Dachau Concentration Camp

When we talked about going to Germany, little did I know we would be visiting a concentration camp! What an experience.
It high school I was very fascinated with the Holocaust as a whole. I remember my teacher described all the killings in the camps of the Jews and such as the idea of taking out a can of spray and killing a swarm of ants. I thought it was a great way to describe the process because you don't see the ants as being worth keeping around. They are infesting your space and they are dirty and there are many of them and picking up a can of spray to kill them off doesn't mean much. It was an interesting analogy.
I have to tell you-there was little that surprised me about the camp. It was exactly as I imagined it would be. The only thing that caught me off guard was how peaceful and serene it was. It has been made into a memorial and it is actually quite a nice place aside from the rotting buildings and the facts that death plagues it.
The crematorium was an experience. Walking in there you stand in a room and it is merely a room. Until you look at the wall and realize you are standing in a room where they would pile all the dead bodies. Or the room where they have the ovens and they would hang the prisoners right there in front of them. Or the room where they told the prisoners they were going to take a shower, then gassed them in bulk.

Pretty sickening.

Garmisch Germany-Alain's Block Leave

We actually rented a little cabin and stayed there for $55 a night. It was located in the campgrounds on a military post. Pretty cool and we were right near the mountain. The first night we had some German cuisine. Big 'ol slab of pork and some potato dumplings. We also tried some German beer. The one I had was dark and surprisingly sweet. =)

The town was so friggin cute I want to live there! Little gingerbread like buildings with painted walls. Germany is so clean! It was absolutely beautiful there. I would like to go back and stay at the lodge someday.

Alain's Block Leave-Venice

Well it's about that time again. Can you believe Alain has already been home for a year? We recently had his block leave in July. He's not leaving yet, but it's getting there.
His Dad came to visit for two weeks and we went to Venice, Germany, Florence (for like an hour), Rome & Lake Garda.

I have to get some good pictures of Lake Garda. I keep forgetting my camera.
It was a very eventful two weeks, I tell ya! OMG.
I have never fallen asleep at the wheel before but driving home from Rome I couldn't hardly keep my eyes open. I don't get out much these days and we covered a lot of ground.
One of my favorite parts was driving to Rome and seeing all of the sunflowers everywhere! So pretty. Just fields and fields of them. I realized and remembered that sunflowers are my favorite.
I didn't get a picture, though.
But driving to Rome, Italy looked like we imagined it would. Very Tuscan.

Florence April 2009

Florence April 2009

My Creative Space-Nolan & his Easter Duck

My Creative Space-Happy Me

I guess I really miss having a hobby. Got to find a craft store here. Where is a Michael's when you need one?

My Pretty Flowers

Alain surprised me with these flowers the day before he left for this last training. He held them behind the wall while I was cleaning the bathroom. It was really sweet. Totally emotional right now and thinking about it is making me sad. LOL. I really miss him. He will be back soon enough, but even though these separations go okay at first, at some point you hit a breaking point and then they have been gone too long.


Flower
Flower, flower grow for me,
Become a flower from a seed,
Grow your roots and a stem,
Let the water come right in

Flower, flower you are true,
You make me happy when I am blue,
You became a flower from a seed,
You did all that just for me
Olivia Taylor

More pictures from Venice 2/09

Carnevale di Venezia

I will post a little bit at a time about trips to Venice and Florence as they are in the past, but yet I am trying to get this blog caught up to present day without leaving out things. We went to Venice on Valentine's Day, 2009 and they were holding Carnevale at the time. Alain and his buddy Joe went crazy buying masks. They were all very unique and fun. I got a mask too, but after picking glitter out of my eyes I decided it wasn't going to last long. Now these masks help to decorate our living room.

During Carnival in histories past, the streets of Venice are full of people in masks, and no differentiation could be made between nobility and the common people.

Obviously I don't want to Clean

So here is a another scrapbook page. LOL

The Invasion of the Butterflies

Taking my dog outside I noticed a few butterflies flying around the other day. Didn't think too much of it.
Driving to post I kept noticing these flying bugs trying to dodge my speeding car. I thought it was a bit weird, but still...didn't think much of it.

Went to post and was heading to check my mail and I passed by a tree that is in front of the library and HOLY SMOKES!....Like over a hundred monarchs in the tree! I kept trying to take pictures,but all I had was my Iphone and it takes alright pictures but you couldn't really see them. People kept walking past me and I kept saying "look at the butterflies!"
a. because I was in awe and
b. because I'm sure I looked pretty stupid taking pictures of the tree.

But WOW!

I couldn't get any decent pictures of the plethora of butterflies in a single tree but I did get a decent picture of ONE butterfly in the tree. Please use your imagination.

My Creative Space-Been getting into Digital Scrapbooking

Not really into scrapbooking but I started playing around with Digital Scrapbooking not long ago and am actually finding it pretty entertaining.

Here is my most recent page done with a picture of Nolan (my nephew) that my Dad took this past Saturday =)

Today I received a Poppy for the Fallen

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

John McCrae, 1915.

Bacon & Egg Carbonara

People ask me often what I have tried here in Italy. There are many different things to eat here that are very good, but today I'm going to talk about Carbonara.
The first time we tried it was at a restaurant called Adda. We heard it was a good dish from our neighbor, but being pregnant at the time, when he said it was "egg and bacon" pasta I was immediately grossed out.
Alain ordered it and I had a bit and it was awesome!
I found a recipe I have made several times since. It is a little different from what we had at the restaurant but I think it almost tastes a little better. This picture I took isn't the greatest, but try the recipe =) I use regular bacon.
Bacon & Egg Carbonara

Verona

Juliet's Dress

Juliet's Balcony (standing on)

Balcony View from Courtyard

Juliet's Boobie

We went to Verona a couple of weeks ago. I have been wanting to go since we got here. Alain wants to see Rome and we have visited Venice and Florence...but me being the Romeo and Juliet fanatic, I have been dying to go to Verona.
It was a cool place. We went to an arena that sorta, kinda reminded me of something out of Gladiator. Not quite the coliseum, but ancient enough. It was cool but it costs 6 euros a piece to get in! I was able to use the bathroom though, so that was sweet.
Using the restrooms here in Italy is a bit nerve wracking for me.
-They all close during Reposo (like a 3 hour lunch break in the middle if the day where everyone goes home).
-You have to pay to use most of them or buy something.
-It is rude not to ask permission first.
-and in most bathrooms there is just a hole in the floor...and I have yet to figure out the "hole"

I mean?...do you stand over it and aim?-or do you squat? Do you use toilet paper and drop it down the hole?
Very confusing and I usually do everything in my power to try to avoid it. So far I haven't had to-but I also try not to drink too much liquid or eat anything greasy when I go out in public because the restroom dilemma is very scary.

After the Arena we found Juliet's House.
Romeo and Juliet is a fictional story, but some how there is a house with a balcony. I guess it belonged to a family who were actually the Capulet's.
But Romeo and Juliet is most definitely fictional.
There is a bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard where it is said if you rub her breast it will bring you good luck. Along the walls leading to the house are tons and tons of graffiti. People professing their love to each other. It's a bit disturbing to see so much graffiti, but people just sit there writing on the walls.
Inside the house there are props from the Romeo and Juliet film recorded I believe back in the 70's? I remember watching it in Ms. Churchill's class when I was in the 8th grade.

I was obsessed with that story back in Junior High! I swear I could quote the entire play.

Now, not so much, but I do remember enough....

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love And I'll no longer be a Capulet.