British Scientist in the Making

If you can believe it, there's a school club that Dad is not running -- the recently concluded Science Club at Western Road School, run by another parent Dr. Allison Lansley. Here, Eleanor is making a volcano. She even got to keep the lab coat -- very cool!

Wir Sind Berliners

I've been to Germany once before in a wonderful trip with my mother and daughter in the summer of 2005. We saw a lot of the southwest, including a good deal of Bavaria. Let's just say Berlin is not really like that part of Germany - AT ALL. Now, given the history, we understand why it feels like any anonymous American city, especially since we were staying in the East. Here, you can enjoy a view of the Alexanderplatz McDonald's. How Glen got a shot of it amidst all the Burger Kings, Dunkin' Donuts, Subways and Starbucks I'll never know.

Well, we found the historic parts too. Here we are at the Brandenburg Tor (gate) which is where the wall first came down and this is the symbol of a united Germany. One of these guys is alive, and one not. The live one freaked the kids out so that we had to do this picture alone.

Finally, what would a trip to a former communist city be without the requisite Marxist statue? Here is Eleanor with some new German Fulbright friends from Sacramento, CA climbing on Karl Marx's lap, while Engels stands watch.

The Real Tower of London

So, after the Eiffel Tower trip, we went to London to see the real Tower (or should I say tower(s) as there are more than 20) of London. Here you can see our own personal Beefeater who gave the tour. It's quite a realistic-sounding tour, as it actually scared Robert to hear about all the drawing and quartering.

Here's some changing of the guard ceremony where you see the crown jewels -- on a moving sidewalk, lest you dawdle too long. Finally, below, the kids and I are on the walk near the Thames near the Tower bridge which has NOTHING to do with the Tower of London (which was a 'working' military castle and prison) except that it is close by. And it's pretty.