Roma!

I think I'm almost recovered from my Rome trip.  My feet aren't going to forgive me though. 2 weekends in a row of 10hr days walking.  My dogs are killing me!!!!

First, there were a lot of pictures from Rome (600+), so instead of a single Rome, Italy album, there are about 11.  There is still a Rome Italy album with some miscellaneous pictures, but I ended up putting each big 'thing' in its own album. As usual, a lot of snarky comments from yours truly.

http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.hecht

Also, I'm starting to upload my movies to my youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/derekhecht

They will slowly trickle up over the next day or two.  There are 12+ and they take time to upload.

All I can say is wow!  Unfortunately I didn't get to see the Sistene Chapel or Pompei, but they can always be for future trips :)

My feet are killing me!!!!

Okay everybody, I just had an absolutely tiring/incredible weekend. This was my long weekend, and I managed to see Nice, Marseilles, and Avignon France.  Started off with a nice 7 hour drive through the Swiss Alps (there is a photo album just for that) getting to Nice France.  Made a quick trip to Cannes for a little bit. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to   Île Sainte-Marguerite.  as the last boat left about 2 hours before I got there. I was really hoping to go, as this is where the man in the iron mask was held.  In 20/20 this would have been the only thing worth seeing in Cannes.  With Cannes done, I returned to Nice to spend Thursday night and Friday in Nice. Friday I met up with a friend Pam who I had met at another friends wedding (Rich). We spent the day in Nice, and then drove over to Marseilles for dinner Friday night.  She returned to Aix-en-Provence Friday night, but I stayed in Marseilles all Saturday walking like a lunatic wearing my feet down to nubs (Did I say ow!). After a busy busy day in Marseilles, I promptly passed out and left for Switzerland Sunday morning.  With some prodding, I ended up stopping off in Avignon on the way back. It was sunday so not much was open, but I did walk about a bit.  Got back on the road for the remainder of my 11 1/2 hr drive back.  Combination of heavy traffic and the slight delay.

 All in all, an amazing weekend. Pictures have been placed on my picasa web site  picasaweb.google.com/derek.hecht  .   New albums, Swiss Alps, Nice, Marseilles, Avignon.

Next weekend, Rome!

Two posts in a day!!

I realized I didn't have any photos showing the way into Estavayer, so earlier today I limped up to the entrance to take some... Way too much walking yesterday :(

Decided to take pictures showing from just entering to get to the hotel.  It was a whole lot of the fun first time driving in.  I'm glad I don't get freaked out by narrow roads.

Also, I changed some of the cover photos for the albums, no changes to the contents. Can't remember if I mentioned it, but I now have two specialized albums: Landscapes and Cows. I think with the landscapes I'm gonna try to get fancy with some editing effects (as fancy as I can get :)

htttp://picasaweb.google.com/derek.hecht

Basel and the surrounding area...

So I went to Basel, Switzerland yesterday. Before hand, though, I stopped off in Augusta Raurica.  It the largest ruins of a Roman town in Switzerland.  It's about 15 minutes outside of Basel. Then it was a whole lot of time in Basel, walking from one part of the town to the other. It's pretty cool, as the Rhine river cuts the town in half.  Apparently, hundreds of years ago, the northern half was the poor area and the lower half was the rich part. One the way back stopped off in Rheinfelden on a whim. It's a little town that is right on the Rhine river right across from germany.  The German border was right there. It was pretty cool.

pictures on

http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.hecht

My first youtube posting :/

I just posted my first video to you tube. And no, it is not a video of me running into a wall, or falling down drunk, or drinking a glass of Tabasco sauce :)

Its a video I took in Avenche, Switzerland where they have the remains of an old roman amphitheatre.  Not quite the same as being there, but a video is the next best thing. 

Hope you enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3lBrfnU-pE

Cows and Swans!!!!

Due to popular command, I now have a on-line photo album for cows! The first two or three photos are from right off the base where I am working.  The rest are from Cow Fest 2010!!!! Actually, this isn't the name, it's a local fair that just happens to be going on in Estavayer.  Just this weekend to.  Cows from the local farms being auctioned off, kettle carmel (mmmm), desserts, and absinthe :/  Weird combination, huh?

No traveling this weekend, due to rain. Has been a constant rain all days yesterday and today and I didn't want to be walking around somewhere getting wet and then catching a cold.  So local pictures and me planning my trips.  I'm off to Rome! Got my train ticket and my hotel reservations for the weekend of the the 24th.  Other than the Colloseum, I have absolutely no idea what I'll be seeing yet.  But luckily, I will be getting there friday about 7 and won't be leaving till monday about 2, so I should have time to see just about everything that I put on my list.

I've also added some photos to the Estavayer album. I think I'm going to create a part 2 shortly. The weather is really starting to change and once this rain disappears I think we are going to be pretty close to summer. 

Until next time!