RV

Weekend in Stuttgart / Esslingen

2009-01-25T16:09:00.006-05:00

My final weekend in Europe as my project has come to a close. I felt it was poetic to spend my last weekend in Germany as the only other time I had done that was my first weekend in Europe which is now over 10 months ago. The weekend was low key and very cold. Basically spent it taking in the Christmas fesitivals all over Stuttgart and Esslingen, which is a neighboring town only 20 minutes away.
Aside from that, I did run into a bunch of Stuttgart soccer players who were staying in my hotel the weekend they played Bayern Munich. Huge game with lots of excitment in the air. Very fun to see people's expressions as they run into these players in the hotel. Most of them are in absolute awe. Below are some photos from the weekend of December 12th, 2008:

4th Annual Camping Retreat to Cavendish, Vermont

2008-12-21T18:48:00.005-05:00

What started off as a small weekend camping trip, now over 5 years ago, has evolved into an annual excursion where close friends from all over gather to attend. I'll be the first to admit that I'm no outdoorsman, but there's something quite refreshing and liberating spending time in an isolated area away from daily distractions. Couple that with some great friends, good food and a little alcohol and we have a memorable event. Here are some photos from our 4th annual camping retreat in Cavendish, Vermont. Photos were taken from the weekend of November 14th, 2008.

Quick stop at McDonalds for some low grade food as we make our way to Vermont:

Getting set-up:

Oh, yes. That's a mining light on my head. Well worth the $30 investment:

I bunked with my buddy Brian. Really roughed it with a queen size deluxe airmatress, seating area and welcome mat:

Breakfast is served:

Relaxing...

Cooking up some pork....mmmmm

My sis and brother in law:

Board games and chatting were out major activites...

Devious smiles all around:

Clean up and go home:

NBA Game + VIP Treatment = Goodtimes

2008-11-19T21:21:00.013-05:00

A close friend (Rob) and client of mine recently reached out to me to invite me to attend an NBA game. It's been years since I attended one so I kindly accepted his generous offer. I brought my sister along and he brought his cousin. Rob chauffeured us in his beautiful Audi A8 and we chatted the entire way. Before we arrived at the arena, we made a quick stop at the Nets headquarters in East Rutherford as Rob's Net's representative said he had a gift waiting there for him. It was a typical business building with cubicles and offices galore. However, the big differentiator was the ridiculous amount of NBA memorabilia all over the place. It was a sport nuts paradise. Anyway, Rob was given a really nice team chair that's actually used by the players in their home games. What's the big deal you might say? Well, it was signed by NBA superstar Vince Carter. How cool is that?

The night only got better once we arrived at the arena. Special VIP parking and ticket entrance, so no lines at all. Then to the VIP lounge where we were greeted by a massive all you can eat buffet. I actually ran into 1986 Slam Dunk Champion and former NBA star, Spud Web. Very cool stuff. After our binge, we were escorted to our seats. Ground level, right at the corner of the court, near the visiting team's locker room. The seats were amazing! Good times. Even my sister who could care less about basketball loved the experience. Thanks for the treat Rob.

The following are photos from the event, taken on November 12th, 2008:

Rob and I just after raiding the buffet:

Here's a view of the court from our seats. We had personal monitors that were playing the game, with replays, which also had other channels that provided statistical data on the game:

My sister an I just living it up:

For all you non NBA fans, that's Jeff Foster standing right in front of us. He's not a superstar by any stretch but whenever he came out of the game he'd take his spot in the corner and chat with the fans. Nice guy:

Rob's representative stopped by at half time to see how we were doing and actually gave us two tickets at the center court for the second half. Apparently he had some extras and figured he'd take care of his VIP guest. Take a look at that face value:

We were literally in the 3rd row, center court, on the ground level. You could hear the players talking smack and I even spotted a few celebrities in the front row. Check out Vince striking a pose:

Time to head home:

Engaged in the Italian Riviera...

2008-11-03T22:05:00.043-05:00

Both of us were excited for our first major vacation together after dating for almost 5 1/2 years. The time off was very much welcomed and needed. Not only was I excited, I was anxious as well. You see, I had purchased an engagement ring 5 months prior, meticulously planned and patiently waited for this trip in order to pop the question in a romantic way. My goal was to try to make it memorable. Let me start off by saying that it's pretty tough being patient for that long and waiting for just the right moment. I'm happy to say that I think I found that right moment.
Our time spent in Italy spanned from October 22 - 31, 2008. Two of those days were essentially travel time so that left us with a solid 8 days to take in the sites. We rolled the dice a bit in terms of the time of the year for our trip. October is usually the start of the rainy season so there was a risk of bleak weather. However, luck was in our favor and the rain only impacted us one day. The rest of the time averaged out in the 70s. Mostly sunshine but partly cloudy at times.

So the trip began in Rome where we spent the first 3 nights. The first night in a Marriott in the outskirts of the city center and the following two nights in the gorgeous Westin Excelsior directly in the city center. We took a cheesy video of the room, seen below, because we loved it so much. Then we moved on to the amazing Cinque Terra and into a private cottage owned by a local for two nights. From there, we went back to the Rome Marriott for the remainder of the trip. On our second to last day we took a day trip to Napoli to visit the ruins of Pompei. OK, so that's an overview of where we went. Now onto some more specifics...

