[Updated 19Jan09 2245 AST]
Dec 11 - 20: Oxford, UK with daughter Clare O'Brien
Dec 21 - 31: Cork, IR, with daughter Angie Nagle & her Irish family
Jan 1-3: Paris art scene
Jan 4-15: Haifa, Israel, Baha'i pilgrimage
11Dec08 Oxford, UK
Ken: Let's see... Our usual last minute packing and finishing projects meant no sleep on Tuesday (9Dec) night. Taxi got us at 0500 Wednesday morning (10Dec). 1 hour at the Fairbanks airport after getting checked in and through security, a bit over 3 hours to Seattle, sleeping much of the way (neither of us remembers pushback and take off). Over two hours there, then a 9+ hour flight to Paris' Charles de Gaul, sleeping much of the way. Three hours in CDG terminal 2, then a 45 minute flight to London Heathrow. Clare met us at the gate after immigration & customs. 1+ hour bus ride to Oxford and start to settle in. Clare & Nikki took a taxi to campus to get bikes while I took a shower and unpacked a bit. Bikes were not up to being ridden safely, so they taxi'd back empty handed. Next taxi was to the home of Clare's tutor for a lovely dinner for six. Interesting conversations! Home and to bed to sleep 10-12 hours.
Clare is a DPhil candidate at Oxford, hoping to finish in another two years or so. She's also working with asylum seeker teen boys, from mostly Muslim countries. And she's quite involved in Baha'i activities around the UK and other places on the continent.
12Dec08 Oxford
Ken: Walked into neighborhood village to rent bikes from a reputable vendor, then biked to Clare's work to meet some of the folks. Next to lunch and grocery shopping. Home to cook, read, talk, watch movies, etc. Clare lives with other grad students (2 gals, 2 guys) in a lovely house. We've already had some very interesting discussions with most of them about their research, and other topics. After an afternoon nap, I feel almost time shifted already.
13Dec08 - 20Dec08 Oxford
Ken: We had such a good time just bumming around Oxford for 10 days. Sometimes with Clare, sometimes just Nikki and me. Lots of architecture to photograph, folks to visit, places to walk and bike. Very relaxing, with few scheduled events.
21Dec08 - 31Dec08 Ireland
Ken: Flew BMIBaby (for real) from Birmingham to Cork. Angie met us after baggage & customs, and drove us to their home. Lovely new 3 story place about 3 minutes walk from downtown Cork. We spent 3 days getting acquainted with Cork, then drove to Mallow where Roger's mom lives. We ended up spending a whole week there. Christmas with the whole Nagle family at Roger's sister's home. Exploring some parks, the old castle that Roger's family owned some years ago, hiking/driving a beautiful area known as "The Gap", and kicking back with no major agenda. Another really relaxing 10 days.
Angie recently completed a masters in Bioengineering at Trinity College in Dublin. Roger works for Intel. He is now assigned to a project in Cork, and Angie is working for Boston Scientific Inc., also in Cork. They have just gotten approval of their plans for building a house on part of his mother's property in Mallow.
1Jan09 - 3Jan09 Paris
Ken: Flew Aerlingus from Cork to Paris. Took the train into town, then wandered around a bit trying to find our hotel. It was only a couple of blocks from the Louvre, small place with 3 rooms to a floor. Tight sort of spiral staircase and no lift. Took two trips to haul our bags up the two flights to our room. The room was just large enough that both of us could stand and walk around the bed -- but it was clean and just fine for a few nights. On 2Jan we tried to get to the Louvre, but the line was at least 2 hours long just to get to the entrance. So we chased different art museums, and ended up with a most enjoyable two days of Impressionist art in three museums. Lots of Monet, Renoir, Gustave Moreau, Berthe Morrisette, etc. Nikki was in heaven, finding works she'd never known about as well as much familiar material.
4Jan09 - 14Jan09 Haifa, Isreal
Ken: Flew from Paris to Tel Aviv, then hopped a Cherut to Haifa. Our hotel was on the top of Mt. Carmel, looking down on parts of the Baha'i World Center terraces and buildings. Beyond was the bay, and across it we could see Acca. Pilgrimage began on Monday, and lasted for nine days. There was a mix of guided visits to the holy places, and free time to explore on your own. And lots of beautiful architecture and landscaping to photograph as we went. Met a bunch of wonderful folks from around the world, linking more closely with a few. Clare joined us for the last three days, sometimes with us and sometimes having her own meetings. We spent one extra day in Haifa, mostly at the shrine & gardens of Bahji. Bus to Tel Aviv in afternoon.
15Jan09 Tel Aviv, Israel
Ken: Hotel for one night here. Did a lot of walking to explore parts of Tel Aviv, including some time in the huge open market. Tel Aviv strawberries are THE BEST!! Then plane to Paris in evening.
16Jan09 Paris, the home
Ken: Overnight in Paris, then catch the nine hour flight from there to SEATAC. Five hours in the food court, then the four hour flight to Fairbanks. Home by 2130!!!
