Saturday, February 26, 2011

Signing off from Romania with Dracula

We made it, the film has wrapped and the clan is headed home on a 14 hour flight back to Los Angeles tomorrow.  Neither Jason or I can actually believe it's over, we're still in shock.  It's been a long time away from home and it will be interesting to see how we adjust back in the states.

I'm dedicating my last post from Europe to Romania.  Our trip to see the castles!

The first Castle we saw, Rasnov Fortress was probably twice as cool because everything was covered in snow.

It was quite a trek to the top and with little legs it was taking forever so I tried to strap her to my back but that just resulted in a major tantrum.  It's not always easy or pleasant sight seeing with a toddler, ohhhh Miss Harlow.


I love when the trees have just a couple inches of white snow to outline them, so pretty.
Entrance gate

View from the top
Smiling girl, after she saw a little black puppy.


The second castle we visited was the famous Bran Castle home of Dracula, or at least one of the castles that have been linked to him.

The view from town.
The town was super cute too.
This castle was absolutely gorgeous inside and out.
How much do you love that red little shed on the side there?

The entrance had this beautiful script painted on the front wall above the light fixture.
This amazing cross was also at the entrance.
the knocker was so heavy
Dracula
View of the courtyard, everything outside and inside was accented with dark wood.
Check out this amazing water well in the courtyard, I was obsessed with it!

There was this secret passageway in the living room that super duper tiny your arms touch the walls as you climb through it.  Not the best place to be if you don't like confined spaces, uh um, yeah that's me.

Ohhh I loved this guy carved into the dinning room table.
View from the top
I can't remember what this way but it was pretty.

I have a ton more pictures of the castle but I'm sure you're getting bored right?

I did want to show you one last thing though, a little restaurant that we stopped into to use the restroom.



Crazy right?

Well the adventure is over and while I'm sad to leave, I'm so happy to be returning home. But I have one question for those who actually read this blog.  Should I continue to post back in LA?  I'm not sure anyone will want to read this anymore without all the cool locations we've been touring.  Who knows maybe we'll be leaving soon for another adventure somewhere, but in the mean time let me know if I should keep this up? Please, seriously let me know.

Goodbye beautiful adventure in Europe, for my first time here we pretty much rocked it!!!

xoxoxo

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Starting a New Year without Rules

Hey remember when we went to Berlin for New Years?  I honestly wasn't expecting much since a lot of old Berlin was destroyed in the War.  I was pleasantly surprised.

The Berliner Dom was by far the most beautiful building I've seen in Europe so far.


 The Dom, apparently there's an observatory up there but it was closed.



Underneath the Cathedral was a crypt with over 80 sarcophagi of Prussian Royals, it was pretty creepy.


The Back side
 Daddy and Harlow with Dom in the background.
I love Jason's smile in this picture.

Jason and I were able to run through the Pergamon Museum while Harlow was taking a nap in her stroller.  I'm so glad we did because their exhibits were pretty awesome.
Especially the Pergamon Altar

and the Market Gate to Miletus
Both from Turkey
Oh and the Gateway to Babylon was cool.
Here's a family photo at the Brandenburg Gate


The Jewish Monument makes a massive impact when you see it in person, it hurt my heart, such a powerful reminder of all the lives taken.

A piece of the Berlin Wall


Checkpoint Charlie the point between East and West Berlin.

New Years Eve was pretty crazy, Berlin doesn't have any firework laws and they sell giant big ones like you'd see at Disneyland on the streets.  Needless to say the sky was filled with them and so were our ears.  I was really proud of Harlow for being so brave, she handled it very well.

We spent the night lighting our own fireworks and watching other right over the Dom, it was magical!

Harlow's first New Years Kiss


A couple more days and we'll be home again!!

xoxox