More tour

Something smells fishy...

Monday was an Islamic new year holiday, so Craig had the day off. We went out for Starbucks, went shopping, and checked out the fish market. We opted out of purchasing fresh fish...a little intimidating. I wouldn't wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do with a whole fish!!!

Architectural Tour

Saturday I met with a family to plan their portrait. Susi was nice enough to invite me on a little tour on Sunday. She is half Kuwaiti and half German. Her husband is American and works at the Embassy. She did her thesis on Kuwaiti history and architecture. We went scouting for locations to take photos. I honestly don't know how I stumble into these things...

Anyways, we talked about how the older buildings were built, their purpose, and how many locals are asking that the government restore them. They haven't had much luck. We did go to the Modern Art Museum, which was formally a girl's school.

Entering Kuwait

Well, the plane ride was easy (for being 13 hours), but entering Kuwait was a bit of a struggle at the airport. The DC and Atlanta flights came in about the same time, which sent hundreds of people to the waiting line for visas. It took 3 hours. By the time that was done, it was about 10pm. Time to go home and go to bed.

Ski-Dubai

We flew to Dubai, in the United Arab Emerates last weekend. What a place!!! On Saturday morning we went to the Mall of the Emerates where there is an indoor ski slope. Hard to believe it is 120+ degrees outside this place! You show up in flip-flops and they provide the ski equipment, coat and pants...even socks! I did pretty well, only wiped out a few times (although I didn't really try anything too hard:) I usually would ride the lift only to the half-way point and ski from there. Here he is meeting me at the halfway point (after he wiped out coming down the first half...I'll show that one later;) then skiing the rest of the way down. This shot also shows the restaurants and hotel at the end of the slope and a cute little place called the Avalanch Cafe where we had hot chocolate and sandwiches on the deck under a heat lamp.

View from the top

Restaurant is in the upper part of the lower sphere on the right.

Yesterday we went to lunch in the Kuwait Towers. Lunch was wonderful and what a lovely view! There is a water park below...Paintball, go-carts, swimming, slides. Women sometimes go swimming even though they are covered head to toe...strange. I hate to admit it, but we sat looking out the windows drinking cappuccinos for at least an hour watching the bigger kids get stuck going down the slide...

Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

Ferrel cats are like squirrels here. They are wild and flock to the areas around the fish market and the harbor.

Harbor

We went driving around yesterday looking for interesting places to do a family portrait and found this harbor where they dock some dhow boats. There is new construction everywhere in Kuwait. You can see some new buildings going up in the background.

Market find

This was my deal of the day...

Our friend also took us to an Iranian market where they sell the most beautiful fabric/pillow covers and wall hangings.

The little squares you see there are a patch work of hand beaded designes for throw pillows. The larger ones can be used as wall hangings.

Lovely.

Friday Market

Today a friend's wife took us to the Friday market, sort of an outdoor flea market. Get a look at some of the lovely furnishings you can pick up for cheap:)

Thats a big boat...

Today we had lunch at the Raddison, home of the world's largest replica Dhow boat in the world.

Inside there is a beautiful ballroom for lavish parties. There is also a boat museum there. I think my most favorite thing to do here is eat...surprised???

Marina

This is the view from Marina Mall (we were having Starbucks Saturday morning) toward downtown Kuwait City. In the far right hand corner you can see the Kuwaiti Freedom Towers.

Here is a closer photo of the towers. The one on the left has a restaurant on top (we will do that later) and the one in the middle is a water tower.

I'm here

I made it with no problems, have been very busy. I am having lots of fun, yes it is hot. Just like Vegas, minus the booze and casinos. I will start blogging tomorrow.

Next stop...Kuwait!

Well, I'll be leaving for Kuwait Wednesday, arriving Thursday at about 5:00pm (which is 8 hours ahead of Central time. More on that later...

Boston

Im still alive...but in Boston for the night. They made us get back off the plane in Madrid and take another, 3 hours later. I missed my connection and hope to be back in KC tomorrow afternoon:)

Granada Cathedral

This evening I visited the Cathedral in Granada, very large and very pretty...you know the Catholics...go big or go home???

Granada

The most famous site in Granada is the Alhambra. It is a beautiful place, I spent almost the whole day today touring the palace, courtyards and gardens...without a coat! Nice weather in the South of Spain:)

Morocco Lunch

The highlight of the tour was the lunch...her I am with a coke in Arabic and some awful wine I shared with the Spanish couple next to me.

Morocco

Yesterday I caught a boat to Morocco...yikes. One day (actually about 5 hours) in Morocco, is about 4 hours too much. The tour guide was fine, but when we were left to ¨shop¨on our own for 1 1/2 hours...lets just say Ive never felt so uncomfortable in my life...being run through the gauntlett of relentless street vendors and muslim men staring at me like I was a pork-chop was a little too much. So I latched on to a German couple to hang out with. It was an experience I wont forget...for sure.

Tarifa

I arrived in Tarifa the day before yesterday. I got here just in time to see the sunset. The mountains you see in the distance are in Africa.

Seville 2

This day I went on a hike with my friends Jim and his wife Jarmilla (an many new friends) in the mountains. I met people from Germany, Spain, Poland...and many more. It was a beautiful day...but we were tired...it was 15Kilometers. Afterwards we went to a TexMex bar where they were playing the Chargers/Patriots game (for Jim, who is from the states). The place was full of American students, and I kept thinking to myself---am I in Spain???

