I’m going to try not to overload you with pictures and post but I do need to tell you that this is a three week Europe/Scandinavian trip that includes six countries and a whole lot of excursions! We started with unexpected weather in the way of flooding in Houston. The Mayor of Houston closed the Houston International Airport and our flight from Little Rock to Houston was cancelled. Needless to say we didn’t make our connecting flight to Munich. Emergency calls to United to get us on the quickest flight to Munich was made and off we go. An awesome friend (Dana Heide) whom had dropped us off at Little Rock Airport that morning, returned and picked us up and we headed to Memphis, Tennessee where the next available flight would leave bright and early the next morning. Praying for no more mishaps we boarded our flight from Memphis to Newark, New Jersey then to Munich. What is the saying a day late and a dollar short! We lost a little over 26 hours but we were in Munich in time for the first parade Saturday morning. So let the festivity’s begin!

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Even though it was super crowded (6.2 million people) the children were precious in their Bavarian costumes and just being children!

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A look into Bavarian culture and traditions would start with the Costumes and Riflemen’s Parade. This parade showcased the local hunting clubs and a varied succession of regional costume groups, “troops” in historical uniforms, marching bands, riflemen, thoroughbred horses, oxen, cows, goats, the decorated drays of the Munich breweries, floats displaying typical local traditions and historic carriages all pass by. This parade is always on the Sunday Morning following the opening of Oktoberfest on Saturday.

September 11, 2001 – I remember that day as if it were yesterday.  How I was sitting in my office preparing paperwork for the day and someone stepped in and said come watch the TV in the Captain’s office!  For much of the remainder of the day that is where I sat, dumbfounded!  I still have newspapers from Local and National Press’s.  I have photos and memories of  my ERT brothers and I spreading a huge American Flag on our roof that could be seen for quite a distance. I rallied our officers to make donations and sent what we raised to help, help in any way that it could.

Fast forward 16 years – Never have I forgotten!  Maybe memories have dulled a bit and day to day passes as usually, but come September 11 of each year the emotions return with sweat sorrow.  This past spring I visited the 9/11 site and memorials.  Very poignant and thought provoking.  So many stories to be told and heard.

Such as this TREE the “Survivor Tree”.  In the picture the man is holding you can see a branch of a tree.  This is the only living thing that was found after the few survivors were rescued.  This tree was taken and cared for by the New York City Parks and Recreation. They tenderly cared for this tree and kept it alive.  The large tree in the picture is the Callery Pear Tree that is now known as the Survivor Tree.  There is a seedling program where each year, the 9/11 Memorial gives seedlings from the Survivor Tree to three communities that have endured tragedy in recent years.  I was floored to learn of this, how from tragedy, the Survivor Tree embodies our nation’s spirit of hope and healing, strength and resilience in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.  One small act shows so much compassion.

Then there was the CHURCH, St. Paul’s Chapel more commonly known as the Little Church that Stood. The resilient chapel withstood the fall of the Twin Towers in 2001 and has had worshippers “ranging from George Washington to those who searched for victims following the Sept. 11 attacks.”  The church doors never closed and became a rest haven for the searchers and rescuers.  They served meals and provided pillows for the weary to sleep on the pews.  The stories that were told about this little church were never heard all across the US but thankfully the tours and museum are keeping them alive.

I was astonished in no matter where we went or what tour we were on how the stories of 9/11 were told.  From a ferry crossing to see the Statue of Liberty we were shown a plaque on the wall of the ferry.  A Plaque awarded to the Captain and Crew of the Ferry who responded to the SOS call to transport the thousands of people stuck on the island of Manhattan after the attack. 

And then there was the actual museum, these are actual pieces of the original Twin Towers, and in the center is part of one of the planes that took them down.

The size and magnitude of the iron and steel was incredible and so powerful and it played twisted and crumbled around the museum.  Story after story was retold in pictures and objects that were found.  Some being a woman’s pump, a man’s nice gold watch, a stuffed teddy bear.  Each were identified and donated by family members as a remembrance of their loved ones.

The MEMORIAL

The 9/11 Memorial is located at the site of the former World Trade Center complex and occupies approximately half of the 16-acre site. The Memorial features two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, each about an acre in size, set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers. The Memorial Plaza is one of the most eco-friendly plazas ever constructed. More than 400 trees surround the reflecting pools. Its design conveys a spirit of hope and renewal, and creates a contemplative space separate from the usual sights and sounds of a bustling metropolis.

Each name is set in a particular order, each person is connected in some sort of way to the person next to them.  This was to show how everyone, everywhere are connected somehow, someway to each other.  They may have worked together, rode the subway or bus together everyday, maybe they went to school or church together, but each were connected.

The single white rose is placed on each name on the day that was that person’s birthday.  This is done everyday…regardless.

 

FDNY

I am going to let these photos speak instead of me.  They say a thousand words!

One  World Trade Center or Freedom Tower is a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history. The Tower’s  final component, the spire was installed, making the building, including its spire, reach a total height of 1,776 feet (541 m). Its height in feet is a deliberate reference to the year when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed. The tower’s observation deck was specifically constructed with the memory of the Twin Towers in mind. The deck itself begins at 1,362 feet, and a glass parapet extends to 1,368 feet—the exact height of the South and North Towers.  The building has a cubic base and its edges form eight isosceles triangles. Near its middle, the tower forms a perfect octagon. When standing at the base and looking upwards it appears that the side is disappearing into space. Its overall effect is that of a crystalline form that captures an ever-evolving display of refracted light. As the sun moves through the sky or pedestrians move around the tower, the surfaces appear like a kaleidoscope, and change throughout the day as light and weather conditions change.

