There she goes....

ok, yes once again it's me (katie) and I'm off to see more of the world! So go to www.traveling2israel.blogspot.com for more info on my Germany, Poland and Israel adventures that are in process right NOW!!!!

Katie is off again!!!

Well... it seems that Europe was just the beginning for us... I guess we just all caught the travel bug!! This time it's not JUST for pleasure though, I'm (katie) going to India for 2 weeks with my pastor Larry Swayze, his daughter Esther, and a few others... but my updates won't be posted here. Check out my newest blog www.traveling2india.blogspot.com and stay with us... we would love your prayers as well!!!

On the Road Again

Europe seems to have whet my appetite for travel, so I'm excited to announce my latest plans: a road trip across the United States! Join me on my journey here: http://thetravelbugbitesagain.blogspot.com

Oregon again

After 10 uneventful hours on a plane, I heaved my pack onto my back for the last time. My family and two of my favorite country bumpkins greeted me at the gate, waving mini American flags and holding a "Wellcum home too Mollalla Bethy-Lou" sign (tastefully constructed from a vacuum cleaner box - Oregonians are good recyclers). My flight had been delayed and U.S. customs took forever, so Amy and Maggie had to hang out in the airport wearing their Molalla hick costumes for a bit longer than they'd anticipated. They got plenty of odd looks, I'm told. I must say, I've missed those crazy gals.


Now that my feet are back on Oregon soil (and yes, it does feel good), I'm afraid it's time to retire this Europe blog. Thanks for following me along in my travels! Ciao!

P.S. You're welcome to visit me at my personal blog, http://www.bethanymonroe.blogspot.com/ anytime!

Last night in Europe

I'm staying in a hostel in Frankfurt tonight(with free wireless, hence the frenzy of new posts) so that I can catch my plane destined for Portland tomorrow morning. A "Corporate Challenge" of some sort drew thousands of walkers/runners to downtown Frankfurt this evening, turning the streets into a garbage dump with their piles of banana peels and empty bottles. Thankfully, I've already visited Frankfurt and wasn't planning to do any site-seeing today. The banana peels kind of ruin my chances at getting any postcard-perfect images of the city.

Berliner Mauer

Before catching a train out of Berlin today, I took a walk along the East Berlin Gallery - a mile-long portion of the Berlin Wall painted by artists (and many unnamed graffiti taggers)from around the world. The wall was torn down rapidly in 1989 and very little of it remains throughout the city, but a cobblestone line marks where it once stood.

East Berlin has been under major construction ever since the wall came down and now bears little resemblance to its days occupied by the Soviets. One of the few East Berlin symbols remaining are the pedestrian traffic lights. Named "Ampfelmann," the cheery little walk/don't walk character has a little more personality than the typical stick man version.

Smart Cars

I've been seeing these tiny transports all over Europe and finally got to ride in one a couple days ago when I caught a ride home with Anna in her new Smart Car after work (I'd been site-seeing and shopping in the city). They're not really as cramped as they look.