Note: I promised to have this page up 3 weeks ago and until today (20 September) haven't hit a lick.  I'll get it done soon, I promise.  Coming not too long aftert this page gets done: photos from Ireland! Ooooh! Aaaah!

Savannah

    After Kelly and I got married in Las Vegas on March 28 (this was of course the "official" wedding, the courthouse wedding to get her into the Army system so I could take her to Europe took place in Huachuca City, Arizona, on New Year's Eve), we flew into Savannah for four days there and on Tybee Island.  We had a great time eating seafood (especially at Elizabeth on 37th), walking around Savannah, shopping (of course), and seeing the sights.  I hadn't been to Savannah for years, so it was nice going back as an adult after going so many times as a kid.
 
 

Tybee Island

Atlanta

    After leaving Arizona in May, we stopped in Atlanta for a week to spend some time with my family.  The photos below were taken during our visit to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  The glass pieces are part of a unique exhibition, "Chihuly in the Garden."  Dale Chihuly (known by many gamblers as the guy who decorated the lobby ceiling of Bellagio Las Vegas with hundreds of blown glass flowers) worked to integrate his glass works with the natural elements in the garden.  Beautiful stuff.
 

Detail of the fountain installation		Reflection of a piece in the Fuqua Conservatory

Heidelberg

    As soon as we arrived in Germany at the beginning of June, we were living out of suitcases in  tiny room with a shared bathroom in the American Arms Hotel in Wiesbaden.  Not bad for free accomodation (or at least paid for), but it wasn't exactly home.  Thankfully, we were rescued by Bailey and Angie Brown and whisked away to scenic Heidelberg for the weekend to see the lighting of the castle (and to perhaps have a beer or two).  Silliness ensued.  I think you'll see where things started to go off track.*
 
 

Heidelberg Castle, across the old bridge
* Yeah, it was here.

Würzburg

    The next weekend proved to be a bit more . . . sane.  Kelly and I hopped a train to Würzburg to see Brad, Anja, and Amelie Best.  This was the third time in four years I'd been to Würzburg; it won't be the last.  Not quite as much silliness ensued here as in Heidelberg, but not for lack of trying.
 
 

München (Munich)

    For the Fourth of July weekend, we teamed up with the Browns once again and drove down to München for a nice four-day weekend.  We stayed in a lovely little hotel downtown, the Tannenbaum (yes, the Hotel Christmas Tree -- it was nowhere near as seedy as it should have been), and saw the sights, including the Asamkirche (also known as St. Johann-Nepomuk), Rezidenz (Bavarian royal palace, decorated in fine rococo style), the Englischer Garten, Schloß Nymphenburg, the Neues and Moderne Pinakotek (new and modern art museums), and, of course, the Hofbräuhaus.  Fun was had by all, and a concerted effort was made to cut down on zany photos.
 
 

Inside the Asamkirche
	Inside the Rezidenz

Köln (Cologne)

    Although the Army always throws an extra holiday in with federal holidays to make a four-day weekend for soldiers, US Army Europe also has an extra training holiday every quarter.  Since I missed the one in August, I got a 3-day pass for the next weekend, and Kelly and I ventured out alone (gasp!) to experience Köln.  We had a great time, did the ubiquitous shopping, toured the Dom, and  had a great time.  My only complaint: it's almost impossible to get a good half liter of beer there.  Kölners love their kolsch, a light, bubbly beer, and they apparently like it in very small quantities, making it hard for a guy who prefers a half liter of dunkle hefeweisen to get a decent beer.  I blame the French, who invaded under Napoleon and occupied the city for a little too long.
 
 

Inside the Dom	Headless moms, this way.	Recycled chandelier
Watch for headless moms . . . with afros?