Paris, Je t'aime!

While Jenny was visiting last week we took the train over to Paris for a night.  We had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to catch the first train out to Paris.  We tried to hit up everything that we could.  We went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (300 steps), Champs-Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower.  The Eiffel Tower is like Disneyland.  Lots of hype and really long lines, but the view is unbeatable.  We also made it to Notre Dame where we saw people get attacked by pigeons and harassed by gypsies.  Unfortunately we didn't read the fine print that told us the Louvre was closed on Tuesdays.  Other than that we spent the time eating crepes and walking around Montmartre.

View of the Arc de Triomphe from the Eiffel Tower

All 300 stairs

On top of the Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame

You'd hate to be that guy!  It's good to know the US isn't special and there are meter maids everywhere!

Here's Jenny checking out the dead animals at Borough Market in London

The Beautiful Adriatic

One of the best things about the international schools is break schedule.  Heath and I just returned from a week in Croatia for the midterm break.  Croatia is amazing!  It has a really interesting blend of cultures due to being constantly conquered by the surrounding countries.  We started our trip in Rovinj in the north near the border with Italy.  Rovinj is a pretty seaside town on a small peninsula dominated by a 19th century church.  It was first settled in the Roman times and the stone in the streets dates to 700AD.  Really treacherous with stilettos!  The cappuccinos and gelato were amazing.  We enjoyed sitting outside in the warm sun after chilly England.  The old streets all wind up to the church and there's lots of hidden architectural treasures to be found.  One of my favorite was a tiny church perched right on the cliff.  

This was an abandoned hotel on a little island near Rovinj.

Yes the water is that clear!

From Rovinj we traveled onto the island of Rab.  Rab was absolutely beautiful with four towers in the old town and multiple churches.  It was also empty being the off season.  At one point we were the only people walking around town.  The second day, although warm, a wind picked up that made beach activities out of the question.  We decided to head inland to Zagreb instead.

Looks like Santa Barbara!

We had also been offered a job at the school in Zagreb so it was exciting to get to go check it out.  Zagreb is a really accessible city that gets overlooked sometimes.  The school was in a really nice area.  It is much smaller and not nearly as fancy as Cobham, but it has a very relaxed feeling.  I think we spent most of our time eating because the food was really good and really cheap!  Zagreb has more of an Eastern European feel to it but the cafe culture is universal in Croatia.  Everywhere we went people spent hours sitting out at cafes.  Zagreb felt like a very livable city.

The cemetery in Zagreb decorated for All Souls Night

Our last day was spent in Pula which has one of the largest and best preserved Roman Amphitheaters.  Heath was thrilled!  We also checked out an old Greek theater and a Temple to Augustus.

Heath just isn't sure what he thinks about this shrimp salad!

Cork

I know I'm really behind posting these pictures!

We went to Cork, Ireland for a weekend in September for my birthday.  We saw the Jameson Distillery and got to sample lots of Whiskey.  It was about 10:30 in the morning and we weren't quite ready for it but what can you do if you only have two days.  We also went to see Blarney Castle which is famous for having the Blarney Stone.  Legend has it that if you lean backwards over the edge and kiss the stone you will be gifted with the gift of gab.  Apparently Churchill did it, as have we.  I can't say that my persuasive writing has improved though.

These Barrels show the different stages the whiskey goes through when it ages.

This reminded me of the painting by Millais of Ophelia