6nk-K9hdHvcPnpQUiuHcGG5oxuS4rQWtJwYizgzMSMVCpPiq2QUo/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+294.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-24328915412295190172010-05-18T22:42:00.002+02:002010-05-18T22:45:16.370+02:00Destination: Flower Parade, Holland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The highlight of the Holland trip was the flower parade. On the last Saturday in April, all the flower growers from the region of Am Lisse, Holland create floats made of thousands of flowers. The attention to detail is absolutely amazing. Each float has a different theme. And they all smell wonderful. </div><br />
There are between 15-20 floats each year. They travel 40km throughout the day. We caught the parade at the end of the day (hence the reason some of the flowers are drooping in the pics below). Below are some of my favorite floats. To make pics bigger, click on them.<br />
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<strong>Holland float</strong> - with windmills, cows, and dancing Dutchmen in clogs (both flower covered dutchman and actual dutchman dancing).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BJPijmRiEmiH-A5xv9cdVJNVmcmKNJQBSgp4NeNbJ4BkquJ6Fur1slFFpIBL1NXaOY6wActcgG6q26PL6gzI-jtGPdBwYsI-i9izqz1uk-nhDxgDQL6BWiTbHkl99hOjqW2n9ilRj6o/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BJPijmRiEmiH-A5xv9cdVJNVmcmKNJQBSgp4NeNbJ4BkquJ6Fur1slFFpIBL1NXaOY6wActcgG6q26PL6gzI-jtGPdBwYsI-i9izqz1uk-nhDxgDQL6BWiTbHkl99hOjqW2n9ilRj6o/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+215.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWsTODWZDo6JSYwQs4SIBZyGLmuZm2mqLhrQvTI9Vqkso3kJcl5iaMLlfqJp-Q0XYv7MKOjBKn6h0XlCsh68zeIiH19pSXIkHZn0A9TkgXUpKjve0IZZWhw_s7FUaeb7xpPe-IfpZxiA/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWsTODWZDo6JSYwQs4SIBZyGLmuZm2mqLhrQvTI9Vqkso3kJcl5iaMLlfqJp-Q0XYv7MKOjBKn6h0XlCsh68zeIiH19pSXIkHZn0A9TkgXUpKjve0IZZWhw_s7FUaeb7xpPe-IfpZxiA/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+214.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xn4H9cw7nMBhxlRFABKHXMFR3FRNgCyXyw8G9DRHv_pIfyaKOPktJbNykhxefMco1OjL81QwkBC1FTV8wJpZpRHYTsGzD8BvKy-C54GxTSkpieyPX-OcRbeCkh-Szz2qqT0LH71i_pA/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xn4H9cw7nMBhxlRFABKHXMFR3FRNgCyXyw8G9DRHv_pIfyaKOPktJbNykhxefMco1OjL81QwkBC1FTV8wJpZpRHYTsGzD8BvKy-C54GxTSkpieyPX-OcRbeCkh-Szz2qqT0LH71i_pA/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+217.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><br />
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<strong>Train float</strong> - with engine & caboose. The detailing on the side of the train is really pretty, as are the tulip box on the caboose.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD9Z6-oLTuLeShqrU-EbGYqAPJFVpUU0rM17zvD23VDYpVqYS2JBGoOE-WsYSSvYQWp8uZCp-xnjJZiOWA0PmlGCFnnyBporaZJuElJ0B4KKH1VYmtt22_pA9YypXvoUc0lxetH7SXzM/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD9Z6-oLTuLeShqrU-EbGYqAPJFVpUU0rM17zvD23VDYpVqYS2JBGoOE-WsYSSvYQWp8uZCp-xnjJZiOWA0PmlGCFnnyBporaZJuElJ0B4KKH1VYmtt22_pA9YypXvoUc0lxetH7SXzM/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+222.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k1UkgbHyKjJz_-0OT-WXWSfHyi5mCOU90dld0niilYFPNFTELI-c88M7XF1awvTCNlsiBppLCDig679kgLlWG-aikHE4cevGGQPyB7nGPtwA96HE2lRQI6KZnTp4jF0IN2SmiyonfLs/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k1UkgbHyKjJz_-0OT-WXWSfHyi5mCOU90dld0niilYFPNFTELI-c88M7XF1awvTCNlsiBppLCDig679kgLlWG-aikHE4cevGGQPyB7nGPtwA96HE2lRQI6KZnTp4jF0IN2SmiyonfLs/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+224.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x5RwoPjiL1eAUeydl79vLy7iDa0G5oZuguvRFOi7U-xPVEykXPNyIOQl43zePj19RcfSJrAhUjAVaJxIRZccepgENBvTuNMdfHPzuIkXO0OrSilCeHV7-0Rp1pdT3yt3Fbf7zwjRCtI/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x5RwoPjiL1eAUeydl79vLy7iDa0G5oZuguvRFOi7U-xPVEykXPNyIOQl43zePj19RcfSJrAhUjAVaJxIRZccepgENBvTuNMdfHPzuIkXO0OrSilCeHV7-0Rp1pdT3yt3Fbf7zwjRCtI/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+225.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltIRAgIifd_dK3ZJIt7BoH7SwPSLzSX4JqdXhoKTlKJz8_YRKzsT129sd5co_RWbf9tcGUKBO29EXLSmte7oNV2zxgswEXNvh4IwfdAr9zFev44TIs2B-kv7BIQm2hzDL0g3NptioXv4/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltIRAgIifd_dK3ZJIt7BoH7SwPSLzSX4JqdXhoKTlKJz8_YRKzsT129sd5co_RWbf9tcGUKBO29EXLSmte7oNV2zxgswEXNvh4IwfdAr9zFev44TIs2B-kv7BIQm2hzDL0g3NptioXv4/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+227.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a><br />
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<strong>Viking float</strong> - the detailing on the shields on the boat is amazing. The use of veggies, sea shells and flowers together is nice.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbKICXROOVO-0iD-F7-0ZknHl6HPlKI76yb7rmfMy5yOacG7RMe-uSVUV3JxZTN5s6RxHCVL0UjvzEyiL0WnEnxD5dB6Z6_0DlwtdkmqMBrlx0jm3kbanHjivA-NfcOGUzfFNvCxikhE/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbKICXROOVO-0iD-F7-0ZknHl6HPlKI76yb7rmfMy5yOacG7RMe-uSVUV3JxZTN5s6RxHCVL0UjvzEyiL0WnEnxD5dB6Z6_0DlwtdkmqMBrlx0jm3kbanHjivA-NfcOGUzfFNvCxikhE/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+237.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<strong>Under the Sea</strong> <strong>float</strong> - this is my favorite. The lobster is awesome! It would be cool if there were blue and pink lobsters. <br />
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<strong>Hiking in Holland float</strong> - the sheep are cool. It would have been fun for them to add animanl noises (many floats had singers or dancers).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglSmB7HlSBtRiM1uYA1TF-Ue5aiOQkoIhFdpYtr34ZTAT9A6i8FQ6CSWBYQZy_QQWo7m-NNnP6xgBDMHkQaeMAI0x9sQuU5jpZUkBdHkY6fZJ5AKUssc5LdHRNucZEJNppVjOz8nJITM/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglSmB7HlSBtRiM1uYA1TF-Ue5aiOQkoIhFdpYtr34ZTAT9A6i8FQ6CSWBYQZy_QQWo7m-NNnP6xgBDMHkQaeMAI0x9sQuU5jpZUkBdHkY6fZJ5AKUssc5LdHRNucZEJNppVjOz8nJITM/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+276.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><br />
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<strong>Dancing Dolls float</strong> - the red lily along the sides are pretty.<br />
