Journeys Far and Wide: October 2013

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Highlights of Kyle and Nathan's Visit, June-July 2013

Under the dome of Kurhaus, Wiesbaden

Two great-nephews, recent high school graduates, from Seattle visited me in Germany this past summer. Their visit was for 3+ weeks. I had planned to show both a good sampling of what western Europe is like. I will probably provide additional details on a few of the specific places we visited in future posts, but for now will provide a few photos from the sights we saw.

During weekdays, I took them to locations that were near where I live in Wiesbaden. We stopped in Frankfurt a couple of times; visited Rudesheim and its scenic viewpoint of the Rhine and surrounding vineyards; took a day trip to Cologne and Koblenz; hiked around Bacharach; and showed them the sights of Wiesbaden. During long 4-day weekends, we took the train to Paris; a short flight hop to Madrid, including a day trip to Toledo; and drove to Ghent and Bruges in Belgium, and Amsterdam in Netherlands.

All in all, they enjoyed their visit. I believe they saw enough of western Europe that they will want to visit again. I've started to post the countless photos of our trips in my flickr account. The following are some pictures from their visit:

Ruedesheim, Germany with a view of the Rhine River

Ruedesheim w/ the Germania statue

In front of the State Theater, Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden

Roemerplatz in Frankfurt

Frankfurt, Germany over the Main River

At a train station in Frankfurt, headed for Paris

Paris

Late afternoon shadows in the Tuileries Gardens, Paris

Pyramid Main Entrance of the Louvre Museum, Paris

Pyramid main entrance of the Louvre Museum, Paris

Sacre Couer Basilica in Montmartre neighborhood of Paris

Arc de Triomphe

Inside the catacombs of Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Cologne Cathedral

Bacharach, Germany with the Rhine River in the background

Cologne

Palacio Real, Madrid

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Madrid

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid

Plaza de Espana, Madrid

Madrid

In front of Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid

Toledo, Spain

Ghent, Belgium

Bruges, Belgium

Amsterdam

Heineken Brewery tour, Amsterdam

WELCOME

"A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." -- George Moore.

I have always enjoyed traveling – seeing new places and meeting new people. Some have said that travel broadens the mind. I sometime think that during my journeys, I will uncover something deep and profound. I am again back overseas, in Germany, after 14 months in Seattle from March 2011 thru May 2012. I had been away from Seattle from February 2005 to March 2011 – in Iraq for one year, in Bosnia for 18 months, in Germany for 2 1/2+ years, and one year in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I was born in the Philippines, and have lived in Seattle, WA; Washington DC; Southern California; and Portland, Oregon. I have traveled in the US, Canada, Europe, and the Philippines. I have spent most of my life in Seattle.

Seattle is my home. It is where most of my family and friends live. My visits back home,when I am overseas, always invigorate me. I have discovered that it is in Seattle, my home, where I will find what I need. I don’t know how much longer this journey will continue; I do know that it will finish in Seattle.

Places Where I Have Lived

*** I decided to list all the places that I have lived at. I can't believe the number of times I have moved. My true nomadic spirit becomes especially apparent by the number of times I have changed residence. ***
Tagtagumbao, Cuyapo, Philippines - My place of birth; located in the province of Nueva Ecija. Tagtagumbao, a small rural village, will always hold a special place in my heart. It's the type of place where everyone knows each other. The are not many places like that anymore.
Bainbridge Island, WA - The first place I lived at after moving to the US. I lived there for two years, plus the countless summers spent there helping out at my sister's strawberry and raspberry farm.
Seattle, WA - I have lived there for almost twenty years total. I call this town my home.
Chevy Chase, MD - Just outside Washington, D.C. I spent six months there late 1984 thru early 1985 while I interned at US Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
Seattle, WA - Moved back to Seattle in 1985. Finished school at UW.
Pomona, California - After college, I moved there for work in 1988. It was close to my workplace, but I did not realize it was in the middle of gang country. The apartment was nice and new, but...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA - After six months in Pomona, this is where I moved to. Formerly, the town consisted mostly of vineyards. It was a growing community when I moved there. It's located in the foothills of San Gabriel mountains. I lived there for more than 6 years (1988 thru 1995).
Gresham, OR - A suburb of Portland. I lived there for about 5 years (1995 thru 1999). Portland is similar to Seattle, but without the congestion. It still has the small town feel. I enjoyed my time in the Portland area.
Seattle, WA - Moved back to Seattle in 1999 to live with my father after my mother passed away.
Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq - I lived in the confines of the Green Zone my first two months in Iraq (Feb-Mar 2005). It was located in the heart of the city, where most of the former Iraqi regime's palaces and government buildings were located.
Camp Taji, Iraq - Located northwest of Baghdad, just outside the city. My Resident Office was located inside the base. The Resident Office served as the work area for 7-9 people. It also served as our living quarters. I was there for 9 months. (Apr 2005 - Dec 2005)
Eagle Base, Tuzla, Bosnia - Spent 18 memorable months in Bosnia (Jan 2006 - Jun 2007). I enjoyed my work and stay over there.
Wiesbaden, Germany - I was in Germany from Jul 2007 thru Feb 2010. I had a ball here. I took advantage of my stay here by exploring other parts of Germany and the rest of Europe every chance I got.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Moved here for a new job in mid-March 2010. I moved back to the US in March 2011.
Seattle, WA - Moved back to Seattle in March 2011.
Wiesbaden, Germany - Back again in Deutschland, in early May 2012