Canals and Bicycles

Had it really been a year since our last trip?  The treadmill of life often moves much faster than one can run.  We found solace in the relaxing canals of Northwestern Europe.

Our first stop was the fabled Amsterdam.  Named for its location on the Amstel river that was dammed to curb flooding from the high tides of the sea.  We were surprised at how quiet this "rowdy" city actually was.  Beauty, culture, history, art, stroopwafels...Amsterdam is a must see!

 Walk, bike, drive, or boat...so many choices

Amsterdam's most expensive real estate

A plea from a city that was easy enough to oblige.

If you ever visit the Netherlands, you have to escape Amsterdam and head off to the tulip fields of Keukenhof.

Biking through flower fields in the Netherlands....check that off our bucket list!

Our next visit was to the medieval Belgian town Brugge.  Our taxi cab driver told us that the town has under 100,000 residents, but welcomes over 6 million tourists a year!

Brugge was simply charming, we would have liked to stay more than one day!

Our final stop was in Denmark's ultra-hip capital city Copenhagen.  We were amazed at how young and trendy this city was.  It was as if Urban Outfitters and Public Bikes had decided to sponsor an entire city.  If the exchange rate wasn't so horrific ($30 for Starbucks hot chocolate and breakfast pastries!!!) we would make a return trip in a heartbeat.

We even found some unique "Mormon Moments" in this Scandinavian gem of a city.

 A brick based LDS Temple with a separate tower for the Moroni statue.

The original Christus Statue.

This is a trip we will never forget.  We hope that it isn't another year before we have the chance to explore a new part of the world together again.

"Here's looking at you kid"...a Moroccan adventure!

 

 Morocco has long been on our list of places to visit. There is a certain mystique found in this predominantly Muslim country in Africa with a rich, royal history. The country boasts a diverse landscape and a humble people. The colors are bright, the smells are industrial, and the sounds of prayers are penetrating. Although we had a few unfortunate moments, Morocco was an unforgettable experience. 

Our first stop was in the southern imperial city of Marrakech. The city is a bustling tourist trap that lures you into its winding, nameless alleys and souks. We were nearly escorted into leather and rug shops multiple times as we searched for the historical sights.

   

We found relief in Marrakech's holy sanctuaries.

   

After a few days in Marrakech, we caught the train (good idea in theory, bad idea in reality) to the northern imperial city of Meknes.

   

 

Meknes is a much smaller city that has less tourist footsteps, and proved to be the best stop on our vacation! We were especially swept up in the beauty, grandeur, and spirit of the Mausoleum of Ismail Moulay and its Imam.

    

We made a quick stop in Casablanca to see the Hassan II Mosque before flying back home. This is the country's largest mosque and was truly awe-inspiring.

 

Lisboa...San Francisco's Doppelganger

One of our favorite bits from the TV show How I Met Your Mother features each cast member stumbling upon their lookalike in the city, and we had a similar experience while visiting Lisbon Portugal. Lisbon is the beautiful capital city of Portugal and was the first stop on our anniversary trip.


Lisbon has colorful houses just like San Francisco



Lisbon is a coastal city that sits on multiple hills just like San Francisco




Lisbon has unique public transportation just like San Francisco


...and Lisbon even has a Golden Gate Bridge just like San Francisco

We felt like we had found a piece of home away from home and wished that we had more than a couple days to explore Lisboa.