A Weekend in Switzerland!

I cannot believe how simply spoilt I am! I have had a wonderful tour of the Balkans from August to September, and then flew to London to look after my grand daughter, and then while in London I manage to get a fabulous weekend away in Switzerland. I know! So super spoilt and so extremely blessed!

My sister Judy came from New Zealand for three weeks to accompany me in London, and as air fares are very reasonable to Europe from England, we decided to spend the middle weekend in Zurich. Actually we had a variety of places on offer, but Zurich won out. Judy had visited Lucerne and Mount Pilatus a few years ago and she knew I would love to visit them both as well. So a trip to Zurich was booked with a day trip on the Saturday to Lucerne and Pilatus 🙂

So with great excitement and a huge lack of sleep (my mind was buzzing with plans) we got up at 4am to catch our very early flight to Zurich.  What a lot of fun. I felt like a teenager doing a big ‘OE’.

Can you see the excitement on our faces? We have landed and we are on the train to Zurich city from the airport.
Can you see the excitement on our faces? We have landed and we are on the train to Zurich city from the airport.

Our hotel was about 2.5kms from the main train station and the best way to get to it was by tram. Zurich has trams and buses that cover the whole city and are very easy to use. So once we booked into the hotel, it was off to do our own ‘Discover Zurich’ tour. We weren’t disappointed! What a wonderful city to see, especially the ‘Old Town’. Have a look at these photos and I am sure you will agree with me 🙂

The Christmas tree at the train station
The Christmas tree at the train station
A church in the old town square
A church in the old town square
The Square
The Square
One of the many wonderful views along the river walk
One of the many wonderful views along the river walk
A view from crossing one of the bridges
A view from crossing one of the bridges
Neat reflections!
Neat reflections!
I loved this photo of the river, bridge and buildings
I loved this photo of the river, bridge and buildings
Love this photo!
Love this photo!
The boats on the river and buildigs beyond
The boats on the river and buildings beyond
We had a beautiful day to wander around
We had a beautiful day to wander around
Neat architecture on this building
Neat architecture on this building
Front view of the building
Front view of the building
Looking through the Autumn leaves
Looking through the Autumn leaves
Another lovely photo of the Autumn leaves
Another lovely photo of the Autumn leaves
Two church steeples across the river
Two church steeples across the river
Christmas lights were strung between the buildings but not turned on until the week after we visited
Christmas lights were strung between the buildings but not turned on until the week after we visited
These church windows are by a famous artist?
These church windows are by a famous artist?

While wandering around we found out that we could climb up the stairs into one of the church towers. The steps started as a concrete spiral staircase and then changed to wooden steps that looked very old, and you could easily see through the steps and how high you are! I think we were very brave to keep climbing up to the top 🙂

The church steeple that we climbed the stairs inside to the viewing platform
The church steeple that we climbed the stairs inside to the viewing platform
Looking across to the other steeple
Looking across to the other steeple
I loved this sight. Especially looking down into the square of the building below
I loved this sight. Especially looking down into the square of the building below
See how tiny the people are below :-)
See how tiny the people are below 🙂
The city of Zurich from the church steeple
The city of Zurich from the church steeple
Amazing Zurich!
Amazing Zurich!
The best views from up high :-)
The best views from up high 🙂
Looking over the river to Zurich
Looking over the river to Zurich

So Zurich was a super town to stay for the weekend. Actually we could have stayed longer and seen much more of the place, but we had plans! Saturday was allocated to seeing Lucerne and Mount Pilatus. We went to sleep Friday night feeling satisfied with all the sights we had seen in Zurich. Little did I know that Saturdays sights would amaze me even more. I’ll share those photos with you in my next blog post 🙂

Brasov – Romania

And we arrive in Brasov to a Hotel full of young people. The foyer even though huge, was full of them. We immediately knew that there must have been some big event happening in this Romanian city 103 miles North of Bucharest. (Yes we have passed our final city of our tour, but heading back after two nights stay). After getting our Hotel room numbers and passing heaps of young adults in the corridors as we locate our room, I decided to ask at the front desk why so many people were staying at the Hotel. Not only one but two big events! The Romanian Music Awards for 2014 were being held in the old town square this very night (our first night) and up the road a little further was a huge tent set up for Octoberfest. The town was buzzing and so were all the young people that had come here to attend either or both of the festivals. We were left wondering just how much sleep we were going to get? The town square was just behind the hotel!

