Europe Trip Recap: Running of the Bulls

After our Paris fun we went to Bayonne, France. We were going there to spend time with the French dance group Ero Bat. But more on that tomorrow.

When we got to Bayonne we basically ate dinner and got on a bus that took us to Pamplona, Spain for the Running of the Bulls. We arrived at 8:30 pm and the bus was coming to pick us back up at 9:00 am the next morning.

All night in Pamplona couldn't be so bad could it?

The first thing we did was get some food. It was nice to see spanish and be able to somewhat communicate with people after being in France for 5 days. Around 10:00 we decided to check out the shopping and find the bull arena.

This was my initial reaction.

(I don't know who captured this moment but it is spot on.)
As we started wandering through the city we found this...

It was amazing how absolutely disgusting the streets were already. It was only 11:00 pm. Littered with bottles, garbage, and all sorts of bodily fluids (I'm sorry... TMI). Made me wonder what the city looked like 1) in the day time and 2) without it all. I think it would be a cool city to visit.

We made our way to the carnival around midnight.

This is what we called the "family area" because it was not as much of a party place and, well, there were families there. Little kids (2, 5, 7, whatever age) with their parents enjoying the concerts and sitting in the park. At 2 am!

The bull pen where the bulls were kept all night.

This is at the bull fighting arena around 3:00 am. We were going to wait here the rest of the night but the partying was progressively getting worse and we just didn't want to stay there and witness it.

We found a quiet spot on some stairs by the starting line at 5:00 am and waited. The streets started to fill up with runners and excitement started to build.

We didn't coordinate with each other very well because everyone took video of the bulls running, but NO ONE took pictures. Oops. It was pretty awesome but really only took about 10 seconds and it was over.

I was so exhausted after the night's events I fell asleep
in the middle of telling a story. Who does that???

All in all we are glad we went to the Running of the Bulls.
It will be an interesting experience we'll always get to share
and be able to tell our kids of our crazy adventures.

Would we do it the same way?
NEVER.
And you shouldn't either.

Europe Trip Recap: Saintes, France

After our Paris fun we headed to our first festival

in Saintes, France.

This festival was.... interesting.
Let's just say we were all happy
to only be there for 2 days.
But I'll just give the good highlights. :)

But there were some great countries
there that we were happy to have met.

Hanging out with Venezuela and India before rehearsal



This is the usual Ravioli park.
It's not that interesting cause they're everywhere.

Bro and Sis!

India

Peru
These guys were members!

Taiwan

Venezuela

I love this girl.
My feet hurt so she offered me a piggy back.

We saw this guy on our hour long midnight parade
that led to nowhere and was for practically nobody.
At least he had a sweet outfit.

Our awesome band!
We are just the garnish to them.
Unless they mess up ;)

This is quite possibly the
WORST picture taken of me ever.
My sweet husband has impeccable timing.

Europe Trip Recap: Versailles

We did a performance for the members in Versailles so we went to the palace and gardens of Versailles before the performance. It is a HUGE place! Thanks to power hungry King Louis XIV, who in building this ridiculously massive place made the country bankrupt, the French Revolution began.

Basically every room looked like this with more paintings, mostly of him. He sure did love himself. And every room was a different color. This color was our favorite.

Hall of Mirrors

The King's bed.
Slightly disappointed.

The Queen's bed

Can you see where the green trees end?
That's also where the gardens end.

The gardens were "free" that day.
That also meant they were closed.
So disappointing.

This is what Fez did while we rehearsed. Lucky...

Definitely not one of the better pictures taken of me. Fez seemed to be really good at capturing my worst faces this trip. Wait until you see the one from Saintes...

We sang Clive Romney's own rendition of "Love One Another" after the show. The spirit was so strong! It was a testimony to me that the church is true everywhere in the world and those that were there to see us were our brothers and sisters. We spread much more than our love of music and dance: we share the gospel and spirit of Jesus Christ.

Europe Trip Recap: Normandy

We went to the Normandy American Cemetery July 4th.

It was an incredible experience.
I felt so blessed and proud to be an American and to
honor those soldiers on our Independence Day
halfway across the world.



A diagram of the invasion made on D-Day.

The statue behind us is a monument for those Killed In Action.

There were 15 soldiers that died during the war. We visited the 12 graves that were at the cemetery and left Utah and American flags there.

Graves with Omaha Beach in the background.

Carl Yarrington was from Ogden, UT.
I read a letter from his niece during our program which was very sweet and touching. We left the letter there for any family members that may visit the grave to read.


Storming the Omaha Beach

This is after about 20 takes.
Laura had done enough jumping :)

Pointe du Hoc.
Marines scaled the cliff walls and took hold of German forces.

Actual gun used in World War II.

The land was left the way it was from the the bombs.
It was hard not to imagine the scene that took place there.
Such humility and reverence for those that serve our country each day.

Europe Trip Recap: Paris

Fez and I went on Clog America's tour this summer.

It was an amazing tour!
Some of the best people, best places, and best experiences.

Here are some highlights of our time in Paris.





Sacre Coeur Basilica


View from the middle tier of the Eiffel Tower.





View from Notre Dame's bell tower.

Pont Neuf - oldest bridge in Paris.
Also "Lover's Bridge".