The Rest of Europe
CAPE FAREWELL, Greenland
30 July 2016 It was a clear sky over Greenland today. And I had the window seat on the airplane bound for New York from Iceland. I was struck by the site! I know the Lord created everything for a reason, but looking across that white abyss, I wondered the Lord’s purpose for Greenland! I’ve …
SELFOSS, Iceland
A few years ago Bryant and I spent a weekend together in Iceland. We were enchanted, and promised to return when we could, with the children. When we arrived at the airport in Reykjavik last summer, with four children in tow, we were supposed to have been met by a car service. Not sure where …
NORMANDY, France
Bryant and I have taken the children to Normandy, France before. Baguettes and carousels, aside, Normandy and its WWII beaches, is sacred ground. Our first visit, years ago, we were careful how we introduced our young children to the atrocities of war. We prepared appropriately for that visit. But our children have matured in the past few years. …
LERY, France
The children and I like to read through our family journal together every once in a while. The other night, we found a gem from several year ago: March 2011 A few weeks back, after darting into the street, little L turned to me and said, “See, Mum! I DIDN’T get hit by a car!” …
MADRID, Spain
While in the car, nearing Madrid, L called from the backseat, “Is this our destiny?” I do not know that Madrid’s our “destiny”, but it was our destination that evening, and where we spent just a short time as a family. Our Spanish flat was located above a city bakery. Score! TOP TEN in MADRID: Teleferico de Madrid. …
FAMILY LIVING, Ode To a Boy
He went bra shopping with me. He was trying to be helpful. Looking around the shop, he began, “So, what kind of breasts do you want, Mom?” I had planned this outing before I knew L was coming along. But I would take that boy anywhere, any day! ODE TO A BOY: When you were born, my …
VIENNA and SALZBURG, Austria
Arriving in Slovenia around lunch time, we dipped our toes in Eastern Europe just long enough to enjoy a cheese pizza and some ice cream. We then drove on to Austria, with Vienna as our next destination. When we finally drove across the border into Austria, we were welcomed with “Gute Fahrt!” If the tolls …
VENICE, Italy
I met a young man named Tim. He was taking himself on a European tour. Tim asked where I was from. New York. I asked him where he was from. Wisconsin. I told him that I have family in Janesville and Sheboygan. He was so excited. “Sheboygan is beautiful!!” This young man had seen France and …
ATHENS, Greece
It is one thing to travel about a foreign country in which they use a foreign language, but share the familiar Latin alphabet. It is an entirely different thing to travel in and around a foreign city, on foot or via public transportation, where both the language and runes are alien. It was all Greek to me! (And …
BEYNAC-ET-CAZENAC, France
I could be a morning person in France. Upon further thought, it may be possible that the morning hours present any place at the height of their own beauty. Beynac-et-Cazenac. This medieval mountain-top village is where we stayed in a cottage with Uncle Barry and Aunt Brittany, settled not 20 feet from the outer wall of the Beynac Castle, …