...Toy Driving

This week has been crazy! As I'm sure many of your lives have been crazy too... Well, Jewelz and I returned from the snowy cold rainy Midwest late Sunday night. We went to Kentucky, as we were part of Jewelz mom's wedding... It was a very fast and full time.

This week we jumped right into Running, Staff work, and... 'tis the season, the Kairos annual Toy Drive! (With all of this going on, I haven't really captured, processed, or transitioned from all of our Europe experiences!... I hope to get time to journal and slow down...) Also, worth mentioning, I got sick this week, plus 3 others on our running team... We're resting. (Of Note, My mom got the LA 'bug' bad and is back in Indiana this week, resting...)

Have I mentioned how awesome our runners are this year!? Well, They Rock! We took 8 of South Centrals finest to Kairos on Tuesday to help get all the madness, that is the Toy Drive, in order. They worked hard, and had a great time. The Toy Drive is Saturday, the 22nd, and we're expecting 1000 kids will be served! It's an unreal site. If you're around, come by and help.

:Gabby, Richard (whose proud of the SpongeBob undies), and Katherine:

:Amarilas, Manny (Team Captain!), Chanel, Araceli:

:Jewelz and Sophia:

:THe Whole Posse:

Half Marathon

We had the Irvine Half Marathon on Saturday with our after-school mentoring program. Here is Jewelz on the last mile - Pressing Hard!

Christian, our Assistant Coach, Manny, team captain, and Richard cheering in the rest of the team! (with 'home-made' signs, none-the-less!)

On the Right is Luis, a Sophomore at Foshay - He looks so happy! This is right before the finish line. (the other runner is from another school)

We are really proud of our team. They all did so well with energy and encouraging attitudes. We really feel like God's Spirit is leading and blessing this team.

For us, its a whirlwind since we just got back from Europe. My parents just got into town, and next weekend we go to Julie's mom's wedding in Kentucky.

on Returning

Julie and I just returned to LA... its so warm!
(yes, we've been conditioned...)

We traveled for 18 hours yesterday. It was a long one.

Upon returning, I saw the San Gabriel Mountains, and Mt. Baldy covered in snow... and the LA basin... I thought, this place is really unique!

I do plan to update our blog with pictures... and keep it up through the year for family fun...

for now, here is a picture from amsterdam... Yes, thats real Leather, dyed black... I found it at a market for a friend of mine in San Diego... If there were two, i'd have my own, so I could resist sporting it... The natives thought I looked amazing and were all jealous...

WHen in ROME...

Whew! Rome has been amazing!
and amazingly overwhelming...

I've been sick since amsterdam... riding bikes in the Rain will do that, I suppose. Everyday has been a bit of a battle just to see things and rest and take medicine...

Being in Rome has really started to complete our trip. Our 4 flavors and 4 cities... Barcelona is next and we feel like it will be a bit of a 'homecoming' as it will have the most similar climate and food to LA... We thought Amsterdam felt the most american... with soup and sandwiches for lunch... and the sounds in the city seemed more familiar... Rome, out of Paris and Amsterdam, has been the least familiar and most difficult to get around. It just doesn't seem preoccupied with 'serving the tourist'... We've got around just fine, but its the small things... each bus stop doesn't have a map, Paris did...

We have really enjoyed all the history and smells and tastes... Julie especially loves the pasta at a resturant right next to our little place... the creamy veal tortallini!

I dont suggest doing Rome in 3 days... but if you must... :
Santa Marie Maggorie ... really was amazing...
Coloseum... paying for the english tour was worth it, just to get that added realism...
Palantine Hill & the Forum... our english tour took us thruogh this as well... really just blew us away...

day 2:
Vatican Museum... this was TOO overwhelming... unfortunately, i didnàt really like the experience of it... just too many people being shuffled through... but some highlights were Rapheals rooms, and the cistine chapel... It really struck me how the place is layed out to show you, the visitor, the pagan greeks, romans, and 'crescendoing' with the height of the church adn the cistine chapel...

St. Peters Basilica... after the museum, this was too much, but its right there, so we did it... and the light was just perfectly coming through the windows... it really is enormous and was overwhelming, too...

Spanish steps to Trevi Fountain to Pantheon to Trastevere... This was a highlight for me... just the walk through the back streets... and the Pantheon is amazing... to think Hadrian built it 2500 years ago...

