Stratford-Upon-Avon

I'm not trying to provide a travel guide merely to show my loved ones (and anyone else interested) the the things that I have seen and experienced. England has such great history and so many magnificent stories - it is hard not to want to see them all!!!

Stratford-Upon-Avon is the birthplace of a man we all know and love,

William Shakespeare!!!

Here we are, Cindy and I bracing for our lives on the River Avon in the heart of rural England! Yeah um, we can't swim and that was so terrifyingly fun!

This is the house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564. SHUT UP! I know, right?


Shakespeare was also laid to rest in this little town at the Holy Trinity Church. It is a wonderful place to visit. I think I will come back...

the White Cliffs of Dover

Do you remember the film Princess Bride? Well the White Cliffs of Dover (behind Bjorn, Bren and I) reminded me of the cliffs of insanity only not as dramatic. I know, I'm sorry, the pic doesn't do them justice!

Turns out they are chalk cliffs made up of small sea creatures and coral from the bottom of a long gone tropical ocean. And they aren't so much white anymore as they are gray. But they were stunning nonetheless.

And atop the cliff was built a castle with secret wartime tunnels to follow. The secret wartime tunnels were used as a base to plan vital work in World War II.

Interesting stuff man... In the background is the Keep where we learned about how the castle was prepared for the arrival of the great Henry VIII in 1539.

Amsterdam in March!

When Aline & Mark came to visit me in London we took a little side trip to none other than Amsterdam. And man, I gotta tell you Amsterdam is a beautiful and quirky town. Bikes everywhere, canals and of course coffee shops!!!

Here I am on my bike that I rode around town in. Yes, I was so scared but it was so much fun.

This was the magnificent sight on the courtyard of the Van Gough Museum. Did you know he shot himself in the end for fear that he had nothing more to give to the world...

"Countless friends and acquaintances have been taken off to a dreadful fate. Night after night, green and gray military vehicles cruise the streets... It's impossible to escape their clutches unless you go into hiding."

-Anne Frank, 19 November 1942

This is the actual house where Anne Frank wrote her diary whilst she hid. It was a trip walking inside and witnessing such history. It makes you wonder about how history truly does repeat itself.