Stephen Wasbotten:  

hirtsleeves. Ladies in their traditional New Years Eve Bikinis.. unusual, but Scandinavia is a bit provocative at times.. Finland is even Better/Worse.. much more snow during early Winter.. northern Norway is a fridge.. -25 C quite common.. Many Samis in the North.. Lapps as the US know them.. Indigenous peoples.. Nomads.. OMG... 8 September, 2016.. Just saw on the NBC news that there had been a cable car stranded above Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France.. We were on that cable car above the mountain just 4 days prior.. 100 folks??? Maybe 30 on the cable car.. Had posted a photo of the Chamonix cable car a few days ago.. Had a weekend Birthday Bash in Tralee, County Kerry this past Friday & Saturday.. Niece had her 50th.. Poluted. Drunk were some.. Visited Dingle for a couple of Jars.. For 'The Craic'... After boot camp & school, I was stationed at RAF Alconbury, England, from 4/1968-7/1973.. England back then was a constant adventure.. Locals girls just loved the ‘Yanks’, probably because of our MONEY!! Right! I was paid $54 every 2 weeks.. The GBP was worth $2.40.. Do the math!! Was at the first Glastonbury Pop Festival in 1970.. Wasn’t such a venue.. Plenty of Ron, drugs & fun!! Also, visited the Isle of Wight Pop Festival the same Summer. Those were the days of The Doors, Jimmy Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, and so many of the British bands that invaded the US a few years earlier.. Edinburgh, Scotland.. Hogmanay..1968.. OMG... It was glorious being single.. Singles from all over Europe & beyond.. Swapping spit & your chosen spirit was soooo much fun!! April, 1969..Rome & Naples, Italy.. Gorgeous cities.. Visited Pompei & the ruins of Mt Vesuvius.. 3 rolls of 35mm film that didn’t develope.. August, 1969.. A visit to Oslo, Norway.. Met my cousin & Hungarian husband.. Oslo is so beautiful!! Day trip to GOTEBORG..Incredible.. During this time period I met a wonderful Irish Girl from Cork..In October, 1970 we were married as we are today, 53 years later.. During this time, 4 children graced our lives..Candyce, Trendyce, Roy & Decklin.. After leaving England we were sent to Vandenberg AFB, CA..After 15 months of torture I was sent to Thailand for 10 months..Margaret, my wife and our 2 daughters joined me..During this time we had the dis-pleasure of visiting Laos, Cambodia & Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan & S. Korea...In August, 1975 we received orders back to the UK..RAF Lakenheath.. During the interim period between Margaret leaving & I transferring, I had the pleasure of visiting Vietnam, The Phillipines, Korea, Japan & Hong Kong. I retired from the USAF in December, 1987.. I hated to go!! We have 5 lovely Grandchildren & 1 Great Grandchild.. We enjoy life to the fullest.. After spending 43 years in the UK, Margaret & I have decided that we are going to live our remaining years in Connemara, County Galway, Republic of Ireland.. Property in Ireland is quite cheap since the collapse of the economy recently.. Ireland is a Paradise..The people are so friendly and honest..' Life is only what the next pint of Guinness brings'..An old Irish Proverb!! My new home is soon to be complete near Claddaghduff, Connemara, County Galway, Republic of Ireland.. Have been promised mid-January.. 4 bedroom bungalow on the river.. Had to clear the property of another old property + a nasty barn from 1912, during the revolution..The people are brilliant with Irishs Rebels songs sung nightly!! Just came back from a 7 day cruise of the Med.. Started in Barcelona, on to Naples, Rome & Florence, Italy, then on to Cannes, France, Palma, Spain & returned to Barca!! Norwegian Cruise Line is truly amazing.. Had a Stateroom with Balconey, room service & unlimited food, drink, excursions.. Quite cheap.. Flew from London, Stansted Airport on to Barcelona for a night prior to the Cruise. 3 weeks time & we are off to Moscow.. This should be amazing as we have a guide for 3 days.. Stay tuned!! Booked a 7 day holiday to Crete,(Greece) for end of September.. Had been there last year, so nothing new.. Glorious people, are the Greeks. The island is very personal.. Euro goes quite far her.. A litre of beer is just about $1.50.. Fruit & Veg are practically given away.. The water is crystal clear.. Booked a weekend in Amsterdam for end of October..Our 45th Wedding Anniversary.. Might try a bit of muffin.. The Eed Light District is a 1/4 mile from the hotel..Tulips grow here as well!! The 2016 Biathlon World Championships are in Oslo, Norway in February.. Last avenue for the Best Wver, Ole Einar Bjorndalen, after 20 years on the World Cup Circuit.. 95 victories + 13 Olympic Medals.. Cousin Jan will show us the city, which I saw back in 1969.. Glorious.. Booked a 4 day trip to Oslo/Harstad for July, 2016.. Meeting up with all the family to investigate where Mom & Dad grew up a century ago.. Very expensive, Norway.. Off to London tomorrow to meet our Daughter.. 