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<strong>Finish Line of Bike Race </strong><strong>float</strong> - this is really cool in that they made flowers out of flowers. The sizing of the flowers and people is a lot like Alice & Wonderland... with spandex.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesPwphn5sq0q3Zpgme92kFdOJm7DT52D0MKi-y-ZXM1EGkDx4mq7kxLTf5jC43K_qgMAXqfxDHFQnj59dU43sxYMUqHy1bcmjr65AjLd66qv68_JkXcc51AHnJtzIMoLJQcse_xys5t4/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesPwphn5sq0q3Zpgme92kFdOJm7DT52D0MKi-y-ZXM1EGkDx4mq7kxLTf5jC43K_qgMAXqfxDHFQnj59dU43sxYMUqHy1bcmjr65AjLd66qv68_JkXcc51AHnJtzIMoLJQcse_xys5t4/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+290.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-3287747633123952182010-05-18T19:58:00.000+02:002010-05-18T19:58:54.396+02:00Destination: Keukenhof Gardens, Holland<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love tulips. They are my 2nd favorite flower (stargazer lily's are my fav). So I was quite happy when a friend agreed to accompany me on 30-hour roadtrip to <a href="http://www.keukenhof.nl/">Kuekenhof Gardens</a>, Holland in late April to see the tulips in bloom. This was the perfect way to spend my bday weekend!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There were fields of flowers everywhere in the area around Keukenhof (called Am Lisse, Holland). As we were stuck in a massive traffic jam going to Keukenhof, we had plenty of time to take pictures of the fields. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWL6zKap3JWlcSde0QarTDXFHOk0vIHXy9-xYDSQXMPAJR_NutfvD-XmGYRbZKt7jCbjVgJYFUjYMKQnc88tQribCBDlInh9XQcy5sasBi_e-CeYMq4hM1ZpoE3GER5hS-VwvzwyZhDA/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWL6zKap3JWlcSde0QarTDXFHOk0vIHXy9-xYDSQXMPAJR_NutfvD-XmGYRbZKt7jCbjVgJYFUjYMKQnc88tQribCBDlInh9XQcy5sasBi_e-CeYMq4hM1ZpoE3GER5hS-VwvzwyZhDA/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+107.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyccTpC86lWlgyKwPEJECMyy2h5IFG2UU3DyFgxaPIdYkGkDJyqIK7xOHhETkbS189RW98FMSjC77Ejboq1Awm_Vog0wrG3OWl2voib7RcDINlSHooUZgNJKVpbKuSYliDlItxrdSpKE/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyccTpC86lWlgyKwPEJECMyy2h5IFG2UU3DyFgxaPIdYkGkDJyqIK7xOHhETkbS189RW98FMSjC77Ejboq1Awm_Vog0wrG3OWl2voib7RcDINlSHooUZgNJKVpbKuSYliDlItxrdSpKE/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+346.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As it was late April (near the end of tulip season), many of the fields were half-picked. Migrant workers, many from Eastern Europe, are hired on a seasonal basis to pick the flowers.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksB76IBOQEo0aG6yAmMAnh1792w2tb9cbW6ZwuygGf9SId1MaWCkOt9RYiodVKoQkdbBcoFsjEJY1XwodoCgOteK3P_m_QCNYkNGyRUL2nPJIGtuWZEtb_fJueMYsxEXVo1pnfZiMr0E/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksB76IBOQEo0aG6yAmMAnh1792w2tb9cbW6ZwuygGf9SId1MaWCkOt9RYiodVKoQkdbBcoFsjEJY1XwodoCgOteK3P_m_QCNYkNGyRUL2nPJIGtuWZEtb_fJueMYsxEXVo1pnfZiMr0E/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+102.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The are 36-acre Gardens have 3 sections: 1) a lawn area with gorgeous flowerbeds, 2) a greenhouse for exotic flowers, and 3) rows of planted flowers which will later be picked and sold. In the lawn area, the gardeners have done an amazing job landscaping. In between patches of well-maincured grass are beautifully designed flower beds. There is also a windmill, a play ground for kids, and some animals. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1u24MXOVCfHZtqINCwX72pUsNPi3Oj78EBWR0w3fzmo7REeQLl0NqcyyvemTe41HeWvUBLI820ChlIN4rjj9Tc9ZOhJb1ipo5r_H8jmKfF3bW0z9gdJmnqEpG5jb6UKiI4FBXNZwIb8/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1u24MXOVCfHZtqINCwX72pUsNPi3Oj78EBWR0w3fzmo7REeQLl0NqcyyvemTe41HeWvUBLI820ChlIN4rjj9Tc9ZOhJb1ipo5r_H8jmKfF3bW0z9gdJmnqEpG5jb6UKiI4FBXNZwIb8/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+117.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NI8OUlrO3YSu0ZoLv5TtZsPhRYqr0UwgQOPrq_mq65E-tEi8xK4YZVxjzuIbnXD_4zmvfuCRolO9aKFeEC3sdC9oY1J-bdCQTiE1RecewBTZ55S7kaXu2Z6Vk02xxXdRF9qvEgOUf4o/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NI8OUlrO3YSu0ZoLv5TtZsPhRYqr0UwgQOPrq_mq65E-tEi8xK4YZVxjzuIbnXD_4zmvfuCRolO9aKFeEC3sdC9oY1J-bdCQTiE1RecewBTZ55S7kaXu2Z6Vk02xxXdRF9qvEgOUf4o/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+125.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1moRkBmCcNdUAIM_GUbHX6mMXq_uQPWw6xb0gkQShyH-qJeOTe2vnWc7QAlLOKixBJAouyRv2Pv-urfUaGsFfPNRCwCb9JPM77Nzghq-VjCX7qjHa4FBI1N-9e_woDHPjc0CwYlHMWM/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1moRkBmCcNdUAIM_GUbHX6mMXq_uQPWw6xb0gkQShyH-qJeOTe2vnWc7QAlLOKixBJAouyRv2Pv-urfUaGsFfPNRCwCb9JPM77Nzghq-VjCX7qjHa4FBI1N-9e_woDHPjc0CwYlHMWM/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+131.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dB7lzdF4FTCDuGo7_zyNyIdaiqLd7ZFBBD5FvXQMMpGRTPEgeJ2EJRF0mt4XdTALW64zA6sBVYRq9AeJ5HEFTTtCCt-j2rflp2MwZCDYuvLoHnfqSrzCZLsOzbftC9f3p0sV1XTW1FI/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dB7lzdF4FTCDuGo7_zyNyIdaiqLd7ZFBBD5FvXQMMpGRTPEgeJ2EJRF0mt4XdTALW64zA6sBVYRq9AeJ5HEFTTtCCt-j2rflp2MwZCDYuvLoHnfqSrzCZLsOzbftC9f3p0sV1XTW1FI/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+165.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><br />
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The gardeners have done a phenomenal job deciding which flowers to plant together. They all compliment each other nicely. It is easy to see why this has the #1 photographed flowers in the world (according to the <a href="http://www.keukenhof.nl/">Keukenhof Gardens website</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kIo7LMQqPUvdw5pBWsqwVdxYCmWdPojUVLld5iodz-C4xYfdjpgxUNI-fAX_BmbhUf9U7QzOu_otaeYruwoVf-ROCMzsAkh3QOcsqhoz-63ynGKcaa9mxQND45NvwcAce_kjpXs7frw/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kIo7LMQqPUvdw5pBWsqwVdxYCmWdPojUVLld5iodz-C4xYfdjpgxUNI-fAX_BmbhUf9U7QzOu_otaeYruwoVf-ROCMzsAkh3QOcsqhoz-63ynGKcaa9mxQND45NvwcAce_kjpXs7frw/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+150.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G1ricCL2HFYcTVlwHejamyMFM45tePwecq85H7gLDr3ptp_7eLodoFJIH6t0-_58LKVFr5hk6kjt5xvZDkcQQbWRZzMwyQpUXYMzAzAHc9V_LV9vH2-ngIEq1UkrBZ0_vSfg0P7Emak/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G1ricCL2HFYcTVlwHejamyMFM45tePwecq85H7gLDr3ptp_7eLodoFJIH6t0-_58LKVFr5hk6kjt5xvZDkcQQbWRZzMwyQpUXYMzAzAHc9V_LV9vH2-ngIEq1UkrBZ0_vSfg0P7Emak/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+116.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><br />
