soooo

Sooooo,
It’s been awhile. My brother has been hounding me about “blogger etiquette” and that it is not right for me to just stop writing. The problem I guess was/is that I am not quite sure what to write about. Originally this blog was to highlight a life long dream trip come true… going to the world cup is one thing – going to see your home country play for the first visit there – priceless.

Now what?

Well, I have been sick – life is changing – the world has gone crazy, but outside of that things are good.

Expect to see ramblings of trying to overcome some disease that I have but don’t have, that can be controlled but not cured, that can attack tomorrow or maybe never … argh!

Frustration.

I said before that I love taking pictures, so you will probably see pictures of places I’ve been – people I meet – adventures I go on – etc. Anyone who knows me knows that my life has this knack for turning a regular trip to a neighboring city into an adventure worthy of a book (or at least a magazine article).

Who am I writing for – absolutely no one, but you can read it if you like :)

See you soon, I just took the camera out and charged the batteries!!!

Thank God!

Finally

I am so sorry for the delay in putting up the remainder of pictures... as some of you know I was sick at the end of the trip and that in itself has been a trip :)

I can not explain the feeling of being there in person. It is something I will never forget. A special thanks to my cousin in TnT for the hook-up. Believe me cuz I am a world cup junkie now, so no worries we are going to South Africa in four years - bet on it!!!

The people were wonderful the culture was unbelievable... I will never be the same person. Life has new meaning.

As well to my traveling crew - Thank you. Kinda bumpy at times and cramped to say the least, but we made it (who says a Renault can't travel at 200 km/h on the autobahn). See you by the bulldog in 5 years.

So that's about it... I think I will continue to blog - showing my view of the beauty of the world through normal eyes. I was walking downtown Ottawa yesterday and thought wouldn't it be cool to trek through the city and take pictures as if I were a tourist... and so begins a new journey.

Ps thanks to my family for supporting the dream, especially a truly spectacular wife.

random pics

we made it through













mural in a cafe - they love Bob :)












Hitler's last stand - one of the last buildings he was constructing before leaving his position in politics



























I think the city was called Wurzburg - the center is almost all round-a-bouts

random pics

quiet before the storm in Dortmond












court in Brouges











Amsterdam windmill

love the European fashion

They have such a love for GW :)

the England game

inside the fan zone before the game
















































England hooligan hunter












the game (for those who said I didn't take any pics during the last game)
















































After the game








































who said they weren't friendly

up up and away

off to Switzerland and Austria... talk to you all soon.

Next game Nurenburg against England... TnT!!!

the players

French Guy
















Millerrrrrrrrrr















and the newest member Mr Julien and his girlfriend Cosima
Mr l'ancient has treated us as family and we will never forget this
next year Asia - lol

tidbits

here are some random pics...


stay away from the green stuff a good friend told me
















downtown Dortmund














dowtown Montpellier














Southern France - Carnon beach

after

Germany has opened theirs hearts to us















winner of fan of the game
















ps almost forgot about them... "boy won't you be sad when you lose to us (sweden)"
who's sad now

ah ha - game day

now before you ask, no there are no pictures during the game... trust me it is the last thing on your mind... so before and after

before
































for mr skinner - the stadium is HUGE































after

at last pt 2

brouges - city nw of brussels - lots of water, but very beautiful














































Amsterdam - much more to this city then the red light district... lots more water too - and EVERYONE has a bike
Hup Holland!!!

can't remember what the instrument is called but it's a sound used in a lot of electrnonic music - she was pretty good at it - i have a video clip so when I return ask me to see it

at last

paris
































brussels at night - tour guides lol and sculptures on top of hotels





























brussels at day - this man cursed me because I took his picture and only gave 1 € so I gave him another... he was happy and resumed singing