Weekends with the Queen

Windsor Castle is really something, looming over the village of Windsor from a hilltop. The Queen and her family come here for weekends. What fun that would be, to frolic with the grandchildren in these formal rooms with snazzy carpets and prim furniture and paintings of kings and queens lining the walls. We watched a group of Indian guards march snazzily across the compound.

I like the room with all the knights' shields on the ceiling and I loved St. George's Chapel where Charles II, Jane Seymour, and Henry VIII are buried. I loved it all.

Beautiful Things

Wednesday we went to Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral.

I've waited to see Stonehenge for many years. It did not disappoint. A spiritualness hovers about that beautiful spot, though its purpose is unclear. It made me think of how I felt on The Great Wall of China, and how I feel when I look at the pyramids. All structures of immense size and weight built without modern machinery. What is man, that thou art mindful of him?

Salisbury Cathedral has one of the four existing copies of the Magna Carta in it. We got to go right up to it, though it is under glass, we were closer than we were to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. The Cathedral is a beautiful place.

Stepping Into The Past

Six amazing days in Romania. This is a world caught between Old Europe and Old Communism. Hope is almost touchable. With Romania joining the European Untion they plan for a modern future. People are painting, whitewashing, planning, cutting the grass--even if it is with a scythe.

The members of the church are remarkable, as are Steve and Joyce, who are reaching the people and the members in a most remarkable way. They are greatly loved and loving. Hope you like the pictures.

The following post is a slideshow of my trip. Enjoy!

Stepping Into The Past (part 2)

The Mona Lisa still smiles

We spent five days in Paris. Paris is the same as it was. . .and Paris is different. The light in the evening is still magical, the Seine still is background for lovers' kisses, artists still paint, and musicians still have their cups or hats out while they play guitars (or accordians, still) in the late spring air. Sidewalk cafes are respite for tired feet and ice cream is still a welcome treat. And toilets---especially with four children in tow---are still hard to find. I loved being there again.

On the other hand we saw too much graffiti, lines too long at the Eiffel Tower, and a sort of homogenization of the locals and the tourists. Perhaps it is globalization that has made us look too much like each other.

Zach, Sadie, McKay, and even Lucy braved the long lines at the Eiffel Tower to stand at the top and exult, "This is so cool!" I loved that. And they walked through the Louvre in their Sunday shoes until we all thought our feet should drop off. I loved that. And we all learned to hurry faster into the metro when Bamma's backpack with her computer in it got caught in the door. Lucy accompanied that adventure with wonderful frightened screams. Bamma almost joined her just as Abe wrestled it out. As you can tell, the computer is okay. So is Bamma. So is Lucy. Phew!

Sadie, Zach, and McKay overlooking the Seine near Notre Dame

The Eiffel Tower
Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower
The Arch d' Triomphe and the Knells

From Lindon to London, really

Tomorrow I fly away to London to visit Zach, Sadie, McKay, and Lucy. Happily their parents will be there, too. But today, Olle, Leif, Elsa, and Liesel were here for dinner. They brought me hand-dipped (by their own little fingers) chocolate covered strawberries for an early Mother's Day present. I love them! Both the strawberries and the little fingers.

Here is Elsa dancing with her Dada, "You be the prince," she says, and then he dances with this particularly interesting dip.

We laughed and laughed at Leisel and Maddie. Liesel is so close to crawling that she scares Maddie. Finally, Maddie just sidled up to Liesel's little bare feet and got her head scratched with several healthy kicks until Liesel figured out what the soft fur was at her feet. Then Maddie went away.

What fun to watch them grow!

Zach, Sadie, McKay, Lucy, here I come!