Firsts

Been experiencing some "firsts" lately, including first child to get driver's permit and DRIVING (eek!), and then that same child taking a 10-day trip around Europe with her instrumental group (eek x 2!). She had the time of her life and loved Germany best of all (clean, charming, she loved the houses and food). Out of 1,106 photos she took with my camera it was hard to narrow it down, but here are a few of her excursion through Iceland, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. After seeing what kind of pictures she took, I realized that Gwen and I both have an affinity for window boxes and FOOD! (She wrote down on a napkin from the airplane all the meals she ate while in Europe. It was fascinating. Less is more and simple is great, something I need to keep telling myself.) After many scenes from "Taken" flashed through my mind while she was gone, I am much relieved and happy to have her back home safe and sound. Will she really turn Sweet 16 in four months???

Gwen and Liz: They were soooo excited to finally be on their way!

ICELAND

Arrived in chilly Iceland at sunrise, had Icelandic porridge, and soaked in the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

GERMANY

Piano of Johannes Brahms in his home, Heidelberg

Apparently in Germany no one talks about how much their house cost, you just don't do that. Just another thing to love about Germany!

Castle ruins...a certain king and queen lived there back in 1612...can't remember their names

FRANCE

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Le Louvre

Forms that Stradivarius used

One of Gwen's favorite movies is Moulin Rouge

Ryan and Liz

The best hot chocolate ever according to Gwen

NETHERLANDS-(AMSTERDAM)

Gwen's least favorite city of the trip-dirty, smelled like pot everywhere you went, and certain kids in her group freely partook of marijuana brownies while there, sold right in the cafe. Camera battery ran out, hence lack of pics from Amsterdam.

Gwen and Ryan