Summer with Sheryl!

Sheryl arrived in Amsterdam after a pretty gruelling flight- but she was ok and ready for action the next day. Toby and I took her for a walking tour of Amsterdam, checked out some markets and went to Vondelpark to relax.

Nieuwemarket

Vondelpark

Mum on my bike- the only time she ventured out on a bicycle!

Eating (the lekkerest) appeltart at Winkel in the Jordaan.

Antwerp- we went there for an afternoon on the way to Brugge. There's a great second-hand shop there!

Toby and I canal-side in Brugge- gorgeous place!

On the first Sunday of the month, Brugges hosts a huge Rummelmart- second-hand market.
Sheryl was amazed at all the blue and white china!

Venezia!

St Maria Basilica, Venice- at dusk.

Sheryl on top of St Mark's Basilica

Collecting water, it was so warm!

Sheryl on board a traghetto (gondola taxi)

Sheryl and I putting our feet up in Venice.

Venice at night. Bella!

Geting all Italian.

We had the best food ever.

St Marks at dusk.

Venice from the air.

Sheryl departed yesterday and should be arriving back in Hamilton as I write this.
It was so cool having her come over- it's been 18 months since I've been home to NZ, and I miss it so much. Toby and I are coming back at Christmas for 3 weeks, so I am looking forward to seeing everyone then. Only 6 months!

Amsterdam is great though and we are trying to make the most of the beautiful weather we are having. Mum was super lucky with the weather- I don't think she'll ever listen to me now when I complain about the horrible weather in Holland- it really is very average normally!
Venice was an amazing trip- it's like a story book city. Every turn reveals a new beautiful scene. If you could just remove a few tourists....ah well. We had a ball and enjoyed every minute of it. It was a really inspiring trip.

Love to all... sending some sun your way,
Sonya

Dec 2008 Australia - Sunshine Coast -holiday

More pictures

 

1. Sandcastle on Noosa beach at sunset.

A professional sand castle builder does this regularly. It is a paid job.

 

2. Helen shopping at the Eumundi markets (lots of kiwis there)

 

3. Pineapple farm, so beautiful

More Aussie travels

Queensland Australia December 2008

Helen and Peter spent two weeks in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Noosa, Australia.

 

It was a great holiday, walked the Sydney harbour Bridge, travelled to the Blue Mountains, went up the Q1 tower in the Gold Coast, markets, and went swimming at sunrise at Noosa with little fish. The sea was so warm....aaaahhh.

The temperature often was 30 -35 around midday...what terrific weather the Aussies have..!!!

 

Here are some pictures, more to follow.

Off to Mexico

Off to Mexico for some sun, sand, and spanish.

The place we are going to is Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.  Will tell you all more about it when I get there.

Meteor, Skating, Ukrainian, Star gazing, and Northern Lights

It is now warming up: today the temperature was some 5ºC (41ºF).  Causing the snow and ice to melt and form new puddles to freeze.  So Barb and I went skating at the local ice rink after watch her grandchildren play Ice Hockey.  I managed to get some independence without falling over.

Two days ago, people reported a very bright white light that lit up the early evening sky.  It was a Meteor falling to earth and it was a 6 second burn-up that lit up the earth.  Barb and I were playing scrabble and missed it completely.  

On our way home for visiting we look up at the northern night sky - a fantastic light show of a few million suns burning in distant galaxies.  Made ones world view look very small.

We went out to enjoy some Ukrainian culture.  These people settled in Alberta (and other parts of Canada) and of course bought their culture with them.  This is now manifested itself in the Ukrainian Cheremosh Society. One of its projects is Ukrainian dancing.  This very lively, richly costumed show is much enjoyed here and abroad.  We watched very va young men and woman throwing themselves around the stage in brightly coloured Ukrainian style costumes.  Food was part of the ticket and we ate some very rich food!  On the way back we experienced some of the Northern Lights phenomenon; this was not so richly costumed, but an equally awe inspiring sight.

Barb is a wonderful host to me.

In Alberta

Have been collected by Barb and her sister Marie.  We are staying in Marie's city flat in Edmonton while we take in the sights for the next few days.  Then off to Wainwright, Alberta.

The flight was uneventful, though there were lots of countryside covered in snow.  Happily Edmonton is only about freezing and there is no snow.

Hope everything is well with everyone.

New Cell number

I have a Cell number for the USA - 720 375 5665. You can call or Text me.

Its listed on my blog as well

Colorado weather is great - so far sunny, dry, hot: great scooter weather!

In Colorado, Denver

Made it to Denver, where the weather is hot, sunny, and dry.  Some signs of autumn showing, but still late summer here.

Plan to just look around and enjoy the city on the Honda Metropolitan scooter.

Plan also to get some photos on-line soon.

Love to you all.  Hope all is well, 

and

use the blog here to let people know what it is you're doing (or not).

Arrived in San Francisco

The weather is great - warm with a cool northerly blowing.

Have been out exploring the city.

The flight was uneventful.  Met by my friend Zachary (from Colorado Springs, Colorado) at San Francisco Airport (SFO).  Tomorrow off to Denver, Colorado.

Mary's Birthday

Today is Mary's Birthday! 25 September 2008.

We (Christine, me, and 3 other of Mary's friends) went to the Lone Star Restaurant in Tauranga. Photo's to follow.

My plans for travel contine; leaving for San Francisco on the 27th September and then onwards to Denver, Colorado a couple days later.

On behalf of Sonya - Letter from Amsterdam

Hello!
Yep, I am in Amsterdam now. Toby and I have a temporary lease on a very
nice
apartment in south amsterdam, but think we will probably move in closer to
the centre in a month or 2.
It is kind of summer- a bit colder than Melbourne though!

Toby has had a couple of job interviews and I have been househunting. I
start job hunting tomorrow- that's going to be fun.
Amsterdam is so different to Melbourne- in fact it's kind of the opposite.
It's so compact- space is at a premium here. Apartment hunting is pretty
competitive.
We are planning on staying here a year, and hopefully saving some Euros to
come home with.

Toby is really enjoying his first time in Holland- and it's quite a long
time since I've been here- it's been really fun. A bit overwhelming though-
I got a bit lost today when I was trying to find my bike!
That's one of the funnest things so far- riding bikes everywhere- and even
the fanciest ladies have really old huckery bikes or else they'll just get
nicked- so there is no bike shame! The older the better.
In Melbourne it was a bit competitive!
Food is average- although Toby's in love with the Mayo and Febo- the fast
food post office box style place.
We are really looking forward to going down South and seeing the family. I
have been in contact with Jose- but she is now on holiday in Thailand. I
have contacted Bep, and will try again soon. We really need to get jobs!

I hope Oma has a lovely birthday and I've attached a photo of Mijn Oma-
it's
'carameljam'- we bought it today at the supermarket- it's caramel in a jar
and you put it on toast. I knew there was areason why i moved to this
country!!

Love to all the Nagels Family- hope you are having a great time,
Love
Sonya and Toby

Thailand photos

Really enjoyed seeing a lot of Thailand.



Dinner at the Oriental hotel on Chris's birthday

Lunch cooked at the Chiang Mai Thai cooking school

On behalf of Sonya in Amsterdam, Nederland:

Hey people,
If you click on this link you'll got to my Flickr site and you can see some
photos I took in Morocco- don't worry- there's not too many!
Morocco was awesome- I loved it. We had such an amazing time.

(if the above link (Morocco) doesn't work, then go to EDIT, then Copy the below address and then Paste this into your Browser address field)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonya_vs_vicki/sets/72157600018842529/


Hope you enjoy,
Love Sonya

Note from Thailalnd

down by the beach for a few days, lovely hotel pools great food, very hot love you all christina

An e-mail from Christine: 

hope this works its a practice run with the new camera. Seems very hot here today and may just have to get into the pool soon, love from land of smiles, christine.

Letters from Thailand

Monday 7 July 2008:

Well another day has gone, today we did a tour round the tourist places like the tiger, monkey and elephant places, didn't want to get too close to the tigers, they are really bigcats, the monkeys did quite a few good tricks but the elephants were pretty amazing, they played soccer sort of and were really good at painting pictures. Rose and Mike went for an elephant ride but I was just too chicken. Its raining lightly now and I've just had a nice swim in the pool to freshen up.Planning a lazy day tomorrow and may get the massage done by the prison girls, they also run a bakery so that might be quite interesting.Then Wednesday we're flying down to Phuket for a week or so.Hope all is going well in NZ, love from the land of smiles, Christina.

Monday 30th June 2008:

No problems on the plane, just a bit jetlagged still. Rose has got us some nice rooms to stay in an apartment building with a good pool which we went for a swim in straightaway.We are seeing the dentist today to see what needs to be done on the teeth. Hot and humid, traffic chaotic but I think we're fine. And great to see Rose.

More Peter and Helen photos

One big tree with Peter and Helen in California.

The railway bridge just outside Wainwright, Alberta, Canada.  Cuzzie Ivan Bardoel of Clandonanld, Alberta with his motor.  Yank Tanks in the ditch in Wainwright, Alberta, Canada.  The Rockies in Alberta, Canada.  On the Beach on Honolulu.   Peter with top street Magician, Seff, in Hawaii.  At Oma and Opa's - celebrating 30 years of marriage.  Now try and match the pictures!

Sent on behalf of Peter

Holiday in Canada and SF - Peter and Helen

Some shots Peter sent to me of their holiday in Canada and San Francisco.

The Buffalo is in Wainwright, Alberta, Canada, quite close to Barbs place.  Oma and Opa have pictures of them standing in front of it too!

The other two pictures are of the famous steep streets in San Francisco, and the of Helen and Katherine by Alcatraz prison.

Reunion in London

Hi Everyone! Daniel, Toby and I met yesterday under the shadow of Big Ben. Then we walked around to Buckingham Palace and waved at the Queen. It was great to see Daniel and a bit of London. He's off to Germany today and I am trying to get Toby a Dutch working visa- you would NOT believe how impossible the Dutch embassy is!

By the way....Toby and I have our own travel blog- tobyandsonya.blogspot.com. Check it our for some funny stories and photos!