After much chastising from various members of my family/friends, I think I may have to force myself to overcome my writers block. So, here are a few of our more interesting moments in Europe. In no particular order.
(Above: Elliot in the Parisian bidet)
The
catacombs in Paris. An enormous cemetery filled with literally millions of bones. It is so deep under ground you climb down stairs that go under both the sewer and the subway. Deep and eerily creepy.
This is graffiti chiseled on the top of an abbey tower in Provence. That's something like Jan 4,
1215. Or maybe earlier. Really!
This guy had pigeons ALL over him. They were on his head, clinging to his back and trying to pick bread out of his hands. They seemed to have an understanding, though; he fed them, they didn't peck his eyes out.
Oh come on! But your hair looks so cute!
This woman is a guard at the Louvre. We were extremely startled to look over and see that she was snoring and blatantly asleep! Sacre Bleu! (being former museums guards ourselves, we are hyper critical)
The most hilarious outfits actually worn by serious military guards. These uniforms were designed by Michelangelo during the Renaissance for the guards at the Vatican to wear. And they still do. 500 years later.
Little kid fun at the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence.
A man walking his dog in the rain, right? Wrong! A butler walking his employer's dog (who is wearing a fur wrap). And the umbrella is not for the butler; it's for the dog! There is a lot of money in Italy.
In the background is the Church of San Domenico in Siena, Italy. A typical Dominican church virtually dedicated to St Catherine, the patron saint of Siena. St Catherine did a lot of great things for people and so they decided to put her finger (mummified) and her head (also mummified) in glass cases for people to pray to. Yes, you heard me. Her mummified head is in a glass case on the altar. It's 700 years old.
Never one to conform to traditions, Jeremy requested Key Lime pie for his birthday "cake". I toiled away in the kitchen all morning trying to figure out how cornstarch and cream of tartar come out of the oven in the form of a pillowy sweet cloud. Luckily, it all worked out and it was a successful blending of tart limes, crunchy graham and sweet sugary meringue.
Elliot's newest crush, our fantastic friend Ashlie! (Or "ee-ee" as Elliot says frequently)
My faithful running buddy Shannon and her gang Derek, Hailey and Dylan.
A motley crue of Ashlie, her husband William, their nephew Ben and Elliot looking unsure of the rowdiness behind him.
Fellow ex-pat Los Angelians Sid, Lisa and Luna (with lion).
