The Campbell Journeys

Glorious Sydney, Australia!!

2009-03-17T17:53:00.003-04:00

Upon arriving to Sydney, we were treated to an opera at the famous Sydney Opera House. We got to see "The Magic Flute" and it was spectacular! The next day we took a City Tour and we headed to The Rocks (historic area of Sydney), the suburbs (we saw Nicole Kidman's house), and the Royal Botanic Gardens. After the city tour we headed back to the Opera House for a backstage guided tour. Finally we visited Koala Park, where we were able to pet koalas, kangaroos and wallabies. We also visited the National Opal Collection. Opals are Australia's national gemstone. We ended the night doing a Pub Crawl in the Rocks district. :)

Hanging with the band at the Orient Hotel
Sydney Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge
Brad and the kangaroo
Cute koalas!!
We are petting Matilda the wallaby

Cairns

2009-03-17T17:47:00.004-04:00

On our last day in Cairns we took the Skyrail through the rainforest. We saw beautiful Barron Falls and had some great views!

Barron Falls
Silly tourists!!

View from Skyrail

Cairns

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Brad was amazed by the fruit bats that were located a few blocks down from our hotel. They were pretty big!!

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef! We were so excited to get here and see the reef. We had to take a 2-hour catamaran trip out to the reef. The snorkeling was absolutely amazing! The coral and fish were absolutely beautiful. Clown fish, yellow tangs, fish of all colors! We took a semi-submersible boat trip for and up-close look at the coral and fish. Then we went back snorkeling and saw a SHARK!! We were definitely scared, but it didn't bother us! The water temperature was perfect and it was sunny all day. We went to dinner with a couple from our tour group to "The Raw Prawn." It was located on the Esplanade in Cairns (right on the ocean). Brad loved his tuna steak and I loved my tempura prawns. After dinner we walked to the Night Market (only open at night because it is too hot during the day) and got a 20 minute leg/foot massage for $6!!! It was an awesome day in Aussie land!

Ayers Rock/Uluru

2009-03-16T16:30:00.004-04:00

Sipping champagne and watching the sunset on Ayers Rock
Ayers Rock

The flies were so bad that we had to wear fly nets!
Before our hike through the Olgas

We took a 5-hour bus trip from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (or Uluru, in Aboriginal terms). Between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock there is one gas station and absolutely nothing else. Just lots of land!!

We were able to hike through The Olgas and watch the sunset at Ayers Rock.

Alice Springs--The Outback

2009-03-16T15:14:00.001-04:00

Purchasing our artwork from Marjorie
Sunrise
The wide open Outback

Riding a camel to dinner

This morning we took a sunrise hot air balloon trip across the Outback. It was beautiful and so peaceful! We didn't see any kangaroos, but we did see some cows, horses and camels. Afterward, the ballooning company provided us with breakfast and mimosas. From there we went back out into the bush to meet with Aboriginal painters. We purchased an original by Marjorie. :) This evening we took a camel to dinner and I ate barramundi fish and Brad tasted camel and kangaroo!!

Alice Springs--The Outback

2009-03-16T14:40:00.004-04:00

Conn making us "spotted dog" dessert in the bush.

Aboriginal girls playing the drums

Overlooking the town of Alice Springs

Old Telegraph Station

School of the Air

Today we flew from Melbourne to Alice Springs. We did a sightseeing tour of the Old Telegraph Station, Anzac Hill, and School of the Air. We met Aboriginal girls and they performed on the drums for us. They were cute girls and spoke 5 different languages. They even invited me to dance with them! Then we had dinner in the bush complete with musical entertainment and the didgeridoo.

Melbourne

2009-03-16T14:14:00.004-04:00

Wild wallabies on the way to Philip Island

Shrine of Rememberance

Today we met with our tour group, who we will be with throughout Australia and New Zealand. We were definitely the youngest by about 40 years!!! Oh well, we had tons of fun!! First, we stopped by Fitzroy Gardens and then the Shrine of Rememberance. We also spent some time at Queen Victoria's Market, a huge flea market with lots of Melbourne goodies. This evening we went over to Philip Island, off the coast of Melbourne to see the Penguin Parade. We were not allowed to take pictures during the parade, but it was an awesome sight to see. Each night the Little Penguins come in from the ocean and into their homes on the beach. :)

Walking Tour of Melbourne

2009-03-14T18:18:00.002-04:00

Brad and I set out on a walking tour of Melbourne today. We started with Degraves Street, which is filled with trendy cafes and tiny boutiques. Then St. Patrick's Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic-style church. We walked through Chinatown and then took a ride on CityCircle a free tram ride around the city. :)

G'day from Australia!!

