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A Day with Dancing Horses

By The Fighting Couple on January 11, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Are you looking for an affordable couple travel destination in Europe? Look no further than the tiny country of Slovenia. Located just hours from crowed Venice, Italy the quaint countryside of Slovenia offers a contrasting tranquility. One of its hidden gems of this small country is the Lipizzaner stallion stud farm. The famed riding school and breeding facility is located in Lipca. The drive to Lipca from the north or the south offers is a tour of greenery and mountain vistas that have no rival.

What to See

The Lipca Stud farm has turned into a tourist and recreation heaven for the horse lover and nature lover alike. It is the perfect place for fighting couples! The main attraction is of course the performances of its classical riding school, which are held on certain days in the afternoon. Show up early for a good seat toward the front. Otherwise your video will include a survey of European hairstyles.

Performances of classical riding school take place from April to the end of October.

Timetable:
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday at 15.00

Additional performances:

Easter Sunday and Monday
1st May
15th August
30th December

Price: 18.00€ (the price includes guided tour of the stud farm)

There are a number of reasonable priced hotels in the area.

Would you like to see more pictures of these amazing animals? Just visit our facebook site and friend us there?

The Tour

In 2010 the Lipica Stud Farm celebrated its 430th anniversary! The Stud farm offers tours throughout the day of the boarding, breeding and training facilities. You will see the animals up close and personal. The buggies and wagons of yesteryear are also on display. Of course one of the favorite stops in the tour is the foaling corral. The foals are so cute! The young Lipizzaner’s are born black/brown. As they age they molt to a white/grey tone. Toward the end of the tour, you will enter the barn of the past champions. Each of these champions are housed in their own quarters, their proud lineage is on display as well as their performance accolades.

Horses at Work

The Lipica Riding School is not just a tourist destination; it is a working university for World Cup dressage. The talent performing in the arena, both rider and steed are championship grade! Horse men and women travel from the four corners of the earth to train and be trained with these fine animals.

About the Horses

So…what makes a Lipizzaner a Lipizzaner? The Lipica Stud was established by centuries of breeding. Early developers mated the local mares (female horses) from this area called the Karst region with the finest Vienna horses and later Arab Stallions. The Lipizzaner’s are unique in color, shape, gait, and of course their most defining feature their incredible intelligence. These unique animals have the distinguishing ability to learn. You will sit in awe as they put their unique talents on full display in the arena.

The US connection

“In April 1945 the heroic efforts of the 42^nd Squadron of the United States Army’s 2^nd Cavalry were responsible for the rescue and the ultimate preservation of the Lipizzans. The rescue of the horses was conducted under the order of General George S. Patton.” -this according to http://www.lipizzaner.com We made the mistake of asking about this rescue during our tour of the stables. The tour guide, a little miffed at the story, said that the Austrians had stolen many of the horses from Lipica and the US helped “liberate” the horses from them. Not sure the whole story. We wouldn’t recommend asking. Needless to say, the breed is alive and well today.

For the horse lover, this place is mecca. For those seeking to just learn more about the storied history of this amazing animal, you will also not be disappointed. And for those of you just looking for take a break from the rigors of vacation, looking to relax in a tranquil setting, you will not be disappointed. We highly recommend Slovenia and the Lipica riding school.

The Magic Carpet Fight

By The Fighting Couple on January 4, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

One of the greatest pastimes in Istanbul is shopping. Pastime is not the right word. Experiencing the grand Bazaar it is one part contact sport, one part human psychology 101 and one part exhilaration. Shopping in Istanbul is truly a timeless art form. Yes there are the chinsy tourist items, the fake Rolexes, carpets made in China. But it also has some of the best handcrafts and jewelry we have ever seen. The Grand Bazaar has it all.

Glass of the Grand Bazaar.

How to do the Bazaar

We don’t have an answer for this. It is funny to watch other couples enter and say to one another…”I will meet you over by the one carpet dealer. See you in an hour.” Good luck with that! LOST! The size of the bazaar is so difficult to describe. Where does the Bazaar end and the city begin? Is the Bazaar just one story? Is there better shops in one are over another? We don’t have an answer. The Bazaar is best enjoyed with a lot of time and money.

