Kyle and Jemma's blog
Sunday, May 29, 2005
A day with the Pope...
Sunday was time for Vatican City... literally a 5 minute walk from the apartment where we were staying.
First stop was St. Peter's Bascillica (Church). We went up to the dome.
The view was amazing, and mass started while we were there! Unfortunately the Pope was not doing the service; he was in Italy for the day. Oh well... I guess he'll have to meet me some other day.
The artwork was amazing - this was around the inside of the dome.
The end of a hard-worked day... we had lots of fun.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
My new Italian friends!
The landlady who we rented our apartment from had a daughter that was a lot of fun to play with. Her and her friend entertained me for HOURS!
Mommy really liked them... I didn't whine the whole time we played.
We had lots of fun - playing with cats ("GA!"), spashing water, wagon rides... too bad they can't come home with me - I need playmates like them at home. :(
There ain't no buffalo here...
Well, a last-minute request for Daddy to go to a trade show meant that we all got to spend the weekend in Rome! The history of this city is amazing, and you can't go a block without seeing some odd piece of ancient civilization. The city at times seems like a giant clearing yard for time-worn Roman architecture.
Daddy and I at the Pantheon - cool place, and in amazing condition.
Forgive my Picasso-ism here... it's hard to stich together something so big. The photos just don't do the place justice.
Well, this is me inside (out outside) the Pantheon. After all, that's why you're reading this blog, isn't it?
Mommy's got a thing for men in uniform I guess... Daddy is wondering why you can only see one of his hands, but I think he used to be a pirate.
Next was the Colleseum. Wow... that's all I can say! There was an hour lineup to get into the place, so we decided to pay 8 euros extra to get a guided tour. That way, you didn't have to wait in line. However, they neglect to tell you that they spend the first hour of the tour standing OUTSIDE the Colleseum giving you a history class. It's not so much fun for a baby, so I decided to be miserable until they gave us our enterance tickets and let us go off on our own. Some people are so easy to manipulate.
The inside is even more impressive than the outside.
Let me out!!!
Mommy's not afraid to pull out a map in public. Daddy says that I didn't get that gene though because I'm a boy.
Arc-de-something... built in 313AD.
The Forum... we didn't get the chance to wander through here much - mommy was about to pass out, and my stroller didn't like the boulders they used to make the paths.
Maybe I can use maps when I get older after all.
Mommy and Daddy abandoned me again so they could go eat in Peace. I don't know how far that is from Rome, but they were only gone 3 hours. My babysitter was nice, and FINALLY I found someone that spoke the same language as I did. We got along great.
They walked past these buildings purely by chance while going out to dinner... you can't help but come across this stuff in Rome.
This is the piazza where they had dinner.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
In and around Belgium with Ne-Ne and G'ma
After galavanting around Europe, we spent the last few days seeing the local sites with Ne-Ne (grandpa) and Grandma.
Gasbeek Castle was pretty cool - unfortunately Dad wouldn't let me go; something about priceless art within reach of dirty devilish fingers, or something like that.
Dad's fun to play around with too - but I have to use Grandpa as much as I can while he's here!
They went for dinner in the Grand Place in Brussels (sans me, again... what did I do?)
My other grandparents' retirement apartment is still for rent there too! Yay!
Grandma and Grandpa got lucky in the Grand Place. At least I now know what that means... I hate when people keep secrets from me like that.
Then, they got peed on by a little boy. I guess they weren't around enough when I was younger - or they're nostalgic about those good ol' days or something.
There's nothing like people-watching in Europe. They even saw Donald Trump!
And before they left, I had to get in some good bonding time with Grandma on the computer.
Boy, do I miss them already... Mom and Dad just aren't as much fun. Well, it won't be long 'till Jessy and Robyn come visit me! Yay, I can't wait!
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Barth-alone-uh... or something like that.
We decided to start our vacation with a little trip to the warm and sunny Mediteranian coast. Barcelona was BEAUTIFUL - probably one of the nicest places we've been yet. It's got a lot of cool alleys and buildings and stuff. Unfortunately we didn't really get the chance to enjoy the amazing food, but still it was a great weekend.
This is a monument in the park right near the apartment we rented - absolutely amazing.
Cheese! Cool Gaudi buildings in this town... wow!
Dad can get Grandpa to do silly things too - I guess it's a skill that runs in the family. :)
Mom's fed up with Dad's artistic photography... and now refuses to look at the camera. Oh well, at least I look good in these things.
All this touring is very tiring.
After 40 miles of walking, it's good to go back to the apartment and relax...
... with a EUR 0.75 bottle of wine! (yes, that's seventy-five Euro-cents...). Grandpa was determined to continue the mission he started in Massachusetts to find the cheapest drinkable bottle of wine on the planet. He hasn't found it yet. There's something wrong when you buy two bottles of wine and four beers, and still get a Euro change from a fiver.
Grandpa and Dad went on an excursion to get train tickets for Perpignon France, so Grandma and Grandpa could start their trek through France on Monday. The subway was pretty easy.
The hot sun and lots of walking means icicles for everyone (even the birds, apparently).
I used to think Grandpa was tall... I guess it's just due to my tiny frame of reference though. :)
Grandpa is great to play with - he makes me GIGGLE! Unfortunately they had to go off and see France for a few days, so Mom, Dad, and I stayed in Barcelona for an extra day to see the unfinished Gaudi church (Sagrada Famillia). It's amazing, and still won't be done until 2020!
The view was AMAZING.
It's a church, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to climb on.
The inside is just as impressive as the outside.
Unfortunately I was recognized by the crowd... my people are everywhere. So, I had to go into disguise for a while.
We had to see the Arc de Triumph before we left too.
Then it was home again... good old cattle-call Ryanair.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
My other Grandparents go European!
Grandma and Grandpa Cazabon came to visit me! Yes, I'm the only reason they came. Grandpa is my best play pal - I can get him to do anything I want.
Me, waiting for them to show up... it's time-consuming work, ya know.
We went to Gent - and finally got to see the Lego Castle. It's cool, and has a great view of the city.
Grandpa showed me the horsies - they're "wow" (like anything cool, right?). Do you like my smile? This is my "cheese" face - it's what you're supposed to do for cameras, right?
Next, we're off to Spain! Daddy says "Barcelona" funny, according to Mommy.
