TravelStream™ news feed for member koltzoo on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/koltzoo en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:01:41 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1220219580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1220219580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1220219580/tpod.html Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:01:41 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Curruna, Ontario, Canada

Mike and Erin welcome us with lamb BBQ-q and beds to sleep, taking their household fro 6-12 people, no small feat for anyone,  We enjoy catching up and seeing Erin and the girls, Erin looks fantastic! Jet-lagged we stay up as late as we can chatting but find ourselves in bed around 10.
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Reading, England, United Kingdom

August 29thWe are off to Reading, close to London as we have flights to Hamilton tomorrow.  Dad and Cass load up the car with all of our luggage and set off driving.  Mom Brady Becky and I set off by train. I did not think Brady would be as nervous as he was about train travel. We had to switch trains at Wolverhampton, and as we were pulling into the train station Brady stood up to go to the restroom he placed his Nintendo ds in the pocket of the seat in front of him, we would not let him go as you have a very short time like 3 minutes to get off the train in the station. In the flurry to get off the train he left his Nintendo ds on the train. The porters called the next station to see if they could get the porter at that station to go on and see if it was still there, they could.d not get om the train quick enough, the porter at the next stop got on to check and it was no longer there.  What can you do at that point?  except accept that it;s gone. We continued on to Reading, it was no surprise that Dad and Cass beat us to the hotel.  For dinner we were challenged by the fact that we could only fit 5 in the car, so we did 2 trips to the mall and 2 trips back to the hotel. Brady was asleep early, head back mouth open crashed kind of sleep. I had a difficult time falling asleep.  Once I was asleep,Brady awoke to use the bathroom, the door slammed hard behind him and then I heard a knock, followed by another knock I got out of bed and hobbled toward the bathroom to discover, Brady was knocking on the door while standing in his boxers, in the hallway of the hotel, he does not remember this happening, I am thinking is good he was awake enough to knock.  Next vacation, Brady will be the only 11/12 year old with bungee cords attached to his parents!!!  The ride into Gatwick the next morning was uneventful for us, Dad and Cass had difficulties finding the car rental lot to return the car and in the end they paid a cab driver to drive in front of them to show them where it was. They arrived just in time to the airport for check, we had begun to worry, when they arrived.Plane was delayed and directed over dover before heading up to Glasgow and on to Hamilton...Yahoo!  we are going home to Canada
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219750440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219750440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219750440/tpod.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:36:55 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Alnwick, England, United Kingdom

August 26thLoad them up and move them out!!!We are homeward bound, OK well Bolton, Bramhall, Cheadle bound.Ten people two cars off we goFirst stop, back to Edinburgh, Tyler had bought a set of bag pipes that wasn't working so we needed to return them, Mom and Dad were looking to buy a Tattoo dvd to take home, and Auntie Ali had convinced me to let Cass buy the Gladiator Helmet that he had seen the last time, well that and a kilt. Cass has promised that he will wear his kilt at every family occasion from now until forever, so everyone expect it!Becky and I decide not to walk up the mountain(castle rock) and choose to sit in the car attempting to connect to free public wiifii to no avail.  Ali and the troops return, Cass with the biggest smile upon his face, Gladiator helmet under his arm. As we begin to get stuff put into cars (not an easy task)  the skys open up and Mom and Dad are caught in a torrential downpour they return soaked to the skin!  too bad rain gear was in the car!Off to Alnwick via Preston Mill,Preston Mill is really kind of neat but certainly does not require a day trip a 10 min stop is all that is warranted, take some photos and back into the Car.We arrive at Alnwick late and it is very tourist attraction set up it;s a real disappointment,  We had wanted to see it because it was one of the locations from Harry Potter.  |It's a strange set up car park is shared with the garden center and the garden center admission is 10lbs(20$) per adult and kids get in for 1 p (2 cents) this does bot include admission to the castle. The castle is like 33$ per adult and 25$ per child we consider our options, the garden center has a tree house to run and climb through and kid stuff going on like face painting and Rupert the bear activities.  Becky and I decide to go in to the Castle, Mom and Dad go looking for coffee, Ali and Cam ask if activities for the kids are still going on, and are told yes soooo they pay for themselves and kids to go into the garden and tree house. Becky and I are told the castle is closing in 10 mins, so we disappointedly turn away from entering I get a quick snap of her at the gate and the guard at the gate lets us go in for a picture!  WE then join Mom and Dad for coffee.The skys open once again, and the place empties, the rain stops but so have all the activities, no face painting no Rupert the bear and no one is even taking tickets at the tree house, Ali and Cam are disappointed having spent $40 buck on the admissions, yuck Alnwick was a big disappointment all round especially since we made a special trip to see it and it made for a longer way home  just to stop here.Dad finds a great pub for dinner at least that was yummy, as we are all feeling bummed.We hid the road heading home once again, It late when we roll into Stockport  11 ish what a day.Auntie Margaret is waiting tea in hand. LOVELY!!!! 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219930260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219930260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219930260/tpod.html Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:01:53 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Chester, England, United Kingdom