Here are some of our favorite highlights, then I'll get to how and where exactly I proposed:
1. Proposing to my lady of course :)
2. Hiking in Cinque Terra (Fast on its way to becoming a jet setter location, Cinque Terra is a rugged portion of the coast of the Riviera to the west of the city of La Spezia, in the province of La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy comprising five villages, "The Five Lands": Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. We stayed in Vernazza. Must have hiked a solid 4 hours through the trails to get to each of the villages.)
3. Bike Ride in the Pincio or Villa Borghese gardens (The plan was to go to the Borghese Museum but after a pleasant picnic in the park, we were drawn to these silly looking bikes designed for dual pedaling. We laughed alot and had a blast tooling around the park in our road burner.)
4. St. Peter's Basilica or Basilica Sancti Petri (I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to checking out the architectural design of churches. I've seen quite a few of them in a travels across Europe this year. However, I have to admit that I had relatively low expectations for St. Peters as there were some many other things I wanted to see in Rome. Maybe that's why I was blown away when I saw it. The scale and attention to detail was astounding.)
5. Colosseum or Colosseo (You have not been to Rome if you have not been to this sacred ground. I seriously got the chills wandering around this former gladiator playground.)
6. Vatican Museum (I'm not really a big museum person but instantly fell in love with the Vatican. We probably spent four hours there. We spent a solid 30 minutes alone in the Sistine Chapel which was simply incredible and my favorite part.)
7. The Palatine Hill and Roman Forum (With Kathy as my personal tour guide, I really soaked up the magical history of these ruins. I actually think spending as much time as we did there desensitized me to the beauty of Pompei.)
8. Area Sacra or Largo di Torre Argentina (This place holds a special place in our hearts as it not only boasts some impressive Roman temple ruins, it shelters over 250 homeless cats at Torre Argentina. This no kill shelter runs on donations only and is not subsidized by the government in any way. What an amazing place...These cats are well fed, happy and look like kings as they lounge around all over the ruins of this great cat sanctuary.)
9. Pantheon and Piazza della rotonda (It's just a cool place to hang out in. The oculus doesn't look that big from the ground but it has a staggering diameter of 27'. The piazza outside is also a great place. Lots of energy in the evenings.)
10. Pompei (I think if we did this visit earlier in the trip, it would have definitely been in the top 5 favorite list. But like I mentioned above, I think I was a bit desensitized once we got there after seeing all the ruins in Rome. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret going there for a minute. The amphitheater there was my favorite! I learned that it actually inspired the design of the colleseum many decades later which I thought was pretty neat.)
11. Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi (I really loved this spectacular fountain. I feel like I've seen it a thousand times but seeing it person is a very different experience. We took a video below as we had a good time there.)
12. Piazza Novona (We spent some time here. Just a nice place to spend walking around in the evening)
13. Spanish Steps or Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (I was told I had to go there to check it off the list. Well, check! To be honest, it was fun and all but at the end of the day they were just steps. Didn't see the big deal.)
14. Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II (I thought it was pretty neat, especially at night, but Kathy begrudgingly referred to it as a "big wedding cake". That was the most credit she was able to muster up for this monument. Not her favorite as it's a bit too gaudy for her liking. I thought it was cool, especially at night.
15. Eating alot...Gelato just about everyday which was great but I really loved the fresh focaccia and pesto in Vernazza.

I asked Kathy to give me her top 10 list and it was pretty similar to mine with a few small placement changes, but the big difference for her was moving the cat sanctuary into the top spot and adding another Basilica we visited called Santa Maria Maggiore.

Not many people believe me when I tell them that I really wasn’t that nervous thinking about and/or preparing to ask the big question. I just wasn’t. The only thing I was anxious about were the following three things: 1.) I had this irrational fear of somehow losing the ring. 2.) Not genuinely surprising her. 3.) Not making it a special moment.

Why Italy?
I’ve been asked by many friends and family members why I did not pop the question on our long weekend in Paris a few months back. The answer is simple…That’s just not Kathy. We loved Paris and all but Italy is a very special place to her. Not many people know this but she lived in Rome for 6 months when she was an undergraduate. Even when we first started dating, she always gushed about how special of a place it will always be to her and how she would love to go back again one day. Well, that settled it for me. Why not pop the question someplace she truly loves? When we booked our flight for this trip over 8 months ago, it was my plan all along to do it there. But the lingering question I had was “Where exactly should I actually do it to make it special?” At first, I did consider Rome, but there are just too many people there (everywhere you go) and Kathy is all about intimate gestures, not public displays of affection. I think such a grand moment for her would be cheapened by doing it in front of many people. So I scratched that off the list pretty quickly. When Vernazza was recommended to us, I immediately thought it had potential. Small village with lots of heart and a beautiful setting was one of the early reviews I read. It sounded perfect and my mind was made up, almost 4 months before the trip, that I would be doing it there.

The plan was to ask her the same night we arrived in Vernazza. This was almost the half way point of the trip and I thought the timing would infuse even more excitement into our journey. Not to mention I wanted to guarantee she’d be surprised and figured if she thought I was going to do it that it would be earlier in the trip and more then likely in Rome. Mind games at their best. So we arrived in Vernazza around 4ish, settled in, and then went for a jaunt through the beautiful village to get acquainted with our surroundings. All I could do during this time is ponder where a fitting location might be. I was very much focused on the plan at hand and feared that she might sense something was up. Fortunately she was so excited about the place that she didn’t seem to even glance my way as we explored. The sidewalk along side the small harbor was gorgeous and immediately decided that it would be the best spot once the evening came. After concluding our preliminary exploration, we headed back to our room to recharge and get changed for the evening’s festivities. The plan was to have dinner near the harbor somewhere then go for a nice walk.

Here's a birds eye view of the harbor. I circled and highlighted where we were when I asked. Just click to expand:

This photo was maybe 5 minutes before the big moment of truth:
The Moment of Truth:
After we got dressed, I was very conscious of the ring box conspicuously protruding from my pocket. I just kept my hands hovering in front my pockets which seemed to mask the bulge well. I wanted to do the deed before dinner so we made our way to the harbor sidewalk after wandering around for 30 minutes or so. At first I was concerned because there was a couple sitting in the area I was focused on. Fortunately as we made our way in their direction, they scampered off and we were all alone. After some playful banter and a few photographs, I sat up on the ledge of the sidewalk and had her sit in front of me. At this point, I began to carefully and surreptitiously remove the ring box from my pocket and hide it behind my back. We gazed into the stars a bit and I then patiently waited for the right moment. It didn’t take long…In fact, I couldn’t of have forced the conversation to take a better turn if I tried. You see, we had been reading up on Cinque Terra a bit earlier in the day and one of the interesting tidbits of history was how challenging it was to find suitors in such a small village that is so isolated from its neighboring villages. Back in those days, boys and girls would need to hike hours of rugged terrain in order to reach Monterrosso, Manarola, Corniglia or Riomaggiore. Or…They just made due with what was in their local village. But with a population of around 500 or so, you can imagine that the pickings were probably slim. Anyway, as we looked up into the stars with her back against my chest, she says the following words: “It’s crazy. How did anyone marry back in those days?” A moment of silence ensured then I made my move. “It makes me wonder though.” A few seconds pass, then she asks “Makes you wonder what?” Then I slowly reach around her with my right arm, open the box as a simultaneously say “Makes me wonder if you would marry me.” She then proceeded to have a mild freak out and say things like “Oh my god, what is that? A ring? You got me a ring without me knowing? I thought you would tell me if you were going to propose. Oh my god” I then got down on my knee and asked her if she would marry me. She belted out an emphatic YES! Then began to gasp for air, got teary eyed and then choked for a few minutes. It was pretty funny actually. She’s not one to ever be at a lose for words or show that much emotion. She genuinely seemed surprised…I think it was a special moment…and I didn’t loose the ring. So all in all, I think it was a success.

Here's a photo at dinner shortly afterwards. She's on the phone with her family:

Here are some photos from the rest of our trip:

Westin Excelsior Room Tour:

Villa Borghese Gardens:

Trevi Fountain:

Roman Forum:

Cat Sanctuary:

Vatican Museum:

Train to La Specia:

Vernazza:

Monterrosso:

Quick train ride to Riomaggiore from Monterrosso:

Riomaggiore:

Manarola:

Private terrace on top of our cottage in Vernazza. Having some dinner on our final night there:

Palatine Hill:

Circus Maximus with the Palatine as the backdrop:

Pompei:

Pantheon:

Full Slide Show Part 1 of 2: Click to View

Full Slide Show Part 2 of 2: Click to View

The Last Vinhais of Scotland

2008-10-13T16:09:00.018-04:00

Exploring Edinburgh has been on my "must visit" list for months. Unfortunately, the logistics just never seemed to work out and was beginning to think it was just not meant to be. Luckily, the opportunity opened up this past weekend and boy did I make the most of it. It was worth the wait and loved every minute of it.

Here are some of my favorite highlights of the trip:
1. Holyrood Park (Hike to the top of Arthur's Seat. Amazing and worth the effort.)
2. Edinburgh Castle (You just have not seen Edinburgh until you've explored this architectural marvel)
3. Walking the West Princes Street Gardens (The landscape was gorgeous! Plus, the castle was the backdrop to all this beauty which appeared to be straight out a dream.)
4. Calton Hill (Beautiful view of the city here, where you'll also run into the Nelson Monument and the National Monument)
5. Scotch Whiskey Experience (I felt it was important to learn more about Scotland's #1 export by taking a great 1 hour tour. Did you know that Whiskey must be aged in an oak barrel for a minimum of 3 years before it can be legally sold?)
6. Palace of Holyroodhouse
7. Walking the Royal Mile (This was capped off by having my photo taken with a William Wallace impersonator who said I was the best tourist he's posed with in months. No joke! The reason why? Well, because as he yelled and screamed into the camera (trying to attract people and get into battle mode), I yelled and screamed right along with him...But much louder. This 5 minute stop attracted more then 25 people who thought I was part of some act. It was great. Amazing how little one gets embarrassed when they're in the presence of people they'll never see again. :)
8. Festival Square
9. Watch a futbol match at a local pub (Caught a world cup qualifier match between Scotland and Norway. I was among 200 Scottish fans yelling words of encouragement and anger for the local side. Good times.
10. Memories (When I arrived in the city late Friday and took a leisurely walk to get the lay of the land there... The skies opened up and was immediately soaked while wearing my precious wool pea coat. I sprinted back to my hotel and was greeted by a native who gave me this openly sarcastic look where it looked as if he was thinking the following: "Welcome to Scotland, where an umbrella can be your best friend...Bloody Tourist!". This moment made my top 10 list because while on my jaunt back to the hotel, I was laughing the entire way thinking to myself "Why would you not bring an umbrella? Rain is pretty much guaranteed here! You're in the UK, you fool." Anyway, It made for a great memory...)

Photos were taken on the weekend of October 10th, 2008.

Edinburgh Castle:

I decided to try something different and chronicle my hike to the top of Arthur's Seat. Look how tired I look! I power walked the entire way...

Resting at the top of Arthur's Seat...Victorious!

Here's another clip...This time a view from the top. You don't hear my voice because of the wind, but my exact words when I looked into the camera were "worth it!"

Entire photo gallery from the weekend: Click Slideshow

Land of the Little Mermaid: Copenhagen

2008-09-29T16:41:00.019-04:00

After visiting Stockholm a month or so ago, I told myself I would love to get another glimpse of Scandinavia! I was fortunate enough to fulfill that desire by heading out to Copenhagen, Denmark for the weekend. The weather was perfect which made for a great couple days of site seeing. Unfortunately the Tivoli Gardens were closed (only the week before) for the season but I still managed to get a good sense of what Copenhagen was all about. One interesting thing I learned about Copenhagen. The original fairytale (1836) of "The Little Mermaid" and its Danish author, Hans Christian Anderson, are a very big deal in Denmark. Hans actually lived in Nyhavn for 19 years and is still seen as a national icon to this day.

