Any Dutch/American couples??

[marieke 1]

i bet you will, i bet Pat will be wanting to go everywhere! the US is so pretty and opposite from europe! i hate it when people dont want to go to the US 'because it not their thing'! they have never been! i have travelled many places all around the workd and its way up there for me! Every country is different. I think partly it was maybe the Bush-hatred. Which is unfair if thats a reason. Maybe now that we have obama people will come. What do you think?

[lizandpat 0]

Hmm, its funny to hear people from Europe think/thought about the US the way some American's think/thought about Europe. I lived in Germany for 4 years and used to get so mad at the American's living on the military post when they would say "it's so boring here....or there's nothing to do" I'm like WHAT??? Are you nuts?? You LIVE IN EUROPE!!!

I think your right though...a big part of it was how much people disliked Bush. We'll see how it is now, but I think it'll change some.

And Pat and I have already talked about all the places we want to go......we want to take Jessie and see the country!

Edited February 27, 2009 by lizandpat

[paul. 0]

I super love road trips, just not the driving LOL. We did Jackson, MS as my in-laws live just south of there. Beautiful scenery, we drove via Arkansas and stopped in Little Rock and Tennessee where we stopped for the night in Memphis on another trip down. The last time we went, we took back-roads back through Louisiana, now that was up there with my best adventures ever and with having served in the Army, I've been a lot of places worth seeing in peacetime. I think my most favorite place so far has to be Colorado, purely because I love skiing and mountain flying is just amazing. I'm not sure if Washington State is like British Columbia, but British Columbia in Canada is my world favorite place. I kayaked down the Kanaskis river for a week from Banff to Vancouver area, absolutely amazing!

As for relationships, we will make it through. We are strong, it's just hard work. but then after all this is done, we'll be very strong as how many normal people have to do all of this to be together. It makes it all very special and that is something to be proud of in this day and age, effort to maintain a relationship.

[Peet 1]

Jack and I are planning a lot of trips, he wants to see Europe, Prague will be our first trip I think.

And I would like to see the US. There are so many beautiful places out there, I fear we won't have enough time to see it all.

To my surprise I liked our visit to Philadelphia a lot, this while I like living out in the country a lot. The few years I lived in a city, yuck. But I love going on trips, love seeing new sights. Mainly because I discovered photography a few years ago and that learned me how to pay attention to details.

I do notice that when things get stressful ( work and other not relationship related stuff ) it is hard not to unload with the other. Maybe because it is saver to do it with each other than at work for example.

Until now we both managed to pull each other out of a bad mood, but sometimes it takes an awful lot.

But you are right Paul, by the time things do work out, we will be so much stronger for it.

Edited February 27, 2009 by Peet

[lizandpat 0]

Paul....You know something, Kourtni is one lucky girl! You remind me a lot of Patrick....(maybe's it the Dutch side of you?? lol!) ...he is just so different than any man I've ever know. I was previously married for 15 years and it was just plain bad...when I met Patrick, I was wary at first because I didn't want to be hurt again, but he has shown me what a real relationship is like. He's show me how it is to be really loved, cherished and treated like an equal...not someone he can walk all over just because I'm his woman. We both know that we will have our hard times, but we know that after being through all of this to be together that we will have one of the strongest relationships ever! All of us here know what it's like being away from our loved one's and knowing that soon we'll be together is what keeps us going I think.

Anyway...sorry for taking off...LOL!

I haven't traveled much here in the USA (YET!)...I did a road trip with 2 co-workers once. We drove from Texas to northern Alabama....going through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and that was nice. Seeing all the different big towns I'd always heard of...hehe! Most of my traveling was done in Europe....I went to Austria, France, Chzech Republic and ALL over Germany and had the most amazing time!

[marieke 1]

i think we all agree on how strong we will be and how the waiting game makes it all the more exciting with some obstacles on the way!

I would LOVE to go to Cananda Paul! Banff NP has been my dream since high school. I made 2 of my travel dreams come true and the feeling was so good: Corcovado in Rio and cross Thailand in a train.

Thomas wants to do more Europe of course. When we first met (in London) i bought him and me a plane ticket to Helsinki. It was a great deal. We then even added Holland to the trip! He now really wants to go to Rome and Spain. All in good time. I think him and i will end up living in Europe.

[lizandpat 0]

Oh....I've always thought Rio would be beautiful!!! I wouldn't mind visiting some of the Carribbean too!

[Peet 1]

well, this is something we don't have in the Netherlands

and it is one of the differences that I love exploring

[lizandpat 0]

well, this is something we don't have in the Netherlands

and it is one of the differences that I love exploring

hehe...that looks like downtown San Antonio! Where was that taken at, Peet?

