I love Cologne!

I'm surprised. I didn't expect to like Cologne as much as I do. It's super easy to get around (the best Public Transport system I've EVER used, did not get lost ONCE and I speak maybe two licks of German), it's got the old and new European mix, and so real...not touristy, except for the Cathedral and well, once you see the photos of it you'll see why a person would travel here to take a look. It's breathtaking!
The ICE is the high speed train we took from Amsterdam to Cologne.
The Cologne train station. It's famous for the scented water, cologne, and 4711 is sold everywhere. I don't know what it says under the 4711.

The Internationale Dental-Schau. This is why we came!

The Rhine river. I took this pic from the tram.

Cathedral

Cathedral again, but from a different view and a DHL truck in the photo! Nice. It's so tall that I couldn't get a good shot of the entire height.

This is the Cathedral with the modern Museum Ludwig (I went there today). Total juxtapostion of old and new (ooh, I sound like a tour book).

The Dom Hbf. I just love train stations.

Here's a fun building in the Neumarkt Shopping neighborhood (I went there today too!). I thought daughter would love the ice cream cone on top of the building. Inside, there are way too many little cafes with delectable desserts.

Tomorrow we're back to Amsterdam. A few more sights to see and a birthday celebration!
Then it's up early to fly back home.

Gute Nacht (that's good night in German).

In Amsterdam and a little bit sleepy!

This is what jet lagged people who flew the red eye from JFK to AMS look like when they get off the plane and realize they're on the wrong train to Amsterdam Central! No problem...it's incredibly cold, raining and haven't slept in hours.....but an adventure is waiting.

After getting off the train (once realizing we were not going to where we wanted), we waited for a very patient 30 minutes for a train that was running late (this is not Switzerland!) and boarded the correct train to Central. Hooray!

Had a great day despite our tiredness. Went to the Anne Frank Museum. What an exceptional piece of history. Will take daughter there once she is old enough. Here are a few shots from Amsterdam:

Tomorrow, we are of to Koln. Should be a lovely train ride.

A sign of things to come?

Generally, my days are lovely. But the other day........I had a parenting challenge. Daughter ended up spending a little time in her room and this is what she posted on her door. It made me laugh! And I just had to take a picture of it.

While I'm on the topic of raising respectable, well-mannered children and getting a good laugh in the process.

From the Cotswalds:

From the Lucky Labrador Pub in Hillsdale:

Next post will be of my adventures in Amsterdam!

2009 Independent coffee shop tour- Part 1

Well, it's March already (and I actually started doing this in January...but just now getting to the posting of pretty pictures). Anyhow......since I drink a lot of coffee, I decided to travel around the city to find the coziest, tastiest, and OK, loveliest, independent coffee shops (while scouting out a good location for the CFAC art sale).

We were at St. Honore yesterday. We go there all the time (it's just down the street from us) so it really shouldn't be part of the tour.....but the picture is pretty so I put it on here.

Lili Patisserie in Sellwood. Good Coffee and treats, but not a candidate for the art sale.

Baker and Spice in Hillsdale. The VERY best coffee cake out there.

Cafe Beignets in Lake Oswego. Cute little shop, but I really wish I didn't know about the beignets. I think about them all the time and....this shop is next door to Naomi's Lampshade shop (I have a weakness for lampshades, oh and beignets too).

This doesn't have anything to do with coffee, but here's a cute photo of Fenway in his Long Tongue Lampert pose:

Busy, busy, busy

It's been too long since I've updated this blog, but gosh have I been busy. Even though I think about it everyday, I just haven't had a chance to sit down and give it the proper time......until now. Both crafternoons turned out better than expected. A creative time was had by all and we raised over $300.00! Special thanks go out to all who joined us and especially to Linnea Osterberg and Connie Rourke for opening up their studio/home and making everyone feel welcome. Unfortunately, no photos were taken of either event.....so it's just black and white to look at for this post.
What's happening next: I am scouting out coffee shops for the art sale, more cloth napkins and headbands for sale, and I'll schedule another crafternoon (the next one will include the kids, my daughter is dying to get her hands on some glue and glitter!).