Yesterday ... we went to a deserted Orvieto, a medieval hill town in Umbria... It was a beautiful day and it was really nice to get out of town... but most of the shops and restuarants were closed... the Duomo is amazing there... you'll have to google that to get all the specs...

Off to Barcelona... On the train ride yesterday we had a great talk about life and family, and we look forward to getting back and sharing all our experiences...

Museums

Thanksgiving; via the Pilgrims first stop

So, As you may know, the Pilgrims first left England and found acceptance in Holland. So having thanksgiving in Amsterdam was kind of a 'home-coming' of sorts... The fellowship here had a nice big traditional turkey, sweet potatoes and stuffing... all the fixings'! It was a blessing and such a nice way to end our time in Amsterdam.

Eric and Eva slicing the bird!
This is a pecan chocolate pie that the ladies made... without corn syrup, because you can't find it in the grocery store here, but with a little help from a friend, they made it with honey... it was yummy...
Julie bought this "Pilgrim" from Party Plus... Eva loved the decorations... it was fun to bring some decor from the states...

This is Seth... from England... He really enjoyed 'thanksgiving'... We shared a love for turkey, football, and the band U2... he works for a fancy stroller company called Buggaboo...

Amsterdam = Bicycling

Since being in Amsterdam we've had some great experiences... We've been able to fellowship and rest with Eva... a great friend and missionary in the city...

Amsterdam is a really 'cute' city... and pretty... Its quite the change from Paris. On our last day there we squeezed into a metro... literally... it was like sardines... Now in Amsterdam, in the land of IKEA, and many American businesses and products - it's feels like a world away from Paris. If anything else, just the autonomy of the bikes... has been freeing ... and challenging.... here's my bike series...



It's been rainy... and we only have two bikes... thus the "ride sharing"...

Lyon

Going back here... as I made it to a camera store in Amsterdam and got a new battery and charger... Lyon seems like a world away! but I'll share a couple of photos.



This is the 18th century Church that overlooks the city. To the left of the Church are Roman ruins... and from where I'm taking the picture is near the oldest part of the city. Of which there is a church built in Gothic Style, similar to the Notre Dame (Lyon and Paris have always competed... Lyon, wealthy from the silk trade, claim to save Paris from bankruptcy and hence holding an 'upper hand')... and this church (not pictured) is built upon two other churches... one dating to before 100 a.d. - that's pretty old! and I find it interesting that believers were here, in Lyon, and had built a church by 100 a. d. It really spoke to me about how the testimony of Jesus, and his disciples, was so real, immediate, and relevant.

These are some of my classmates with Pepperdine. They are so varied and incredible folks. from left to Right: Humberto (from north valley LA), Ray (LA), Barbara (Northridge, CA), Lori (she's Eskimo, and from Anchorage, Alaska), Eric (Seattle), Max (Russia via Isreal via San Fransico), Eric (Texas)

This is Lyon from up on the hill.

Ray at the Roman Amphitheatre... It was really interesting to see how these are preserved in the midst of this city.
I experienced Autumn!

This is the Pink Tower, of which Lyon is very famous. This is in the old medieval, and renaissance area of the town. The famed Medici family own business and homes in Lyon.

Part of my class experience was working with the Chamber of Commerce and their interest in Environmental Sustainability. These are bikes which the city provides, and the public can pay to use them from one stop to another. They are free for the first 31 minutes, after that your credit card is charge per hour. There are over 4,000 bikes. The idea is very successful... So much so that Paris adopted the idea. (another point which Lyon is proud of...)

True Parisian Experience

Ahhh,.... SO, After it taking Julie 5 hours to get from the airport to the Hotel, We finally met up at our cute little Hotel - Hotel Amelie, over 100 years old, no lift, and tiny stairway painted in red (of course)...

Why the long trip from the airport? The Train drivers are striking for more benefits... the whole city is wild and a little chaotic... we've managed, though.

Yesterday the weather was beautiful. We went to the Louvre. Overwhelmed with Renaissance, and saw Monna's smirk (we especially like The Wedding Feast at Cana, and julie went bonkers over King Henry's crown and jewelry...)
Then off to the Noh-ter Dam (It really is prime Gothic Architecture with amazing Stain glass, and Choir loft with Wooden Carved Scenes of the Bible...)

Oh, and our adventure... I forgot my digital camera battery... and charger... in Lyon! (I Know! So frustrating...) So we went to the Sears of France, BHV, but to no avail... we'll keep looking...

