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Saturday, September 1, 2018

Fern Lake

Not having hiked in several weeks due to emergency home renovation, we decided to do a pretty easy hike this weekend, Fern Lake. The hike seemed pretty easy on paper. There were several places we could hike to and turn around if we weren't up for going all the way to Fern Lake, and it was only supposed to be 1400 feet of elevation gain. The total hike ended up being 7.6 miles, 2,100 vertical feet, and took 3 hours and 40 minutes to complete. Since it was nearly a month since our last hike, this one was a little tough, but not too bad.

We had hiked on this trail before, just not this side of it. A few months ago when we made it to Odessa Lake, we were on the side of the trail that started at Bear Lake. We didn't realize it until a hiker asked us a question about the trail we came from and said he was on his way back from Odessa Lake. I guess the park isn't as big as we thought it was!

Flat TrailChilly MorningYellow FieldGreen AspenArch RockPatch of DeathFern LakeNotchtop MountainBeachClear WaterColorful PineFern FallsDebrisClouds Rolling InThe PoolDown the Thompson

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Mike's Camera Day at the Botanical Gardens

Mike's Camera was doing a lens demo day at the Denver Botanical Gardens. Katherine and I had been to several of Mike's Lens Demo Days in the past, but all of them were at the Denver Zoo, which is starting to get a little old. I found out that they were doing one at the Botanical Gardens and I knew we had to go and try it out!

It was exactly the same as the zoo - you rent anything you want, completely free, but it was a completely different subject. Unfortunately, they didn't have a ton of macro lenses, but we did get to rent one Canon 100mm Macro lens for an hour which was perfect for where we were.

All in all, we stayed for almost 3 hours and rented several different lenses while keeping the Mark IV camera bodies.

BlueIn For The LandingFilled With FlowersWhite BallsRed DaisiesPurple TipsIn the FlowersThrough the FlowersPinkDyingDragonflyDrops of WaterVibrantYellow Blurred DaisiesBeeHairy SeedBumbleCranberriesReady to BloomField of DaisiesArborFocusOUtlined PetalsSmall BellsHolding OnRed BackdropLong StemGapMinty BeeAlready BloomedTall TrunkBonsai GardenFuzzyFlowers EverywhereIn the GardensLooking AwayThe OfferingTrippleLilly Bowls

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Anniversary in Paris

We arrived in Paris late in the afternoon on our anniversary. I can't think of a more romantic place to be than Paris on our 2 year anniversary! However, we were completely exhausted from basically being awake for more than 24 hours, but we checked into our hotel and started to wander the city. Our hotel was just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, so that was our destination for the evening. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and wandered over to the park.

Notre DameRose WindowEiffel TowerBokehTall and BrightSparklingFrom a Distance

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Full Day in Paris

Today was our first and only full day in Paris. We wanted to wander the city and see as much as we could in the short amount of time that we had. We knew we didn't have enough time to sufficiently do all of Paris, but we saw everything we wanted to and more!

Army MuseumDomeGuarding the MuseumPont Alexandre III BridgeSeine RiverEiffel Tower From a DistancePyramidKatie at the LouvreThroneHorsesArc de Triomphe de CarrouselObelisk of LuxorGolden PointsPetit PalaisBack to the BridgeInside the Eiffel TowerAbove the CityWay Up HighCity PanoramaEiffel Tower PortraitArmy Museum AgainSeine RiverArc de TriompheStatuesLooking UpTomb of the Unknown SoldierGreen LightVaulted CeilingsNotre DameColorful Rose WindowHoly DoorsClock TowerEiffel Tower At NightLast Night In Paris

Monday, September 17, 2018

First Day in Antwerp

We made it to Antwerp in the afternoon after a long train ride from Paris. We got checked in to our Airbnb and wandered the city just a little bit before turning in for the night.

Peter Paul Rubens Cathedral of Our Lady AntwerpBelgium WafflesOn the PierSun Setting

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Leisure Day in Antwerp

We decided to take it easy and just hang out in Antwerp again on our second day in Belgium.

