tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66397781282199409632024-03-13T04:42:00.325-07:00Sabbatical RuHuC Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-79536833113630346742013-12-31T03:31:00.000-08:002014-12-17T03:13:51.700-08:00Take This Job and Shove It - Sabbatical 2003<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sabbatical </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">2003</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are Back !!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around the World in 180 Days</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Beth Ruyle and Craig Hullinger have completed their sabbatical, January through June 2003. We spent 6 months traveling around the world. We checked out our roots, and had a very good time. Beth is now back at Ehlers and I am back to my consulting practice. In the immortal words of a famous Country & Western singer, we said,</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Take This Job and Shove It, </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ain’t workin here no more”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, now we are back to work. Beth and I thought it was time to recharge our batteries and we have. Now we have to work to earn our boat space on spaceship earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />We traveled from January through June, 2003, and went to Hong Kong, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. We drove Beth’s red convertible sports car in Europe. Any road will do when you don’t know where you are going. We met lots of great people. <br /><br />We have traveled west around the world. This corrected a problem I created when I went east around the world in 1970 / 1971 on leave from the Marines in Vietnam. I have been screwed up ever since and this trip unscrewed me. Of course, now Beth is screwed up, requiring an additional trip back around the world, which will unscrew her, but rescrew me. You get the picture.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span>
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Beth and I did not get very far on our spy/romance novel starring our significantly embellished ourselves and our adventures. I had wanted to go to more adventurous places such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Africa, etc for back ground material, but Beth said no. The woman has no sense of adventure. I have volunteered to go back on active duty with the Marines for the Iraq, but so far they have said no, telling me between the lines that I am too old and fat. But my Walter Mitty fantasies may work themselves into the spy/romance yarn if we ever get started.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ruhu12.com/">Click for all of our Photos</a><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-76985505274061976312013-12-27T06:59:00.000-08:002013-12-05T14:03:21.538-08:00Pre D-Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />How do you pack for a 6 month sabbatical? Very carefully. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Beth came home from work at 6:30 PM. She started packing immediately and was finished 2.5 hours later. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">She put all of our gear in four duffle bag suitcases with wheels, plus a small bag on wheels to carry smaller possessions. You need roughly ten days' worth of clothes for a six month trip. This means you have to wash or dry clean about once a week. The fact that we plan to be in both cold and hot climates complicates packing. She planned the four cases to be able to fit in the trunk of the car we bought in Germany. And it worked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />That done, we went out for drinks with Dave and Gudren Dorgan and Scott Neihaus for an impromptu bon voyage party. We left for Hong Kong the next day.</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-82795323223587927052013-12-24T03:52:00.000-08:002013-12-05T14:04:03.207-08:00Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />We took the limo to O'Hare Airport at 0900 AM. We departed O'Hare Airport on United, non stop to Hong Kong for the 15 hour flight. Two Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) guys with big 45 pistols on their belts escorted a Chinese man on to the aircraft. They sent him inside the big 747, but stayed outside to make sure he did not leave until we took off. He was a very mean looking guy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a time he loosened up, and smiled broadly at Beth. I introduced myself to him, and asked about his story. He told me he had been a Canadian citizen for the past 15 years. He is a truck driver and forklift driver. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He flew to Hong Kong, and then flew back from Hong Kong to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chicago. Immigration stopped him at O'Hare and took him into custody. He spent nearly a month in a federal prison in downtown Chicago. They did not even allow him to call anyone. His wife and family have no idea where he is. All his money was taken when he went into prison. They have given him a check for the cash, but he can't cash it. They apparently have lost all his luggage at the prison.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I commiserated with the guy. I told him it sounded more like the way we think you might get treated in Communist China with their record of human rights abuse, than in the US, "Land of the Free." But I also think there must be more to the story. If he did indeed have a valid Canadian passport, I think they would have let him go on to Canada. He spoke fairly good English, so I think he probably has been in Canada for a number of years, but I will bet his passport is not correct. Will never know for sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steven & Miles were our two very nice flight attendants. We told them that we were taking 180 days to travel around the world, taking a sabbatical from work. They both live in Bangkok and gave us some advice on traveling to Laos & Cambodia.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />We flew over Canada, and over the polar ice pack. We thought because we were heading west we would have a long day, but it was dark by 4:00 PM because we went so far north. Beautiful sunset over the polar ice pack. <br /><br />The sunset was a line of black at the horizon with an orange tint, fading into green and blue in the darkness of night. It looked like a jagged piece of lightning split the ice. There was, of course, not a light anywhere on the ground. The flume from the engine exhaust gave a ghostly light against the background.<br /><br />There was a guy doing Yoga in the galley at 2:15 am. Constant movies all night, most of them incomprehensible. The flight took 15 hours.</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-30820374301377933112013-12-05T05:41:00.001-08:002013-12-10T11:42:40.440-08:00Hong Kong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We arrived in Hong Kong very tired from the long flight. Customs was easy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUiRSa-xgKeRzasfGQHcC0A9-3VJF6KJ_FHK_MHX7hny6xiNyuqbRGnE_9jTYsWcPHETX0CjpcKdI_MZH7Ha-uyo9bRoioULCLeGGSqc48UK58cTUhoj3k9U79g9IPqdR0iNbKh-Kpnid/s1600/SAM_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUiRSa-xgKeRzasfGQHcC0A9-3VJF6KJ_FHK_MHX7hny6xiNyuqbRGnE_9jTYsWcPHETX0CjpcKdI_MZH7Ha-uyo9bRoioULCLeGGSqc48UK58cTUhoj3k9U79g9IPqdR0iNbKh-Kpnid/s400/SAM_3217.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have been in Hong Kong numerous times, both before and after it transferred from Great Britain to the Peoples Republic of China. We don't see many changes, so the PRC seems to have kept things </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">liberal, at least for tourists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One humorous note. Beth had made reservations over the Internet for what we thought was the Peninsula Hotel, a very high end hotel. We instead got the Eaton Hotel on the Kowloon Peninsula. It is a very nice hotel, but not nearly as nice or expensive as the Peninsula. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />On the first night before sleeping Beth and I walked around town. We were both very tired. She promptly fell on the booby trapped sidewalk. Nothing hurt but her dignity.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DAY 2</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uQVvXM3WHijQrK_H0npjmAJSBE9M5KJz0ua76h1Lqbc_k49L4xEdROikcuuReWokSohgeLUCgcv0emuwoAcQZjqQ4w8ogOrxPmzIuAHALQiOfbrwne5aOmjV_CqgcTQKgfzpE5s5spDd/s1600/Hong+Kong+Tram.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uQVvXM3WHijQrK_H0npjmAJSBE9M5KJz0ua76h1Lqbc_k49L4xEdROikcuuReWokSohgeLUCgcv0emuwoAcQZjqQ4w8ogOrxPmzIuAHALQiOfbrwne5aOmjV_CqgcTQKgfzpE5s5spDd/s320/Hong+Kong+Tram.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We did the requisite tourist things today, including a trip out to Stanley Market and a trip to Victoria Peak. The tram to the Peak is always fun. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beautiful views all over Kowloon and Hong Kong. Bought Beth pearls and opals. So far we </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">have </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">dined on Chinese, German, Spanish and coffee shop cuisine. Have not missed America enough to go to McDonald's yet. It is good to see that we </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">have exported our American culture all over th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">e </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">world. I also just got Beth a dozen roses, and have received points for that.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">From a Previous Trip. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Chinese enjoyed the Blue Eyed Empress</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">More photos of Hong Kong</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-26253542523654400102013-12-05T05:40:00.002-08:002013-12-05T09:19:49.314-08:00Bangkok, Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">January 14, 2003 Bangkok </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">View From Our Room</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.15;">We left Hong Kong, flying Thai Air to Bangkok. We are staying in the Sheraton Royal Orchid on the 23rd floor overlooking the Chao Phraya River. The hotel is beautiful, as always. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">The River is </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">incredibly</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QW3HizHxTI4/RnckTGQaBDI/AAAAAAAAADw/sVgyKth6UW8/w473-h355-no/7.1+Boats+in+Bangkok.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QW3HizHxTI4/RnckTGQaBDI/AAAAAAAAADw/sVgyKth6UW8/w473-h355-no/7.1+Boats+in+Bangkok.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Rooster Tail Boats</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">busy, with high speed rooster tail (James Bond) boats, ferries, commuter boats, express and cross-the-river commuter boats, and small barges hauled by tow boats. Families live on the barges and tow boats, where a small cabin on the stern doubles as their home. You see children playing, tv aerials, and women washing clothing and cooking on the boats. We count eight fan tail boats on the River in front of our hotel at the moment. In the middle of all this frenetic activity is a small police boat, apparently serving to warn everyone to keep speeds down.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="line-height: 1.15;">There are small Khlongs (Canals) connecting to the River. These Khlongs act as drainage ways into the river, and the larger ones are navigable. We watch small boys swimming and jumping into the khlongs.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We are watching the sun slowly set into the river. The smog overlying the city diminishes the attractive sunset.January is the coolest month in Thailand. Temperatures in Bangkok are average about 91 degrees.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtIYaItiED8/RnckTmQaBFI/AAAAAAAAAEA/FySk9X5zAXA/w473-h355-no/7.1+Rue+in+the+entrance+to+the+Sheraton+Pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtIYaItiED8/RnckTmQaBFI/AAAAAAAAAEA/FySk9X5zAXA/w473-h355-no/7.1+Rue+in+the+entrance+to+the+Sheraton+Pool.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 15, 2003</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We spent a lazy day in Bangkok. We shopped a little in the beautiful shopping center attached to the Sheraton Royal Orchid. Went swimming in the pool, beautifully surrounded by palm trees and next to the River. </span><br class="kix-line-break" /><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first time we swam in the Royal Orchid Sheraton jungle pool, I hit something twice with my hand. I am very near-sighted, and a little stupid, so it took me a few moments to realize that it was a large green snake that I had hit. As I began to reach for the snake, my brain belatedly kicked in, and said, </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoH31eVWPO7QYrpXvtq-qbkBuCsbzszbSpKn8wHp2todryk6RDVWNiXYRPiuOpc_xHC_2jAHN8wo-hUWuR_ItwXKuvAiW_K9dGRd48jnOE6nGvh_m0srElZtkS-VRA1OLgz25Hx3YMAWY/s1600/Snake.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoH31eVWPO7QYrpXvtq-qbkBuCsbzszbSpKn8wHp2todryk6RDVWNiXYRPiuOpc_xHC_2jAHN8wo-hUWuR_ItwXKuvAiW_K9dGRd48jnOE6nGvh_m0srElZtkS-VRA1OLgz25Hx3YMAWY/s200/Snake.png" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"SOUTHEAST ASIA. DEADLY <br class="kix-line-break" />POISON SNAKES! DON"T GRAB IT!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />So I just rose to the surface, and told Beth about my friend the snake. Several pool attendants rushed over, netted the snake, killed it, tossed it in the River.
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They then told me, "don't worry, not poisonous." I hoped they were right, but I went looking for bite marks anyway -- did not find any.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />On another trip we found a large turtle swimming in the pool. And the grounds of the pool contains peacocks.The peacock strutted its stuff for Beth, unveiling it's huge fan tail composed of feathers that were sapphire blue and emerald green, and fragile like lace. Many of them have an eye-like pattern.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Last night we had a nice Thai dinner with Chuck and Anne Kathrein. Chuck is an old Marine buddy, and Anne is his wife. Anne is Thai, Chinese and American. They founded a successful software company, Mustang Technologies, that services business in the far east. The name derives from the fact that Chuck (and I) were Mustang officers, meaning we were first enlisted Marines before we became officers (we are like wild horses). Mustang Technologies was the first business to open in Bangkok's new Technology Park. The Royal Princess visited their company, which is a very great honor in Thailand, where the Royal family is greatly respected.</span></span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-46197129358526264422013-12-05T05:39:00.002-08:002013-12-05T12:19:47.961-08:00Phuket, Thailand <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 18, 2003 </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />Flew from Bangkok to Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is a lovely island off the coast of Thailand, about 1.2 hours flight south of Bangkok. Imagine Thai and southsea island ambiance. We are staying a very nice hotel with a swimming pool right outside our balcony window.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />It is very hot here. Best to swim and relax during the heat of the day and then party at night.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 19, 2003</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Wandered all over the town this morning, when no one is awake. I always like it best at that time. Thais on motor bikes constantly offer me their services. Most of the time I don't know what they are offering. I usually politely decline, although I did pay on fellow a few Baht to drive me around on his motorcycle. I quickly remembered how much I hate to ride on a motorcycle when someone else is driving. And I didn't know this guy.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />I wandered all over town to find a laundry to drop off our cleaning. They were all closed this morning. I finally found a bakery / laundry where I woke up the proprietor, who was sleeping in his loin clothe. It took him a long time to add the bill - he could not add very well. He weighed the laundry, and charged me by the Kilo. I think he said it would be 378 Baht. I hope it is not 378 dollars. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Beth got her toe nails and finger nails painted on the Beach. She has pink nails with white daiseys with a blue center, all for 200 Bhat (about $5.00) from Noya on the Beach. Noya also gave me a Thai Massage on the Beach for 300 Bhat. Whole process took 2 hours. Beth actually stayed still for the entire process, which may mean this Wound Up Type A woman may finally be winding down. Although she does dream about work almost every night.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />I got my hair cut by a Thai lady barber. Beth hovered around giving directions and advice, None of which was understood by or followed by the barber. I got nervous when she got out her straight razor. Beth is not impressed with the haircut, which she says emphasizes my not so latent baldness.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Southeast Asia is an amazing amalgam of small business, hustling for your money. Not that many Americans here. Far more Europeans.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 20, 2003</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Went to James Bond Island today, made popular by the film "The Man With The Golden Gun". Beautiful huge rocks rising straight out of the ocean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We travel in fan tail boats with the engines and propellers on the aft, with </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the boatman controlling direction by moving the entire engine and propeller. Also visited a Buddhist temple in a cave, where Beth fed small monkees. Also visited a Moslem Village built on stilts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />Tomorrow I am going sea kayaking into caves at night, while Beth shops. I think this makes it clear that she is brighter than I am.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 22, 2003</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2sWvwWJ8XE/RnckdWQaBXI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/oaqwRIy-UgY/w473-h355-no/7+Craig+%2526+Ah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2sWvwWJ8XE/RnckdWQaBXI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/oaqwRIy-UgY/w473-h355-no/7+Craig+%2526+Ah.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went kayaking today while Beth shopped. Beth acquired some very nice jewelry. I thought I would be back by 6:30 pm, but did not get back till 11:00 pm. Beth thought I was lost at sea, but the truth is I could not read the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">brochure.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br class="kix-line-break" />The sea kayaking was loads of fun. We took a ship out to</span></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJooFn6F5i0/RnckdGQaBWI/AAAAAAAAAGI/9USCBcn3zUI/w473-h355-no/7+Craig+%2526+Nurses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJooFn6F5i0/RnckdGQaBWI/AAAAAAAAAGI/9USCBcn3zUI/w473-h355-no/7+Craig+%2526+Nurses.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">some very steep coastal rocks, and darted in and out of closed lagoons through very low cave entrances. The caves were very narrow and dark, and we needed flashlights to navigate. I was with three very nice young people, Reed from Boulder, Colorado, Cheree a nurse from Denver, and P___, a nurse from Hawaii. They were all camping that night on an island with Ali, our guide. Ali </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">decided I was Pappa, and continued to hug me. Ah was also a guide, who paddled the kayak with me. He and I taught each other English / Thai on the long return trip from the islands.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We went swimming as the sun went down, and paddled into a cave after dark with offerings that we made with incense and candles. We were to make a wish, and my wish was that Beth would not kill me when I returned 6 hours late that night. I am still alive, but also still in trouble. Looks like more jewelry to atone.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We called Beth's mother Mae on what we think is her birthday - we remain unsure of what day it really is since travelling past the international date line. It was good to talk to Mae - 6 months away is a long time. Florida time is 11 hours before our local time here, so we are nearly on the other side of the world. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We are having clothes made at one of the many Indian tailor shops. Mona is our tailor. She is from Nepal, while is her mother is Burmese. She tells us she works 70 hours a week. The people to work very long hours, and of course for very low pay. But Thailand does seem to get more prosperous each time that we come here. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />The next day Beth and I hired a car to take us around the island. Very beautiful views at different points on the island. And of course each driver wants to take us to as many shopping points as possible. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We are two weeks into our trip, and getting very unwound. I knew we were getting acclimatized when Beth asked if the cars were on the same side of the road here as in the US (We have been in left side of the road driving since we left the US two weeks ago.) <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Today Beth and I got tattoos, after a lot of heavy drinking. Beth has a butterfly on her ankle, and I have a Marine Bulldog on my shoulder with the letters USMC, which as everyone knows stands for Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. Unfortunately we did not have the nerve to get real tatoos, and these are supposed to wear away before we return to the US. The cabbies barked at me in reaction to my Bulldog. </span></span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-75665241264097858482013-12-05T05:38:00.002-08:002013-12-05T17:22:02.003-08:00Chang Mai, Laos, Myanmar (Burma)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have been travelling around Thailand, with short trips into Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. This is the Golden Triangle Area formed by these three countries and the Mekong River. All the people are great. Laos & Burma are very poor, similar to Vietnam, because of the wonderful communist government, which keeps everything moving at a snails pace.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <br class="kix-line-break" />Buying lots of stuff, learning a little Thai. Beth and I went elephant trekking and jungle trekking - the short tourist version. About killed Beth, and none to easy on me. Beth loved feeding the elephants, which we thought was important to keep their good will. They eat an amazing amount of bananas & sugar cane.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;">Took lots of rooster tail boat rides on the Mekong River and Kok River. Thai massages are great. The Laotion Whiskey </span><span style="line-height: 1.15;">bottles all have a real cobra in them - I avoided drinking that.</span></span></span></div>
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<br class="kix-line-break" />We were in Chiang Rai for a week, and have now moved on to Chaing Mai. We will take the train back down to Bangkok.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will try to go to Ankor Wat in Cambodia later this week. The border is closed between Thailand and Cambodia now - big flap because a Thai actress said in a soap opera the Ankor Wat should be part of Thailand - so the Cambodians sacked the Thai embassy, and border is closed. Then, on to Greece. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />I am putting pictures and stuff on the internet as we go. My laptop is broken now and the connections are too slow to update, but I will update when I get the computer working.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 8, 2003</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Our visit to Southeast Asia is coming to a close. We are now back in Bangkok. We leave for Greece in 36 hours. We have had a fine time. We visited Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Phuket, Bangkok, and Pattaya. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />We missed Cambodia and Ankor Wat. A Thai Soap Opera Actress said in a soap opera that Ankor Wat should be a part of Thailand. This upset the Cambodians, who burned the Thai embassy. The Thais closed the border, and so we judged it not worth the hassle to visit. Another time, perhaps.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We are now kicking back for the next few hours. We will have a Thai dinner at the home of Chuck and Ann Kathrein. Will probably spend some more time riding on the River and in Khlongs (canals) in long tail boats.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Border at Myanmar (Burma) Very Poor, a Police State</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice lady surrounded by Giants<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everything goes well with us. We are near the end of travels in southeast Asia. We are back at the Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel in Bangkok, along the river. Lots of long tale boats zooming by. We ride them on the River and the Khlongs (Canals). People live along the Canals, bathe in the canals, was clothes, etc etc We saw some nice Thai dancing last night. They have very pretty costumes, straight out of the King and I We also ride around in Tuk Tuks (pronounced (took tooks) These are little three wheeled motorbike taxicabs. You have to negotiate your price before you ride. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We did not make it to Ankor Wat. The border between Thailand and Cambodia was closed for a while. We will have to see that on the next trip. My laptop is still broken, so it is hard to get pictures on the net.</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-42449749036335105302013-12-05T05:38:00.001-08:002013-12-10T17:52:10.520-08:00Athens, Greece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmApPI86Leos43-U_wJGLRQYpZ39h9uuN0In7fZYXuvGsDagY3co8kvJNXMdx2OHSHZueLX451duGIsimjxBe5Zb7q-12v2DsQ9Svegxg3UY6RKWjxuTT92YGM83LOcQuXJRKYGq5q-ruD/s1600/acropolis.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmApPI86Leos43-U_wJGLRQYpZ39h9uuN0In7fZYXuvGsDagY3co8kvJNXMdx2OHSHZueLX451duGIsimjxBe5Zb7q-12v2DsQ9Svegxg3UY6RKWjxuTT92YGM83LOcQuXJRKYGq5q-ruD/s320/acropolis.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">We flew into Athens on 10 February, 2003. Immediately froze to death. After a month in Southeast Asia with temperatures from 75 to 100 degrees, the 40-something of Athens seemed cold. The flight took nearly eleven hours, but we are now 3/4 of the way around the world.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br class="kix-line-break" />We took a cab from the airport. Seasoned world travelers that we are, we were horrified to see two meters, one running very fast. We thought you had to add the two meters together. It appeared that the cab ride might go over 100 Euros, worth more than 100 dollars. The ride ended up costing only 50 Euros. Two days later I figured out that the meter that we thought was rapidly adding Euros was actually a clock!! Duh!!<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />The Euros will make European travel much easier. The bills are simple, with no bills smaller than a five Euro bill. Lots of one and two Euro coins. I have not seen a penny, and don't think they exist. The dollar was worth about 1.1 Euros last year - now it is worth only about 92 Euros. Bummer.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Fascinating to visit the birthplace of democracy, with parts of buildings and ruins from 2,500 years ago. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We also visited the historic Agora, the marketplace of ancient Athens. The Plaka is the old town below the Acropolis, full of fascinating shops and restaurants, narrow streets and plazas. You have to bargain for everything you buy. Beth and I are terrible at this, and usually pay too much.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Greece feels even more foreign than Thailand. Perhaps because we were in Thailand so long.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We were going to the Greek Islands, but it is very rough and cold. Many of the Ferryboats are not running because of high seas. So we will fly to Italy instead. We think Italy will feel like home. On to Rome!</span></span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-24748116670445400092013-12-05T05:36:00.006-08:002013-12-10T18:08:56.413-08:00Italy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_l2ol4j-etEQ/RoejAnmuzKE/AAAAAAAAAVc/AWm5HvpZdhk/s1600/Italy2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_l2ol4j-etEQ/RoejAnmuzKE/AAAAAAAAAVc/AWm5HvpZdhk/s400/Italy2005.jpg" width="400" /></a><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Rome, Italy Feb 13 to 17 2003</b></div>
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Rome is a great city, as everyone knows. You simply wander around the town, blundering into monument after monument. We went to all the famous tourist sites, plus many we don't know, and had a great time.
Our hotel was a few blocks from the Spanish Steps, with our own private terrace overlooking the city. Very nice, but very expensive. Need to find cheaper digs, or our 6-month trip will be 3 months.
Yesterday there was a large antiwar demonstration. They say one million people, wandering around with PACE (Peace flags), and communist flags. One couple overheard our American Accents, and gave us very dirty looks, and moved away from us. Beth glared back. I was too slow to say anything. So we would not be identified as Fascist warmongers, I used my three phrases of Russian from High School and Beth used her few phrases in German.
We are renting a car, and moving on to Florence this morning. I am on my way to pick it up. Driving in Rome traffic is a great challenge, and I may spend the rest of the day getting lost.
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<b>Florence 16 to 21 Feb 2003</b></div>
We spent 5 days in Florence at the Pagnini Hotel near the Arno River. Very nice place. The art is of course tremendous. Eye Candy everywhere you turn. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cathedrals & museums everywhere. Beth's favorite is the David sculpture. He makes me feel just a little inadequate.</span></pre>
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We drove from Rome to Florence. Easy to drive into but I made the mistake of driving in the evening for a short tour. We got into a do loop at the train station, made about 4 circuits around the station. Beth says it took two hours, more like 25 minutes, but still bad. She was ready to abandon ship.
It is cold here. Looking out at the snow covered Alps I can see how depressed my father was in World War II, thinking about the next year. His Division fought all through North Africa and Italy, so had two years in the mountains in the snow and mud in foxholes, and anticipated a third before the end of the war. Saw several old pill boxes. Looks like a fun place to fight.
The churches here are incredible. As a protestant, I sometimes think that it was a shame to spend all the money on the incredible size and art in the churches, but if they had not made that expense, the art would not have been produced or preserved. So I thank the Catholics for that. My father was
blessed by the Pope during World War II at the Vatican, and so was I while on leave from Vietnam. A fellow traveler told us we were thus Catholics by virtue of the blessing. So be it.
Took day trips to Sienna and San Gimignano. Both great Italian Hill Towns. Medieval walls around small towns. </span></pre>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SHOPPING IS FOR THE BIRDS, or,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How Beth gets a discount.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beth decided to purchase a purse in Florence, Italy, in the open air market. She had run low on money and could not find an ATM. She looked at a purse that cost more money than she had. The shop keeper dropped the price in half, then lowered the price 5 more Euros to match the funds Beth had available. She told Beth that "I will give it to you for good luck. It is always good to help someone who has just had an accident."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beth did not understand, presuming that something had been lost in the translation. The lady again told Beth that it is good luck to help someone who has had an accident. Beth did not know to what she referred. The lady told Beth that a pigeon had "left its mark" on Beth's back. The lady helped Beth clean up her sweater, and then sent her on her way with the good luck purse.</span></div>
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<b>Venice 21 to 24 Feb 2003</b></div>
Seasoned world travelers that we are, we had a fine trip from Florence to Venice. First I misread the time and got us to the train station over an hour early. I raced Beth over to the station because I thought we were late, making her very unhappy. Then we got on the wrong train car. Had to fight through traffic to get our bags off that car, run to the other end of the train, hen get on the right car. Beth then got into a tiff with a guy over the placement of her purse. Then it took forever to find our hotel in Venice. We wandered around lost for about one hour.
The good news is, however, that we blundered into carnival. So we bought masks and joined the frivolity.
Lots of concerts, plays, etc. I was captured by some girls who I think performed an exorcism on me, although I was not sure. I had a Phantom mask on, so I guess I am a bad guy. They threw me on a mattress, muttered Italian over me, and made gestures as if to pull my heart out. They also searched my pockets for money. They did not find any, but I enjoyed it. My father advises that they learned this from their grandmothers, who apparently did the same thing in World War II.
Took several boat trips, including a gondola ride. We were too cheap the last time we were here, so this time we did it. Also went to another island to a glass factory, where we bought a small fortune in blown glass.
The canals and walkways in Venice are enchanting. Shops everywhere. Completely confused road network - they clearly needed a good city planner here in the early days.
We really like Venice. It is beautiful, but expensive.
We were supposed to go on to Lake Como today for 4 days, then up to Stuttgart to get the car. Then back to Florence to get the rest of our luggage, and probably mail some home. However, the Italian railroad is on strike, so we are marooned in Venice for another day. Went back and forth on a boat to
the rail terminal. Not too great a tragedy.
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<b>Lago di Como (Lake Como) -- Wednesday 2/26</b></div>
We ended up staying in Venice an extra night because there was a 12 hour rail strike and we could not get out until 11 p.m. It was a real hardship. Carnival was great.
We stayed at the Marcos Hotel in Como. We asked our driver to take us to a three star on the lake. It is perfect as it has accesss to the town and the lake. We overlook the lake from two windows, and the mountain with the funiculare (track railroad on the third). Only 2.5 flights of stairs to the room. We rode the funiculare to the top of a 1500 foot mountain, and hiked around a little. </span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We took a slow boat yesterday around the south part of the lake, and will take a fast one about half way down the lake today. It is truly stunning here. Italy has been one fesitval for the eyes.
Tommorrow we leave for Stutgartt to pick up Beths little red convertible. She wants to name it Genevieve, or GiGi for short. I point out the car is German, so Gertrude or Gerty for short would be a better name.
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-36080334004740612482013-12-05T05:36:00.005-08:002013-12-05T05:36:53.141-08:00Rome, Italy Feb 13 to 17 2003<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rome, Italy Feb 13 to 17 2003</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Rome is a great city, as everyone knows. You simply wander around the town, blundering into monument after monument. We went to all the famous tourist sites, plus many we don't know, and had a great time.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Our hotel was a few blocks from the Spanish Steps, with our own private terrace overlooking the city. Very nice, but very expensive. Need to find cheaper digs, or our 6-month trip will be 3 months.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Yesterday there was a large antiwar demonstration. They say one million people, wandering around with PACE (Peace flags), and communist flags. One couple overheard our American Accents, and gave us very dirty looks, and moved away from us. Beth glared back. I was too slow to say anything. So we would not be identified as Fascist warmongers, I used my three phrases of Russian from High School and Beth used her few phrases in German. <br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-10646535760470395512013-12-05T05:35:00.001-08:002013-12-05T17:49:16.289-08:00Florence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are renting a car, and moving on to Florence this morning. I am on my way to pick it up. Driving in Rome traffic is a great challenge, and I may spend the rest of the day getting lost.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Florence 16 to 21 Feb 2003</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />We spent 5 days in Florence at the Pagnini Hotel near the Arno River. Very nice place. The art is of course tremendous. Eye Candy everywhere you turn. Cathedrals & museums everywhere. Beth's favorite is the David sculpture. He makes me feel just a little inadequate.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We drove from Rome to Florence. Easy to drive into but I made the mistake of driving in the evening for a short tour. We got into a doo loop at the train station, made about 4 circuits around the station. Beth says it took two hours, more like 25 minutes, but still bad. She was ready to abandon ship.<br class="kix-line-break" /> <br class="kix-line-break" />It is cold here. Looking out at the snow covered Alps I can see how depressed my father was in World War II, thinking about the next year. His Division fought all through North Africa and Italy, so had two years in the mountains in the snow and mud in foxholes, and anticipated a third before the end of the war. Saw several old pill boxes. Looks like a fun place to <br class="kix-line-break" />fight.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />The churches here are incredible. As a protestant, I sometimes think that it was a shame to spend all the money on the incredible size and art in the churches, but if they had not made that expense, the art would not have been produced or preserved. So I thank the Catholics for that. My father was blessed by the Pope during World War II at the Vatican, and so was I while on leave from Vietnam. A fellow traveler told us we were thus Catholics by virtue of the blessing. So be it.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Took day trips to Sienna and San Gimignano. Both great Italian Hill Towns. Medieval walls around small towns. </span></span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-39998310876355621942013-12-05T05:34:00.001-08:002013-12-05T05:34:18.315-08:00Florence to Venice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Venice 21 to 24 Feb 2003</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /> <br class="kix-line-break" />Seasoned world travelers that we are, we had a fine trip from Florence to Venice. First I misread the time and got us to the train station over an hour early. I raced Beth over to the station because I thought we were late, making her very unhappy. Then we got on the wrong train car. Had to fight through traffic to get our bags off that car, run to the other end of the train, hen get on the right car. Beth then got into a tiff with a guy over the placement of her purse. Then it took forever to find our hotel in Venice. We wandered around lost for about one hour.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />The good news is, however, that we blundered into carnival. So we bought masks and joined the frivolity. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Lots of concerts, plays, etc. I was captured by some girls who I think performed an exorcism on me, although I was not sure. I had a Phantom mask on, so I guess I am a bad guy. They threw me on a mattress, muttered Italian over me, and made gestures as if to pull my heart out. They also searched my pockets for money. They did not find any, but I enjoyed it. My father advises that they learned this from their grandmothers, who apparently did the same thing in World War II. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Took several boat trips, including a gondola ride. We were too cheap the last time we were here, so this time we did it. Also went to another island to a glass factory, where we bought a small fortune in blown glass.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />The canals and walkways in Venice are enchanting. Shops everywhere. Completely confused road network - they clearly needed a good city planner here in the early days. We really like Venice. It is beautiful, but expensive.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We were supposed to go on to Lake Como today for 4 days, then up to Stuttgart to get the car. Then back to Florence to get the rest of our luggage, and probably mail some home. However, the Italian railroad is on strike, so we are marooned in Venice for another day. Went back and forth on a boat to the rail terminal. Not too great a tragedy.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lago di Como (Lake Como) -- Wednesday 2/26</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We ended up staying in Venice an extra night because there was a 12 hour rail strike and we could not get out until 11 p.m. It was a real hardship. Carnival was great.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We stayed at the Marcos Hotel in Como. We asked our driver to take us to a three star on the lake. It is perfect as it has accesss to the town and the lake. We overlook the lake from two windows, and the mountain with the funiculare (track railroad on the third). Only 2.5 flights of stairs to the room. We rode the funiculare to the top of a 1500 foot mountain, and hiked <br class="kix-line-break" />around a little. We took a slow boat yesterday around the south part of the lake, and will take a fast one about half way down the lake today. It is truly stunning here. Italy has been one fesitval for the eyes.</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-9769594426964384392013-12-05T05:33:00.000-08:002013-12-10T17:50:25.272-08:00Stuttgart then back to the Riviera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">S</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tuttgart then back to the Riviera -- March 2003</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We picked up Beth's car in Stuttgart, Germany. Beth was able to get four big suitcases in the trunk of our little car. She is a miracle worker.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />During our stay in Stuttgart, we got involved in the Stuttgart-Glasgow football (soccer) game -- a playoff game. Very big deal in Europe. There were 15,000 Scottsmen in Stuttgart, most of them drunk and very loud. They were wearing their team colors, and shouting and singing all over the town. Looks like lots of fun, but close to a riot. We enjoyed it.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We drove back south to get some of our luggage and computer in Florence. We stayed in Switzerland one night, then at an Army base in Vicenza, Italy. The computer was still not ready, so we stayed in rather palatial Army Colonel's quarters near Pisa/Livorno, Italy for three days of R & R. We had two bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, patio, etc. It was a very nice base near the beach with enormous pine trees (over sixty feet high with great shade), named for Colonel Darby of WWII Army Ranger fame, I think. In Pisa, we visited the leaning tower, and lots of nice hill and beachtowns.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" />The computer was never fixed, so we finally gave up, and moved along the coast to visit friends in Santa Magarita, Italy. This is a very nice town. We stayed in Menton, another attractive seaside community on the French/Italian border, near Monte Carlo. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We then went to Cadaques, Spain, a small, isolated fishing village that takes a long mountain drive to reach. We spent three nice days there. Today we moved down to a town that I can´t remember the name of. Just now someone threw a large cherry bomb into the internet cafe. I presume this is childish harassment and not terrorism. I hope.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We have noted a number of nice castles and hill towns as we move down the coast. Some of them were build by the Knights Templar during the crusades. This is interesting to Beth and I, as we recently joined the Knights. We will check them out and get a few pictures.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Our best to all. Adios!</span><br />
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Sabbatical Europe 2003</h3>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We took six months off in 2003 - a Sabbatical. Flew around the world, bought this little car in Germany and drove around Europe for 4 months.</span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-5591571972308863832013-12-05T05:32:00.003-08:002013-12-05T05:32:15.255-08:00Switzerland - Meeting the Relatives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ancestral home of the Hullingers / Hollingers / Holligers - Hallvill, Seegun, Bonisvil Eglisvill, Canton Argau, east of Zurich, north of Luzerne.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is my favorite part of Switzerland. (Beth points out that Craig's love for this area is in part because his ancestors left the area in 1735 to emigrate to the US. It is unspoiled and uncrowded, and undiscovered by most tourists. The small lake of Hallvil has excursion boats that tour the lake during the day, providing convenient access to all parts of the Lake.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It boasts the charming castle of Hallwyl, located on Lake Hallwil. The castle is small and easily visited, and boasts excellent English translation phones that work well. The charming towns of Hallvill, Seegun, Bonisvil, and Eglisvill are nearby - these are the towns that the Holligers lived in, beginning with Henri in 1425. Our ancestor immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1735.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The high part of our visit was spending two evenings with Elizabeth & Elizabeth & Christoph Holliger. We had met Elizabeth 19 years before and had a nice visit. We had walked into Elizabeths place of business in 1984, announcing that we "were her cousins, from the US.” We compared our respective geneologies, and had determined that we were distantly related from the 1600's. Elizabeth brought her son and daughter in law, and we joined them for dinner on two occasions. So Christoph and I had the distinct pleasure of dining with three lovely Elizabeths.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Swiss cousins are very charming, intelligent and well educated. Elizabeth is now retired from her long career running Fruettiger-Holliger. Christoph is a Professor of Physics and his wife Elisabeth works in mental health.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christoph is a rennaisance man. In addition to being a PhD, he is the Director of International Relations for the Fachhochscule Aarau, University of Applied Science. He completed a project in Bolivia providing solar hot water and potable water for poor areas and will travel this year to India to work on a project in that country. He built his own energy efficient home, complete with his own sheep, chickens, garden, and home made schnaps. He also weaves and is a skilled artist. Beth was interested in how alike Christoph is to his American cousins.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Seehotel Hallwil is located on the east side of the lake in the town of Meisterschwanden. It has great rooms overlooking the lake, a fine restaurant, and friendly staff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Switzerland is a picture book country, with magnificent mountains, beautiful lakes, great trails, and quaint towns. The country has four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romanch), and many people speak several of these languages plus English.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Country is small, and you see a great deal in a few days. We enjoy simply wandering the country, taking in the sites.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luzerne is a beautiful city, overlooking a beautiful river, lake, and Alps. You can easily spend a few days here. But when the weather is fine, you want to be outside and in the country.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On fine days, we take to the hills, and ride a ski lift up the Alps. Many areas have paths and trails that you can take around the mountains, and back to your car or train station. Make sure you get a usable map, and that you choose a trail that does not exceed your abilities.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Geneva is in the French portion of the country, located on Lake Geneva. We drove into Lake Geneva from France, took the train to Florence for the third and final time to pick up my computer, then back to Geneva.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">APRIL 16, 2003</span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-1454909820828831412013-12-05T05:31:00.002-08:002013-12-05T05:42:53.151-08:00War Protests<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been interesting following the war from Europe.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I (Craig) volunteered to go again, and once again the<br />Marine Corps politely and obliquely indicated that<br />"don't call us, we will call you." Most of my old<br />Squadron has been activated and are in the Gulf.<br /><br />It seems that most of Europe is against the War. I<br />certainly have mixed feelings about it, but the Brits<br />and we end up defending the coalition position against<br />European opinion.<br /><br />On April 16, 2003 Beth and I were in Florence, and<br />happened on an American Anti War Demonstration along<br />the Arno River. There were about 34 protestors, with<br />signs that identified their State, and saying that the<br />War was "NOT IN OUR NAME". <br /><br />They were mostly older; well meaning kind of washed out<br />people. There were more Italian cops at the<br />demonstration than protestors. There were about ten<br />people watching the demonstration. They used a bullhorn<br />to explain their thoughts. One of the speakers told the<br />crowd that the Bush family was tied into terrorist<br />organizations. Nobody in the crowd challenged that, so<br />it was obvious that many were from the lunatic fringe. <br /><br />Another fellow talked about all the burning or theft of<br />rare manuscripts in Baghdad, and how we have lost our<br />patrimony. He neglected to advise that the Iraqis did<br />all of this.<br /><br />I (Craig) thought about telling them what I thought of<br />all this, but it would have been pointless. They have<br />the right to their opinion, and my point of view<br />certainly would not change their views. They even have<br />the right to protest in a foreign country. I think it<br />is pretty tacky that they were doing it while our<br />troops were fighting and dying, but that is their<br />right. However, while if may be their right to protest,<br />it is certainly not right to protest now. I (Beth)<br />allowed Craig to attend the protest. He was allowed<br />only on the condition that he not fight with anyone. I<br />also told him that he needs to remember that unlike<br />Vietnam, we divide the policy maker from the military<br />in our thinking now. <br /><br />The day before I (Beth) was accosted by a person in<br />Geneva, Switzerland, who overheard her at the coffee<br />counter, and asked if she was American. I told him "I<br />am." He then told me to "Piss on Your Bush". I think he<br />was unaware of the double meaning of his comment, and<br />meant the comment only for President Bush. I gave him a<br />piece of my mind, and he backed off. Whatever my<br />political position, I defend my country. <br /><br />We were also in Rome for the 1,000,000-person Peace<br />march last month before the war started. Seems like the<br />entire country was against the war. Just like Vietnam.<br />Two kids gave us dirty stares, Beth stared back, and<br />they flinched. (She scares me; too, so it was not<br />surprising they were scared.) <br /><br />I (Beth) might note that on our return to Italy, after<br />a month, we find the same number of Peace signs as<br />before. Every apartment building has large numbers of<br />Peace flags.<br /><br /> All these protests remind me (Craig) of Vietnam. Three<br />Marine Lieutenants and I saw a very large anti war<br />protest in 69 or 70 in the Mall of Washington DC. The<br />four of us were in OCS, with our bald haircuts, and no<br />one dared give us any grief. But they certainly were<br />watching us.<br /><br />I also saw a very small anti war protest at University<br />of Illinois Chicago campus in 1972. Three protesters<br />marched into a small out door sitting area where a<br />number of us were enjoying a sunny afternoon. A film<br />crew followed them from a Chicago news station. They<br />ranted for a while with their bullhorn. A vet with a<br />red beard starting verbally harassing them. One of the<br />three peaceful protestors slugged the guy. Pretty<br />funny. The campus police separated them, and they<br />announced that they "were marching to city hall". The<br />station put the demonstration on the news that night.<br />They never indicated that there were only three<br />protestors at the event.<br /> <br />Semper Fi<br /><br /></span></div>
C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-26837162962340031072013-12-05T05:29:00.002-08:002013-12-05T05:29:47.846-08:00Dordognne Region of France<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">APRIL 4, 2003</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are in the Dordognne region of France. I (Craig) am </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">typing this on a French Keyboard. The keys are all in </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">different locations, so there will be a lot ofmisspellings.</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(I (Beth) ran it through spell check, but I still make no </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">guarantees.) </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have lots of fun ordering food in France, as my</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">French is worse than my American is. I keep ordering</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">strange food by mistake. Today I ordered sweetbreads</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(aka organs), and pigs feet yesterday. Two days ago it</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">was cow cheeks with lips intact, and goose and chicken</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">livers with virtually everything. Bon Appetite! </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everything is fine by us: We moved up the coast in</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Portugal; Portugal is very nice; low prices, great food</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">etc. We moved back into Spain, and then into the south</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">of France; we are staying in the Horie Hotel for a</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">week; </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The area is alive with castles; Old fighting castles</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">for me, and renascence castles for Beth; This is also</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the place where many of the cave paintings re found</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">from Cro-Magnon man; and we saw some; We are following</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the spring in Europe, moving north with the spring;</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This means the blooming trees are always blooming;</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yellow, purple, and white are the dominant colors.</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone cliffs with castles on the high ground, and</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">lovely buildings built into the cliffs. This is also</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">where Beth's little red hardtop convertible is really</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">nice. With the top down, you really see the mountains,</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">cliffs, castles; </span></div>
C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-59463105518264165122013-12-05T05:28:00.002-08:002013-12-05T05:28:35.042-08:00Knights Templar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knights Templar</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have visited about castles so far that were built or</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">captured by the Knights Templar, which was a band of</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">monk Knights, who kept the area safe for Christians,</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and fought in the crusades. Beth and I are members of</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Knights. I am a knight, and Beth is a dame,</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">although she would rather be a Knight. So it is</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">interesting for us. One castle in Domme France is where</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Knights were imprisoned by the King, and who wrote</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">graffiti on the walls of the dungeon with their</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">fingernails and teeth. We saw that today. The Knights</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Castle in Portugal was a church castle from the 12th</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">century. Some of castles them have moats, drawbridges,</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">turrets, fighting towers. </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We followed this going to the Loire Valley. Again,</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">castles, but this time, chauteau as oppposed to</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">fighting castles.</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We followed Spring to the north and found blooming</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">trees once again were spectacular. However, there real</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">beauty was found in the blooming mustard fields. There</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">were just acres of bright yellow blossoms. Talk about</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">spectacular. </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is a beautiful area. There are a tremendous number</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">of castles that have a history tied to ours as they</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">were once English. We forget that Richard the Lion</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hearted was a Frenchman who laid claim to the French</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throne. </span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Craig still wonders how Joan was able to get the army</span><br class="kix-line-break" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; white-space: pre-wrap;">to follow her.</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-26997830813057063582013-12-05T05:27:00.000-08:002013-12-05T05:27:02.051-08:00Cinque Terre, Italy APRIL 18, 2003<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">APRIL 18, 2003<br class="kix-line-break" /><br />We are in Cinque Terre, which is part of the Italian<br class="kix-line-break" />Mediterranean area. The name means "five lands" and they<br class="kix-line-break" />are linked by trails. Or, you take the "milk-run" train between <br class="kix-line-break" />Genoa and La Spezia, as it is difficult to get cars around. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />We have hiked the trails between the towns. They run along the Mediterranean, and then as high as 1,000 feet above the ocean. Tough hikes.<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />Yesterday I was walking along the high coast, very early by myself, and heard a crashing sound. I thought it was the noisiest deer I ever heard. A bit alarmed,<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />ATTACK OF THE WILD BOARS<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />The two large wild pigs and a piglet burst across the trail, running hard, and very excited. So was I. The baby turned and ran towards me, and so did mama. I yelled and carried on and they ran off. They stayed a few feet above me, and they continued to make a lot of noise. So did I. <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" />There are little castles along the coast. You can hike, take a boat, or take a train between the little towns. Very nice.</span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-36397664874710061102013-12-04T17:38:00.000-08:002013-12-05T17:48:06.642-08:00Stuttgart - Pick Up The Car - Then back to the Riviera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We picked up Beth's car in Stuttgart, Germany. Beth was able to get four big suitcases in the trunk of our little car. She is a miracle worker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During our stay in Stuttgart, we got involved in the Stuttgart-Glasgow football (soccer) game -- a playoff game. Very big deal in Europe. There were 15,000 Scotsmen in Stuttgart, most of them drunk and very loud. They were wearing their team colors, and shouting and singing all over the town. Looks like lots of fun, but close to a riot. We enjoyed it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We drove back south to get some of our luggage and computer in Florence. We stayed in Switzerland one night, then at an Army base in Vicenza, Italy. The computer was still not ready, so we stayed in rather palatial Army Colonel's quarters near Pisa/Livorno, Italy for three days of R & R. We had two bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, patio, etc. It was a very nice base near the beach with enormous pine trees (over sixty feet high with great shade), named for Colonel Darby of WWII Army Ranger fame, I think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Pisa, we visited the leaning tower, and lots of nice hill and beach towns. The computer was never fixed, so we finally gave up, and moved along the coast to visit friends in Santa Magarita, Italy. This is a very nice town. We stayed in Menton, another attractive seaside community on the French/Italian border, near Monte Carlo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then went to Cadaques, Spain, a small, isolated fishing village that takes a long mountain drive to reach. We spent three nice days there. Today we moved down to a town that I can´t remember the name of. Just now someone threw a large cherry bomb into the internet cafe. I presume this is childish harassment, and not terrorism. We have noted a number of nice castles and hill towns as we move down the coast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of them were build by the Knights Templar during the crusades. This is interesting to Beth and I, as we recently joined the Knights. We will check them out and get a few pictures. Our best to all. Adios!</span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-29676395784048285302013-12-04T17:35:00.000-08:002013-12-05T17:56:20.921-08:00Alsace, France - Wine Country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SM-nnUp1taw/R-ZbX2jbihI/AAAAAAAAERM/IDy7uGrHkPQ/w867-h650-no/Beth+%2526+BB+in+Mustard+Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SM-nnUp1taw/R-ZbX2jbihI/AAAAAAAAERM/IDy7uGrHkPQ/w867-h650-no/Beth+%2526+BB+in+Mustard+Field.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a beautiful area of France, running along the foothills of the Vosage Mountains and along the Rhine River. It is on the German border, has a heavy German influence, and has been part of both France and Germany several times. There are beautiful vineyards where we tasted wine for free before deciding on the vintage that we prefer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our favorite parts of Alsace are between the cities of Strasbourg and Mulhouse. We picked up a tourist map of the region, and begin exploring from either end of the region.</span><br />
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Villages. Two of our favorites are Kayserberg and Eguisheim. Kayserberg has a ruined castle a few hundred feet above the Village, a river running through and under the Village, and quaint timbered and stuccoed homes, shops and hotels. Storks nest on the tops of buildings. Vineyards cascade up the hills, and trails interconnect the towns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eguisheim is a quaint town claiming a history of 5,000 years and three ruined castles. The town has a variety of shops.</span><br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-74857191850899430392013-12-04T17:32:00.000-08:002013-12-05T17:48:34.330-08:00Switzerland - Meeting the Relatives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ancestral home of the Hullingers / Hollingers / Holligers - Hallvill, Seegun, Bonisvil Eglisvill, Canton Argau, east of Zurich, north of Luzerne.</span><br />
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This is my favorite part of Switzerland. (Beth points out that Craig's love for this area is in part because his ancestors left the area in 1735 to emigrate to the US. It is unspoiled and uncrowded, and ndiscovered by most tourists.<span style="font-size: large;">The small lake of Hallvil has excursion boats that tour the lake during the day, providing convenient access to all parts of the Lake.</span><br />
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It boasts the charming castle of Hallwyl, located on Lake Hallwil. The castle is small, and easily visited, and boasts excellent English translation phones that work well. The charming towns of Hallvill, Seegun, Bonisvil, and Eglisvill are nearby - these are the towns that the Holligers lived in, beginning with Henri in 1425. Our ancestor immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1735.<br />
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The high part of our visit was spending two evenings with Elizabeth & Elizabeth & Christoph Holliger. We had met Elizabeth 19 years before, and had a nice visit. We had walked into Elizabeths place of business in 1984, announcing that we "were her cousins, from the US.) We compared our respective geneologies, and had determined that we were distantly related from the 1600's. Elizabeth brought her son and daughter in law, and we joined them for dinner on two occasions. So Christoph and I had the distinct pleasure of dining with three lovely Elizabeths.<br />
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Our Swiss cousins are very charming, intelligent and well educated. Elizabeth is now retired from her long career running Fruettiger-Holliger. Christoph is a Professor of Physics and his wife Elisabeth works in mental health.<br />
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Christoph is a rennaisance man. In addition to being a PhD, he is the Director of International Relations for the Fachhochscule Aarau, University of Applied Science. He completed a project in Bolivia providing solar hot water and potable water for poor areas, and will travel this year to India to work on a project in that country. He built his own energy efficient home, complete with his own sheep, chickens, garden, and home made schnaps. He also weaves, and is a skilled artist. Beth was interested in how alike Christoph is to his American cousins.<br />
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The Seehotel Hallwil is located on the east side of the lake in the town of Meisterschwanden. It has great rooms overlooking the lake, a fine restaurant, and friendly staff.<br />
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Switzerland is a picture book country, with magnificent mountains, beautiful lakes, great trails, and quaint towns. The country has four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romanch), and many people speak several of these languages plus English.<br />
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The Country is small, and you see a great deal in a few days. We enjoy simply wandering the county, taking in the sites.<br />
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Luzerne is a beautiful city, overlooking a beautiful river, lake, and Alps. You can easily spend a few days here. But when the weather is fine, you want to be outside and in the country.<br />
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On fine days, we take to the hills, and ride a ski lift up the Alps. Many areas have paths and trails that you can take around the mountains, and back to your car or train station. Make sure you get a usable map, and that you choose a trail that does not exceed your abilities.<br />
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Geneva is in the French portion of the country, located on Lake Geneva. We drove into Lake Geneva from France, took the train to Florence for the third and final time to pick up my computer, then back to Geneva.<br />
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-26342748104722678472013-12-04T17:24:00.000-08:002013-12-05T17:48:47.953-08:00England, Wales, Ireland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We spent several weeks in these attractive countries. Very green and pretty. And very rainy. Rains most of the time. The people are great. Very open and friendly.<br /> <br />We took the ferry from Wales, which is also very green and rainy. We drove around the perimeter of the Island, checking out castles and cute towns.<br /> <br />Many of the port towns were founded by Norwegian Vikings, who conquered and took over.<br /> <br />I am part Norwegian.<br /> <br />Is there no end to the depredations of we Norwegian Vikings?<br /> <br />Obviously an early version of the the US Marine Corps of which I am a proud part.<br /> <br />Saw a special on the Vikings. Researchers are doing genetic testing of males in Ireland and England to see how many are descended from Vikings. Judging from the blue eyes, quite a few. <br /> <br />My middle name is Harlan. The Harlans were part of the Protestant Plantation people from Scotland and England, that the English sent to occupy and take over Ireland. Our branch quickly left to go to America, but one branch who stayed started a large and famous ship building company, Harlan and Wolfe, in Belfast.<br /> <br />The most famous thing that that company did was to build the Titanic. So you can see that I come by my ability to destroy things and screw things up honestly.<br /> <br />We visited the old sod in Lugan, Parish of Snankill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Home of my GGGGGGGGParents George Harlan & Elizabeth Duck , and her parents Ezekeliah Duck and Hannah Hoope. Elizabeth was born on 5 May 1660, and married George on Sep 17, 1678. Four kids born in Ireland, including our GGGGGGGGP, then moved to US in 1687.<br /> <br />There is only one Duck in the Northern Ireland Phonebook, and no Hoopes. There are 22 Harlands.<br /> <br />But get this. There are 30 Hollingers!!!! The Hollingers are from Switzerland. What are they doing here? We Hollingers / Hullingers are like bad pennies, showing up everywhere.<br /> <br />Ireland is very prosperous, and good to see it doing well after so many tough years. But there is still evidence of the troubles in Norther Ireland. Hope they get it all resolved.<br /> <br />We will take the Ferry to Norway in a few days. Our trip is getting short. It is now June 3, and we will head back no later than July 10, unless we get tired and come back sooner. Five months.</span><br />
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We returned from Ireland by ferry to Scotland. We spent a little time in a Kirkcudbright, a nice town that attracted us because it is the McClellan Castle, which is the name of our friend Larry McClellan. We took some pictures for Larry.<br />
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We spent several days in York, a great town with Roman, Anglo Saxon, Viking, and Norman roots. The Vikings took the place over. My mother is Norwegian, and my father has routes in this part of England, so I always enjoy speculating about the possible interaction of my mothers Viking ancestors with my fathers ancestors.<br />
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My many times Great Grandfather was a Navy Captain who backed Cromwell in the civil war. His brother was an Army Captain who backed the King. The Army uncle did the best, getting a large estate and manor house near York in the community of Sutton on the Forest. This Harlan line died out, but the impressive manor and garden are open for visits. Very grand.<br />
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We drove up to Monkwearmouth, a town named for being where Monks were at the mouth of the Wear River. It is now part of the town of Sunderland, on the coast near Newcastle.<br />
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We went to the church where my distant grandfather was baptized in 1650. The church is an ancient building, and was once part of a major monastery where the Venerable Bede wrote the first history of England. Three saints came from this monastery. Vikings sacked the monastery, and took over the region. (Once again, examples of my mothers ancestors harassing my fathers ancestors).<br />
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On to Norway by overnight ferry boat.</div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-13015783580948776592013-10-28T05:23:00.000-07:002013-12-10T17:05:05.476-08:00Norway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taARLekKDCU/RnckJWQaAzI/AAAAAAAAABw/rb8qwYeAf64/w768-h576-no/6.2+Sculpture+and+Church+in+Seljord.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taARLekKDCU/RnckJWQaAzI/AAAAAAAAABw/rb8qwYeAf64/w768-h576-no/6.2+Sculpture+and+Church+in+Seljord.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SELJORD NORWAY (Ancestors Kassa, Venaas)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We took the car by ferry from Scotland to Norway. We drove to Seljord, Norway, in Telemarken in the mountains.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Telemarken is the "authentic mountain area" of Norway, where the Norwegian traditions are stronger. The town is a beautiful little community, nestled in the mountains over a river and lake. There are a number of old Norwegian homes, but a lot of new construction also.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/XiF17SQyHCifQtsFJE6TTzgKlEOT442QQZRDoUZ0FA=w261-h195-p-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/XiF17SQyHCifQtsFJE6TTzgKlEOT442QQZRDoUZ0FA=w261-h195-p-no" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We stayed in a charming old wooden hotel, with a large balcony overlooking the town and mountains. I am writing this from the balcony, with the air beautifully fresh. A very large birch tree is in front of me, with the mountains rising about 1,000 feet above me.. Lots of flowers. The charm was lessened, however, by the large party next door that went on to about 3:30 in the morning. There is a large Icelandic Horse Show in Town, and it appears that some of them are highly motivated party animals. And of course you can hear anything through the wooden walls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food was excellent, and will have to diet for months after the</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> trip to atone for our sins.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The old church was built in 1150. I went to the morning service. I also looked through the graveyard. There were two recent Kassa graves. In much of Europe old grave sites are recycled within about twenty years, so any older graves would have disappeared.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHkRzGsawXkbOZcWI7AxXp9M7W0V5MT8J7FUJOG2l9u4IIxl-DIdXS3HK2m6YMNIlT_TRnYwmd9tMzV6B5dtrBgiowS3SLoITh4JbZ4QVR8FPatkmO3ftRII_KQRfYxIM53594an6kR9o/s1600/Norway+Vik+Sogn+016.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; background-color: white; color: #009eb8; display: inline; outline: none; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHkRzGsawXkbOZcWI7AxXp9M7W0V5MT8J7FUJOG2l9u4IIxl-DIdXS3HK2m6YMNIlT_TRnYwmd9tMzV6B5dtrBgiowS3SLoITh4JbZ4QVR8FPatkmO3ftRII_KQRfYxIM53594an6kR9o/s640/Norway+Vik+Sogn+016.jpg" style="-webkit-border-image: url(data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /><br />The photo above is of Vik, a nice little town on the largest fjord in Norway, with the largest waterfall in the country across the water. I knocked on doors asking for relatives. Turns out we are related to virtually everyone in the town. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gentleman below is a third cousin </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Eirik Tistel. He and his wife </span><span style="line-height: 25px;">Kari Marie </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">graciously drove us around town telling us the names of the farms, virtually everyone of which is in our geneology. He is a dairy farmer and runs a small campground. The homes date back several years and he keeps them as a personal museum. He has antique Norwegian bibles, rifles, a bear trap, and a mold to make multiple spoons out of cow horns.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">BAGN, AURDAL (families Liffengren, Tronrud)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bagn is a sweet town about 110 miles north of Oslo on the east side of the country. It is the home of most of the Liffengren / Tronrud ancestors. It is located on Highway 13, which takes you across the country to the towns of Vik Sogn, where many of the Anderson ancestors are located. The road trip between Vik and Bagn is beautiful, following fjords, mountains, and waterfalls. There are several Stave churches en route, and two ferry boat rides are required to make the one day trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While in Bagn we visited the Liffengren Farm and the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Tronrud Farm. Cousin Aslak Tronrud gave me directions to Cousin Tor & Kari Tronrud farm. The Tronrud farm is in the high pasture area where livestock was taken to graze in the summer. It is now an area of cabins and cottages, and the pine trees are taking over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. Tronrud directed me to the low main Tronrud farm near Bagn. I took pictures of the farm where our great grandmother grew up. The two story white home is perched on a ledge, overlooking a picturesque valley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Liffengren farm is in the south end of town, but it took me a little time to find it. Everyone knew where it was, but I had a tough time following the directions. A taxi cab came along, and he gave me directions, which still confused me. So I jumped in the cab, and gave him his shortest ever fare, about 200 feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cab driver took me to a home that he said all the drivers knew as the Liffengren farm. This was confirmed by the sign on the mail box structure that said Liffengren. I talked to the current owner, who graciously showed me a 1904 portrait of the Liffengren family in front of the house. The house itself is a nice two story house, painted red, and it appears that the farm used to go down to the river. Route 13 is a two lane road that appears to split the farm from the River. If you are looking for the farm, locate the red church across the river in the south end of Bang. The home is directly across the river from the church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The church is very attractive, with a graveyard around the church. There are names of families connected with our family, but in Norway, as in much of Europe, graves are recycled after a number of years, say 20 to 40 years. So there are no graves from our ancestors unless someone paid to keep the grave site over the years, or if there was no need for additional burials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also visited the Stave church above Bagn, in Reingly. This is the church that the Tronruds attended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beth and I went to dinner with cousin Aslak Tronrud and his fiancee Linda Davidson friend in Oslo. Oslo is a beautiful city on the fjord, with numerous boats coming in and out the harbor overlooked by great restaurants. We had a great time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SELJORD NORWAY (Ancestors Kassa, Venaas)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Went to Seljord, Norway, in Telemarken in the mountains. Telemarken is the "authentic mountain area" of Norway, where the Norwegian traditions are stronger. The town is a beautiful little community, nestled in the mountains over a river and lake. There are a number of old Norwegian homes, but a lot of new construction also. We stayed in a charming old wooden hotel, with a large balcony overlooking the town and mountains. I am writing this from the balcony, with the air beautifully fresh. A very large birch tree is in front of me, with the mountains rising about 1,000 feet above me.. Lots of flowers. The charm was lessened, however, by the large party next door that went on to about 3:30 in the morning. There is a large Icelandic Horse Show in Town, and it appears that some of them are highly motivated party animals. And of course you can hear anything through the wooden walls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food was excellent, and we will be dieting for months to atone for our sins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The old church was built in 1150. I went to the morning service. I also looked through the graveyard. There were two recent Kassa graves. In much of Europe old grave sites are recycled within about twenty years, so any older graves would have disappeared.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our Ancestors name from Seljord include:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em></em></strong><strong><em>Jemns Kjetilson Venaas 1742-1831</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Guro Steinerdatter 1754</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Ole Jenssen Vennas 1787-1854</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Margit Thorsdatter Kassa 1789-1854</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Jorgen Kassa 1833-1898</em></strong><em></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We called Olaf Kassa who is the Public Works Director of the County at 35 05 01 97 in Seljord, and by all accounts a friendly and knowledgeable individual, but were not able to locate him. Will try later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MAKING THIS TRIP</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If any relative is interested in making this trip, I would suggest flying into Oslo, renting a car, and driving the loop to Bang, Vik, and Seljord. It is a one day drive between each one of the communities. You could easily do this trip in one week, or take two or three weeks if you want to do a lot more research and make more contacts.</span></div>
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C Hullingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869375690779649124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6639778128219940963.post-32657522179462779262012-12-05T17:38:00.000-08:002013-12-10T17:07:12.283-08:00We Are Back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are back June 25, 2003</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beth Ruyle and Craig Hullinger are back after our around the world sabbatical. We had a great time. We enjoyed hearing from our friends while we were gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, time to go back to work. Thanks for following along with us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110129761917727570893/albums/5077566736226189985?banner=pwa" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Click to see our sabbatical photos</span></a></span></span></div>
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