Amsterdam!!!!

We made it to Amsterdam ok, and guess what, it is tulip time! We decided to check out the tulip garden and even though it poured on us,it was an amazing and beautiful site to see. Most of the tulips were blooming and even in the rain, was a lot of fun to see, even though it wasnt part of our scavenge list. That night after dinner we walked around the red light district; dont even think about taking a picture here, they will throw you in the canal! Did you know that the 'women of the night' stand in windows and it will cost you about 50-75 Euro for a half hour! We also missed by one day, the biggest party of the year, the Queens birthday. The streets were full of beer bottles and trash, which was being cleaned up. This is a full weekend of holidays including May day and Ascention day. We rented bikes, ate pancakes, went to the floating flower market, went to the market...all on bike. We also went to the Anne Frank Museum and went through the house she and her family hid in during the Nazi occupation. You can almost feel the sadness pain she went through with her family during that time.
To say the city is bike friendly is an understatement, it is THE way to get around and it is a lot of fun! So we leave for Toronto and then home. Hope the pics came through this time!
We are having a blast seeing some incredible places and thanks everyone for keeping track of us!!
jess and kelly

Bucharest, Romania

What day is it? Where are we? These are questions that we are asking ourselves more frequently. These last 2 1/2 weeks have been quite busy to say the least. So we arrived in Bucharest after flying from Athens on...Monday I think. Once we arrived at the airport and figured out which bus to take to the city, we are on our way, almost. The bus dropped us off but not at our hotel. There were 8 of us at the time in downtown Bucharest at night, not sure where to go and taxi's were scarce. We finally found our taxi and got to our hotel. The simple things at home that are so easy are so much more difficult when you cannot read the signs or speak the language. But that is also the fun of it. The following day we went to the 'Peoples Palace', a palace built by the former dictator Nicholae Ceausescu that is second only in size to the pentagon. The rooms are made out of intricate marble, wood floors, drapes and rugs so big they had to be made in the room and weigh up to 2 tons. He had a golden thrown made for him and had a marble staircase rebuilt 5 times until it was to his liking... and height! We then went to the village museum where there were authenic houses and buildings from all over Romania that give you an idea of how Romanians used to live. The next day we went up to the Transylvanian mountains. Went back to the hotel and chillaxed for while.Leaving for Amsterdam in the early AM! That will be fun! As you know we are not in the competition anymore, as are many teams. But we are having an amazing time and seeing some great places and people, enjoy more pics!
Kelly & Jess
Also some Amsterdam pics from when we first arrived, Im sure we will have more stories from here!

Athens, Greece

Hi!
I will try to catch up a little! We have been on the go and doing so much. So we arrived in Athens on Saturaday where we had another great room right in the Plaka with views of the Parthenon. We had a tasty Greek meal with the group, and yes plates were thrown, wine was drunk; or was that us that was drunk? Anyway, it happened to be Easter there so on Sunday many shops, all museums and landmarks were closed. The weather was great, partly sunny and warm so we just walked all over the city. It is amazing how many ruins are scattered throughout the area. Monday we did the tourist thing and climed the Parthenon with the other million tourists! What a view of the city and harbor. If it sounds like we are slacking, its because we are! Athens is such a change from where we have been, a welcome change from the dust! Our scavenge list should be taking us from Athens, Macadonia, Bulgaria, and Romania. However, since the idea of spending 22 hours on a train in less than 3 days did not sound all that appealing to us. If we were to go there, we wanted to at least enjoy and see some of it. So our points on this leg do not count because we took a plane to Bucharest. Sorry, but I am sure you all understand. So I write this from our room here in Bucharest at 21:30 and we are working on a plan to go to Transylvania in the am to hang with the count! So check back in a couple days!
Miss you all!
Jess and Kelly

Dust, Dirt,Horses an the Pyramids

Well we spent a long dusty day in Cairo. Though the day began well on the golf course near the Pyramids. Great Time! Then we became Lawrence of Arabia on horse in the Desert around the Pyramids! Very hot and very dusty! Then we went to a really cool Bazaar where we haggled for goods and just explored! Finally we went to King Tut's Museum and saw all the artifacts!Now we are tired!

Dust, Dirt,

Goodbye Kathmandu!

This had been an incredible time here in Kathmandu, we have seen and experienced so much, words cannot describe. We went to the hospital today to volunteer, and we were able to get in, (not hard) and he shadowed an ortho guy and I was able to spend time in PACU. The difference in health care delivery is immense. The hospital is in need of so much with so little but dont know any other way. I cant help but to think of all we waste and have so much of at work. But we saw much of the city, went to a Bollywood movie, got detained at the US embassy, (thanks Kelly) and interogated there. What did he do?? He took a picture! So as I type this we have just been told that we are on our way to Baharain, but just overnight. There was a change in times so we are unable to spend more time there, but, then in the AM we are off to Cairo!!! So we will be arriving about 3pm tomorrow Cairo time, I think it is 6 hours ahead of EST. So stay tuned and you will hear from us soon!sorry unable to download pics.

Words of the Dali Jess & Kelly Lama

Helloooooo!
We are now in Katmandu, Nepal! We know you are all going to sing that song now! We arrived yesterday saturday and had some well deserved down time by the pool. We left our hotel at night and walked to the ATM and what a different world. We left China and Southeast Asia where everything was clean, tidy, and 'put together'. Here reality of poverty hits you hard. In two hours last night we witnessed lack of roads, electricity (including street lights), lack of sewers, lack of fresh water, children begging in the streets, people, cows, and dogs all looking through roadside trash for food. I know, sounds depressing, it is. However, the people are amazingly friendly and will help you with anything. They have seen us looking at our maps and come to help and assist us with so much information and a big smile. Today we traveled throughout the city and visited temples to witness a funeral which consisted of laying the body on a platform by the river and cremating it there. We have been blessed by a holy man, We found a nice rice paper wall hanging, and and visited a Nepal fire station! Yes it is true, there are cows in the street! Cows, monkeys, and dogs are everywhere and are protected because they are considered Holy animals. That is just the beginning, we are doing so much I cant even begin to explain, but more importantly what I am getting from this, Kelly too, is amazing. I will be posting some pictures, it takes a while to download. Tomorrow we are going to take a flight to see the Himalayas and Mt Everest. Dont worry Jill, I will take the dramamine before I go!
We leave here on tuesday night to......?????We all like to guess where, we are thinking eastern Europe? Any guesses?
talk to you all soon!
Jess and Kelly
P.S. we are in last place!