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The 2nd section, the greenhouse, has many exotic flowers that come in interesting shapes & colors... like the flowers below which remind me of pineapples, spiders, starfish, and fireworks. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeCyma2p59o9fZX0MhkPfB9DNtM-ZiOsbScGeLdqWZyeKMOV6vm0UA4pBHYncIaY8oyLuOfK3lYgEZkDvXcswGi6MSqWdLEV5rU1kO41CFvDn7VyQF6EtVkkn7skoBw7okRlJZSga01A/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeCyma2p59o9fZX0MhkPfB9DNtM-ZiOsbScGeLdqWZyeKMOV6vm0UA4pBHYncIaY8oyLuOfK3lYgEZkDvXcswGi6MSqWdLEV5rU1kO41CFvDn7VyQF6EtVkkn7skoBw7okRlJZSga01A/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+135.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETayp7_Do7DQFzeE54uBBBbCvpjxMifu_3LJrKtn3Sn4C9_L4elNWxc3wdYHQ1ckNCzs8ROxAI8phJ7K_zQXnrcUMb3zJAo1Bc76ByystD3rgLzq_iXdtVUmfHSmG2aa4ybANqJi3xrc/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETayp7_Do7DQFzeE54uBBBbCvpjxMifu_3LJrKtn3Sn4C9_L4elNWxc3wdYHQ1ckNCzs8ROxAI8phJ7K_zQXnrcUMb3zJAo1Bc76ByystD3rgLzq_iXdtVUmfHSmG2aa4ybANqJi3xrc/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+162.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtEIrOq8vA18LnczaJozjc9sctwadm6FIUZX_yW0PUe8GOM2VdDwBwiHv4PkrDT98O_EjJEknS-gUQKbksyELpYKTEnCCFVqGfGqq0Uj_LUupgpJyPVEMTpx5weqINvCPkf1cHPNh9Ts/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtEIrOq8vA18LnczaJozjc9sctwadm6FIUZX_yW0PUe8GOM2VdDwBwiHv4PkrDT98O_EjJEknS-gUQKbksyELpYKTEnCCFVqGfGqq0Uj_LUupgpJyPVEMTpx5weqINvCPkf1cHPNh9Ts/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+168.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub4VGaWNRZwoH8j_UGoXHCVnEBwbAocfRlNZxKjlzH9dGU2lGWueHIz5SAQhQVSbuelma9T6RK5CfccVSsMs5yK0Naq7WKZxY09LNHGHJXBJxbHSuwIV04D_tqdSjcuwg2W-oxqV3UYo/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub4VGaWNRZwoH8j_UGoXHCVnEBwbAocfRlNZxKjlzH9dGU2lGWueHIz5SAQhQVSbuelma9T6RK5CfccVSsMs5yK0Naq7WKZxY09LNHGHJXBJxbHSuwIV04D_tqdSjcuwg2W-oxqV3UYo/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+178.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a><br />
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A good way to see the 3rd section of Keukenhof (the flower fields) is via a 1-hour boat ride on the canal. If you have more time, I recommend renting a bike, making a picnic, and spending the day biking around the Am Lisse area.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7jJyFXoJlvgf9QtVGdSBZY80-jPKc12Oddlgoc5WinLc_F4TJ3actHE_ux_iCesJcjWgz0RLUxWZn-qMIlWzcz3obwMyE74af8hbfKP8hLnHwA88wdDN6OORL8kZcAyTIVUT8GLoZsM/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7jJyFXoJlvgf9QtVGdSBZY80-jPKc12Oddlgoc5WinLc_F4TJ3actHE_ux_iCesJcjWgz0RLUxWZn-qMIlWzcz3obwMyE74af8hbfKP8hLnHwA88wdDN6OORL8kZcAyTIVUT8GLoZsM/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+328.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L3g5KQF2G6owrLPfesUgtR7q4sEmMKRzOMa29MBzxnS4JnWAWzbRR60ARpFJQ8f098iJnndympQK0OUpRqITPmAmulaAZdetx5s6BgHbaDSKaeg3qu1AOarRhaW1xpQH068fuO80KRg/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L3g5KQF2G6owrLPfesUgtR7q4sEmMKRzOMa29MBzxnS4JnWAWzbRR60ARpFJQ8f098iJnndympQK0OUpRqITPmAmulaAZdetx5s6BgHbaDSKaeg3qu1AOarRhaW1xpQH068fuO80KRg/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+129.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><br />
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A decent portion of the day was spent looking for good pic locations and posing for pics (this also included trampling flowers to get these pics, as my friend noted). I needed a new facebook photo (I rarely update mine, and an update was needed). Keukenhof seemed like a perfect place to take this pic. The photo below was the runner-up to the facebook photo...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlgc7iIl0krva2WKwrfHFsbKIjNNV26ezYkbCdcSCjz1pNPzmzV7qvnIO4UHbdspytio9_-n5kP7b-ldbO9xhzJm6I7SVWNGu4EM8hnyqPPiP7pf0qCDbrdotQNfqT4Fs22zd0B0Rr88/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlgc7iIl0krva2WKwrfHFsbKIjNNV26ezYkbCdcSCjz1pNPzmzV7qvnIO4UHbdspytio9_-n5kP7b-ldbO9xhzJm6I7SVWNGu4EM8hnyqPPiP7pf0qCDbrdotQNfqT4Fs22zd0B0Rr88/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+182.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div>Tips for visiting Keukenhof: <br />
1. Go mid to late April. Flowers are at their full bloom then. <br />
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2. Avoid being there on weekends. The last 2 weekends in April have special events going on - 1) the Russian flower market (where 70% of the world's tulips are sold) and 2) the flower parade (lots of floats made entirely of flowers). These events draw thousands of tourists which really get in the way of picture taking.<br />
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3. Spend 1 day biking around the flower fields in Am Lisse (important: bring a picnic lunch, as there are no food stands).<br />
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4. Buy flowers while out biking. Keukenhof sells-out quickly of flowers. So it's better to purchase the flowers from another location. If you're looking for a business opportunity, arrange with the 6EUR for 50 tulips suppliers in Amsterdam to sell their flowers at Keukenhof on the weekends in April and take a cut of the profit.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-59920226767203880192010-05-16T12:13:00.002+02:002010-05-16T12:20:41.386+02:00Destination: AmsterdamOver my bday weekend, a friend and I made a 30-hour trip (including 10 hours driving) to Holland to see the tulip fields in bloom. The first stop on this trip was Amsterdam, where we stayed overnight before heading to the tulip fields. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDMrxQGOro2LeAoh9MNHWcKd-20DLnGsCJ2S0nILvnSbLZnAQeQ_3gkV40pv1O5-Bx3RyYMuUwARKHlCS23ZK_gTMvPb3zTmDSJRbBZfJ-Y3OEGHY4tATjPmC3OndB3VG2BXBKaERC3Y/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDMrxQGOro2LeAoh9MNHWcKd-20DLnGsCJ2S0nILvnSbLZnAQeQ_3gkV40pv1O5-Bx3RyYMuUwARKHlCS23ZK_gTMvPb3zTmDSJRbBZfJ-Y3OEGHY4tATjPmC3OndB3VG2BXBKaERC3Y/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+076.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div>Our midnight arrival was perfectly on-time for us to join the entire city population<br />
