Romania

I spent a few days in Romania, the first country I visited from the former Soviet-aligned Eastern Bloc.  Though 15 years passed since Nicolae Ceaușescu the former dictator died by firing squad, Bucharest still appeared scarred.

I visited Peles Castle, set in the Carpathian Mountains and created in intricate detail by the first King of Romania in the late 1800s.

This castle sat in contrast to the "People's Palace," the second largest building in the world behind the Pentagon and located in Bucharest.  The dictator forced Romanians to build this structure in just a few years. 

Soccer Season

Soccer started.  Twice a week we (well, mostly Dave) drive the kids 40 minutes to Wiesbaden, the military base, for practice.  Their games are on Friday evenings.  Our lack of German language skills prevents the kids from playing on a local team.  Owen had his first game last week and Emily had a bye.  "If we win, I get to have ice cream tonight, but if we lose, no ice cream, " says the five year old.

Atrani, Italy

The next afternoon, we took the ferry to Atrani, a small town on the Amalfi coast.  We spent the next six nights in their three room apartment tucked 200 stairs up into the mountain.

Owen loved walking the stairs each day.

We enjoyed excellent pizza and Parmesan cheese,

as we looked out the apartment window.

We spent the days on the black sand beach.

We spent one evening in Positano, a famous town where stars dock their yachts.

A great end to summer!