Booze Cruise Through Croatia

First week in August, after my trip back to Seattle, I headed off to Croatia for a 7 day cruise. It was a booze cruise with 19 Australians, my two companions and me (who didn't drink any booze).

I read a couple books. Slept a lot. Ate a lot. Laid around in the sun a lot. It sounds like I did a lot, but I actually didn't really do much at all :)

Here are some shots of the trip. I've already forgotten the names of pretty much everywhere we went. Oh well.

Split

Picture on the boat #1

Picture on the boat #2

You guessed it, another picture from the boat

Another picture from the boat
Check out this water!!!

This was pretty much what I wore all week

Leanne and Jacqui, my companions on the trip

This is a boat

This is a harbor

Check out this water #2! This will be my summer holiday spot when I grow up

The island of Mljet and the National park on there. We biked around. Perhaps my favorite day.

Check out that water #3 (National park on the island of Mljet)

Shot from the boat #4

Favorite activity: jumping off the boat

Dubrovnik. It was hot (90 degrees F, that's 32 C by 9 am...). Here I am drinking a far too expensive fruit smoothie thingie.

Trip Back Home

After my many travels around Europe, I took a trip back home. It was such a different life than the one I lead in London! Combine 5 kids under 5, a few colds, and throw in some jet lag, and I had some adjusting to do. All in all, it was great to see everyone and visit my gorgeous hometown, Seattle. Here are a few shots from the week.

This is baby Thad. He's a photogenic fellow.

Thad and his mommy, Carrie (my sister)

Billy and his ice cream. Attempting to eat a ice cream cone + toddler + spoon = splattering of sticky white Dairy Queen goodness everywhere

Spontaneous hug between the cousins

Dallin as Indian

Cambry Claire as Rabbit.

Here's Bobby. We were napping. That's one thing I had in common with these kids: our love of sleep and food. We're so alike!

Cambry and her mommy, Marissa

Billy

Seattle skyline from the ferry. Love this city!

Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting the week!

I like Formulas & Flowcharts

I know I've already given the formula for romantic comedies here (probably my favorite genre of movie, I know. I'm lame), but here's a flowchart for EPIC DANCE movies (my second favorite genre of movie. I know. Again, I'm lame). You're sure to make some dough if you follow this logic--click on the picture to enlarge:


PS This blog was inspired by the movie Step Up 3D, which was seen by a little group of us last week. It was quite pricey, very cheesy, but worth every cent or pence. My favorite quote was said in complete seriousness by the main character, "He used to be a Pirate."

The PROMS

I saw Jamie Cullum at the BCC Proms last Thursday (August 26th). While I did have to queue--in American English that means line up--in the rain for a couple hours for the cheap, 5 pound standing tickets (available only on the day of) that was all SO worth it. I'd say one of the top live performances I've ever seen. This guy has talent!

I only had my crappy camera phone on me, so here's the best shot I could get.

And here's a little audio sample. This one is called "If I Ruled the World". (Unfortunately I couldn't find a good video from the Proms night)

For those of you who don't know him, get to know him. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who know him and like him, congrats. For those of you who know him and don't like him, you are no longer my friend.

PS Take note: if you are a boy and you would like me to fall in love with you, take me to a Jamie Cullum concert.

Sting doesn't know anything about real fields

If he did, he definitely would not have written about walking in "Fields of Gold". Let me tell, you. It hurts!

Just before we went to Paris for the Tour de France finals, we spent the Saturday walking around near the South Downs path. During our nice stroll on the edge of the fields, it seemed like a romantic / fun idea to run through one of the fields of wheat. I came out slightly scratched, and slightly disappointed. But it was still fun :)

Here's Monica Hubrich, Erika Mitchell and I. (Thanks to Freja Cross for the great picture)

The day was an absolute joy. Fabulous weather, scenery, and company. We even met an amazing character as we set off. This 90 year old shepherd loved to dance (boasted he'd swung around 50 women just the night before) and he played a mean harmonica. Here he was, showing us his herding stick, and a special magazine article that featured him and his dogs.
Note: Yes, that is my hand suspiciously reaching for J's pocket. I'm 99% sure I was giving her her car key back.

Tour de France

Living in London offers some pretty cool opportunities, like heading off to Paris for the weekend. Why not, right? Especially when that weekend includes the final leg of the Tour de France down le Avenue des Champs-Elysees as it did this July 25th. Thanks to Mike for organizing the event. It was a day to remember.

(Apologies beforehand for the mass of pictures. I took a few, but got so many other great ones from other folks there. I've noted the photographer if it wasn't me so credit is due where it should be.)

Lunching at a nearby cafe. Did you know everything is in black & white or sepia in real life in Paris? (Picture by Caroline McNiven)

I wish this was a super cool self-portrait in a mirror, but it's not. Sir Dave Robinson's work.

Dave and I shared a chocolate crepe. Dave saw the art in the chocolate leftovers and took this lovely photo. I think this print should end up in my kitchen.

This photo was originally Monica and Trent. It looked a bit engagement picture-esque, so I jumped in to ruin the photo of course. (Photo by Dave Robinson)

Group shot in front of the Palais de Justice (photo by passerby)

Le metro

The challenge of the weekend: do something you haven't done before. Even though I have probably jumped over a pole before, I haven't done so in Paris and accidentally kick a Parisian in the process. You do something new everyday. And no, I didn't really kick anyone, but came mighty close. (Photo by Caroline McNiven)

Loren's famous confused french-man face. (Photo by unknown)

Le tour

Random legs. We waited. And waited. And then we waited some more. I spend this time taking random photos.

After all that waiting, they RACED by. Thankfully the bikers make a few trips up and down the Champs-Elysees, so we saw them wiz by a few times. (Photo by Dave Robinson)

The group. Did I mention we all wore stripes to look French? Oh, I didn't. Well, we wore stripes and it was awesome. (Photo by Zinta JuanitisFront row (left to right): Bridie Hellings, Trent Weaver, Erika Mitchell
Middle row: Ian Faribairn, Freja Cross, Loren Jones, J, Caroline McNevin, Michael Barnett, Niall Connolly
Back row: Justing Carmichael, Dave Robinson, me, Louise Hough, Monica Hubrich, Sian Nolan, Aaron Goodlet, Katja Goodlet

During the waiting, I took some shots of folks in our group.

First, Katja Goodlet (foreground Zinta Jaunitis)

Aaron Goodlet

Mike Barnett

Morgan Habedank

David Robinson

Justin Carmichael

Monica Hubrich and J (Photo by Dave Robinson)

First Class

Remember my post about the the caste system in the US? It's all about the money, coated in things like "first class", "gold standard" blah blah blah. If not check it out here.

Anyway, I got a taste of the high life on a trip to Seattle. I really was sitting sweet. It's called "Club World" on British Airways. And let me tell you, once you go Club World, you do NOT want to go back.

They called me "Miss Marquardson" once they saw my ticket. They offered me champagne and fresh squeezed orange juice (I took them up on the juice. It was in fact delicious). I had a hot towel before we took off and a cold one at the end. They gave me a menu for lunch, and came around with hot rolls during said meal. My seat reclined to a horizontal position. I had a little goodie baggie with lotions and an eye mask and comfortable socks.

I felt out of place and awkward. But that didn't stop me from taking pictures with my camera phone. Too bad my phone makes a loud camera-like noise when I take pictures. Couldn't figure out how to shut that off...

The magazine holder is my footrest which tilts down once you take off.

Check out the space. Downstairs in the economy section, this would fit 20 passengers.

This is my neighbor. Notice how he is lying completely horizontally. At this point I was watching my third movie of the trip.