for a night out on the town. A neon carnival was set-up in the city center with the tallest Carnival rides that I've ever seen. The height didn't seem to daunt people as lines for the rides were long. This surprised me as I'm of the philosophy that it's not smart to go on Carnival rides as they break-down easily... especially the very tall rides where the falling distance is greater.<br />
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Unfortunately we didn't get to see much of the city. Of our 30 hour trip, only 11 hours were spent in Amsterdam (this included sleeping time). Below are some of the key take-aways from the 11 hours there:<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCITvtOJqRTLgixq4gM4iO7wSJzqVDcANbCFImFcY-EWMZqVM2hnbP0k0dKkHW4ZEVX73k9KYXGDdcmiYDF4bXCPJdkzhu5OP7kRSgBUsIzB1TJI5xlcY6PZpFK7sfunjg7Khb2zlR_PI/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCITvtOJqRTLgixq4gM4iO7wSJzqVDcANbCFImFcY-EWMZqVM2hnbP0k0dKkHW4ZEVX73k9KYXGDdcmiYDF4bXCPJdkzhu5OP7kRSgBUsIzB1TJI5xlcY6PZpFK7sfunjg7Khb2zlR_PI/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+007.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a>1. During the day, Amsterdam is a city with gorgeous, old buildings and many canals. During the night, the gorgeous historic buildings take a back seat to neon signs and lit-up graffiti. These contrasting elements work well together. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s3byjYJUfFxFo1AyJb13dpTF_4K6xIUuqMj41W0E6wVDvIkL9_Oaq4ed6o3vNHvLauS_YrOpWLIkTDmVPiYupxEOeNGOw9duk_nZUxYYk-qNwUtKL_PmTb3QwXTJMq9JwphUpll8oP0/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s3byjYJUfFxFo1AyJb13dpTF_4K6xIUuqMj41W0E6wVDvIkL9_Oaq4ed6o3vNHvLauS_YrOpWLIkTDmVPiYupxEOeNGOw9duk_nZUxYYk-qNwUtKL_PmTb3QwXTJMq9JwphUpll8oP0/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+038.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. Most old house have hooks on the underside of the roof (right next to the windows)... these hooks were used in the olden times to lift large objects to the higher rooms as the stair cases were too small to allow larger objects to pass through them. (to better see the hooks, click on the pic at left).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Go out at night in Amsterdam. It is the equivalent to Las Vegas; the city which comes alive at night. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRErhqRohO9KabVyfTPhyphenhyphenSB5nOu9HZQQdoN9mdB9hkzT0iyMCdM8z7dyRPM4gTTetAFBffvllYVJZjoctuy2omb8tIb_oXca-tT4BscEI6OmBn6PUx5eQAM1iV_Nh4nFt7-62a4hZb_FI/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRErhqRohO9KabVyfTPhyphenhyphenSB5nOu9HZQQdoN9mdB9hkzT0iyMCdM8z7dyRPM4gTTetAFBffvllYVJZjoctuy2omb8tIb_oXca-tT4BscEI6OmBn6PUx5eQAM1iV_Nh4nFt7-62a4hZb_FI/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+045.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>4. Bikes are everywhere, including in the canals. Most bikes are in poor shape, except the seats which are well taken care of. <br />
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5. Amsterdam seems to have one of the most diverse poulations in Europe (this observation is based solely on the languages heard - of course, this could also have been us hearing all the tourists).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1gDoTCiQ36c4fVQL_3S0U6sWpmJ9J85rmNWTPrOP9qID6HYbdlYxbaMOf4z2m-QuVoB868vSQBUnWvVAJS4Lp-dMBBUezS4GwXbRglzbzSi13r3Ij8mhfWcYq6EOxkeBqSfCZCjCwsE/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1gDoTCiQ36c4fVQL_3S0U6sWpmJ9J85rmNWTPrOP9qID6HYbdlYxbaMOf4z2m-QuVoB868vSQBUnWvVAJS4Lp-dMBBUezS4GwXbRglzbzSi13r3Ij8mhfWcYq6EOxkeBqSfCZCjCwsE/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+009.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>6. Buy some tulips at the flower market. They're 6EUR for 50 tulips, and they are amazing. Additionally, you can buy bulbs for many flowers (HUGE bulbs). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEb1SFyl44RU0I9D3w1FyQhoDNMJmyuEG6X9KB0JtMU3P-GrQQ5htFosECgiV-Y_NCfir7MfW0FArSXg2n5MlnD902CIcLbSQE6IzMuU7EiMLf1d3q6E8TqrTg-ChzByXWCalGLU224c/s1600/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEb1SFyl44RU0I9D3w1FyQhoDNMJmyuEG6X9KB0JtMU3P-GrQQ5htFosECgiV-Y_NCfir7MfW0FArSXg2n5MlnD902CIcLbSQE6IzMuU7EiMLf1d3q6E8TqrTg-ChzByXWCalGLU224c/s200/(2010.04.23-24)+Amsterdam+Flower+Festival+014.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>6. Hotel recommendation: check out the <a href="http://www.hotels.nl/amsterdam/inntel/">Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Centre</a>. It is in the city center, which is optimal since you can walk to everything. It is reasonably priced if you book ahead of time. The rooms are large (compared to European standards), it's clean and it's staff are very knowledgable about the city. The down-sides to the hotel are that breakfast is not included in the room price and is expensive (a good alternate is to eat at a street cafe) and there is very limited street parking nearby (paid parking is ~50EUR/day, or you can park outside the city and talk a tram in). If you have a car, check out hotels slightly outside the city center.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-45221514199599512292010-05-15T20:20:00.004+02:002010-05-16T11:16:07.475+02:00Destination: Paris in the SpringParis is a city that I know well. Growing up, my family took multiple trips to Paris. On these trips, we had wonderful tour guides - my parents, who had lived there, and their friends. During and after college, I spent a decent amount of time exploring the city. During each visit, I make a point to visit new places/events and to learn new Paris facts. As a result, I am usually the tour guide when I visit Paris with friends. <br />
