Traveling and Some Serious Spoilage

Robyn and I both did some traveling the past few weeks. She attended a conference in Nebraska and then was able to spend some time with her family (including the doggies, of course)in Austin, New York, and and West Virginia--the latter for a family reunion. I missed out on the fun, alas. However, since she plans to post some pictures from this trip soon, I'll let her provide further commentary.

I traveled to Florida--the University of Central Florida in Orlando, to be more precise--to give a paper at a philosophy of mind and cognitive science conference. It was an excellent conference with many stimulating talks. But the most exciting part of my trip occurred a day before the conference started. Since I arrived a bit early, I decided to make a quick trip up to Riverview to visit Grandma Ginny and Papa. And, as always seems to happen whenever I visit them, I was thoroughly spoiled.

I arrived late on a Thursday evening (Google maps let me down, so it took longer than expected to find my way to their house). After a brief chat with my hosts, I retired to the guest room to enjoy a deep jet-lagged sleep. The next morning I awoke to a breakfast hearty enough to keep me full for the next 48 hours: piles of scrambled eggs, a bucket of grits and gravy, buttery biscuits so delicate and flaky that they fell apart if you simply stared at them too intently, and black coffee strong enough to revive a corpse. No one makes a breakfast like Papa!

Uncle Lynn, Kenneth, and Ronnie came over to join us for breakfast. We had a lot of laughs, and I got up from the table thirteen pounds heavier (which was not a laughing matter). Kenneth and I played a bit of catch outside. After working up a full-body sweat in the Florida humidity (also not a laughing matter), I was off to run a few errands. I returned a bit later and lounged around the house while dinner was prepared. Uncle Lynn returned, boys in tow, and Aunt Kay and Aunt Paula soon joined us. Another obscenely good meal and more laughs ensued. Soon, I had to leave to make my way back down to Orlando for the conference the next day. After enjoying that sort of spoilage, I wasn't in any hurry to leave!I had a great time. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to my next visit!

We did it for the "yoots"

Ok, mystery solved. Evidently, this is what we were tear gassed over two weekends ago:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungdomshuset

Somehow it was a bit sexier not knowing why we were protesting, exactly.

Copenhagen! Are you ready for some football?!?

So I initially had planned to do a bit of solitary blogging this evening. Robyn is traveling, which means that I get to control the blog for a few days. I have a few reasonably amusing anecdotes to relate (teaser: one involves a petite Danish woman demonstrating her ability to hock loogies like a 300lb construction worker right at my feet). However, I was just doing a bit of mindless channel surfing--flipping through channel after channel of the strained gurgling and choking that passes for the Danish language whilst waiting for literary inspiration to hit--when, all of the sudden, I stumbled upon the Cowboys-Patriots game! It's just started. Woo-hoo!

The announcers are of course calling the game in Danish. And the garish set they keep coming back to during TV timeouts looks like it was designed and slapped together by a high school drama department. But it's the Cowboys, baby! No complaints from me.

...and the Patriots just scored on their first possession: Brady to Moss.

Not a good start.

...and then we were tear gassed!

Another Saturday, another revolution.

Today was an especially beautiful day. The sky was a deep blue, perfectly clear. The air was crisp but not overly cool. Robyn and I were enjoying a lazy afternoon in our flat when we both suddenly became aware of some noise: a mixture of shrill techno music and sporadic chants and cheers. Quickly, the music and cheering became much louder. It was clear that something rather big was going down on the normally quiet street around the corner from our flat. So, we went out onto the balcony to investigate. Here's a video of what we saw (be sure to listen to what the male voice is saying):

There was a revolution unfolding beneath our balcony! Naturally, Robyn and I had to run down and participate--despite the fact that we had no idea what we where fighting for. However, it was a chance to stick it to The Man--how often do those come along?--and we definitely wanted a piece of that action.

Here we are, fighting with our fellow Copenhagians for truth, justice, and the Danish Way:

Even Moby joined the fight! (This would also explain the shrill techno that pounded away for most of the afternoon).

Bicycles and rickety floats provided critical ground support during the conflict (note also the bloodthirsty spectators leering from the balconies):

Tractors also played a crucial role. Look at the brave soldier at the helm of this impressive machine, calmly nursing a beer as he awaits his fate!

Precise tactical coordination is critical for an operation this large. Here, a field officer pauses to establish contact with other leaders and plot our next move:

This soldier brazenly peers into the face of the enemy. We all drew inspiration from his defiant act!

Just as our human river of resistance was gaining momentum, however, The Man swooped in to shut us down. If you look carefully at the picture below, you should be able to see the gently billowing clouds of tear gas that soon (thanks to several unfortunate gusts of wind) consumed us all.

