lesliemac451's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member lesliemac451 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/lesliemac451 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 21 Jun 2006 18:00:19 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com Killarney — Killarney, Ireland http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150926840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150926840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150926840/tpod.html Wed, 21 Jun 2006 18:00:19 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Killarney, Ireland

Today saw us embark on a fairly ambitious hike across the Gap of Dunloe. We took a bus to Kate Kearney's cottage, and then started to walk along a single lane asphalt road that slowly rises through a valley carved by a glacier, known as the Gap of Dunloe. It was about a 12 km walk to the summit and down the other side to Lord Brandon's cottage, where we embarked on an hour and a half boat trip across three lakes, eventually docking beside Ross Castle.
The kids enjoyed the walk, although by the very end I was carrying Khrystia on my sholders and Marusia found her feet hurt. The boat trip was mildly exciting as we encounted 2 - 3 foot waves on the last lake, and we had to take them broadside. Wonderful scenery, and although it rained a bit, we got wetter in the boat than during our hike.
Tomorrow we leave for Dublin by train. Now its time for bed.
]]> London, Oxford and Cambridge — London, United Kingdom http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150360860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150360860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150360860/tpod.html Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:31:10 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
London, United Kingdom

Hi again: Well we've lost our free internet connection (can't steal someone WIFI signal if its security enabled so no pictures for a while).
Yesterday we went to the Royal Air Force museum. Wonderful display on the battle of Britain, and also excellent displays on the history of flight in general. The kids enjoyed the interactive displays and the simulator. (Marusia was afraid she'd be sick while in the simulator, it simulated a WW I dogfight).
Prior to the Theatre we went to Leicester Square to eat some pizza. There was a huge crowd gathered, and over 17 TV station news crews were present (I counted). It looked to me like an opening for a show, and that's what it was. Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn came to open their new movie. Talk about security! Keith stood on a pole, with his mother and Katrina supporting him, so as to get a good view. I lifted Khrystia up but she didn't see much. I got the closest. I was about 6 - 7 feet away from them when they walked by the crowd shaking hands,giving autographs and posing for pictures. Jennifer Aniston has a very deep sun tan (that can't be good for her skin) which her outfit showed off to maximum effect. Vince Vaughn looked like he'd forgotten to shave for about 4 - 5 days. I couldn't help but drool over the equipment the photojournalists there were using. We then went out to see our respective shows, Keith, Katrina and I saw Les Miserables, while Marusia and Khrystia saw Mary Poppins.
That's it for now from London
]]> Killarney — Killarney, Ireland http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150836960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150836960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1150836960/tpod.html Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:25:47 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Killarney, Ireland

Here we are in Killarney, Ireland. It has stopped raining and it might be sunny tomorrow. (WE are hoping as tomorrow we are taking a bus around the "ring of kerry"). Today we saw Ross Castle, see photos I hope to post.
Yesterday we flew from Standstead airport to Cork. Plane was hour and a half late as after everyone was loaded, we had to unload and get on a different aircraft. Better safe than sorry.
We heard Kings College Cambridge choir during a service in Kings College Church on Sunday. Wow! The 14th Century church is also something to see. I took a few pictures after the service prior to being told no photography.
In Cambridge the girls and I went swimming in an outdoor pool that was 93 meters long, by 15 meters wide. (Katrina swam 8 lengths of that pool and Khrystia improved her diving).
Hope you enjoy the photos
]]> Paris — Paris, France http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149536640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149536640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149536640/tpod.html Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:43:37 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Paris, France

Hello again: Just a few more details about Paris. We climbed 718 steps to get to the second level of the Eiffel Tower. (Marusia decided to stay at the bottom as she wasn¨t feeling well). Katrina was a big hit with some Chinese or Japanese tourists (men in their late 40¨s). They took multiple pictures of Katrina and of Khrystia. They even took one with me in it.
We arrived at Notre Dame just in time for the 6:30 Sunday evening service. We had not considered there would be a service then and walked in as tourists having been to church in the morning. It was a beautiful service.
Today was a shopping day in Paris. We finally found a first Holy Communion dress for Khrystia. We saw dresses Marusia loved, however some of them were over 1000 euros. We heard a choir sing in the Church of Madeline. The kids got Pizza Hut pizza for the first time in a number of months. Tomorrow the plan is Versailles, then off to the Normandy beaches.
Paris is certainly a beautiful city, however I do not think that I would want to live here. Once I get to a spot I can download my pictures, I will add them to this site. Cheers
]]> London — London, United Kingdom http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149942720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149942720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149942720/tpod.html Mon, 12 Jun 2006 04:44:12 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
London, United Kingdom

Hello from sunny London: Have we brought the good weather with us? Today it is 28 and sunny in London. We arrived this morning from Portsmouth, having taken an overnight ferry from Ouistreham on the French coast (just down river from Caen). The ferry crossing went very well, very smooth, Marusia slept better than our night train trips.
Normandy was a good experience for the kids. We spent about 3 hours at the Juno Beach museum and touring the beach itself as part of an organized tour and the kids found it interesting. We saw many war memorials, quite a few Canadian flags, and we did lots of walking. We also saw the inside of a German bunker located at Ouistreham. We also visitted Caen where we saw the grave of William the Conqueror. Keith spent all his vacation money on shirts while in France. He will be a walking advertisement for Nike when he gets home.
Lots to do around London so must run.
]]> Paris — Paris, France http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149449820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149449820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149449820/tpod.html Sun, 04 Jun 2006 15:40:11 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Paris, France

