Monse's Honeymoon Pics
MonsieurEvil
Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Wedding pics? Be a few weeks...</div> Here is a selection of pics from MonsE Lampoons European Vacation (aka Honeymoon with Mrs. MonsE, Lisa Royal). With my usual dumb commentary. All pics taken with a Canon Powershot A70, using a variety of CompactFlash cards from PNY, Integral (yuck - don't use theirs), and Canon. There were a total of about 350 pics, most of which are not shown as they get a bit repetitive if you're not involved (or would prevent me and the wife from running for office later, <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> ).
Enjoy...
Enjoy...
Comments
Bonnyrigg, Scotland - where we got hitched
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Castle Dalhousie, where it all went down (plenty more pics of the exterior and interior, if anyone's interested). The castle dates back to the 13th century, and had plenty of interesting times, including being besieged by Edward I (aka Braveheart's badguy), as well as being Cromwell's headquarters during the suppresion of the Scottish rebellions in the 2nd Civil War in the 1600's. And now, of course, my wedding spot. A truly historical moment! <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20048.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The Mary Queen of Scots Suite - honeymoon quarters. The bed was aproximately the same age as the USA <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> .
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe40011.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Miss Royal's dressing quarters, a narrow turret. You can't see it, but the opposite wall has an arrow loophole!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe40015.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
A somewhat tipsy Miss Royal tries out the bed. Grrrrrrr!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe40017.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The Library, where our reception was held slightly before and long after dinner.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20011.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Strange, this bookshelf doesn't seem right... hmmmmm...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20013.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Great Scott, Robin, to the Bat Bar!!!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20016.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
A view from our room. Ahhh, nature in all its glory.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20002.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Yet another view. You get what you pay for, as usual.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20001.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
More Wine? Or would you prefer the rack? Dinner was in the dungeon at this table (minus some places).
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20052.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The beautiful bride, after all the festivities. What a cutie!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20030.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
More roaming of the grounds on the day after...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20040.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20031.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20037.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Then it was back into the city!
Edinburgh, Scotland - homebase for 'Operation Ball-and-Chain'
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Blow thaaht pipe, laddie, blooow! We had a different chap named Ian (former Sgt Major in Scots Guards) as our wedding piper, and he was a colorful character. But those are wedding pics, and coming in a few weeks. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> This nice fellow was on the road to Edinburgh Castle, and deserved a pic.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe30011.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Inside Jenner's, the world's oldest department store. Not exactly a JC Penny's...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe30009.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Castle Edinburgh beckons in the distance...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe40008.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Trudging up 'Auld Reekie', into the Keep...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe30012.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Downtown Edinburgh - it really gives NYC and Central Park West a real run for their money. This is a former loch, now dammed and drained and resplendent as a park that divides the Old and New Town. The Scots really know how to make a city.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20064.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20059.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20062.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And now it's on to Amsterdam. Tapagh Leibh, bonny Scotland!
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - The honeymoon gets damp
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The view from our hotel room at the Barbizon. A new take on getting a 'water view'.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20088.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And the other way, looking at the Zeedjke. There were actually drunken Merchant Marine and Cruise Ship sailors at this cafe every night, belting out American Classic Rock songs well into the morning and talking to girls. We didn't mind though, sometimes it's nice to fall asleep to 'You've Lost that Loving Feeling...' <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20087.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
We roam, looking for interesting things. Note that in Amsterdam, it's perfectly acceptable for everyone to drive at 5000 bajillion kilometers per hour in the middle of these 'streets', with trolley cars wizzing around, and bicycle riders everywhere. All Dutch are lunatics behind the wheel of whatever vehicle they drive.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20093.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
They also love 'The Mask', for unexplained reasons...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20095.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
We ride through the canals, thoughts of romance on our minds. A series of the best shots...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20091.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20103.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0014.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0028.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0041.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Lisa, trying on shoes as usual. Those pesky European sizes are a bit hard to convert.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0004.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
More bizarro forms of Dutch transportation. WTH???
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0002.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
In a cheese and wine cafe. Crikey, look at the size of that rock! Some sucker must have paid a fortune for that thing... <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0009.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Our hotel window always seemed to give us the weirdest sights of Amsterdam. Here come some Dutch... Chinese Buddhists?
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0050.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
We did manage to track them down later after running out of the hotel in hot pursuit. Uh, aren't these guys supposed to be under vows of poverty?
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0064.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Aha! The source!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0058.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
I later used this car for bench-pressing. Gotta stay in shape, you know.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0065.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
A cruise boat passes by our window.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20121.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
You know I had to grab at least one shot... <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0021.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Commuters.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20107.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Nice porch!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20113.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Vaarwel Holland! We return to the UK, and the City of Cities... London!
London, England - Where the sun never shines, errr, sets on the British Empire
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Just to prove I was there, here are all those buses you hear about.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0070.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Queen Anne guarding the entrance to St. Paul's Cathedral.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0075.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The British prepare their mothership for launching. Um, WTH?
