Brussels

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Hindley, England

We are now in Hindley, Lancashire, England.  We drove down here today to crash at the home of Hilton and Rhona McCabe.  I met them while as a missionary here about 8 years ago.  The friendship has continued and we have kept in contact.

Back on the British Side of the Road
Scotland Motorway

We are waiting to hear word from Salt Lake City.  We are supposed to be closing on our home in Oklahoma City.  Hopefully everything works out.  We will find out tomorrow I guess.

Glasgow City Chambers

Last night we spent our evening in Edinburgh, Scotland.  We walked throughout the city, saw the castle, the Holyrood residence, and the cathedral.  Amanda got to see her world famous Mary Kings Close.  It was very interesting.  We got our hostel for the equivalent of $30 which we thought was a gonga deal.

Edinburgh Castle looking north
Edinburgh Castle looking northeast to the Scott Monument and North Sea

We landed in Prestwick on Thursday after flying out early from Charleroi Airport near Brussels.  We then picked up our hired car and drove to Glasgow and on to Edinburgh.  It took me a little bit, but I quickly adjusted to getting back on the wrong/left side of the road.

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Foog’s Gate – Edinburgh Castle
Half Moon Battery
Walking through Half Moon Battery
Mons Meg
Paul Ross in Mons Meg

It is late and I am too tired to write more of our travels today or of what we did in Edinburgh.  We did stop to visit Downham, Clitheroe in Lancashire today where the entire town joined the church and later emigrated to Zion.  Now we are back in the old mission.  My second visit since being released.  It is good to be back.

Royal Palace in Edinburgh
Royal Palace Great Hall
Amanda with Royal Palace Great Hall Fireplace
Amanda Ross with Foog’s Gate at Edinburgh Castle
St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh
Details of St Giles’ Cathedral tower and steeple
Amanda with Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh
Paul Ross at John Knox House in Edinburgh
Panmure Close where Adam Smith lived
Holyrood Palace
Edinburgh Castle from near the Scott Monument
Scott Monument in Edinburgh
Sir Walter Scott inside the Scott Monument
Scott Monument
Assembly Hall from Scott Monument
Amanda and Paul Ross with Edinburgh Castle
Amanda Ross and Scottish Thistle
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Victor in Vianden

We have just returned from a trip to Luxembourg.  I really am exhausted and don’t want to take the time to tell a whole lot.  So you are only going to get an abbreviated version.

Yesterday we went to visit the Catholic church in Harelbeke, Belgium. 

We then went to Kortrijk, Belgium and of course Amanda had to go to the chocolate shop for Belgium chocolate. 

We did some window shopping, being tempted by some of the goods in the stores. 

The suits were out of my range, as is about everything with the exchange rate with the Euro/Dollar. 

We did snap a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Afterward, we made our way back to Oostrozebeke and prepared for the trip to Vianden. 

We drove through the beautiful Ardennes on the way and into Germany. 

There was a storm the entire way so everything was highly misted and especially green. 

We drove past Brussels, Liege, and stayed at the Grand Hotel de Vianden. 

It was very pretty.  Amanda and I went for a late night walk through the city for some photographs. 

The bars were full but we enjoyed the sights.  Victor Hugo lived in Vianden for a spell. 

We saw the house he lived in and the bridge with his name and bust.

Today we arose and went for a tour of the Vianden Castle/Chateau.  It was beautiful. 

Originally there was a fort on the site in the time of Julius Caesar. 

The current castle was built during the 13-14th centuries. 

It fell into ruin but was restored in the 1970’s – 1980’s. 

Vianden was the last town to be liberated in Luxembourg in 1945.

Afterward, we drove through the beautiful mountains to Luxembourg and went on a tour of many of the cities sights. 

~

Amanda and Paul Ross at Vianden Chateau
Catherine and James Cazier, Paul and Amanda Ross at Vianden Chateau

We saw the Notre Dame there.  It was gorgeous with a huge, high wall. 

Who would ever have thought? 

