Traveling has it's highs and lows.  We have been blessed and most of the time, our travels are stress free and fancy free. 

Our descent into Barcelona should have tipped me off that our trip might have a few hiccups.  We were descending into Barcelona, I was looking out the window, admiring the ocean and the rugged cliffs; it reminded me a bit of Southern California.  We were almost at touchdown when we started climbing abruptly.  The Captain came on the PA to inform us that there was a dog running loose on the runway.  We circled and finally landed, everyone content to be on the ground. 

We hopped into our taxi, and headed towards the city center.   I was already in love with Spain.  The people have a warmth that I wrapped myself in immediately.  The palm trees and ocean had me at hello.  Ha!  We made it to our hotel, checked in and headed to our room. 

Then, it hit.  We were missing one bag-  Dan's carry on which had both of our laptops, along with a ton of paperwork related to work, etc., etc.  (We left it in the taxi.)  The next few hours were spent trying to track our taxi down but we did not have his number nor company.  The hotel was amazing but without much information, what could we do.  We tried to remain calm but started realizing our life was in those computers.  At 1:30am, the hotel called and let us know that our wonderful cab driver had our bag.  Oh my gosh, the rush of relief.  We finally went to sleep at 3am and met with our driver this afternoon.  He was showered with hugs and kisses from us.

Today was spent exploring this vibrant city which  is full of life.  I have a huge crush on Barcelona!!!

Barcelona this is the real thing........ I think I love you; is it your palm trees,the colorful buildings, the narrow streets, your squares, the food, the sangria, the pulse that gets stronger as the day goes on?

You are reminding me of Southern California in some strange way and I love it! 

The people, oh the people, they have a kindness and warmth when looking in my eyes.  Check out this little cutey, dancing his heart out!

We stumbled on this market which was hop'in.  It was controlled chaos as the locals did their shopping while all of us "tourists" snapped photos and drooled over their fresh produce, seafood, chorizo and meats. 

Barcelona, I can't wait to see you again tomorrow.................

 

We're flying out this morning to Barcelona.  I love living in the heart of Europe, most destinations a stone's throw away; jet leg a distant memory. 

If anyone wants to join me, I will post pictures everyday of beautiful Spain.  Did I tell you that the weather is going to be sunny and 65 degrees?  Come on!  I'm in heaven!!!

I am a huge fan of "the big red bus" which are in every major city all over the world.  They may be a bit "cheesy" for some but I swear by them.  You get an audio narrative from a headset along with great views of the city.  There are usually about 10 to 15 sights that the bus stops at and you are free to "hop on and off" the bus all day long.
 

We enjoyed a late lunch outside in a beauitful square.  The weather was sunny and warm and we all felt lighter because of it.

After lunch, we went to a Chocolate Museum where we were able to see a demonstration on the art of chocolate making.  The kids learned all about the cocoa bean and the many stages it goes through before they enjoy a delicious chocolate bar. 

Another important sight was a small bronze statue of a little boy peeing which is quite the attraction.  His name is Mannekin-Pis and creates quite crowd.  He dates back to the 8th century.  There are several stories behind this little guy but the underlying theme is that he is a doing "what a little boy has to do" and is loved by the Belgians.

We found the sweetest park next to the Notre Dame du Sablon.  It was small and charming and I could have spent all afternoon relaxing on one of the benches watching the world go by.

My cup overflows!!!!

This Grand Place knocked my socks off.  I have a stiff neck from looking up all day long at this beautiful square.
 
Dan said that it was "too much" for him.  I have to admit that it is overwhelming and I don't quite know where to look, there is so much detail and I am sure that I am missing 90% of it, but I love it. 

If you need to take a break from looking up at all the beautiful buildings, grab one of the many varieties of waffles which are on every corner.  They are sweeter than American waffles with a sprinkling of sugar on top that give them a sweet crunch.

The bright Galeries Royales St. Hubert  was the perfect spot to sit and grab a cafe au lait and hot chocolate with the kids.

The Belgians are best known for their beautiful lace, tapestry's and chocolate.  Sophie grabbed this sweet piece of lace with a cat on it.   I bought a beautiful pillow with a floral tapestry all in creams and  pinks.

Imagine our delight when the waiter brought over steaming hot milk, bowls of chocolate chips and smaller ramekins filled with whipped chocolate.   The kids had a ball making their very own hot chocolate.

The chocolate  melted slowly, coloring the milk a creamy brown. 

Perfect!

Two chocolate mustaches later and we were good to go!

Details, details, details.  It is early Spring and the skies have been gray with the sun peaking through only occasionally.  Enjoy a glimpse of Brussels through my eyes. 

Belgium is known for its beautiful lace and I am seeing a likeness to many of the steeples throughout Brussels.  They have a lace look to them with their intricate details and openings.

I am crazy about the old European churches.  The details, the stain glass, the candles, the wood, plaster and coolness inside transform me.

Underneath the altar of the church, were large wooden doors locked securely.  A lovely gentleman saw Sophie and I, hand in hand, admiring the beauitful church and he lead us into the tomb.  We walked down a marble staircase and he unlocked the large doors and gave us a short tutorial about the first Belgium King and Queen who were buried inside.  (There was a policeman keeping eye over the deceased.)  Additional tombs of royalty flanked the sides of the circular underground tomb.   We felt honored to see such a sacred tomb to the Belgium people.