Auntie Barbara picks us up and takes us into Chester for the day, Mom and Dad are off to see Auntie Shirl in Osset. Chester is just how I remember it it's such a neat place The Rows are stacked stores of all kinds, Chester is really busy, we've no rain, and we have a wonderful walk along the Roman walls and through the Cathedral in the center of town, yet another great relaxing day, We head back to Auntie Barbara's for dinner and a play on the computer, Brady beats everyone at Chinese dice and  we say our goodbyes as we leave Stockport area tomorrow! Wow what a trip!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219843080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219843080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219843080/tpod.html Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:22:44 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Cheadle, England, United Kingdom

August 27th  our trip is coming quickly to an end.A quiet day with a big family dinner planned at Auntie Margaret's, We get a great opportunity to visit with everyone on the Drabble side (my moms) of the family it;s really wonderful to see everyone. We steel a chance to take some photos.  Brady , Tom and \jack get along famously!  A great time is had by all.
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Dunkeld, Scotland, United Kingdom

August 25th Today was an excellent opportunity to sleep in. We will be heading back to stockport tomorrow and will spend most of the day in the car so Kolts and R-M's chose to stay close to home. Weirs went back into Stirling for another look about.Dad took Cass Brady and I into Pitlochry again for a quick walkabout what a quaint little village. On the road back we stopped in at Dunkeld where there is a medieval cathedral which stands infron tof ruins, we looked about in awe at such a unbeilveable site. I love ruins, and these were easy to walk through and made for some amazing photos.On the walk back to the car we spotted a sign that proclaimed Sir William Makenzie, the first liberal primeminister of Canada was born and gew up in this # 7 Chapel row in Dunkeld Scottland before he emigrated to Canada as a young man. Well there you have it! We saw it and didn;t even know we were looking for it! Cool. We return home, have a huge amount of leftover dinner to eat and pack up for we leave Scottland tomorrow!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219524600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219524600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219524600/tpod.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:53:03 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

August 22A day of rest, and a visit to Pitlochory. the boys buy pokemon cards! Mom and I spend too much money at a candy store. I find cartrige pens in WHSmith. We have a lovely day just relaxing and pottering about this small town. The weather is beautiful. August 23To EdinburghEdinburgh castle parking lot now has a farmers market attached we enjoy Angus burgers homemade crisps and strawberries to die for! Yum! Weirs and Kolts head up to the Castle. R-M's head for a hop on hop off tour of the city.Edinburgh Castle is the most famous castle of Scotland, it is the home of the Scottish crown jewels, the oldest Royal Regalia in Britain. They are on display with the Stone of Destiny the coronation stone for Scots kings which is in safe keeping for the next crowning in which this stone will once again be placed under the new king to be. During the second world war UK's riches were buried and hidden in the castle under the washrooms only 4 people in the world knew of their location, one of which was the Govenor General of Canada. We saw the giant medieval siege gun Mons Meg. We are fortunate to be visiting during the Fringe festival and the streets are crowded with people street performers, and crafts people . did I mention I really like Edinburgh? It is a beutiful city! I decide this is another place we need to return for a longer visit in the future. Nigel gets cold, and as we sit waiting for Dad and mum he falls asleep all pulled into his Canada sweatshirt in the middle of a busy city , a busy street and sat uponn a concrete step! We atempt to wake him to no avail? He's not been sleeping and I guess it has finally caught up with him. It must be also stated not only is it really busy but it is also very noisey theire ate bag-pipers playing across the street, Guys yelling out "Tattoo Programs for sale" and thousands of people out on the street. Ali and Cam take turns carrying him down the street from the Castle, cobblestones and all. He does finally wake and walk the rest of the way. On our trip down the castle rock we pass two important and interesting sites. The first is the coffee shop that JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter. Proclaimed "Harry Potters birth place"The second Greyfriars Bobby which is a monument errected to remember a dog that followed his owners remains to the grave site the he was buried, and lingured close by for 14 years thats one faithful dog.Once again 10 tired Candians piled into two little cars and returned to our Centre in Dalguise.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219350360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219350360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219350360/tpod.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:49:13 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom

August 21stStirling Castle, perched high upon a rock it was here the kings and queens of Scotland held many feasts and celebrations. We have a great tour guide here complete with tartan pants he is very animated and entertaining. Stirling castle is my new favorite it is compact old and very beautiful The Castle is far more ornate than any other Castle we have seen this trip. Dragons, unicorns, lions, griffins, and phoenix are everywhere they are centuries old it really make one wonder if these creatures are mythical or if there is some reality base to them. The rose and thistle are also everywhere signifying the English and the Scottish. We see the famous Hunt of the unicorn tapestry series which have been recreated and hung in the castle. There is a 360 degree view of Scotland from up here it's stunning, we can see the battlefields where William Wallace and Robert the Bruce fought for Scottish independence. Mom and Dad have a wander through Sterling, and a picnic lunch out on the wall, behind them you can see the Wallace monument, which is our next stop! As we return to our car we catch Mom mid nap (he he) another opportunity for a sneak picture! Wallace Monument,erected in 1888 for Brave heart, Mel Gibson OK well maybe not Mel, But the monument is where the sword is housed. It is a very uphill walk to the foot of the monument , I am pleased there is a bus that goes up. Half of us take the bus the other half walk up. When we get to the monument it's 246 step up to the top Mom and I go up about 50 and decide we aren't gonna make it we go back down. Becky comes back down to tell us that the sword is on the first floor which is only about 65 steps up. I go on up to see the sword. Mom's knee won't let her she has a leisurely walkabout the gift shop and around the monument. Dad goes all the way up! He is surprise by his own ability to do this with ease, it was only last year when we were in Thunderbay camping when I began to be suspicious about his health. A year later the miracle of Gleevac and Dad is conquering montains with leukemia...its amazing! He Is also back to being the last to bed and first to rise, this is more like him as well. The wind is incredible here but for the moment the weather is perfect. Now in to Edinburgh for the tattoo. I really like Edinburgh, we all decide we need to return to visit the castle in the following days as we only have time for a quick meal before the Tattoo begins. the excitement builds as it was February when we were told the Tattoo was sold out but Ali pursued and she managed to get us the last 10 tickets together. The seats were not great ones but we were so lucky to have tickets. Almost as soon as the Tattoo started so did the rain. We saw Joan Rivers walk by with her daughter and granddaughter!The show was fantastic! the rain was relentless! We were all dressed in warm cloths and rain coats but the rain began to find it;s way in. nearing the end of the 2nd hour we were instructed to stand for God save the Queen and a gush of cold water poured down my back to my ankles the rain had been pooling I guess, this was not a unique event for many around me gasped for the same reason I am sure.Brady had pulled huge holes in his rain poncho, leaving him cold and wet. We were all wet, and cold and as much as the show was very impressive we were ready for it to come to an end. The castle was all lit up in many different colors throughout the show, I was the only one brave enough to take a few photos for your enjoyment.We returned after taking an unplanned detour through Sterling on the way home. The motorway was flooded in a few places and the water pooled right over the top of the car it was scary but Dad did amazing. When driving through Sterling I had an opportunity to take a night shot of Sterling castle, all lite up, hampered by dieing batteries I aimed for the shot but could not find the castle. Can you believe it was midnight and they had turned off the lights ! My batteries would not allow me to take a quick photo of the Wallace monument as it was still lit up. Now I must mention that Dad wanted to take the forth bridge out of Edinburgh but Mom and I were convinced that that would take us to Glasgow and it would be the wrong way. As it turns out Dad was correct in his directions and his backseat drivers had added 30 Min's to our tired wet drive home. It was at least one am when we got here. I phoned Bob to wish him a happy anniversary, saved by the fact that is was only 7 pm in Winnipeg wow 16 years! What a day, and you should have seen the size of my foot! I'm almost certain it should have been cast! 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219176120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219176120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219176120/tpod.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:26:35 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Dalguise, United Kingdom

