Monday, June 6, 2011

Tabitha's Non-European Adventures: The Final Installment

I have been a little behind on the blogging and I am finally trying to catch up.  Here is the last installment of my Asia trip, with a few more random pictures than the previous posts.  To encourage you to keep looking, the following interesting images include my FEEDING ELEPHANTS BREAKFAST (the highlight of the trip), drinking out of a coconut, stupid touristy photos, and the worst-dressed tourist!


What have we always said is the most important thing?
Breakfast.
Family.

Oh, right. Family. I thought you meant of the things you eat.  

Delicious coconut juice.

Tourist Tabitha

Nose to nose with a Buddha 

No words can describe this.

Put your feet into a fish tank and
have the fish eat your dead skin.

Elephant shrubbery!
I can't wait until I have my own garden.

A&W root beer in a frosty mug
in Thailand!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Pisa

Both of us are working for the European project VERE which has partners in places such as Porto and Pisa. Approximately every six months we have to get together and discuss the work that each of the partners has done and is going to do.  This requires that we all meet at a location hosted by one of the project members.  Last December we had to go to Porto and for this meeting we were required to visit Pisa.  It is a tough life.  


Dave found some tower in Pisa
and head-butted it...

Since the tower was now leaning
over to one side, we decided to investigate.

It is a quite disorienting experience climbing the tower,
as you are constantly shifting from one side to the other,
and the marble steps are very worn.

You can get some great views of the
rest of Pisa from the top.

Another great view!

The cathedral next to the tower is also quite nice.

It feels as much a museum as a church.

We also visited the baptistry,
which is renowned for its acoustic properties,
that are demonstrated for visitors.

The facade of the cathedral viewed
from the baptistry.

A view of the baptistry and the tower
from an entrance gate.

You know you are in Italy when
you find pasta vending machines.

Pisa is also famous for its Scottish pubs...
What?