The sign for Oktoberfest
The sign for Oktoberfest
The huge tent for Octoberfest
The huge tent for Oktoberfest
The tent was set up in an outdoor arena
The tent was set up in an outdoor arena
Romanian Music Awards Banner
Romanian Music Awards Banner
The water fountain in the town square with the Stage behind it
The water fountain in the town square with the Stage behind it
Look at those speakers! Facing in the direction of our Hotel :-)
Look at those speakers! Facing in the direction of our Hotel 🙂

And we did hear the music but it was actually okay. Apparently the top bands of all of Romania were at our hotel, and we saw them wander through the foyer when their turn to sing was getting closer. The girls were dressed up like it was not only the music awards but the fashion awards as well. We even had fans sitting in the foyer trying to get as many signatures as they possibly could. Later on in the evening as we were going up to bed we met one band member wandering from his room to another room in his boxers. I did get a little worried that the entertainment in the rooms late at night might be louder than the actual singing, but by 1.30am all seemed very quiet and we had a great sleep.

The next morning it was an early start to discover Brasov with our local guide. The whole town was sleeping except for the street cleaners. It was quite eerie, but we got some good photos of the old town without all the usual tourists.

Usually it would be so hard to get such an empty street
Usually it would be so hard to get such an empty street
Another empty street with fabulous buildings each side
Another empty street with fabulous buildings each side
Our tour group wandering through the old town square after the local guide
Our tour group wandering through the old town square after the local guide
I love taking photos of these fabulous  buildings
I love taking photos of these fabulous buildings
A side of the town square
A side of the town square
Look at the little windows on the roof
Look at the little windows on the roof
I really liked this pink building
I really liked this pink building
This is a great building as well
This is a great building as well
Can you find Robin?
Can you find Robin?
The Church beside the Town Square
The Church beside the Town Square
The lovely clock on the church
The lovely clock on the church
The Jewish church between the buildings
The Jewish church between the buildings
I think Brasov has seen too many Hollywood movies. They have their own sign way up on the hillside
I think Brasov has seen too many Hollywood movies. They have their own sign way up on the hillside

After our wander through the town, we all boarded the bus and went out to visit Bran Castle. I will do a separate post for the Castle as there are so many photos to share 🙂

The optional tour for the afternoon was to a place called Sighisoara. We had heard that the trip was worth it as the place was known as an enchanting medieval gem of a town. We looked up photos on the internet and although it did look a lovely place to see, we were bused out, and it was a three hour round trip. Our afternoon was spent by having a lovely leisurely lunch first…

Enjoyiny the lovely sunny day while we wait for our lunch
Enjoying the lovely sunny day while we wait for our lunch

And then we decided to walk to the Gondola and go to the top of the hill. We wanted to get to the Brasov sign!

Looking back to the Old town
Looking back to the Old town
Yes... We walked up that steep hill... and more!
Yes… We walked up that steep hill… and more!
Looking down on the city from the Gondola
Looking down on the city from the Gondola
The view from the top of the hill
The view from the top of the hill
Another direction! Fabulous view huh!
Another direction! Fabulous view huh!
And there is the sign!!!
And there is the sign!!!
The walkway behind the sign!
The walkway behind the sign!
And we are at the viewing platform
And we are at the viewing platform
And Judy too :-)
And Judy too 🙂

It was worth the walk both up to the Gondola and then from the Gondola station around to the sign.

That evening we all went to visit a traditional Transylvanian restaurant for an evening of delicious Romanian delicacies with music, dancing and wine. Our second to last evening together as a tour group.

The venue for our dinner
The venue for our dinner
The wonderful view of Brasov city
The wonderful view of Brasov city
Waiting to be welcomed into the Castle
Waiting to be welcomed into the Castle
Inside now and gathering in the courtyard :-)
Inside now and gathering in the courtyard 🙂
Seated and enjoying our entertainment, meal and time together relaxing
Seated and enjoying our entertainment, meal and time together relaxing
A fun photo of Judy and me :-)
A fun photo of Judy and me 🙂

Altogether another lovely day filled with wonderful memories! I love holidays 🙂

And we cross the Border to Romania!