The Art of the Deal

I have seen some incredible salesman in our travels. None rival the talent on display in the Grand Bazaar. Some of the hawkers in the bazaar are three, four and we even found one five generation salesman! These men, we didn’t come across a saleswoman, so yes they are almost all men, are tuned and trained to evaluate you and devise a plan to separate you from your cash. It is almost a science for them. Language barrier? Not in the bazaar. Everyone speaks the language of sales. I was able to chat up a young salesman that let his guard down a little. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: “When did you start selling?”

Him: “Sold my first thing when I was only 5”

Me: “Impressive.”

Me: “Whats your secret to making sales?”

Him: “Reading customers. And keep them talking to you.”

Me: “How do read a person?”

Him: “Shoes and eyes.” (Enter big smile aka end of sales training)

Him: “Would you like to see some of my best stuff? I keep it back here…come my friend” (Enter sales pitch)

Put this to the test. Walk past the best salesmen in the bazaar. They will check your shoes in as you approach and then they will focus on your eyes. Eyes tell everything. They point to the things you find most precious. They reveal your love for an object. Very telling.

Heart of Darkness

Go get lost in the Bazaar. Go deep. The bazaar cannot be “done” in an hour. We are not sure that it can be “done” in a day. Enjoy the experience for what it is, you are a part of history. Breathe in the experience. Take in the mosaics at every turn. Drink some tea with some salesmen. Play with the shop owners kids. Most importantly, buy stuff in the Bazaar! Don’t let the salesmen intimidate you. You will never forgive yourself if you don’t buy that silver bracelet you found. First off, you will never find it again in the melee of the bazaar. Candidly, we found our best deals when we were completely lost in dark alleys deep in the beast of the bazaar. Find your own path.

Check our our Facebook page for more pics of the Grand Bazaar. While you are there…give us a “Like”.

The Carpet Fight

Add the Grand Bazaar to the list of 1000 places to fight before you die. Mike wanted to buy a rug. Of course we agreed to a price ceiling before we even set foot in the market. Of course Mike paid no heed to that agreement. He boldly walked into carpet shops and looked at stuff we couldn’t afford. (Don’t do this.) We ended up meeting the George Clooney of carpet sales. Mike the great white salesman himself had met his match. We went round and round on the price. In the end, we paid way too much. With that said it was a great experience. Today, the rug welcomes everyone that comes into our home.

The Grand Bazaar is not to be missed. Turkey and Istanbul especially is a wonderful couple travel destination. It offer so much. Experience the bazaar. Spend some money!

Have you been to the Grand Bazaar? What did you find? We would love to hear from you.oo much for our little rug. But it was great fun! Our little piece of Istanbul greets everyone that walks into our door.

The Best and Worst of the Fighting Couple 2011

By The Fighting Couple on December 31, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

This year was a great one for the Fighting Couple! We traveled to some amazing places and some duds! As we bid 2011 adieu, we wanted to offer you our best and worst of the year:

Lets start with the numbers:

Nights on the road: 65

Countries visited: 7 (Italy, France, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Canada, Austria)

Pastries eaten in Paris: 15 or so!

Most expensive water: 15 euros per bottle! (Italy)

Ugly American travel moment: Mike-Ironing his Brooks Brother shirt with Evian water while staying at a hotel on the Versailles property.

Best Fight: So many to choose from! One of the best was our “Sticker” fight. As Mike drove us across the border into Slovenia, to our surprise the toll booths were unmanned. Mike took this as there was no need to pay tolls. (Don’t make this assumption.) Mike drove on throwing caution to the wind despite strongly worded objections. This decision would end up costing us big time! We had to pay a huge fine at the border leaving the country. You must buy a “sticker” when entering Slovenia. In the end, “lively” discussion followed.

Bloggers that we were able to get to know in 2011: Traveling Cannucks (Cam and Nicole), Jouneywoman (Evelyn), Bohemian Trails (Megan), Couple of Sports (Jakie and Mark), Our Tasty Travels (Erin and Brett).

