Train Trips!

I was checking online to see about how long the train trips would be from each major city we are going to. Below is the information that i found, and it look like we will be taking mostly overnight trips from most of these cities.

3 Hours from London, UK to Paris, France
4 hours from Paris, France to Bordeaux, France
18 Hours from Bordeaux, France to Madrid, Spain
5 hours from Madrid, Spain To Barcelona, Spain
14 hours from Barcelona, Spain to Monaco, Monaco (South of France)
16 Hours from Monaco, Monaco (South of France) to Interlaken, Switzerland
13 Hours from Interlaken, Switzerland to Rome, Italy
4 Hours fron Rome, Italy to Ancona, Italy
Ferry from Ancona, Italy to Split, Croatia
5 Hours from Ancona, Italy to Venice, Italy
11 to 12 hours from Venice, Italy to Prague, Czech Republic
Have to stop in Vienna, Austria
12 Hours from Prague, Czech Republic to Munich, Germany
10 Hours from Munich, Germany to Berlin, Germany
12 Hours from Berlin, Germany to Amsterdam, Netherlands
5 Hours from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Brussels, Belgium
3 hours from Brussels, Belgium to Paris, France
3 Hours from Paris, France to London, UK

-Tommy-

Banking Answer

No, Grandma will be sending you deposit slips within the next week.
So start saving!

Bankin...

Ok, so how do we do these deposits into our bank accounts that grandma set up for us. I dont have a job yet but when i get one i need to know how to do this thing. Dont get me wrong i know how to make deposits but are these under our name? Or do we send grandma a check?

AND THE WINNER IS...

Well at last...my pick for the winner...is Bo. I always have had a soft spot for really good brown nosing, and I've rarely seen brown nosing done this well! I do believe that each of us (Grandma, DeeDee and myself) will be picking our own winners. So there's still hope for copyright stealing historians and Flamingo loving Utubers. Of course there will always be debate...like the fact that the Matterhorn isn't exactly near Interlaken, but who cares...this is a subjective contest and we get to pick who we want...besides, I really liked the Abominable Snowman thing.

Bo, I've been to Interlaken and there are few places in the world you will find as beautiful as this. I would suggest that you go to Blockbuster and rent "The Eiger Sanction", it's a Clint Eastwood movie. Besides the fact that it's a classic and a great film, it's based on Interlaken and more specifically...the Eiger Mountain, which along with the Jungfru and the Monch are just outside Interlaken.

But on a little more serious note, I do appreciate the effort that each of you put into your essay's. And I agree with Bo, I believe you will find amongst all the beauty and excitement of Europe that your greatest reward will be the lasting bond and strengthened relationship with each other.

My congratulations...and of course...there will be..."more games to came"!

Much love,

Uncle Tommy

Bo's Blog pt. 2

I know that the deadline has passed, and honestly I am not writing this to try and win money for the trip. After thinking more about the trip and having a couple of conversations with some friends about what we will be doing, I had another thought of what I am most looking forward to.

Though we will be seeing some amazing things, learning some amazing history, and meeting some amazing people, the thing I am MOST looking forward to is spending 50 days traveling the world with 3 of my closest friends. It is no mystery that the Blessed 9 are no ordinary group of cousins, and this trip is only going to bring Tim, Sam, Tommy and myself ever closer.

We have no illusions of a conflict-free trip, and we all know there will be times of testing and frustration for each of us. There will be arguments, some hurt feelings, and potentially some punches thrown (we will try to avoid this one, but we're guys, come on). What is exciting is, we all know that this time together is only going to make us closer.

After 2 years of praying, planning, saving and fund raising, we will finally be able to enjoy the fruit of all of our hard work. I cannot wait to learn more about my cousins, myself and the Lord as we experience life in real and raw way together. 50 days of eating, sleeping, laughing, and crying together, our relationship will be taken to a different level.

This trip is going to be a turning point in all of our lives, and is going to further solidify the tightly knit relationship that we have known all of our lives.

procrastinator sam :D

Well im sitting here watching the terminator and i just realized what time it was. I know its to late but I still want to get my input in. I would really like to visit a place called Camargue in Arles, France. I looked it up and it looks really cool. Let me show you some videos i found. Make sure you watch them all.



Then i saw another cool flamingo video...but i dont think its in Camargue.



Surfing in Camargue!...please pardon the music it just so happend to be on this video.




Now for a look at what goes on in Camargue.



Well looks fun to me...i have to get ready for homecoming now...wish me luck.

Bo's Dream Location

Of all of the things that I am anticipating from our trip to Europe, the number one place I am most looking forward to visiting is Switzerland. While I can't wait to see and learn about all of the history and tradition of the different countries we will be visiting, the sheer beauty of Switzerland has been drawing me since we started kicking around the idea of this trip. I mean seriously... the Matterhorn?! I have been to Disneyland many times, but have a strong feeling the Matterhorn there is nothing compared to the real thing.



The city of Interlaken is one city that I cannot wait to see. While we have not set our exact itinerary, I would love to be able to take part in some of the extreme activities available, including white water rafting or maybe even bungee jumping! I also know that I want to find the time to take a swim in either lakes of Brienz or Thun. (Lake Thun seen below)



Apparently, from Interlaken we will have the opportunity to take the tram up the Matterhorn, which is supposed to be the most breathtaking place in all of Europe (according to a couple of trusted sources). The thought walking through the streets of cities like Berne (see below) makes me so excited, I often times feel like I won't be able to last another 2 years (21 months actually, but who's counting?)



So while this may not be an overly exciting blog about activities or things to see, I know that of everything there is to do and see in Europe, Switzerland is on the top of my list. Let's just hope we don't run into any Abominable Snowmen while we're there... or maybe that is just in the Disney version?



-Bo

Spain: Where Countryside and Coast Collide!!

…Sitting on the beach, drinking fine wine, all with beautiful rolling hills behind me…

O, hello. I didn’t see you there. I was just daydreaming about the wonderful country of Spain and what I believe will be the most AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL country we will visit. The history of Spain is very ancient and complex because it dates back very far:

Under the Roman Empire Hispania flourished and became one of the empire's most important regions. During the early Middle Ages it came under Germanic rule. Later, nearly the entire peninsula came under Muslim rulers. Through a long process Christian kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, which was finally extinguished in 1492. That year Columbus reached the Americas, the beginnings of the first global empire. Spain became the strongest kingdom in Europe in the sixteenth and first half of the seventeenth centuries but continued wars and other problems eventually led to a diminished status. In the middle decades of the twentieth century it came under a dictatorship, under which it went through many years of stagnation and then a spectacular economic revival. In 1986 it joined the European Union and has experienced an economic and cultural renaissance.

But enough about this intriguing history lesson, and let’s get back to the number one thing that I want to do while in Spain. There is not just one thing, but two. Number one: CHILL… and simply that. I want to relax and enjoy the fine countryside in comfort, as much as you can have when you’re going broke and only with a backpack. The second is to go see a bull fight. An intense, teeth clinching, real bull fight. Since I have been advised that I am not allowed to go to The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly known, I feel that Spain would not be complete without seeing an event with a bull.