The Dancing Man in Prague...

Dear Friends,

The streets and bridges of Prague and Budapest are full of folks singing or dancing or even selling cotton bras! I dropped many a coins into coffers in the shapes of guitar cases, tin cans and even a McDonald's cup.

On our last night in Prague we were just walking the streets feeling a bit sad as we would be leaving that wonderful city in the morning. All of a sudden we came across a man dancing in the streets. (Please notice the cobblestone!) We watched for a while and then, as he kept dancing, I decided to take out the camera. It was delightful and sent us on our way to Hungary!

There was no can, guitar case, or a McDonald's cup for coins, he was dancing for the sheer joy.

Can we find this man?

Enjoy and smile away your morning as you watch The Dancing Man in Prague!!

Lou Ann

Ode to English writers...

Last summer my mom emailed me a photo of the above pub. I knew that I had to see it in person, so last week Dick drove all of us to the site. It was a rainy morning and I jumped out of the car (along with Philip who took the photo) so that I could definitely have this picture!

I love poetry and quote it often, but being in England was so spectacular for my literary sense. I began to feel kin to EB Browning, Dickens, The Bronte Sisters, Hopkins, and well, yes, Shakespeare!

My mom had asked me to read a poem for her wedding, and at the reception I read Sonnet number XII from "Sonnets From the Portuguese" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. (If you go find it you may understand why I read it at her wedding.)

A few days later in an old bookstore, Philip found a book of Browning's poetry. This book was titled "Mrs. Browning," which was very unusual. He bought this as a gift to me.

I love this book. Maybe it is what will get me through this Indiana winter while we are apart.

So, another part of our trip, poetry in England.

The Wedding!

Click here for the wedding story in England! Enjoy!

Dear Friends,

So here is the most romantic story of 2012, at least I think so. Read the above article and enjoy!

As always, thanks for following our Holiday trip...more of poets tomorrow!

Lou Ann

The day before the wedding...such fun!

A bird's eye view of England....

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

 

Here we are in England staying with my Mom and Dick. We have been busy every day so not much time to write, although lots of photos.

 

We are staying in the small village of Tupton and traveling each day with a rental car as Dick's vehicle is too small for the six of us.

 

My brother and his wife Grace arrived Saturday evening as did we.

 

So here you go with a lovely view of England. As always, thanks for watching and reading.

 

Tonight I hope to write about my reflections of British poets and authors, until then, we are on the road again.

 

Lou Ann

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Christmas Evening in Budapest with the Gipsy Band!

Dear Friends,

Again we keep traveling on our journey. Today's column has just come out in the paper so please click on at the bottom for the column. It has been great fun writing back and forth with my editor about my trip.

Here is a video of our Christmas Evening in Budapest with the Gipsy Band! The column will explain it all!

We are off to London this a.m. for a week in England with my mum! It will be a wonderful week and another adventure!

Lou Ann

 

The Gipsy Band at the Black Raven Restaurant on Christmas Day.

 

 Click here for this week's column...Christmas in Budpest and visiting the Hungarian cousins!

 

The Blue Danube River

Dear Friends,

When I was a little girl my dad and I would play the song, The Blue Danube. It is a wonderful waltz tune. I have been on the Danube before when I was in college and traveling in Europe, the way it should be done...no money and one train ticket!

Yesterday Philip and I climbed up (no, we did not take the bus) Gellert Hill where Bishop Gellert (years past) was rolled down that hill into the Danube for trying to bring Christianity to Budapest. He was dead upon his arrival into the river.

Here is a photo of the Danube River from part way up Gellert Hill.

So, we are now packing, having our last breakfast in Budapest in our little flat and flying off to England for yet another adventure! Stay tuned!

Lou Ann

The Blue Danube River

Sorry for all this space below....couldn't get rid of it!






















































Lou

Photos from Prague and Budapest

Dear Friends,

I have taken hundreds of photos and have memories and stories for a lifetime. It is difficult to find time to post while enjoying everything, but I do like you coming along with us. Here are just a few photos and a fun video from the trip. I imagine I will be posting about this trip for another month! As always, thanks for following us. I hope your Christmas was joyful!

Lou Ann



I took this photo on Christmas Day evening. It was foggy all day so all my photos are gray. But in the evening we were walking at dusk back to St. Matyas Church, and I thought it was so stunning. It almost doesn't look real! This was in Budapest.

Everywhere we go there is hot wine...on street corners, in shops, outside of restaurants (help yourself kind of deal), so we always stop. Here we are on Christmas Day at the Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest trying to get warm!

This is the top of of another church! I didn't have to convert to black and white, that is the color of the sky! Budapest.

Philip took this photo of me at the entrance of the Charles Bridge in Prague. I have noticed that all the photos of us look like we have gained the 10 pounts of Eastern Europe travel. I think it is due to layers of clothing and pastport/money bags hanging around our necks under our winter coats!

 

This is a church in Mor in Hungary. This has been the ONLY morning that we have seen blue skies for the entire time. Ah, the sun does shine in Easter Europe.

 

Musicans on The Charles Bridge in Prague.