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0076.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Contrary to earlier reports from my youth, London Bridge is not in fact falling down. It seems rather sturdy, actually.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0087.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The Tower of London. Which actually has 16 towers. Go figure...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0089.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0093.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0094.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0124.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Our kooky Yeoman Warder Sgt. Major Dormer telling us about yet another person beheaded by the British. The list went on for hours...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0127.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Inside the Tower Armories. It was designed to make children never want to ride a merry-go-round ever again.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0133.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Look, mortars! I used to be a Mortarman myself! About 700 years after these babies were made. Funnily enough, the British designed my mortar also.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0134.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The Aston-Martin Dealership by our hotel in Hyde Park. Do try to pay attention, Double-O Seven...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0137.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Westminster Abbey. Basically, it was tons of dead kings and queens - very cool. But I did also stand on top of Charles Darwin's grave. Rock on, Natural Selection!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0142.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
More below!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0107.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
St. James park, just a ways from Buckingham palace (which was about 6 blocks from our Hotel, The Grovesner House).
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0109.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
MonsE shakes free off the wife for a day at the Imperial War Museum. It was comepletely awesome.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0114.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0117.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0118.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The Victoria and Albert Museum. I had never heard of it, but it was the best one we saw to be honest. Incredible. Here's a bunch of stuff.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0149.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0154.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0151.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0147.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And of course the British Museum, which we liked just as well. Hard to see it all, so we picked out the parts that were a must-do. Like the Rosetta Stone...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20124.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And Amenhotep...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20127.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And the Mummies.
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20134.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And the clocks...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20137.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And the Reading Room...
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20139.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And Buddha!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe20142.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And of course, there was the clock tower and Big Ben. Looks like a travel brochure!
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/europe0101.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Of course, you'll end up under the weight of that ball and chain, as evidenced below by my sorrowful expression. But that's a different thread of discussion. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/monsehm/Capture_00005.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Thanks for reading!
I'll overlook the fact that you failed to pop by and say hello. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
You know those guards in the red uniforms, they arent allowed to smile or laugh or anything, people go up to them and try and make them laugh or something.. If you didn't already know.
<i>/attempts to pickpocket ring;
minutes later, remnants of my body are feasted on by sea gulls</i>
My sister just finished a 3-week tour through Europe last Wednesday. But my evil computer's not letting her access the photos listed on her CD... it reads as a complete blank. *@$^(*!!!
Congrats! :D
Castle = Win
(:
But geez, some of those shots look like they had r_speeds through the roof. *cough*
Not as much as you might think. Certainly less than if I had thrown a wedding with 100+ people attending in some anonymous church and forgetable banquet hall in the States (our group was a dozen people). That includes the 2 week honeymoon - weddings can be pretty expensive if you follow the billion-dollar industry instructions.
I can't wait to get the actual wedding pics from the photographer. The chapel was about 600 years old, and the tree outside we used was at least 150 years old. Plus you can see our huge-mustached piper sucking down whiskey like it's 7-Up. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
As for R_Speeds, I kept hoping to see a Strider step over the gate into Buckingham Palace, tipping over the Victoria Memorial and getting shot at by retreating Scots Guards, idly flipping a bobbie 100 feet. Sigh, oh well, I'll wait for the HL2 mod...
The Quaich, naturally!!!
<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Much of my family was persecuted and deported from Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries (Clan Moffat, and the Stokes's and Pyles). I felt like returning to say 'Thanks! Without your ignorance and intolerance, I would not have been born an American!'.
Seriously, Scotland is a beautiful country with very lax marriage laws, unlike most of Europe. We always wanted to go and it seemed like a good opportunity.
now i am lving in London myself but for some reason I ahve not ever saw that in the skyline. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
shows how much i've actually been around London itself. Only been in london for like 6 months doing my studies ;p
Can anyoen tell me wat building is that?
Here's a snippit from monse in IRC about the traffic picture.
<Redford> was it really like that?
<MonsieurEvil> Yes redford. if anything, it was far worse.
<MonsieurEvil> like, hundreds of women riding in traffic on their bicycles with a kid strapped to teh handlebars, and another kid sitting on the mudguard behind her. Weaving through cabs and audis and scooters and cops on horseback and trolleys.
<MonsieurEvil> Also, we did have a funny time at Gatwick airport in London when we got pulled out for a security check, and the bag they opened happened to have a package of sexy massage oils sitting right on top, from the red light district in amsterdam. With the name of 'Hot Booby Love' oil....
<MonsieurEvil> that was a tad embarrasing
<MonsieurEvil> Lisa was slightly pink faced
<MonsieurEvil> Needless to say, we were not searched much after that <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
^ fun indeed
rofl
Not to sound...uhh...nice to you or anything but your wife Lisa...she pretty. Good choice <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> . America is full of so many vain people it's hard to find someone who actually looks pretty without thinking they need to be stick-thin.
nice pictures too!
Hmm.. Interesting.
Nice architecture, but in all honesty the front left of the castle is a bit low poly. Also the textures used are appaulingly low resolution. That sprite tree to the right looks nice with the transparancy and blending, but it is still obviously a sprite. There's even a texture misalignment on the wall on the left by the cart. And man, people are still using 256 color skies?
:P
All kidding aside, these are all really great pics. Good quality and such. I hope JPEG never goes out of format so that you can tresure these for a lifetime :) What camera were these taken with btw, as I want it. My camera's pictures are just bleh in comparrison :P
but yeah that camera owns. The quality of those pictures was the first thing i thought of when i saw that image there.