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On a recent trip to Paris, I was very happy to have a friend join who knew Paris well. During this trip, they were the tour guide role and showed me many new sites. Highlights of the trip included:<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSCkrSEGIiDr9GqGU81hmrvp9zvZIjn-leGy-nAauF1JrnUelYjt2_dyVPWtKrTWjtmBDxAxzlrjJYH7n69rUQ3-veePUNLn2iEvP1ZK24JqTrrMHHox84OCDsJjfnJNgi63k8637P4c/s1600/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSCkrSEGIiDr9GqGU81hmrvp9zvZIjn-leGy-nAauF1JrnUelYjt2_dyVPWtKrTWjtmBDxAxzlrjJYH7n69rUQ3-veePUNLn2iEvP1ZK24JqTrrMHHox84OCDsJjfnJNgi63k8637P4c/s200/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+023.JPG" width="150" wt="true" /></a>1. Cafe de l'Homme. Situated at the back of the <a href="http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/transverse/transverse/accueil.xsp">Musee de l'Homme</a>, this cafe offers tables with the best views in Paris. It's located dirctly across the Seine from the Tour Eiffel on a small hill. From the table, it's possible to see the entire Left Bank of Paris. It is also a great place for people watching. The clientele are mostly high-powered business people, well-to-do Parisian families, and old ladies meeting for social hour. Everyone knew each other, and everyone was in designer clothing - including the servers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGchInOWI2I9wBqG9m5Pgr8swnOJs8BU1ZWrBpTxZHcQhFUmj8yeiwrAkE8jvUd7I69aWZCYy3fH3MQxSB8JCm8WoYxu9K_1i9fK5scuMhimaghbyNzNrVSYUoHDKFgcTaXT2l0J3fRXI/s1600/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGchInOWI2I9wBqG9m5Pgr8swnOJs8BU1ZWrBpTxZHcQhFUmj8yeiwrAkE8jvUd7I69aWZCYy3fH3MQxSB8JCm8WoYxu9K_1i9fK5scuMhimaghbyNzNrVSYUoHDKFgcTaXT2l0J3fRXI/s200/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+047.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>2. L'Orangerie. On the top floor are 2 large, circular rooms which house some of Monet's water lily paintings. The museum was specially designed for the paintings. The lower floor houses rotating art collections. If I lived in Paris, I would visit this museum at least once per week after work, with my ipod, to view the paintings and listen to music.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1tgqDBmHiGHOOITc_mjca2Nt-O0bJqiP98lHMmWvvNT-dtZTb3fnTiUTWUsRbqNZr3NPwsIxO5prRhaRYS_ryD_NP35FVcS78po6WXfMs0dIKoRL3PKDNcvg_g4y22zEZZWNuowDI24/s1600/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1tgqDBmHiGHOOITc_mjca2Nt-O0bJqiP98lHMmWvvNT-dtZTb3fnTiUTWUsRbqNZr3NPwsIxO5prRhaRYS_ryD_NP35FVcS78po6WXfMs0dIKoRL3PKDNcvg_g4y22zEZZWNuowDI24/s200/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+067.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>3. Cimetière du Père Lachaise. On Sunday morning, our first tour stop was Jim Morrison's grave. I'm definitely not a graveyard person... I have a difficult time getting over the feeling that I'm walking on dead people. And seeing Jim Morrison's grave seemed too touristy. But I went anyway and was pleasantly surprised. It was more like a archealogy site than a graveyard. The tombs are miniture houses that date back multiple centuries. Moss covers everything, and antique carvings are everywhere. Jim Morrison's grave is easy to find... just "follow the hippies" (totally serious). I don't recommend going here at night as it could quickly turn into the Blair Witch Project.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h-NvaHvdRMxmPwj8FU-GT1-BzIehoAqEXn532wj5t-KjdBZfP8FyyC4OxaXTfXvrzLzJFW1Mz8JDQombt9Xvgq-WrSC48NSx-J0DvQ1FmLrUgVzoUpqMvIHVxSb7I_jcr6Gi2YWNUwU/s1600/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h-NvaHvdRMxmPwj8FU-GT1-BzIehoAqEXn532wj5t-KjdBZfP8FyyC4OxaXTfXvrzLzJFW1Mz8JDQombt9Xvgq-WrSC48NSx-J0DvQ1FmLrUgVzoUpqMvIHVxSb7I_jcr6Gi2YWNUwU/s200/(2010.04.17-18)+Paris+081.JPG" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div>4. Restaurants & park around Sainte Marie de Batignolles (74 rue Legendre, 75017 Paris). For lunch on Sunday, another friend took us to the square around Sainte Marie. It has sidewalk restaurants with amazing food and a great park. Supposedly, this areas is a hidden gem within Paris because it's a 10 min walk from the closest metro stop so only locals know the area. The pic to the left shows 2 little girls playing at lunch. <br />
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5. <a href="http://www.biteofthebest.com/angelinas-hot-chocolate/">Angelina</a> (226 rue de Rivoli). This is supposedly the best place in Paris to get hot chocolate. My tour guide skills are poor when it comes to the Paris cafe/restaurant scene. So another friend, a food connoisseur, sampled his way around Paris and kindly provided this recommendation.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-5031104174072250622010-05-02T16:32:00.001+02:002010-05-02T21:35:35.818+02:00Skiing in Gaschurn, AustriaOne of my favorite things about skiing in the Alps is the phenomenal view. The Alps have amazing jagged peaks and rock faces. A friend mentioned that they're very rugged because they're (relatively) young mountains which haven't dulled with age yet. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhEAb3lEKx__3KWW165bJNLXHsRD04nUcyb9nIcobdB2-1nQetq4tNB-TVGhCA8gb2aJ0I1dGO12hRtyJO9FBgMnllu05-lw8V5JPcMV_xZQILZeh2NVXvnUKOx39oEPrCF4Vpmz5Zek/s1600/Gashurn10-Conrad-34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhEAb3lEKx__3KWW165bJNLXHsRD04nUcyb9nIcobdB2-1nQetq4tNB-TVGhCA8gb2aJ0I1dGO12hRtyJO9FBgMnllu05-lw8V5JPcMV_xZQILZeh2NVXvnUKOx39oEPrCF4Vpmz5Zek/s320/Gashurn10-Conrad-34.JPG" tt="true" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXBNIA82fxuWMtZ271QahTbnMUhLdOLtH-vDvKTvbcYOXEA2Mycl-zM12oPk_mkK5HX-ZFyWWTtW__f1uObUBREp8fJNO5FaXGea6Fx2i_jwfodu-2xJ_BWvhKk7hGNZKD4pWjb16Dek/s320/CIMG9659.JPG" tt="true" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Alps skiing experience is unique (compared to mainstream US skiing) for a couple reasons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Off-piste skiing is more common than skiing on slopes. The ropes roping off certain areas are more like "guidelines" concerning where not to ski. The entire mountain is open to skiing, as far as Europeans are concerned.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. The ski towns are cute, Euopean ski towns... not some tourist version made by Vail Resorts to imitate a European ski chalet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Everyone does the sauna after a day on the slopes. A European sauna trip is very complicated. There are many levels, stages, pools, rooms, and showers (hot, cold, wet, dry). And there is a specific order and timing to doing them all. Sauna is taken very seriously... there is no skimping on any of the steps. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. People go on ski trips - not to ski - but to partake in the apres-ski (after ski) party. Many people spend the day relaxing, then at 3pm, they put on ski gear (coat, helmet, ski boots) and head to the apres-ski party. The apres-ski can last all night. The participants then sleep throught the next day and repeat the apres-ski party. This is completely baffling to me. If I'm in a ski location, then I want to ski! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Lines to get on lifts are non-existant. It's all about every person for themselves, and shoving to ensure that you have a spot. This takes some getting used to for people who usually have well-structured lines with automatice gates that time when to let you through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. The food served by ski chalets is weird. The pic below shows a traditional dish served to skiers at the mountain chalets. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yslRCWScb0AfgS0N030OIYRYYf9a0P5yi94Wbt7He-Id6xKJuEE7kWyjNU3nSsuCD1d4TDieQyPo6iavzE1S3d06pO8y7t_5F6CPWEYpf_E2tdNZ6e7brz7_dWOJErcfxMAirYOwYz4/s1600/SKI-Event-2010-Gaschurn+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yslRCWScb0AfgS0N030OIYRYYf9a0P5yi94Wbt7He-Id6xKJuEE7kWyjNU3nSsuCD1d4TDieQyPo6iavzE1S3d06pO8y7t_5F6CPWEYpf_E2tdNZ6e7brz7_dWOJErcfxMAirYOwYz4/s200/SKI-Event-2010-Gaschurn+(20).JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-44297878811242831362010-05-02T15:51:00.001+02:002010-05-02T15:54:30.836+02:00Europeans do sledding the right way <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqI3wv12pYNCMewCriDzrrVp3XyVdbV4sd3oRlrdVBEv-g6Ss-MT8a1iBgMkSmldiwPsEa94fhv8j91EsaokWW0dHwyv3Hi0QEdu8rr7O_XJ8zCVV4Rz8dUXmHqJwTJ-qSBFnMlI6USw/s1600/(2010.03.19-21)+Austria+Skiing+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqI3wv12pYNCMewCriDzrrVp3XyVdbV4sd3oRlrdVBEv-g6Ss-MT8a1iBgMkSmldiwPsEa94fhv8j91EsaokWW0dHwyv3Hi0QEdu8rr7O_XJ8zCVV4Rz8dUXmHqJwTJ-qSBFnMlI6USw/s320/(2010.03.19-21)+Austria+Skiing+002.jpg" tt="true" /></a><br />
At night, the ski resorts groom some of the ski runs (usually the cat walks), close them off for 1-2 hours to enable them to freeze, and then open the slopes for night-time sledding. <br />
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Instead of using safety-aproved plastic sleds, Europeans use the old fashioned sleds with metal bottoms (seen in the US in the 1950's) with minor improvements. This sleds are designed to go fast, and with a little wax, will go even faster. This makes for entertaining sledding as there are ony rudimentary steering mechanisms to control them (i.e. if you want to turn right, put your right foot out).<br />
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In March, a group of colleagues and I went skiing in Gaschurn, Austria during on our annual ski trip. My sledding experience went something like this:<br />
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6:00pm - arrive at the mtn. base, rent the sled, have a drink with friends at the bar at the mtn. base<br />
7:00pm - take chairlift to the top of the slope<br />
7:15pm - walk to a small, cozy, wooden chalet at the top of the mountain<br />
7:30pm - have another drink at the chalet, join in on a round of singing, play some hammer game where you try to hammer a nail into a piece of wood using the pointy side of the hammer (mandatory game in Europe)<br />
8:00pm - THE RACE START! (there was a group of 20 friends racing)<br />
8:01pm - fall hard while practicing turning<br />
8:02pm - master the art of turning<br />
8:03pm - get passed by 2 friends sharing a sled (1 of them smiled and yelled "we are the champions" while passing me)<br />
8:05pm - realize that I'm dripping wet (due to copious amounts of snow flying onto me whenever I put my foot down to turn and also because the snow was very slushy)<br />
8:10pm - pass the 2 friends on the sled who have just wiped out<br />
8:15pm - get my pic taken by another friend (I haven't seen the pic yet, but I imagine that in the pic there is a full-on shower of water/snow streaming into my face and I have a look of "trying to smile/trying to turn/trying not to fall/trying to keep my eyes open with all the slush going in them")<br />
8:20pm - CRASH! (the friend in front of me wipes out on his sled, takes my sled out, takes out the 2 friends sharing a sled, and another friend) I skidded a good 10 ft. face-first in slush. There was definitely a need for a hair dryer and clothes dryer after this. <br />
8:30pm - THE FINISH! I got 3rd place out of 20. :)StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-21916287396052284362010-04-18T23:57:00.004+02:002010-04-19T00:11:36.866+02:00European travel + volcano eruption = chaosWith all the technology we have to prevent or minimze the impacts of "force majeurs," it's amazing the amount of extent of disruption a volcano can cause without a solution.<br />
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This weekend I drove to Paris with a colleague of mine. This was a last-minute decision which resulted from the colleague being stranded in Heidelberg with access to a company car and free gas. In Paris, we were amongst the lucky who got to enjoy the weekend. Many people we encountered were stranded there with no idea when or how they would get home. The planes won't run again until Thursday at the earliest (according to authorities). All buses and trains out of Paris are full through next weekend. Car rental agencies are out of cars. And hotels are all full. People are sleeping in train stations. <br />
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A friend of a friend was in Paris for a 1-day business meeting which turned into a 4-day trip (due to the volcano). As they needed to get home to Finland for business, they were contemplating driving with us to Frankfurt (5 hours), taking the train from Frankfurt to Hamburg (4 hours), then catching a ferry from Hamburg to Finland (20 hours). Leaving Paris (via car), we encountered numerous people waiting at the freeway entrance with signs saying asking for rides to Copenhagen, Turkey, Italy, Russia, Egypt (all not exactly day drives from Paris). As it was clear that we were travellers, many other travellers approached us asking if we heard of any new chances to get to [fill in a city name]. Many of these travellers fly to a city for 1 day only (for a business meeting) without any luggage and are now stuck there with only a laptop bag.<br />
