Happy 32nd Birthday Benjamin!

We had a really nice dinner at the The Oceanaire in Downtown Minneapolis for Benjamin's birthday. As David would say, the 'usual suspects' were all there. We even added a new member to the 'usual suspects' - welcome to the group Chuck!

Chuck & David Laughing It Up

(Might Have Been That Wine They Shared)

The Birthday Boy's Special Menu!

(It Says 'Happy Birthday Ben')

 Janessa & Pam Sharing A Coke
(Thanks For Sharing Mama)

 The Birthday Boy's Baked Alaska 

(Can You See The Flames?)

The Berkowitz Boys Chillin'

(What A Beautiful Day For A Cigar (& OJ?) With Your Dad)

Europe 2012 - Vienna, Austria

Below are a few photo highlights of Vienna, Austria.

The Schloss Belvedere

(We saw Gustav Klimt's The Kiss! At the Albertina museum we saw Picasso, Degas and many others )

Benjamin Mixing With The Locals

Stolperstein Or Stumbling Stones In Leopoldstadt (Jewish Area Of Vienna) 

(The stones commemorate those who were transported to concentration camps and who subsequently died)

Our Typical Breakfast

(Yogurt & Granola, Fruit, Bread, Cheese, & Juice/Tea)

Sigmund Freud's Home & Office!

(This was so amazing)

Bed For An Italian King Owned By The Hapsburg Monarchy 

The Hapsburg Monarchy Claims To Real Biblical Items

(Tooth Of John The Baptist, Piece Of Jesus' Loincloth, Manger, and Tablecloth From The Last Supper)

Oh There's My Crown & Scepter...I Knew We Would Find Them

The Hapsburg Monarchy Exterior

(Such unbelievable extravagance)

Watching Live Ballet On The Street

(This was such a wonderful highlight) 

Europe 2012 - Salzburg, Austria

Below are a few photo highlights of Salzburg, Austria.

Awaiting Our Train 

(And Not Quite Awake)

Laundry Time!

(This is true backpacker style)

Schnitzel Anyone?

(This place had excellent food, a great local beer, and the perfect atmosphere on a rainy day)

The View From Hohensalzburg Castle Above Salzburg

(This was a castle and fortress above the city- one of the largest in Europe!)

View Of The Castle/Fortress From Salzburg Below

(Overall it was a very quiet city of music...and very loud church bells)

Europe 2012 - Prague, Czech Republic

Below are a few photo highlights of Prague, Czech Republic.

A 'Hidden Synagogue' At Terezin 

(Terezin is the 'fake town' created by Nazis to show the
Red Cross that Jews were welled cared for in concentration camps)

A Fake Bathroom At Terezin

(Built hastily, never used, and non-working - another attempt 

to conceal the horrible conditions)

Powder Tower In Prague

(A historical tower kings passed through on their way to coronation)

The Impressive St. Vitus Cathedral

(Truly a magnificent place at the top of Prague!)

The Beautiful Charles Bridge

(There are fabulous musicians and artists all along the bridge- a visual/auditory/cultural treat!)

The Beautiful Buildings Of Prague

(They looked like frosted cake in all shades of pastel)

Our Swan Boat

(No idea why anyone would take any other type of paddle boat? We laughed hysterically and often.)

The Tiniest Alley

(There was a 'walk' sign, so you didn't run into someone on the way!)

The Beautiful Main Square

(We spent most of our nights here)

Europe 2012 - Warsaw, Poland

Below are a few photo highlights of Warsaw, Poland.

One Of The Largest Jewish Cemeteries In Europe

(It was strangely cool, humid, and peaceful here)

Cemetery

(It was so eery, but in such a peaceful way)

A Marker Where The Warsaw Ghetto Wall Once Stood

(You can see the marker cross the road. These were in several places.)

Eating Pierogi In Warsaw's Old Town

(Pierogi is a Polish dumpling filled with meats and/or cheeses and veggies)

Warsaw Barbican At Night!

Beautiful Palace In Warsaw

(There were beautiful peacocks wandering everywhere!)

Warsaw Old Town

(So many colors!)

A Beautiful Park In Warsaw

(Hmmm, do these sun dials work? Yes, they do!)

Happy Mother's Day

Mom and I had a low key Mother's Day breakfast at her place this year. We had omelets with peppers and cheese, english muffins, and fresh strawberries and bananas! We then spent a few hours chatting on her fabulous balcony, while reclining on the comfy purple pillows a got her as a gift. And of course, there was a Pandora spacer as a gift also! Happy Mother's Day!

Mom & Our Breakfast