Bornholm

We were lucky enough to take a trip to Bornholm, an island south of Sweden in the Baltic Sea but still a part of Denmark.  It happened to be a beautiful weekend, too.

The cool berths in the overnight ferry we took to the island.  

 The town we stayed in, called Gudhjem, which translates as God Home.  We stayed in a youth hostel, as the trip was organized by DIS (where Mark has been teaching).

 The hostel had bikes for us to borrow, but it turned out that the island was very hilly and the bikes were very shabby.  So the biking wasn't too much fun, but Max made a friend.

 And we saw this cool old church with some Viking looking symbols.

 The rocky coastline was a big draw for the kids, who turn into mountain goats at the first boulder in order to scare the crap out of their mother.  Also, here are some stone age burial markers.

 We also had a nice forest hike to a pretty waterfall.

 We abandoned the bikes the second day and took the bus to Hammershus, a castle ruin on the north end of the island.  Max is standing watch in the guard house remains.

 You can just wander around the ruins, which are on a hill overlooking the sea.  Spectacular.

 A window with a view.

 A path down to the sea.

Of course, we are continually amused by the word "fart" in Denmark.  It most often means "speed" or "tour, " this word actually means something like "boat service."  Or maybe "boat tours?"  Oh, Danish!

Paris

Not in any great order, but I promised Paris pics!  

 On one of the bridges covered with locks.  These are becoming a problem as the bridges weren't built to support the added weight.  Some folks think they are an eyesore as well.

 Getting' creative at the Tour Eiffel.

 A cute one of the boys.

 Goofin' at the Louvre.

 We waited 2 AND A HALF HOURS to get into the Catacombs.  It was pretty creepy, but I'm not totally convinced it was worth the wait.  The kids thought so, though!  Luckily, it was a beautiful day and there was pastry close by.

On our last day, our friend David arranged a trip out of Paris to Chateau-Thierry, an area where Mark's grandfather fought in World War I.  There are a monument and a cemetery, meticulously maintained by the U.S. government.  There is also a walking tour of one of the worst battle sites, including remaining German cannons with shrapnel marks in them (see below), trenches and craters, shrapnel in the trees (now grown over), and unknown soldiers buried in the landscape.  

Near Chateau-Thierry, we also visited these amazing castle ruins.

Back in Paris, we walked through Luxembourg Gardens more than once:

We ate incredible cheese.

We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

And of course, we saw Notre Dame, one of the most amazing structures in the world.  Max's favorite was Sacre Coeur, where we happened upon evening vespers.  I almost got religion again.

 

Creepy statue in Notre Dame.

We visited a replica of the Orient Express.

We visited the Louvre, where the kids spent some time sketching in a room full of Rubens.

The Louvre is a place one might be tempted to skip because of the tourist crush, but you can find quiet nooks and crannies in the far reaches of this mammoth museum.  We spent an entire day there.  Plus we had bought a museum pass, so we sailed right past the line...that rocked.

We finished with a three course French meal at a great little place in Montparnasse called Aux Artistes.  We did much more than I can include here.  It was an amazing trip.

School play

 Max's class put on an updated version of Snow White...they did an impressive job!  And they are just so cute.  Max was the huntsman:

 Grandpa thought he looked a little like Bob Dylan.

 The Wicked Witch menacing Snow White.

 The really cute dwarves.

 The guards putting Snow White in her coffin.

A very serious guard.

We were glad Grandma and Grandpa got to see the play and the school.  The kids have really loved this school.  They're not too excited to go back to school at home.  :-(

Tivoli!

Sorry for no Paris pics yet, but here are some snaps of our visit to the Tivoli Gardens and amusement park.  Grandma and Grandpa are here!  We were taken with how beautiful the gardens are. The rides were a blast!!

Tivoli is as much botanical garden as amusement park, with beautiful flowers and buildings everywhere.  Apparently, it is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.

If you look closely, you can see Maggie and Grandma here.

 Grandma and Grandpa went on the scariest rides with the kids.

Max went from the little roller coaster...

  ...to a big one!  A big step!

 We finished off the evening by dining in a pirate ship!  How cool is that?

 The evening lights coming on at Tivoli...a beautiful place and a really fun day.

For your amusement...on the side of a tour bus...this is what a tour bus is often called.  Hee hee!

Too much fun!

I knew this would happen...life is moving too fast.  I haven't posted in a while.  Our date of departure is looming.  Spring is starting to really happen here.  We just returned from Paris (pictures soon).  In the past month or so, we've just been enjoying Copenhagen and our friends here.  The kids are loving school immensely, and they don't want to go back to their old school.  I am loving city living in all its aspects.  

 The lakes on a beautiful day.

 In the courtyard at one of the yoga studios I attend.

 The tree in Frederiksberg Garden where children leave their pacifiers to show that they are grown up now.  Sniff.

 A wild goblet in the Danish crown jewel collection.

 The leaders in the world championship half-marathon race.  (And some of CPH's unending construction in the background.)

 Charlottelund Beach.

 I have been teaching yoga to Max's class at school.  Here are the girls in savasana.

 Amazing pizza at Mother.

 The changing of the guard.

Spring in the botanical gardens!