Hey everyone!
Well we have left Berlin, the day before we left we had a look around the shops and went to KaDaWe which is a massive department store which is 7 floors!!! Really big and a shoppers dream! We found a dressup shop and tried on a traditional german maids dress haha it was quite fun! We found a huge store, you'd never get your kids out! There were handmade toys , soft toys that cost over 100 Nzd because they are hand made but so well done! Nanny I think I saw those bears u were talking about....Herman bears?!?!?! I think that's what they were called, anyway very expensive!

We were going to go to the perganon museum but unfortunately it is closed at the moment. It started to snow quite heavily which was quite fun ( except for it going in your eyes) so we continued to look around the shops. The next day we had a flight to Athens, we left -19 degrees and arrived in 10 so we were baking especially when we had a lot of layers on! We arrived and were a bit shocked I guess you can say, a new learning experience - Greek words have different symbols/ characters so we don't even know how to pronounce anything! We had the roads in English but we found no English maps and so they were spealt completely different. It took us about 3 hours from landing to find our hotel!!! But we made it! The next day we caught a bus to delphi, really nice place! Small town, nice and peaceful, our hotel had a veranda and all you can see are the surrounding mountains covered in trees and off to the side another town far in the distance, beautiful view! We saw the temple of Athena, the museum and archaeological site and then had a Greek meal in a restaurant with very reasonable prices!! Very yummy although I might not eat potato chips for a while, I had a kg of the bloody things on my plate that I forced my way through!!

We came back to Athens today, a day and a bit in Delphi is enough to see everything, it's a very small town. So just having a relaxing evening ( our first one!) maybe the acropolis, Parthenon etc tomorrow.

Anyway, c ya'z later
Xoxo

Berlin

Howdy,

Well today was a fresh -15 degrees in Berlin! It was actually colder than in the south pole today!! We chose to go on a walking tour of the city so were quite layered up and still a bit cold! The guide took us round the famous landmarks and also showed us some of those hidden landmarks that people miss. We saw the royal mile, museum island, checkpoint Charlie, Berlin wall (part of it), we got to see where hitlers office used to be, if any of you have seen valkyre we stood at the building where it was filmed and saw where that final scene actually happened.

We stood on the spot where hitlers bunker was, it was destroyed (after many attempts, it was bomb proof and bit of a hard one to crack!) there is now a carpark on top of it. All that marks the spot is an information sign with a map of the bunker.
By the bunker we stood by the spot where his body lay and was burnt- at his request. Pretty weird to think we stood at the spot where the body of the most evil man in history once lay. Just around the corner of that is the memorial to all the Jews, it's huge! And underneath is a museum for them aswell which we looked at, it's really well done! A really nice tribute to them although sad. They have a website if you wanted to check it out www.stiftung-denkmal.de we saw the hotel adlon where all the stars stay, including michel Jackson, that is when he hung the baby over the balcony! At the moment the israeli prime minister is staying there so the area around is blocked off and the place is swarming with police (most of whom are sleeping!) we went to the Brandenburg Gate, saw where einstin studied, across the road - bebelplatz (the scene of the Nazi book burning), then we went to the Reichstag building and went up thedome on top of it and had a 360 view of Berlin!

We saw lots more and it's been a busy day as you can probably tell!!! Tomorrows suppsed to be colder so we are getting prepared! Maybe legoland and museum island tomorrow......

Xoxo

Munich to Berlin

Hey guys!!!

Had a great time in Munich!! Had great weather! We went to a concentration camp in Dachau, the first camp. It was a very creepy place and extremely sad, it was tough learning about all the stuff that happened there. The day we went was overcast snow everywhere and freezing! It added to the mood of the whole place, very eerie!although it was a sad place, we are glad we went as we understand it more. The next day was much happier, we went to the fairytale castle! (neuschwanstein castle) it was perfect weather- sunny and clear, and lots of snow, it was just like a magical winter wonderland. (Alisha, I have lots of good pictures for you to look at!!!) it was quite a hike to get up there though! 25 minutes up a steep hill! ( in the millions of layers we were wearing).

Had dinner at the hofbrauhaus in Munich town, its where Hitler held some of his first meetings. Apart from that bit it had really nice food and beer though! Last night we caught an overnight train and 12 hours later arrived in Berlin. Lots of snow here and a fresh -11 degrees and set to get colder tomorrow! We are handling the cold quite well!

Hope everyone is well, and thanks everyone for the comments, it's always nice to hear from u lot in little nz!

Until next time,
Xoxo

Hey guys!!

Well since my last post we have been to Belgium and back to Cologne. Belgium was really nice! especially the chocolate! we spent a bit of time going around the chocolatiers and having some taste testers. haha, we snuck some more everytime the shop keeper turned away, ate so much! Aunty weez - u would go crazy here! hehe. we spent time walking round and seeing Belgium and then caught the train to Cologne. the past few days have been spent at the exhibition which has finally happened! still cant believe I#m showing something at the worlds second largest design fair next to all the top professionals!! Lots of people have been impressed with our work (go lil NZ!!) and maybe a job offer has arisen.....have to wait for further details....