Elfde GebodAntwerp SkylineBack to the RiverCruise ShipTypical SeagullOrnate Train StationWaffles

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Amsterdam

We took a train from our home base in Antwerp to the Netherlands. We got to Amsterdam in the late morning and had a blast wandering the city. We took a small river boat tour which was incredibly detailed and an amazing experience! We even got to ride through the Red Light District, which was totally bizarre and different from anything that we have here in the states. Between all the shopping, walking the canals, and riding the canals, Amsterdam was probably my favorite big city that we visited while we were in Europe.

2 TowersRoyal PalaceZucchiniFlowers on the RiverDown the CanalWesterkerk OrganHouseboatsOn the RiverOn the WaterBridgeArchangel MichaelCarpenterDrawbridgeSialing AlongMontelbaanstoren TowerThe Leaning SistersBasilica of St. NicholasThrough the TreesAmsterdam PanoramaMan in the TowerRembrandtHouses along the RiverBroken GlassNational MonumentNot SquareKatieTime To Leave

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Bruges

Today we decided to take a train down to Bruges. We got to Bruges early and everything wasn't open quite yet. We sat in the main square and waited for everything to open. Luckily, we didn't have to wait very long, but we figured that things would have been open in the 8 o'clock hour!

FlagsJan Breydel and Pieter de ConinckPoortersloge TowerJan Van EyckPoorterslogeCrestON the BridgeBasilica of the Holy BloodIntricate AltarDetailed GlassTown HallMarktMarkt PanoramaUp the BelfryHeilige MagdalenakerkCity Hall From AboveSquare MonumentBelfry47 BellsGiant Music BoxOld BellImportant DoucmentsBreydel & ConinckBusy StreetsBelgium ChocolateSt. SalvatorOrgan3 WindowsBruges Train Station

Friday, September 21, 2018

Full Day in Antwerp

Today we decided to stay in Antwerp and wander the city a bit. We went into a few churches and wandered the mall a little bit.

Cathedral of Our LadyChoir StallsVirgin MaryMore Stained GlassAltarLighting the ChurchSaints in the WindowPray For UsCryptOld TombTall SeatbacksAngels Playing MusicRose WindowPainted GlassCrown of ThornsModelA Boy and His DogMaryTall AltarWindows Above the OrganEscapementMore PipesDifferent Colored MarbleTrain StationClockPigeon Feeder

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Arriving in Salzburg

We made it to Salzburg in the late afternoon and after finding our Airbnb, we stumbled upon a St. Rupert's day festival and Mozart's birth house.

WienerschnitzelSt. RupertPretzlesOn the BridgeMozartDoors To His HouseDown the StreetMarstallschwemme

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Innsbruck

On our first real full day in Austria, we decided to take a train down to Innsbruck. Innsbruck is a ski town, but since it is the middle of the summer, we didn't get a chance to do any skiing. Instead, we wandered the town and took a gondola up to the top of the ski hill and walked around a little bit.

It was a little difficult in the city because there was a massive bike race going on. We had to walk excessively around parts of the bike course and could only cross the roads in certain areas. It was incredibly obnoxious, but we eventually found our way to the funicular to get to the gondola to take us up the mountain.

Innsbruck was by far the most breathtaking place we visited. At the top of the ski mountain, you had amazing panorama views that I can only describe as something that you would see only after hiking 15 miles into the middle of the mountains. Although hiking was an option, we decided to save our energy and take the gondola. I'm not quite sure how anyone could hike up the mountain, but then again, people do crazy stuff like that in Colorado in the summertime.

Triumphpforte1765 WeddingHospital ChurchSt Anne’s ColumnFoggy DayKatieSpitalskircheThe Golden RoofUp the City TowerVordere BrandjochspitzeCathedral of St. JamesCity PanoramaGolden RoofBehind the FenceGolden BallCathedral of St. JamesRumer SpitzeHechenbergEwige AnbetungHungerburg FunicularAcross the InnSteepHazy CitySteep MountainSki JumpsLunch on the MountainWhite MountainsShades of GreenPeaks EverywhereWhite, Blue, and GreenHafelekar PeakAlong the WallGreenShadowsIn the Nordkette RangeDark CloudsSummitQuiet PlaceValleyLimestoneSpikesPostcard PerfectAlong the WallBike CourseAvalance PreventersCable CarView of the CityHungerburg Funicular StationInn River

Monday, September 24, 2018

Munich

Today we ventured into Germany! We took a train from our home base in Salzburg, Austria, to Munich, Germany. Our first point of interest was the Dachau concentration camp. The concentration camp wasn't nearly as depressing as we anticipated it being, although it was very sad. Afterwards, we went to down to see the city of Munich, went up a clock tower, and spent some time in some Christmas shops so Katherine could get an ornament.