2009-03-14T18:02:00.003-04:00

Our first stop on our tour of Australia is the city of Melbourne. It is the second largest city in Australia with a population of around 3 million. When we arrived the suburbs were being hit by the bush fires. Fortunately we were in the city and far enough away from the fires that our sightseeing was not hindered.

The beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens

Melbourne Skyline

Pearl Harbor

2009-03-14T17:47:00.004-04:00

We visited the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor today. It was a somber place to see, but we are glad we were able to see a place with such a history.

Brad and his "tourist" pose in front of Chinaman's Hat

Polynesian Cultural Center & Luau

2009-03-14T17:38:00.004-04:00

Brad and I had a educational day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. We were able to get a taste of the islands of Polynesia (Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti).

The Horizons Luau

Performers treat us to native Fijiian dances

Shrimp Shacks!!

2009-03-14T17:31:00.004-04:00

Along the North Shore of Hawaii there are tons of shrimp shacks. Since Brad and I love shrimp, we decided to sample some of the local fare and we were not disappointed. :) Yum! Yum! We tried Giovanni's and loved it!

Duke's at Waikiki Beach

2009-03-14T17:27:00.003-04:00

We had lunch at a Duke's, a famous restaurant/bar on Waikiki Beach!!!

Brad, Danielle & Lesley

Diamond Crater

2009-03-14T17:22:00.004-04:00

Today we climbed Diamond Head Crater, an inactive volcano that you can climb and look over Waikiki Beach and Honolulu. Lesley even carried baby Daniel all the way to the top!!

North Shore Waves

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Cruising around Hawaii

2009-03-14T17:09:00.003-04:00

We took Lesley's turquoise convertible Ford Thunderbird for a ride to the North Shore. Along the way we stopped at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. We did the world's largest maze and took the Pineapple Express train through a pineapple field. Then we had delicious pineapple ice cream with crushed pineapple on top. Then we drove to the famous North Shore to see the big winter waves! At the Banzai Pipeline they were having a surfing competition, so we were able to watch!

Aloha Hawaii!

2009-03-14T17:04:00.003-04:00

Brad and I arrived in Hawaii and Lesley greeted with authentic Hawaiian leis!!

We finally got to meet adorable baby Daniel!!

Brad was proud of his manly lei.

Me & Lesley at Haliewa Joe's

Brad & Danielle in Hawaii

More Pictures from Vail

2009-01-23T09:23:00.004-05:00

Adam & Lauren in the hot tub
Brad & Danielle
An ice sculpture exhibit in Vail Village

Winter Fun in Vail, Colorado

2009-01-23T09:07:00.003-05:00

Brad and I headed for the Rocky Mountains with Lauren and Adam (Brad's sister and her husband) for five days. We flew into Denver Airport and rented a car that we drove to the fabulous ski town of Vail. We had picture perfect weather our entire stay. It was chilly, but the blue skies and sunshine helped ease the cold. We stayed at a wonderful boutique hotel called Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa right in Vail Village. The hotel had great customer service and we even had a personal driver that would bring us anywhere we wanted in the Infiniti QX 56!! :) Just an added bonus for us! Vail has amazing restaurants and we ate like kings and queens for the duration of our stay.

Our hotel was also home to a spa and athletic club, which we took advantage of each day. After skiing each night we would head down to the outdoor hot tub and ease our sore leg muscles. :) Very relaxing!

The ice skating rink in nearby Lionshead Village
Top of the Rockies!!
Brad and I snowmobiling!
Before my full-day of ski lessons. I definitely learned a lot and never fell once the whole weekend...unless you count when Brad pushed me off the chairlift!!
View from Mid-Vail Lodge, where we are taking a lunch break.

More from Colorado

2008-11-03T16:37:00.002-05:00

While in Denver, we stayed with my great uncle Bob and great aunt Liz. They showed us all around the city including, Golden, Boulder and Estes National Park.

Great photo opportunity by a bubbling stream!

While driving through Estes National Park we had to pull over and see a herd of elk that were crossing the street. :)

We had to stop by and visit my grandfather's alma mater in Golden, CO.

