Holiday – Page 4 – Pamper Stamper

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

October 10, 2014

Belgrade, Serbia

After a fabulous Hotel breakfast it was on the bus to travel to Belgrade. One of our longer bus trips of the tour. Nearly all day travelling!

Our first bus photo :-) — Our first bus photo 🙂

Hey smile for the camera Judy and Len :-) — Hey smile for the camera Judy and Len 🙂

Our first stop was at Palic, Serbia. We all wandered down a long walkway towards the lake . Our tour director gave us a little information on the area and then it was free time and lunch. We dined at a lovely cafe in which the host thought we would like to finish with free drinks all round. Very kind but as the bus had strict leaving times, we were very rushed to finish.

Local building at Palico... very nice! — Local building at Palic… very nice!

The park and the lovely manicured gardens :-) — The park and the lovely manicured gardens 🙂

Soon we were back on the bus travelling past many unfinished houses and many more very run down homesteads. We got the feeling that we were now in a very poor country. Much different from our tour of Italy last year. We began to wonder about the statement our tour director said when he introduced himself at Budapest. He said that the tour of the Balkans was the tour most people did after they had done all the rest of the Insight Vacations tours. He said it would be very different… but still a great tour. This is definitely very different. We almost felt it was like a third world country.

As we arrived in Belgrade (the capital of Serbia and also the largest city) we began to see the evidence of war from the Kosovo conflict. Many buildings that suffered from bombings still sitting exactly like they had just been hit. Apparently they are historic sites and cannot be pulled down and rebuilt very easily. So they remain as eyesores for all, and a constant reminder of the unrest of the past.

Honestly this is just one of very many ruined buildings just sitting untouched! They were damaged by the Nato bombing of 1999.

We travelled on to view the fortress of Kalemegdan with our local guide filling us in on the history of Serbia.

Exit to the surrounding area and lookouts

Our tour friends using the opportunity for photos

A nice photo of Judy, Len and Teresa :-) — A nice photo of Judy, Len and Teresa 🙂

We walked through the park and ended up at the outskirts of Belgrade township. Our tour guide explained the horrendous issues with money that Serbia has had over the years. Even now for NZ $1, you would get Serbia Dinar $78. Or for Euro $1, you would get Serbia Dinar $119. Serbian money had no value. In fact the values of the notes became higher and higher! We were shown some of the old currency, and then our tour director David gave us a 500 Billion bank note each. These can be brought for $3 Euro purely as a souvenir as they are no longer part of the local currency…. but they were!

A 500 Billion Dollar Bank note from the past!

The next couple of hours was free time for us to discover Belgrade on foot. Such a lovely town (apart from the damaged buildings!)

A drinking fountain where the streets meet at the shopping mall

We also visited the white marble Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, which will require at least 15 more years to complete. Even the mosiacs in the church were painted canvas strung up until the real mosiacs are finished. Only one is actually complete, but not really on show yet.

Look closely and you can see where the canvas is tied on :-) — Look closely and you can see where the canvas is tied on 🙂

While in Belgrade we went on an extra excursion to Topola. I’m going to do a separate blog post about this place. It deserves it’s own set of photos. Hopefully you have enjoyed looking at our little trip to Belgrade. Serbia is certainly an interesting country!

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

October 10, 2014

Szentendre, Hungary

We lost Len!!!

Well actually Len got lost!!!

We went on a ‘add on’ tour to the little town of Szentendre. Szentendre is a riverside town in Pest county, and it has become a popular destination for tourists staying in Budapest. It is such a cute place filled with old buildings, souvenier shops and restaurants. We went on a walking tour with a very informative guide, and were then left to find a restaurant for lunch, and to meet after lunch at our bus.

A little church and the street we walked :-) — A little church and the street we walked 🙂

Yes... plenty of tourists and shopping available. — Yes… plenty of tourists and shopping available.

We think that this is where Len went wrong. The route to take was to the right. I think he went left!

We had lunch at a little restaurant down this little street (or one like this one?)

During our time in Szentendre we visited The Mikro Csodak museum. This museum contained artwork of Mikola Szjadrisztij. His artwork consists of tiny, tiny carvings which are seen with microscope lenses. Pictures above each item explain what they are and what they are made of in several languages, including English. It was fascinating looking at the carvings. Robin managed to get a photo of one through the microscope.

The set up with the art and the microscope.

What we saw when looking through the microscope.

