Eindhoven, Netherlands

Despite well meant intentions, I did not get through the photos to edit the ones I wanted to post.  Please forgive me.  The pictures are a combination of iPhone, DSLR, and point-and-shoot, so a wide variety of quality.  Please forgive me for that as well.

Day One: Germany & Eindhoven, Netherlands

Very beginning of our road trips always start off with a picture in the car.

 We stopped somewhere on the road for a picnic.  Still have no clue what Germany town we were in, but we had a blast eating lunch and feeding ducks.

 Crossing the border into the Netherlands.

 Don't quite know what this building was, but it looked important so we took a picture of it.

One of the first things we did when we got to Eindhoven was buy a postcard with all the local features on it.  Then we set out to find them...the round building above was on there, along with this bubble looking thing behind Alyssa.

 Our hostel room.

Dutch dinner!

 The Flying Pins were another attraction on the postcard.  It took us a bit to track it down, but it was worth it.

 We also happened upon a carnival!  We wandered around for a bit to take it in, and it definitely seemed much more exciting than any of the carnivals I've been to in the US or Germany.

Look at all those bicycles!!!  How do you find your own in that mess?

Eindhoven wasn't the most spectacular city in the world for tourists, but they did have a fantastic shopping district and tons of eateries to spend time at.  The people were amazingly friendly, most of them spoke English [extremely helpful since I don't know a single word of Dutch], and definitely a gorgeous country that I can't wait to visit again.  Next: Antwerp, Belgium.

Venice

As mentioned in my last post, my mom came out for a visit.  She flew into Frankfurt, Germany, on a Friday and left a week later.  Not nearly enough time to do everything I wanted, but plenty of time to catch up and take a quick flight to Venice [only an hour away by plane].  It was beautiful, wonderful, and as anything is with the two of us, quite the adventure.

We stayed in a small town called Mogliano Veneto, which is maybe a 15-20 minute train ride from the island.  The first morning, we woke up from a refreshing sleep, walked from our B&B to the train station, and found a farmer's market!  I think we could have stayed there all day instead of sight seeing.  But, head to Venice we did, and I'm so glad.

The keys to our room

My beautiful mother.

In one of the hundreds thousands of alleys, looking up.

I received my camera back from mom and had at least a dozen pictures of clothes hanging...

Hi-5 in Venice!

The bridges, the weather, the atmosphere...everything was absolutely perfect!

New Kid in Town

My sister, Veronica, is here to visit!!!