Byron Europe Trip in November 2010

Back in November, Byron had the awesome opportunity with work to go to 6 different countries:  Russia, Israel, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark and South Africa. He would probably say that it wasn't very awesome being in the airplane for so many hours and also the long flights, but I couldn't imagine it being anything but awesome.  One of the last times I talked to him, he had 4 more days until he would be back but he was only staying one of those nights in a hotel - crazy!

He started out his 2 week trip to Moscow, Russia.  He was able to go to the famous Red Square.  This building is so amazing.  I guess most of the colors in Russia are pretty drab - browns.  This building is so colorful and reminds me of an ice-cream cone.

  

Next on Byron's schedule was Tel Aviv, Israel.  Byron would have loved to travel one hour to see some of the amazing sights of Jerusalem,  but didn't have the opportunity.  He did see the beautiful Mediterranean Sea as he ate with this amazing view one morning.  Leaving Tel Aviv, he has never dealt with so many problems with customs.  He was interrogated so much for his reasons to be there, why he was here for such a short time, why did he also travel to Malaysia and Indonesia (since they are enemies of Israel), etc.  As he was putting back his underwear and socks - he honestly thought he would never get out of there and barely made his plane even though he got to the airport 4 hours early.

Next he went to Copenhagen, Denmark.  Byron's relatives were from Denmark, so this place has a lot of special meaning to Byron.

The room he stayed in had two very small beds - he compared them to a stretcher or hospital bed. 

The toilet was also free-standing - that would make cleaning so easy:).

 They have so many sweets and are known for their licorice. 

Byron got a laugh out of this sign.  - so funny how in different countries you can see quite the spelling for words - it might be Danish - but it is close to English.

This bike is in a store - it looks like something we would find out of the 50's and it is totally current there.

Byron went to Africa as his final country.  He had never been was excited to see the cool sights of Johannesburg.  He went on a cool  tour of Soweto and also saw Nelson Mandela's home.  If you have seen the movie "Invictus," you could see how amazing of a man he was through out his life. 

Some meat that looks like beef jerky.  Freshly shaved from a hunk of meat.

This is called a "poiky" in Africa.  It is taken from the Danish decent and is like our Dutch ovens.

These videos are really cool.  The first one is taken of a dinner Byron had with a coworker in Africa and her family.  He is eating 4 different types of meat.

The second video is taken of a tour Byron went on which included going into a women's house to see the living conditions of the people there.  Sorry the video is sideways, but it is really fun to just listen to Byron's conversation with this woman.