Seville

Seville is a really beautiful place, many of the buildings and fountains on the plaza in KC were inspired by things in Seville. Here is the Cathedral...does this Giralda tower look familliar?

We also went to see a flaminco show...fantastic.

Ronda today

Ronda is a lovely little town in the Southern part of Spain, this bridge over the gorge is probably the most famous site...I had quite a long hike down for this one. There is a bull ring too, I´ll see that tomorrow. This is where modern bull fighting was born...yikes.

Mezquita 2

This is the cathedral part of the Mezquita. It was built in the middle, replacing some of the columns you see in the other photo...in its heyday, Cordoba was the center of culture in Europe, and the Muslims, Jews and Christians got along famously...

I have a nice video but it takes too long to upload from here...more later.

Mezquita

The Mezquita is the most famous site in Cordoba, it used to be a Mosque and was turned into a cathedral in the 16th century. This photo shows the islamic archetecture. It really was fascinating...google it when you get a chance.

Cordoba

In Cordoba, I stayed with 2 really kind girls...Lora from Belgium and Dina from Greece. Lora is a couchsurfer too. She took me on a walking tour of the old town and made a fabulous dinner (the one in the middle). Dina is a student and Lora teaches French and English...she of course speaks Dutch and Spanish too...wow.

Palacio Real

This is the third most beautiful Palace in the world, after Versailles and the Palace in Austria. It was a wonderful tour, but they dont allow photos inside...too

bad.

Plaza Mayor

Madrid is very easy to get around, everthing is close together. This day I walked from Puerto de la Sol to the Prado museum. This was on the way, Plaza Mayor.

Madrid

Madrid is great! If its one thing I like, its to eat (everyone knows this). I dont know exactly what is on this little piece of bread, but it was tasty!

I'm still alive, and in Madrid

Sorry no photo, its late, dark, and I'm tired. I just arrived in Madrid, Spain tonight. Took quite some effort getting here (RER, airport, shuttle, metro...) You will love this, I went down to the nearest bar for a drink and a late dinner--did you know when you order a beer, they bring you a little plate of Tapas (appetizers)??? And with each additional beer, something new and tasty shows up? I thought it was a great deal. I'm in a nice hotel, only 49euro/night and my 3 beers and a dinner (3 rounds of appetizers) was less than 5euro. Spain is fabulous! I am near Calle Grand Villa, next to the city center, I have a balcony and a view of Plaza del Carmen.
Looking forward to morning so I can see!

Ferris Wheel

I couldnt resist-yesterday afternoon was very pretty and I took a ride on that giant ferris wheel shown in previous photos. I seemed to be eye-level with the Butte de Sacre Coeur.

The Orangerie

Yesterday I finally made it to the Orangerie Museum, it houses the large panels of waterlillies-the room was built for them. The museum is called l'Orangerie because it used to be sort of a green house to keep the orange trees from the Tuillerie Gardens in the winter.

Versailles

Yesterday I went to Versailles, the palace of the Louis (XIV+) Very beautiful, but I will need to come again in the summer to have a better time photographing the gardens. I could spend an entire day just wandering the gardens.

Montmartres

I went to Montmartres yesterday, home of the Sacre Coeur. I went on a walking tour with my guide book and found the former homes and studios of VanGogh, Renoir, Picasso and Toulous-LaTrec. It is a really cool area. My tour ended at the bottom of the "butte" at the Moulin Rouge...

The American Church

I went to church sunday, the American Church in Paris. It was the first American church on foreign soil. It has been in operation for 150 years. A couple of days before, I stopped in to check the hours for Sunday service and ran into a nice lady...turns out she is the interim Pastor's wife--they are from Ohio and she said they will live in Paris for one year and have an apartment upstairs with a wonderful view. I went to the coffee after the service and she introduced me to her son and daughters that are visiting for the week, Im going to meet up with them in about an hour...nice to talk to some Americans for a change.

Rue Cler

Rue Cler

Rue Cler

Speaking of internet, I usually go to Rue Cler to get good things to eat and use the internet cafe. It is a pedestrian street lined with flower shops, cafes, cheese shops, meat stores, bread stores...a wonderful place.

Musee D'Orsay

The D'Orsay is my favorite museum. It is just the right size and holds all of my favorite painters work. Monet, Manet, Millet,(keep those straight:) Vangogh, Gaugain, Seraut, Renoir...not sure if i spelled those right, but im in a hurry...internet is expensive:)

Jardin du Carousel

I spent a good part of this day sitting by a fountain writing in my journal, I was equal distance from the Louvre, the D'Orsay and the ferris wheel. The pidgeons are making me crazy...but I will not be defeated;)

Tour Eiffel

This is the view just outside the flat I'm renting. The guy Im renting the flat from has gone to Bali for the month, but before he left he took me to the Eiffel Tour on his way to work (he works there). Its a short walk from the flat. Instead of waiting in line for hours (like the rest of the tourists) we went right up. After a short personal tour, I was in and out in less than 30 minutes...its good to know people.

Louvre

Went to the Louvre yesterday...it really is too much--I only floated past a few favorite rooms, visiting Mona, Winged Victory, Venus di Milo, Raft of the Medeusa, Liberty Guiding the people...and lots of sculptures.

Champs Elysees

There are twinkling lights all down the Champs Elysees for the holiday. They twinkle like snowflakes falling, very pretty. Not a great photo, but you get the idea??