Christine in Melanie and Paul's Wedding

I once again visited the United States.  I participated in my brother's July 23, 2011 wedding.  Best. Cookies. and Chocolate. Fountain. Ever.  The nuptials were lovely as well.  Melanie looked beautiful in her dress.  My brother cleaned up nicely.  But I should start from the beginning.  My Aunt Arlene had her ravioli party and Paul and Melanie met.  ...  Then I practiced my reading part at the church.  We followed this up with dinner at Michael A's restaurant.  Wonderful cake there.  And ravioli's.  Can't forget about the raviolis.

On Saturday I woke up and and went to see Melanie get ready.  And maybe ate a piece of leftover cake.  Then to the church.  My brother looked as happy as I have seen him.  Melanie too.  The reception lived up to it's billing.  First there were official "McIsaacs" towels, ala Terrible Towel style.  They entered to the Steeler song from the beginning of the home games, maybe it's Renegade?  Cut the cake (also delicious since I like to rate food).  And danced up a storm.  Maybe Paul did not do that.  

Christine

Christine at the World Cup, Frankfurt, Germany

If you do not live under a rock, and watch TV, or read the Internet (which by the way, you do and are right now), or read the newspaper, then you know the Women's World Cup just finished yesterday.  The U.S. Women's team played Japan in Frankfurt, Germany.  We lost.  We'll win again.  I'm sure.

Since the World Cup was only a quick 2 1/2 hour train ride north, I decided to attend.  Yes, I have now attended my first major championship game.  After a delicious brunch celebrating Ethan's 1st birthday, Jessica, Lloyd and I took the train up to Frankfurt.  If you guessed that I fell asleep on the way up, then you read my blog frequently.  ha ha  Once in Frankfurt, we exited the train station to see the city.  Well, to see if anyone was selling (or scalping) tickets to the big game.  We found one nice gentleman who had 3 tickets (coincidence? I think not).  He wanted 350 Euro for each ticket (Which is about $492 for a ticket).  We smiled and decided to take the S-Bahn to the stadium.  This is important.  Remember this story.

We arrived at the stadium about 100 hours, or maybe 6 hours, before game time.  First, we met others looking for tickets.  Yeah, Americans are real smart.  Some free advice.  If you are going for scalpers with tickets, then show up at the stadium closer to game time.  Like 1 hour before hand.  We walked around the stadium to kill some time.

Then we stopped for ... you guessed it... a beir.  Cause that's what you do in Germany-drink beir.  Then we borrowed a pen and wrote up a sign that said Need tickets (kartan-ticket in German).  Occasionally a scalper would come over and offer to sell us 300 Euro tickets (see, the price does go down closer to game time).  We passed.

Finally, we found someone willing to sell us a ticket for 150 Euros ($211).  We jumped on the tickets.  Of course, none were together.  But still.  Lloyd wanted to sell these tickets, make some money, and buy better tickets.  Jessica was not having that.  At all.  I was ok with it.  Lloyd and I didn't win.  One ticket was 4 rows up from the pitch (or field), opposite side of the players sidelines, about at the end of the penalty box line.  One was at the top of the stadium in the corner, kinda across from the great seat.  The final one was behind the goal where everyone scored at (until the end of the game, all goals happened in one net).  I shared the 4 rows up seat with Jessica for about 20 minutes of the game.  Once my ass hurt, I moved up to my behind the goal seat.

Warm ups

I saw the American's and Japanese score during regulation time.  Then I got to see Abby Wambach head ball in a goal (tor is goal in German).  And the Japanese make the corner shot in.  All right in front of me.  The penalty kicks were in the far goal.  They weren't so fun to watch anyway.  

We then raced (and I mean it, running) back to the S-Bahn to catch the train, in order to catch the train to Stuttgart.  Yeah, not really necessary.  We got back and sat at the S-Bahn for 10 minutes.  As we pulled away, the fireworks began.  We did make the train back to Stuttgart.  And I slept most of the way back.  

