Prague summer style

Erin and I put a lot of thought into where we should take Jenna on her first continental Europe experience (and Jamie on her single Euro trip before going 3rd world on us).  Do we go to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, maybe Dublin (kidding:-)?  We wanted to blend history with unique architecture and good nightlife - and go somewhere Erin and I haven't spent much time. Prague was on the shortlist and an easy decision. After paying a whopping 390 sterling to change the flights we incorrectly booked, we made it into town around 11pm on Friday night, just in time for an Absinthe shot or two! We wandered around the old town square and down along the river, getting some sweet shots of the castle across the river, stopping at a night club next to the Charles bridge. 

We tried to go to the touristy bar from the 1500's, U Fleku (sp), but apparently tourists don't stay out past 11pm. After getting a cinnamon treat called a Trdelnik (which was consumed almost as much as local beer during the long weekend), we made it to bed. 

The next morning we got up and at em reasonably early, probably not as early as these guys though; and made our way towards Mala Strana and Prague Castle via the Charles Bridge. 

First constructed in 1357, it is one of the oldest surviving bridges in the world. It has suffered its share of destruction throughout the years, but has always been one of the most awe-inspiring bridges in the world. Believe me, one NEVER runs out of things to take snap shots of in and around the bridge. 

After wandering around the area, checking out the castle grounds and visiting the Loreta, we went to U Cerneho Vola, which is a really old pub that oozes character. I couldn't find out how old it is because probably nobody knows; I think it came right after Adam and before Eve, or maybe after tadpoles and before frogs. Either way, it has 4 really old long tables that we shared with some friends from Denmark. It has light beer, dark beer, or water (Pilsner Urquell). To eat there is sausage, fried cheese or potatoes...perfect!

After lunch we meandered around for another hour or so, checking out the park and lake and river and and jewish quarter and cool stuff like that. It was a really beautiful day and fun to just wander around!

Needing to re-fuel (beer), we went to a bar close to the old town square, the only one with a rooftop bar/patio and had a couple brewskies while the sun was setting. Staropramen is my favorite of the mainsteam lagers, but there are many local more local beers to be had in Prague. The view from the bar was amazing. 

After drinks and the girls first ever escargot experience, we made our way up to the old town hall which has commanding 360 views of the city. It is the one of the best towers to venture up...period. Actually, you be the judge. 

Following the tower we had dinner at a local brewpub that only makes enough beer for the busy restaurant called Pivovarsky Dum. They have interesting beers on the menu that change as often as the tides. I sampled sour cherry, a bok beer, a wheat beer, and a beer brewed with nettles (thankfully they take the nettles out before you drink:-). Jenna and Jamie enjoyed the banana beer.

The next morning Jamie and I were up for Charles Bridge pics at 7:15am. I got some great ones, but won't put too many on as I have documented before on the blog!

It was actually better than the first time as during some of our time making our way down and back, we were the only ones on the bridge, a far cry from what it becomes only hours later! Note to tourists, do the charles bridge before 9am! 

After the bridge we had some hotel breakfast and went to the rent-a-car office in the airport to get our car to explore the countryside!!!

Family Style (2010)

We've been without visitors for awhile (hint, hint). So to our great fortune, we kicked off the summer with not one, but two siblings arriving in London.  Jamie arrived first for a three week stop-over before departing for a four month project/adventure in India and Nepal.  We're slightly perturbed that she is putting our travels to shame.  Seriously, her pictures and experiences are wide-opening and incredible and I can't wait to follow her up the Himalayas.

Jenna, our new roommate, arrived two hours later.  London is her first foray into European waters.  She'll be interning for the summer as well as providing entertainment on our upcoming trips.  We're happy to have her and she's also happy to have us ie. no hostels.

Day 1: Picnic overlooking Big Ben and Parliament. 

Double-decker bus, which decided to stop and not take us to our final destination.

A quick pint in the oldest pub in London.

Completed a mock commute to Jenna's new office.