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10 of my friends are stranded throughout cities in Europe or the US (many got stuck at lay-over cities). Many more of my work colleagues are stranded and not ableto get to their next business meeting. The travellers stranded in Germany and France are much better off than other stranded passengers as they are in the center of Europe and have the best chance of getting to their next destination. The silver lining of the volcano means has lead to cheaper than normal airfare prices for the next months.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-57785068332659182742010-04-10T23:32:00.001+02:002010-04-10T23:34:01.099+02:00Generation gap moment: the car window handle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KBN6CuklBUtB8UVavooDvs3GbKf0L6xcNW2-bdVxCqiJqkvlmNKHRUYkNm-daXOzQK8b1DdZJuSvRNqBUDL9Kxf-m4VZWgl-a5ALbdVCYCtfMWgqHEE1dg9RGcqWc-GhkeSM7nhyphenhyphenyxU/s1600/car+window+handle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KBN6CuklBUtB8UVavooDvs3GbKf0L6xcNW2-bdVxCqiJqkvlmNKHRUYkNm-daXOzQK8b1DdZJuSvRNqBUDL9Kxf-m4VZWgl-a5ALbdVCYCtfMWgqHEE1dg9RGcqWc-GhkeSM7nhyphenhyphenyxU/s200/car+window+handle.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
Today, I had my 1st "generation gap" moment... This morning I drove 2 friends + their 2 kids to the train station. The 5 yr. old son was sitting in the back seat next to the window. Half-way through the ride he asked what the window handle did. <br />
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This is definitely the moment when I realized that I'm grown up. Not only that, but I learned that the younger generation is now old enough to articulate that they have no clue of things that I grew up with (quite a generation gap). <br />
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This has never happened to me before. I don't have kids or spend enough time around kids to experience this. All of my friends are about my age, so no generation gap there. At work, I'm usually the youngest person by 5-10 years so I am usually the person making the generation gaps comments. <br />
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The best part of this generation gap was seeing the 5 yr old understand what the handle did and trying it... it was an "ah ha" moment for him. He thought it was so cool. Meanwhile, all of us adults were remembering how impressed we were when power windows were invented.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-26332465429061527342010-04-10T22:41:00.001+02:002010-04-10T22:44:51.876+02:00Teenagers growing up in Europe... what's next for them?On St. Patty's Day, my friends and I went to the local Irish pub for Irish dancing and green beer. It seems that we were not the only ones with this idea. Many of the the teenagers from the US base also went to the Irish pub. This is legal as the drinking age in German is 14.<br />
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Seeing the teenagers on St. Patty's day made me wonder what life is like for them growing up in Germany. I was even more curious after I ran into one group of students near the toilet - this group was wearing green Guiness hats, making an especially loud scene (a difficult feat in an already loud Irish pub on St. Patty's day), acting like the rulers of the bar, and already drunk from drinking lots of green beer. They were all 15-16 years old. This is common behaviour amongst the US base teenagers. In a small town* like Heidelberg, it is quite frequent to see teenagers who you know drinking in restaurants, bars , etc. on any given night. A friend of mine who works with the high schoolers mentioned that she's overheard many of the students discuss how often they drink (frequently) and the best places to sleep when they're drunk and can't go home (to avoid being caught drunk by their parents). These teenagers are living in an almost surreal world of their making where the options are limitless. <br />
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Typically this type is seen at the beginning of the 1st year college. Then it tapers off. If these teenagers are drinking heavily at 15 yrs old, what is next for them? Do they drink less as they grow older or do they try to top this? What happens to them when they return to the US or when they start college? <br />
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*From the US perspective, Heidelberg is a village. Locals prefer to call it a city. Small town is a good compromise. It's qute frequent to see people you know, or people with whom you work, while out in town.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-81431294669228647422010-04-10T21:46:00.001+02:002010-04-10T21:46:31.499+02:00Peeps Racing in High Heels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHQkJweX9gHb_i2JESc7Rp9hITinDjxuW_dHWTUFvuxdqN84uArCMgmNBZ2cAbH7L0MJbz7KfVHGjw4QUENZW5NRwoHWM0SbVkDcfbgEkShdMKWDeIIMhJ-7vcjFsPA24BT7Umrg6U2o/s1600/Peep+High+Heel+Race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHQkJweX9gHb_i2JESc7Rp9hITinDjxuW_dHWTUFvuxdqN84uArCMgmNBZ2cAbH7L0MJbz7KfVHGjw4QUENZW5NRwoHWM0SbVkDcfbgEkShdMKWDeIIMhJ-7vcjFsPA24BT7Umrg6U2o/s320/Peep+High+Heel+Race.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
This pic above shows the perfect Easter - "Peeps" racing in high heels. I would love these Peeps wearing the new Christian Louboutin stilettos designed for Barbie. <br />
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Every Easter, the Washington Post holds a contest where contestants create a diarama using Peeps (the Easter marshmellows shaped like chicks, bunnies, etc.). This diorama(seen above) was one of the semi-finalists from the Washington Post's Peep competition. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/03/29/GA2010032903934.html?hpid=artslot">Click here to vote for your favorite Peep diorama.</a>StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978186038659615754.post-25281290384662474932010-03-07T18:40:00.002+01:002010-03-07T18:46:13.309+01:00Women are over 50% of the US workforce... What happens in other countries?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmoWT3ojJeKpHQGbRpKHzbfKykTrkTwc0Nj5Ocu9Q4Wbn1Ed9Q-vX9HcBYy2PXp1AAQhNnjM0snsWX5fVgh0p5nkomuKUMgrvgSQIpocfFs_ZA2eXo0rj-7Ir4Xx_CtO79WO4lft_Sc0/s1600-h/Economist+article.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmoWT3ojJeKpHQGbRpKHzbfKykTrkTwc0Nj5Ocu9Q4Wbn1Ed9Q-vX9HcBYy2PXp1AAQhNnjM0snsWX5fVgh0p5nkomuKUMgrvgSQIpocfFs_ZA2eXo0rj-7Ir4Xx_CtO79WO4lft_Sc0/s320/Economist+article.jpg" /></a><br />