Dachau Memorial SiteBunkersChessMalaria BagArbeit Macht FreiPath Along the BunkersPublic Bathrooms1944-1945 BunksCommon Room (1933)Sleeping Quarters After 1938Barrack Room 1933-1937No More BunkersBunkers As Far As You Can SeeSharpKrematoriumCrematorium Gas ChamberBrausebadOriginal CrematoriumCrematoriumOld DoorUnknown PrisonerDo Not ForgetChapelJewish ChapelLight Through the HoleOld WindowsPolitical PrisonersDistressed WallsCounty CourtSt. Michael KircheRounded CeilingsJesus on the CrossBright Red FlowersGlockenspielFrauenkircheFountainFat FishAlong the Church FrontOld Town HallPainted CeilingsPInk ColumnsFacade3:30 In the AfternoonDowntown MunichShaped Like a CrossGlockenspielGlockenspiel TowerSt. PeterGoldenPipesHung on the CrossThrough the Flowers

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Salsburg

On our third full day staying in Austria, we decided to explore the town that we were staying in. We had a full day planned of several places in Salzburg, including a place where Mary Poppins was filmed, churches, and a castle.

Do Re MiKissing a UnicornPegasus FountainLong PathRows of FlowersGrand FountainEarthKatie at the FountainLeading the ParkCovered in LocksIn a RowSalzburg Cathedral4 OrgansDomeFunicularCemeteryCemetery ChurchRiding the FunicularFrom the Top of the FortressView of the CityMarionette MuseumTrick FountainsGolden Hall CeilingCeiling PanelsFancy WallsPrinceShort DoorCarved BoxCanonCrestSwitchboard RoomJesterPainful ChairFlailCanonOriginal Wall"King" Sized BedCeramicsEtched SilverThrough the DoorOld ChurchShort DoorPointy DoorCathedral in the FortressFortress CourtyardSouth SalzburgFortress PanoramaKapuzinerbergThe FortressPanorama From The FortressAlong the BluffOld WallsFrom the MonasteryAlong the Defense WallLookout TowerSlanted WallChristmasHanging In The WondowMozartIn the Park

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Werfen

On our last full day in Austria, we decided to go to Werfen. There isn't much in Werfen except for some ice caves and a fortress, but that was enough to pique our interest and get us on a train headed to Werfen!

We really wanted to go to Werfen to go to the ice caves. We had to walk quite a ways to get to the ice caves but it was totally worth it. Unfortunately, photography wasn't allowed inside the ice cave, but it was still really cool to experience that. We may have not taken any photos inside the ice cave, but the view was spectacular on the way up to the ice cave.

We ended our last day back in Salzburg and decided to take some photos of the orange and pink sunset. It was a perfect ending to our last day in Austria.

TenneckSketchy BridgeAustrian AlpsOn the Path UpEisriesenweltBack to the Train StationCovered PathFoggy MorningCarbide LampLate Morning SunSalzach RiverLeaving EisriesenweltWhite TipHohenwerfen CastleElevator1826Canons and Canon BallsOld StaircaseThick WallsFlailWerfenThe Castle WallsHohenwerfen BellOld WindowBack in SalzburgBeer on the HillThrough the LeavesWaitingSelfieWarm LightLookout TowerLookout Tower to Lookout TowerPinkAs the Sun Goes DownPink CastleSky

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Travels to Barcelona

We left Austria for our last country in our Europe excursion, Spain. We took a train to Munich and flew from Munich to Barcelona. Once we were in Barcelona it was a bus and metro ride to get to our hotel. Because of all the modes of transportation, we got to Barcelona in the later afternoon and didn't do a whole lot other than walk along the mall that our hotel was on. We also walked over to the port to look out over the Balearic Sea.

