Auschwitz

Auschwitz was definitly a different experience. I'm glad that Annika and I decided to go. We both are very into the holocaust and have been wanting to see the camp for sometime.

This was the entrace for the people into the first camp. They would later create Birkenau or Auschwitz II.

This was blockade #10 where many experiments for steralization where preformed on mostly Jewish women.

The death wall

This is where many of the prisoners slept. The heater which is running through the middle never worked.

What is left of one of the six gas chamber in the Birkenau camp

This is the end of the line where trains would come and the prisoners would be split into those who would go straight to the gas chambers and those who were decided could be used as laborers.

It's definitly a lot to stomach, but so worth seeing. The experience is really beyond words, it's simply undescribable.

(And as always ignore my spelling. Right now I'm in Italy and I definitly don't speak Italian)

Lost in Translation - Warsaw, Poland...

Cześć!!! Or as in English I would say hello!

Our second stop on our European Adventure was to see the capital of Poland. During World War II Warsaw was practiaclly destroyed. Since then however they have rebuilt their city so much so you never would have guessed.

The main part we stayed at was the Old Town area. This section of Warsaw was actually remade to look exactly as it did pre war based on paintings. However, the restaurant selections I'm sure have changed because besides having polish style options I'm pretty sure I saw a Subway and a Pizza Hut!



Did I mention that Poland was quite chilly. When we first arrived we were completly unaware of the weather that awaited us. We stopped to grab a hot chocolate at a cute Irish pub in the Old Town Center sqare. It cost us 14 zloteys each. Any guesses how much that is in USD? Well I'll let you figure it out on your own.

One of the first sites you'll see as you enter into Old Town!

Oh and did I mention Warsaw was one of the first places I had to pay to use the public restroom. I've been informed it probably won't be the last.


Warsaw had such a cute and fun character to it! The fresh markets and overflowing arrangements of flowers (not to mention the really cute polish guys carrying the flowers) was just so refreshing. I can't wait to see what else Europe has to offer us!!

Annika and I did have an intesting experience trying to find our hostel here in Warsaw. We ended up walking close to 3 hours full backpacks and everything. It was also very confusing because not as many people spoke English (at least that way my experience) as in Berlin and the prononciation of the words are completly unlike you would think. There was no sounding it out to be had! But successfuly after a little frustration and a whole lot of steps we made it. I don't think I have ever been so excited to take off my shoes and take a long nap! :)

Well off to bed....
XOXO

A little more of Berlin!!!!!

I'm actually not in Berlin any longer but when we were leaving to get on the train and come to Warsaw we saw another part of the Berlin Wall just across the street so Annika and I stopped for a small little photo shoot. This part of the wall is still pretty bright and colorful!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Berlin!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to Berlin!!!! So funny story Annika and I get off the plane in Germany, we look at each other and are like, "hmmm...ok what now." HAHA Well luckily we were able to figure it out. We got some money, talked to some German people who half-hazzardly spoke English and were able to discover what bus/metro combo we needed to take to get to our hostel.

Then we are standing at the ticket machine (probably looking like pathetic confused individuals) and these AMAZING people come up to us and through some confusion on the language barrier they gave us their 7 day metro/bus pass that still had 2 days still left. They were getting ready to leave to get back on the plane and how nice was that?

So anyways the story goes that we were able to find our hostel and everything went well. Now what is a hostel you ask. Well its like a college dorm/hotel (at least that's how I would describe it). The Pegasus Hostel was our first experience and it was really bright, colorful, and fun as you can see below!

Our first dinner in Europe! The pepporoni and soda were just a litle diffrent.

Annika and I got up or first morning and decided to take a free walking tour we found through our hostel. We got an AMAZING guide who was so knowledgeable, and spoke really good English (He was originally from Dublin). One of the places he took us was to the Holocaust memorial. This was one of the most moving memorials I've ever seen. This is just one small perspectivie you would have to see more images to really get an idea of what it looks like but this was my favorite.

Berlin Wall or what is left of it. The story behind this and how it all got started was probably my favorite part of the tour.

Fountain!

And I'm pretty sure Annika is going to hate me for this but I LOVE this pic! HAHA

St. Mary's Cathedral, we just happended to stumble upon on our walk home after the tour.

And this is ME!!!!!!

Annika and I are having a lot of fun. Keep checking back and see where else our travels take us. Oh and again ignore the spelling issues I really don't know how to speak or type in diffrent languages! XOXO

Off We GO....

So the realization that when you decide to go backpacking for a month is that literally anything you take with you will be on your back for an entire month. Based on that knowledge the picture below shows all the clothes I have for the month. Definitly not what I normally would go through in a month.
I always get worried about my baggage getting successfully on the plane but what do you know I got a picture of it being loaded up.