The border is actually at the Danube River. One side is Bulgaria and the other Romania. At each border, either our Tour director gathers all our 40 passports and takes them to the border control, or a border control officer comes onto the bus and gathers passports each one of us. The officers that came onto the bus take their job very seriously! I was always worried that there was going to be some sort of problem and that they would actually find something to stop us crossing the border! I can’t remember which country it was that we went into, but they held onto the South Africans passports for ages! David (our tour director) wasn’t sure if they would be allowed in at all. That had happened on a previous tour! But luckily we eventually were all accepted into each new country.

Bulgaria one side and Romania the other
Bulgaria one side and Romania the other
The Bulgarian toll charges for crossing the Danube River
The Bulgarian toll charges for crossing the Danube River
With our passports, waiting for collection :-)
With our passports, waiting for collection 🙂

Our final destination for the day was to get to Brasov, but part of our tour was to visit the town of Sinai and also the Peles Castle. This castle cost approx US$120 million to build finishing in 1883. Although major improvements were made until 1914. The Castle was built for Monarchy, and owned by the crown. Now it is a heritage site and opened to the public, with an entry fee! To be able to take photos inside there is another cost and a label must be worn to prove that you have paid the fee. We all decided that I would buy a ticket and use my camera as it always takes fabulous indoor photos without need of a flash, and as you weren’t allowed to use the flash, it was perfect. Now I always take photos on fully automatic and people are always commenting on my great photos. So now you know my secret! It’s not because of my skill at all that I take good photos. It’s the fabulous camera that I have. A Canon EOS M. Have a look at the specs! It really is an excellent camera to use. Just copy and paste the link below in your internet browser 🙂

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_SLR/EOS_M/

This isn't actually the castle but the souvenier shop and facilities. Still looks pretty good though
This isn’t actually the castle but the souvenier shop and facilities. Still looks pretty good though
Walking along the path to the Castle
Walking along the path to the Castle
The Peles Castle!
The Peles Castle!
The fabulous Castle from another angle
The fabulous Castle from another angle
Closer up to the Castle and you can see the different shaped windows and outside materials
Closer up to the Castle and you can see the different shaped windows and outside materials
Another view of the outside
Another view of the outside
I loved this view of the roof and little turrets
I loved this view of the roof and little turrets
The inner courtyard and the amazing Frescos
The inner courtyard and the amazing Frescos
Another wall in the inner courtyard
Another wall in the inner courtyard
One of the Frescos in the inner courtyard
One of the Frescos in the inner courtyard
I love these iron decorations or scrolls. I have so many photos of them.
I love these iron decorations or scrolls. I have so many photos of them.

So after having a good look at the outside of the Castle and admiring all the Frescos in the courtyard, David finally got our tickets to enter the Castle. I was so happy to have a pass to take as many photos as I wanted!

The stairs we walked up into the first room that we looked at
The stairs we walked up into the first room that we looked at
The room had so much woodwork it was hard to take it all in!
The room had so much woodwork it was hard to take it all in!
Every wall was decorated
Every wall was decorated
And even upstairs balconies
And even upstairs balconies
Even the furniture was elegantly designed
Even the furniture was elegantly designed
The ceiling was high and the wood carved all the way up
The ceiling was high and the wood carved all the way up
And look at this amazing spiral staircase. Judy saw a photo of this on Facebook and asked if we saw it on our travels. This is it Judy :-)
And look at this amazing spiral staircase. Judy saw a photo of this on Facebook and asked if we saw it on our travels. This is it Judy 🙂
Another wall :-)
Another wall 🙂
A similar photo to a previous one, but it all is so very amazing!
A similar photo to a previous one, but it all is so very amazing!
And this is the next room
And this is the next room
Even the ceiling is a work of art
Even the ceiling is a work of art
It was full of spears and armour and weapons
It was full of spears and armour and weapons
Look at this carved wood!
Look at this carved wood!
a small part of the weapons on the wall
a small part of the weapons on the wall
Looking up we saw this
Looking up we saw this
And there was even a full sized Horse with rider, both with armour on!
And there was even a full sized Horse with rider, both with armour on!
Going through to another room
Going through to another room
Our guide told us about every room, but there were actually so many and they were all very elaborate
Our guide told us about every room, but there were actually so many and they were all very elaborate
More carved walls!
More carved walls!
A very large dining room!
A very large dining room!
I loved these windows/doors
I loved these windows/doors
They even had a theatre!
They even had a theatre!

