Drywall and Stucco

Well there hasn't been much to take pictures of lately. Over the last month all of the plumbing, electrical and HVAC has been completed. Not too much the final framing and all the insulation. Now the Drywall is going up inside and the house is being prepared for stucco on the outside. (that's the black paper and chicken wire all over the house)

Weatherproof!!

Well these pictures might not look very different than the last but if you look close you will notice that the garage doors and front door are in -- this means the house is weatherproof!! So it looks like they have beat all the major storms of the year which is good, it snows more in our new neighborhood. Framing is progressing on the inside as well. The dining room is coming along, the kitchen and family room look good and the basement has been started.

It snowed

Well luckily the windows are in and the tar paper is on the roof. It snowed a couple inches last night. It was just a light snow and no wind so not much really blew in.

Roof is going on

Well all the first floor framing is complete although they have not started the basement. The roof trusses are up and it's completely sheathed. I guess the windows and basement are next. They should be putting the shingles on in the next couple of weeks.

Framing has begun.

Well the foundation floor has been poured, the floor has been put down and framing has begun. About 3/4 of the exterior load bearing walls are up so it's really taking shape. The basement is completely empty so it is very big. Looks like all the wood and trusses are site so things should move quickly.

Hole & Foundation

The hole for the basement is completely dug. It's a deep one as the basement will have 9 foot ceilings. In these pictures you can see the footings as well as the foundation.

Starting the New House

Well we are building a new house in Codera. It's built by Saddletree and is a Brighton II. This first post is basically as they broke ground. They are just starting to dig the hole for the basement.

The Ring of Kerry

Last weekend we loaded in the car and trekked across the whole of Ireland for Killarney and the famous Ring of Kerry. Ireland does not have the interstate system of the US so even the most direct route quickly took us off of dual carriage way and onto the smaller two-way roads . We drove for about four and a half hours passing through small towns like Kildare and New Castle and skirting the large cities like Limerick. When we arrived in Killarney we quickly found our way to the small private Killeen House Hotel where we would stay. This hotel turned out to be one of the most enjoyable on our stay in Europe rivaling the Garda Garden Hotel in Italy. When we entered the hotel we were instantly greeted by Geraldine our hostess (and owner). After helping us to settle in our room she immediately asked about the drive from Dublin, quizzed the kids on their adventures in Ireland and made sure we knew the upcoming weather and all the best sites. After a small rest (and a quick Pint) we headed off to the nearby Dingle Peninsula. The plan was to drive along the coast and enjoy the scenery however the weather was not cooperating and the visibility non existent, so we spent the evening walking through the scenic fishing town of Dingle. We walked up and down the streets, browsed through the shops and looked at the fishing boats. On the drive back we stopped at inch beach and braved the surly weather as the kids waded into the surf. We went back to the hotel early to get a good nights rest so we could get an early start in the morning.

The next day we slept longer than planned as the weather was still looking ominous. We started our day with a great home cooked breakfast in the hotel, checked out and bid farewell to our gracious hosts.They could not believe we were going to drive the entire ring of Kerry and then back to Dublin! We took off with high hopes; as we started the drive about 15 minutes into the drive we noticed a break in the clouds, then another, then a patch of sun and before you knew the skies had cleared and the sunny was shining brightly – great weather again!! The Ring of Kerry follows route N-70 along the west coast of Ireland, it truly is a special drive. We stopped at many of the pullouts and gazed across the ocean and enjoyed the scenic vistas. The coastline is filled with beaches, cliffs coves and all kinds of interesting scenes. We drove through picturesque costal towns like Killorgin and Glenbiegh, , from there we diverted off to the Ring of Skelligs for the impressive cliffs of Kerry and the old smugglers port town of Portmagee. We stopped overlooking the Islands of Skellig and beautiful beaches for picnic lunch. We rejoined the main ring at Waterville and visited a local craft shop and finished our souvenir hunting. From Waterville we drove through Coomakesta pass, we stopped at the top to take in the view but could barely stand in face of the fantastic winds blowing across the top. From there it was on past Derrynane House and through the beautiful tourist town of Kenmare. We then passed Molls gap and stopped again in Killarney National park and walked past beautiful forest and mountain lakes. After one final stop at the stately Muckross house we were ready to head back to Dublin. I looked down at my watch and it was already 7:00pm! It’s hard to judge time in the summer in Ireland as the sun sets after 10:00pm and it stays light past 11:00pm! In any case we gased up grabbed MacDonald’s and journeyed home. We rolled into Dublin just past 11:00p and to out surprise the roads were soaked – while we had enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on the west coast it remained stormy and overcast in the east!

