10th Anniversary!

Ultimate European  

Today marks the 10th anniversary of an adventure of a lifetime, and of meeting Mr.H!  If I still had a VHS player, I would watch the video of our adventure, created by the meticulous recordings of the Fraser Brothers.  Instead, I've pulled out our photo albums to show MissE and she says things like "Look!  Mama, there you are with the Stinks (Sphinx)?" or even better, "Can we go there when I am a big girl?"  (MissE already has a few stamps in her passport!)

Last year, at 34 weeks pregnant, I wrote Feeling Nostalgic with a few highlights of the Ultimate European.  Given this is the 10th anniversary of meeting Mr.H, and the sighs I get when I tell people how we met (really, it's not that romantic) I should write our story:

It was a warm night in the Sahara Desert, our camels, both named Bob Marley, were drawn together like our souls... Okay, I'm have a bit of fun.  Although we did ride camels, and they were both named Bob Marley.  In reality, the first sentence (if you will) I said to my now husband was "I pity the fool".  Yes, it's true!  Mr. H was wearing a Mr.T tee!  He still has it too!

Fast forward to day 20: Athens to Cairo and a few of us were excitedly talked "shop" (read: Lonely Planet's Egypt) over McGreeks at the airport (so yummy!), then slowly it was Mr.H and I, combing over the travel guide on the freezing train to Aswan.  We got to know a few bits and bobs about each other over the next very exhausting days in Egypt.  As we ticked off The Sphinx, Pyramids of Giza, Egyptian Museum, sailing on the Nile, Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak, and snorkelling The Red Sea, one night, we sat next to each at dinner and we realised we enjoyed each other's company!

I call this the photo of what started it all...
Hurghada, Egypt

Day 28: Canakkale We spent the evening on a beach of the Dardanelles until the early morning, talking... and haven't stopped since. On  Day 35: Budapest We spent the day exploring the beautiful city of Budapest together, with the highlight of getting lost in the Labyrinth!  It was here that I got this niggle in my mind that told me I was going to marry this man!  Yes, in 11 days I knew!  We didn't spend much time apart after that.

Budapest

Hofbrauhaus Munchen, Germany

Edam, Netherlands

Day 46: London When we said our goodbyes, I wasn't sure if I would see Mr.H again.  I already figured he would be "the one that got away".  But after arriving back in the US, I didn't expect for Mr.H to call me from Dublin and ask to see me!  I couldn't say "YES!" fast enough!  We spent 5 days together in San Francisco, and when we said our goodbyes this time, we knew it wouldn't be for long.

We spent the next 2 years, while I was completing my Masters program, flying between Sydney and San Francisco or Washington, DC to see each other.  When I graduated The George Washington University, Mr.H and I celebrated with 5 days at Disneyworld where he proposed at sunset overlooking the Savannah at Animal Kingdom Lodge (coincidentally, we had an African safari honeymoon!).

Monsters Inc (MGM Studios, Disneyworld)

Where we got engaged!  On our balcony overlooking the Savannah
(Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disneyworld)

And the rest is....

Happily Ever After!

Feeling nostalgic...

Maybe it's the third trimester hormones but lately I have been feeling nostalgic.  Today marks the 9th anniversary of the trip of a lifetime.  I set out to find myself, and ended up finding my husband and making lifelong friendships along the way!

2002
It was the Year of Me.  My New Year's Resolution that year was about putting myself first and foremost, and being, dare I say it, selfish.  Ultimately it was the best resolution I ever made.

After accepting admission to The George Washington University for a Masters of Arts, I decided to spend the months prior to re-entering student life by travelling.  My parents enjoy travelling (last year they spent 3 weeks in South America, and the year prior 2 weeks in Russia), and growing up my sister and I spent a great deal of time abroad, instilling the travel bug in me. My parents were nothing but supportive of my need to see the world, if not a little jealous as my European itinerary also included 9 days in Egypt.  But first, I started my travels in May with 3 weeks in Japan and a week with extended family in Hong Kong.  My parents liked that so much, they tagged along!  I then had 2 weeks to pack for my 7 week adventure and my move to Washington, DC (I would only have 10 days in California prior to my cross-country move).

