More Memorable Animals from the Zoo

A pretty duck (which are better, ducks or goats?)
That was one angry hippo
Can't forget the... um... sheep? pig? sheeppig?

"I betcha that's where the mountain lions hang out"

Curious George Visits the Zoo (the part that was left out of the children's book)

George makes some new friends!Looks like George isn't the only curious monkey...
George gets a little action!

George will try anything once...

An Exerpt From the Travel Journal

Wednesday, February 14 (Valentine's Day!)

Another fine day in Europe. We are mellowing on the train from Budapest to Vienna. Made it with 2 minutes to spare! A fine breakfast was had by all this morning and then we proceeded to the Budapest Zoo. After a few moments of lameness, it ended up being an amazing afternoon. ...from Ducks to Elephants! After a very reasonably priced meal at a chi-chi MacDonald's we went to the House of Terror which depicted Nazi and Soviet Occupations. Very interesting. And here we are on the train. So, we all had an awesome day in Budapest.

OUR WORDS FOR BUDAPEST

Deidre - Surprising
Dave - whirlwind/tornado
Daniel - c'est terrible!
Mikey - Authentic
Ashley - Indescribable
Terry - Awesome

SOME OF OUR BEST BUDAPEST MEMORIES?EXPRIENCES

Terry- Bath House
Ashley - Palace
Mikey - A tie between Palace and Dinner
Daniel - The hornbill at the zoo
Dave - from supper to the violin player
Deidre - when the gorilla met her gaze...

- Terry

Here's one of my Top Three Favourites.....

Budapest

"Who are the great travellers? They are curious, contented, self-suffiicent people who are not afraid of the past. They are not hiding in travel; they are seeking."

- Paul Theroux

An Exerpt from the Travel Journal

February 23, 2006

Tonight we left Rome, and Daniel. It's hard to believe that our trip is almost over and it was just twelve days or so that we met Dan and Deidre at the train station in Amsterdam. It was sad and strange to leave Dan knowing that he will not be with us in Paris, but he will be with us in spirit and in our hearts. We love you Dan!

Today we further explored in some rain, but certainly not as much rain as yesterday. We cased out the English movie theatre and then proceeded to the Vatican Museum. We spent about an hour exploring the museum including the Sistine Chapel! Very impressive.

We then dined al fresco for the first time (with the exception of Dan's great supper at the hostel in Taormina). We ate at "the pink cafe" and had a nicely adequate meal and weren't charged for at least 10EURO worth of food. The kids put that towards some Gelato for me!

Having previously scoped out the cinema we went to the 3:30 showing of "Casanova". Well, what can I say....it was certainly "entertaining". It won't be nominated for any Oscars. It did amuse us and provided a warm, comfy respite from a wet and busy two days in Roma. "I'm never travelling coach again".

A short walk back to the hostel and we retrieved our bags and proceeded to the train station where we said our "good-byes" to Daniel.

Now we are just leaving the station at Firenza and it is 9PM. We are sharing a couchette with a gentleman. I'm sure he's thrilled. We haven't seen much of him...I think he's finding shelter in one of the empty couchettes.....HE JUST CAME IN!

We are getting all the bunks ready for the night. It's early, but let's try to get some sleep. Next stop.....PARIS.

- Terry

By Popular Demand

As I shared this site with family and friends, the recurring comment was...why are there not more pictures of you, Terry? Honestly, the thought never occurred to me, which is perhaps some sort of weird subconsciotous self-image thing, but regardless here are some of my favourites. A special thanks to by camera assistants on this wonderfully wild journey.

Daniel at Greek Theatre Ruins, Taormina

Sicilian Children on a Sunday Afternoon

"Too Much Spagetti" - Fake Roman Soldier to Mikey

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" - St. Augustine

On the streets of Budapest, late at night, after a violin lesson from Etienne.

On a Train to Frankfurt

Taking Shelter in a Gelateria

An Exerpt From the Travel Journal

Although time only permitted a brief stroll across Palermo's business district, as well as a visit to the eerie catacombs, I feel much more accomplished in that trip than just the average tourist experiences. That which was accomplished, was the needed and partly expected bonding that a group, especially in our case, will share while in the midst of an adventure as ambitious as this.

I would like to think that my persistant attempts to coerce the group into drinking Absinthe is partly responsible for this, but in actuality, it was bound to happen regardless. It was truly a night of good-hearted fun and while some expected us to become annoyed with one another, I feel, and I can only speak for myself, that if anything, it has boosted us above the 'staff'' label. The night began with a loose agreement to share a drink of the 'green fairy', and by the end of the night, the quotes were aflying.

