A Stroll through Rome

Whenever we plan a trip, whether a day trip or long vacation, we make a list of activities or sights that are must-see and do.  On every list, my contribution is... "I just want to walk around the town and streets."  I have always been more interested in just walking around a town or city among people living their lives than visiting a museum.  AJ loves history and museums.  He can and will spend hours upon hours looking at and reading everything there is.  While he is perfectly content spending his vacation checking off museums, I want to walk up and down the streets, sit in a cafe, visit a park, and read a book.  Rome proved to be the perfect combination to satisfy our two distinct traveling interests. 

A narrow street blocks from the Colosseum

Cafes were at every turn.  I was instantly drawn into the charm of sipping an ice tea, reading a book, and people-watching from such a quaint location.

As we strolled along the streets near the Colloseum, we just happened upon an Italian film crew taping a scene for a movie.  These two actors are apparently in love in the movie.  While we had absolutely no idea who these actors were or even if they were famous, we still stood on the corner and gawked through two or three tapings of a thirty second scene.  As we were standing there, I jokingly stated to AJ, "We won't find this in a museum!"

The location of our first taste of Italian pizza...it did not disappoint!

The character and architecture of each street and building had me taking photos at every turn.  The balconies filled with flowers added to the beauty of each of the buildings.

One of the funniest sights on our stroll through the streets were these two signs.  A few stickers turned these standard "Do Not Enter" signs into a something to chuckle at!

In addition to loving porches, I have a fondness for windows and flower boxes.  I found no shortage of gorgeous windows adorned with simple, yet beautiful flowers.

As I reminisce of my days strolling the Roman streets while feeling the warmth of the sun on my cheeks, remember the lights are always on!

~W

See It: Rome

This past summer we tackled the task of deciding on our first major European vacation.  We only had two real criteria: somewhere warm and somewhere near a beach.  Typically, I am not a beach-type person, but the cool summers of the UK had me craving the warm sun on my face and my toes in some sand!  Since we know our time is limited here, we wanted to make the most of this vacation.  With a map of mainland Europe in front of us, we talked and researched, and then we talked and researched some more.  After a few weeks of discussions that went a bit like, "Well...what about X? Yeah, that sounds great! Or what about Y? That sounds awesome, too!" we decided on a tour of Italy.  It would be warm, and there would be a beach.

Our first stop in Italy was Rome for two days.  We saw the majority of the must-see sights, except Vatican City.  We will return to see that!  We were fortunate that our hotel was just a minutes walk from the Colosseum. 

AJ deep in thought as he looks out at the people wandering about on the Colosseum grounds.

I cannot imagine living in one of the flats to the left and waking up to the view of the Colosseum each day!

The side of the Colosseum; this photo does not adequately illustrate its size.

As I stood looking onto the arena of the Colosseum, I remembered the hours I spent with a few friends constructing it for a sixth grade social studies project.

There is something charming and absolutely Italian in my mind about looking out an
opening in the Colosseum and seeing a VW bug! 

The beauty of the stone work on the ruins of buildings in Palatine Hill were stunning.  

While we did not make it to Vatican City, there is clear view of St. Peter's Basilica from a spot on Palatine Hill.  

Throughout Rome you will find "SPQR" (Senātus Populusque Rōmānus: The Senate and the People of Rome);
it can even be found on sewage drain covers!  

We spent hours walking the streets of Rome, checking off all the must-see items.  Hours were spent in Palatine Hill, the Forum, and Colosseum reading about the history.  With the sun beating down on our faces, we strolled through this ancient city pinching ourselves that this was our summer vacation!  As we reminisce about those hot summer days, remember the lights are always on!

~W

See It: Geneva, Switzerland

Over the August UK bank holiday, we hopped on a plane for our first mainland Europe trip.  We headed to Geneva, Switzerland in search of magnificent mountains, decadent chocolate, delicious cheeses, and warm temps!   For 48 hours, we explored this stunning city.  After a quick and tasty dinner on Friday night, we strolled along the lake while a band played at a lakeside bar.  The lights of the buildings that line the lake create a beautiful reflection in the lake.