Brussels is not disappointing..............

We are leaving this morning for Brussels.  Monday is a holiday for the French and Dan has some business in Brussels on Tuesday so we decided to enjoy an extended weekend in Brussels. 

I hope you enjoy your friends and family this glorious weekend as we celebrate His resurrection! 

As we drove toward the Normandy region, Dan tried to explain the significance of our destination to the kids.  I think that, at the end of the day, they understood that if not for the bravery of many, who knows what would have become of France, England, along with the world.

Once we reached Omaha Beach, it was humbling to walk these beaches where so many courageous men gave their lives for the freedoms we have today.

The kids collected seashells and buried them one by one. I asked what they were doing and Max said "we are remembering the soldiers." (I think they are understanding).

We then went to the American Normandy Museum and learned more about "The Longest Day." They played a movie with live footage of the invasion along with a few soldiers reliving that day. It was emotional to listen to and I felt so proud of these men and their patriotism and bravery. One of them said what is most important is that what they did mattered, "just saying thank you and acknowledging what we did makes it all worth it", he said. 

Our final stop, before our hotel, was the American Cemetery of Normandy. Over 9300 American men are buried in this beautiful resting place on the coast of Omaha Beach. The entire 173 acres is owned by the United States (gifted from France) and it felt like we were walking into a park as we headed down the pathway along the coast. The grass was green, the evergreen trees were lush. There were signs posted that we were to remain silent.

There was a sense that we were entering a very important enviornment.

Then, as we turned the corner, cross after cross, along with the star of David, were thrust in front of us. Our eyes welled up, lumps grew in our throats as we tried to comprehend the sheer numbers of crosses that were sprawled out before us..

It was beautiful to watch Dan wind his way through the crosses, tears streaming down his face, reading the names of each person. He has a deep love and passion for our country and his appreciation for these soldiers was evident. Touring Omaha Beach and honoring these men was a dream of his, it was a small way to show them that he appreciated what they did for America.

I am so thankful we have a car and have the luxury of time to explore this beautiful country.  Daffodils are marking the beginning of Spring.  Buds are ready to burst on the trees; the leaves are eager to unfold.  Spring will take over the hillsides and villages in a matter of weeks. 

We drove through village after village in the Normandy region.  I could not "click" my camera shutter quick enough.  Every turn, every curve brought yet another charming church, house, and shop.  I don't think I could ever tire of the images layed out in front of me.  The age, the charm and the beauty is intoxicating. 

I am looking forward to sharing with you the highlights of yet, another amazing weekend in France.  This is an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget. 

We decided to drive to the beautiful city of Reims on Saturday.  Reims is an ancient Roman city approximately 2 hours east of Paris.  

Reims is in the Champagne region of France, and the center of a wine growing distric.  The drive was beautiful.  It was such a treat to explore the countryside, it's rolling green hills, small villages speckled our way to Reims always with a church steeple protruding from each village. 

Our first stop was the famous "Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims."    It was built in 1007 and was heavily damaged after WWI but was lovingly restored in large part due to the funding of John D. Rockefeller.    

This is the view from the back of the church.  (Excuse all the scaffolding, resotration in the works).   The detail made my jaw drop.

I am always tickled when I am allowed to take pictures inside of a church.  This church felt cool upon entering, like most.  It did not echo nearly as loud as I anticipated.  There was a warmth about this church.

After our tour, we made a "bee line" to the nearest brasserie to get out of the cold.  The wind was stinging us as we ran to the restaurant.  Dan and I ordered a glass of Champagne since we were in "Champagne" country.  

And for all those asking to see a photograph of me, this ones for you......  A picture of me and "mini me".

After lunch we enjoyed a stroll around Reims with it's cobblestone streets and  neverending, overpriced champagne stores.  It's a fairly large city with 200,000 residents but it has a quaint vibe to it. 

Our "stroll" was cut short due to the freezing temperatures.  We found our way to the car and cranked up the heat and drove to the "Museum of Surrender".  A highlight for Dan who is a bit of a history buff.  The "Salle de Reddition" was once a schoolhouse near railroad tracks where the Germans surrendered to General Eisenhower on May 7, 1945.  Maps of the rail routes lined the walls of the rooms, exactly as they did on the day of surrender.

This was a photograph on the wall showing the military personnel and the German officers signing the surrender papers.

I felt a myriad of emotions throughout our visit.  I was moved by the bravery of the young soldiers, thinking of the sacrifice their families endured, so sad, so angry at times, so proud to be an American.  My feelings were all over the board. 

I can never, in a million years, know what it felt like to fight in this horrific war or what it must have been like for the innocent living in the war zone.  

I was so thankful fhat we took the time to honor the soldiers that fought for our freedom by visiting this important museum. 

Our drive home was beautiful.  The sun was setting, the clouds were in constant motion.  Sophie "coined" my feelings beautifully when she said "Mom, it's a heaven cloud". 

Can you see the rays of sunlight escaping from every direction?  I took this very personally.   God's artwork is amazing.

A perfect ending to a beautiful day spent in Reims with my family.  Life could not be sweeter.

Every morning we woke to one brilliant sunrise after another in Corpus Christi.   We are all looking forward to driving back home today to our "other hotel" we call home at the moment.  How strange does that sound?