-Mikey "We put the 'sin' in 'Absinthe'

Dan Becomes One With Nature...

more specifically he becomes one with that rock, the one just to the left of centre and above the mound of dead grass

(oh the joys of disposable cameras and their lack of zooming capabilities...)

Little specks on Mt. Etna

Look close - it's Dave and Dan (I swear!)

And there goes Mikey (near the bottom, just over 1/4 of the way in from the left)!

On a Paris Train

Jubilation After a Long Ascent to a Castle, Centuries Old

What Were Some of Your Favourite Memories?

As I was typing in Deidre's journal entry below I remarked at her comment about seeing sunrise in the Alps and how many could say they did that?

It made me think of some of my favourite memories or unique things that we did. Here are some of mine:

- We got violin lessons from Etienne the street busker in Budapest
- Seeing Mikey behind the bar at the Heineken Museum
- Having lunch on steaming volcano rocks
- Climbing down the Alcantara Gorge and being the only ones there
- Climbing up to the castle in Budapest late at night and being just us and the kitty overlooking the historic city

Our FIrst Few Steps in Venice

On the train to Bolzano

An Exerpt from the Travel Journal

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Numerous tiny train trips....and Venice!! The sleeper car a la 6 was a wee bit uncomfortable. Especially since we got up at 4:30am. Then the short, frequent train trips started. And we stood outside the trains station in Brenero because there was no inside (for a whole hour!). All this was worth it, however, because we got to see a sunrise in the Alps! Now that is something add to the list of cool things that we have done! Venice was also quite awesome, although also quite expensive. Highlights of the day included a one-hour tour in a REAL gondola (I translated the gondolier's passible Spanish into English for the posse) and Mikey feeding an enormous flock of pigeons in the Piazza San Marco. It was pissing down rain and very cold the entire time, but this did not dappen our spirits. Getting on the warm train in the evening was pleasure, and when we saw our accomodations, we were pleasantly surprised! We even slept well!! Onwards to Sicily....

- Deidre

Waiting at Dawn in the Alps for our Next Train

An Exerpt from the Travel Journal

February 13, 2006

Three trains and fifteen hours after leaving Amsterdam we finally arrive in Budapest. After disembarking the train we quickly find a map on the wall which we stare at for a while and then all look around at our surroundings with confused expressions. While contemplating how to purchase tickets for the metro with no Hungarian currency, we are approached by a kind lady who works there who can somehow tell we don't know what we're doing - goodness knows what gave it away. Although none of us speak Hungarian and she didn't appear to speak English, she eventually conveyed to us that we can ride the metro for free, but we have to run because it's leaving in two minutes. We make our way to the fastest, steepest escalator I've ever been on and run down to meet the subway and get on just in time.

All seems to be going well, we know where we are and where we're going and got off at the appropriate stop. Unfortunately, upon reaching the top of the escalator we are promptly stopped by the Budapest Metro Police who demand to see our tickets which, alas, we do not have. The nice lady, as it turns out, was not actually so nice and minutes after arriving in Budapest we had been scammed. The cost of a metro ticket - 1EURO. Fine each payed for riding without a ticket - 11EURO.

Budapest - 1: Us - 0.

Ashley

Dave Pays His Respects to Jim Morrison

Ashley in the stunning Alcantara Gorge in Sicily

Quotable Quotes

The trip was full of wise, and not so wise, comments. Remember these:

Deidre: "Mikey, that cat is going to give you flees"
Mikey: "It would be worth it for a bit of kitty love"

"Don't sweat the petty things, pet the sweaty things" - Dave

"We put the sin in Absinthe" - Mikey

Mikey: "My arms are sore for some reason"
Dan: "My heart is sore form lovin' this trip so much"

Dave in Alcantara Gorge

An Exerpt from the Travel Journal

February 19, 2006

Skis, meals and Batman!

Sicily was amazing. The views and scenery were amazing! Skiing on a volcano was a very cool experience. I'd have never thought that my first ski in two years would have been on Mt. Etna in Sicily. I'm so glad I opted to do it. It will be an experience I won't soon forget. I've never skied through clouds so thick in my life.

Dan's meal was a huge hit (thanks, Dan). A delicious meal of spagetti and garlic bread. And let's not forget the vino! mmmm mmm. Terry and I did the dishes while singing a duet of "Yesterday"...and maybe some tunes from Anne. That kitchen never shined so good. We all had a nice sleep with full tummies.