The "Politi" has decided that enough was enough. The massive crowd began a hasty retreat. With burning throats and watery eyes, Robyn and I decided to put a hold on our social activism for the rest of the day and to talk a stroll through a more peaceful part of town. We tried to ignore the sneers of our fellow freedom fighters as we made our way out of the battle zone and into a park a safe distance from the chaos. It really was a beautiful evening!

Some hours later, we returned to find the battle zone deserted. The streets of sleepy Frederiksberg had returned to normal.

Though we're still not sure what we're fighting for, Robyn and I have both recommitted to the cause. The Man will not keep us down! We will not give up the fight! The next time a spontaneous social revolution breaks out on the street beneath our flat, we will be in the middle of it--tear gas be damned!

For now, however, we're off to have some pizza and beer.

TRAVIS TURNS 32!

Happy Birthday Travy-boy!

On their way home...

We had more visitors this week! My parents arrived last Thursday, Sept. 21. They left for the airport this morning--though not without some taxi drama; more on that later--and their flight should have just taken off. Thus begins the long trek back to Carlsbad. We all had a great time, and there's much to tell. While they did a few "touristy" things, most of our time was spent giving them a taste of everyday life here in Copenhagen. However, since Robyn is a much more polished blogger than I am, I'll simply post a few photographs for now and let her provide the "full report" a bit later.






We enjoyed our final meal together last night at a lovely Italian restaurant downtown (see the picture above). Robyn and I haven't eaten out all that much during the short time we've lived in Copenhagen, so my parents' visit was a good excuse to explore some different eateries. The restaurant was near one of the canals on perhaps the most famous street in all of Copenhagen. It's just out of frame in the picture to the right, which was snapped a couple of days before our meal.




Here's a shot of Mom and Dad near the city center, with the theater in the background:





And here's a shot of Mom and Robyn shopping very intently at a Saturday flea market:







Unbelievably, neither of them bought anything that day!







We've mentioned before that the people here in Copenhagen are quite handsome. On Saturday, we enjoyed a evening drink in one of the coolest bars in the city: The Library Bar. While there, we were able to discreetly capture a photograph of two of Copenhagen's more dashing specimens. We quickly took this shot right before they were overwhelmed by a flood of giggling schoolgirls, all frantically vying for an autograph.




In fact, here are two of them...




We all had a great time. We're very fortunate to have such loving families who come all the way to Denmark to spend time with us!






More pictures and stories soon!

Montserrat, Spain

I am writing from Montserrat, Spain, near Barcelona. I am here teaching for an education program that offers Master’s level education in partnership with 17 European Business Universities. I am teaching as part of a “block” seminar where students gather at one location – away from any host schools – for one full week of intensive instruction. There are several teachers with different areas of expertise. The students give presentations or take exams at the end of the week. I was a censor (second grader) for the exam for the course offered by CBS in August. This time I was a presenter – a teacher. I covered communicative approaches to understanding organizational culture.

The students are from all over Europe and very smart (the program is quite competitive to get into). They know several languages and are very motivated. That said, I do, at times, miss the more well-roundedness of the American students. Students in Europe take fewer “electives” and their studies focus primarily on their chosen “major.” Therefore, students don’t usually take history, math, science, philosophy etc. As smart and devoted as these students are, I do notice that they tend to have a more narrow academic approach to their studies and therefore their understanding of communication.

The students and the course was a lot of fun and I hope I have the opportunity to do this again, in part, because the location is absolutely amazing. I am here in Montserrat, Spain, which is an hour from Barcelona. I can never adequately describe the environment, but Montserrat, or the “serrated mountains” are beautiful. Nearly 1000 years ago a monastery was built at the top of the mountains (that look like giant rocks protruding from the earth!). It is a functioning monastery (which is why they begin to ring the church bells at 5am! – first Mass is at 5!), but they’ve added a museum, hotel, restaurants, and dorms (where the students stayed) and it now functions as a conference center as well. The land around the monastery is also the Spanish equivalent to a national park.

All of the buildings are beautiful, but the church is especially moving. While much of the church suffered destruction at the hands of Napoleon’s troops, Franco’s soldiers and others, there are parts that date back to the early 12th century! And, the church has been beautifully restored. They also have a world renowned boy’s choir and we were fortunate enough to attend one of their concerts.

I took a taxi from the Barcelona airport to the monastery, which is near the very top of the mountains. You would not believe the drive – I am very grateful for guardrails, but the ride is not for those afraid of heights. I am glad the driver knew where he was going because after winding and weaving our way up the mountains for about 20 minutes, I knew I could never find my way out. The first thing I heard as I got out of the taxi when we arrived in Montserrat was three cats screeching and fighting. There are any number of feral cats (and lots of very cute kittens) that live in the mountains. They are, apparently, quite territorial and willing to fight for their space, food, or whatever.
If you are ever in Spain you must visit Montserrat. Spend the night in the hotel so you have enough time to visit the museum and church as well as hike the trails. You won’t be disappointed!

