Bath, Wales

Finally able to get these photos posted.  Below are some pictures taken with my iPad as we strolled about in Bath on Sunday morning prior to our departure over to London's Heathrow airport.

Bath is a city that we highly recommend, as it is absolutely beautiful and, of course, Stonehenge is only an hour drive away!  Those pictures are forthcoming.... soon... I promise!

Enjoy!

U.S. ELECTION TIME!

Earlier this week Carrie and I mailed in our absentee ballots for the U.S. General Election. 

Since we are now expats, we were required (back in September) to go online so that we could print absentee ballot request forms that we would then complete and mail back to the State of Maryland for processing.  We had requested that our ballots be emailed to us.  It was either late September or early October when we had received our official ballots.

One of the questions we were asked on the absentee ballot request form was with reference to our intended re-entry back to the U.S.  A 'known' date (or even an approximate time period) would have granted us the ability to vote in Maryland's State election.  However, despite knowing this would limit our voting ability, we responded with an honest answer which is that we do not yet know when we will be heading back home to the U.S.

Needless to say, we are sadden by the fact that we cannot vote FOR Maryland's Question 6... which is to keep marriage equality in the State of Maryland.  This is a huge issue and one that is very important to us.

For those of you who do not know this... In the State of Maryland, a bill called 'The Civil Marriage Protection Act' (which was endorsed by Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley) was passed earlier this year.  Maryland became the eighth state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage and offer the same statewide protections and benefits for same-sex couples that already exist for straight married couples. The Civil Marriage Protection Act grants same-sex couples the right to marriage, but it also protects the liberties of religious groups who oppose this, as they do not have to perform same-sex ceremonies if they prefer not to.

Maryland is one of twenty-six states that offer a referendum option to the public that allows opponents the chance to repeal a new law via a petition that then sends the law to the ballots during the next election.  Citizens are the ones who get to decide whether to maintain or repeal the new law.

To date, this issue has always been voted down by the general population.  It has also never been endorsed by a President... until recent.  President Obama has made it clear that he supports this issue, as do many other prominent individuals.  This is expected to be a close decision in Maryland and one that we can only wait to see what the Maryland citizens decide.

On another note, it is fair to say that the 'world is watching' the U.S. Presidential election.  Carrie and I have already signed up for the "Who's the President?" breakfast that will be taking place here in Den Haag during the early hours on the day after the election.  In addition, there is a "White House Luncheon" at our local Hilton on November 6th where there will be news updates from political experts and live connections with media correspondences back in the U.S.  There is also a "USA Election Tour 2012" where one can take a Greyhound bus to various venues with activities related to the U.S. presidential elections.

Cardiff Wales... A GREAT place!

Today was spent in Cardiff, Wales.... and what a great place!  This place has lots of character and its also rich in history.  Despite the rain, I was able to take a few photos to share....

Enjoy!

The train station, which happens to be right next to the bus station.

Notice the kilts... There is some sort of 'football' (i.e. rugby) tournament here tomorrow and I was told by one of the Scottish players that this is why I was seeing so many men wearing kilts today.  Evidently these guys are players on a Scotland team. 

Art... located outside of the public library.

 Taken for Carrie (i.e. Caroline)....

Check out all of these old sewing machines.  My grandmother had one that was similar to these and boy did she know how to use it!  In fact, I remember when she had made me a red snowmobile suit years ago... ...great memories!

Just thought this sign was interesting...

The Cardiff market...

Elvis was in the house!

I thought that I would try a famous 'Wales cake' made with fruit.... boy was it really good!

Have you noticed that I love the flowers?!?  They are just so vibrant in their colors and they are so fresh!

The Cardiff castle... very cool!

Inside the castle grounds...

An inside view of the entrance...

Back outside the castle...

 

This is where I had lunch... "The Goat Major".  I had the local beer... a pint of 'Brain'... and a pie, which was a local dish (and one that had won some 'pie' award in 2010).... Everything was perfect! 

My new, Scottish football player (i.e. rugby) friend!  He had shared with me that a 'good' kilt will cost over 400 pounds.  (His, however, only cost 40 pounds.) 

Since living in Holland, I am now use to eating french fries (or frites as they are called in Holland... or chips as they are called in Britain) with mayonnaise.  Today I was served both ketchup and mayonnaise for my fries... and I enjoyed both!

All of the character that is typically found in a good English pub...

I had found these interesting... they were hanging behind the bar and all over the wall.

Millennium stadium... where the 2012 Olympic soccer games were held...

Interesting architecture...

 The local beer...

The 'arcade'...

Found this interesting as I was strolling about...

A church... I tried to go inside, as I normally do when I see old churches, but this one was closed for the afternoon.

Old tombstones in the church yard.

Cardiff is really an interesting city and one that is full of character.  I really enjoyed this city, despite the rain.  I hope to someday come back.