Fave Location Mike: Easy. Bihac, Bosnia, hands down. Did we stay in a four star hotel? Nope. How many thought provoking tours did we take? Nada. Luci and the other couple traveling with us really humored me on going to this border town. Bihac was the nucleus of the war. The first and last shots fired were in the area. Our adventure to Bosnia began at the border. The border agent was a little surprised to see American passports. It took a little convincing to explain that we were tourists coming to his country. Bosnia, what little of what we saw of it, was lush and green. As we drove along, we saw the bullet ridden homes along the way. We stayed at charming little hotel called the Hotel Opal. We ate at the little riverside restaurant in the hotel. Food was surprising good! What made this my fave is the blatant tourist nature of Bosnia, pristine beauty, storied history, and its rough complexity.

Fave Location Luci: Lake Bled, Slovenia! Lake Bled is girls’ fantasy camp. It looks like a fairy tale and the Lake’s famous dessert is worth every calorie. Lake Bled is a mountain lake nestled in the heart of the Julian Alps. Slovenia is the cheap man’s Austria. While it’s on the Euro, prices are at least a third cheaper. What else could a fairy tale want? Goregous lake. Yummy cake. Cheap. For a perfect fairy tale moment, spend the day at the lake. In the middle of the Lake Bled, is an island topped by a church.

The Church on Lake Bled Island, Slovenia

Rent a row boat for less than 10E and make your spouse row you across the lake. Once you reach the island, make him carry you up the steps to the church. If your spouse makes the 99 steps, you’ll have a happy marriage. If you don’t, well, you’ll be like 1000 Fights. Ring the bell the church bell and a wish will come true. Guys, if you don’t want row, you can get in an oversized gondola called a plenta and someone will row you along with 10-12 other lazy tourists. After visiting the church, visit one of the many lakeside restaurants and dive into famous kremšnit. The cake has a layer of whipped cream followed by vanilla custard and topped with filo dough. As someone who loves, anything creamy, the cake is heaven in every bite. To see pictures and more see:

Leaving Rab, Isand.

Worst Location Mike: This is another easy one for me. I really dislike Rab, Croatia. Dislike perhaps is not a strong enough word. I just want to give them a benefit of a doubt…Being the crazy planner that I am, I had everything planned out. The first thing you need to know about Rab is that it is a desert island. It is not attractive. Three months prior to our arrival, we had reserved a boat to rent for the day. It was going to be a blast. We were going to hit a couple secluded remote beaches. Sounds like fun huh? Well it took an hour to find the boat dock. We approached the proprietor, made small talk and once we asked about our boat reservation, the “gentleman” forgot English, and there was no longer a reservation, regardless of the 3 emails I had in hand to the contrary. The day only got worse! We decided to drive to one of the public beaches…in route we were following three cars following a tractor. The tractor driver waved us all around. So I passed on a flat and straight patch. All of the sudden: Lights and Siren! We were pulled over and ticket for passing in no passing zone! No sign! Following other cars! I really dislike Rab!

Worst Location Luci: I hate Las Vegas. The food is expensive. The shows are pricey. The museums are over rated. There are ads of naked women everywhere. The free things to see in casinos are so buried deep inside you need a map to get out. I don’t drink or gamble so what is there for me to do? Nothing. I could never go back and be happy.

Big Winners!: This year we ran two contests. The first was our famed Hottest Travel Blogging Divas and Hunks. We highlighted 3 gals and 3 guys that are travel bloggers. It was a little tongue in cheek but it gave us a chance to highlight some incredible travel bloggers. Just in case you missed it, Keith from www.traveling-savage.com was crowned King and the lovely and talented Lillie of http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/ was crowned queen.

The Kahle's Winner of our Mistletoe Moment

Our other contest was our Mistletoe Moments during the month of December. We asked couples to submit their best magical moment together during the year. We were stunned by the response! There were so many touching stories of couples finding love at home and abroad. The response really has inspired us. The winning moment came to us from the Kahle’s at http://www.wanderlivin.com/. Congrats again!

TBEX-This year we decided to attend the annual travel blogger revival called TBEX. We are so glad we did! TBEX this year was hosted in scenic Vancouver, BC, Canada. For those of you that have not attended, it is a two-three day affair, with travel bloggers from across the globe. Luci was skeptical about attending at first, but it really turned into a funfest. Presentations were given on different travel and technical topics. It was wonderful meeting the faces behind the Facebook pages.

Waterfalls in Croatia

We want to thank each and every one of you our readers. Thanks for your comments, thanks for your interest in our crazy fights. Stay tuned we have some exciting stuff planned for you in 2012! Buckle up!