After taking in the beauty of the city the evening before, we were excited to get up and explore the city and surrounding area on Saturday.  Mont Saleve was our main destination for the day after reading recommendations on travel blogs and consulting with Rick Steves.  A quick bus ride took us to the France-Switzerland border, where we then walked into France....but much to our disappointment we did not go through passport control and get a French passport stamp!  Mont Saleve has a cable car to transport you up the mountain.  As we rode up, we instantly sensed that the views from the top were going to be amazing!  As we exited the cable car building, breath-taking views of Lake Geneva and the city welcomed us.

Jet d'Eau, the famous water fountain in Geneva, is easily spotted from the top of Mont Saleve.

Beautiful views were at every turn as we explored Mont Saleve.  The vastness of Lake Geneva was
remarkable even from the top of a mountain.

From the cable car location, there are trails that lead a bit higher up the mountain.  After walking through the trees and climbing the steep inclines, we were rewarded with picturesque views of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps.  As we took in the sight of Mont Blanc, I could not believe we were looking at the French Alps. 

As we sat in the shadow of Mont Blanc, it was almost as if we were looking at a painting on a canvas.   
Admiring its beauty brought a sense of calm and peace.

An afternoon stroll along the lake passing multitudes of sailboats easily made one envious of a life on the lake with the French Alps as the backdrop.

Jet d'Eau is placed where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhone.  500 liters of water per
second are jetted into the air up to 450 feet at a speed of 124 mph to create this amazing sight. 

The lake was filled with a variety of boats.  On our stroll, we spotted this boat cruise. 
On our next trip, dining on the lake will be on the itinerary.

We squeezed in a tour of Geneva before heading back to the UK.  Our tour took us by some of the important organizations, such as the European Headquarters of the United Nations, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, that are headquartered in Geneva.  We then left those buildings behind to explore the history of Geneva.  The historic cobbled streets of Geneva are filled with charm and character. 

Terraces adorned with flowers dotted the streets of Geneva.

Hours could have been easily spent wondering the city gazing at the charming buildings and architecture. 

Our tour of Geneva ended with a boat ride around the Swiss portion of the lake.  There was no shortage of photo-worthy shots, but enjoying the moment and taking in all there was to see as the boat cruised around the lake was what makes this adventure so incredible.

The lakeside is sprinkled with gorgeous homes and buildings. 

As we boarded our plane, we had a bit of sun on our cheeks.  While the beauty of the surroundings and the delicious food have us daydreaming of the next time we get a Swiss passport stamp, remember the lights are always on!  

~W

See It: London...Bucket List Events

In July, the stars aligned as they never had before for AJ and I.  In the spring, we spotted a deal for a weekend getaway in London that included theater tickets to Wicked.  After seeing the amazing low price for this weekend deal and that it was around the time of my birthday, I was sold, and the trip was quickly booked.

As our getaway weekend approached, AJ realized the finals of Wimbledon would be held the same weekend we were in London.  After a bit of research into ticket availability, he discovered tickets for the Saturday matches would go on sale the Friday morning at 9:00am before the Saturday matches.  While I was full of doubt in his ability to secure tickets, AJ held out hope that Ticketmaster would work in his favor.  A little after 9:00am and with a click of the mouse, two Wimbledon tickets for the Saturday matches were purchased.  AJ was almost giddy over the thought of watching Serena Williams in the Ladies' Finals at Wimbledon.

Friday afternoon, we headed to the train station for our journey south to check two items off our bucket lists.  AJ could not contain his excitement over his successful ticket purchase.  The anticipation of spending Saturday at Wimbledon was definitely building.

After arriving in London, we quickly found our hotel, checked in, and changed for the play...the initial reason for our trip.  We grabbed some dinner at a restaurant that I love and headed to the show.  I was a bit nervous as I had built the show up so much based upon my friends' reviews.  In a small theater, my expectations were met, and I happily checked an item off my bucket lists.  The entire production was stunning.

A quick iPhone photo among the crowd outside the theater after a stunning performance.

With a bounce in our step and smiles plastered across our faces, we spent a sunny Saturday morning walking along the river!  While sitting on a bench along the river sipping our morning coffee, we pinched ourselves that this was our view and our life! 

People watching paired with a morning coffee along the river with this view made for a perfect morning!