Now I have put up a lot of photos, but believe me I could have put up heaps more! Sadly I have to confess that for the first time I touched something on my camera and changed the settings from automatic to manual. Now if I had time I would have fiddled around and managed to change the setting back but the tour guide kept moving on from room to room, and I was already at the end of the group, and panicking about keeping up, and trying to see everything and also trying to get the best photos I could get with minimal light and no idea how to focus the camera in these conditions! It was awful! I was angry with myself and sad that I wasn’t getting the best photos that I could get. And I nearly got lost! The group had moved out from the last room and I had no idea which way they went! The Castle was so big and had rooms going off in all directions. Luckily there were a couple of others from our tour still with me and taking photos, and we managed to get advise from another group leader! Phew!

So we wandered on back to the bus with me still being mad at myself for messing up the camera. One day I AM going to learn all about how to really use a camera on manual settings! One day I will!

Wandering through the street stalls on our way back to the bus :-)
Wandering through the street stalls on our way back to the bus 🙂

Peles Castle was certainly a wonder to see. It was great to get the extra photos inside and well worth the seven Euros fifty for that pleasure! But we still had more to do and that was to travel on to Brasov. So once again we load onto the bus and think about what we will see next. Our minds are already full of wonderful memories of this Balkans Tour. Just as well we are nearing the end as I am thinking that I am getting quite overwhelmed with all the information I have heard and the wonderful sights that I have seen.

We do live in a wonderful world and I am feeling very thankful. What an amazing experience 🙂

Sarajevo – A Home Hosted Dinner!

You would think that we had already had a very good overview of Sarajevo buy reading my previous Blog post, but no…. there is more! The next part of our visit was just the best! We chose to do this add on tour right at the start of the holiday purely because of the write up on the ‘Insight Vacations’ brochure… And we weren’t disappointed. It was a very memorable experience and the food was delicious!

SARO6 HOME HOSTED DINNER
A unique and rewarding in sight into the local way of life.
Small groups of 5 or 6 guests are invited into a Sarajevan
family home for a welcome drink and dinner. Savour the
warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear
inspirational stories about their culture and recent
struggles. Dinner is typical of the region, usually soup,
stuffed vegetables and kebabs. Wine, beer, or fruit juice is
also included. Coffee or tea with baklava is served for
dessert.

Only 24 of us chose this experience and we all thought it was one of the best experiences we had had so far this tour. It was the easiest way to discover exactly what life was like for the average Sarajevan citizen during the four years of the Bosnian war from 1992-1996, and also what their everyday life is like now!

A very typical housing block. The building to the left is where we went for our hosted dinner.
A very typical housing block. The building to the left is where we went for our hosted dinner.
Standing at the entrance of the housing block, waiting for our turn to use the lift. We went up to the 12th (or 13th) floor.
Standing at the entrance of the housing block, waiting for our turn to use the lift. We went up to the 12th (or 13th) floor.

Now! None of us should ever moan about our living conditions or the size of our house. We New Zealanders are extremely spoilt (well the majority are anyway). We usually have separate houses with two or three bedrooms (maybe more), and with a grassed lawn area in front and behind. Some of us live in apartments or blocks of flats but they are usually still quite roomy and very comfortable. Our host family have lived in their one bedroom, very small apartment for 35 years! the couple brought up their three children there! Two boys and a girl! can you imagine two very active little boys growing up with no room to run around and play? I had four sons and I know that they need space for getting rid of energy and they also make lots of noise! The husband was working night shift as a customs officer, and the daughter who lives at home still with her two young sons, was at work also. So the mother not only cooked, was our hostess for the evening, but also looked after her two grandsons as well! What an amazing lady! She smiled the whole time and didn’t appear stressed at all! And the boys demanded her attention very often!

The lady in the blue top and glasses is our host. She has the older grandson on her knee
The lady in the blue top and glasses is our host. She has the older grandson on her knee
Nera our interpreter is busy answering our thousand questions!
Nera our interpreter is busy answering our thousand questions!