New Glarus and Verona, Wisconsin

After a week of work in our Minneapolis office, two more Twins games that didn't rain out, including the first win I got to see in the new ballpark and some more family visits; the following weekend was here.  After hearing that Pedro's wedding was going to be near Madison, Bauer and I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to venture to New Glarus Brewing Company, a highly coveted beer that has such high demand that it isn't sold outside of Wisconsin. We left at 7am in order to make it at a reasonable time and then have time to change for the wedding. New Glarus recently relocated to a brand spankin new brewery just down the road from the old town that was settled by the Swiss and looks more like an alpine village than a Southern Wisconsin town. 

When you get into the brewery, you pay for the tour and get a (US) pint glass to go fill up in the tasting room down the hall. They had 7 different beers on tap, with a couple that were pretty rare (Golden Ale brewed in Trappist style and a Cherry beer that was like a Lambic). Then you can take the self-guided tour which includes some bad-ass wort tanks!

After the self-guided tour, Bauer and I decided to do the tasting as well, as it is like kids in a candy shop when Bauer and I are in a brewery. 

After the glorious tasting we headed downstairs to the bottleshop and picked up some for after the wedding. It is definitely worth taking a weekend from Minneapolis (or Chicago) to visit the brewery. 

Of course the tour isn't complete without heading into town to the Glarner-Stube (I think) to get some Swiss-themed food (and another New Glarus - the only beer served on tap). As you can see, it was full of character. 

We departed from the restaurant in haste to make it to the wedding in Verona for Pete and Jenny's wedding. The lovely couple had a great day as the weather was beautiful and all their friends and family were there to share the day!  The restaurant was at a really beautiful golf course that served great food and wine all night. The dance was wonderful and everyone had a great time.

Pete was so high in demand that I barely had a chance to sneak a photo with him. Congratulations Pedro and Jenny, thanks for the great night!!!

Graduation and Mothers Day

To come over 4,000 miles (4,018 to be exact) for a long weekend to see your sister's graduation is pretty nice, but it was made much more palatable with the "free" flight using miles, seeing our nephew and the rest of our family. Lins and Erin left for St. Ben's after welcoming Meaghan and Ryan's new litle girl into the world to celebrate Jamie's graduation. I think we all agreed it was pretty special to have all four sisters under the same stars in Minnesota, with nobody being more happy than Darrell and Monique. 

Jamie was blessed with pretty good weather for the always unpredictable early May and friends and family were on hand to give a hand to the graduate. One more to go!!!

And into the old drinking holes.  Its great to see Darrell protecting the Leinies from the ever-present stench of the LaPlayette, where Erin and I spent many late nights and early mornings during our glory days. This was the first time back there for both of us together) since our graduation in May '03....where does the time go. We all went to dinner at Anton's before the scene below unfolded with Erin's cousins, getting news that Kamie and John were about to have her new little guy during dinner. Its definitely baby mania these days!

Following the festivities, we got a ride back home and saw Theo once more at the Red Stag supper club for Mother's Day brunch. The food was okay, but not worth blogging about:-) Afterwards we went for a walk along the river by Nicollet island, which is actually a very removed and scenic walk from downtown. It was a great weekend and unfortunately for Erin it was back to the big smoke, and I was going to be apart from my lovely wife for two whole weeks, which is about 13 days more than we can tolerate!

Theo and the Twins

It isn't that often when a new member of the family comes along, so naturally we had to make the trip to see the newest, Theo, a couple weeks ago. Lissa and Jeremy are now proud parents of the cutest little guy in South Minneapolis, and that means Erin and I are now aunt and uncle! We made it home a couple weeks ago and Lissa, Jeremy and Theo were waiting to greet us! It was quite the treat to meet the little guy, I can't wait to take him to the skating rink! Did I mention my dad is now not just a dad but a grandpa too!

We played with him for a couple hours before Betchie picked us up for the Twins. He was barely two weeks old when we met him, so naturally he slept, ate and went to the bathroom. We're thinking he's on pace to sing the Gopher Rouser in 14 weeks. 

We love our little nephew!!

We met Linsey, who arrived from SF and met us at the light rail station and the four of us headed to Target field. This has been such a long time coming, suffering in the dome for my entire life has now came to an end that the Twins have a new home! As perhaps the most geographically removed season ticket holder, I intended to make every game I could when home!

The game was crappy, the weather was worse, but the sights and sounds of Target Field made up for the unpredictable weather and Twins hitting. We stopped by Hrbek's bar after the game for another Summit. Betch and I were in heaven, Lins and Erin were just happy to see eachother. 

Day Trip: Canterbury, England

A few weekends ago, Erin and I were craving an excursion outside the city. With an abundance of day trip options, we wanted to choose wisely as free Saturdays cannot be taken lightly. We opted for a trip to the Southeast of England, specifically Canterbury. Much of medieval England history was written here, as Canterbury Cathedral was the head of the Catholic Church in England for centuries and is where the Archbishop sits today. 

Canterbury’s history dates back to prehistoric times, with a significant roman influence.  Christianity came to England in the sixth century where St. Augustine set up the Cathedral and it has since been central city in England. There are several monasteries, churches, an old priory, an inn dating to the 13^th century, and lots of great historical buildings and streets. 

Getting to Canterbury from central London is about as easy as getting lost in the medieval streets of the town itself. Trains depart from St. Pancras station every half hour on the Southeastern train link and take about an hour, with part of the journey being on the new high speed track. A round trip day ticket costs about $40.

The town is two blocks (5 minutes) from the old town, which still has a respectable portion of its medieval walls in tact. We spend the first 90 minutes just getting our bearings, checking out the old inn/hospital/chapel on the main street, where the gentleman working at the desk was extremely well versed on the history of the town.

After walking around some more, we worked up an appetite and got a picnic at a cute little café/gourmet foods shop and had a nice picnic along the river surrounding the old town. 

After lunch, we made our way to the famous cathedral, which is still where the head of the Church of England sits today. The church became a site of pilgrimage when King Henry II murdered his old friend Thomas Becket in the church after power struggles came to a head. 

I strongly encourage reading a non-fiction book by Ken Follett titled Pilars of the Earth, which focuses on the struggles between the Church, State, and people and culminates around the time of the famous murder. There is even stain glass depicting the famous murder. 

The church was impressive, larger than many, smaller than York Minster Cathedral, but without question the centerpiece of the town.

Following the church, we wandered around a little more before catching the 3:30pm train, capping off a highly successful and stress free day trip. 

Day Trip: Greenwich (Mean)Time

A few weeks ago, Erin and I took a lazy Saturday to make our way to Greenwich, which is on the eastern side of London, about 45 minutes commute from us on the opposite side of the city. Greenwich is the home to Astrological Museum and a Maritime Museum. It is best known for its maritime history and as giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) and Greenwich Mean Time.

Along with establishing itself as an instrumental research center in plotting distances and locations at sea, Greenwich was home to impressive palaces that housed many of the Tutors, including Henry VIII. The area is now a UNESCO heritage site. 

When we arrived, we grabbed a cappuccino at the Greenwich market before heading up to the Royal Observatory, which is where the Prime Meridian was born.

Erin and I took the opportunity to kiss from each side of the world!

After wandering around and checking out the old time and mapping instruments, we headed for lunch at the Greenwich Union, which is the flagship store for the Meantime Brewery, one of the highest regarded in the country. They had about 8 Meantime beers on tap, from the common ones you can find at other bars (being the few that actually serve the beer) to seasonal taps such as Meantime Porter and IPA. I would agree with the critics that the beer is among the best I’ve had in England. The food is excellent gasto pub style food which makes it a must visit when visiting Greenwich. 

All in all the day was a success and it is a good day trip for those spending an extended trip in London. I would suggest if you are in London for less than a week, not to commit over half a day to the site, instead see places such as Windsor or Hampton Court.