Red Rocks-Colorado

2008-11-03T16:29:00.003-05:00

Here we are in Denver, Colorado visiting the Red Rocks amphitheater. Our friends Morgan and Nadine were getting married in Denver, so we decided to make a trip and see as much as we could see of this amazing city.

Dave Matthews, Mariah Carey, Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, and Celine Dion have all performed at this acoustic haven-Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Alcatraz Island

2008-11-03T16:20:00.005-05:00

Today, Brad and I visited Alcatraz. Alcatraz served as a fortress and military prison and finally as a maximin security federal penitentiary. We decided to take part in an audio tour as former Alcatraz inmates reminisce about their life on Alcatraz.

View of San Francisco from Alcatraz Island

Some famous inmates of Alcatraz include Al Capone, Robert "Birdman" Stroud, and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

More from San Fran

2008-11-03T16:15:00.002-05:00

Of course we had to take a ride on the famous cable cars!!

The beautiful "City by the Bay"

Chinatown

The Redwoods

2008-11-03T16:09:00.003-05:00

On our way back to San Francisco we stopped at Muir Woods National Park. It was so peaceful and beautiful in the forest. The redwood trees were huge!!

We got up close and personal with some wildlife--a baby deer is in the center.

Napa Valley

2008-11-03T16:00:00.003-05:00

Our first day in Napa Valley we visited great wineries and had a lovely picnic lunch at V. Sattui.

The grapevines at Peju Provence

We reached Sterling Vineyard after a ride on the sky-tram

The guys and the huge wine vats

Our tasting table at Merryvale Winery

The Wine Country

2008-11-03T15:47:00.003-05:00

Our first winery was the impossibly beautiful vineyard of Ferrari-Carano. This vineyard and winery is located in Sonoma Valley. We were given a private tour of the estate and then we were able to taste a variety of wines.

Toasting to a great weekend...Rhonda & Stephen, Jeanmarie & Vinny, Mom & Dad, Pilar, Brad and Danielle

Tasty grapes!!

Gateway to the wine country...The Golden Gate Bridge!!

San Francisco

2008-10-23T11:09:00.003-04:00

Lovely San Francisco!!! Brad and I met up with my parents and their friends from New York in "The City by the Bay." We managed to stop by Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and "the world's most crooked street," Lombard Street.

Danube River Cruise

2008-10-10T16:28:00.003-04:00

Tonight we enjoyed an evening cruise along the Danube. It was a perfect way to appreciate the beauty of Budapest. We took in the stunning views of the illuminated city, whilst enjoying dinner and drinks.

Budapest

2008-10-10T16:22:00.005-04:00

St. Stephen's Basilica

This is the largest church in Budapest. We were able to see St. Stephen's hand, which was mummified and has been kept enclosed since around 1035!

St. Stephen's Hand

Overlooking the city from Gellert Hill
Buda, Pest and the Danube River

A Day in Budapest

2008-10-10T16:15:00.003-04:00

Our morning sightseeing tour included the Royal Palace, Chain Bridge, Gellert Hill, Heroes' Square, and St. Stephen's Basilica. We learned that Budapest is divided into two sections, Buda and Pest. Pest is the industrial and commercial side and where all the shopping is done. Buda is residential and it is very expensive and exlcusive to reside.

Matthias Church

This church is located on Castle Hill and is considered to be Budapest's most beautiful
View from Castle Hill. The Parliament building is in the background.

Parliament
Chain Bridge

Vienna to Budapest

2008-10-10T16:11:00.002-04:00

This morning a short drive took us to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava for some free time to explore. Not a particularly pretty city, but now we check it off on our list of places we've been!! We then traveled to the Hungarian capital, Budapest--our stop for two nights. We took the chance to explore the fashionable bars of the city.

Entrance to Bratislava Castle
We are in Bratislava!!

Waltzing through Vienna

2008-10-10T11:12:00.005-04:00

Vienna is a city of classical beauty, classical music and classical Schnitzels! We had a full day of sightseeing in this amazing city. Time to visit the Palace of the Habsburgs, St. Stephen's Cathedral and snack on Manner wafers and apple strudel. Yummy! Vienna is a delightfully comfortable city and a destination for music, art and culture. The city lies in the Danube Valley and has been inhabited for thousands of years.

Hofburg Imperial Palace

This was the official residence of the Habsburgs and is now home to a plethora of museums as well as the office of the President of Austria.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

This cathedral is in the center of the city and is identified by its spires and mosaic tiled roof. It is a 13th century gothic masterpiece.