Lake Bled: Girl’s Fantasy Camp (1000fights.com)

Merry Christmas from the Fighting Couple

By The Fighting Couple on December 24, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

Merry Christmas in 50 Languages:

Afrikaans – ‘n Geseende Kersfees en ‘n voorspoedige Nuwejaar
Afrikaans – Een Plesierige Kerfees
Albanian — Gezuar Krishtlindje
Arabic – I’d Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida
Armenian – Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri – Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Basque – Zorionstsu Eguberri. Zoriontsu Urte Berri On
Bengali – Bodo Din Shubh Lamona
Bohemian – Vesele Vanoce
Breton – Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian – Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Celtic – Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Chinese –
(Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
(Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun
(Hong Kong) Kung Ho Hsin Hsi. Ching Chi Shen Tan
Cornish – Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Cree – Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian – Sretan Bozic
Czech – Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish – Gladelig Jul
Dutch – Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
English – Merry Christmas
Esperanto – Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian – Roomsaid Joulu Puhi
Farsi – Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish – Hyvaa joulua
French – Joyeux Noel
Frisian – Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier
German – Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek – Kala Christouyenna
Hawaiian – Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew – Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi – Bada Din Mubarak Ho
Hungarian – Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic – Gledileg Jol
Indonesian – Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi – Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish – Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian – Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese – Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Kala – Khristougena kai Eftikhes to Neon Etos
Korean – Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latvian – Priecigus Ziemas Svetkus un Laimigu Jauno Gadu
Lettish – Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian – Linksmu Kaledu
Manx – Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori – Meri Kirihimete
Marathi – Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo – Merry Keshmish
Northern Sotho – Matlhatse le matlhogonolo mo ngwageng o moswa.
Norwegian – God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar
Pennsylvania German – En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei
Yaahr
Papiamento – Bon Pasku i Felis Anja Nobo
Pig Latin – Errymay ristmaskay
Polish – Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese – Feliz Natal (Used in Portugal, Brazil and several former Portuguese colonies)
Rapa-Nui – Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Romanian – Craciun Fericit
Russian – Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Samoan – La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Serbian – Hristos se rodi
Scottish – Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Serbian – Hristos se rodi
Singhalese – Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slavonic – Christos Razdajetsja! Slavite Jeho!
Slovak – Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene – Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto
Spanish – Feliz Navidad (Used in Spain as well as Mexico and most of Central and South America)
Swahili – Krismasi Njema
Swedish – God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt Ar
Tagalog – Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil – Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Thai – Sawat Dee Wan Kritsamas
Turkish – Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian – Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu – Bara Din Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese – Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Waray – Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tu-ig
Welsh – Nadolig Llawen
Zulu – Nginifisela inhlanhla ne mpumelelo e nyakeni.

Regardless of how you say it: we wish you a Merry Christmas!

The Best Mistletoe Moment of 2011

By The Fighting Couple on December 23, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

We have a winner!

A heartfelt thanks to each of you that submitted entries. We were totally blown away by the number and more impressivley the quality of responses! Incredible. This just goes to show that love is alive and well.

Luci and I want to thank you our readers for making this an amazing year. You have shared your travel fights, crazy adventures, and tender love stories with us. We are so grateful for each of you! We wish you all many happy miles this coming year.

While we don’t have a “prize” for them, our judges thought these two were incredible! The two runners up:

Chris Walker-Bush from Aussie on the Road

“It was seconds after the ball dropped on New Year’s and my soon to be ex girlfriend and I had fled the beach party on Robinson Crusoe in Fiji to find some privacy. With our two year relationship set to end in 24 hours when she flew back to the States, tears stood in her eyes as we listened to the distant growl of the beach and felt the warm summer air on our skin. Underneath the gaze of coconut palms and the starry skies, I kissed away her tears and thanked her for the best two years of my life.”

Mike Howard from Honey Trek

“It wasn’t in an amazing location, or under a starry night sky, and it wasn’t at the perfect time. It was in our kitchen, when we realized we wanted to quit our jobs and travel the world together. After an amazing evening with friends (two of whom told us of their recent journey and inspired us), we sat in our kitchen, staring each others eyes, realizing we were in fact going to make this a reality. That kiss, is the kiss that sealed our RTW fate, and we can not wait for more Mistletoe moments in every country we visit over the next 16 months.”