We found a lovely restaurant down by the river. The tour director always gave us an hour to an hour and a half for lunch. Sadly the restaurants always used most of the time up in preparation and we needed to rush the eating to get back to the bus on time. At Szentendre we finished eating only five minutes before we were meant to be back at the bus. Len likes to walk slowly after eating so he left a little earlier. When we all got back to the bus, there was no Len! Oh my goodness the panic then started! Robin, Judy and Teresa went off in different directions. The decision was for the four of them to catch a taxi back to Budapest once they had found Len. Our tour guide suggested I stay on our bus so the others would fit in one taxi. As we were about to leave another Insight Vacations bus was seen to be at Szentendre and the tour director was asked if they could transport Len, Judy, teresa and Robin back to Budapest once Len was found. They had one hour to find him!

I sat on our bus waiting for a message that Len was found. Which he was, and eventually we all had a very happy but emotional reunion back in Budapest. What a worrying experience it was. Thankfully Len was okay and just a misjudgement in the walking route taken. We were all so worried it was a health issue. It was a wake up call for all of us. We all need to appreciate our loved ones and friends. Without them life just wouldn’t be the same.

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

October 10, 2014October 10, 2014

The Tour Starts!

Let’s pretend this is still the 30th of August and our 17 day tour of the Balkans is just starting! Yes… I am way behind in my blog posts! It’s the 9th of October and I have been in London nearly a month! To be honest it has taken nearly all this time to sort through the photos. I have Judy’s, Robin’s and my photos on my hard drive and have been trying to pick the best of the three to put on this blog. I hope I have done okay 🙂

We met out fellow travelling buddies in the Hotel foyer and then wandered down the road a little to a lovely restaurant for our first meal together.

Nearly missed Judy from the photo, but managed to get four of our travelling buddies in the background 🙂

The first morning we were up bright and early to start our bus tour of Budapest. We started on the flat area of Pest…

Our first stop and we had a wander around

Some of the beautiful decorations on the buildings

I thought this building looked great as well :-) — I thought this building looked great as well 🙂

We then headed up to the Hilly Buda part of Budapest. The views from here were spectacular. Shame it was nearly raining as we were out and about taking our photos. I have been here before and blogged some better photos if you look in my archives. It was a beautiful sunny then (just over a year ago). It did actually start to rain just after we got our tour group photo taken. Only a few of us had rain gear!

Looking at Matthias Church, built in Romanesque style in 1015

It has stood the test of time beautifully :-) — It has stood the test of time beautifully 🙂

The wall just HAD to be sat on! The view was great but it was very high!

What Robin can do.... so can I :-) — What Robin can do…. so can I 🙂

But I didn't sit here. Fabulous wall huh! — But I didn’t sit here. Fabulous wall huh!

And just look at that Cathedral from this view :-) — And just look at that (Robin) Cathedral from this view 🙂

You can see the cloud coming in... ready to pour down upon us! — You can see the cloud coming in… ready to pour down upon us!

A photo of the fortress and Cathedral from the bottom of the hill

Just one of the many neat buildings we saw :-) — Just one of the many neat buildings we saw 🙂

And this ones roof is just beautiful :-) — And this ones roof is just beautiful, and the statue in front amazing! 🙂

That evening Teresa and I went down to the riverside as we had heard there was a memorial there from war times…. around 1945

In memory of the victims shot into the Danube!

This is just a few of the shoes left there as a reminder of the lives lost! So very sad :-( — This is just a few of the shoes left there as a reminder of the lives lost! So very sad 🙁

We finished off the day with a dinner cruise on the Danube river. The food was yummy and the views fabulous.

Well once again Budapest proved a fantastic place to visit. The photos don’t really do the place justice. I hope I never forget the wonder of seeing Budapest in person. A real treat to see 🙂

Finally I will add a photo of our tour group (thanks to Hammie)

Super people from all over the world :-) — Super people from all over the world 🙂

We travel from Budapest, Hungary and finish at Bucharest, Romania. I aim to put a blog post up for each of the 17 days of our tour, along with some of the best photos…. hopefully. Enjoy 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

September 13, 2014September 13, 2014

Blog will continue when I am in London!

Today is Friday the 12^th 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.

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 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

August 31, 2014

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

August 29, 2014August 29, 2014

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

Looking up to the castle from the village

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 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!

