Day 5 - Interlochen

Looked at more lights tonights (pics on FB). I was glad for my TomTom because I was able to just drive around aimlessly and turn whenever I saw lights and didn't have to worry about getting lost. I loved the nativity scenes the most. I also realized that I like the color lights better than the white ones. I see now that people are using the LED lights more. I think they are prettier than the traditional lights, but they look so "fake", if that makes any sense at all. I hope to find some neighborhoods to visit next week in Orlando. Of course, I won't have the 30 degree to enjoy them in, but I can turn up the A/C and pretend :) I've also been enjoying lots of Hot Chocolate this week. One of my favorite things! I also like that my hotel smells like Christmas! They must have some pine scented Yankee Candles burning :)

Day 4 - Temple/Highland Park Lights

After class, headed over to the Temple. I had planned to go inside, but when I got there, it was so cold, and I was feeling lazy, so I was just going to drive around it and reminisce a bit. But luckily it dawned on me that it's rare that I ever get to go to the Temple w/o losing time with Kate, so this was my chance. I was wearing jeans (because I thought I was going to do the stadium tour), so I was hoping the bathrooms were the first thing before the lobby so no one would see me sneak in and change. Well, I guess I went in the wrong door, because I had to walk all the way through the lobby to get to them. The lady assured me it was "fine", but I still felt underdressed. It was nice in the Temple. I actually like going when no one knows me, it's more of an escape. Afterwards I headed to the NorthPark Mall and Highland Park to look at some lights (pics on FB). I really love lights. I want to take Katelyn to see some when I get home. Anyone know any good places in Orlando?

Day 3 - Burleson

After class today, I headed down to Burleson. I served there for 7 months, so I figured I would remember my way around. Not so much. For some reason I still had Sister Babina's address memorized (from 14 years ago), so I put her address in my TomTom and headed there. I'm glad I got to see her, I have such fond memories of her. She helped us more than anyone I know. We had limited miles each month, so she drove us all over the area whenever we needed it. She fed us all the time too, and even washed my car when I was sick and couldn't do it. Then I drove over to Logan's to meet up with Kaylene and her twins. We had a good visit. It was nice to be around little ones for a little while. It was good to see her, and it warmed my heart that she was willing to make the long drive (5 hours total). Then I was going to drive more around the city, but it has changed so much, I didn't recognize any of it, so figured I would just get lost, so I headed back to the hotel to watch the Biggest Loser finale. Go Danny!!

Day 2 - Training/Gaylord

Adore my teacher. He's the perfect Southern gentleman and I can't tell you how grateful I am to not have a boring teacher for a week! He's fun and I love his Southern ways and language. I told him I was a missionary here and I was looking forward to visiting some old areas. He said, "Oh, so you're Mormon. The missionaries come by from time to time". I didn't really pay attention to that statement, I just figured he meant they came to his door a few times. Then a few hours later, we were talking about Facebook, and he said he only goes on there to show his family genealogy pictures that he's gathered. Hmmmm.... Then as I was getting ready to leave for the day, I told him I planned to visit the Temple. He says, "Oh yea! I was married there.". I said, "You're Mormon???". He said, "Yes." I said, "Why didn't you say something?". He said, "I assumed you picked up on it". I laughed. He said he hasn't been to Church in 10 years. He said that he just got out of the habit of going since he travels every week for work. He said he hasn't lost his faith or anything, he just doesn't go. Says his home teachers come by all the time and keeps in touch that way :) Then I headed to the Grapevine Mills Outlet Mall. That was an adventure! I wonder how far it is if you walk all the way around. I think it's at least a mile. Bought several Christmas presents, it was so easy to shop without a toddler, so I took advantage of it. Then drove to the Gaylord Texan! Incredible! Amazing! Stunning! Beautiful!! Took lots of pictures (see on FB). It was great to be walking around seeing the lights in 35 degree weather (even with a mist). So much better than 80 degree weather. It was like it was actually Christmas Time!!

Day 1 - Irving

Flight was great. They showed the movie Up, so it helped to make the time pass more quickly. I wish I knew that I had Tylenol in my purse, because I had a splitting headache the last half of the flight. Got off the plane and headed to the rental car place. Got the car and decided I couldn't drive it because the back windows and back window were so angled, there was very low visibility. So not like my car at home. I was going to just deal with it, so I left the rental place, but then the more I drove, the more I decided it was probably a good idea to just get a different car. So, I went back around and the lady gave me a really funny look (perhaps the look you are sporting as you read this) when I told her I wanted a car with "bigger" windows. Anyway, she switched my car and I was off. I couldn't figure out why the car maker didn't put lights on the radio and heater so that I could more easily see the buttons. So, I'm driving down the highway and it finally dawns on me that my lights are NOT on! What a dork! Who trusts me to drive a car that's not mine?? Yes, I'm a blonde. Then I drove to the Dallas Stadium. What a cool stadium! I didn't know you can totally see inside it from one of the angels. It was empty, but still really cool! Then I went across the street to Walmart to get some tylenol. I purposely parked near one of the doors so I wouldn't have to walk far in the dark, by myself, in a strange city. As I'm walking back to the door, the workers stop me and tell me that door closes at 10pm. Oops! So, defeating my purpose, I raced to my car from the other door. I had my little McDonald's in hand and safely made it to the car and ate my Happy Meal as I awed at the Stadium. Then headed to my hotel and was intimidated by the bellhop/valet guy that was (I'm sure) just innocently trying to help me. I'm not used to traveling alone, so I basically kept walking away from him whenever he tried to come near me. He kept me asking me for my luggage and I kept telling him no no no. I finally gave him because what he said actually made sense! I crack myself up!

