And A Few Years Later

I dove into blogging so I could actively share this Europe trip. As I read it now, it's missing the pictures. Ted and I both look back at the trip and the time together as the big, the memorable experience.


My father, John C., made his transition in March of that year so traveling abroad father and son meant and still means a lot to me. Three years later, my oldest son, Zach, and I completed a trip to Japan together. A different posting, a different blog.

Viewing the fields of Normandy, traveling across France and Germany while our passports took an accidental detour to the States. biking through Munich, resting in the beer garden, being on top of Mt Blanc and later having a sunset dinner on Lake Geneva. All valuable Treasures. Email me if you would like a link to the 2005 World Dwarf games and Euro-tour Pictures.

Munich & Geneva

Greetings All,

Munich:
After seeing the world from the view of the 1972 Olympic Tower and visiting the BMW museum we ended our trip with a fantastic Bike Tour of Munich. The tour was led by an Australian guide and this company only focuses on English speaking tourists. They do their best do answer all the questions of culture and history that a non-German speaking person would have. It was good. We stopped in the English Gardens at a beer hall and watched. Imagine 300 or more picnic tables under the trees and liter sized beers of 3 or 4 types available. And the best pretzels (giant) I've ever seen.

Leaving the games in Rambouillet last week we sent a bag of dirty clothes home to NJ with Val and Morgan. Unfortunately Ted's and my passports were in the pocket of a pair of pants. With the help of Joan and LeCroy, the passports returned to Europe and are now in our posession, safely tucked into my other pants. With that we were ready to leave the EU and head to Switzerland by train. It was a 8 hr train ride, with a stop over in St. Gallen in N. Switzerland and a final stop in Geneva.

Geneva:
Our Eurail pass included a car rental in Geneva and we set out to explore the City by the Lake LeMan and the diverse culture of Internationals who live in Geneva. There is nothing like sitting in a giant square and having dinner on a warm summer evening. I know that I need to work from Geneva for a few weeks over the summer next year.

Mt Blanc & Chamonix
We're staying just over the border in France and on Thursday we set out to see the big mountain, Mt Blanc. Yesterday was a particularly clear day and we could see the white of the glacier on the drive up toward Italy. Right before the giant Swiss Tunnel through the mountain is the town of Chamonix. It is a famous ski area and is at the base of Mt Blanc. From the base people were parachuting from the 6000 feet heights of the adjacent mountin.

Ted and I took a cable car ride to the top of Mt Blanc, to over 12000 feet, where we watched the hikers climb the glacier and looked at the adjacent peaks. It was amazing and worked out perfectly. After a nap and a famous jambon and fromage sandwich and coke light we went back down to the base and headed back to Geneva, about 1 hr drive.

Sailing:
What else could be more fun than capping a day of mountains with an evening of sailing. Nils, a great SW engineer at LeCroy has a very high tech racing catamaran. Since it stays light to 9:45 I was able to sail with Nils and Jean Maurice for a few minutes before the wind died. The lake with Geneva at one end reminds me of the finger lakes of NY. Slowly sweeping hills blend into the water, while at the other end of the lake, sharp and striking mountains abruptly go into the sea. Amazing. We had a great late dinner lake side and made it to bed about 12:30.

A great set of days- I am grateful for this opportunity and this time and company of Ted and all of those we have met on this bon journey.

Beyond the Games-- 11July

We have switched gears from athlete to tourists. On Thursday as the Athletes went their separate ways Ted and I headed for Paris to catch a high speed train to Caen in Normandy. From Caen we rented a car and drove to Bayeux.

There is a principle in world history-- if you have a great land along the ocean within proximinity of other nations, you can expect someone to battle for that land. It was true with William the Conqueror and in WWII on DDay. That first evening we drove to the ocean and overlooked what is left of the broken concrete of the German Atlantic Defense. The corn and wheat fields overlooking the ocean as the sun set were magnificent. The next day we took a tour of the area and got to understand more of the events of that day. Visiting the cemetery was moving for me. It is pristine and sacred.

We returned to Paris that night and left on Saturday for Munich by Train. We watched "Saving Private Ryan" on DVD on the way down. While I can survive with my language skills in France, I don't know very much German. So we are learning something new every day.

Yesterday we went to the Deutches museum of technology. Today, after some work with LeCroy we plan to head out to see the old town and North town at the 1972 Olympic stadium. We want to have dinner tonight at the Hofbrau house- beer garden.

Tues we're still debating where to go. A day train trip to Austria looks interesting.

We head to Switzerland on Wed.

Be Well,
John & Ted

Closing Ceremonies

The energy shifts in the last day, as the athletes and their entourages realize that the world village will be breaking up in less than 24 hours. Here are some highlights:

• The French and Brits held a flag waving and singing match at Wed lunch as they awaited the results of the Olympic 2012 voting. We listened over the radio as London was announced the winner, over the favored Paris.
• The organizers of these games included the regional government ministries, town government and Dwarf Games personnel. There were at least 50 teen volunteers and 20 adult entourage leaders. We had 2 great local hosts- Christienne and Gilbert who both live in Rombouillet and helped us through airport, hotel, translations and a ton of "what ifs". Team USA celebrated them with gifts that touched both of them. These games have been a huge step up from the previous 3 games. The next games are in 2009 in Belfast, Ireland.
• Every day was 7:30 board the bus to go to the games and then return by 10 pm. No time for partying. But... on closing night there was a fine ceremony, reconition, a live band, fireworks, and dancing til 2. It was tremendous. Salmon, tuna and other pate, champagne, white, red local wines...all served by the youth volunteers. So cool.
• Many of Team USA are leaving for the states today. They chartered a bus and left at 6:45 am. There are 5 families staying behind and moving to other locations. Ted and I got up to wish everyone well and to hand each family a CD of pictures for the week. It was good.

Ted and I are heading to the train in a few hours and will head west to the Normandy Beaches near the town of Bayeux. Be well- the next step of the journey begins.

Soccer & Volleyball- Silver & Gold--- The Games

What a day, what a pace. There are 2 postings- the games and the closing.

Team USA and Team Kosovo joined to form one International Team to take on the Brits, Germans and French in soccer and volleyball.

In addition to the rivalry on receiving the bid for the 2012 Olympics there has been heightened rivalry between the UK and French and the UK and the US. Our team chose to hold the high road and not engage in tormenting dialogue--it's been a good plan and proud strategy.

It was good soccer weather, held at the same venue as the 4th World Dwarf Games Opening Ceremonies last Friday. In soccer our International Team beat France 5 - 4 with fast break away goals by Eddie Andrews and good half and goalie playing by men from Team Kosovo. The UK beat the German/Denmark team, which led to the Gold game of US/Kosovo v. UK.

Between each game the massage therapist stopped by to work on players suffering from muscle spasms...one toll over the long week of games. Our Kosovo halfback was kept out of the gold medal game by a sore thigh muscle. That put Ted into the goal position. Although he hasn't played goalie for years he did very well; Knocking balls over the net and directing his defense. The goals were about 42 inches tall but 15 feet wide--- so there was no way to cover the whole goal area. Team UK brought a strong, fast and balanced 5 player team. They scored within the first minute of play. The fast breaks Team USA/Kosovo used to beat the French earlier did not work against the UK. There were several close goals but the UK really was the stronger team. Final score 2 - 0. Team USA/Kosovo got the gold. France the Bronze and UK the Gold.

Volleyball was a different story. Team USA/Kosovo crushed all competitors- UK, France, Germany/Denmark in the adult games and the kids got silver. It is amazing that we have so many talented athletes coming from such a widely dispersed area- California, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Florida, New Jersey, Wisconsin, New Mexico and who dominated so well in soccer, volleyball, swimming, track/field, ping pong, etc.

Last games over; Last medals handed out ... now on to the closing

5th July- 2 Gold (and more)

It's Tues 5 July- the games have one more big day to go.

So far:
Track & Field- many US medals in track, relays, javelin, shot, discus for youth, open (>17 age), and veterans (>40).
Swimming- approx 14 US Gold medals. Ted is not a competitive swimmer.
Team Boccia- Ted, playing on an international team placed first and their team won the Gold. Boccia is the game of carefully navigating soft 3.5" balls as closely as possible to a target.
Team Basketball- The US team did not have the 8 men required to compete so they combined with athletes from Denmark, Spain and Belgium. In playing 3 games, they beat the UK, Germany/Kosovo, and the French.

Last night at dinner the team from Benin played drums, sang and danced while they wore their native clothes. It was cool. Gma Val led the bus home in patriotic songs...a unique experience having 4th of July overseas.

Table Tennis- Ted has developed an excellent soft curve in his ping pong play that no one in our family can beat. He did well in the first round winning 2 out of 3 games. When he advanced to the next round, he won the first one but then was eliminated by the gold medal winner.

I'm back at the hotel now, combining luggage so we will be traveling light - Thurs we go out to the beaches at Normandy. Val and Morgan head back the same day.

Tomorrow are the final two events - soccer and volleyball and then the closing ceremonies. I've had difficulty getting pictures up on the blog, so no shots for you yet. I'm making CDs of favorite shots tonight so we can hand them out tomorrow.

Be Well,
John

Be Well, John

Opening Day and event agenda

Over 10 countries and 150 athletes joined together for the opening ceremony tonight in Ramboulliet. The region of Rambouillet is known for its sheep as well as the great hunting forest for Louis XIV. Sheep entered the field under the guide of a shepard and a sheep dog and then the teams paraded in. After several dignitaries spoke, baloons went into the sky and we were off to a celebration party.

Our agenda for the week:
Saturday- Track & Field & Boccia-- Ted is competing in discus, javelin and shot put and boccia.
Sunday- Boccia in the eve.
Monday- Badminton and Basketball
Tuesday- Ping Pong & Floor Hockey
Wednesday- Soccer & Volleyball

Today we visited the Palace of Versailles and the gardens. The aristocrats of that period definitely understood the good life.

On Sunday we plan to visit the cathedral in Chartres. It is the oldest of the area.

We have arrived 30Jun05

We have arrived. After an overnight flight from JFK to Amsterdam and then to Paris, we joined the other 20 some others coming from the rest of the US. Our home is LaVerriere, about 40 min SW of Paris by train.

We arrived 2 days early to overcome jet lag in time for Saturday's first games. The opening ceremony is 6 pm Fri eve.

Val (Ted's gma) and Morgan (cousin) are both doing well. Today a group of 23 of us went to Paris by rail- and took a tour ride on the Seine and walked the grounds and interior of Notre Dame.

We are here through 7 July, then Val/Morgan return to the states. Ted / I move onto Normandy and then back to Paris/Munich and return from Geneva on 15July.

We have no high speed access so pictures may or may not come on this blog.

All the best, John