Belguim and Koln

Us country bumkins are surprising our selves that we are managing to be in the right spot at the right time to catch these trains!

After a super time in London, Kew gardens, Earles court, St Pancreas to the euro star to Brussels. Then to Ghent on the local train. Carolein (accountant)Kwinten( train driver) and Splinter (retreiver/pom cross) welcomed us at Moorstele, small village 20 min from Ghent. They had friends in for dinner and then we went with them to the local pub, where they joined a pub crawl, an annual event. Music and dancing and even smoking in the bar. We are surprised how many smoke ! Tiring for our hosts translating all the time for us, so at midnight we left them to the fun and headed for bed.

They have renovated their home, was a kindergarten, a real credit to Carolein, she started with the shell. Now they are looking for another property, to repeat the project.

They went off to work and we took Splinter for some lovely walks through country lanes before we had a day each in Ghent and Brugge. Ancient buildings and beautiful artitecture , we went on canal boat trips, and walkings tours, warm pleasant temps.

Our last day we borrowed there bikes and cycled about 45 kms, thankgoodness for Verns good sense of direction and map reading!! we passed lovely homes, every bit of arable land is used, very profific crops, potatoes, corn, beet, wheat , barley to mention a few.

Train to Koln, another huge city on the Rhine with the most beautiful cathedral. We cycled 50 kms up and down the rhine,amazed at the boat traffic. We walked all day another day, through a town belt of parks. The street life at night is great, everyone eating and drinking on the pavements. Mostly some one will translate for and have enjoyed the food.

Koln was preparing for a light festival, on the river, huge affair with stands all along the river.

Both Koln and Brussels had huge underground railway stations, like a mall as big as Sylvia Park.

We had a 4hr train trip here to Hamburg, Sigi and Manfred and Christen here to meet us, so great , we went into central hamburg for a meal and today we are heading for a few days on the north sea,.

 

Now we are on the Danish border at Dagebull, on the North sea. Fascinating place, with many islands to visit on the local ferries about 1-2 hrs away. Beautiful sandy beaches with people everywhere, making the most of the summer weather. 20 degrees, with gentle winds. today we went and cycles the length of the island Amrum. Very touristy, houses all with the thatched roofs.

sigi and Manfred have planned a wonderful look at this area for us, thurs we return to hamburg for 2 nights and will go to a tennis tournament, may see Federer playing.

All going well, next stop Italy with Peter Kate and boys.

Goodbye Dubai!

Oh so sad to be leaving tonight, Leo and Eva are at a delightful age, and are changing so rapidly. Eva and i have been heading to the pool at 730am, she chatters non stop,doesn't worry if she tipples over and has a mouthful of water. Comes up to me for a kiss, her mouth wide open, so nice and moist. leo has had a super time helping vern, paint the play house.etc. today he and kath cycled the perimeter of the estate 10kms, not bad in this heat and no gears on his bike for a 4 yr old.Meeting dogs was the only prob!!

Vern and Gavin had a great experience yesterday, Had a drive of a racing car, 0 to a hundred in 4.6 secs .

Yesterday we went on the mono rail to the Palms, a man made island in the shape of a palm tree, all the houses have their own beach front.

Today we went to Burj Kahlifa the highest building in the world. it is amazing,an engineering feat to say the least. We went up to the 124th floor,very quickly!!

Its been lovely meeting kath and Gavins friends,last night they invited Rodney and Sheridan Buchanan,Verns cousins eldest son, who is a pilot for Emirates and another young family who may visit us in NZ for Christmas. The children, all under 6 , had a marvelous time, and so did we.

We are off for a swim now, to farewell all our new pool friends, fly out to Bangkok before midnight, to stay with Xuemai and Roland , they were our neighbours in Parker St,

Dubai

Feeling as if we are homeward bound now. Lovely to be here with these adorable Sanderson kids. Eva 14 mths, took her first steps after we arrived, she looks like a waddling duck,she crawled with one leg and slid the other, at great speed. She is full of smiles, has accepted us easily. Leo 4 yrs, is a school 5 days a week, 8am to 3pm . The school follows the american system, wonderful resources, even computers, Special PE and music teacher and Library.

