HOTDM = Yes, it was very hot in Des Moines on Saturday.

But really, HOTDM means Head of the Des Moines. As in rowing regatta. (What else?) It's a 5K course along the winding Des Moines River.

My friend Kim and I are officially insane. Three days after coming back from Europe, we raced in the HOTDM. The following is a picture of how well we did. (Although I do not recommend this to anyone, nor will I ever race like this three days after getting back from a three-week trip through Europe, ever, ever again. Well, probably not.)

Kim: 3 silvers
Me: 1 gold, 1 silver
(And I unfortunately couldn't race my third event because my second and third races were too close together, and I was still racing the second one when the third one was called.)

Swiss Cowbells.

A taste of hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Mont Blanc's Hair (the glacier)
Chamonix, France

The view from my hotel balcony, Courmayeur, Italy

I'm back.

22 days, 5 countries, a mountain, a large Bavarian festival, countless museums and galleries, and hundreds of thousands of calories later, I'm home. And I have no idea where to start with on all the pictures I took.

My trip was amazing, but it's always good to be home.

Bon Voyage!

Dear Readers,

I'm going on vacation now, and don't plan on blogging too much while I'm over there. See you in a while!