Old Vienna Schnaps Museum

Founded in 1875 by the Fischer family, this distillery still uses traditional methods when producing schnaps, brandies and liqueurs. The owners explained methods of schnaps making and the variety of ingredients they use. They didn't give away any secrets though! We finished up by sampling their wonderful creations.

Getting attacked by a ferocious lion at the Natural History Museum

Tonight we were able to experience Austrian grandeur and complete our Austrian visit. We enjoyed a traditional Viennese meal in a restaurant on the grounds of the Schonbrunn Palace. This was the impressive summer residence of hte Habsburgs. Then on to the Orangerie, where a young Mozart performed for Maria Theresa, where we listened to an Orchestra performing timeless music of Mozart and Strauss.

Prague to Vienna

2008-10-10T11:05:00.004-04:00

This morning we visited the UNESCO listed town of Kutna Hora for a chance to see its impressive medieval sights. We stopped at the Ossuary, which is a church decorated with human bones. Just a little creepy!! The unique decoration of the interior from 1870 is said to speak about the substance and sense of human life.

Posing with all the bones!
This chandelier is made out of all 206 bones in the adult human body!
Skulls and Bones...
and more Skulls and Bones.

We then traveled south to Vienna, the majestic capital of Austria. Along the way we had a little detour with the bus because the highway was closed. It worked in our favor because we were able to see so much of the Bohemian countryside!!

More from Prague...

2008-10-10T10:55:00.006-04:00

On the Charles Bridge
Old Town Hall
Brad with Jan Hus statue, in Old Town Square

A centrally located restaurant was the venue for tonight's traditional Czech experience. We dined on a "Bohemian Plate," sipped local wines and watched folklore dancers with live music!! A great way to end our visit to Prague!

Prague-Day 3

2008-10-10T10:40:00.006-04:00

We started the day off with a guided bike tour of Prague. We were able to do much more in 3 hours on a bike that we ever would on foot. We rode through the enchanting streets in the town center, along the lovely River Vltava, and out into Prague's vast and uncharted parks. We heard great stories and had many photo opportunities-a fantastic way to explore Prague!

One of the things we saw on our bike tour-a wall dedicated to John Lennon. A 3-D sculpture of his head is to the left of "Imagine."
Then we had a terrific lunch a the Hotel U Prince in Old Town Square. We had beautiful views and fabulous weather.
Old Town Square is magical with beautiful buildings that tell the tale of Prague's history. The Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall dates from 1490 and is like a giant storybook with a procession of Apostles, a crowing rooster, a skeleton that rings the bell and the centerpiece of seasonal and zodiac dials show the movement of the Earth. It is well worth waiting until the top of the hour to watch.
One of Prague's architectural gems is the Tyn Church with beautiful gothic spires.

Prague-Day 2

2008-10-10T10:31:00.004-04:00

Sharka, our local guide, took us on a sightseeing tour of Prague today. We started at the Prague Castle. This 9th century building is located on the hilltop area of Hradcany overlooking the river. It is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. After spending some time at the castle we headed down the hill to the Charles Bridge. This is the most famous bridge in the city, covered with statues and built in 1357. Then we headed down to the Jewish Quarter, a historic and very interesting part of town to visit. Then we were able to see Prague from a different angle by going on a cruise along the River Vltava for lunch. We loved the scenery and delicious lunch buffet.

Brad posing with the guard of the Prague Castle

Overlooking the city from the castle
View from our river cruise
The Charles Bridge

Berlin to Prague

2008-10-10T10:16:00.004-04:00

Heading south through Germany we stopped for lunch in Dresden. It was bitterly cold, but we tried to see as much of the city as we could. :) There were some beautiful buildings and a quaint town square.

We crossed the border and arrived in the Czech Republic for 3 nights!! Praue is known as the golden city built on Seven Hills across the River Vltava. Without a doubt, Prague is one of Europe's most attractive cities. According to legend, Princess Libuse stood above the River Vltava and proclaimed "I see a city whose glory will touch the stars. It shall be called Praha." And the beautiful city of Prague was born. It was the only major city in Eastern Europe to escape large scale bombing during WWII and still has a magical feel about it. The city has many things to offer, including beautiful castles and museums and as Brad would attest, very tasty beer!!Our first glimpse of Prague was through a guided night walking tour. We were able to see the Hradcany Castle (Prague Castle), Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. It was absolutely magical at night!