A little tired?

Day 7 - Travel to Venice

We took it easy this morning in preparation for our 9 hour train ride. Read a lot of whichever Twilight book I'm on (I think I'm on book 3 now -- started book 1 on the plane ride to Rome). We missed our connecting train to Venice due to some kind of delay, so we just hopped on the next one that was heading there. Apparently some are on strike. I think going to Venice was what I was most excited about for this trip, and it has certainly lived up to all my hype. It is incredible!! Love the weather, love the water, love the old buildings, just love it all, looking forward to seeing more tomorrow!

Day 6 - Zurich

We went to Blumenuhr Burkliplatz first. This was a clock made of flowers (except the hands). It was beautiful (see pics on David's FB). Then we found a little shop and chose some pastries. I didn't really like mine and I saw a Starbucks across the street and told David I was going to go get a brownie. He laughed. He thought I was kidding. Nope. So, he gave me his wallet and I headed over there and asked for a cinnamon roll. We've been so lucky, most people speak really good English (better than mine). I didn't like the hot cocoa either. Too much chocolate. So I added two packs of sugar, and all of a sudden it tasted so much better. I guess I'm a wimp when it comes to other countries' food and just like my American food the way it is! Then we went to Fraumunster, it was beautiful inside, especially the organ and all the pipes. The stained glass windows were so pretty!! Then as we were walking to Grossmunster, we noticed there was a crowd surrounding the front door. Ah! There was a wedding that just ended. The bride was beautiful, and her dress was exquisite. It looked so antique, I wonder if it had been passed on for generations. We stayed and watched as the couple released doves, so beautiful! Then we walked inside and I could see why they wanted to get married here. It was just amazing. I would love to get married there too! (David said we could renew our vows there). It was just gorgeous. Again I loved the organ and the stained glass windows. I love how high the ceilings were and how quiet it seemed. We bought a few souvenirs at a shop and then headed to Rhine Falls. It was spectacular. David said that Niagara was much bigger, but Rhine was more scenic and pretty. We walked all around the falls (across the bridge) and then had dinner at the restaurant that overlooks the Falls. Then we did a lot of walking because we missed the last train that was leaving from the station we arrived, so we had to walk about 40 minutes to the next station. David was encouraging as he told me we were walking off our dinner calories. I prayed the whole way that there was another train leaving from that station (David was never worried). I kept imagining what we would do if we were stranded. I was looking around for nice neighborhoods of people that we could ask for help. But....prayers are answered and there were trains leaving up until 3 am I think or something like that. So, we found the train back to our hotel and decided after all that walking (and all day) we were ready to relax in the hotel. Ahhh....relaxing!!

Day 5 - Zurich

Today we had a fun breakfast. We went to this little shop and picked out a variety of pastries. So yummy! I especially enjoyed this flaky pastry filled with custard. Then we (thanks to Suzan reminding me) headed to the Bern Temple since it was only 20 minutes away. It was very simple and very pretty. They had a hotel there which even served meals for those that came to visit the Temple. I couldn't help but think of Vincenzo di Francesca and How Rare A Possession since one of the last scenes is the camera zooming out away from the Temple. Then we hopped on a train to Zurich. The Zurich train station is just gorgeous!! Great place to have a big party! We had our Swiss dinner (David had Weinershnitzel and I had Smoked Sausage and Warm Potato Salad) and then walked around the city in the rain. We bought umbrellas and just refused to go back to the hotel! We were in Switzerland, so we walked around for a while and then decided it was time for hot chocolate (it was getting chilly with the rain and our short sleeves). We even found a law firm sign with our lovely name on it. Now it's time to plan in more detail our day tomorrow! I'm thinking we're going to visit some museums and then going to see the largest waterfall in Europe!

Day 4 - Jungfraujoch

There just isn't enough room on my blog to upload all the pictures we took today, so please visit David's FB. I'm running out of words to use, it seems like everything is amazing, marvelous, incredible and breathtaking, because those are the exact words I would use to describe today. It's 11,000+ miles up and just gorgeous!! There must be a God. He creates such beautiful wonders of the world. The scenery was outstanding as we took the 3 hour train ride up the mountain. (a little scary too, I might add) I love snow capped mountains, they are just the most outstanding!! Then we walked inside the Ice Palace, which has no resemblance to the stadium in Tampa. This was actually an ICE palace. It was all made of ice and we walked through it (I "skated" some of the way). They even had some ice sculptures. It was a little unnerving as I saw some of the ice melting. Yikes! We also went to the Sphinx and it was built on the side of the mountain and if you looked down through the metal platform, you could see that part of it had nothing underneath!! I probably shouldn't have looked down to see that! Well, it was everything we imagined and more!