Around 11:00, we headed off to Wimbledon on Saturday morning with bounce in our step.  As we rode the Underground to the main stop for Wimbledon, the car filled with more and more spectators.   
We explored the grounds and grabbed a bite to eat before heading to our seats.  As we waited for the Ladies' Final to commence, I was struck by the intimacy and size of Center Court.  Before sitting in the stands of Wimbledon's Center Court, I thought it was much larger. 

The Royal Box...can you spot any famous people??

While Wimbledon is known for its royal and celebrity spectators, we did not spot any!  Supposedly David Beckham watched the Ladies' Final with his son; we did not run into him!

Watching Serena Williams play and ultimate claim the championship was memory that only this adventure could provide.

The silence in the stadium during play was intense.  It was unlike any other professional sporting event.  As we sat in our seats in the fourth last row, we could hear the ball bounce as the players prepared to serve.  While watching the matches, I truly felt the sentiment express in this quote from Billie Jean King, "Tennis is the perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of tranquility."  Serena Williams' strength, athleticism, and power were incredible to witness in such a calm and peaceful surrounding.  The speed of her serve at times was faster than the serves of the men playing in the Men's Doubles Championship! 

The Wimbledon Tennis Club ball boys and girls stand in formation for the award presentation after the Ladies' Final.  His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, walks out onto the court to present the awards to the players.

The ball boys and girls that worked on Center Court were equally amazing to watch.  The precision and poise that they exhibited at all times was exceptional.

Serena Williams holding her Wimbledon Championship Trophy.

 The presentation of the awards by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was our brush with royalty!  Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is not be confused with Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.  Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is Queen Elizabeth's first cousin, while Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, is the son of the Queen. 

After the Ladies' Final match, we strolled the grounds until it was time for the Men's Doubles Finals.  We stopped by the food stalls and indulged in the traditional strawberries and cream.  It was a delicious treat for a warm London Saturday!

AJ enjoying his strawberries and cream outside the Wimbledon Shop.

Our weekend in London to see Wicked and Wimbledon was one we will always cherish from our overseas adventure.  As we pinch ourselves that we experienced Wimbledon, remember the lights are always on!

~W

365 days later...

As I stood in my kitchen this past Saturday and looked out onto our back garden full of friends celebrating the fourth of July, I was overcome with joy and thankfulness.  Just 365 days earlier,  AJ and I took a leap of faith with each other.  There was excitement and a large dose of terror.  On those three long flights 365 days ago, I remember imagining how I would fill my days, contemplating all the pieces that still needed to fall into place, and praying we had made the right decision.  Just 365 days ago, we were still living in a hotel wondering where our new house would be and when we could start getting settled.  We spent our days and evenings learning to navigate our new country.  365 days ago, we had moments where we felt completely isolated having not really met any people outside of the hotel staff. 

Now, as I sit here 365 days later, I can confidently say that this move is the best decision we have ever made.  This does not mean that there have not been deep valleys that we forged together, that there times I would have left everything to hug my family and friends back home, or that at times there has not been a strong yearning for the familiar. 

Over the past 365 days, I pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone and learned that I can survive and even thrive.  I have discovered new ways to use my skills while reminding myself where my true professional passions lie.  We have built a community of friends who we turn to celebrate the great moments and ask to explain the procedures and processes we have not yet mastered and are usually utterly confused by.

As our American and British friends joined us for very American barbeque to celebrate the fourth of July in the land of tea and crumpets, I felt at home!  We have managed to bridge the pond between American and the UK and feel settled.  While eating barbeque baked beans, mac 'n cheese, pasta salad, s'mores, and apple crisp and explaining the beauty of lemon shake-ups, sweet tea and cornhole, I am sure that I was radiating American pride and patriotism.  America and all things patriotic will always feel familiar and have a place in my heart, but over the past 365 days, some of the truly British things have crept into my heart.  Curries, the walking culture, and afternoon tea will all be aspects of British life that I carry with me from this adventure.  So as we dine on leftover barbeque food and listen to our patriotic playlist, remember the lights are always on!

~W

Come Over for a Cuppa...

"A cuppa..." an aspect of British life I have come to adore.  Routinely, my phone buzzes with a text from my neighbor..."Come over for a cuppa?" Moments later I am often sitting at her table catching up on the weekly happenings over a cup of tea or coffee.  We relay the victories of week, the funny occurrences, or just the little things that feel big at the moment.  So...if I were to have a cuppa with you today, I would tell you...

Absolute delight over passing our practical driving test on April 29th!

AJ and I passed our British driving exams on the first try.  The thought of the practical driving test has kept me up more nights than I care to admit.  Horror stories from Brits and Americans alike swirled in my head in the weeks leading up to the test.  AJ and I booked our test for the same time slot, so neither of us had to nervously wait for the other.  We had been advised to book the earliest time as the routes tend to be less congested, so we did.  I was looking for any advantage I could get!  After about four lessons, my driving instructor felt I was ready and could pass as long as I "didn't get a rush of blood" as he often told me!  With sweaty palms and butterflies in my stomach, I started the driving test with examiner.  I mixed up my left and right about three times, but with a bit of humor, it seemed fine.  I followed his directions, checked my mirror incessantly, and did not go a mile over the speed limit.  For months, I have practiced the maneuvers that could be on the exam...parallel parking, reversing into a bay, and reversing around a corner...to become confident that I could perform each to the standard of the British driving agency while extremely nervous!  I have conquered roundabouts...well...at least the ones that could have been on the driving routes.  At the end of the 40 minutes as I pulled into the bay at the driving center, I have never felt so victorious or relieved as when the examiner congratulated me on passing.  A fellow American asked if we felt like we had just earned our doctorate...YES...I did!

Official registration as a British SALT.

I have received my British registration as a qualified British speech and language therapist (SALT).  After ten months of bureaucracy, extensive documentation, quite a few headaches, and a healthy dose of perseverance, I met the standard to call myself a SALT (Speech and Language Therapist)!  While six years of schooling, hundreds of clinical hours, undergraduate and graduate theses, and certification exams are no small achievement, I felt becoming a British SALT was harder than all of that combined!  When my registration arrived, I felt as though a bit of my identity had been returned to me.  Being an SLP or a SALT truly makes my heart happy.  Knowing that I did not have to abandon that for three years has helped me enjoy this adventure just a little bit more.  I only see four children for services through a private charity, but it is enough to make my heart smile when I see a child communicate for the first time and remind me why I love my profession.  Through this work, I have gained a true appreciation for my former work settings in the States.  My eyes have been opened to different approaches and perspectives, which I believe will further shape my clinical practice and philosophy. 

As we celebrate our accomplishments, stop on over for a cuppa, and remember the lights are always on!

~W

Stories to Remember: Erasers...

Before we began this adventure, we participated in cultural training, read some books, and had dinner with former ex-pats.  From each of these we walked away with a list of words to not use or that had different meanings.  In September, I began volunteering in a reception classroom (similar to kindergarten) at a school down the street.  The students in this class quickly became my British vocabulary tutors.  I instantly knew I misspoke by their quizzical, confused, or curious looks after I gave an instruction or asked a question.  

On this one particular day, I was sitting with a four year old boy writing his letters.  As would be expected for a student learning to write, he made a mistake; however, the classroom pencils do not have erasers on the end of the pencil.  I asked this precious little boy to grab an eraser.  As he scurried off to grab one, he mumbled something under his breath.  Upon his return, I asked him what he had said.  In the sweetest, most innocent British accent, he confidently stated, "You said eraser. It's called a rubber.  You should have told me to get a rubber!"  As I sat listening to my vocabulary lesson from this sweet four year old, I could only imagine the look on my face.  The word "rubber" conjures up a completely different image as an American. 

After a brief moment of culture shock, we continued on with writing letters.  Again, a mistake was made, so I asked this young boy to erase the error.  Laughter from my little student signaled that I had again made an error.  With a smile on his face, he explained, "I'll rub it out, not erase it!"  I chuckled at the thought of the phrase, "Rub it out," becoming part of my daily instructions to a small child.

With each day, a new word or phrase is added to our vernacular.  As we continue to learn British English, remember the lights are always on!

~W

See It: Cork, Ireland

Well...we must be settling into our British life and filling our days, since I have gotten so behind on my blog posts! Back in November, we set out on our first European vacation! AJ found cheap flights to Ireland, so the planning for a week in the land of leprechauns began! We flew into Dublin and then took a bus about three hours south to Cork for the first part of the week. The Irish weather lived up to its reputation and was quite wet and chilly for the majority of the time we are visiting.