The following photos were taken on the weekend of September 26. Here are some of my favorite hotspots:
1. Churchhill Park (Park was not even mentioned by either the concierge or my research as a site I needed to see in Copenhagen. I stumbled upon it after seeing the little mermaid statue and it ended up being my favorite place. Beautiful landscapes capped off with an awesome windmill really made my day)
Nyhavn Canal Cruise (Amazing cruise. Felt similar to Amsterdam and Sweden yet maintained its own unique charm)
Amalienborg Palace
2. Little Mermaid Statue (National symbol of Denmark)
3. The Round Tower (Oldest observatory in Europe that is still in use. Built in 1642.)
4. Relaxing in the latin quarter.
5. The Stroget (Longest shopping street in Copenhagen)
6. The Marble Church
7. Rosenborg Castle (I love the grounds)
8. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (amazing museum)

To view the entire collection of photos taken over the weeked, please click the slideshow below:

Pièce de résistance: Paris with my Sweetie

2008-09-23T10:08:00.023-04:00

The anticipation alone of our long weekend in Paris had really set our expectations high. Would we enjoy it as much as every other couple seems to? Well...We both ended our trip with a deep sense of satisfaction as we knew the trip was a special one and not only met our expectations but fully exceeded them in pleasant french style. It's one of those destinations that you feel you must visit again immediately after you leave. C'est la vie. Our plan was simple...Visit as many hotspots as we could to really absorb the french culture. Here's some of our favorite spots we managed to visit:
1. Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur
2. Louvre Museum
3. Eiffel Tower
4. Chateau de Versailles
5. Trocadero
6. Champ de mars
7. Arc de Triomphe
8. Walking down Champs-Élysées
9. Notre Dame
10. River Seine
Photos (slightly stylized to reflect our surreal journey) were taken from the weekend of September 19th, 2008:

The Louvre Museum:

Mona Lisa smile...

Sacré-Cœur

I chose this last photo as it the tailend of a very long day and really encapsulated both of our moods. The chateau de versailles was amazing but it took forever to get in. Once we got there, we quickly lost our enthusiasm. You can see it on our faces. Especially hers. :)

Photogalleries of the entire weekend. Just click on either of the two slideshows to see all:

Weekend in Warsaw. That's right... Poland!

2008-09-17T18:10:00.010-04:00

You might be thinking to yourself, "Rich...why would you possibly be interested in going to Warsaw for the weekend? I mean, what the heck do they have there that's even worth visiting?" Well, let me start off by saying that my reasoning for traveling to Warsaw was based on two factors. 1.) I had just completed an exausting workweek and still had some work I needed to get done over the weekend. 2.) I still had the itch to go somewhere over the weekend but didn't want it to be a major hotspot that would take too much out of me. So I pulled up my trusty map of Europe and Poland was the first country that jumped out at me. That's all there was to it. No plan and nothing specific I wanted to see. The only thing that crossed my mind was that it was a new country I had not yet explored. So off I went. The following photos are from the weekend of September 12th, 2008:

Łazienki Park: Frédéric Chopin Monument - He is widely regarded as the greatest Polish composer, and ranks as one of music's greatest tone poets. There was something about this monument I really loved. It's Chopin under a stylized Willow Tree. The tour guide mentioned the tree was to also resemble a pianist's hand and fingers

Łazienki Park: Palace on the water

Jewish Ghetto: Monument to the Ghetto heros - Even though it's already been over 60 years since the atrocities that took place in Poland by the hand of the Nazi's, you can still feel that pain in the air when you step into this memorial. The tourguide and several people in the tourgroup seemed to get emotional rehashing painful memories of the past.

Old Town Square - Great energy there even though it was freezing cold.

Warsaw Barricades

Ah, that's right...I made a friend on my journey. This is my bud Dave from Colorado who I met on the tour. Great guy and very pleasant company. He's a scientist / adjunct professor who specializes in renewable energy and about a thousand other things. I kid you not. He's had over 370 publications over the span of his career. Very impressive gentlemen. We immediately hit it off and decided to dine together at a local restaurant known for its Pierogi's. Goodtimes...

After a nice dinner, Dave and I decided to explore a local Ice Bar. Random, I know. An ostensibly quick journey ultimately required tremendous fortitude to even find the place. Just as we began to doubt the very existence of the "Ice Club", there she was in all her glory. Anyway...It's basically a large meat locker with ice sculptures and all the vodka you can drink. Very unique and fun experience. They even give you some nifty threads to make your experience a more comfortable one. See the next picture as Dave and I throw one back :)

Presidential Palace

Tomb of the Unknown Solider - Yeah, DC is not the only place with such a dedication to fallen soldiers.

Check out the full photogallery for all the pictures taken while in Warsaw. Just click the slideshow.

Weekend in DC, with Joe & Linda

2008-09-05T11:19:00.010-04:00

It's been over 4 years since I visited my former colleague roommate. It's been a challenge with work and him living so far away in DC. He finally quilted me into making a trip as his wife will be having a baby soon. I believe his exact words were "You should come visit because once the baby comes, who knows when we'll see each other again after that happens." So...I hoped on a plane and made it over there for the weekend of 8/22/08. Both Joe and his beautiful wife Linda treated me to an amazing weekend. Site seeing, food, more site seeing, followed by even more food. I believe I gained 5 lbs over the weekend alone. Anyway, thanks for the hospitality guys and good luck with Kameel.

Highlights of the weekend:
1. Arlington Cemetary
2. National Archive
3. The Capitol
4. National Mall
5. Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
6. Old Ebbitt Grill
7. Marrakesh Restaurant - Amazing atmosphere. Celebrity hotspot.
8. Filomena Restaurant - Great Itlaian...Bill Clinton and Clint Eastwood are regulars
9. Maggie Moos - Went there twice for ice cream
10. Top Golf - High-tech driving range that automatically tallys points per shot

Arlington Cemetary:

On our way to the national archives:

The Capitol:

Marrakesh Restaurant: This place was incredible. 7 course Moroccan cuisine, all of which is consumed with your hands. Incredible atmosphere. This place often caters to the whose who of the political elite and celebrity alike. There's a back room to the place that has a huge wall of pictures displaying celebrities that have eaten there. Such names include: Bill Clinton, Elton John, Brad Pitt, etc. There must of been over 100 people on that wall. I highly recommended this place to anyone in the area. Click here to learn more about the place. A few notes...The restaurant is situated in a very unusual area with a very obscure entrance. You actually have to knock so they let you in as there are no windows. Oh yeah, it's also a cash only establishment folks. So plan accordingly.

An amazing belly dancer performance broke up the 7 course meal. Check out the video:

Botanical Gardens:

Another Wedding...Tara and Tom

2008-09-05T10:22:00.002-04:00

What a fantastic wedding event! Great couple and a good time. Enjoyable company, delicious chinese cuisine and karaoke to top off the evening. Photos were taken on 8/16/08.

A Couple Just Destined to Be...Lui and Maureen

2008-09-05T09:51:00.006-04:00

The following photos were taken on 8/8/08
I couldn't be happier for these two. Great friends and equally wonderful people. I wish them all the best as they grow their lives together. Here are few photos of the special couple:

For more photos from the wedding, check out their website: Click here

Random, I know...But I had to squeeze it in. My sister's Marilyn pose at the reception...Love it

Group shot!

The following morning we had a great brunch in Boston at a place called Grafton Street. From there we (about 25 people or so) took a long jaunt through Harvard Square and then to Quincy Market. Weather was gorgeous...Here are some photos, taken on 8/9/08:

2008 Presidential Election: Late Entry???

2008-08-28T08:03:00.013-04:00

codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"
WIDTH="384" HEIGHT="304">

Switzerland - Home of High-End Chocolate, Watches and Priceless Natural Beauty

2008-08-02T14:30:00.008-04:00

Photos taken from the weekend of July 25, 2008
My trip to Switzerland was a spontaneous one to say the least. I had been battling a cold all week and figured I should rest over the weekend. But...Late in the afternoon on Friday I decided I was going to suck it up and just go somewhere regardless of how I felt. My logic was if I kept myself occupied I'd probably beat the cold faster then if I just sat around and dwelled on it. So I hopped on a train that evening...3 hrs later I was in Zurich. After arriving to my hotel and checking with the concierge, I quickly realized a full weekend in Zurich would be too much given its relatively small size. I decided to take a 9hr guided coach tour into the mountains of Switzerland on Saturday to ensure I got a true sense of what the country was about. Boy did I. I can easily state with confidence that Switzerland boasted the most amazing natural beauty I had ever seen. It seemed every photo I took could be used for a postcard. Zurich was impressive also but nothing compared to my journey into the mountains. Here are some of the spots I managed to visit over the weekend:
1. Aare Georges (Walked through the georges on a secure footbridge which provided some unforgettable visuals.
2. Grimsel Pass (Incredible wild landscapes)
3. Dead Lake (breathtaking scene)
4. Rhone Glacier (altitude 2300 m. Walked through a 100 m long blue ice tunnel to reach the Ice Room - a fascinating experience which turned my mild cold into a very bad one. Well worth it)
5. Furka Pass (altitude of 2431 m. Felt my ears pop on the drive up.)
6. Gotthard massif and the Urseren Valley (Spectacular views)
7. Devil's Bridge at the foot of the St. Gotthard Mountain (Such a cool place. The bridge was a modern marvel of its time. It's still quite impressive if you ask me.)
8. Visited 5 of the 9 churches in Zurich. My favorites:
St. Peter's Church boasts the largest clock face in all of Europe.
Grossmunster which is the most recognizable church in Switzerland.
Fraumünster was probably my favorite as it had the most amazing stain glass displays I had every seen.
9. Lake Zurich (Video clip below of the lake says it all)
10. Lindt Factory (Just cool to see the building where all the magic happens)

Here are some of my favorite photos followed by the full photo gallery of all the pictures taken:

Click to view entire gallery...

Stockholm, Sweden - A Glimpse Into the Beauty of Scandanavia

2008-08-02T13:49:00.004-04:00

Photos taken from the weekend of July 11, 2008.
I was fortunate enough to have some company for my weekend excursion to Sweden which made for some good times. My itinerary was in place and my colleague Emma Jan was along for the ride. The old town had a very familiar look and feel as much of Europe which was a bit disappointing. But...What really separated the country from the rest of Europe in my mind's eye was the uniqueness of each of the islands that made up the country. It was almost surreal. It seemed almost a different theme dominated each of the islands we visited. Sweden is comprised of 14 major Islands which are connected by over 50 bridges (according to my tour guide) which makes the most enjoyable mode of transport the water taxi. We took full advantage of a hop on / hop off tour and hit just about all the major locations you must visit in Stockholm. Here are the locations we hit in order of my favorite locations:
1. Vasa Museum (incredible war ship that sank in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later.)
2. Stadshuset (The City Hall which is where the Nobel Price was founded. Also where the award ceremony is held every year.)
3. Take a water taxi. So beautiful to look back at the city from the water.
4. Kungliga Slottet (The Royal Palace - Amazing Chapel)
5. Walking Around Stockholm's Djurgården Island (Very scenic walk)
6. Skansen (Open-Air Museum - It's basically a zoo. Mainly for kids but I hadn't been to a zoon in ages. Nice time)
7. Gamla Stan (The Old Town)
8. Nationalmuseum (The National Museum of Fine Arts)
9. Nobel Museum (The Nobel Museum)
10. Nordic Museum (Didn't go in but the building was quite impressive. Right behind Vasa Museum.)

Some of my favorite pictures followed by the full photo gallery of pictures taken:

Attention. You are now leaving West Berlin

2008-06-25T12:19:00.008-04:00

Achtung. Sie verlassen jetzt West-Berlin!

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some time in Berlin over the weekend of June 20th, 2008. Early into my exploration, I was quickly disarmed by the massive size of the city which immediately prompted me to narrow in on the significant landmarks I just had to see. The vast majority of the city is vibrant with energy, modern architecture, yet still draws important attention to its tragic history which should never be forgotten.