Our last day in Sicily was packed with hills and steps. Fun, but tiring. We took a nice break on a statue in a piazza and watched some children play Batman and King Kong. It was a happy moment. They were the perfect entertainment for us in our exhausted states. The perfect end to a perfect trip to a wonderful island. Fantastic!

Dave

On the train to Palermo

Daniel gazes out the train window, admiring the Sicilian coast

An Exerpt from the Travel Journal

February 17, 2006

We are chugging along the Sicilian coast toward Palermo. We are now probably in what could be the most authentic, untouched part of Italy (indeed our entire journey), far out of the reach of most Western tourists, home of the Mafia and cradled between the Mediteranean and Tyrrhenian Seas.

The vista out our train window is, as often has been the case on our travels, surreal. The distance between the rail-line and the coast varies from 20 to 50 metres to sometimes practically nothing as we hug the coast. Where distance allows, we see terra-cotta tiled houses crammed in among the many narrow streets. Laundry hangs from balconies and satelite dishes pop up like dandy lions on a PEI summer lawn.

The sea is calm with only the hint of an undulating wave. Sea birds lazily ride the near non-existent waves. Off in the distance we see many islands. The view is frequently broken by a tunnel that cuts through the rolling sicilian hills.

As we all quietly sit in our bunks, I am writing in our travel journal, Dave is working on his english course, Deidre is reading her "Anne Frank" book, Mikey is writing postcards, Ashley is organizing her kit bag, and Daniel gazes out the window remarking on the orange trees and cactus. It gives me time to reflect on this trip so far and perhaps, if not too corny, life in general.

I don't know if any of us knew what to expect from this adventure...who can ever know what lies ahead of them in any endeavour, or life for that matter. What I do know is that this has been one hell of a trip so far and we are only half way through it. Each city has been different, both in landscape and architecture. We have experienced French, Dutch, German, Hungarian and Italian languages, cuisines and cultures.

Travelling gives one a unique perspective on life, the world and one's self. Even though I have travelled a lot, each time I do so I feel more alive and atuned with the world. This trip is certainly no exception. I hope the kids are learning a lot and having their eyes opened to the wonders of this varied and vast continent. During our midnight adventure at the Budapest Castle (just us and some kittys), Mikey expressed how the visit and the experience has changed his life. It is sometimes difficult to get a perspective on history in North America because our settlement was so much more recent than in other parts of the world. Our gondola driver, Georgio, told us that some fo the houses in Venice were over 900 years old!

We are one hour out of Palermo. What adventures await us? Catacombs? Mafia? Pizza?....we shall see, experience and record.

Terry

Venetian Children racing as their father looked on - Adorable!

On the train from Frankfurt to Vienna

An Excerpt From the Travel Journal

February 12, 2006

Today was spent sitting on several trains, and just so happens that this entry is being made in the midst of our jourey from Frankfurt to Vienna. So far it's been about 8.5 hours ands we still have 6 hours to go. It is interesting what a trek across Germany, along with music in your headphones, will do to the imagination of someone like myself. There is nothing that can be said to explain how small I feel during this ride. This ride doesn't seem like the regular down-time in between eventual destinations, and this may partly be due to the fact that instead of thinking what about our next stop will be like, I find myself wondering what next scenic inspiration we will briefly pass. I wonder what lifestyles of the people in these small villages is like. Would it be any different than my own? What differences are caused by this vast space between us.

Mikey

Daniel takes in Venezia

Deidre uses her feminine charms to negotiate a gondola ride: Dan observes, awestruck at her skills

Return to Sender

Dave and George spend some quality time together

There's a funny story here that has to be told. So, we get on the train in Bolzano (or was it Brennero, I don't remember). We have the entire train car to ourselves. Given that we were up at 4:30am to switch trains everyone is pretty well wiped and everyone falls asleep, inluding Dave and George. As the train progresses through the Alps, it fills up with morning commuters. Dave is still asleep. I am sitting beside him and the seats across from us fill up with two nice ladies. Dave is still asleep, oblivious to the now packed train. He has fallen asleep with George gently cradled in his arms and is a picture of adorableness which the two ladies are getting quite a kick out of. Dave suddenly wakes up (with quite a start) to find a packed train, with two ladies across from him, knees practically touching his and George cradled in his arms. The look of shock on his face was priceless. I'll never forget that moment.

As the trip progressed and we got closer to our next train change (Verona onward to Venice, I believe) everyone was sleeping AGAIN except me. The gang were spread out among the train compartment so I had to make my rounds, reaching over Italian commuters to nudge awake the sleeping beauties so that we were all ready to disembark. Again, the local commuters got quite a kick out of this.

- Terry