A benefit to living in an international hub is the accessibility to reasonable flights - both price and travel time. Staying true to our upbringing in the Midwest, we were hankering for some cold weather and decided to venture to a place that would feel a bit more like Christmas. We landed on Prague, a vibrant city during Christmas. With great outdoor markets, delicious Czech food, beautiful and historic architecture and great music; Prague lived up to all of our expectations. As you can see from the pictures, we had a wonderful first Christmas together in a beautiful city! While we missed some of our favorite aspects of the Christmas holiday, (family, friends, & memories) we were able to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.. And that remains the same no matter where you are!
Then it was to India for the New Year - talk about dynamic differences. When we moved to Dubai, we expected some culture shock... But it was nothing compared to adjusting to a visit in New Delhi. A few things about India: The pollution can be intense - even in the airport it was cloudy with smog. The traffic is insanely hectic; there are 24 million people in this city, twice the number of folks in New York City. Cars share the roads with lots of motorcyclists, tuk tuks, rickshaw bicycles, horses, cows, camels, and monkeys. However, India has beautiful historical buildings (palaces, mosques, mausoleums) and great markets. We spent one morning riding on a rickshaw through the Old Delhi markets, which was a really cool experience. It is amazing the work ethic, perseverance, and ingenuity these folks must use to be successful in their day-to-day endeavors. For example, the famous electric wire filled streets, their means to getting electricity. We were excited to check off our 2nd world wonder together; the Taj Mahal was truly an incredible sight to see.
We are enjoying out time here in Dubai, we are frequently asked "what do you like most about it?" It is an easy answer for us, we like the simplicity of life here and the quality time we get to spend together during this first year of marriage. Our jobs are going well, and Luke has built some great relationships in the office. We recently joined a small group with our church and are really looking forward to what the Lord is going to teach us through those relationships and studies. We are excited for the diverse perspectives we will see in this group. We are also looking forward to moving to the beach next week! Thank you for all your prayers and support!
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St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle |
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Vltava River Cruise - St. Charles Bridge in the Background |
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Beautiful Streets of Prague |
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Had to take a picture on the St. Charles Bridge |
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Christmas Markets at Old Town Square |
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We really enjoyed the beautiful scenery everywhere we looked! |
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Astronomical Clock at Old Time Square
Installed in 1410 - this is the oldest Astronomical Clock, still working, in the world today. |
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We went on a search for the American Embassy! |
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Stairway from the Prague Castle to Lesser Town Quarter |
We LOVED The Food in Prague...
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Sausages, Sausages, Sausages |
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Pork Schnitzel - Just Like Uncle Larry Makes It |
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Traditional Czech Christmas Meal Duck and Cabbage |
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The Most Amazing Homemade Fruit Curd Cheese Dumplings Ever!
Cafe Savoy |
Then to India We Went...
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Famous Electrical Wire Filled Streets of Old Delhi - Chandni Chowk |
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Typical Intersection in India |
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Rickshaw Ride Through Old Delhi |
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The Traditional Saree Dress |
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Humayun's Tomb - New Delhi |
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India Gate - Honorary Monument to the Fallen Soldiers |
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Red Fort - New Delhi |
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Beautiful Lotus Temple |
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Best for Last.. the Taj Mahal - Agra, India
The Bench is the "Princess Diana" bench, as it was brought in just for her visit in 1992 |
Oh.. Can't Forget The Animals of India...
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Bovinae |
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Buffalo |
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Monkeys |