2 days in Windsor to investigate the Windsor Castle, then off to St Petersburg, Russia!! Can't wait!! Russians are wonderful people. Was in Moscow last year.. So clean & beautiful. Cheap!!!!!! Then to Geneva, Suisse.. Lake Geneva to visit Laussanne, Chamonix & the are..France & Switzerland are gorgeous countries.. Was in the South of France last Month.. Nice, Cannes, Marseille, Les Baux, Monaco.. Also saw Pompeii (Napoli, Vatican & Sistine Chapel, Roma & Livorno/Pisa.. Ice Cream is to kill for!!! Just returned from a 10 day visit to Windsor Castle, UK, ( 2 days) and St Petersburg, Russia.. OMG... The people are gorgeous!! Cheap!! Fags are $1.50 per pack.. 500ML Russian beer..$5.. Baltyka 7.. Ummmmmm Palaces from the Tsar era.. Everywhere!! Gold domes, gates, picture frames.. Good Lord.. Stayed in the Belmond Grand hotel.. Rated one of the best in Europe.. The dining room is just like eating in a church!! Stain glass windows everywhere.. Fuel for nothing.. A city built on islands.. Canals everywhere.. Just like Venice.. Been there.. St Petersburg is much better!! Had a guide for 4 days.. Can't do Russia without a guide.. OMG... Geneva and the entire country of Switzerland is absolutely incredible.. Toured Lake Geneva today.. Visited Lausanne, Vevey & Monreux.. The Riviera.. So perfect!! Unbelievably clean!! Everything seems like a Swiss Watch!! Perfection.. Off to Mont Blanc & Chamonix, France tomorrow.. Also part of Lake Geneva.... I'll post my results soon. Chamonix is a resort just beyond the Swiss/France border at the base of Mont Blanc.. Primarily a Winter Resort, there was plenty of activity the day we visited.. Cafes & Bars wherever you would like them to be!! The French are extraordinary people.. The language is so beautiful.. Oui Oui.. Mont Blanc beer is quite tasty, as well.. A regional winner of the best in that district of France.. So many nationalities comprise this part of France.. A lot if Germans & Italians.. They are gorgeous people, as well.. Europe is soooooo much different than the US.. Culture & History everywhere.. Amazing Architecture.. Down to Tralee, County Kerry next week to celebrate our Nieces 50th. Usually a complete 'Piss-Up' when the families meet.. Of course, the Irish don't need an excuse to be 'Paraletic'.. Part of their Culture.. Then to Houston for a business conference.. Yes!! Still working.. Trying to build my empire of pubs.. Own 2 with a prospect of 2 more next year.. 7 Weeks to Albufeiria, Portugal.. Ah the glorious Algarve in southern Portugal !!! So beautiful!! 11 months to Cuba!! Yea!! Here in Houston visiting with my Norwegian Cousin.. We have sealed the purchase of 2 more County Galway pubs and are on our way back home tomorrow.. Hopefully my house is nearly ready to move in. Had been promised mid-Janua, but who knows.. The Irish are superb workers.. Of course, Sometimes, the Guinness is tastier than work.. We'll see!! And that will complete my Summer Holidays!! 6 escapes into the wonderful world of travel.. Christmas will probably bring a surprise.. Thinking of Belfast or Derry in Northern Ireland.. Always a Craic!! Booked our Summer cruise through Norwegian Cruise Line today.. The Norwegian Star will cruise from Venice, Italy, to Dubrovnik, Croatia, Montenegro, Athens, Greece, Turkey & return for an 8 day voyage of the Eastern Med.. This all begins in July, right after our 7 day visit to Faro, The Algarve, Portugal.. Relaxation is what is promised!! That's all we want .. Fun in the Sun with a bit of BBQ & a few Brewskis!! Just returned from a 3 day visit to Belfast & The Giant's Causeway in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland.. First time in the 6 UK counties..Northern Ireland.. Belfast is a beautiful city. Despite the 'Troubles' ending 15 odd years ago, the city is still severally divided.. Murals everywhere reflecting the division of the Protestants & Catholics.. The Orange love to agitate the Catholics & march all Summer long.. Giants Causeway is absolutely incredible.. How could something so perfect be made by Mother Nature?? Next stop.. Derry, (Londonderry).. I left nothing behind when I left the USA nearly 50 years ago..I have never looked back or regretted my stay here in England..I believe there are millions in the USA who, if they had a chance, would leave America's shores & do the same as I..Many are trapped by the propaganda & lies of the US Government and it's clandestine sub-governmental offices.. Steve Military I enlisted in the USAF in November, 1967.. After basic training & technical school, I was stationed at RAF Alconbury, England, from 1968-1973..I was then stationed at Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc, California, from 1973-74.. From there I was stationed in Korat, RTAFB, Thailand fro 1974-1975. In September, 1975 until the presnt, I have been stationed & live in the United Kingdom.. I retired in December, 1987, after 20 years in the USAF, at a grade of MSgt..