You can see that we are sitting in the dining room, at the table, ready to start our dinner. What you can’t see is that the chairs are right up against the wall. The door to the left leads to a small lounge room. This is also the bedroom for the daughter and her two sons (the daughter is recently divorced and has moved back home). At the entrance is a very small hallway which has the one bedroom to the right and the bathroom to the left. The door behind our host leads to her very narrow tiny kitchen. It has the sink bench (with dishwasher….yay) one side and fridge and stove on the other. The doors open back onto the fridge and the stove! Arghhhh…. what a kitchen to work in! and for 35 years! How does she do it????? The kitchen also leads out to a very tiny deck which as she explained to us is used for drying washing and also storage! But she served us the most delicious meal!

Now doesn't this look yummy!
Now doesn’t this look yummy! The stuffed grape vine leaves and onions are very traditional food. They are both stuffed with minced meat.
Waiting to get started!
Waiting to get started!

During the war years our host family had young children including a baby. She told us that there was no easy access to running water and washing nappies was a major problem. Sickness was also a huge challenge. Natural remedies were often the only medicine available and that people just adjusted lives to the situation they were in. The neighbours all knew and supported each other and rallied together to help meet each others needs. They also shared in each others sorrows when family members or friends were either killed or injured in the war. They became very practical and would use any available ground for growing vegetables and mostly ate what they grew. The staple diet was rice provided by the UN, and Nera said that after four years of eating rice, she chooses to avoid rice at every occasion nowdays! The interesting thing was that as a child Nera said that war for her was a fun time. She didn’t attend school the whole four years and her game of choice was collecting the empty gun shells along with all her friends!

The stair well. It was actually quite scary!
The stair well. It was actually quite scary!

After our fabulous meal and very informative conversation, it was time to get back to the Hotel. The exiting experience very exciting. We were 12 floors up and the lift just simply didn’t come, no matter how many times we pushed the button! So the decision was to walk down, and that is also very normal for the inhabitants of this housing building. The light is a timed light and we had to push the button at each floor because if you didn’t, the whole stair well would be in complete darkness! This happened on our first lot of stairs as we were all talking. Nera felt her way to the next switch in darkness while we stood in shock as it was so dark! And they have lived here for 35 years!!!!!

We all need to remember the living situations of others less fortunate and be so very thankful for all we have. Never take our life for granted! We are extremely blessed!

Topola, Serbia

Okay… Wikipedia is going to be very helpful here.

While in Belgrade we went out to a place called Oplenac. We climbed a steep hill to see the amazing St George’s Church known also as Oplenac Church and Oplenac Mausoleum, it is the Mausoleum of the Serbian and Yugoslav Royal House of Karadordevic located on top of the Hill Oplenac in the city of Tolopa, Serbia. The Foundation in Oplenac is named after King Peter 1 of Yugoslavia. Our guide Milos filled us in on the history of the place. I got lost in the details! but I also got lost in the magnificance of the place. The inside was just amazing! I’m sure the photos won’t do it justice…. but I have to share the place with you somehow!

Does the strain of the climb show on our faces?
Does the strain of the climb show on our faces?
Ahhh we made it!
Ahhh we made it!
Our first view of St Georges Church. It certainly doesn't look that spectacular from the outside!
Our first view of St Georges Church. It certainly doesn’t look that spectacular from the outside!
The mosaic at the entrance
The mosaic at the entrance
We are all inside... and can't believe our eyes!
We are all inside… and can’t believe our eyes!
Mosiacs everywhere you look!
Mosiacs everywhere you look!
Even on the ceiling domes!
Even on the ceiling domes!
Just look at how amazing these ceiling are!
Just look at how amazing these ceiling are!
A closer view of just one big mosiac!
A closer view of just one big mosiac!
And look at the light fittings! hehe
And look at the light fittings! hehe
Even the floors are amazing! Works of Art!
Even the floors are amazing! Works of Art!
In the lower floor were the tombs and the mosaics are just as spectacular!
In the lower floor were the tombs and the mosaics are just as spectacular!
Looking one way!
Looking one way!
And now the other :-)
And now the other 🙂
Great Huh!
Great Huh!
A close up of one of the mosaics downstairs
A close up of one of the mosaics downstairs
Just superb!
Just superb!
I'm still amazed by this place!
I’m still amazed by this place!
A couple of tombs!
A couple of tombs!
The windows and decorations above the tombs
The windows and decorations above the tombs

Now after seeing this amazing place we went to visit the home of King Peter. Milos told us heaps of the history but I was lost in thought. I couldn’t get my mind of the fabulous church we had just visited! I guess I am way more stimulated by the visual rather than by listening to someone talk!