June 21, 2002
On my 23rd birthday, I got on an airplane, spent the 8 hour flight to London reading my Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring guidebook (you think of would of read it earlier?) and SLR camera manual (still don't know how to use it properly) with both trepidation and excitement for the weeks ahead.

17 Countries at Breakneck Speed

It begins...

This is The Royal National Hotel in London.  It's where I started and ended, and it was here, that I first saw my husband.  Although we spoke to each other in passing a few times in several different countries, it wasn't until 3 weeks in, in Egypt, we had the opportunity to have a conversation with each other and well, the rest is history as July 9, marks our 6th wedding anniversary!

While re-telling all the experiences and stories and posting the hundreds of photos would be blog overkill, here are a few of my favourite experiences and memories:

The famous Monte Carlo Casino

What a funny, funny night thanks to 2 Mai Tai's.  I convinced one of my very good friend, Miss R, to order a Mai Tai with me, craving a taste of Hawaii.  Well, these were the strangest Mai Tai's- they were bright red, and looked more like a Vodka Cranberry!  At Euros $15 for that tiny glass in my hand, no matter how dreadful it was (and it was dreadful), I was drinking it.  I don't remember much of the rest of the night except that I was asked by several people not to breathe on them because they might catch fire! 

Athens, Greece

The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

#1 on my Bucket List was a visit to The Pyramids of Giza.  One of the most amazing experiences of my life was the Sound and Light Show at sunset (a tear or two might of been shed...).  The 9 days were fast-paced, sightseeing in >42c heat and travelling by night (guarded convoys (although not sure how much protection our always sleeping escort with his AK47 locked and loaded in the seat next to him was) and freezing overnight trains (DO NOT use the toilet, even while travelling First Class).

Hurghada, Egypt

Known as the Las Vegas of Egypt, Hurghada was a nice way to end our tour of Egypt.  Days were spent snorkeling in the Red Sea, and nights at a local cafe smoking hookahs until the early morning hours.  On a snorkeling trip in the crystal blue waters, a pod of wild dolphins swam by our boat... it was a mass exodus off the boat to chase the dolphins who were more than happy to 'play' with us.

Tyrol, Austria

I know you are wondering where photos of 'us' are.  Well, this is one of my favourites.  We stayed in this little place in Austria next to a church and a barn (Moo!).  Every afternoon, beer steins and shots of Schnapps were flowing and oom-pah music was, well, oom-pahing.

Next year will be our 10th anniversary of the Ultimate European and there has already been talk of a reunion...

Welcome to the Blogosphere!

Hi. I'm Rebecca and this is my first post in the blogosphere.  It's exciting and confusing for the not-so-web-saavy.  Here's my family (minus my furry-child):


Eloise, 12 months (Eaton Photography)

Here's what you've missed:
American girl meets Australian boy on a whirlwind tour of Europe and Egypt and within 2 days American girl knew she had met her husband, but Australian boy takes longer. 

Contiki Group Photo, The Sphinx and Pyrimids of Giza

Down Under or Bust!  Three years later, American girl packs her bags for Sydney, Australia and returns to San Fransico only to say "I do".

The Omni Hotel, San Francisco

We welcomed, Sabi, our furrybaby, after I returned from a holiday in India.  Sabi, is derived from the Tsonga word 'tsave', meaning 'fear' or 'danger'.  Sabi is probably more fearful of you than you would be of her!  We chose this name to remind us of our honeymoon at The Sabi Sabi Game Lodge.



Sabi at 2 years old

Game drive Sabi Sabi Game Reserve

In January 2009, our beautiful little girl, Eloise Sydney, was born and it's been nothing but trial and error, fun and lots of love.

Eloise, 15 days

Eloise at Manly Beach (20 months)