We ended the night at The Beer Factory in Wenceslas Square. This was without a doubt Brad's highlight of evening! There were about 15 tables througout the bar complete with their beer taps! No waiting at the bar and no waiters! Great concept, huh??!! All we had to do was grab a mug and find a table. The best part was that there was a computerized tally table board that could be seen throughout the bar. This kept track of how many liters of beer each table was drinking. Of course a competition between the tables ensued. The Beer Factory had great music and everyone was danced the night away!

Berlin-Day 2

2008-10-09T12:00:00.005-04:00

We chose to do a Historical Walking Tour of Berlin today. This was an opportunity to explore the fascinating history of this city. Our walking tour with a local guide including infamous Third Reich sites such as the site of Hilter's bunker and the former Propoganda Ministry of the Goebbels.

During our free time we visited Brandenburg Gate, which was a gate to nowhere as it was in the "no man's land" zone between East and West Berlin.

We also visited Reichstag, home to the German Parliament. The Reichstag has been the sight of many important historical events; rallies by Hitler, a concert by Pink Floyd, and the declaration of a unified Germany. We were able to climb the huge glass dome to get a close-up of the mirrors that angle natural light into the building.

This is the Hotel Adlon, outside the Brandenburg Gate. This is important because this is where Michael Jackson dangled his baby over the balcony. :)

Guten Tag from Berlin, Germany

2008-10-09T11:50:00.004-04:00

Berlin---a sprawling metropolis that is once again the capital of Germany! For 28 years the city was split in two by "the Berlin Wall" and is now a growing city that is throwing off the shackles of division. The city has been one of the largest construction sites in the world during this period of redevelopment, what has made it a little "unconventional" as far as sightseeing goes. We're here for the history, not the beauty!!! :)

We started off the day at the East Side Gallery, which is home to the largest section of the Berlin Wall that is still standing. Then we took a city bus tour and headed to the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, the site of a former concentration camp. We were able to see and learn about the unbelievable conditions people were forced to endure during WWII.
In front of the Berlin Wall

Memorial Sachsenhausen

We ended the night by joining a local guide for an evening of intrigue and espionage. We learned about the methods of the Stasi--the East German Secret Police!! Sites we saw included Tunnel 57 (an underground tunnel people used to escape East Germany), the death strip and a "ghost" underground station. Then we went on a little scavenger hunt throughout the city and ended up at two local bars to experience Berlin's famous nightlife!

Paris-Day 3

2008-10-09T11:33:00.012-04:00

The first museum we visited today was the Musee D'Orsay. This museum exhibits works from the years 1848-1914. Some famous works we saw on display were by Delacroix, Manet, Monet, Cezanne, van Gogh, Renoir, Whistler and Matisee. It was awesome to see all these works in person and not just in books!!

Venus de Milo
Entrance to the Louvre

We saved the best museum for last, the Louvre. This is the big one; once the largest palace in the world and now the largest art museum. Home of the Mona Lisa and the poor, armless Venus de Milo. It is the home to some 400,000 works of art.

More from Paris...

2008-10-09T11:23:00.004-04:00

Me and the Eiffel Tower
Our views from the top of Arc de Triomphe

Napoleon's Tomb
Basilique du Sacre Couer

We ended the day with some friends from our tour group in Montmartre ( a pretty hillside town close to Paris). We ate an authentic French dinner complete with frog's legs and escargot!!

Paris-Day 2

2008-10-08T12:57:00.003-04:00

We started off the day with a private tour of the French perfumery, Fragonard. We got an up close and personal look of how perfume is made and were able to smell beautiful scents. Of course we had to purchase perfume from France!! :)

Musee Rodin

Tons of sculptures at this museum, including The Thinker.

What a bustling street full of designer stores and cafes!! We did a lot of window shopping at Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci and Sephora.

Arc de Trimophe

This is the largest triumphal arc in the world and was built by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his army's victories. We were able to climb to the top and get some great views of Paris!!

Paris, France-Day 1

2008-10-08T12:20:00.008-04:00

Notre Dame

Outside at a French Cafe

Brad lounging by the River Seine

Inside the Palace of Versailles

Today we took a trip to the Palace of Versailles. This was the home of the flamboyant Loius XIV in 1682 and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in 1789. It is France’s most visited chateau. After exploring the palace’s interior we were in awe of the 250-acre gardens surrounding the palace. For lunch we ate at an authentic French cafe. Then we walked over to the Cathedral of NNotre Dame. We walked along the River Seine in the late afternoon.