We finished off the lovely day with a superb meal together.

Celebrating the day together with a delightful evening meal.
Celebrating the day together with a delightful evening meal.
Very happy Judy and Len :-)
Very happy Judy and Len 🙂
I love this photo of Teresa and me :-)
I love this photo of Teresa and me 🙂

So now you can see why Topola, Serbia deserved it’s own blog post! Isn’t it just amazing! I hope you are inspired to go see it for yourself one day 🙂

I am in London!

Well….. I have arrived! And I am so happy to be here. G7 is gorgeous and she doesn’t seem to mind that this strange lady has taken over looking after her every day while Mummy and Daddy go to work 🙂 And I am so very thankful 🙂 Imagine if she was so shy and cried every time she looked at me. Instead, when she sees my face she smiles and talks to me in her baby talk…. I love it! I am such a super spoiled Nana 😉 and I love her dearly. We are going to have so much fun together for the next three months!

I arrived Monday afternoon and C2 and D2 showed me around the local area. Three parks within a half hour walk! I ventured out  for my own discovery walk Wednesday afternoon. I wanted to see what the local area had to offer a visitor from far off who was a little scared to take buses and trains yet! I found lots of little dairies, hairdressers, land agents, fruit and vegetable shops, off licenses and a mini supermarket. There is a school over our back fence, so joyful sounds of children playing are heard at play times, lunch time and after school. Within two blocks I found a very old church dated back to 1884. It was called ‘Christ Church’ and is a Baptist church by denomination. The notice board advertised bible study groups, friendship groups, the Sunday service times, and a mothers and toddlers playgroup held every Friday morning! Yay… I decided that this will be my weekly activity and also a great opportunity to meet other locals, also very good for G7 to be with other babies and help with her social development 🙂

So today is Friday! Playgroup day! Arghhhhh… And I am off!

I am feeling a little apprehensive! I don’t know anyone! New in town! A foreigner! And a little old to be a playgroup mummy! How will I fit in?

I loaded the nappy bag with everything I may need for G7. It was bulging!  I had forgotten just how much stuff babies may need on outings! And off I went!

I survived and I’m now back home again….

Yay! I had a great time 🙂 This playgroup is held at  ‘Christ Church’ on Bellevue Road corner. The ladies that run it are extremely friendly and caring. They made me feel very welcome 🙂 There were 12 caregivers/mummies that came along with what seemed like hundreds of kids! Man it was noisy! I’m not used to so many children’s play noises all at once anymore. G7 loved it! She happily lay on the floor kicking her feet and joined in making noises! The young mums were very friendly as well, but best of all, there were two other Nana/caregivers, who I approached as soon as I could, and then sat with for the rest of the morning. One was her first time as well, and the other her second. We happily chatted while watching and interacting with our grandchildren and other children as well. I got offered cups of tea with plastic plates and plastic biscuits, which I played along drinking up my ‘cup of tea’. It was fun!

Next week I am meeting up with Helen at the local coffee shop for coffee together before playgroup. Helen is looking after her grand daughter every Monday and Friday. She drives a little way to playgroup! Both her and grand daughter are lovely. I may have found a new friend within a week of being here. This is such a great start and I am feeling very happy and contented.

I came home with a very sleepy G7 who is now way out of routine. She didn’t want to drink her second bottle of the day with all the fun going on around her. I finally managed to get her to drink it when we got home, and she is still sound asleep. It’s now 1.15 and by now she is suppose to have had her lunch time solids and another bottle! Hopefully she will be a hungry little girl all afternoon or Mummy D2 may growl at me hehe!

I also had a lovely skype chat with my man at home in New Zealand while G7 is sleeping. This day has been so good and it is only early afternoon.