Annika and I....Here we Go!!!!!!

Stay tuned for all the stories and adventures that are to come!!! XOXO

(P.S. ignore any spelling issues, I am not a very good speller and the spell check here thinks I'm typing in POLISH!!!!)

I'm Off......

My roommate Annika and I are driving up to Chicago tonight so we can catch our flight that leaves for Europe tomorrow. Yes that's right I will be traveling Europe for the month of June going to many different countries hopefully having a once in a lifetime experience! Anyways my goal is to keep my blog updated with the our travels and adventures over there so keep checking back for my newest updates and find out where we're at or where we might be going.

But that also means if you need or want to contact me send me an e-mail because I won't have my phone on me. It also might take a little longer for me to get back to you simply because I don't know how often we will get Internet access.

Well I'm off to finalize my packing and get last little tidbits done so I will see you later!!!!!!!!

Nicole, Jose, & Cami

Ever since school got out for summer I feel like I've been running around like a crazy person. From this to that and back to this I have not been short of things to do. Yesterday was no such exception. My friend Annika and I started our day early with a rummage sale in an attempt to earn a little extra money for our Europe trip. (Which I will be leaving for in exactly a week today) And then not shortly after I headed down to St. Charles to shoot Nicole & Jose & their beautiful little girl's pics. And although I am completely exhausted from all the running around I've been doing it's always a lot of fun to be around these guys and just a blast to take their pictures.

Mommy and Me

Daddy's Turn

It was so good to see you guys, hope you love your pics!!!!!

SENIORS!!!!!!!

2010 Seniors its time for you to start thinking about your senior pics. There is no better time than summer. Now I wont be around in June (I'm going to be in Europe- don't miss me) but you can enjoy some discounts when I'm back.

P.S. all sessions include unlimited locations and clothing changes and are 2-3 hours long

call me or e-mail to set up you session- 660.998.1755 or courtneytompsonphotography@gmail.com

(p.s. if you can't really see it, click on the picture it will make it bigger :) )

Whitney- FaShIOniStA

Amidst Finals week I found myself an assignment short for one of my classes. Luckily I have good friends and Whitney agreed to go out and model for me so I could finish it up. I can't wait to be done with class. Tomorrow the craziness ends and Summer is HERE!!!!! I have two finals and will be done in the afternoon. Every year about this time I just get so ready to be done and just go outside, but this year has been the worst and I am so excited for the end. It may have something to do with an upcoming birthday directly followed by a trip to Europe!!!! OH yay, yay, YAY!!!!!!

Oh but yeah as for those pics:

My Fave!

Oh and this is just for fun but I had to post it because it is such a "Whitney" face!

Good Luck to everyone else struggling to get through finals! It's almost OVER!!!!

OH and another P.S. if you want to check out anymore of Whitney or any other session check out my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/courtneytompson or check out my new fan page on facebook Courtney Tompson Photography! XoXo

Anna & Zac EnGagEd!!!!!!!!!!

So I am soon to be celebrating my 21st birthday and man am I starting to feel old. Now that seems a little crazy considering 21 is by no means over the hill but it just so happens that the thought of being a senior in college along with one of my best friends getting MARRIED this summer just is making me feel like I am kind of becoming a grown up. Hmmm... but although that just seems extremely weird it is also exciting because I mean well ANNA'S GETTING MARRIED!!!!!! Although it is impossible for me to really think this is all happening I couldn't be more excited for her!

So anyways this past weekend I went down to Joplin to see Anna and then we headed down to Arkansas (where Zac is currently working) to do their engagement pics. Anna and I went out scouting for some fun spots on Sat. evening (which we found by the way) and we took pics Sunday morning before Zac had to head off to work. And as I lay listening the rain pound against the window all through the night I prayed I hadn't spent over 4 hours driving time to wake up and not be able to go out and take a single picture. But to my surprise it stopped about an hour before the alarm clock went off and we woke up to an overcast sky, which I can handle any day. It did end up sprinkling a couple of time forcing me to pull out my handy dandy trash bag as a rain cover for my precious new camera but the water did amazing things to all the green around.

But anyways enough jibber jabbering- on to the pictures:

This was actually at Zac's apartment complex. How fun?

The apartments also had a volleyball court. And Anna had told me the one thing she thought might be fun would be to get some "volleyball" pic since that is how they actually met.

And this is my fave. I just loved this blue shed/barn that we found.

They were getting a little cold! :)

Ahhhhh the green.........

I must say I was pretty impressed with what Arkansas had to offer. I always do enjoy getting to find and shoot in new locations.

Unfortunately I won't be shooting the wedding as I will be a bridesmaid. However, I think it might be nice to be on the other end of the camera for a weekend. But that will only last so long.

Love ya Anna and I hope you guys had fun. See ya soon!