We are now in Paris. Wow! Today we visited Museum ,dOrsay; Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, was a busy day. Time about to run out on computer.
]]> Sisteron — Sisteron, France http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149155340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149155340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1149155340/tpod.html Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:39:55 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Sisteron, France

Hello again: Yesterday we drove to Turino in Italy over a very interesting mountain pass. We then drove through a number of tunnels including one that was over 5 km long. We saw the Olympic bobsled site on our trip.
In Turino Keith and I got to the Olypiad and saw round 10. Canada crushed Tunisia 3.5 to .5. We saw many famous chess players, including Annand, Aronian, Kramnik, Svidler, Magnus Carlson, etc. Marusia and the girls went to see the Shroud of Turin. They only saw a copy as the original was locked away. It was a very long day. The total drive was just under 500 km, but the driving time was about 9 and a half hours.
We got down to Cannes earlier in the week, arriving the day after the film festival ended. We saw photographs of the stars and lots of expensive boats in the harbour.
Saturday we head to Paris.
Thats it for now.
]]> Sisteron — Sisteron, France http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1148648100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1148648100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1148648100/tpod.html Fri, 26 May 2006 08:59:00 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Sisteron, France

Hello from Sisteron, France. We made it here from Spain. (Interesting 12 hour train trip plus drive in the night). Found the home we are staying in. Have done a fair bit of driving around the area. Driving a real challenge here, not just the drivers but the roads. Yesterday spent 4 hours driving 150 km. Got lost twice (both times in towns).
Internet is sketchy here at best so may not be able to post much more. No pictures for blog at the moment.
Have found the supermarkets so we are eating well. Hope to travel to Cannes next week, and also Torino in Italy.
Thats it for now
]]> Peniscola — Peniscola, Spain http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1147861920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1147861920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1147861920/tpod.html Wed, 17 May 2006 07:13:01 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Peniscola, Spain

Hi from Peniscola: We thought we were staying in Castellon de Plana, which is the address on the resort we´re staying at, however, in fact we are 79 km north of Castellon between Peniscola and Benicarlo in a resort hotel right on the beach. Yesterday Khrystia and I built a sand castle on the beach. We have all swum in the Med. a few times (although Marusia finds it cold). On Monday we walked to Peniscola and to the Castle de Papa Luna. This castle, see pictures, was where Pope Benedictine XIII stayed in the 14th century. We walked all through the castle and town. Neat place. Khrystia enjoyed the walk along the beach (about 4 miles, as there were lots of children´s play sets). (By the time we walked back, however, a few of us were starting to get tired).
On Sunday we went to church in Benicarlo at an old 15th century church.
Getting here was lots of fun as we took the train from Malaga to Castellon, a day long trip across Spain, and we got off in Castellon about 5:00. When we discovered it would cost 160 euros for two taxis to take us to our resort, we looked for alternate transport. We took a regional bus to Benicarlo, then another bus right to the front of our hotel. Unfortunately, by then it was 10:00 p.m. and by the time we went to look for food, everything was closed or closing so we didn´t have a meal Sunday night.
This hotel has a HUGE swimming pool, plus 3 little pools. Yesterday I dove to the bottom of one of the little pools to pull from the water two crabs (both dead). I guess someone put them in the pool as a joke.
When we were at Malaga our big adventure was going to Africa by boat. We took the ferry from Algerciras to Tangier. We enjoyed our tour of Tangier. We once again saw carpets (we thought we had escaped carpet salesmen when we left Turkey). Really nice carpets, but once again Marusia didn´t want to make a purchase. Keith was nudged by a car in the street (no damage done to the car). Khrystia got to ride on a camel. I had a potato thrown at me by a vendor who didn´t like the fact that I´d taken a picture of her vegetable stall. (See enclosed photos). On our trip back across the Straits of Gibralter I saw dolphins in the Med., and on the second occasion everyone saw them.
We have eaten a lot of fruit in Spain, and at our Malaga resort I took lots of photographs of the flowers (which were remarkable).
This Saturday we have an early start as we head for Avignon, France, and then on to Sisteron. No idea when I´ll next find an internet connection. That´s it for now.
]]> Fuengirola — Fuengirola, Spain http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1147208100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1147208100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lesliemac451/europe2006/1147208100/tpod.html Wed, 17 May 2006 07:01:31 -0400 Our family trip to Europe; including an eclipse, chess, D-Day revisited and much more.
Fuengirola, Spain

I am writing this from the lobby of our resort located about 5 miles west of Fuengirola, Spain. The kids are enjoying virtually unlimited swimming, both in the Sea (this afternoon we spent at the beach), and in the unheated pool. (Most of the locals and the tourists find the unheated pool too cool, however we have no problem with it).
Getting here was a bit of an adventure, with various train connections that we expected to make unavailable as the trains were sold out, so we ended up going to Murcia, then Almirea by bus, and eventually we rented a car to drive to the Malaga airport. All worked out for the best, and the kids were real troopers. (I spent much of the car trip telling The Lord of the Rings).
Khrystia has now lost both of her front teath, the second one came out today. Once I have a chance to post pictures, I will, however this computer doesn´t have a slot for my memory stick, so I cann´t download pictures from my computer to this one.
Marusia and Katrina both have new bathing suits, and I have a new pair of running shoes.
Well, that´s it for now, as I´m out of time.
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