As we have found all the countryside in Ireland the Ring of Kerry was a delight. Decidedly different from the majestic Rockies with commanding peaks the scenery here is more lush, green and serene. We can’t wait to get back to camping and hiking in Colorado but will always have warm memories of the Emerald Island. See More!!

Brussels and Amsterdam

We traveled to Belgium to stop in Brussels and head off to Amsterdam. Brussels was just that a quick stop off. We arrived in the evening took a cab to our hotel and were up early in the morning and on the tram headed toward the City Centre and in search of the “Grand Place”. Walking through the older part of town it’s easy to notice the distinctive gilded Belgian architecture. When we arrived at the Grand Place which is said to be one of the most spectacular squares in Europe it was easy to see why. The square is huge although there was a Jazz festival setting up when we were there so it was hard to get the full effect. In any regard the surrounding buildings, churches and shops were very picturesque. We walked through the surrounding area sampling chocolate from the fountains and of course trying the waffles. From there it was up through the park and back to the Midi train station where we hopped our ride to Amsterdam.

The train ride to Amsterdam was fine and passed through Antwerp, Haag and Rotterdam (which seems very nice) and was highlighted by windmills which dotted the landscape in Holland. I always find it interesting to see what the first impression will be when emerging from the train stations in a new city. In Amsterdam it can be summed up in one word – bikes! Just as you leave the train station there is an enormous multi-level parking garage just bursting at the seams with bikes. Anyone who has been to Amsterdam will tell you that it’s a bike culture but as with many things on our travels, you have to see it to believe it. Bikes are by far the most common mode of transportation, as such they have there own lanes and traffic signals and you need to be sure you look both ways before crossing them.

Once through the crowds of Centraal Station we followed the Singel canal and walked to our hotel just on the edge of the City Center. The walk was about 40 minutes and allowed us to immediately get the feel of the city. If one is interested in an “Boulder-Style” urban scene this has to be the hippest around. The city is filled which shops, bars, and café’s that serve more than just coffee (marijuana is legal here but reportedly only for the locals). Street performers abound and everywhere you turn people are congregating and enjoying the ‘vibe’. As we explored the city over the next two days we found traditional shopping areas and chic boutiques catering to every style. From the Singel flower markets to the designer shops in Dam square Amsterdam seems to have something for every taste.

While we were there we hit all the typical tourist spots. We toured the canals by foot and by boat crossing this bridge and that and taking in the sights and architecture. We happened by a cool outdoor photography exhibit and continued our preference for outdoor café dining. We of course visited the Anne Frank house, while interesting it was a bit of a disappointment given its no longer furnished/set up in it’s original format. This combined with the throngs of people filling the tiny rooms made it difficult to imagine the environment. Still to see the bookcase which covered the entry to their hiding place and get a feeling for the compact accommodations gives a haunting feeling of what the Franks and their friend must have endured for two long years.

All and all Brussels and Amsterdam was a great visit even though we covered alot of ground in a few short days. I think this trip gave us a glimpse of what it is like to tour Europe by backpack moving quickly from place to place. That is ever changing but ever tiring as well. More Picts as always -- Brussels and Amsterdam.

Garda and the Dolomites.

