New York City

In the summer of 2012, I went to New York City, the most popular and biggest city in the U.S.. 

First, I saw this street performer blowing the biggest bubbles I have ever seen! I wonder how he does it without them popping.

Usually I don't like graffiti, but in New York City it's just so colorful! I think it's sort of cool looking.

Here's one of my favorites; the Empire State Building! It's the second tallest building in New York City! The One World Trading Center is the tallest, but only by 1 floor. It has 104 while the Empire State Building has 103. 

This is me at the F.A.O. Schwarz toy store. I liked the piano the best.

I went to lots of museums on this trip. Here I am with an Easter Island head and prehistoric fossils and skeletons.  

I loved visiting Brooklyn Bridge. It is one of the oldest bridges in America! I learned that it took 14 years to build! That's like it started when someone was 20 and they were 34 when it was done!

Here I am at another museum. The Guggenheim museum of modern art. There were some pretty interesting works of art here. I loved the architecture with all the different floors. 

The famous Staten Island Ferry was amazing to see. It's hard to just guess how many people are on it! 

Another temple! The Manhattan  LDS Temple is one of my favorites because I don't think I would have guessed it was a temple, not a skyscraper if it weren't for the angel statue on top and if I didn't already know!

Here I am, over New York City. The trees and greenery below is Central Park. 

Here is a Manhattan train station! It has my favorite architecture design on this trip!

I liked visiting this aircraft museum and seeing different spaceships and aircraft. I especially thought it was cool to be inside the space pod.

Nearing the end of my day, I visited the Statue of Liberty on Staten Island.

It was a gift from France celebrating the friendship acquired with America during the Revolutionary War and was supposed to be dedicated in 1876, 100 years since the Deceleration of Independence was signed. Unfortunately, neither France nor America could afford to build it at the time, so the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886 instead. It was originally shiny copper, but that was almost 200 years ago. Age has turned the copper green. 

And finally, here I am against the New York night sky, though it's far from dark due to the many lights.

If you visit my blog, let me know what you think of it in the comments! 

California

I went on another trip with Aunt M. to California!  Here I am at the San Francisco lookout.

  

Here I am in front of the Oakland LDS temple.   Most LDS temples are white or very light in color on the outside.  They are meant to be a beacon to the world testifying of Jesus Christ.  

 

 And finally, I went to visit M.'s grandma while she lived in Paradise, CA serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  This is our great friend, M., our aunt M. and our grandma G. 

I sure love to travel and see new places!  I learn so much and hopefully, you enjoyed looking at my pictures and learning something yourself!  I get to go back to England in August so I'll have more pictures then!  Happy Trails!

Flat Rebecca

France, Switzerland, and Italy - Fall 2011

In the fall of 2011, I hitched a ride with M.'s aunt as she traveled through France, Switzerland, and Italy.  Check out these pictures of me at some very famous places!

Charming street in Anncey, France.

This is me with M.'s great uncle and great aunt.  And they are truly GREAT!  They served 3 years as mission presidents in Geneva Switzerland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Our family loves them!

 

I am lucky because I get to visit many LDS temples around the world.  

This is the Bern Switzerland LDS temple.  I am with M.'s aunt.

Below I am at the Roman Colosseum and a plaza in Rome!  How cool is that?  It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.  It was completed in 80 AD and could hold 50,000 spectators.  One of the events held here was gladiator contests. The word "gladiator" in Latin means "swordsman."  They would send out a man with a sword and he would have to fight wild animals, other gladiators, or condemned criminals.  This was Roman entertainment. You could also watch plays about Roman mythology. I wonder what the crowds ate instead of hot dogs,  popcorn and cotton candy.  

Can you find me?  Hint: Aunt M. is wearing a yellow jacket.

I like this picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa because there is a tourist in the background in the proverbial pose of holding up the tower.  

This is the train station in Milan, Italy. It is the second largest train station with 600 trains, 2 subway lines, buses, trams, shuttles, and approximately 320,000 people traveling through the station every day!

The Arch of Constatine in Rome, Italy.  It was dedicated in 315 AD.  Triumphant emperors would parade through the city and under these arches.  It served as the finish line for the marathon event at the 1960 Olympics.  

This is Mont Blanc in France. 

The name means white mountain and it is the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe.

This is the Notre Dame church in Geneva, Switzerland. 

It was built in the 1850's in the pure neo-Gothic style.

This is a famous fountain in Geneva, Switzerland.

Finally, I am at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City in Rome, Italy.  The Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic church.  St. Peter's Basilica is considered one of the holiest Catholic sites.  According to Catholic tradition, it is the burial place of Peter, one the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ while he was on the earth.  Peter's tomb is believed to be directly below the altar.

Beautiful countryside in Grinderwald, Switzerland.

I met a lot of new friends in the Gnome Garden.

Thanks, Auntie M. for a FABULOUS trip to Europe!!!

Manti and Cedar City, Utah

When M.'s parents decided to take a trip over a long weekend, I knew I wanted to jump in the suitcase.  We went to Manti and Cedar City, Utah. 

  This is me with the Manti Utah LDS temple in the background.  It was completed in 1888 and has wonderful woodwork and craftsmanship throughout the building. 

Something unique about it: it has two staircases that are self-supporting and absolutely gorgeous!  Here is a picture.  They don't make architecture like this anymore.  Nice work, pioneers!

On Saturday, we went on an awesome hike in the morning.  It was to Kanarra Falls.  You drive through Kanarraville to get there.  Kanarraville is a VERY small town.  We actually read a sign that said it is home to the first ever all female volunteer fire department.  As 86-year old Fern Bauer, a lifelong resident of the town and one of the volunteers said, "We needed a fire department, and when women need something, they get it."  Apparently, the women were too busy to pose for a photograph.  I couldn't find any photos of them.

The falls were so beautiful!  It was the first time M.'s mom had hiked in a slot canyon.  I rode in the backpack most of the way and only got out to take pictures. That's okay because I didn't want to get wet!

M.'s parents found this great bed and breakfast inn in Cedar City.  It's called The Big Yellow Inn.  You can see why.  There were so many knick knacks in that place, I couldn't resist hiding among them.  Can you find me in the parlor? The next two pictures are the bedroom, but I didn't hide in there.  The furniture throughout the home was fantastic!  Do you see me in the library?  I can definitely recommend this as a great place to stay.  Delicious breakfast, friendly innkeepers, charming atmosphere, convenient location, and on and on. 

Summer in Cedar City is time for the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  Several plays run all summer.  People come from all over the country, stay a few days in Cedar City and watch plays.  Some are Shakespeare, some are not.  M.'s parents saw "Les Miserables" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."  

I was going to pose in front of the banner, but when I got there, I recognized Jean Valjean and Thenadier from "Les Miserables" without their costumes and makeup.  I explained my purpose and they graciously posed with me.  Thanks, gentlemen!  Break a leg!

It was a great trip filled with adventure, history, and culture!  Until my next adventure, bon voyage!