Okay G7…. enough sleep. Nana is ready for our next adventure together 🙂

Blog will continue when I am in London!

Today is Friday the 12th of September and I am way behind in my blog posts! We only have 2 days left of our 16 day tour! I have missed blogging from day 2 until day 14! Sleep has been far more important than sitting up late trying to do my ‘diary’ of the day because our days have been very full, with early mornings and sight seeing filled days. We have also had very poor internet at most places. Believe me I have taken hundreds of photos, and there are many that I would love to share, but picking out the best photos and then trying to upload them would be a nightmare! So until I have spare time and a better internet, which will probably be when I am in London, I won’t even bother trying to write another blog post.

We are all healthy and happy and have had so much fun. The tour of the Baltics is not one of the most favoured tours, but it has been very interesting, and full of history. I can’t wait to write about Sarajevo and share in the photos and stories told. Dubrovnik is a place I will never forget, and the Mostar bridge!!! Anyway… more on them another day.

Leaving Dubrovnik.
Leaving Dubrovnik.

It’s 11.30pm and we are off to bed listening to the far off beat of music. We are in Brasov, Romania and tonight is the night for the 2014 Romanian Music Awards! Apparently the best musicians from all over Romania are playing in the old town square right now. Flashing lights are lighting up the night sky and there are hundreds of extra people here that have come to see the live show. Lucky for us, most of the bands (perhaps all of them) are staying at our hotel… NOT! And the majority seem to be on our floor. I wonder how noisy it will be when the show has finished and they all venture back to their hotel rooms?

Oh well, we only have to be up and about and ready for breakfast at 7am! Walking tour of Brasov starts at 8am…… Nice!

Follow up… We had a great sleep. Apart from meeting a young man in his boxers in the corridor, all was relatively quiet 🙂

Walking tour of Budapest

We woke to a beautiful, sunny, cloudless day! Yes finally we were going to get a lovely summers day in Europe! So out came the summer dresses and a venture out in the warmth of the day to discover Budapest 🙂

August last year Judy, Teresa and I met up with Daniel and Marysia in Budapest. They had travelled there from London for a wedding, and we had just completed our tour of Italy and Sicily. Because we had already seen a lot of the famous sights, we decided to do our own walking tour, and see some of the places we missed last time.

Our first place to see was only a short half a kilometre from our Hotel, the Sofitel. It was St Stephen’s Basilica. It was huge! Well worth the visit. We were lucky enough to arrive when a choir was singing inside. The sound was amazing! Here are some photos of this amazing place…

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It reminded me a little of St Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican City but on a much smaller scale. That place is huge!

Our walk took us next to the Iron curtain memorial and the ‘House of Horrors’, but I’m not including photos of those places. We didn’t actually go in as we went through the museum last year, and the men weren’t bothered about seeing it.

The Parish Church of Terezverce was our next place to visit. A smaller Cathedral but still very lovely inside.

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Last year we also visited the Antique markets in the Jewish Quarter and decided it was also a MUST SEE for this year as well. The atmosphere is great! So many people as well 🙂 This led us on to the ‘Rumbach Street Synagogue’, the spiritual home of the local Hungarian Jews and was built in 1872.

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Sadly we couldn’t enter the Synagog as it was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath 🙁

Not far from the Synagog was the National Museum. We climbed the steps and wandered around the entrance, but didn’t want to look at all the museum contents. But it is a fabulous building with a huge statue in front.

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We headed for Market Square. I love looking in markets and this one didn’t fail to impress me. The bottom floor was full of produce. Vegetables, fruit, fish and meat of many varieties. The top floor was clothing, souveners and restaurants.

Bottom Floor
Bottom Floor
Top Floor
Top Floor

We crossed the first bridge and then did the very long waterfront walk back to the Chain bridge, that is right next to our Hotel!

Crossing the  greenbridge
Crossing the green bridge
o many tourists!
so many tourists!

Well it was an enjoyable day but also a very tiring day with LOTS of walking. We did see some amazing sights though.

At 6.30pm we met up with our Tour leader, and also all the other people traveling on the tour with us. They seem a really good bunch of people and it will be great to get to know them all better over the next two weeks. We had a lovely three course meal at a near by Restaurant, said out goodbyes until tomorrow morning, and now it’s off to bed for me after a very rewarding day.

