Sunday Excursions

With the plethora of cultural and historic experiences available here in Europe, one of our favorites has been attending Church on Sundays. In the last 6 weeks, not only have we attended a different Ward or Branch (LDS-lingo for a congregation) each week, but we've attended in a different country each week as well.

Despite the differences in culture, language, and history of each place we have visited, the gospel message in each congregation has been the same.

It has also been fun for the boys to see that it doesn't matter where you meet, the Gospel is still the same. Some branches have met in an apartment building, others in a  business building, and very few in a stand-alone chapel.

Salzburg, Austria

Paris, France

Rijeka, Croatia

Rijeka, Croatia

One of our favorite experiences was in Croatia, where we attended during a fast and testimony meeting--the LDS meeting where members share their beliefs. The Branch was extremely small, but it made for an even more intimate and enjoyable experience. When the meeting started, one of the missionaries said he would translate for us if we wanted to share our testimonies. So we did. After the meeting, the missionary told us that it was the longest testimony meeting they had ever had :)

We've also enjoyed the openness of the small branches we've visited. Coming in with our party of 6  can be a sight to behold, but every time we come to a new branch, we're welcomed with open arms and accepted as part of the branch almost immediately. In fact, today we went to church in La Spezia, Italy, and one of the leaders had Parker fulfill his Bishop's messenger duty as a Deacon.

La Spezia, Italy

A Review of Disney Paris in the (so-called) off season

First, tour guides will tell you that Disney Paris is always packed, and there's never an off season. We visited France's Happiest Place on Earth on a Friday in September, so we were bracing for some really long lines, heavy crowds, etc. We were pleasantly surprised. Here are a few highlights:

1) Lines were easy, and even non-existent at some rides. There were  a few sets of lines in the smaller Hollywood Studios, but for the most part, we walked on nearly every ride in less than 10-15 minutes. That doesn't even happen with a Fast Pass in the U.S. anymore!

2) Some things are VERY Parisian. For example, the Autopia ride was almost an exact copy of driving in Paris. Backed-up, bumper-to-bumper traffic after only a short minute or two of free lanes (no joke, I had to get a picture to prove it!) We sat in Disney traffic for 5 minutes of the 6 minute ride! When we got off, I complained, and the ride operators said: "Do you want to go again?" Sit in traffic again? no thanks.

3) Many of the rides are better. Space Mountain is an obvious upgrade to the Cali and Flori fare. The Indiana Jones ride was a basic roller coaster in the same vein as the Mullholland Madness ride at California Adventure. Buzz Lightyear actually has the secret spots and point earning potential that the California version does (and that the Florida one lacks).  Big Thunder Mountain is just as crickity, but I'm certain it goes through an under water tunnel at one point. And the Nemo/Crush ride is above and beyond superior to the snore-fest that is the Nemo ride at Epcot.  Star Tours, however, is lame (as it's the 1980's version of the ride) and the Tea Cups they've obviously tightened the screws a bit making it nearly impossible to get the cups spinning at a nauseating rate. The Haunted Mansion was flat out lame. There weren't even any ghosts in your carriage to "follow you home"...instead we all stared at ourselves in the mirrors as we passed by them to end the ride.

4) Everything is in French. Yep, though they do translate some of it into English too.

A big highlight for our trip was getting Amadeus over his absolute fear of rides. We pushed him a little too fast a few years back in Florida, so this time around, Curls gave him some options, and he chose to go on Big Thunder Mountain. He ended up loving it.

 

French PDA's

When in Paris, we simply couldn't resist soaking in the romantic atmosphere of the city...whether at the Eiffel Tower:

ON the Eiffel Tower:

at the Lock Bridge:

Or even at the gates of Versailles (which was an awfully long train ride to get a kissing photo)

I don't know what's worse, that we took so many PDA pics, or that we had our 13 year old take them!

The Hunt for the Drinking Fountain

One thing you don't expect before you come to Europe is the surprising lack of drinking fountains. Even major cities like Paris have no drinking fountains. We even asked someone at the Louvre, and he said: "Drinking fountains aren't really Parisian. There's water in the restroom, but it's not very good!" We have quickly learned the value of bringing your own water bottle when visiting cities in Europe. If you don't, you end up overpaying for water you can get for free in your hotel or residence.

How to Survive the Louvre with Kids

In college, I majored in the Arts and Humanities...which they told me I could use for any job, but which meant job prospects with a degree in the humanities were nil. I eventually figured out how to use it to my advantage professionally, but one of the things I took from my degree was the beauty of art, music, and literature. I looked forward to the day I could share that beauty with my own children...and what better place to do that then at the Louvre?