[Peet 1]

That is the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.

My first taste of skyscrapers. I loved it.

As I said, I am not a city person, but I loved Philadelphia.

In April we will visit Washington DC and at one point, Jack wants to show me NYC.

He lived there for a while.

[lizandpat 0]

That is the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.

My first taste of skyscrapers. I loved it.

As I said, I am not a city person, but I loved Philadelphia.

In April we will visit Washington DC and at one point, Jack wants to show me NYC.

He lived there for a while.

Very cool! I've never been up north....I do want to go though! I hope you plan to take tons of pics while your in DC and NYC!!!

[Peet 1]

you won't have to say that twice.

I don't carry a purse like most women do, I have my camera with me all the time.

Anyone else keeping an eye on Igor's list?

I try not to, but now and than I take a peek.

Loved what I saw today, we went all the way up to 357

Edited February 28, 2009 by Peet

[paul. 0]

I do think Dutch people have a certain je ne sais quoi that makes them unlike other nations in being liberal and laid back. But my Father always taught me to live like with a couple of ground rules:

- always treat people how you'd like to be treated. I do, I'm pretty blunt and to the point about things and am reasonably caring for a guy.

- never lie, even if it gets you in trouble. I pride myself on the fact I have never even told a white lie to Kourtni and know I never need to as she trusts me.

- never marry a woman with more tattoos than you ...I failed, as I don't have any, so I was always at a loss haha. She has 3 small tattoos in hidden areas, I'm not a big fan, but hey!

After those, my own rules through experience have been that a relationship must have 50/50 for it to be great and communication is key to a successful marriage or long-term relationship. I was married once before, it wasn't great, but it taught me how not to have a relationship. Now I apply those lessons with zest and we've done great so far. Just this bickering through being apart, but we'll get over it for sure. In fact, we have done OK with just skype video chat the last few days.

Traveling wise, Marieke, the Far East and South America have been the 2 populated continents of the world that I haven't visited but would love to. I want to climb to Machu Picchu still, I'd love to visit Hong Kong and I would really like to go on an Arctic expedition. But in reality, now we're US-bound, I have a list for in-country for me to visit first. Yellowstone park and "old faithful", Seattle, San Fransisco, Washington DC Capitol building, New Orleans French Quarter, a space shuttle launch at the kennedy space center, Reno Air Races and Air Venture in Wisconsin. Also, we have family in Wilmington Beach, NC, so that is another one. To see both oceans and the GOM. Haha, I better stop writing now as I could go on and on, I'm excited about life!

[paul. 0]

Sorry for the double post, but if we're showing photos I am an amateur photographer just starting out with a D-SLR, so images aren't great quality:

My yards resident lizard, I sunbathe with him when it's nice weather. Hope to see him back this year.

The American Memorial at Bastogne, Belgium. This is the view from the crypt on to the monument. Very moving.

This is a rotating wall cloud that became a tornado about 2 minutes after this, about 1.5 miles away from us. This is the biggest one I have seen so far, it was raining heavily so it's a bad image and I've doctored it slightly to show cloud contrast better. No one was hurt by it, we live very remote.

Edited February 28, 2009 by paul.

[marieke 1]

Ooh Macchu Pichu would be so great. One of my closest friends is from Lima and she lives in London. I am waiting for her to move back home so i get the real tour! Its great to combine it with the SaltFlats in Bolivia, great deal for not that much more (sorry old habit, used to be a travel agent!) Its always best to know somebody there and live with them a little. I was able to do this in NYC, KL, Thailand, Philippines, Oz and Brasil. I would stay 3-5 weeks. London is so great for getting deals on flights! I worked in a youth hostel most of my time there and i had 32 holidays a year. So with time on my hands, discounts in hostels all over the world and good deals on flights i really took advantage of that. Great way to meet people.

Ever since i got here we have been camping and roadtripping. I did some of the things you mentioned. New Orleans is so beautiful, definately take some tours. Even the ghost tours are fun! Make sure you go at least 2 days. Since one night you will drinks hurricanes and handgranates... Washington was great, i walked everywhere. And i love undergrounds so that was a real plus! I travelled there with a friend on the greyhound from NY. I saw a rocket launch, unfortunately not a space shuttle. The experience was amazing and i can only imagine the power of a shuttle. I lived in in Orlando for 6 months so i travelled a lot in FLA, but also GA and SC. I love the south! For me SF, Chicago, Portland (OR), Philly and Colorado are my next wishes.

I used to travel alone, visit friend and really backpack. Now i LOVE sharing it with my Thomas. We have one place we both really want to go and thats India. Any of you ever been? Thomas is a Ghandi fan so wants to walk the steps Ghandi did.