~

Altar, Notre Dame, Luxembourg

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Amanda and Paul Ross, Notre Dame, Luxembourg

We ate lunch at Pizza Hut of all places.  Talk about going for the local cuisine. 

~

I did have toasted bread with goat cheese on them (at Pizza Hut!)  Did you know Luxembourg had a 1,000 year celebration?  963 to 1963.  How is that for old? 

Paul Ross on the Luxembourg wall

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The downtown market area reminded me much of London or Manchester, but the architecture is different.

~

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We finished our trip to Luxembourg and came back to Oostrozebeke, Belgium.  We will visit Antwerp and Brugge in the next couple of days before we make our way to Paris.

Panorama of Luxembourg
by

Hindley, England

We are now in Hindley, Lancashire, England.  We drove down here today to crash at the home of Hilton and Rhona McCabe.  I met them while as a missionary here about 8 years ago.  The friendship has continued and we have kept in contact.

We are waiting to hear word from Salt Lake City.  We are supposed to be closing on our home in Oklahoma City.  Hopefully everything works out.  We will find out tomorrow I guess.

Last night we spent our evening in Edinburgh, Scotland.  We walked throughout the city, saw the castle, the Holyrood residence, and the cathedral.  Amanda got to see her world famous Mary Kings Close.  It was very interesting.  We got our hostel for the equivalent of $30 which we thought was a gonga deal.

We landed in Prestwick on Thursday after flying out early from Charleroi Airport near Brussels.  We then picked up our hired car and drove to Glasgow and on to Edinburgh.  It took me a little bit, but I quickly adjusted to getting back on the wrong/left side of the road.

It is late and I am too tired to write more of our travels today or of what we did in Edinburgh.  We did stop to visit Downham, Clitheroe in Lancashire today where the entire town joined the church and later emigrated to Zion.  Now we are back in the old mission.  My second visit since being released.  It is good to be back.

by

Victor in Vianden

We have just returned from a trip to Luxembourg.  I really am exhausted and don’t want to take the time to tell a whole lot.  So you are only going to get an abbreviated version.

Yesterday we went to visit the Catholic church in Harelbeke, Belgium.  We then went to Kortrijk, Belgium and of course Amanda had to go to the chocolate shop for Belgium chocolate.  We did some window shopping, being tempted by some of the goods in the stores.  The suits were out of my range, as is about everything with the exchange rate with the Euro/Dollar.  We did snap a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Afterward, we made our way back to Oostrozebeke and prepared for the trip to Vianden.  We drove through the beautiful Ardennes on the way and into Germany.  There was a storm the entire way so everything was highly misted and especially green.  We drove past Brussels, Liege, and stayed at the Grand Hotel de Vianden.  It was very pretty.  Amanda and I went for a late night walk through the city for some photographs.  The bars were full but we enjoyed the sights.  Victor Hugo lived in Vianden for a spell.  We saw the house he lived in and the bridge with his name and bust.

Today we arose and went for a tour of the Vianden Castle/Chateau.  It was beautiful.  Originally there was a fort on the site in the time of Julius Caesar.  The current castle was built during the 13-14th centuries.  It fell into ruin but was restored in the 1970’s – 1980’s.  Vianden was the last town to be liberated in Luxembourg in 1945.

Afterward, we drove through the beautiful mountains to Luxembourg and went on a tour of many of the cities sights.  We saw the Notre Dame there.  It was gorgeous with a huge, high wall.  Who would ever have thought?  We ate lunch at Pizza Hut of all places.  Talk about going for the local cuisine.  I did have toasted bread with goat cheese on them (At Pizza Hut!)  Did you know Luxembourg had a 1,000 year celebration?  963 to 1963.  How is that for old?  The downtown market area reminded me much of London or Manchester, but the architecture is different.

We finished our trip to Luxembourg and came back to Oostrozebeke, Belgium.  We will visit Antwerp and Brugge in the next couple of days before we make our way to Paris.

Anyhow, I have uploaded more pictures in the European Trip Album from the last two days for your viewing pleasure.