Here are some of my favorite spots I was able to see:
Berlin Cathedral (Gothic monstrosity at its finest)

Checkpoint Charlie (You have to go there and get your picture taken)
Holocaust Memorial (Very unique memorial)
Potsdamer Platz
Topography of Terror (You can't help but get emotional when you visit this place)
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial (amazing church that was left standing after the war and later preserved to symbolize Germany's resolve and dedication to rebuilding the city)
Book Burning Memorial
Reichstag (First house of parliament of the German empire)

Lustgarten (Park area directly in front of the Cathedral and Museum Island)

Fernsehturm or TV Tower (I didn't go up but it supposedly touts the best 360 degree view of the entire city)

Here are some photos from the weekend:

Click slideshow to view all photos taken from the weekend:

Euro 2008 Quarter Finals: Portugal vs. Germany

2008-06-23T15:16:00.004-04:00

For those of you that don't know, I'm a pretty big soccer fan. Admittedly, I enjoy playing it much more then watching but when a major tournament is in session, I can't help but get into it. I've been a fan of the Portuguese national team since I was a child so I couldn't help but root for them in this year's Euro 2008 tournament. They played poorly in the qualifying games but they made it into the tournament just the same. As the tournament unfolded, Portugal quickly became one of the favorites to win the entire thing. Ah, but this expectation was short-lived as the Germans took it to them by claiming a decisive 3 - 2 victory in the quarters. C'est la vie.

Anyway, I was hesitant to attend a public viewing of the match as I knew I'd have to celebrate silently in the midst of several hundred (must of been over 400 people, easy) soccer crazed Germans. I managed to stick around until half time but I then retreated to my hotel room to watch the final minutes of the game in disgust. My second favorite team in the tournament was Holland but now that they are knocked out so I now feel compelled to root for Germany. Let's see what happens.

Here's a nice pre kick-off photo (Taken on June 19th, 2008) where I was still feeling pretty confident about Portugal's chances:

Here's a quick video clip of the crowd as Germany went up 2 - 0 just before the end of the half:

Rothenberg -- A Portal to Old Bavaria

2008-06-22T07:37:00.008-04:00

Photos from a nice team event in Rothenberg, Germany. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City. A significant fraction of Rothenburg is carfree.
A few hours of siteseeing and an evening of medieval dining really capped things off. Photos taken on June 10, 2008:

Slideshow (click to view full photo gallery):

I AMsterdam

2008-06-18T16:16:00.009-04:00

I have to start off by saying that my trip to Amsterdam was easily my favorite trip thus far. The atmosphere was intoxicating and you couldn't help but get caught up in all the excitement. I must admit that I had quite a few preconceived notions about the city prior to visit, which were mainly negative. I'm quite happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely go back again.
Photos were taken from the weekend of June 6th

My favorite spots:

1. Canal Cruise (An absolute must if you visit. My favorite part of the trip. See sample clip below)
2. Red Light District (One word...Surreal)

3. Ann Frank House (Sombering & inspirational experience)

4. Flower Market (It's just an amazing site to see)

5. Rembrandt House (Maybe one of my favorite artisits after visiting his astonishing home)

6. Vodel Park (Vibrant park which is also a very nice place to relax)

7. Rijks Museum (Impressive landscape...Smaller on the inside then you'd expect)

8. Van Gogh Museum (Also a must even though I'm a big fan of his style)

Canal Cruise Video Sample:

Photos:

Coco's Outback: I wanted to call out this photo as I watched a Euro 2008 Opening round match between Portugal and Turkey here. What a boistrous crowd! Good times.

Part of my inspiration for visiting Amsterdam was that commerical that Amstel placed recently where they quickly flashed hot spots in Amsterdam, one of which was the big "I AMsterdam" landmark. I just had to have a photo taken there. This location is adjacent to a large park which is flanked by the Opera House, Van Goh Museum and the Rijks Museum:

I was told by someone at the concierge in my hotel that I must have a Dutch Pancake and Heineken for lunch...So I did. Below is a Ham and Cheese Pancake with a cold beer. It was actually quite good:

Mercedes Benz Factory Tour in Sindelfingen, Germany

2008-06-18T15:38:00.005-04:00

I was fortunate enough to join a team event where we attended the Mercedes Benz two hour factory tour, at the European Delivery Center in Sindelfingen, Germany. I felt privileged to have a first hand look at Mercedes meticulous assembly processes, from start to finish. C-Class and S-Class. I was especially impressed with the large number of robots used in the early stages of the line. Not to mention the speed and harmony in which they operated between themselves. These machines almost appeared to be alive....Creepy, I know.

Anyway, here's a nice photo of some colleagues in the souvenir center just before we started our tour. Photo was taken on June 3, 2008:

Prague, Czech Republic...Beauty, Rich History and Tourists

2008-06-09T15:41:00.014-04:00

Photographs taken from the weekend of May 10th, 2008:

I had relatively low expectations for my trip to Prague but I was excited to see one of the few places in Europe with original (not recreated) architecture after the bombings of World War II. The extent of my knowledge was that it was a beautiful place and I had to go. This was based on colleague feedback alone. There were some warnings of it being a tourist trap (and it kind of was), but all in all it was a great weekend there. Here are some photos:
Týn Church (Overlooking Old Town square...Many people just hang out in this area)

Statue I liked in the Old Town Square:

Old Town Hall tower:

Prague Marathon:

As I made my way through old town square, on the way to the Charles Bridge, I ran with massive heard of people who were heading in the same direction. I quickly became impatient with waiting in a long line of people that jammed the sidewalks, so I decided to make my way via the street. Before I knew it, I noticed the streets were gated off and I could no longer get to the sidewalk. I then started thinking to myself...is this road gated off for the actual marathon that was about to take place? A few seconds later, several people jogged by, then a few more (numbers across their chests and everything)...I quickly realized that it was not for the marathon but for some sort of race sponsored by Volkswagon. I mushed on. Up ahead was a huge finish (similar to the one below) where people were crossing and then given nifty medallions for their efforts. Dare I? I thought to myself. I make a quick dash to the finish line and confidently approached the guardian of the prizes. Well done! She said, as she placed the medal over my head and around my neck. Oh yes, victory was mine.

Astronomical clock (Very impressive for a clock that dates back to 1410. It was all the rage back then)

St Nicholas Cathedral:

Very beautiful cathedral...One interesting tidbit I learned there was that Mozart's requiem was carried out in this very cathedral back in 1791.

Prague Castle (Apparently the biggest ancient castle in the world, according to Guiness)

St Vitus Cathedral:

The Great South Tower:

I consider myself to be in reasonably good shape, but I must say that the steep and narrow climb to the top of the south tower of the cathedral was not for the feint of heart. But...Once you get there, the views are simply spectacular.

Charles Bridge:

I thought this view of the Charles Bridge did it the most justice. The bridge was shoulder to shoulder on my multiple trips over it so showing a snapshot of that mess made no sense. A little history: Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau), the Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841

Wenceslas Square and the National Museum:

This area is a very popular strip with restaurants and shops that lead up to the National Museum.

The Prague Opera House:

To finish off my weekend I attended my first opera which I found to be quite enjoyable.

What's wrong with Wall Street and how to fix it?

2008-05-12T17:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I read a very well written Fortune magazine article titled “what’s wrong with Wall Street and how to Fix It”. I’m sure by now you’ve read countless press releases on the sub prime debacle which don’t always provide a concise view of the situation we now found ourselves in. Rarely do you find articulation of such a complex topic, in written format, that provides just the right blend of depth to go with simplicity to ensure it resonates with a broad audience. I believe this article fits that mold and wanted to summarize some of its key points and chime in with some personal commentary of my own.

The author, Shawn Tully, encapsulates Wall Street’s issues into three distinct categories. The first is their unyielding appetite for risky trading as opposed to more traditional and reliable fee based business that commercial banks tend to gravitate towards. The second is the dangerous levels of leverage these firms work with. Furthermore, these firms quite frankly work with outdated risk management systems which do not provide any meaningful safeguards against the prevention of a collapse of any sort. The third and probably the most publicly known issue is that of the disproportionate amount of profits that go to executives or traders on the upswing of a bull-market versus the shareholders holding the bag (now a little emptier) in the downswing of a bear-market.

In other words:
- Wall Street prefers high risk trading which can lead to mammoth returns.
- Wall Street leans towards utilizing leverage which can also lead to mammoth returns.
- Wall Street has a business model which overwhelmingly favors the traders and not the shareholders, which can also lead to mammoth returns.

Are you sensing a trend yet? Rather then regurgitate some of the authors points that expand on those three categories, I’d like to move on to some of his recommendations to fix this precarious situation.

Broken Business Model?
The first recommendation was that of Wall Street Bankers returning to more of a fee-based business in order to stabilize their business model. The author goes on to say returning to such a business model will still prove to be highly profitable if the street could put itself on a diet. I think this is poetic sentiment to think firms would return to a more stable (aka – less profitable) way of doing things. Yes…I’m sure they’ll head in that direction for a little while but if history has taught us anything, it’s that greed tends to trump rational sense over and over again.

Ethics:
The next point was one I fully agreed with and only hope it’s addressed sooner then later. Wall Street firms have a tendency to use privileged client information in order to trade for their own accounts and reap the benefits of someone else’s research. That’s like offering to hand in a friend’s homework and then surreptitiously copying the answers and pawning them off as your own when it’s time to submit your homework. Amazing…Back when I was in school, students generally stayed away from such an ill advised activity given the steep penalty issued if one was to be caught. Expulsion! It just boggles my mind that it’s not only accepted on Wall Street but it’s actually rewarded. Handsomely I might add. I tend to agree with the authors view that technology will eventually sort this issue out but to have let it go on for this long indicates to me that people were turning a blind eye to these egregious acts seeing that there were enough profits to go all around. What a novel idea…Greed trumping ethics in order to turn a profit. And the trend continues…

Leverage Ratios:
I can’t speak knowledgably on the leverage ratios that would be prudent for the Street or even how they should be managed, but the data clearly indicates better controls need to be instituted to prevent or minimize market instabilities.

Compensation Structure:
The compensation structure is probably my biggest pet peeve as it's obviously out of control. Let’s think about it logically…You have a trader that invests other people’s money, and because of that fact, feels no hesitation in betting big with the prospect of a large bonus payout. Hedge funds for instance take 20% off the top of profits. But on the flip side, if they have a bad year, the shareholder is left holding the bag and there are absolutely no ramifications for the actions of that same irresponsible trader. Sound fair to you? Let’s put it this way…If your job offered you sterling incentives based on you delivering massive returns (or high performance of any kind for the sake of this example) no matter what it took to deliver those results and on top of it you could theoretically retire in a single year from bonuses alone. Wouldn’t you up the ante and take on that risk, especially if it wasn’t your money to begin with? I sure would.

Regulation:
I think the authors view on this point is rather naïve to think traders would ever bank their bonuses forward or impose some sort of self regulation. That would be great but let’s be honest, what are the chances of that happening without new overarching governance to the entire industry? None what so ever! But the author goes on to make a brilliant point which I’ll quote, “If investment banks can borrow from the Fed, they should be subject to the same rules as commercials banks.” He’s on the money with that argument seeing that the Fed recently bailed out Bear Sterns as they teetered on the brink of extinction. The irony is almost palpable, isn’t it?

The Bear Sterns bailout will all but guarantee that new legislation to come into play over the coming years and hopefully recalibrate expectations for traders and shareholders alike. It’s only a shame it took a major catastrophe like this to spark such a change, but that’s the world we live it, right? I mean, look airport security…Was it ever on anyone’s radar before 9/11?

Greed:
The recent credit crisis and Wall Street’s ability to exacerbate the situation further solidifies my perspective on one certainty when it comes to business - any business. Without proper regulation and active monitoring to govern an incentive laden business model, greed will always find a way to rear its ugly head. I’m sure these traders didn’t set out to cause the trouble we're in today. They were cowboys riding the housing boom without truly understanding its implications, all in the name of reaping the immediate rewards. Ok, not cowboys, maybe drug dealers would be a more suitable analogy. Don't bail on me yet...hear me out. At first they probably used their leverage just a little bit to test the waters, took some profit (got the taste), then took a little more leverage (now hooked), then before you know it they faced a full blown addiction (leveraged to the hilt), no longer knowing which side was up.