Catch you all tomorrow 🙂

 

 

Cesky Krumlov

Okay…. Judy organised a day trip to Cesky Krumlov. I had only seen a couple of photos of this small town, but I got the idea it was a favourite tourist spot, and a MUST SEE!

Once again our interesting tour/taxi driver picked us up and drove us the two hour journey there. Was it worth the trip? Yes definitely. We had a fabulous day! It’s now very late and my bed time, but I needed to quickly add some photos! Can you quickly add photos? NEVER! Everyone else is sound asleep, and I am hiding away in the bathroom so I don’t disturb anyone, just to get these photos loaded up. The hardest thing is trying to whittle down 300 odd photos to just a few of the best ones. They are all good! But here’s a few

Found all along the paths
Found all along the paths
The bridge walk at the castle
The bridge walk at the castle
Looking up to the castle from the village
Looking up to the castle from the village
The weir.
The weir.
Looking up river to the castle
Looking up river to the castle
Looking down on the village
Looking down on the village
I thought the open window was a great frame for this photo
I thought the open window was a great frame for this photo
We visited another town on the way back to Prague. The bikes/cars were on show!
We visited another town (Tabor) on the way back to Prague. The bikes/cars were on show!
The church organ at Torbay
The church organ at Tabor
'I'm sexy and I know it' hehe
‘I’m sexy and I know it’ hehe
The river that meanders through the village
The river that meanders through the village
Such an amazing village
Such an amazing village
The magnificent view
The magnificent view
The inner courtyard
The inner courtyard
The Castle tower.... we climbed it!
The Castle tower…. we climbed it!

What do you think? It’s amazing isn’t it. I am so pleased we visited this place. Only 19,000 people actually live at Cesky Krumlov but after today I think about that many people would also visit each week. The place was full of tourists and understandably so. You only see places like this perhaps once in a lifetime!

I am so blessed!

The Wedding!

What a day! It was just perfect! I haven’t the words to describe just how wonderful it was. C2 scrubbed up great! D2 looked gorgeous! G3 the flower girl, and the men looked fabulous. I guess it will be easier to just show you a photo or two…

Daniel and Marysia... So happy :-)
C2 and D2… So happy 🙂
The men of the day
The men of the day, plus an extra (Nick)
Three of my boys with the beautiful bride!
Three of my boys with the beautiful bride!
Two beautiful girls! Grand daughter Sophie and her caregiver for the day :-)
Two beautiful girls! Grand daughter G7 and her caregiver for the day 🙂
Gregory (Marysias brother) Richard (Marysias Dad) and Daniel
Gregory (Marysias brother) Richard (Marysias Dad) and C2
The Bride and Groom sit on chairs as they say their vows :-)
The Bride and Groom sit on chairs as they say their vows 🙂
And look at Casey! Just beautiful....and cute :-)
And look at G3! Just beautiful….and cute 🙂
Daddy and daughter
Daddy and daughter
Youngest son Ben with Chloe :-)
Youngest son C4 with D3 🙂
Brothers and sister in laws :-)
Brothers and sister in laws 🙂
Close up of Matthew
Close up of C1
Gregory and Marysia, brother and sister
Gregory and D2, brother and sister
Cheers! Vodka shots!
Cheers! Vodka shots!
A very happy Daniel
A very happy C2
Richard escorting Marysia to be married
Richard escorting D2 to be married
The reception tables
The reception tables
Casey and Felix and another cute little girl
G3 and Felix and another cute little girl
The wedding venue, Accommodation part
The wedding venue, Accommodation part
The first dance :-)
The first dance 🙂
A selfie with Judy :-)
A selfie with Judy 🙂
Cutting the cake
Cutting the cake
The cake
The cake
Pawlowice Palace. We stayed here for three nights, It's an amazing place!
Pawlowice Palace. We stayed here for three nights, It’s an amazing place!

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My eldest son Matthew and his youngest daughter Casey xxx
My eldest son C1 and his youngest daughter G3 xxx
The amazing Ballroom!
The amazing Ballroom!
Matthew and Ben (inside the Palace)
C1 and C4 (inside the Palace)
Marysia's lovely parents :-)
Marysia’s lovely parents 🙂