Friday, 19 September 2008

EXTRA! EXTRA! CHRIS & CHARLIE EMBARK ON TRIP TO AFRICA

KENYA & MT. KILIMANJARO - THE BIRD BROTHER'S EPIC ODYSSEY


Overarching Plan:


Charlie and Chris meet up at the London airport on November 2nd and head to Kenya to reconnoiter with our seasoned tour guide, Ms. Jennifer Birtcher. From there, we will assist in a humanitarian capacity for a few days at the project that is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation of which Jen is the Project Director. Following this, we will secure a Safari, hopefully somewhat inexpensively, to explore the African ecosphere - I made that word up - and look for the "big 5" animals (i.e. Zebras, Giraffes...etc). Following days of wrastling Lions and Tigers, we will connect-up with a guide who will be taking us up to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro up to 19,000+ feet in elevation! This will take a week to accomplish. Additionally, we may attempt to search a diamond even larger than the largest diamond in the world. Wish us luck. On the 16th of November Chris and I will return back to England to vacation from our "vacation" and rejuvenate our thrashed and massively mangled bodies. Kidding, Liz. Charlie and perhaps some of the Birds, should they feel inclined, to take occasional trips around England and naturally we will be celebrating American Thanksgiving together, by eating a huge Spam-Turkey after which point Charlie will leave the merrie land of England and the merry Birds for the U.S. in the end of the month.

And hopefully accomplish all this without contracting some weird disease that will permanently disfigure us for life. On a lighter subject....


Part I - THE PREPARATION

(Charlie's Account)

I tried to get to the Kenyan Consolate on my lunch break and back in 1 hour. Not going to happen in LA. Finding a parking space alone took almost 1 hours. I jest.

Getting vaccinations - "Tell him you're shottt!" - Brian Regan


(Chris' Account)

Wednesday, 6 June 2007

Trip to Greece

Olympic village Athens. Too bad that they have kind of let it go.

In front of Parliament in Athens. The guard put on a great show. Quite silly really.

View of Athens from the top of the Acropolis.

Paying homage to the Korai (the women in the background bearing the weight of the building).

We wanted to get a good shot of the parthenon, but this lovely couple got right in front of the shot and ruined in for us. The nerve.

Temple of Zeus in Athens. How in the world did they get these enormous columns standing up way back in the day?!

Beaching at the Island of Mykonos. When we booked the trip we did not know that the island was a very "gay friendly" island. Also, we did not know that swim suits were optional.

Grrrr. Sassy anyone.


Theater where one of the first known surgeons would operate in front of an audience. The acoustics were amazing. One could stand in the middle of the circle below and speak at regular speaking levels and be heard at the very top.



This is the archway to a city on a hill near Corinth (as in the Corinthians--who Paul preached to). Notice the lions (missing the heads) above the doorway. This location is mentioned in Homer's Iliad and Odessey.


Walking the streets in Greece. Beautiful shopping walkway near corinth(not too many of those in Greece because it is a very dry area) with many bouganvillas.

Tuesday, 22 May 2007

Pix of the fam...

Chloe loves blowing bubbles. This is a very old photo. It is just one that I had available to demonstrate the ease of the blog.