Closing:
I know history has a tendency to repeat itself but hopefully the powers that be now see the writing on the wall. Success in this instance would not be defined by simply fixing the current mess that the economy is in, which is clearly a monumental challenge all unto itself. That challenge is merely a precursor to what is truly needed. Success to me would be consistently mandating the due diligence necessary in order to prevent such an event from happening in the first place. Impossible you say? Maybe. But isn’t that something worth striving for?

If these events have taught us anything it is that our economy albeit robust and resilient can be fragile at times and is invariably entwined with the global community at large. In order to stay atop the global food chain, it is imperative that we do so organically and more importantly, ethically, as to not only practice what we preach as a nation but to restore what is drastically needed and what will most assuredly bring our economic system back to the forefront...Integrity.

Frankfurt! The NYC equivalent in Germany

2008-04-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

Following and evening of full-filled festivities with some colleagues, I had the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Frankfurt on Sunday. Frankfurt is essentially known for its financial district but it really was a nice little place.

Photos were taken on April 13, 2008...

Mehdi's Brand New Porsche - Cayman S

Ten times better then his old Boxster...Amazing vehicle. He was kind enough to be my driver for the day and took me to all the hotspots in Frankfurt. It's a pretty small place so it took maybe 2 - 3 hours. It's like a miniature version of NYC. :)

We made our way back to work on Monday morning where I got a sense of what this beast could do on the autobahn. Incredible. I even managed to squeeze in a nice nap while cruising at about 150 MPH.

City hotspots...

Mehdi insisted I pose in front of this poster. Apparently it's some major event that Ernst & Young Germany sponsors every year.

Weekend in Frankfurt with the boys...

2008-04-27T11:42:00.000-04:00

My weekend trip to Frankfurt was probably the most fun I've had since the beginning of my Germany experience. I think alot of it may have had to do with the fact that I actually had some company this time. The festivities started on Saturday night when we first had dinner at the Surf 'N Turf (arguably the best steak house in Germany) and ended with a very entertaining show at the Tigerpalast. The event was comprised of a very eclectic group of performers such as singers, contortionists, acrobats, jugglers, etc. It was an intimate venue which made for a very engaging experience.
The following photos were taken on April 12, 2008:

A few lessons learned about this magical steakhouse:
1. When consuming a slab of beef that is called a "lawyers cut", be prepared to have awful nightmares for at least 2 - 3 nights. This according to Dr. Farhadi.
2. Don't be afraid to order the "Ladies Cut", even if you're a man, as the name is quite deceiving.
3. It’s never a good idea to surreptitiously take photographs of random people at another table even when it's for a humorous reason.

Mehdi & I being silly...

Deniro & Pacino pose...It's a work in progress.

Goodtimes...

Tigerpalast Theater...Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos during the show.

My Sweetheart's Visit...Stuttgart & Munich

2008-04-24T13:23:00.000-04:00

I was fortunate enough to have my significant other visit me while in Germany for 4 days. We tried to make the most of if even though the weather was quite ghastly.

Photos were taken from the weekend of April 4th.

Welcome to Stuttgart...

Welcome to Munich or München...

Rathaus-Glockenspiel (Apparently one of the most famous if not the most famous Glockenspiel in the world)
it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century to the bemusement of mass crowds of tourists and locals. It consists of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. The top half of the Glockenspiel tells the story of the marriage of the local Duke Wilhelm V (who also founded the world famous Hofbräuhaus) to Renata of Lothringen. In honour of the happy couple there is a joust with life-sized knights on horseback representing Bavaria (in white and blue) and Lothringen (in red and white). The Bavarian knight wins every time of course. This is then followed by the bottom half and second story: Schäfflerstanz (the coopers' dance). In the 16th century a particularly bad period of the plague hit town and everyone went into hiding. The first people to dare go back onto the streets were barrel makers who performed a big dance to show that it was okay to come out again. The Duke of Bavaria was so happy about this that he actually ordered them to re-enact this every seven years, a custom which continues to this day. The whole show lasts somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes long depending on which tune it plays that day.

Kathleen and I were bored after the first 2 minutes and were amazed at how entranced people were with this silly event. Undoubtedly a showstopper in the 16th century...Not so much now. Very cool architecture though. Gothic and scary.

Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan

Residenz Museum (simply amazing)

Peterskirche - Church of St. Peter

Frauenkirche - Cathedral Church of Our Lady (Landmark of the city)

Day trip to Salzburg!

2008-04-02T16:58:00.000-04:00

Photos taken on March 29th
I was fortunate enough to take an impromptu day trip to Austria last weekend after some colleagues sensed I needed to unplug a bit. I had no idea of what to expect of the city but I was assured that I would love it. To be honest...I was just excited to go someplace as I had no plans for the weekend and the thought of mulling around in the hotel was just too depressing to think about. I can honestly say the trip was a pleasant surprise that made my entire week worthwhile. It was an amazingly scenic ride to get there. Windmills, snowcapped mountains, quaint villages, etc. Great company and conversation also made the three hour drive fly by.

Lessons learned from the trip:
1. Salzburg is so clean that you can quite literally eat off the floor.
2. Mozart was born there. (sorry, I honestly did not know that)
3. Not only was he born there, but there is a famous chocolate brand (founded in 1890 but ) that was named after him and is actively sold to tourists just about every 20 feet you go in the city. I bought two myself. :)

Here are some photos from the trip:
River Salzach:

Very lively strip of shops & restaurants:

Salzburger Dom – Salzburg Cathedral: So beautiful inside

The Domplatz (“Cathedral Square”): Very cool place

Yeah...That's a statue. Freaked me out when I first saw it.

Hohensalzburg Fortress: It was a tough walk to the top, but well worth with.

Inside the fortress or photos from the fortress: The view of the mountains was spectacular

My walk back to dinner:

You guessed it. Playing music composed by Mozart: He was awesome and a little weird looking!

Restaurant where we had dinner: Fingerfoods....Very interesting...and tasty

Thank you Charles & Emma for a great trip!