If ever you have the opportunity to visit NYC, you must see these sights and not forget September 11, 2001.

First, start with getting a really great tour guide and an awesome mode of transportation!  Nuria (our guide) from “Withlocals” on a Private WWII Side Car Tour!  What a wonderful way to see the city.  Open air and and an easy way to get really great pictures.

A few random pictures from the tour, La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Passeig de Garcia, Placa Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and Casa Bitllo and Casa Mila.

 

Street performers created huge bubbles and the children ran and chased them.  It was magical to see the bubbles floating everywhere.

 

My artistic side came out as we travelled along Picasso Passage and saw art pieces by Roy Lichtenstein.  Several more shots of art deco by some unknown artists.

 

A few shots from the Beach and Park.

 

Withlocals in Barcelona, Spain +34654067673

 

Aside from frequently visiting the Corner Bar, where we found great appetizers and cold beverages we found a couple of very good restaurants.

 

 

One being the Los Caracoles, one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona.  Los Caracoles

HISTORY: In 1835, the Bofarull family founded one of the most charismatic restaurants in the city, Can Bofarull, in the most emblematic part of the Gothic District, near Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

 

From the street a large spit roaster is constantly tended where the aroma draws patrons into the restaurant.  Upon entering the restaurant you are directed right through the kitchen, talk about up close and personal.  The waitstaff is very friendly and colorful.  The antics between them were hilarious even if you didn’t understand their language.  Looking around as we are escorted to our seats was like going back in time.  The restaurant was full of small rooms upstairs and down in every direction, it was as if the restaurant was several stories high and in two different directions.

 

 

 

Once to our table and handed the menu, the hard part came.  Choosing our entrees.

 

Our choices were:  Oxtail served deboned with Parmentier Potatoes and Catalan Style Salted Cod.  Each dish was savory and delicious.

Then we topped it off with desserts that were signature dishes of the Los Caracoles, Catalan Style Creme Brûlée and “Los Caracoles” Pyjamas (Peach in syrup, flan and ice cream with nougat.  Yes they were just as mouth watering as they look and sound.  So we give this restaurant two thumbs up.

 

On our tour of Barcelona the next day, our guide mentioned the 7 Ports restaurant.  As she told of the history, I was like we got to go there.  She was quick to add that may not be possible since we didn’t have reservations.  I looked it up on line and requested reservations, not fully expecting to get a reply or a table. To my surprise we did and we made plans to have dinner at “7 Portes”.

HISTORY:  In the early to mid nineteenth century, a powerful Catalan business man, Josep Xifre, commissioned the Porxos d’em Xifre Building in Passing d’ Isabel II.  When the plans were being drafted, Xifre was very clear that the building should have arcades (“promos” in Catalan) similar to those of the main square of Paris and the emblematic Rue de Rivoli.

The new budding housed Xifre’s home and offices, as well as a large cafe,  This establishment had Seven doors for the public and eighth door for staff and goods.

It wasn’t until 1929 that it was made into a restaurant.  “Restaurant de les 7 Portes” and the establishment became one of the most popular in the city; a meeting place for journalist, intellectuals and politicians among others 7portes.com

As we were led to our table, it was pointed out that we were at the table with Ava Gardner, and that each table was once patronized by famous people.  (Visitor’s book) 

The atmosphere and ambiance of the place was another one of those stepping back in time events.

We began with cocktails and wine.  They have their own label of wines and I found the white to be very nice.

Who knew that you would receive the whole garden when ordering a salad!  And this was for one.  I ordered the Cannelloni de Carne Con Trufas -it was delicious.

And then came the main course:  Bacalao (Salted Cod) and Braised Chicken.

Dessert – why do they serve desserts last?  They are to die for and you usually feel like you are dying by the time they arrive and you have been eating for over an hour!  Flan and ice cream with chocolate sauce with cafe au lait.

Started our trip with a noon flight to Atlanta from Little Rock. Although it didn’t help because Greg still had us up before the roosters! Loaded and on the road before 9am. Breezed through check in like a pro. TSA PreCheck is so much faster. Weather is great and so far all flights are on time and smooth. We threw caution to the wind and scheduled first class on all our flights! I must add it is quit lovely

To start the experience you were greeted with a glass of champagne as you boarded the plane then you were directed to your assigned seat. But it’s not just a seat – it’s a pod or something! The seat turns into a bed (totally flat- not just reclining). You have a keyboard of buttons to move in every direction. Plus a back massage that you can continually push if you want.

Each seat comes with a quilt and pillow, headphones and a Tumi comforts case loaded with items to make your trip comfortable.

After takeoff, cocktails were served with heated mixed nuts!

Your complete comfort is catered to in every step. This maybe the best international flight ever!😊 Menus were handed out and then personal orders were made. The choices were awesome-Pistachio Crusted Australian Lamb Rack, Chicken Milanese, Bourbon Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon, Cacio e Pepe Ravioli. No pictures of the entrees since I feel asleep and missed supper. 😳. But I didn’t miss dessert!

Assorted cheeses with wine!

and then ice cream with Carmel sauce and nuts. Glad I skipped supper!

A perfect uncomplicated flight to Barcelona!

The flight actually arrived 20 minutes ahead of the schedule. Luggage all arrived with us and transportation was on time !!!

Check in at the Park Hotel was smooth and uncomplicated.

Technically we are into Day 2 now.

Jet lag was upon us and a nap was needed.

After the nap, we went out to explore. Next to our hotel was a wonderful park, hence the name of the hotel!