Mirador de ColomAngels At the BasePortLots of BoatsInto the SeaSketchy Gondola

Friday, September 28, 2018

Barcelona

We had one full day in Barcelona. The day before and the day after were travel days, so we had to make the most out of our day in Barcelona. We started off the day by seeing the outside of La Sagrada Família. We didn't get a chance to go in because apparently, you need your tickets weeks in advance. Yeah, you read that right, you need tickets weeks in advance just to enter a church. The outside was magnificent enough and our day didn't really allow for us spending much time in there anyway. We did make it to another church where we took a very detailed tour and got to go all the way up the bell tower to see the hazy skyline of Barcelona. After that, we visited another castle and ended the day at the magic fountain. I took just under 10,000 photos in Europe, and 3,500 of them were in Barcelona. Of those 3,500, about 2,500 of them were at the magic fountain. Take a look at the photos and you'll see why!

Sagrada FamíliaUnbelievable DetailCount of BarcelonaPalau Reial MajorCathedral of BarcelonaGothic ArcitectureGargoyleWeird ColumnsDome over the AltarInterior WindowAltarBetween ColumnsSanta Maria del PiCeilingsWooden DoorHolow PointPont del BisbeLined With Gargoyles CircularAngels on ColumnsDefense TowerDown the CenterBellsFrom the TopSenyera FlagOn Top of the CityDown the StairsShipping HarborBusy CityMontjuïc CastleDraw BridgeOld WallCrumbling BrickHorizonDefense TowerCourtyardLong TunnelBig CanonBalconiesThe Four ColumnsMagic FountainMNACColumnsThe Venetian TowersAll ThreeTall TowersLonely BirdBright LightsTealMistyBlury PeaksDifferent HeightsInner ArchesRed DomeWhimsicalMNAC At NightFlowing

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Morning in Barcelona & an Evening in Madrid

Today was a travel day. We had train tickets in the afternoon to go to Madrid, but before we left, we headed down to a large park close to our hotel. We started at the Arc de Triunfo and walked along the park until we had to go to the train station. Once we got to Madrid, we checked into our hotel and started wandering the city, looking for some food. We had some dinner at a burger bar (totally authentic Spanish food), and then headed to another park where we wandered around a bit.

Protecting the ArchEntry to the World FairBrickworkAlong the ParkGryphonGolden HorsesCascada MonumentalChipped BeakMonk ParakeetColumnsStairsWeird ArtHerringbone GearArc de Triomf AgainGambrinus Lobster StatueColumbusMadrid Train StationFountain of the Fallen AngelSpooked?Bright RedPalacio de CristalGlass CeilingIn the Glass HouseLongAs the Sun SetsFuente de la AlcachofaAlong the RetiroMonument to Alfonso XII

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Madrid

Today was our last day on vacation. Tomorrow, we fly out to head back home. Since we only really had one full day in Madrid, like we did every other city on this trip, we went all out and saw as much of the city as we could. We started by walking through the Plaza Mayor, then walking along the Manzanares River, went into the Royal Palace, and ended up in a park with an ancient Egyptian temple, the Temple of Debod (which was moved here from Egypt - it's not originally from Madrid).

King Felipe IIIOur Lady of Good Counsel Parish and San IsidroCatedral de la AlmudenaBack SideAlong the RIverPuerta del ReyPuerta de San VicenteSabatini GardensSetting MoonPrinceThrough the GateFront of the Royal PalaceFency Light PostsCampo del Moro GardensCircular ArchGiaquintoElaborate ArtPortraitsChandeliersEmperor Carlos V and the FuryFernando El CatolicoLeaning Over the EdgeCharles IIICathedral PillarIn the PlazaDecorated LanternsCathedral of Santa MariaBright GlassOrganMariana de JesúsColorful PanelingTemple of DebodRoyal Palace and CathedralTurning LeavesMonumento CervantesDon QuixoteOvercast

September 2018

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