Without further ado….our 2011 Mistletoe Moment is:

The Kahle’s from Wanderlivin

“A wedding can mean many different things to different people. To the bride it’s the most important day of her life. That’s why when I was told my hairdresser canceled on me the day before the wedding I tried to shake it off. When half of my family couldn’t come because of Hurricane Irene I tried to shake it off. When my photographer didn’t show up – I couldn’t shake it off. Walking down the isle in distress I saw my husband and the way he looked at me as I walked down the isle. When I reached him I pulled his face down for a kiss before the minister could even start as the waves of Monterrey Bay crashed around us and bridesmaids giggled at the ministers disapproval.”

1000Fights: Isn’t that a tender story! Congrats on your marriage! We love it. There will be time for fighting later! Luci says that they are going to have “cute” kids…not sure what that means. We wish the Kahle’s congrats and happy travels!

Thanks again to our “Celebrity” judges!

@travelcanucks @sarahjstorer @VagabondQuest @confusedjulia

Ok…2012 is just on the horizon. Get out there and make some Mistletoe Moments!

Our list of the 5 “Most Intriguing” Churches in Europe

By The Fighting Couple on December 19, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

Like most explorers of Europe, we always end up marching into a million different cathedrals and churches. Unfortunately for us, call us unwashed heathens, they start to all blend together. Every once in a while you enter a house of worship that is different in some dramatic way. Something within sparks our interest. We decided to offer you some of our favorites. Favorites in a sense that their beauty, uniqueness and history make them worth the visit. Enjoy our countdown to the most intriguing church in Europe:

5) Salisbury Cathedral, (Salisbury, England)

Located about an hour and a half from London, the Salisbury Cathedral offers an interesting day trip. Its well worth the jaunt. The church landed on on list for a whole list of reasons. Lets start with its sheer size. The Cathedral has the tallest spire of all the churches in England. The spire towers at 404 feet. You can take a tower tour that will take you up to an amazing vista. The entire church covers a foot print of over 80 acres! It is massive. The church has a number of claims to fame, it has the world’s oldest working clock circa 1386. It houses one of the four original Magna Cartas. Take a side trip out of Londontown and see one of the most intriguing churches in Europe.

4) The Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Venice, Italy)

We happened upon this church by accident. We were lost in Venice. (We love getting lost in Venice! Highly recommended.) To take a break we entered the church, and found one of the most exquisite displays of stonework we have ever laid eyes on. The pillars of the church are made of inlaid marble unlike we have ever seen. The delicacy and precision that must have been requisite to make such a masterpiece is mind blowing. The craftsmen that created this structure, with limited tools was masters in the highest degree. Every inch of this house of worship is a masterpiece. Don’t miss this one next time you get “lost” in Venice.

IL Duomo Siena, Italy

3) IL Duomo (Siena, Italy)

Nestled in the hills of Tuscany is the sleepy little town of Siena. What once was a hilltop fortress housing the township, has now turned into a haven for smart tourists that break away from their gelato in Florence. Getting to the town is half the adventure, rent a car, make the journey. What is remarkable about this church is the colors inside and out. We nicknamed it the zebra church. Builders used alternating black and white marble. The inside of the church is equally as dramatic as the outside. Once you enter, you are struck with sensory overload. On the floor is the mosaic depicting the “Slaughter of the Innocents.” Then direct your eyes above and take in the painted dome that creates an optical illusion of three dimensional heavens. It is remarkable. Don’t miss Bernini’s St. Jerome holding the cross like a cradled violin. I remember after we had walked out, saying to each other, that was amazing. It was. Go see it.

The Floor of IL Duomo, Siena, Italy

Image via Wikipedia

2) Sistine Chapel (Vatican City) –

Making a list like this, how can we not include the Vatican? What makes the Sistine Chapel intriguing is its creator, we couldn’t help asking ourselves…How did he do it? The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most amazing “canvases”. What a remarkable example of human creativity. —Warning: we are going to vent a little: We were really disappointed in the patrons of the chapel. In order to preserve the delicate works of art, photo’s are prohibited. During the entire time we were viewing the art, we heard the guards incessantly chide tourists: “NO PHOTOS!” It truly ruins the setting. Shame on the tourists for not buying the post card, and shame on the guards for not finding another way to stop the villains.—-Back to the review. See the Sistine Chapel once in your life. Walk slowly. Imagine the painstaking efforts of the artists. Commune with a higher power. Then go get a massage, your neck will thank you for it.