For evening entertainment we were able to see the famous Moulin Rouge. :) The Moulin Rouge has been the most famous cabaret in the world since 1889 thanks to its French Cancan. We started off with dinner at our tables while lounge singers entertained us. Then it was time for the big show!! The concept of the show is feathers, rhinestones, sequins, fabulous settings and original music. What a great way to end our night in Paris!!!

London to Paris

2008-10-08T11:41:00.004-04:00

The White Cliffs of Dover

The Eiffel Tower

Top of the Eiffel Tower

We took the ferry over to France from England. We stopped to see the White Cliffs of Dover. After reaching France we had a 4-hour bus ride to Paris. My dream came true when I finally got to see the Eiffel Tower!!! It was so beautiful at night! It was all lit up with soft blue lights. Usually the lights are while, but since the President of France is also the President of the EU (European Union) it is blue with yellow stars. So, the first thing we did was go straight to the Eiffel Tower and ride the elevator all the way to the top!! It was a beautifully clear night ad we could see all the sparkling lights of Paris. What a dream!!!

London

2008-09-15T17:06:00.003-04:00

The National Gallery Museum. This museum houses "Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh.

In front of Buckingham Palace

Changing of the guards

Brad and Big Ben

Tower Bridge and the River Thames

9/8/08

Today was a whirlwind day of sightseeing in London. We were able to see a ton of important buildings and monuments. One of the highlights was visiting the London Dungeon, which was a unique feast of fun with London history's horrible bits (Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, Great Fire of 1666). To top the evening off we got to see a West End musical, "The Sound of Music."

Stonehenge & Bath

2008-09-15T16:37:00.000-04:00

9/7/08

Today we made the journey to Stonehenge, which is about 2 hours outside of London. We were able to see the massive stones up close and learn about their history as we listened to an audio guide. We were able to see the remains of prehistoric monument that was in use thousands of years ago. After Stonehenge, we traveled another hour to the city of Bath. Bath is famous for its Roman Bath, Jane Austen and Georgian style homes. We toured the ancient Roman Bath and we learned about the purpose it had many years ago.

Once we returned to London, we freshened up and headed over to Jess and Alex's flat for dinner. They made a lovely English meal of lamb, potatoes, green beans and yummy apple turnover for dessert. What a great evening!!

Our European Adventure Begins...

2008-09-13T12:59:00.000-04:00

We arrived at London Heathrow on September 6. From the airport we hopped on the Tube (London's subway) to our hotel. After getting settled into our room, we met up with Jessica (Lauren's good friend that lives in London) and her boyfriend, Alex. We rode a double-decker bus to Notting Hill and walked the Portobello Road. What a quaint area with crafters and shops lining the street. We ate lunch in a traditional English Pub. :)

Rhode Island

2008-09-04T16:45:00.000-04:00

For Labor Day weekend we took a road trip to Rhode Island. Lauren and Adam joined us! We stayed with my Aunt Cely and Jim in Charlestown, RI. My mom and dad were able to fly up for the weekend as well. :) It had already been a month since we left Tampa, so we were excited to see them! We made it to RI around 1 pm on Friday. We took a tour of Cely and Jim's house (it had been totally remodeled since I had last been to visit). They have a hot tub and an outdoor shower (which is amazing). Friday night we had a yummy seafood dinner of King Crab legs and sweet corn on the cob! On Saturday it was cloudy and rainy, so we decided to hit up the Foxwoods Casino in nearby Connecticut. The place is huge! Lauren and I were the big winners on the slot machines (L-$15 and D-$6.75). We had another seafood feast on Saturday night with delicious lobster. We made a huge mess, but the lobster was worth it!! On Sunday we drove to the adorable town of Newport. We toured the Newport Mansions on Bellevue Avenue. These mansions were unbelievable! The largest home was owned by the Vanderbilts. It was built in 1895 and it was a staggering 138,000 square feet. This home was used by the family for only 2 months out of the year!!

We had a great Labor Day weekend in Rhode Island!!

Phillies Baseball Game

2008-08-25T21:02:00.000-04:00

August 22, 2008

We went to a Philadelphia Phillies game with Tim and Amanda. The Phillies have a new, state-of-the-art stadium, Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies beat the LA Dodgers 8-1. By the way, Tony Luke's serves the best Cheesesteak in the world!!!

