Saturday, September 22, 2012

Eileen & Alan Tie the Knot! Fave Fotos 2
















Eileen & Alan Tie the Knot! Fave Fotos 1











Alana's Favorites

Looks like Alana liked these two photos best out of our Poland pics - Pops & Maman in Gdansk. 

Enthusiasm in front of one of the gates along the Royal Route.




Fascination with the elaborate Artus Court.

 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Playland in Poland

Here's what makes me think of Playland while in Sopot, Poland...the art deco styling, the white stucco walls, the red tile roofs, a tower and fountain - all on the beach with a boardwalk, just no amusement park.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Poland

The riverwalk in Gdansk along the Motlawa River.
The mermaid fountain in Warsaw (she's the city protector). We had our first meal under the umbrellas in the background.
In Sopot (just like what Alana and I saw in China), couples come to the beach for wedding photos. Sailboard race is ending in background.
We're in our third city and have been delighted in each one: beautiful architecture, delicious pierogi, not too expensive costs, and now a beautiful seashore.  In Warsaw for one day, we explored Old Town, all rebuilt after WWII (a UNESCO World Heritage Site now).  In Gdansk for two days, the "Royal Route" had amazing architecture and lots of beautiful Baltic Sea amber. Day 2 we explored the history of the Solidarity movement with its bringing about the end of Communist rule in Europe at museums, photo displays and poking around the shipyards. Very powerful. Then up the coast just 5 miles to the resort town of Sopot. It's like the Playland of Poland, minus the rides (those photos to follow) - all white stucco art deco buildings with red tile roofs. We're in the conference hotel right on the beach - beautiful. Glad I brought my wetsuit to swim - the water's clear but cold and filled with jellyfish!

Gate 2 at the (former) Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, the site of the Solidarity sit down strike in 1989 - treated as a shrine now.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

32 on 23


We celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary by hiking in beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park. We spent Thursday arriving at our 100+ year old cabin in Raymond and doing a short hike up Castle Rock.

Ouzel Falls
Ouzel Lake
On Friday - the one year anniversary of Ack starting chemo - we hiked 10 miles RT to stunning Ouzel Lake (10,000') with a series of spectacular waterfalls along the way. Not such a great cabin experience that night in Allenspark.

Saturday, a 6-mile RT to Deer Mountain with stunning views of Beaver Meadows below and other peaks around.

View from Deer Mountain
Very fun visit with Eileen and Alan that night in Longmont with an early departure back to Madison on Sunday. (Forgot to take a photo.) Next time we see them will be at their wedding!
Happy Anniversary!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Olbrich Gardens

Anne and Ack took a trip to the gardens to see what plants we might want in our new designed back yard, and to see the place Erin and Al will be married. Some photos for the record.


And here are some plants we would like.
Aureola Golden Japanese Forest Grass

Finger Coreopsis

Palm Sedge

Red Baron Japanese blood grass