Deschutes

 

Birthday (Observed)

I celebrated my 30th b-day with friends back at home this weekend.

Zach and I started the day off with a great trail run in Forest Park. The past several years I’ve run a “Happy Birthday Half Marathon,” but this year that had to be adjusted. I don’t think I mentioned it on here but I twisted my foot really bad a couple weeks ago and just to be safe I didn’t run at all the week before our trip. I ran twice in Europe and it was fine, but I knew running 13 miles would be a bit much. So I settled on a “Metric Half Marathon” which is 8.14 miles. Random I know! We ran up in Forest Park on the Wildwood Trail. That stretch of the Wildwood isn’t very hilly but in order to get TO the trail you have to climb up like 500 feet over a half a mile on the Wild Cherry Trail. I’ve done this before but always have to take walk breaks. Yesterday I made it all the way up without walking!! I never thought that was possible. Zach said “Isn’t that a great way to start your 30’s? Doing the impossible?” :) Once we were up on the Wildwood we had a great run. I was feeling really good and my foot doesn’t hurt at all anymore. It was really foggy and humid and about 65 degrees.

Pictures!

Starting off:

 

Heading up, up, up the Wild Cherry Trail:

 

I did it!!!

 

We spent the evening with friends at a nice restaurant in Northwest Portland, it was so fun to see everyone! It was a really wonderful birthday celebration. :)

 

Thanks for reading! :)

Paris, Amsterdam in Photos

We’ve been home a little over 24 hours and my head is still spinning. The trip was absolutely incredible. We loved every single second of it. The cities, the sights, the people, the food, everything. I can’t even come up with any words that do it justice. Plus, I’m exhausted and not thinking straight just yet. I’ll write more about it later, but I wanted to share pictures asap. I’ll include some captions to tell part of the story.

We took over 1,200 pictures so it was VERY hard to pick. If we are Facebook friends, you can check out more photos there.

Quick notes- Petra, it was so great to spend the day with you. Thank you so much for putting up with my hangover, for being in charge of the map for the whole day, and for providing such valuable advice on all that big life stuff. You are an incredible friend. I can’t wait to come to London soon!!

Ewen, I can’t believe we missed you!!! I didn’t see your message until we got back. I would have LOVED to meet you and have a beer. I’m heartbroken!! Well, I’m sure we’ll find ourselves on the same continent again someday. :)

Ok, enjoy the pictures!

Monday, Sept 6

Stopped over in Amsterdam for a few hours:

 

Arriving in Paris:

 

View from our hotel:

 

Dinner the first night:

Tuesday, Sept 7

Woke super early due to the time change. First glimpse of Eiffel Tower:

Notre Dame:

Pantheon:

 

View from top of Pantheon:

Wednesday, Sept 8

Louvre:

 

Arc de Triumph:

Sacre Coeur Basicila:

That evening:

 

Jazz club #1:

Jazz club #2:

Thursday, Sept 9

Petra!!

We took a Barge Tour after Petra left:

 

Friday, Sept 10- My 30th Birthday!

Run in Luxembourg Garden:

 

Geography Library:

Picnic in Champs de Mars:

Camped out with a bottle of wine to watch the tower light up:

Later that night, birthday dinner out:

Saturday, Sept 11

Last morning in Paris:

 

Train to Amsterdam:

 

Amsterdam!

Red Light District:

 

Sunday, Sept 13

Last full day in Europe. Started off with a run around Amsterdam:

Then we toured the city in a pedal boat on the canals:

 

Museum Square. See Zach sitting on the “t”?

 

Van Gough museum:

 

Street Festival:

 

Sunset:

Monday, Sept 13

Leaving hotel for the train station at dawn: