Speyer Day Trip

Speyer (pronounced "Shpayeh") is known for its huge Roman Catholic cathedral. The basilica is a UNESCO world heritage site because it was built around the year 1000 by the Roman army.

Joe standing in front of the Speyer cathedral.


Joe perched on aqueduct remnants with the cathedral in the distance


I'm sitting on the edge of a fountain that was off for the weather with the cathedral behind me


Fountain in the middle of Speyer built in the WWI era. The engraved phrase says "Germany must live even if we must die for it."

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Interesting wooden sculptures painted in vibrant colors outside an art museum in downtown Schwetzingen.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Here is Joe enjoying a rare moment of direct sunlight in Germany.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

The mosque cast an interesting shadow on this pavillion in the courtyard of the mosque.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Arabic is read from the right to the left and this phrase says, "There is no God but God."

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Joe just finished his first semester toward getting his Masters in Islamic Studies, so we were interested in seeing the mosque close up.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Beautiful and random mosque in the middle of the Schwetzingen Schloss gardens.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

I'm not entirely sure what kind of bird we encountered here, but it was a lot like a duck but much more robust. They were pretty friendly and made noises like chickens.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Here I am posing on a very charming old bridge in the gardens.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

The bonsai-like trees in the Schwetzingen gardens. We were lucky enough to visit on a beautiful day with almost completely clear blue skies.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Schwetzingen is famous for their Schloss (castle) with beautiful gardens and walking paths. They have sculptures in the gardens but they hadn't been unveiled for the year when we visited.

Schwetzingen Day Trip

Here is a statue near the market area of Schwetzingen. Germany is famous for their asparagus and the statue shows a child helping to sort the Spargel for market.

London 2008

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Originally uploaded by HeatherRocks128

Joe relaxing with his London Pride beer at a place in Chelsea where we shared a meat pie and fish n' chips.

London 2008

Sending his postcards
Originally uploaded by HeatherRocks128

Joe sending his family postcards from London.

London 2008

Beefeaters
Originally uploaded by HeatherRocks128

The London Tower had just closed when we got there so we tried to make a scene so that we could get pictures of the Beefeaters. I'm not sure if they turned around or not because our disposable camera was pretty awful.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace
Originally uploaded by HeatherRocks128

Joe being a goon outside Buckingham Palace

London 2008

We went to the food court at Harrod's after our day in London. The food court was like nothing I'd ever seen before! There was a man making pizza dough and flinging it high into the air while singing opera that I had to have a picture of.

London 2008

Joe and one of the guards on horseback
Originally uploaded by HeatherRocks128

Joe's standing with one of the guards to a royal garden.

London 2008

Westminster Abbey
Originally uploaded by HeatherRocks128

Here I am at Westminster Abbey in London! This was a beautiful area to walk through.

The London Eye