Emily's Scandinavia - ABBA!

Before our trip, I didn't know anything about ABBA. It was fun learning the songs. Now I know Super Trouper and Mama Mia.

I like the hot dogs there. In Sweden, they were super long with a teensy tiny bun.

Cal's Scandinavia - VIKINGS!!!

On this trip I liked the viking theme and museums. For example The viking ship museum and Birka.

birka
Birka was a viking settlement in Sweden. Now on the island you can find a recreated village the ruins of the real village and more. I was excited to try non alcoholic mead.

souvenirs I got
- statue of Odin
- scroll of runes
- norse mythology by Neil Gamin
- Thor's hammer tattoo
-Thor's hammer pendent

Sammy's Scandanavia - ABBA museum and king crab

The ABBA museum was good because after we were dancing, we were out of breath. The music was fun!

The king crab was delicious. I've never tried the king crab before and I liked it. And it was good. 

We went to Vikingaliv, a museum about the real vikings. It was a bit gross because there was viking poo! But it was also fun because there was a ride. 

Germany? France? Alsace!

Back to back long weekends. This time we hit to road for Strasbourg. Strasbourg is in the Alsace region of France, which has changed hands between Germany and France many, many times in its history. As such it is a unique mixture of the two cultures and quite apart from the rest of France.

The first day was rainy so we headed to the history museum. This wonderful little museum was hands on and really interesting. We only left because the kids tummies demanded lunch!

In the afternoon we climbed the Catherdral tower and met up with our friends for a walking tour of the city. The tour was interesting but our friend's dog stole the spotlight. For the kids anyway.

Day two we took a trip down the Route de Vin. We explored a castle, visited a stork reintroduction centre and toured the charming little town of Riquewhir. The Alsace is a beautiful little piece of France and I think we will be back!

Seein' Zealand

This weekend was a long weekend in Belgium so with four days off we headed to the Dutch coast. The original plan was to see some of the cities, including Gouda and Delft, but the weather was so beautiful that we changed plans. 

We stayed in a hostel that was a castle from the 1600s.

 

The castle was a short walk to the beach - where we spent most of our time.

 

 

We took one day to visit Kinderdijk, a site where they have preserved windmills and explain the canal system. 

 

 

On the last day we met up with friends for dinner on the beach and some fun in the sand. 

 

Royal flowers

For a just a few weeks each year, the royal family of Belgium open their private greenhouses to the public. Built by Leopold II, many of the plants are still from that time. 

 

Lines were crazy long but we made it in. 

 

The greenhouses are called the City of Glass. Stunning Art Nouveau design, fragrant flowers, beautiful blooms... 

 

   

The ninth art

The comic strip is called the ninth art. Today we visited the Comic Stip Centre. The centre is a beautiful

Art Nouveau building filled with art and history. 

The kids had fun exploring the illustrations and finding familiar characters.