TODAY -
Has been FREEZING, we are so spoiled being from SO. CAL... Since we are 'coaches' and runners - we ran a brief 1 hour, down the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triumph, Rue de Foch, in the Bois de Boulagne (a huge city park, in classic romantique/english style) around Lac Inferior, and down Trocadero, under the bitter, windy, awe-inspiring Eiffel Tower, and back to our little hotel!...
later, it was so cold, but we managed to get inside... We went to the awesomely transformed Train Station into Impressionist Art Museum, Musee D'Orsay - It was a highlight to see Degas, Monet, Manet, and the Van Gogh room was stunning...
The architecture really is stunning... looking through clocks... and experiencing the place...


(To go back to last week for a moment)
I have a lot of pictures of Lyon... and I had a special night in Lyon - I say Lyon vs. Marseilles in a WILD, very European, atmosphere! Two of my classmates went and had an awesome time. The stadium was so loud! for the entire match! (The class was very intense, as typical of this program... with a lot of personal learning, team work projects, and being immersed in the Lyonnaise (no, it's not like the mayo version :)... Lyon is very famous for it's Gastronomy, (which I could smell you all about!)


We happened upon this internet cafe in the Latin Quarter... so I apologize for not posting more... but without internet or phones my communication is very limited...

In a couple of days we will be in Amsterdam... and I should have more access to internet, and, Hopefully, a battery and charger, and I will download some photos!

Au revoir!

G$ and Jewelz

Our Itenerary

Many may be wondering exactly were will be going in Europe and what we'll be seeing... this is our tentative "GUIDE"... This may be too detailed for you... but I thought I'd share it!

I"ll be in LYON, FR. From the 6th to the 16th...

Oh, In Paris, our hotel is near the River and Les Invalides... For all the Historians, this has all the crazy Napoleon History!

For a cool interactive map of Paris, click here...

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Paris Friday 16^th – 20^th

v Fri 16

o 3:10 pm Meet My Love in the city d’Amore

o "Paris Illumination" nighttime bus tour

v Sat. 17

o Louvre

o Notre Dame

o Latin Quarter

v Sun. 18

o Museo d’Orsay

o Montmarte Walk; Sacré-Coeur basilica

o Eiffel Tower – dusk?

v Mon 19

o Bus 73 – champs elysees, arch de triumph, gran arch de la defense

o Marsais / Jewish Quarter / Pompidou Center / Picasso Museum?

o Marie’s Art Gallery

v Tues 20

o Train to Amsterdam

Amsterdam Tuesday 20 – 25^th

Ø Bike Tour ala Angelenos Take Over!

Ø Thanksgiving:

Ø Relax: Tour guide Eva: Ideas galore… Soccer Game

Ø ann franks house, the resistance museum

Ø van goh museum

Ø day trip to Haarlem

Ø albert cuyp market - de pijp - bazar restaurant, eastern docklands - ij - east of central station, canal architecture tour, western canal belt - 9 alleys

Ø 11am Travel to Eindhoven (train) - Flight at 2:30

Rome Sunday 25^th- 29^th

Ø Sunday 25^th - Arrive 4:30

Ø Monday 26^th

o Vatican, St. Peters, Cistene Chapel

o Trastevere – Jewish quarter

Ø Tuesday 27^th

o the churches Santa Maria Maggiore, San Clemente, and San Giovanni in Laterano, San Luigi dei Francesi

o Forum, then over Capitol Hill to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps

Ø Wednesday 28^th

o Orvieto and Civita… (Villa D’Este?)

Ø Thursday 29^th

o More Art? Fountains? More Gelato?

o Travel – Depart 4:25

Barcelona Thursday 29^th – 3rd

Arrive 6:25 (hrs to hotel? By bus)

Friday

o Parc Guell

o Gaudi me Crazy!

Saturday 1^st

o Montjuic – magic foutain

o Catalan Concert Hall (Palau de la Música Catalana)

Sunday 2^nd

o Salvi Dali… Picasso… Modern Art Museum?

o Gothic Quarter – cathedral

o Montserrat?

Monday 3^rd

o Depart By Bus 4:30am (ouch!)

Our first post

So, We realized... We are WAY active, and we don't share our experiences fast enough! So why don't we start a blog about our journeys, travels, and happenings... We came upon this title via Julie's friend, Eva, ... We like it...

As you may know Julie just turned 31~! We had a nice dinner and Julie made the most amazing cheesecakes! (Yes, I suppose we're becoming more Asian, as it's a tradition there to serve your friends dinner on your birthday... We had a lot of fun, regardless!)