The Jersey Shore

2008-08-25T19:22:00.000-04:00

August 16-22, 2008

Brad & I spent the week on the Jersey Shore in Avalon, NJ. We rented a house with a bunch of friends. The beach was beautiful and not too crowded and we had perfect weather each day!! During the day we sunbathed on the beach and at night we hit the bars and nightclubs. We frequented The Princeton, Jack's, and The Winddrift. Our favorite lunchspot was the Avalon Deli. We spent one night in Atlantic City (AC) at Bally's Casino. Hopefully, we'll be back to the shore again!

Outer Banks, North Carolina

2008-07-29T10:14:00.000-04:00

July 19-July 26

Brad's family has a tradition of going to the Outer Banks, North Carolina each summer. This summer 16 of us vacationed together for a week. Brad and I flew into Norfolk, VA and Tim and his girlfriend Amanda picked us up. It should have been a 90 minute drive but it turned into 3 1/2 hours because of all the traffic. People love the OBX in the summer!! We spent a lot of family time together playing beach games like Bocce Ball, String Golf and Paddle Ball. I think the crowd favorite is definitely String Golf! At night, everyone took turns cooking dinner. Brad and I grilled chicken and burgers with a side of potato casserole. Yum!! Then we liked to hang out on the deck and listen to the ocean. We also played games (Apples to Apples, Balderdash and Poker). It was a great week for rest, relaxation, sand, sun, surf and family!

Baie Orientale

2008-07-06T14:04:00.000-04:00

Everyone went to Baie Orientale (Orient Bay) today. Orient Bay is the most famous beach on the island, it is named because it is on the east coast of the French side. It offers something for everyone-total rest and relaxation or all the water-sports imaginable. The water was beautiful and the waves were huge! We laid out at Waikiki Beach and then everyone rode the Banana Boat at Kontiki Beach. We had fun getting dunked into the ocean! The beach is on the French side of the island, so there were a lot of topless women sunbathing!

Jenn and Jason's Wedding

2008-07-05T13:51:00.000-04:00

Jenn and Jason's wedding was a beautiful sunset ceremony at their villa on the French side of the island.

Sailing & Snorkeling

2008-07-04T13:39:00.000-04:00

Today we went on a catamaran sailing trip. We left on the Golden Eagle at 8:30 am and the weather was perfect. The guys had to help lift the sail on the way. On the way out to the island of Tintamarre we sat in the front of the catamaran and got splashed the whole way! Upon arrival to the island we got snorkel gear and went snorkeling. Brad and I saw beautiful salt water fish in a variety of colors and we even had a school of fish chase us! On the island there was a place to get special volcanic mud. We put the mud all over, even our faces. Then we laid out on the beach and let the mud "bake." Afterwards, we went back into the ocean to rinse off and our skin was left silky smooth. On the way back to the marina we had a champagne toast!

Since it was 4th of July we met everyone at Bliss Nightclub and danced the night away. DJ Finesse was from New York and he was awesome! Fireworks went off at 1:00 am from the ocean!

Relaxation & Shopping

2008-07-03T13:11:00.000-04:00

We woke up and immediately put on our swimsuits and headed to the blue Carribean Sea. Then we took a dip in the refreshing pool, which is oceanside. Then we decided to head to Philipsburg, which is where a ton of shopping is located. We looked at a lot of diamonds and watches. Brad even tried on a $30,000 Rolex! We ate lunch at the port and watched the cruise ships come in. We even bought Guavaberry Rum, a local favorite. We met Jenn and Jason at their villa on the French side and swam in their pool and then went to dinner at Jimbo's Restaurant for fajitas and margaritas!!

Saint Martin/Sint Maarten/SXM

2008-07-02T12:52:00.000-04:00

Today, Brad, Steve, Candace and I flew to St. Maarten for Jenn and Jason's wedding. Jenn and Jason lived in SXM for three years and it was their dream to come back and get married on the island. We flew from Tampa to Miami to St. Maarten. The SXM airport is right near the beach, so it made for an interesting landing! We checked into our condo at Las Arenas in Simpson Bay on the Dutch side of the island. We have ocean front views and an infiniti edge pool is steps from our door. The water is so beautiful and crystal clear!! After unpacking, we met up with everyone else on the island for the wedding at Sunset Beach Bar and watched the incoming planes land on the runway next to the beach.