Noelle here...
Here is some more info at this stage of the game, a bit redundant from what Steve O just said, but I stayed up late last night writing this, couldn't log on the internet (not euro wireless savvy enough I guess) he beat me to the punch, I post it anyway.
We are here at the world cup mountain bike race, downhill in Schladming Austria. Steve O had had his fill of castles and museums and decided we needed a sporting event for a change. (I think Fischer was feeling the same way). He did a little research and found this weekend full of races not far from where we were in Salzburg. Schladming is a groovy little resort town surrounded by the Alps, with the Dachstein (one of the tallest peaks in Austria) towering over it. It has rained quite a bit the last few days so the mountain was muddy, but the races were super fun to watch. And, in the end Steve O’s people- GT riders Brian Lopes and Jill Kintner, (both Americans) won, undefeated.
Speaking of bike races... we are busting out north to Belgium tomorrow to catch a stage of the Tour de France before we head for Denmark on Friday. We decided we’ve come too far to miss out on this event even if it takes us a few km out of our way. I’m a littlle upset I don’t get to see Lance riding, but I’m keeping my hopes up in perhaps seeing him as a VIP on the course (I can dream can’t I?) So watch the Tour on Tuesday and we’ll try and lure the American cameras our way with some kind of silly behavior, or outfit. (somebody TiVo that stage for us...)
The last week and a half have been fun, (and wet) with kids so happy to finally be with their long-lost Danish/American friends. The new level of chaos was a bit comical, but we made it through with lots of giggles, loads of muddy wet clothes, a few tantrums, 3 castle tours, (one tour included the torture chamber) a sound of music bike tour in and around Salzburg, one lost child by Mozart's house in Salzburg, getting familiar with just about every playground that came within sight in Germany and Austria- especially important to stop if it has a "barf machine" (oversized sit-and-spin spin toy) and trolley.
The Ream family are making their way to Vienna today, and off we go to Belgium...
Okay Kipper is right no photos of me.
We have been reading “The Diary of Anne Frank” at night with the kids. On Quinn’s 11th birthday we got to visit the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. It was a powerful thing to see the “Secret Annex” while reading the book. We are learning about World War ll, the Nazis and what it meant to the entire world. It also a great starting point to talk about stuff going on today.
When you watch the Tour de France on TV you always see the lucky kids that get the water bottles that the riders throw off to the side of the road. Sometimes your are only lucky enough to get remains of a rider's lunch. Lucky Fish with apple strudel or something wrapping.
It is Holland. It is The Netherlands. They are Dutch. Anyway, one of my new favorite Euro Cities.
We hooked up with the Reams, our Danish friends, in Germany. We did Germany for a while them moved on to Austria.
