England: Week 26 Germany

Tuesday we drove to Ramstein AFB, Germany. It was quite an interesting evening. There had been a mix-up with our rooms so it took some extra time to get settled. And on top of that the room we were in didn't have a functioning toilet. So we moved to another building and into a new room.

Wednesday we went to the beautiful ancient walled city of Rothenberg. This city is one of the oldest surviving cities in all of Europe dating back to the 900s at least. It was awesome and so beautiful!!!

We all found our "men" here in Rothenberg.

We walked around Rothenberg and saw all the Christmas Markets that were set up all over the town. At the Christmas Markets they sell various things including christmas decorations, candles, purses, clothes and TONS of food! We also found a museum of the town that had a dungeon. We had some fun with that.

Besides the history, this city is famous for the year-round Christmas Store of Kathe Wohlfahrt. That place was HUGE!!! I snuck some pictures.

We got our dinner of crepes, bratwurst and kinder gluwine at the market. Before we got our dinner, Erin and I were arm wrestling at one of the standing tables in the middle of the square. Some older german man came up behind me and slapped my rear and started talking to us in german. We didn't understand him and he didn't understand us but he cheered us on in our game. It was hilarious!!

Our last part of the day was walking around the ancient wall that surrounds the city. It was so cool!! Such a great view and incredible to think of the history of the wall. There were some neat places to check out but because it was dark and very cold we decided to not go on extra adventures.

I think of the whole week, this place was my favorite. The Germans are just so much nicer than the French were. They are also louder and more friendly that the rest of Europe that I've seen. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to go to this old city and walk around. 

England: Week 25 Paris

Paris Day 2

We started off the day by going to the Louvre. This place is as big inside as it is outside. We had to really plan out what we wanted to see and really watch our time. Not only was the art amazing but the building was incredibly looking inside as well. We saw the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Code of Hammurabi, Psyche and Cupid among tons of others.

Our next stop was the Eiffel Tower. We went up to the middle section (the top was closed because of ice) and it was awesome!

 After we came down we were chased down by some street sales guys trying to sell us little Eiffel towers. They were intense. But we stuck to our guns and got them to bring down the prices.

 

Next we saw the Notre Dame.

Right outside of the Notre Dame is a monument that is the center of France.

Paris was awesome!!! We did so many things in such a short amount of time. Next stop Germany!!!

England: Week 25 Paris

Paris Day 1

As we were driving to Paris it started to snow. One thing I have learned is that Europe DOES NOT handle snow well at all. They freak out. We hit one of the biggest traffic jams in Paris history (according to news reports) and it took us FOREVER to get to our hotel. We figured there must have been a car accident for them to be stopping all the huge trucks. But no, they just didn't want the trucks driving on dust covered roads. The roads were not bad at all!

Our hotel was awesome! We were in an area of Paris called Val D'Europe. Right next to Disneyland and outside our place was an awesome mall that we spent a good amount of time in. 

We were excited about the snow... 

This is what it looked like the next morning.

We took the train and underground into the center of Paris. These trains were two levels! A few differences between Paris and London underground: Paris has 2 level trains! London's musicians are at the station in Paris they are ON the trains. Paris people beg for money on the train. The stations seem A LOT dirtier. Trash everywhere.

Day Two in Paris we got museum passes and went to see Monet's Water Lilies at Musée de l'Orangerie

Some random guy looking at art

 These are pictures I took outside of the Lourve. We went back the next day but I didn't get any outside pictures. So here is the outside :) I was in awe of the building! I mean... really.... This thing is HUGE!!!

Although the snow made for pretty pictures, it sure was cold!!!

We walked down the famous shopping street and also saw the Christmas Markets they had out. And being in a big city isn't complete without the street shows.

Our afternoon was spent at the Arc de Triomphe. We climbed the steps to the top and had a beautiful view of Paris.

Those who pass under will make it home safely :)

England: Week 25 London

Our week long Pre-Christmas adventure began in London on Friday night.

We found the Christmas Market at Hyde Park. It was great!!! Galaxy hot chocolate and German bratwurst.

My last time in London for this year. It was perfect! Got to see Big Ben and London covered in Christmas lights. We also found some awesome car shops.

England: Week 25 Birthday

 Erin is 19 years old!!! CRAZY!!! 

We celebrated by having a tea party at Kieri's house! It was a lot of fun to just hang out with the girls. I'm gonna miss these girls.

Kieri Kimble, Megan Mickenberg, Me, Erin and Alice Dominey

England: Week 23 & 24

Week 23 was pretty uneventful. Erin and I went Christmas Shopping in Norwich and found this really cute alley. Saturday we went Christmas Tree shopping in Elveden and LOVED it!

The shop we went to had Newfoundlands hitched to wagons. These really cute and very big dogs would pull the tree to your car. It was awesome!! Really made me think about how much I missed Buddy!

Week 24 was also pretty chill. Erin and I took a weekend babysitting job which was a lot of fun! We had four children who were absolutely wonderful. Being responsible for kids is a lot of work. I'm grateful they generally come one at a time rather than four all at once. :)

One highlight from the week was on December 7th. My little friend Elena turned 3 years old and her birthday just happened to fall on my mom's Relief Society presidency meeting so Elena came along as usual. I knew it was her birthday and was prepared with a present for her. Lets be honest, they were super cheap gifts. I probably spent $5 max on her. Stickers and color pencils and a paper doll house.  After she opened her gift (which was wrapped in a pink bag) she very cutely said thank you and asked me if I could get her the same thing next year. :D How can you say no to that?

Fleming Family Christmas Letter 2010

Click on picture to enlarge.

If you wish to send the Flemings (Steve, Phyllis and Kelli) mail send it to:

Flemings

PSC 41 Box 2431

APO, AE 09464

*FYI to mail/ship things to this address costs the same as mailing/shipping to a United States address.

England: Week 22 - Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving Day: London

It may not look it, but it was FREEZING!!!

Near the Christmas Market

We spent more of our time the week leading up to this playing Star Wars Lego Wii so seeing this guy was AWESOME!!!

Activity 1: SeaLife (London Aquarium)

Fishies

I found NEMO!!!

Sharks :)

Activity 2: Stomp (West End)

It was INCREDIBLE!!!!!
The show started at 3 and by the time we got out it was dark.
Weeks after this show we still randomly bang on stuff around the house (and especially at the dinner table)

Activity 3: Harrods... biggest.... store... ever.

We also felt really poor and trashy in there with all of the expensive stuff.
This store has everything: jewelry, clothes, purses, dishes, meats, breads, toys, decorations,  and who knows what else!

Underground picture.

Friday, dad and I went back to London to do some more research for my internship.

I was touching documents that were older than the United States!!! It was awesome!!!