We slowed things down even further after Venice and visited Lake Garda (which is incidentally is a stop on the Giro D’Italia). We stayed in the Garda Garden Hotel a family run, 30 room old-fashioned hotel that offered half board accommodations. Half Board means that breakfast and dinner are included, so each night we sat at the same table and had the same waiter as we enjoyed a full four-course dinner (just like the old days). It was a nice change of pace and we enjoyed lounging around the pool and walking along the lake. One day we the figured after all the site seeing the kids had done they needed a real break and so we went to GardaLand amusement park – this is the largest park in all of Italy. While it’s no Disney it really is a nice park and the kids had fun on all of the rides. Becca rode one of the coasters three times in a row and was still wanting more.

On our final day we drove up into the Italian Alps, the Dolomites. We drove the length of Lake Garda (a fairly sizable lake) and then up to a ski resort town called Pinzolo. We were treated to some great vistas and beautiful scenery. At one point we jumped out of the car to play near a stream and noted how similar everything looked to Colorado. One major difference though was the number of mountain towns we passed, there were many more than we are used to seeing in the Rockies and much more established. These towns had obviously been there for some time, in most cases the main road had been widened to allow two way traffic and so there are no sidewalks -- the building walls were actually the side of streets so you kind of had to slow down. Our mountain drive continued down past another scenic lake and on to Bergamo just outside Milan were we hopped our flight and headed home. A few more picts

Venice

After an action packed few days in Rome it was time to move on. We loaded onto the train and took off north across the country to Venice. The ride to Venice is a nice one with much of it traversing the countryside. As you near the end you know you are close when you notice water on both sides of the train as you pass onto the 2 mile causeway to the Island. Off the train and into the station we grabbed a map as I left mine at home (duh). You step out of the train station and you are right on the Grand Canal! There is no mistaking you have arrived in Venice. After three bridges and a few missteps we found our hotel and settled in. The room in Venice was “quaint”. It was a portion of a converted apartment with the most uncomfortable furniture I have ever sat on and hot water that only worked part of the time(and not for showers).

We immediately set out to explore the city. Venice is one of those places that is truly difficult to appreciate without being there. There are no roads, no bikes, no scooters etc..just pedestrians and canals. As a mater of fact there are over 100 canals and 400 bridges. This is not one of those scenic places where if you have seen the few famous pictures in the brochure you have seen it all. No exploring the many streets and alleyways is like walking through a picture postcard. Everywhere you turn there is a beautiful view of an old building, a canal or a colorful flower box. I finally had to put the camera away because I could not keep up. Everything in Venice is also very old, unique and full of character, there are no sky cranes construction sites or new glass and chrome buildings.

Of course everything in Venice must come and go via the canals, but you knew that (so did I). However when you are there you realize what that means. Everything comes in on a boat and is carried by hand cart into the city. That means the garbage is picked up by hand and carried out, food for restaurants come in one load at a time. The tree we saw being cut down needed to be chopped up carried to a boat and shipped away. We even saw the UPS boat come down the canal and the driver (or should I say captain) unloaded everything onto his cart for deliveries.

Finding your way through Venice is maddening, there are maps and street names but they go every which way and are impossible to keep track of. We navigated via sense of direction and churches. That is we would try to find a route in a particular direction (which was not always easy) and when we hit a church (every minute or two) we would refer to the map. It worked reasonably well plus we had not where to be so it didn’t much matter.
While there we saw all the sites, the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge (Marketplace) and San Marco Square. In the square the kids fed the pigeons, which were rather aggressive (be sure to check out the picts). Of course we also took a Gondola ride. While this may sound touristy it really was the highlight of the trip. To travel on the quiet back canals and see the houses and locals up close is awesome. Most of these back canals can be reached no other way even by foot. In all Venice was a nice change of pace from Rome and a day and a half was more than enough time to soak up the vibe! (Extra Picts)

Rome

After Paris and London it was only fitting that we finish out the “big 3” by seeing Rome as well. We did just that this past week as we took a vacation in Italy. Rome is an extremely interesting place to visit and different from any other place. There are of course the ruins of Roman empire and the Vatican city to see but when combined the other squares (Piazzas), fountains and castles there is more to see than most places. The only downside of Rome is that it just doesn’t seem to have the green space that many other cities do.

With a metro that is not as extensive as other places we opted to see Rome via the Hop On Hop off bus, this turned out to be a good decision as we rode often and still managed to walk nearly 20 miles over the course of the three days we were there. We started off slowly by seeing the Castel Saint Angelo, this castle was originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperors but later turned into an armament. It was an interesting place and we managed to pop in a free classical piano recital (maybe some inspiration for Becca). From there we headed off to see the sites of Ancient Rome; it’s been on thing to see beautiful churches and works of art in Europe dating between 1000-1500 but now we saw ruins of one of the greatest civilizations in history at a time when Christ walked the earth. We started with the pantheon which is unbelievable, the fact they could build such a perfect and enormous dome in the year 80 AD is astounding. It was very interesting to understand how they varied building materials and techniques to pull off such an architectural feat. From there we saw the forum which was truly awe inspiring, we stood in the spot that was the political and commercial center of the world at the time, a place where Caesar would have addressed the Romans. While in ruins there is still much to see and with the help of a few books we bought and a little imagination we could get an idea of what things were and how Rome looked thousands of years ago. At the end of the forum we visited the colosseum, a site recognizable by most who have been to Rome or not. As we entered the colosseum and started to walk to the upper levels I was taken aback at how similar it felt to walking through any modern stadium. Of course rather than steel and chrome there is rock but the wide tall passageways and large gates that enter the playing field are all strikingly similar. The floor of the colosseum is no longer intact so it’s easy to see the maze of tunnels and passageways that were used to orchestrate the deadly sport of the day.

After the ancient ruins we moved on to the center of the Catholic church visiting the Vatican and St Peters. The line into the Vatican museum must have been a half a mile long but moved quickly, once inside we moved through at a fast walk trying to get through this large museum. The Vatican Museum is much like the Louvre, there is weeks worth of art and tapestries and paintings you could admire, so walking through in an hour or so is overwhelming. Of course the tour ends in the Sistine chapel – truly an breath taking work or art and one that must be seen in person to be appreciated. Depending on your vantage point different portions of the ceiling look three dimensional – amazing!! From there we went right to Saint Peter’s we waited in line only to find out that Yvette’s shorts were too short for her to get in, I seem to recall reading this in a guide book somewhere but it slipped my mind when it was important. Oh well we ducked out into a nearby gift shop bought a large scarf that we fashioned into a skirt and we were good! Once we were in the church we were absolutely awe struck. We have seen many other beautiful churches in Europe but this is in a class by itself – it is absolutely the most massive place we have been.
To round things out we visited the famous squares and fountains. We toured the Trevi fountain, Piazza Navone and Piazza Spagna to name just a few. Finally I can not end this post without mentioning the food which was fantastic! It never took us more than 5 minutes to stumble across a place to eat, we always ate outside and had many great experiences as we sampled the local food and enjoyed the friendly Italian service!! The kids were in pizza and pasta heaven and discovered they love Gelato (go figure). As always a few more picts here

A hike of a different kind.

We are settling into a nice pattern where we explore a new city one weekend and relax in the country the next. This past weekend we drove south of Dublin to Wicklow which is on the Irish Sea. We continue to enjoy driving the scenic route through the rural areas. This time we drove through the small hamlet of Enniskerry among others. As we dart through all the small back roads I often found myself wondering if I am really on a two way street . One of the pictures I loaded onto the blog this time shows our rental car in the middle of the road – this shows you how narrow the back roads can be (yes this is a two way road).

Once we arrived in Wicklow we picnicked in a park alongside the Sea, the landscape was beautiful but it was a little chilly and windy. After lunch we walked along the coast for a few miles to an old light house. Along the way we found small beaches, cliffs and caves. We have done a great deal of hiking in Colorado (and other spots in the States) but this was our first “coastal” experience.

Next weekend we are back to the city starting with Rome.