1) Our fave church in Europe is one you likely have never heard of. It is not a masterpiece of architectural genius. Millions of pilgrims do not make an annual trek to touch its walls. It is one of the oldest and best preserved shrines to Christendom. In its storied history, it served as a defense against invading forces and later serviced as a Muslim Mosque. Chora Church in Istanbul, Turkey is our most intriguing church in Europe.

Chora Church, Istanbul, Turkey

Chora is a powerful place. What makes Chora so special is its mosaic pageantry. The walls of the church once plastered over to cover it’s “blasphemous” subject according to Islamic tradition, the church has been converted to a museum and the coverings have all been painstakingly removed. What was left behind is nothing short of breathtaking. Depictions of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the birth of the virgin Mary, and the Journey of the Magi.

Chora Church, Istanbul, Turkey

Far and away our favorite depiction is of the second coming of Christ. It is one of the most compelling pieces of artwork we have come across. Christ the redeemer is grasping the hands of both Adam and Eve pulling them from their earthly graves. Satan is bound with cords and chains in the distance. Keys litter the ground, symbolic of the keys to the grave. What draws us in on this picture are the faces of both Adam and Eve. They have a look of joy and wonder. You simply must see it in person.

Turkey is an extraordinary place to visit. It continues to be one of the Fighting Couple’s favorite.

So how did we do? Agree? Disagree? Did we miss you fave church in Europe? We would love to hear from you. Just hit the comment button below and let us know.

Please visit our Facebook Page for more pics. If you find a intriguing church that should make the list, let us know in the comments below.

Mistletoe Moments Celebrity Judges!

By The Fighting Couple on December 9, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

Responses to our Mistletoe Moments have been amazing! So many great stories. If you haven’t submitted yours, we want to hear from you!

We are proud to announce our “Celebrity Judges” for our contest! So why do we need judges? First of all, we would have to change the name of our blog if we tried to pick one! (www.100000fights). In addition, we really wanted to highlight some great blogs out there to you our loyal readers. Enjoy.

The Traveling Canucks

www.travelingcanucks.com

@travelcanucks

Cam and Nicole are couple travel bloggers based in beautiful Vancouver BC, Canada. Their blog highlights some of the best travel locations on the planet. Cam and Nicloe have great features on Turkey and are world renowned Beer aficionados!

The Naked Redhead

www.thenakedredhead.com

@sarahjstorer

The Naked Redhead-now we have you attention! Sarah aka The Naked Redhead is a professional “Wing Woman.” Her site (sorry no porn) offers the tricks, tips and truths that will help you find that certain someone and get the most from love and life. (Mike may or may not have a tiny crush on Sarah.) Check out her site!

Vagabond Quest

www.vagabondquest.com

@VagabondQuest

Dina and Ryan of Vagabond Quest are “living the dream”. They Left their hometown in 2009 and have been living on the road since! Crazy huh? Their blog highlights their adventures. They include some amazing pictues and video. They even captures a possum attacking Dina! Yikees!

Confused Julia

www.homelessandconfused.com

@confusedjulia

Julia from Homeless and Confused is a kick! Are you looking for a pithy blog with a side of fun? Bingo! You found it. This English lassie has had exciting and crazy travels. She is headed out on a whirl wind adventure this spring. Give her blog a looksee.

We want to give a hearty thanks to each of our Celebrity Judges!

Ok, this $150 bucks is burning a hole in our pocket!

Please submit your Mistletoe Moment right now!

Happy Holidays from 1000Fights!

Our Day with the Gipper.

By The Fighting Couple on December 4, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

We fight about a lot of things, why not bring politics in as well? One of our political heroes is President Ronald Reagan. We admire his strong character and unyielding love of country. In our recent visit to Southern California we had our day with the Gipper. Our tribute involved riding horseback into the Ranch in the Clouds then we boarded Air Force One !