Last night we went to a product launch by a well known designer Ross Lovegrove, he was launching his new product range 'freedom'. At first the person introducing him spoke German so we were thinking the whole thing was in German, we had walked an hour to get there so decided to stay! luckily enough the designer spoke english. He took the time afterwards to come and speak with us which was awesome!!!! This is someone who's work we study at uni. he talked to us for a bit and said to email him when we are in London and he will show us his design studio!!!

We spent our last day at the exhibition today, even though it goes until sunday. we tried to see all the different areas of the exhibition but it is just so big! Off to Munich tomorrow, should be fun!

dont know when my next post will be but before i forget...HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISHA DICKINSON!!!!!

Ciao
xox

Holland 2

Hey Guys,

Well we are off to Brussels, Belgium today after staying a few days in Holland. We stayed with a lovely family in Gouda which is just out of Amsterdam, we saw alot of things like the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank house, The Gouda town Hall and so much more! There has been the most snow so far, so pretty!! went walking over a frozen lake which was a little bit unsettling, hehe. i walked a bit too close to some bushes and cracked the ice! haha. and i made a snowman!! So we are off to Belgium today for a bit of a looksie before heading to Cologne for the exhibition!!

Holland!

walking on a frozen over river

me and my snowman....

haha, my snow man i made!

me and a giant clog

me and ma new boots in the snow, yea baby!

Cologne

Well hello guys!
We are now in Colonge, arrived last night from Milan, had a really nice couple of days in Milan with nice sunny fine weather! didnt think we would get to Cologne at least on time because of the weather over here but we did! arrived to a fresh -2 degrees and snow! it´s really pretty!
Us girls shared a nice bottle of wine on our last night in Italy, even making the effort to dress up in our new clothes we bought that day!

We are off to Amsterdam tomorrow for a few days before returning to Cologne for the exhibition. Will post some photos when I can, we have taken alot!!

Anyway.
ciao for now

xoxo

Venice

Well i think im in lovewith Venice! so pretty! and nice to be in a place where there are no cars or anything with wheels! our hotel is right on the canal and across from the train station which is awesome. there are alot of glass shops here! They are famous for their Mulano glass. We been for a walk around venice and looked at more churches and landmarks. also shops!!!! havent brought anything as it is a bit out of our price range!! Raining today which is not the best but we still went for a walk even if we were like drowned rats! off to Milan tomorrow, sorry this is brief, i promise i'll do a nice long post when i can with lots of pictures!

send us a bit of hot weather please :p

xoxo

Hey guys!

Sorry for no updates recently, had no access to internet. Wow, so we left Naples and had a 2 hr train ride to Rome, very scenic :) It was sad leaving our new family and friends but we will probably see some of them in London. We saw so much in Rome the colosseum, Spanish steps, the Pantheon, and the Trivi fountain (Poppa i threw a coin in for ya xo). We saw so much more aswell! The hotel was nice, the next morning we ate as much as we could for breakfast and set off to see the Vatican - WOW! it was quite packed even though it was a wet day. we had a kiwi as our tour guide! glad we got him, it meant we skipped the 2 hour line and went straight on in. He knew so much too and explained everything really well. The Sistine Chapel was like awesome, alot of people but it was spectacular and so much to take in! never thought i'd see any of the stuff i have so far!

Yesterday we got on a train to florence, we very nearly missed it!! we were running with backpacks on! man, we were baking in our puffer jackets but just got on as it was about to leave! thank goodness! we then got off at a stop that was not the right one when they said it was, by now it was dark and wet, but spirits were still high. we found a man who spoke english, thankfully he helped us get on a bus and get to the town center - no one spoke english where we were. so that was our first experience of bad italian transport! and might i add Danae made a very graceful entrance onto the bus, tripping and ending up in some guys lap!!!

We got to our hotel and have just been up the doumo, awesome views of Florence!

Will post photos when i can

Ciao for now

xoxox
Sarah

Day 8 - Last day in Naples

Rabbit!
Me eatting rabbit!
Davides mum wearig the apron we gave her :)
Eatting our pasta

Today is sunday, been pretty relaxed, woke up at 1pm after getting home at 4am!Im feeling much much better which is good, hopefully the worst of my cold is over! got up to the house packed with family ready for their traditional sunday feast! another one. first dish- pasta, 2nd- more pasta, 3- RABBIT!! all i could picture was my cute bunnies at home, but i managed to finish it, it was really quite yummy though! after that we had fruit. i was not full! and that was after 4 plates.