As a member of a younger generation entering the US workforce, I reaped the rewards that females fought for over the last 50 years. When I entered the US workforce, the glass ceiling had been chipped beyond repair. It was a given that men and women were equal and deserved the same treatment and rewards. It was my right to work and be judged as an equal to all.<br />
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Upon joining the German workforce, I was shocked to learn that the state and treatment of women in the workforce was the equivalent to US in the 1960’s and 1970’s. In Germany, women still have to fight for the right to work and the right to be taken seriously. To put it into perspective: I’ve explained to multiple male colleagues the inappropriateness of calling a female colleague “gorgeous” and “beautiful” or in asking her why she isn’t married and at home taking care of her husband and kids (as all women apparantely should be). Additionally, some female colleagues need pep talks around dreaming big and not sticking to what they've been labeled. This is not representative of the entire German population – many males treat females respectfully and as equals and many females are strong and are achieving their dreams (whether this includes being a stay-at-home mom, working in an office, or something else). However, the naysayers still exist. It a shocking experience for a female, who never had to fight for her right to work or be treated equally, to suddenly be in the situation where this was necessary. <br />
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It was interesting to read the cover story of the Dec. 30, 2009 Economist (click here for: <a href="http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15174418">article 1</a> and <a href="http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15174489">article 2</a>). The two articles discuss details around statistics of women workers in multiple countries. Having only worked (in an office) in the US and Germany, I had formed my own opinion on what was helping and hindering the empowerment of females in Germany & the US. It was interestng to hear what was happening in other countires. <br />
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In my opinion, the factors delaying empowerment of women in the German workforce are:<br />
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1. All Mom’s are guaranteed a 1.5 year (per kid) maternity leave, during which they receive 80% pay and are guaranteed their job back after the leave. Employers are reluctant to hire females because if the female has a baby (or multiple babies) – the employer must pay salary for the Mom and the temporary replacement. Employers are also reluctant to promote females to management positions because during a maternity leave, only a contractor can be hired. Enticing a good manager to work as a contractor (without benefits, less pay, etc.) is challenging.<br />
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2. Legally, employers must allow parents, who request it, to permanently reduce their work days to less than 100%. A parent working 3 or 4 days/week might not be able to complete all the work that the job requires. If the work is not done, they can’t be replaced or fired due to laws. It is an option to hire another person to do the remaining 1-2 days of work, but finding a person to work such a limited amount of time is difficult. <br />
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3. All errands must be done on Mon-Fri (9am-5pm) and Saturday (9am-12pm) when stores are open. Doing the errands takes a lot of time as it involves going to many small stores (one-stop shops are rare). For couples with kids (and therefore more errands), 1 parent needs to be available during work hours to do them (typically the female’s role).<br />
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4. There are few childcare providers; the providers that exist are very expensive. Also, babysitting doesn’t exist. If a couple has children, then financially it makes more for 1 parent to stay home with the kids (typically the female’s role). <br />
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5. Birth control is not easy to get. So many couples are having unplanned kids. This necessitates that the female stays home (see 3 & 4 above) and doesn’t have a chance to demonstrate their skills at an office.<br />
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6. The attitude of many males is very sexist. Many males believe that a female is only capable of being a stay-at-home Mom or a coffee fetcher. Thus, fewer are hired. The females hired in operational positions are often subjected to sexist comments and behavior. <br />
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Ironically, some of these factors were put in place to promote women in the workforce. While not very beneficial in their current form, some of them could be beneficial if revised. Example: the reduction in the work days could be set to a standard 50%. Then two people could be teamed together to deliver 1 full-time job. This would ensure all work relevant to the job is done, and still allow for part-time work.<br />
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In my opinion, the US doesn’t have the perfect model for working females. Many things also hinder empowerment in the US. However in comparison to Germany - females in the US have much better opportunities to succeed and accomplish their dreams. For that, I truly appreciate what females (and males too) have fought for and accomplished. I hope this trend continues.StilettosOnCobblestoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413639037565992919noreply@blogger.com0