More pics after the jump... 

Fischmarket in Stuttgart (Also HUGE Announcement)

Sign in front of castle in Stuttgart, Germany

German's love fests.  As best I can tell, they have one every week here in Stuttgart.  For instance, from 7-17 July, the Hamburg Fisch Market happened.  Here, Hamburgers sold fisch sandwiches.  And there were beir gardens.  Always beir gardens.

Beir Garden and people enjoying fish as well.

The Fischmarket did have many different kinds of fish as well.

Fish Sandwiches.  I had a salmon one.

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

After jump...

The Doors of Dublin

If you want to see more doors, email me.  I've deleted them due to space reasons.

Christine

Christine in Ireland

My first Guinness.  Also my last Guinness.  

I am just like the locals in Dublin, Ireland as it turns out.  I went to Milligan's and had my first pint of Guinness (my first Guinness is not the local part).  I managed to find my equivalent- guys that work at the revenue department.  Yep you read that right- I hung out with accountants in Dublin.  But it was a diverse group and one new friend worked as a journalist for The Irish Times.  He shared with me that I am not actually Irish.  I'm Scottish.  Oh, and that ancestors that were Jewish based on my last name.  My goodness my Guinness.  My Guinness was after I finished the tourist food- best fish and chips I ever ate.  So good in fact, I ate it two nights.

Burdock's Fish and Chips

Fish and chips.  That's what you think of (well what I think of) when you think of Ireland.  But drive across the country (in roughly 2 hours without stops) and all you see are cows.  They must secretly eat steak every night and serve visitors (also known as tourist) the fried fish.  I've never seen so many cows grazing in my life.

I visited the required churches-including St Patrick's Cathedral.  However, here the church architecture is not as impressive so there will be no photos.  I saw a couple castles.  I saw the largest tourist attraction in Dublin-the Guinness factory.  To be fair to all types of alcohol, I stopped by the Jamerson Distillery as well.

Dublin Castle

I viewed the Books of Kell.  The book are from the 800's.  Almost as impressive was the library above the books.  There are hundreds of old books stored there.  The roof had to be moved up to accommodate a 2nd floor of books.  You are not allowed to take pictures.  So you will have to visit for yourself to see the amazing books.  I also visited the free museums (see DC is not the only cool city that has free museums).  The best was the National Museum.

A building at Trinity College, where the Book of Kell is located.  

I took the opportunity to see the country side of Ireland.  I decided to visit the Cliffs of Moher.  To arrive at the cliffs, I took a 12 and 1/2 hour bus trip (you read that correctly).  The Cliffs of Moher are breath taking. It was my favorite part of the trip.  You can walk along the cliffs.  For my one registered follower, I put my fears aside and took a picture over the cliffs.  Well I got on my stomach and put the camera over the cliffs.  I looked over for about a second.  Luckily I came to my senses, moved slowly back, and got up after that.  I also visited a castle and the Shannon in Limerick and the 12th century Corcomroe Abby.  If felt like we stopped and ate often (an activity I engage in whenever the opportunity presents itself).  I'm not sure what we did for all 12 hours, as I slept through some of the bus ride.  Actually, this type of tour reminds me of cattle (I really viewed a ton of cattle on the bus).  We all get of at one of the stops, take your required photo, get back on the bus for the next stop.  Repeat.  And repeat again.  (You get my point.)

The Cliffs of Moher

View down from the cliffs pictured above.

The Customs Building (I really like the reflection on the water):

The city reminds me of New Orleans in some ways.  The bars all have singers.  And outside the bars, there are locals singing for tips.  I will post the Doors of Dublin as a separate entry.  

Yes, the guitar is an old can of oil.

The most amazing part of my trip was the lack of rain and lots of sun.  Kidding (sorta).  

A very large pole monument on O'Connell Street

Christine

PS.  Know what I did on the trip back-if you guessed typed up this entry you win.