Our day of Reagan began at the Circle B Ranch. Located just 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara, California, the Circle Bar B is nestled in the scenic hills of central California. Finding the ranch is simple and part of the experience. If headed north from Santa Barbara on 101 just take the Refugo Beach exit and head east through orange and lemon groves. The Circle Bar B is perfect for families and couples alike. They offer a number of different ride options ranging from half day rides to hour long treks. We chose the half day ride that took us along President Reagan’s ranch.

We boarded our mounts Silver and Traveler and headed up the hill with our guide Alex. The ranch owns an expansive tract of land up into the mountains. The trail crosses a number of small creeks and passes a gorgeous water fall. Once you gain some altitude you see amazing vistas of the Pacific. The trial weaves in and out sweet smelling Eucalyptus groves. The ride was a treat from start to finish.

It’s easy to see why President Reagan relished his time spent at the “Western Whitehouse”. The place is so peaceful. The vistas recharge the soul. The next time you are in SoCal, take in a ride!

Ronald Reagan Museum

Image via Wikipedia

In our travels we have had a chance to visit a number of presidential libraries. We love them. It is a great way to see items attached to history. The tribute to Ronald Reagan is truly the finest. Ronald Reagan Library and Museum is located on a hilltop with sweeping views of Simi valley is the final resting place of the President. As you would expect, there is a healthy dose of hero worship throughout.

The world truly changed while President Reagan occupied the White House. As you walk around the courtyard you see a impressive display of a section of the Berlin Wall.

Key items to see in the museum:

1)Tender note from Margaret Thatcher to Nancy Reagan after his passing.

2) As is military tradition at the passing of leaders, boots are placed backward in a saddled horse’s stirrups. Ronald Reagan, a skilled horseman, was treated to this honor at his passing. His actual riding boots were used in lieu of a shinny unused pair. The boots are on display in the collection.

3)The holiday season is a unique time to visit the library. A collection of ornate monorahs and a hall of Christmas trees are on display.

4)For you fashion gurus out there, Nancy’s famous red dress circa the first inauguration is on display.

5) The suit that President Reagan was wearing when he was shot is on display. You can see where the two bullets went in. Incredible.

One of the most impressive parts of the museum is the massive indoor display of Air Force One the presidential Jet used by Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and the two Bushies . The display is so clever. The plane appears like it is flying through the middle of the display hall and out in to the wall of windows. It is an amazing effect. Museum entrance fee allows you a walk through of one of the most celebrated air craft in history.

Both experiences are not to be missed regardless of your political stripes. The majestic beauty of the first and the history lesson of the second is not to be missed.

The nearest major airport is in Los Angeles, CA. There are a number cheap flights to Los Angeles.

Tell us your Mistletoe Moment!

By The Fighting Couple on December 3, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

Our contest is now over. Stay tuned for the winners to be announced.

The Fighting Couple hopes that you have a Merry Christmas and many Happy Mistletoe Moments in 2012!

We are looking for the best Mistletoe Moment from 2011! The lovely winner will be awarded a $150 Visa gift card! Yay! Finally it is OK to Kiss and Tell!

So what exactly is a Mistletoe Moment (aka MM) you ask?

Simply put, it’s a moment in time when you and your special someone get taken in by your surroundings, the sights, and smells but most of all, each other! You could be with 10,000 tourists in St. Mark’s Square in Venice or in the middle of the Amazon where you are surrounded by 1,000 bugs! It could be anywhere/anyone?/anytime but it MUST be magical!

To get your creative juices going, here is our MM from this year:

We were visiting Paris, (great place for MMs!) we stayed in a charming little boutique hotel. Our cozy room had an ornate little balcony overlooking a sleepy little Parisian thoroughfare. There was a great little bakery in the distance and the magical scent of a 1000 flowers created an ambiance that was truly magical. We stood hand in hand taking in the backdrop of Paris in the distance. What a moment!

How to enter? Just two easy steps:

1) In 50ish words or less, tell us about your “Mistletoe Moment” in the comments section below.

2) Give us a “like” 1000Fights on Facebook here. Then leave a comment,: “I had a Mistletoe Moment!” Here.

Please meet our panel of “Celebrity Judges“.

The Fine Print (sorry, but its really not that bad.)

1) Mistletoe Moment must have taken place in 2011.

2) Entries will be accepted till midnight December 20th, 2011.

3) Final selections will be made by our awesome panel of judges. (To be announced soon!)

