Callaway Gardens, GA

This weekend the girls in my family took a weekend trip to Callaway Gardens in Georgia. It is basically a huge resort with tons of gardens, lakes, and biking trails. The butterfly garden was fantastic and really fun to photograph.

To see each photo enlarged just click on the image and it will open in another window.


My sister with the HUGE sunflowers

Prague - Day 20 [the end of my journey!]

It was our last day! We wrapped up with a bunch of souvenir shopping and packing. Here are some pictures from our last dinner together. There was LOTS of fun had...




Jiri got us a cake!!! He also gave us little calenders with Prague on it and Prague puzzles to do on the plane. We love Jiri!!!







Our crazy "chaperons"

We all got Garnet rings!





Tomorrow I board my plane for the USA. Sad to be leaving but I've made a lot of priceless memories. When I think about the fact that I've traveled half way across Europe on a bus with some crazy people and seen some inspiring sights it makes me want to do it all over again. BUT... I'm ready to see all the people I've missed, start a new job, and catch up on some photography projects. Say a prayer for safe travels!!! Bye!

Mary Lauren

Prague - Day 19

Yesterday we left our hotel (awesomeness shown below) bright and early for our planned tour day. I was excited to do some things off the beaten path.


Our first stop was a World War II Memorial for the town of Lidice which was destroyed during Nazi occupation. This statue is of the 82 children who were killed either in concentration camps or gas chambers. It was extremely moving to see all their faces, so life like and haunting. It just reminds me how we will never understand the extent of devastation of the second World War.





There was also a very well designed museum which showed actual footage of the destruction of the town and letters the Lidice children had written from the concentration camps. The few children that did survive spoke for a documentary that was also playing there. Most of them were sent to orphanages and adopted by German parents. By the time they were able to see their destroyed homeland they had forgotten every bit of Czech.


But on to some happier news... Did I mention we got to ride in a '59 Skota?? Our bus driver, Peter, and his dad restored it. There are only two in the Czech Republic that have been restored. People had some pretty funny double takes when we passed them.


Here is Peter in the driver's seat in his authentic Skota driver's uniform.



Then it was onto a crystal factory. I was super excited because I had never seen glass blown before.


This is one of the molds they use.




30% of the glass has to be thrown away because there are too many bubbles.


My favorite part was watching the glass cutters. They have to be so precise!



Our last stop was Karlstegn Castle which was up in the mountains and SUPER cold. I'm talking 40 degree weather in the summer. We were all freezing our butts off because no one brought winter coats. It was nice, but unfortunately I can't show you pictures because it wasn't allowed. I hate these rules!


By the way - Mary Lyn and I have been collecting pictures of Czech words ending in "y". We are easily amused. Exhibit A -


Exhibit B - "wow"


I will try to post a few more from today because tomorrow we leave for the U.S! I'm ready to be back but after looking at all my pictures I want to come again for sure.

Mary Lauren

Prague - Day 18

This morning we took a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. During World War II it was a Jewish Ghetto.

Here is a statue of Devorak (a famous Czech composer) and all the music students and Dean Curtis. She said she needed something for the bulletin board :)
The New Old Synagogue


The Jewish Cemetery where 20,000 people are buried. There are only 12,000 tombstones because they had to start putting new graves on top when they ran out of room. Crazy!


The Jews have a tradition of putting a stone or coin on top of a gravestone when they visit it. This one is also stuffed with prayers.

Inside one of the Synagogue were drawings from the children of Terezine - a transit ghetto.

Afterwards a few of us decided to visit the famous clock tower in the Old Town square. Every hour there are figures that move in it.

The figures circled around the windows.


Then when the line died down we decided to climb it.


Inside the really really fancy elevator.


I love all these great views of the city.


I had to take this over the side without looking down. I'm realizing more and more that Mom passed down her fear of heights to me.





On the top of the clock tower! After this I had to cling to the side of the building for dear life!


Next stop was St.Vitus Church... there are funny guards.


This was one of the first churches we could take pictures in so I took full advantage.





Immediate following this picture a security guard chased us down to tell us we shouldn't destroy national treasures by sitting on them... oops. It was worth it for the picture!

Wonderful concert tonight in St.Nicholas Church... look down to see the program if you're a classical geek.




Now that I am FINALLY caught up on my blogging I am going to bed. We have a full day tomorrow of planned touring and including a crystal factory :) don't want to be sleepy! Night!

Mary Lauren