All of the rain makes everything such a vibrant green!  This is a quaint bridge that we saw on our tour of the Ring of Kerry.

On our first day in Cork, we decided to do a bus tour of the Ring of Kerry that included a stop in Killarney.  AJ used to listen to the song Christmas in Killarney as a kid.  How could we not visit this town, since we were so close!  It was a charming town, but we were a bit too early for Christmas decorations!  

Our tour on the Paddywagon (truly what the tourbus was named!) was led by a cheery and jubilant Irishman who not only drove the bus, but provided entertainment throughout the day.  The Ring of Kerry is a road through County Kerry that is picturesque wherever you look.  There is a story of a young tourist girl attempting to get photo of a giant pink rhododendron when a local stops her and says, "You know that is a weed.  They cut it back each summer, otherwise it takes over the mountain!"  It is said that the beauty and splendor of the Ring of Kerry is so magnificent that even the weeds are worthy of a photograph!  

The sights all around us on the Ring of Kerry were breathtaking!  One of the treats on this tour was the double rainbow that appeared after a downpour!  Surely, it is lucky to see a double rainbow in Ireland! 

As lunch time approached, our tour stopped at a local restaurant that serves up traditional Irish cuisine to all of the tourists.  After eating some Irish beef stew, we had a true Irish coffee!  

An Irish coffee was just what was needed to warm up and recover from the wind!

While the Ring of Kerry is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Cork, it is still just a road that connects the small towns of County Kerry.  As we barreled down the very small winding road in a charter bus, I chuckled a bit every time I saw the sheep warning sign! We were surrounded by sheep most of the day!

Just before heading into Killarney National Park, we stopped in a small town called, Sneem.  Sneem is a very small town known for the Stone Outside of Dan Murphy's Door.  This old stone has been the topic of many old Irish folk songs.

Of course, I took a photo, just as any good tourist would do!

The final stop on our tour of the Ring of Kerry was the Killarney National Park.  We arrived in this stunning park just before the sunset.  Small lakes dot the valleys through the park.  

Three Ladies Lakes

At the end of the tour, we had taken hundreds of photos and seen some of the most breathtaking landscapes!  We headed to the hotel and prepared for our next Irish adventure...Blarney!  As we reminisce over our time in the Emerald Isle, remember our lights are always on!

~W

See It: Whitby

A fishing village in Yorkshire was our next stop on our tour of England.  From the moment we pulled into the car park in Whitby, the charm was overwhelming.  I reminded me of the quintessential English village.

On the hillside overlooking this bustling canal sits the Whitby Abbey.  One of Yorkshire's most remarkable sights stands on a cliff overlooking the sea.  Since it is visible for miles from land or sea, it had been a signal station for centuries. 

Whitby Abbey stands a magnificent reminder of all that have stood and worshiped on that land.

While the ruins we visited date back to the 13th century, this area was inhabited as early as the eighth century by a strong Anglican community of nuns and monks.  Mystery continues to surround this religious community even in the mist of significant archaeological evidence of their presence.  This community was invaded and destroyed when the Vikings conquered the coast and raided the abbey.

The High Altar in the Presbytery of Whitby Abbey where mass was celebrated.

After the Viking conquest, Danish settlers established Whitby in tenth century.  This settlement remained for centuries.  The Whitby Abbey was rebuilt on this site in the late 1220s based upon the mature Early English Gothic architecture.  This abbey became a Benedictine monastery.  As we strolled the grounds, the grandeur of the abbey was evident.  The Benedictines had a reputation for demolishing smaller churches to erect colossal structures to display their wealth.

The Gothic-style architecture is evident in all aspects of this abbey.  This architecture was influential as Bram Stoker was writing Dracula.

My favorite time of this outing was our walk along the bluffs.  The fields were beautiful as were the rustic doors along the path.  

We ended the trip by walking out on the piers where the lighthouses stand watch over the sea.  The lighthouses against the sunset and sea were serene and breathtaking.  I fell in love with the charming seaside and rustic bluffs of this town.  This seaside village has found its way onto my list of favorite places to visit.  As I plan my next visit, remember the lights are always on!