4) We will announce the winner on our webpage on December 22nd, 2011.

5) This contest is not valid where prohibited. (What a terrible place to be!)

6) Please keep Mistletoe Moments rated (PG-13 or PG, no G’s allowed!)

7) Prize will be delivered via Paypal, or another agreeable method.

8) The last one we promise…remember its ok to Kiss and tell!

Please share our little contest with your friends!!! Just click below to share on Facebook or Twitter. (Thank you!)

The Whispers of Mt. Kilimanjaro

By The Fighting Couple on November 30, 2011 in General, Slideshowable

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Her name, so utterly foreign yet bitterly familiar, still invokes Dickens’ ostensible opposites. To reproduce it from my lips freshens my mind with rivaling sensations of joyful enthusiasm and painful failure. Kilimanjaro. This is the story of my fight with her.

We met at Machame camp in Tanzania – our first date was a steep climb through lush rainforest was complete with monkeys, vines, and the two interacting in a natural manner. Though it was challenging, I was vigorous and her beauty and charm were intriguing. As our day’s journey slowed to an end, a taste of what to was to come arrived in the form of an eerie aberration – the landscape transforming from thick and green to misty and moss-strewn. Nonetheless it still had a strange allure, and camping just below the cloud layer offered a romantic sense of vulnerability. I admired her.

The second day brought an initial victory – plunging through a dense layer of fog, any temptation to attempt a retreat changed from the prospect of a leisurely downhill path, to a seemingly impenetrable floor of clouds. It was easier to go on. She was ruthless and uncaring as the slope sharpened. Plant life was sparse and the air thin as we crossed through 12,000 feet. I found myself out of breath – not only in awe of her splendor, but also aghast of her cruelty. By the time we arrived at Shira camp, I wasn’t interested dinner – African hot dogs and semi-fresh vegetables, preferring instead to rest. If she had embittered me with her heartless grind throughout the day, I forgot it altogether when she rewarded me with the most brilliant sunset these eyes have ever beheld. I loved her.

Given the austerity of the scenery on the third day, I should have known she would eventually break my heart. I may as well have been on the moon. There was a cold, fierce wind. Vegetation went from scarce to non-existent, along with oxygen, and my aching muscles were letting me know. My heart in particular, having to beat at twice its normal rate to oxygenate my blood, literally felt like it would beat right out of my chest. I trudged in the shadow of the peak – she, staring down on me with contempt, yet I, at her in admiration. By the time we arrived at camp it was dark – a blessing. Had I seen what the next morning would bring, I would never have awakened.

Barranco wall engulfed the entire panorama – not saying “good morning,” but saying, “I’m insurmountable.” I believed her. Lines of porters, like ants, weaved their way to its crest; identifiable only by the white bags they carried on their heads. I set out, no longer greeting fellow climbers with a cheery “Jambo,” but with a disgusted sigh. At the top of Barranco I felt no joy, only the obligation to continue. If I allowed myself, I could feel satisfaction – even a thrill, but I couldn’t. I felt anguish. It was an endless cycle of descent before inevitable ascent. Torment. The climb to Barafu, the final camp, I made only with the motivation of cursing her through clenched teeth. I hated her.

With only a few hours to rest before we began the summit at midnight I had little sleep. Donning arctic winter gear and headlamps for our final encounter, I set out in conquest with a shard of hope. The altitude was taking its toll and nausea set in along with muscle cramps. I wretched. Still, I pushed along for 3 hours in the dark, each footstep barely ahead of the last, progress coming at great cost. My body was revolting. When I could push no longer, at 1700 vertical feet below the summit, I stared up at the moon and collapsed. I despised her.

And though she conquered me, stole from me all that I could offer, and left me hungry and wanting… I love her still. She respects me still. And neither of us will concede that we’ve seen the last of each other.

Guest Post by Brad from World Wanderlusting. Brad climbed Kilimanjaro in September of 2010 with friends and co-workers on the Machame Route with Zara Tours (www.climbingkilimanjaro.com). He and his brother, Sheldon, write a travel blog: www.WorldWanderlusting.com.

1000Fights: Brad is a great friend and like minded traveler. What a great post! Poetry! Please check out Brad’s blog and follow him on Twitter @worldwanderlust!

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