Telescopes at the Top of the World

Because of same strange warp in the space-time continuum, many of us that used to live in the Netherlands now live in California.  We made the trip to LA to visit some of our awesome friends from the Netherlands, in a much warmer, much sunnier local.

Bram and I with Harish, Andrew, and Robyn

During our trip we made the voyage to Mount Wilson, high in the mountains overlooking LA.

Mount Wilson has some amazing and historical telescopes.  Thanks to its location high above the LA smog, the viewing here is still pretty good.   The biggest of the telescopes here is the 100 inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world until 1949.  (And for a point - what telescope surpassed it?)

This is the telescope that Edwin Hubble used made his discoveries that galaxies, then believed to be nebula rather than independent star systems, were actually receding from Earth - leading to observational evidence that the Universe is expanding.

These telescopes are the perfect size to be mounted on my house!  (hint hint!)

Enjoying the brisk clear air.

The solar observatory is also pretty neat.  It's located on the top of an 18 meter tower.  An image of the magnified sun is projected at the bottom of the tower on a table.

Looking over LA, Harish, Andrew, and Bram.

My Husband and the Wave

Our trip across the country was finally complete when we stuck our toes in the Pacific Ocean.  Our friend Shasta, who came all the way from Scotland, joined us for a trip down to the beach - specifically Half Moon Bay.  

The waves were especially large, and I have the feeling they only grow larger as the winter approaches!

We wanted some nice pictures with the waves...

But the knowledge of those giant waves just behind us kept us watching our backs.

We all know how this story ends - with my husband getting soaked.  

Still, that doesn't stop him.

He's so brave...

Shasta and Bram in the waves.

 Nothing but the beautiful beach before us...

And at the end of the day - wildlife!  A whole group of dolphins swim by, temporarily transfixing all those standing on the beach.

So Many Flags...

As our European adventure is coming to an end, it is time to return to the United States - for good this time.  To kick of our return, we are embarking on an epic road trip across the country.  And as we travel, it's giving me ample opportunity to have some reverse culture shock.

So, what are the things that stand out to me when I first return?

The first - flags are everywhere here.

Maybe it was because we were in rural East Coast small towns.  Maybe these towns are holding onto their unbridled colonial enthusiasm.

Every house has a flag.  Every store, every post office.  We would sometimes drive down roads that had a flag on every phone pole.

In Europe, the only place that I know that loves their flag as much is England, which has used its flag as a design for pillows, pants, even the paint jobs for cars.  In continental Europe, not so much.  The only times an abundance of flags are seen is during the World Cup or other football matches.  Some have hypothesized that an overabundance of flags can illustrate overwhelming nationalism, something that partially led to the tragedies of WWII.  In any case, I think I saw the flag for the US or the UK more often than I saw any other flag, even the flags of the countries I lived in.  

The Most Dutch of Days

It's been hot here in the Netherlands - getting into the low 30s (the high 80s / low 90s).  It may not seem too hot to you, but in the Netherlands, it's humid and there is no air conditioning, which means that sometimes inside the house is hotter than outside.  And there is no relief, not even at night, when temperatures inside the house raise to 32 and won't go down for days.

On one of these hot days, we decided to get out of the city, actually looking for wind (in the form of a nice breeze from the North Sea) by taking out bikes and going on a bike ride that almost reached the North Sea.

Bram, with friends Ivona and Harish, as we just begin the trek.

As we head out, we realize that this will be the most Dutch of rides, as we head out along a narrow path along one of the major canals, typically used to bring cargo in from the sea.

A cargo ship.

Then turning north, heading along yet another canal.

Check out the sign... cows ahead.

Let's just say the sign did not disappoint.

Which later led to this awesome picture - can this get more Dutch?

Local wildlife.

Finally, we reach the location of our lunch - placed near another windmill!

View from the windmill, over a bridge that crosses the canal, that works via cantilever.

Bridge rising.

Bram ordered a "salad".  It was mostly meat.

Back on the bike ride, Harish and Bram talk while biking.

And I take pictures while biking!  Haha!

Trees along a road.

A field of anti-Bram.

We reach a cute, tiny town, that is having its market day.

Even the trees are happy here.

More wildlife, this time in action!

Turning back to Groningen.

We took this ride on the Forth of July.  And who else did we run into but the Statue of Liberty!  What?  That's crazy!  A statue of Liberty in the middle of the Dutch countryside!!!

And other less patriotic statues...