The Scholars of Cambridge

You can't help but go to Cambridge and feel jealous. All these students running around in this historic place. Seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. It could also be the grass. Unless you are a student or an employee of the college you can't touch the grass. No walking, sitting, picnicking...none of it.

He fits in well, doesn't he?

More lovely grass.

The architecture of even the common buildings and churches is equally amazing.

Punting. Its difficult to think of where to begin. Basically a canoe, with a platform on the back for a driver. As it turns out, the canals are so shallow, that the driver is equipped with a long stick to push off the bottom of the canal -- for speed and steering. Easy, fun, hours of amusement for you and your friends. Or so the brochure says. The reality is this picture. A big jumbled mess. There's more rubbin' and bumpin' on this canal than on a NASCAR track. Our perch for the afternoon was on top of bridge, overlooking the canal. At this point I can say there was one thing correct about the brochure...we (on the bridge) were amused for hours!

Tired of just seeing us? (Dublin)

My darling brother, Chad. Decided to visit in the warmest time of year...February. So we opted to skip the chill of London for a warmer climate! Dublin, Ireland! Okay, not really warmer, but with a $10 flight -- how can you resist?

Chad, the only person on earth to be intrigued by the reported 600 calories per pint of Guinness beer. The squiggle on top of the photo? I have no idea.

As usual. There's no point here. I just like it.

And Jason thinks I'm a ham. Apparently it runs in the family!

Here we are back in London. Isn't it sweet to see a boy from Los Angeles all bundled up?

How to see an incredible site in an hour! (Pisa)

Pisa. There's nothing to do in the city of Pisa. Its a bit run down and lacking in the beauty of the other towns in Tuscany. There is, however, a small oasis in the middle of it all. A must see sight. The Leaning Tower.

Well, everyone has to eat, don't they?

Apparently, my rotation skills are also lacking. But its the only one I have to show you the tower. My solution: stand up, step to the side of your desk top computer and tilt your head. See? Its a tower and it leans! Alternatively, lap top users may pick up their lap top and rotate 90 degrees to the side. See? Its a tower and it leans!

A bit more... (Pisa)

The side of the Cathedral. You may or may not be able to tell, but the Cathedral is shaped as a cross. If you were to fly over it, it would look like a very large cross, surrounding by a gorgeous piazza. Oh, and you might notice that famous tower next door.

As a side note. All tourists in Pisa are in the Piazza. Seriously.

The inside of the Cathedral. Its Italy...did you think it wouldn't be ornate and full of gorgeous paintings?

The entrance to the Cathedral. (Did you think you were going to look at more pictures from Italy without seeing a Cathedral?)

Jason is standing in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The Piazza contains the Tower, which is actually the Bell Tower for the Cathedral, the Cathedral and the Baptistry. Jason is standing closest to the Baptistry in this picture, then the Cathedral and in the background the Tower.

The Mystical of the Mystical -- Stonehenge

And you thought we only went to locations far, far away!

There's no point to this...but the fog, the mist, the creek...it just was too perfect to pass up! I was also quite pleased with my budding camera eye!

And now for the big league! Stonehenge. Its such a shame that for centuries people have been chipping away at the stones and signing their names to them! The result...you are now roped off yards away.

However, on a crisp autum morning, with the sun shining -- how can you beat this sight? And considering my fondness of rocks...well, these are my kind of rocks!

Have you ever seen a more magnificent sight? (Greece)

Daytime...

Nighttime...

And a little something in between.

Wanna see what we did early in the morning? (Greece)

Welcome to the base of the trail at Lycabettus Hill. Every morning we joined the locals and hiked to the top. There is a gorgeous church at the top. Interestingly, there is a tram that goes to the top and even though we hiked the entire hill, we never found it.

A close up of the church and a bit of the trail. (Slight confession -- our hotel had the yummiest breakfast buffet ever. Nothin' but motivation.)

As if we needed more motivation -- the view from the top.

Rock Me Baby (Greece)

Here's the thing. I have little archaeological imagination. Okay, that's a stretch. I have no archaeological imagination. All I see are rocks. Orderly rocks. But they're just rocks.

See...orderly rocks. In rows, columns and geometric shapes. Jason tells me that this was once the "new" agora. Which is new to 200 A.D. Yeah, you read that right--new. An agora is a giant market place. Consider it the vibrant and bustling Roman town center. (A bit of history -- Jason insists -- the Romans used to run Greece.) Sorry, I am still seeing rocks.

Main street of the old agora. Funny, I think I have seen these rocks somewhere before.

Look at Jason. Sorting out the rocks. If you are wondering what he's doing -- well, he's reading the guide book, piecing ancient histories together, recreating the town center and loving every minute of it. (Me? I was a bit tired of the rocks. So I took a picture of Jason's back.)

Explorer Meghan (Greece)

"Yeah, I love this place. I could build a house right here. Look there's even a bit of a foundation to get started on!"

Whew! I need a break. This Parthenon is high! Who knew it was built on top of a giant rock?

Where's Waldo, oh wait, I mean Meghan?

Heights?!? Who's afraid of heights? It not really a big deal, I mean its only a hundred feet straight down just over that awfully little wall right behind me.

Wondering how to get around Greece?

My sweet ride! Twingo. Yes, even though I am taller than it, the top is made of cloth and the wheels are smaller than a child's bicycle wheels, it is indeed a real car.

If you prefer something larger and a bit safer, then this "hog" is for you!

For those of you not interested in motorised travel...old faithful is happy to lead the way! And across 4,ooo year old marble steps. Think you are the first to set foot here? Think not!

And lastly, for those of you who crave speed. This baby doesn't cut through the water, she glides across the top. Perfect for a quick trip to another island.

Well, It Can't All Be Work (Greece)

A Little Somethin' For Folks Back Home (Greece)

There's not much to say about these. We like them and think you might as well.

Mmmmmm...Venice

Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venexia) is the capital of the region of Veneto and the province of the same name in Italy. Its population is 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). It has a nickname, "Queen of the Adriatic".


The city stretches across numerous small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers.

St. Mark's Square - Venice

Isn't all that geography that nice to know? Now here's the really interesting stuff...St. Mark's Square, in the heart of Venice, has more tourists and pigeons per square mile than any other place on earth. My citiation isn't official here, its from my other half. But having been there in August. I can confirm. Its true. Birdflu be damned.

Even better, there are women and men who sell little packages of bread crumbs to feed the pigeons. Apparently, no tourist is complete without a photo of himself covered in pigeons. Do you really think this is sanitary?

Having said that, the Square is lovely, vibrant and interesting. The yellow and green tables in the picture above are outdoor cafes, where there are wonderful Italian muscians who will serenade you all through your cafe (coffee) or meal. Charming. Here on the Square, the architecture is also stunning and regardless of all the people, Venice is so enjoyable.

Basilica di San Marco (Venice)

St. Mark's Square. After being vaccinated for birdflu we ventured in. How lovely! We are standing in front the Basilica di San Marco. No longer officially worshipped in, it is open to tourists.

Jason is standing on the upper balcony at the Basilica di San Marco overlooking St. Mark's Square. Sweating.