Everything is closed today so its been quite a chilled out last day in Naples. Getting on the train to Rome tomorrow morning. Going to miss our Naples family and friends, they have been so welcoming and generous, and will definitly miss the food!

xox

Day 7 - Amalfi

Byron, thought you might like this one :)


Laughter at the farewell dinner
Eating ice cream in Amalfi - it was kinder surprise flavour!!


Amalfi

Eatting lunch on the way to Amalfi

I woke up not feeling very good this morning, have a head cold and it was the worst i've felt, probably because im far away from home. I had such a sore head my eye was puffed up but its alright im now feeling much better, i had my temperature checked and its normal so i dont have swine flu! Everyone has been fussing over me making sure i'm ok, i've learnt how to say I feel better in Italian! :p feeling like staying in bed all day i got up and ate a massive breakfast - definitly havent lost my appetite! Felt better after that. we went to the Amalfi coast today and went through Sorrento, it was so nice!!! it was a nice drive and amazing landscape. Amalfi is such a cute town with the buildings up the cliffs and a little marina with all the bright coloured boats moored. We had ice cream (yes, crazy!) but it was very nice - kinder surprise flavour icecream=heaven. We had look around and went for a walk before making our way back.

Davides friends and family held a farewell dinner for us which was really nice (Danae told them we leave tomorrow but then we found out its actually the day after hehe), another big meal this time with pizza and different meats and things - very nice!

Tomorrows our last day in Naples, it will be sad to leave the family and the new friends we have made, they have been great and we'll be lost without them! and so will be the next part of our travels....Roma.

xoxo

Salvetore, Me, Alisha, Danae, and Davide

New Years Feast - Just chillin'

Playing the Napolitan game of Bingo

hahaha Davides dad putting chocolate on my head!

Getting serenaded at the dinner table by Davide. Typical.

Eatting fish heads!

Nanny, look what shoes im wearing!hehe

Setting up for a new years concert in front of the palace

New Years Eve and New Years Day

One of the many many rooms in the palace

Alisha and I doing the waltz in the grand ballroom

The marble staircase in the palace, a bit big!

Hey,

ooh o i had to buy some throat lozenges today.....and my head feels like a brick. o well i'll survive.

On new years eve we went to the Royal Palace. Amazing. Mum you would have loved it!!! We got to go through and look in all the rooms. It is about 800 years old and massive! exquiste details! It had lots of ornaments, paintings and furniture inside which would be worth alot!! wouldnt mind living there myself.

After the palace we went to start the big new years feast and boy was it ever! we started eatting at 6.30 and didnt finish until 11.30. it was ten courses long and that is no exaggeration! i have never eatten so much in my life, i was in pain at the end! Alisha had to stop on the 2nd dish, Danae and I soldiered on. I was impressed with myself, i dont know how i did it!

starter 1 = Some kind of Italian spinachy stuff with olives

starter 2 = seafood pasta with shellfish

starter 3= seafood salad with octopus and calamari

starter 4= a vegetable and anchovie salad

plate 5 = baked cod stuff

plate 6= seabass fish

plate 7= Deep fried fish

plate 8= Eel

plate 9= Zucchini and Spiniachy stuff in a batter

plate 10 = fruit and chocolate.

And before all of this i ate a fish head. we also had lots of home made wine and more small desserts after. These Italians can eat! the food just kept on coming.

At new years Italians have a thing for fireworks and home made bombs. There are stalls and stalls of fireworks on sale and some that probably couldn't be sold in NZ! we were walking back from the palace and there were people everywhere lighting fireworks, some so powerfull ur insides shook and car alarms went off. and this was at 4pm! So we began to understand why we werent allowed out side at midnight for 2 hours because thats when it gets bad, it sounded like we were in baghdad! but it was awesome looking across and seeing fireworks for miles, people shooting guns in the air and mini bombs going off, it was just a rumbling sound for ages. nothing i've ever experienced before! Our friends lit a few fireworks, and roman candles, when it went off i got a bit of a fright and poor Alisha ended up with my champagne down her front hahaha. It was a very different new years from what we are used to but very enjoyable. They are much more family orientated here at new years with big feasts and exactly how you picture it, big family, noisy, very loud and animated and lots of laughing, singing,and dancing! It was a lot of fun, we ended up playing a few rounds of italian bingo...i had no luck though but Danae did!

Went to bed at 4am, woke up at 12pm. Woke up still full from last night. But theres no rest, we got up had a shower and got ready for another big traditional italian new year feast. 2.30 we started and 6.30 we finished. this time only five courses, and they called it lunch! Didnt really feel like having more but i got through it! we had pasta and more seafood, stuffed squid, beef, goat, and dessert. These people must have bottomless pits as stomachs! Thanks to them, we will be spending more on food for the rest of the trip because our stomachs are ten times bigger!

so right now im having a bit of a rest, and hoping that at no time soon will they be saying dinner is ready!!!hehe. the food is really really good though!

xoxox

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR YOU LOT!!! we will be welcoming the new year when you guyys are having lunch on the 1st and dealing with hangovers :p