August 19thBob says good-bye at 5:30 am. He watched the clock all night. His Cab arrives at 6 and he's off to the airport.We gradually movce into the day again and begin to pack for Scotland. Auntie Margaret arrives at about the same time as Ali Cam and the boys. It's 2:30 before we leave and we have been told it;s a 6 hr drive but we are off, 5 in each car.It rains most of the drive up, but the countryside is beautiful, stone walls,hills and sheep.We find the hostel in Dalguise "The Stanely Nairne Centre" having booked the whole place and there is plenty of room here for everyone with far too many rooms and beds to chose from. What a great place! Six showers, huge fridge, freezer and kitchen. Games room with pool table and ping pong. large common room, and outside badmiton and soccer feild. And the veiw is spectactular! We are home for the next few days. Dad has figured this is the 14th bed they have slept in. It's 13 for us! Ciders all around and we are off to bed. August 20thIn seach of food!We head back into Perth in search groceries. We find the 24 hr Asda (Walmart) and with two carts of food and a 285 pound bill (570 dollars) we head back to the centre. Really it sounds like a lot of money but when you do the math it's less than 10 dollars per person perday, as there are 10 of us!Lucklly we have ample room to store everything a rareity in the UK.Dad cooks us a wonderful meal of roast lamb, mint sauce baby potatoes, peas and yorkshire pudding, We are truly spoiled YUMMY! Becky and Ty do dish dutie and we retire with full belly's. Tommorow Stirling, Edinburgh and the Military Tattoo!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219080660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219080660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/koltzoo/1/1219080660/tpod.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:33:34 -0400 Koltzoo crew in Europe

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Manchester, United Kingdom

August 18th Well a peaceful day, filled with many challenges. Bob and I decide not to go into to Chester and Liverpool.  We have some car arrangements to make. We also need to figure out how he is going to get to the airport in the morning.  His flight is at 9 so it makes for a really early morning for anyone offering to drive him and many people offer,  but in the end Bob decides to order a cab to poick him up which turns out to be the best idea. My foot is not well enough to drive, and Mom has decided she won't feel comfortable to drive, the motorways are fast, you are on the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car, who can blame her? So once again we look into options. Option one return both cars ( Dads and ours) early and to Manchester airport and see if we can rent a van, Our cars are non=refundable there is a van available but the charge is 35 pound per car (for returning then to the wrong  location) plus 550 pounds to rent the van, Option two, Change the car into Alisons name and she can drive it, Cost 5 pound per day plus 35 to return it early to Manchester.  Ali and Cam leave from Frankfurt on the 31st so they will not be around to drive this car back to London, which still leaves one person taking the train .  I volunteer. Option three return our car, use both Alis car and Dads car to get up to Scotland and a couple of us take the train to London while Dad drives to London.  We decide this is the best option,  Dad has developed an ear infection in his right ear and we decide it would make sense to take mom off as the secondary diver and add Ali on just incase Dad's ear worsens and he is unable to drive.  Off go Dad Bob and Ali to make the changes and return the car.  This process takes a long time Mom and I decide we'd bettter go in to Morrisons and get some food for the kayleigh. Ali Dad and Bob pick up fish and chips we have a meal on the run and head for the Brookdale country club for the party. It's a rush and a blurr for the first part of the evening. the Band is great a little pushy trying to get people up and dancing, but its all in fun. For Alison an dI and I am sure Mom and Dad It's the first time our English worlds collide.  My cousins on both sides meet each other as adults for the first time,  it's hard for Ali and I to think that we are the only conection between them and that the only time they have seen each other is when we were here, it seems strange to us.  Our Aunties meeting our cousins, Dad's cousin meeting our Aunties. people they only know of through conversation through us, it;s a strange reality.  I guess we just assumed there was more connection because they all live here on this side of the ocean. My Moms family and Friends, and my Dads family and friends, all in one room here is England.  Dad saw some friends he had not seen for 40 odd years it was amazing! Mom had a great time catching up with old school chums! It really was quite an evening!  We need more time to see everyone. We return with rides to Auntie margarets home (because we've no car)  Mom and Dad come in for a tea them home to Christines in Bolton.  They are both overly excited about seeing so many people.  What a great night!
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