Fast forward 15 years, and I've taken my boys to several art museums. However, one thing I didn't realize 15 years ago, is how I'd feel about showing my own sons all the nudity there is in art. 15 years ago, I probably looked past it all, and I get it...the painting and sculpting masters considered the human body God's most perfect creation, so replicating it was the highest form of artistic creation one could achieve. But in today's world of immorality, and being a father of 4 boys, I must admit that I don't like the display of the human body in art--which is probably why I've always been more of a fan of the impressionist works of Monet and Van Gogh, who focused less on the body.

Taking all of this into account, I was both ecstatic and hesitant to take my boys to the Louvre in Paris.  If you've ever been there, the museum itself is more than a gallery, it's a virtual department store of the history of art. Taking it all in requires an entire day...something that even the most artistic youth would tire of.

Plus, with only a day or so in Paris, who wants to spend the whole time in an underground museum? So here's what we did:

1. Find the most memorable art pieces and only see those. I know what you're thinking...isn't that a waste of money? Well, not so. Kids under 18 are free, and you're only paying 13 euro per adult. Our choices? The Mona Lisa (which is so small, it's actually quite underwhelming) was top on our list

2. Celebrate the art that isn't undressed. The Winged Victory is a nice piece for that, as were pieces depicting the Last Supper, the Crowning of Napoleon, and Artemis.

3. When necessary, use a censor.

 Lord Byron was happy to help censor Venus Di Milo

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is an amazing metal structure in the heart of Paris. It sits upon four legs keeping it stable. Who doesn't go to the Eiffel Tower when they go to Paris?

The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris World Fair. Some Parisians didn't like it at first, I mean it is a giant metal structure in the middle of the city. But, the Parisians grew to love the Eiffel tower and it is protected today (apparently quite heavily, based on the armed guards we saw).

We did not want to miss out on this exciting experience. We took the gondola to the second story around seven o'clock (sunset). The view was breathtaking. All of Paris was spread out before our eyes. We could see at least one of Paris's unique landmarks in every direction.

That wasn't the best thing about the Eiffel Tower. If you stay up unitl eight o'clock, then the lights start to turn on. Every hour on the hour, hundreds of lights on the Eiffel tower sparkle creating the coolest light show ever. Thankfully, Master Chef was able to take a video of it.

The Eiffel Tower is clearly not a sight to be missed.

Speaking a Little bit of French in France

I am taking French in school so I thought, why not practice my French in France.
One instance where i spoke french was in Disneyland. I don't know what word i said but what ever it was, the worker believed that I spoke French fluently. I had to then ask him "Parlez-vous anglais?" (do you speak english). He was then happy to re-explain the directions in English for me.
Most of the time i helpd my family it was for numbers. Number of pastries, number of passengers for the ride, and price of gasoline.
I wish I could have used more. Next time.

Disneyland Paris: The Real Magic of Disney

At first our main plan was not to go to Disneyland  Paris because we thought that it would be exactly like the other Disney parks that we had already been to. We couldn't be more wrong. Disneyland Paris was an amazing experience.

We soon found out why most of the rides did not have the option for fastpasses. Most of the rides lines didn't go over 10-15 minutes. Rides like Rockin' Rollercoaster and Space Mountain barely went over 5 minutes.

This was a shock to us as we walked on to all of our favorite rides. And we came on a weekend!

It was also really fun to enjoy the rides in French. Of course, some were translated into English.

Another thing that we enjoyed is that a majority of the rides were a step above their starters in the 
US Disneys. Big Thunder Mountain went in the dark for a little while. Space Mountain: Mission 2 has 360 degree inversions, and the Indiana Jones ride has loop-de-loops.

The unique rides were also fantastic. Ratatouille was a video ride that drives you through chef Gusteaus' kitchen.

Crush Coaster is a rollercoaster that puts you in an East Australian Current, sending you backwards and up and down hills. My mom and I laughed the whole time!

The only things that we did not enjoy was the fact that you could smoke in line, which you can't do in the U.S. In fact, sometimes it seemed like Disney Paris was the place people in Europe go to smoke.

Besides that, however, we loved Disney Paris!

Photobombing the Tower of Terror

Here's a quick preview of an upcoming post about Disney Paris. Proof that the French like photobombs just as much as Americans. Here's a nice one from Disney's Tower of Terror.

Selfies

I invented the selfie. Years ago I was doing selfies in Time Square (with everyone else).  Ok, so maybe I wasn't the first, but why the topic is trending now, when everyone else has been doing them for years, I have no idea. Traveling in a group of 6, we don't often need to do selfies. When Curls and I want a picture, Agent P is our unofficial photographer.

Still, I have caught the kids taking selfies quite a few times....

On the Salzach River in Austria:

In the Salzburg Fortress:

It looked fun, so I decided to give it a go. I had forgotten how fun it was.

The Austrian Alps:

Some tower in France:

And my personal favorite, a selfie with my bestie: