Camp Registrations open on January 2nd, 2011!

We are excited for the upcoming summer: great staff, great speakers, great food, new games, new themes!

Visit our website to discover camp dates, information for parents, pricing, and to register online: www.sonlightcamp.org

We were talking with Steph's neighbor today about Obi (Slovenia's version of The Home Depot) because she wanted to get some paint for her dining room chairs. His response was classic:

"Obi, where you are always welcome."
"Where men gather."

Also, a store-front in Radovljica today said in big, bold letters:

"We are opened!"

We are spending the Holidays in Slovenia at my sister's apartment in Radovljica. It is currently cold (-4celcius) and trying to spit some snow. We had a low-key Christmas yesterday, with a yummy dinner and the movie "A Muppets Christmas Carol". Today, we explored the Christmas markets on the waterfront in Ljubljana and went to Stephanie's evening church service, which was a Christmas musical performance. Pretty cool socializing with brothers and sisters in Christ in a different language, yet worshiping the same God.

Funny things we've read or heard in English:

"Your train is being provided."
I overheard in a German conversation between two people "itchin' bitchin'"
Some dude trying to sell me flowers on the street said, "Three women is too dangerous for you, but two women is good."
The main grocery store here in Slovenia is "Tus", but pronounced "toosh" like your backside.

Vienna, Austria!

Kate and I are with my family now in Vienna, Austria! It is decorated to the T with Christmas stuff and American Christmas music is playing everywhere. We have consumed a lot of meat, coffee, and fancy desserts while tasting our way through Vienna. We have also toured some well-known museums, and have seen original work by Picasso, Michelangelo, the Hafsburg Palace, and the treasury of the Habsburg dynasty. It is cold here, but did not deter us from visiting all of the outdoor markets and booths filled with handmade goods. Merry Christmas from Europe!

* this is a photo of a subway ticket in Vienna. I thought it was funny due to the fact that it says "one fahrt" on the upper left-hand corner. I, as an American, pronounced it "one fart".

Well, it took two days to finally meet up with my family (details later, thanks to orbitz screwing up a bunch of stuff), but we are in Vienna, Austria! Freezing cold, but good to be with family and speaking English with somebody else.

Pics from our last full day in Portugal. We visited Obidos, an old town surrounded by a 14-th century fortress wall to protect it from the Moors.


Aqueduct

Cherry liquor in a chocolate, edible tiny cup.

Obidos, Portugal

We are having a blast in Portugal. So much history, natural beauty, friendly people to swap stories with, and yummy food. We had dinner at the hostel tonight, and as a result, met some great people from around the world. Castle Rock, CO is such a small piece of the world pie.

The weather is chilly, and the wind-chill is miserable. Kate and I are enjoying vacation, and looking forward to being with my family in Slovenia in a few days!

Cascais, Portugal on the Atlantic

Yummy Portuguese pastries

Portuguese pastry factory

Yes, the Golden Gate Bridge has a sister!

Monastery in Belem

Moorish Castle in Sintra

Pena Palace Park

Pena Palace in Sintra

I guess I could never be a royal guard.

Pena Palace in Sintra

Sao Jorge Castle

Lisbon, Portugal from Sao Jorge Castle

Mosaic sidewalks built by prison workers

Dried whole fish or chicken anyone?

We traveled all over Lisbon today by foot. Castle Sao Jorge, the Alfama, places I can't spell, rode an historic trolley, ate Portugal pastries, drank a Coca-Cola, discovered the nearest Foot Locker (phew!), and enjoyed time eploring off the beaten path with Kate. We think we are going to visit Sintra tomorrow and the Pena Palace.

Greetings from Lisboa, Portugal!

I felt like this was a giant goo-ball of marshmellows.

Rossio Square

Biaxa shopping area