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

August 29, 2014August 30, 2014

Amazing Prague

After two train trips we arrive at Prague. One train from Wroclaw to Dresden, and then from Dresden to Prague. Arriving we were met by our tour driver/taxi driver. What an interesting fellow. Could hardly speak English, and conversing with him was quite an undertaking. But he got us to our apartment okay and that was our main concern. The apartment is fabulous, with two bathrooms and two separate bedrooms. Judy and Len are sleeping on the sofa bed in the lounge.

Our first full day was spent doing our own walking tour….and it was great. We saw some awesome sights.

Standing at the door at the exit from the tower. We did it!

At the top with an open window for taking photos

After climbing the tower we walked down the hill through very picturesque streets, visited the Lennon wall, and then crossed the popular Charles bridge into the Old Town, and the square. That is one fabulous town square!

Inside with the amazing circular stained glass window above and behind me

Crossing one bridge with the famous bridge behind me — Crossing one bridge with the famous Charles bridge behind me

We also met Ben and Chloe for tea in ‘New Town’ Prague. They visited Berlin after the wedding then travelled down to Prague to see us once more. It was a great opportunity to celebrate Chloe’s belated birthday 🙂

I could say so much more about Prague and have heaps more photos, but a sample of the wonderful city is all that is needed for you to get an idea of how wonderful it really is.

Go visit Prague! I highly recommend it 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

August 27, 2014September 21, 2018

Wroclaw, Poland

We have just spent two days in Wroclaw. Now if you want to say wro – claw like it is written, like I did for a few months in the holiday planning, you would be very wrong 🙂 in Poland w is pronounced like a v, l is like a w, and c is like a ts, z is like a sh, and other letters are pronounced differently as well. So if you say Votswav it would be more accurate, although still not correct! Here’s just a few photos of this very picturesque city…

Casey sitting on street art at the old meat works — G3 sitting on street art at the old meat works

One of the many bridges in Europe with padlocks on it

The amazing town clock in Wroclaw square

One of the rooms we saw in the University

The University of Wroclaw and viewing platform we climbed up to

Street art depicting people of the communist era and their jobs and feelings about life

These were on one side of the street and continued on the other side

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

August 24, 2014September 21, 2018

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, plus an extra (Nick)

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 🙂

Youngest son Ben with Chloe :-) — Youngest son C4 with D3 🙂

Brothers and sister in laws :-) — Brothers and sister in laws 🙂

Gregory and Marysia, brother and sister — Gregory and D2, brother and sister

Richard escorting Marysia to be married — Richard escorting D2 to be married

Casey and Felix and another cute little girl — G3 and Felix and another cute little girl

A selfie with Judy :-) — A selfie with Judy 🙂

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!

My eldest son Matthew and his youngest daughter Casey xxx — My eldest son C1 and his youngest daughter G3 xxx

Matthew and Ben (inside the Palace) — C1 and C4 (inside the Palace)

Marysia's lovely parents :-) — Marysia’s lovely parents 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

August 18, 2014September 21, 2018

Last day at home…

It’s 7:45 and I’m still in bed, but definitely not sleeping or relaxing. I’m thinking about the thousand things I still need to do today. I need to get up! But, I do have a list! I love being able to tick off jobs as they are completed and then knowing I am fully prepared for our holiday…. Hopefully!

Mostly I am excited! Eeeee! I have just finished checking Facebook and Snapchat, and have seen photos of my family and their travel shots as they make their way to Poland. C1, C2 and G3 are driving from London to Leszno and they crossed from the Uk to France via the Euro tunnel early this morning. And they are now in Germany!

Looking very excited! G3 and her Dad C1 🙂

Visiting ‘The Shard’ in London

Waiting to board the train at the Euro tunnel.

On the train!!!

A stop for refreshments in Brussels 🙂

And now they are in Cologne Germany!
Meanwhile C4 and D3 have arrived in London and are staying on for a few days while C4 has some work to do. They fly to Poland later in the week.

Don’t they look very relaxed! Lovely 🙂

Now, I have to wash my sheets and remake the bed! Clean the whole house including the bathroom! Print out travel documents! Phone Visa! Fold heaps of washing! Pack my bag! Prepare a meal for us and my two Aunties for tonight! And… The list goes on!

I really wanted to finish my crochet blanket before I left but will have to leave it at this stage until I come back home in January!

It can wait! But getting up can’t!

I leave New Zealand tomorrow!