Thoughts on Copenhagen

There is so much to tell about my grandparent’s and aunt’s trip to Copenhagen. I can never capture the fun we had while they were here… and perhaps like Las Vegas… what happens in Copenhagen should stay in Copenhagen. But, I will try to elaborate on the photos I posted and provide a few more details of the sordid tales of GG’s drinking!
Some of the best parts to their trip, for me at least, were the times we spent just sitting around the table chatting. I really enjoyed sharing my new home with my family. There is something about sharing your home and your home town with someone that makes your being there very real. I felt somewhat vindicated when my family ran into the same money problems that we encountered – no, really, they don’t take American credit cards! It wasn’t that I thought people didn’t believe us. There is just something different about having someone else experience your home town – run into the same frustrations that we ran into… smell the smells… see the everyday sights that we see everyday. I love that my family enjoyed going to our local bakery and grocery store. They went shopping for us! They tried a number of breads and pastries and I think they liked most of them .
To their credit, GG, Papa, and Aunt Paula tried all the food and drink that are part of the traditional Danish lunch. I guess this is the part where I have to confirm that GG did in fact drink alcohol while in Copenhagen. We sampled a few of the local beers and then had some schnapps – the traditional drink to accompany the Danish lunch. While I would not want to drink the schnapps all by itself, when accompanying pickled herring, the schnapps isn’t so bad. And, the same must be said for the pickled herring. Neither is good by itself, but together, they improve each other, although neither together nor separate are my favorites. You will have to ask GG, Papa, and Aunt Paula what they thought of the food and the schnapps. I don’t think any of them are going to ask me to bring any pickled herring over with me when we visit.
As the pictures show, Joel and I were able to take some time to sightsee with our family. Frederiksborg Slot is breathtaking, even on a VERY windy day. The pictures of the garden fail to capture their magnitude and precision. I can’t imagine how many people it takes to maintain the grounds. We were not able to eat in the restaurant in the Slot because there was a wedding in the chapel. While we did not see the whole wedding party, it was neat to see some of them as they gathered for the wedding… it added to the romance of the castle (because all castles need a king, queen, prince, and princess!).
I'll post this and then add more... stay tuned!

They're Here!!!

Early Tuesday morning I made my way to the Copehagen Airport to pick up Grandma Ginny, Papa, and Aunt Paula. And... they made it with no trouble!

We have many stories to blog about, but we've been so busy sightseeing and gossiping, I've had no time to blog. Joel and I had to work Wednesday and Thursday so we weren't able to spend much time with the tourists. But, Friday I joined them for a trip to Sweden and today, Joel was able to join us all for a trip to Frederiksborg Slot in Hillerød. I'll share stories soon, but in the mean time, I think our pictures speak tons!

First, this is a picture of all that GG, Papa, and Aunt Paula brought over with them! Can you believe it!

Plus, they brought over towels, sheets, pillows, and air mattresses! Now, our future guests can stay in comfort!

We used one of Michelles old sheets for a table cloth... we hope she didn\t mind!

GG enjoyed using our computer phones to call family and friends... and I think she surprised a few in the States!

If you've ever forgotten your sunglasses, you know how bad it is to sightsee on bright sunny days. This isn\t usually a problem in Copenhagen, but we\ve had some of the best weather this summer this week! GG forgot her sunglasses so we stopped to purchase some at the drug store on the way to the train station. The trick was finding a pair that would fit over her glasses. Well, we found a pair, and I just couldn\t stop laughing at them! They are quite the fashion statement!

We spent all day Friday in Sweden -- Malmo and Lund. This is a picture of GG, Papa, and Aunt Paula in the Malmo Town Square.

We took the train over the Öresund Bridge and then on to Malmö. After walking around the city for a bit we ate at Salt & Brygga and had a spectular view of the bridge.

The European housing expo of 2001 brought several beautiful and interesting buildings to the Malmö waterfront. Here we are sitting in front of our resturant!

This is GG and Papa in front of the Turning Torso, the tallest building in Sweden at 190 meters. This is also on the waterfront and can be seen from the Öresund Bridge.

On Saturday we all travelled to Hillerød to visit Frederiksborg Slot (castle). It was finished by Christian IV in 1620. The building and grounds are beautiful, especially on a sunny (if not windy) day. The building is now the National History Museum. We didn’t have time to tour the museum, so after we ate a traditional Danish lunch (I will let our visitors tell you what they thought of their lunches!) we walked the Slot Gardens and toured the Hillerød Walking Street. Here are a few pictures from our day!

Joel and Papa waiting for the women to complete their shopping!

Outside the Slot.

Here we are at lunch. We were the only ones in the dinning room! And, we had a view of the Slot!

The backside of Frederiksborg Slot.

Walking through the gardens.

The beautiful Baroque Gardens.

The backside of the Slot

This is us saying hello from our balcony!

MORE PICTURES AND STORIES TO COME!