Vern is building a play house for them. A bit frustrating, as any shops , even the post box 30 kms away. a little different to Blenheim ,with Mitre 10 5mins away. Also can only work on it early am or evenings,as it is between 37 -44 degrees!! we are grease spots. We swim in a beautiful pool in the next street each pm at 4. Its sheer bliss and the kids have a ball with all their friends,Eva floats arrived with her arm bands and leo can swim.

We went on a Desert safari the other night, Picked up 4pm, and headed towards Oman. 15 4 wheel drive vehicles, They let the tyres down and off we went though and up and down the dunes, quite exhilerating!!, then go to a desert camp for a meal, belly dancing, hena printing, and dress as an arab if you want to pay for a photo!

Kath and Gav are having a short 3 day break in Beirut, home tonight. Vern had to go to a party with Leo,24 4 yr olds!! and on school transport today. I havent ventured behind the wheel. Its all so flat hard to know directions. The main highway linking the place is 6 lanes each way. Its a very busy city and everyone has huge cars.

Sandra (house girl) lives with Kath and Gav. She works for them in the am and for others pm, and baby sits when ever they need her. She is from Sri Lanka. Keeps in contact with her family by skype. She is a lovely lady, the kids adore her. We all need a Sandra!!

Turkey

Goodbye Turkey

Our last night, meeting for drinks on the roof, then our last little shop at the Markets and dinner with the group. We are off to Dubai 9am tomorrow to Leo and Eva, cant wait to see them, as well as their parents of course.

Weve had some long driving days, yesterday we left Canakkale,on 8 30am ferry,bus and all, crossed the Darsanelle Strait, to Eceabat. From there we visited all the important sites of the Gallipoli campaign,the NZ monument,the preserved trenches,Lone Pine and Anzac Cove. We had a Turkish guide for 3 hrs. All very moving, but what a terrible waste of young lives, on both sides of the conflict.

We had 61/2 hr trip to return to Istanbul, phew !! the traffic was slow slow, got almost to the hotel and the traffic cops diverted the bus, which took at least another 30mins longer. All very fascinating as we were not driving. The place seeths with people.

Lots to do today, some went to the Palace of the Sultan, and the Tile museum. We took the easy option, went to the aquarium and a huge mall, on the tram and the metro. Quite a challenge to recognise the right stop?? we were crammed in like sardines. As one of our guides put it “flesh on flesh” Couldnt smell any deodorant.

Sad to say goodbye to our bus driver Ali. He was always smiling and ready to answer our questions, when he eventually worked out what we were asking!! His english improved, our turkish is still non existant.

We will miss all the lovely olive complextions of the people, the best salemen,donar kebabs, the Red Turkey flag,and would love to return in the spring to see the thousands and thousands of acres of arable land we passed in full production.Olive trees everywhere with trunks as big as pine trees growing in amongst the rocks.

turkey

EPHESUS.

Nearing the end of our time in Turkey, Saterday,we were up early and off on a river cruise for the morning.We went through reedy channels, to visit another ancient city of Caunos. After lunch we travelled about 4hrs to Pamukkule. Lovely hotel with a swimming pool, bliss after a hot trip. A wedding was in progress down the road, so we went to be nosey, Loud music and dancing, 500 guests, paid for by the grooms parents!!

This place is famous for its White cliffs, they were specatular, we walked through the ancient city of heirapolis. In the 70s they built some modern hotels on this site, but were demolished soon after, as they were destoying the terraces. We were amongst thousands of tourists here and at Ephesus.

They now think Ephesus was in existence 5000 yrs ago, 250,000 lived here, They have escavated 10% of the site, So we mortals are only a blimp in the scale of life on this earth!!

Today we travelled most of the day, with an interesting lunch stop,and a visit to an Olive museum. The Olive trees have huge trunks, suppose very old. Miles and miles of groves. We passed by many cities, one had 4 million people.

We are now atAssos, we branched off the main highway,and followed a windy road for 20kms to a small fishing village. Our hotel is right on the sea, very quaint. We all had dinner in the hotel, dont often do this, we and the waiters were confused!! The desert was boiled pumpkin with a coating of sweet syrup, and chopped walnuts!!

Tomorrow night we are off to Canakkale and the famous site of Troy. It is here we farewell our superb bus driver Arlie. He has been such a help and a wonderful smiling face, he seemed to have enjoyed our company,we had so many laughs with him.

sitting on a platform in the river for lunch