After spending our past few days in the city, we wanted to do something different. So, we planned a day around scenery of a more natural variety. Nicole found two attractions that offered exactly what we wanted to see. The Zaans Schans and the Keukenhof. The Keukenhof is a monument to nature. The 79 acre park is packed from wall to wall with sights to see and things to do. The main attraction are the flower beds with tulips, roses,…
Our time in Europe was not limited to the Netherlands. We planned a day trip by train down to Antwerp, Belgium, for a day of food and sight seeing. The train we took had a breakfast service, so we spent our hour ride in comfy, crimson, cushioned chairs peering out into the passing cities as we sipped our coffee. I have a mild fascination for foreign graffiti, and the route to Antwerp did not disappoint. Walls and buildings blinked by,…
Landing in a foreign country, especially when coming by way of another foreign country, can be trying on ones sense of normal. The Icelandic airport was an oasis in the middle of nowhere, on an island unbound by time. Arriving in the bustling, bright, mile a minute city of Amsterdam was overwhelming. The airport is spotless, with a diverse offering of almost everything. Swedish treats. German snacks. Tours, flights, attractions galore. A slice of everything, both a figurative and literal…
After a day in the city we were ready for what, to us, was the main draw; the natural wonders of Iceland. We quickly packed our rental full of food and drink from the local gas station, filled our tank, and racked up kilometers on the odometer as we roamed the highway. Within 20 minutes we were surrounded by winding streams and rolling hills, all dusted with snow. The water was clear to an extent that it was eerie. Creeks…
This is going to be the first post of 3 in a series about our visit to Iceland. Here we will cover what the city offered us, some basics about how we budgeted for the stay, and interesting notes we made to help travelers cope with differences in culture. First off, free layovers are a perfect way to break up an extended trip while also giving oneself the opportunity to see more of the world we live in. Getting a…
Our hop over the Atlantic is coming soon. After all of the planning, preparation, research, and anticipation, we are chomping at the bit to be on our way. We have been planning this trip for over a year, across two states, 3 homes, and multiple mini vacations. The itinerary is set, and the time until departure has gone from months to hours in what seems to be the blink of an eye. Before we leave, we found a local attraction…
Last Saturday we had another opportunity to get out, stretch our legs, and take in some salty air. We had a general outline of what we wanted to accomplish for the day, with quite a bit of time to fill in between destinations. First on the list was to visit Edmonds where we found a jeweler who had some available Qalo rings to try on for our upcoming trip to Europe. The area has beautiful views and a welcoming small town vibe….
We were finally able to get out for a hike last weekend. The idea was to get out sooner, but obligations forced us to put our noses to the grindstone and sort out or living space. Also, the rain has a way of lulling us into our warm home. So, we put up with two months of painting, prepping, unpacking, and working until we finally had a free weekend. Our first expedition was to the Lime Kiln trail in Granite…