Christmas 2024

 Celebrated Christmas out at the "yellow cabin" as mom's house was mostly empty.

London

We had Sunday to explore the city before Fred started his conference. We explored the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the war museum. Also walked in the rain by Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace:

While Fred was in meetings, I took a self-guided walking tour / memory walk - there was a waterfall in Regeant's park (right by our hotel), the monument to the Great Fire, St Dunstan in the East Church Garden, Westminster Abbey in the daylight, a walk in memory of Princess Diana that went thru a number of parks, and Wellington Arch:

Then I returned to the hotel to meet up with Fred and join the crew on a guided walking tour - we took the tube down to the river and our tour guide showed us around the banks of the river and the Strand:

My last night there we went and saw the musical Six - about Henry VIII's wives, very fun, 1.5 hours, no intermission:

Dublin - Cliffs of Moher - Galway - Howth

National Gallery of Ireland - the building was as cool as the art:

Sites of Dublin - Trinity College, St. Patrick's, and Irish Coffee:

Dublin Castle:

Guinness - it does taste better in Dublin! And the tour of the brewery is great.:

Cliffs of Moher - took a bus tour out to the Cliffs of Moher. It was a long day on a bus, but worth it. Luckily our tour guide warned us that the cliffs might cloud over soon - so we went straight out to explore. By the time we were headed back to the visitor center we couldn't see the cliffs anymore. :

Galway - another stop on our bus tour. Had a bite to eat at Freddy's - how could we not?  Had a drink at O'Connells the featured bar in Ed Sheeran's "Galway Girl" video:

More of Dublin - ventured out for supper at a burger joint, saw Temple Bar, then found a bar with live music and space for us to sit and enjoy:

Howth - road the train out to the eastern tip of Ireland. Took a boat tour out around the island, saw a seal. Had a yummy breakfast & then walked it off by hiking around:

Benefit Bashers Game Night for The Greif Club

 

The 2024 Benefit Basher party's theme was Game Night, raising funds for The Greif Club of Minnesota.

Costumes - we had LOTS of Scrabble tiles in attendance:

Shenandoah NP & Great Falls Park

We drove out the Shenandoah National Park. One long road thru the whole park. We didn't drive the whole way in. Stopped at the visitor center, did a hike to a waterfall, and enjoyed a few scenic overlooks.

Headed back towards the city to explore Great Falls Park:

DC - Day 4

National Museum of American History:

There were scooters all around DC and Gavin's request was that we rent them and tour around. Fred, Wyatt and I got e-bikes and Gavin got his scooter and we made a loop on the National Mall.

We found a sports bar for lunch and to watch the Vikings before grabbing our luggage and heading to our hotel near the airport.

DC - Day 3

Ford Theater Tour:

Air & Space Museum:

Capitol Tour:

Arlington National Cemetery - made a mad dash out to Arlington National Cemetery & had less than an hour there, got our sweat on pushing Wyatt's wheelchair to see the tomb of the unknown soldier & Kennedy's grave site:

Boys relaxed in the hotel that evening while Fred & I ventured out to see the houses on Embassy Road and found a fun taco place for a late dinner.

DC -Day 2

Scored a tour of the White House, but I failed to read all the rules to tour & had my cross body bag with me. I couldn't find anywhere to store it quickly enough, so I let the boys go on without me. With Wyatt in the wheelchair - they got a little extra behind the scenes and got a ride in the president's (Joe Biden) elevator and got a peak at the kitchen. I explored the WW I memorial and surrounding area while they toured.

 

Natural History Museum:

Washington Memorial:

Jefferson Memorial:

Spent time at the Holocaust Museum. Did not take pictures, stories too sad to capture. Then walked down to the wharf for supper the Shake Shack. 

Evening walk to see National Mall Monuments - WW II memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, FDR, Thomas Jefferson:

DC - Day 1

Took the MEA break to explore Washington DC. Gavin had missed his class trip & Wyatt said he'd be happy to go with his family instead of with his class. Good thing too as he had injured his ankle in football and was not up to speed. He hobbled around the first afternoon in DC, but then we rented a wheelchair to roll him around him as we did a lot of walking!

Getting around DC:

Riding the Metro:

Library of Congress, self-guided tour:

Glimpses of the Capitol and Supreme Court:

Girls Trip - Europe 2024

 Girls Trip 2024 with Kate Campbell, Kristin Laughlin, Katie Houselog, Christine Campbell, Tia Nordlund & Chrissy Gaston. Christine is Kate's sister-in-law & Tia & Chrissy her friends.

We flew from MSP to Amsterdam for a nearly 24 hour stay. We wandered, we explored - Anne Frank house for most, Tulip museum for me, canal tour for all. A few got real adventurous that evening for a show in the Red Light District - Chrissy, Christine & I settled for chatting with strangers outside a pub.

Travelled from Amsterdam to La Roque through St Emilion with our guide Christoph. Lunch at Amelia Canta and tour of Couvent des Jacobins winery.

Rented e-bikes and toured the gardens of Marqueyssac and nearby towns of Beynac & Domme. Private chef Demetri came to the house to make us a fabulous dinner including crispy brie salad, tuna tartar, chicken and a trio of desserts.

Hot air balloon ride over the Dordonge valley & castles and then exploring the town & castle of Castlenaud.

Lot Valley tour - Flour mill, Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padriac, and waterfall.

Market day at Sarlat & Michelin star restaurant, La Belle Etoile located right in La Roque-Gageac.

Our little village of La Roque-Gageac - fort, arches, doors, views, and bamboo gardens.

Day 1 in Paris - the Arc de Triomphe, touring Champs de Elysee, and Pink Mamma for dinner.

Day 2 in Paris - Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame, Luxembourg gardens, food tour, and Sacre Coeur, topped off with a sparkling Eiffel tower.