California and last few comments

Hello again and yes we made it to San Francisco, California, America. America in ways reminds me a little bit like back home only bigger and the people here are quite friendly too. I do miss being in Europe but at least here we don't have problems trying to talk or communicate with people. Oh well anyway we are on our last couple of days here and I'm trying to soak up as much of the warm weather as I can before I come home to cold Christchurch. I have really enjoyed this trip and discovered so much about what it is like to be on the other side of the world. I've learnt more than what I thought I was going to and experienced different things in my life so far. You pick up heaps and learn not only about different cultures but history, language, people and society, and even maths believe it or not. It has been one of the greatest adventures I have ever done beforeand I would love to do it again one day.
Anyway I am looking forward to getting back home and seeing everyone again coz I'm getting a little homesick, in fact I think everyone is at the moment we all miss our pets, our beds, our house and comfort, and even our friends and family. Also I'm really tired.
As far as San Francisco goes its big and I haven't seen much of it yet but tomorrow we're going to fisherman's wharf so that should be interesting. And even better Xanthe found Jeremy, that's right Jeremy the fat pigeon with his fat pigeon friends. Also did you know he has a family according to Xanthe. Jeremy has a huge family with his wife Jenny and their 15 kids. Yep you heard me 15 fat,fluffy,feathery kids. Shes funny.
Anyway looking forward to home and this is probably going to be my last blog so bye for now and next time I'll hopefully will be home. Here are a couple of pictures and I'll leave it at that.

Me with a little friend at the zoo in Portland
(no it is not Jeremy!)

Me, Xanthe and Lucas under a Californian Redwood

Me by the Golden gate bridge in San Francisco

Helro again

Well hello again I'm back ........hehehe
Anyway did you notice I spelt hello differently I said helro

Well I feel like doing another blog since we have a bit of time here in Portugal. So yesterday we saw the Lisbon castle Sao Jorge and had a look round there. It was quite good and also not a bad price for entry fee BONUS! But while we were there Xanthe found Jeremy and his fat feathery friends. In fact while we were having lunch yesterday the people who were sitting sort of across us once they had finished there meal they got up and left with all there scraps behind, next thing you know a huge flock of pigeons came rushing down on to the table eating as much as they could. It was quite funny. Also there were peacocks hanging round and even baby ones! But they also went under the table and got all the scraps that fell down.

Anyway today we went to the Oceanarium and had a look it was quite good although I thought it was going to be bigger and have more exhibits but it was okay by the fact that it had different types of animals and sea creatures that you wouldn't normally see on an everyday basis.Unfortunately the pictures we took didn't turn out so great because of the lack of light and the water in the tanks. And the ones that did turn out good or okay haven't been downloaded on to the computer yet sorry.
Oh well. Here are some photos of me and the castle yesterday.

the pigeons eating the scraps off the table with the peacocks underneath them

me at the castello Sao Jorge

Hello again!............since Rome!

Me in Utrecht, Holland

It seems like ages since my last post ......... wait it has been ages! I think it was Rome when I did my last post (god that seems like while ago!) Oh well, anyway the trip is going well and and the weather has been nice so that's good. At the moment we are in our last European country (not including Germany for when we fly to America) which is good and also quite sad. So while I've been in Europe I've enjoyed France, Italy, The riviera, Denmark, Holland, and England the most so far out of the countries in western Europe. As for the least I don't know, I didn't necessarily have a least favourite country or countries. Although there were some that I thought were okay (they had there good points and bad)

But at the moment we are in Lisbon, Portugal and it is quite nice, the waterfront is really pretty though.Today we just looked round to see some of the monuments and the waterfront. Also my sister is in heaven with all the pigeons hanging round. Its quite funny really. Shes had like an obsession with them since we've been round Europe and thinks there one of the funniest creatures on the planet! Especially the way they bobble their heads round. She calls them names like Jeremy (mainly) Its really funny.

Anyway I'm starting to miss home a little bit and some aspects with living in a house like cooking food and having home cooked meals, sleeping in my own bed, and missing my pets. But give it three weeks and I'll be there again.

Arrivederci Italia!

Hanging out in the Cinque Terre (Corniglia)

Italy is fascinating and such an interesting place. Although the highlights at the moment from being here are going round the cinque terre on the Mediterranean with all the little villages, and definitely Rome with its History like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi fountain, Castle Saint Angelo, the Roman Forum etc. The camping grounds we are staying at have been cool, one of them we got meeting in with the locals not just the Italians but also kiwis! We found NZ people staying at one of our campgrounds which was cool. Also one of the other places had an incredible pool (it had atleast 3) as well as a gelateria and cafe. But as of now we have 5 nights left in the campervan and are making our way back to Munich,Germany. Then after that take a plane over to Copenhagen, Denmark and stay 7 nights in hotels round Denmark. Yesterday we went to the biggest mall in Italy which is called Euroma 2. It was quite big and new and had at least 3 floors. Although I think the Mall was mainly targeted to People who want to buy expensive, designer type clothing and accessories, which sucked because I was planning on getting something nice for me but all the prices were high. Grrrrrrr! But it was cool though cause you could bring your dog into the mall. Anyway we are almost halfway into the trip already, by the end of next week we will be halfway.

At the Pantheon, Rome

Bonjourno Italia!

One of the many views of the French Riviera

Well here I am in Italy and I can also say that I've been to 6 different countries now in less than 3 weeks! That includes Singapore, Germany, France, Spain, Monaco and now Italy. We have recently just came from the French Riviera and are now in Deiva Marina, Italian Riviera. The views of the Mediterranean sea are amazing and the weather is really hot. Also I have never had this many ice creams before in weather such as this.
The only downfall is bugs and sand flies seem to keep coming into our camper-van and biting us! next thing you know these huge lumps come up to your skin and turn pink. I've already had a few on my shoulders, back and a couple of them on my hands.
Anyway I'm feeling quite tired after the endless amount of car trips and not being able to get a good night sleep yet, can't wait to get to an actual hotel. Oh well Italy should be fun and I'm really looking forward to Rome.

Goodbye Spain!

Well right now I'm in Barcelona, Spain and ready to leave and go back to France again - yay! We didn't do much in Barcelona as we had one night there and at least half a day to do stuff. We are heading towards a place in France called Perpignan and we're driving along the coast and around the Mediterranean and then soon up around the French Riviera. Then after that Italy! Spain has been really cool its seems quite dry and desert-like when you're in the middle of it but when you are around the coast and beaches it's really stunning and beautiful. At the moment we are 1/5 into the trip and I'm feeling quite tired and haven't had much decent sleep as we have been having lots of late night dinners and sleep and then early starts so we can start our new destination almost everyday. Oh well, at least once we get to Denmark we can actually stay in a proper hotel and get some rest, too bad that's like two weeks away! grrrrrrr! Anyway the trip is good we are now getting good weather almost every day and seeing stuff that is amazing and apart from that I'm taking a break off school.

Enjoying El Saler beach in Valencia

Nicolette in Paris

Guess where I am...

Well so far we have had a big journey travelling from Munich to Strasbourg and now Paris (which we are leaving tomorrow =[ ). So far I've seen so many different sites, places and buildings.Today in Paris we went to see the Arc De Triomphe, The Louvre, Notre Dame and of course the all famous Eiffel Tower which was absolutely stunning. Its a shame we only got to spend one night in Paris but I guess we have more travelling to do if we want to get this trip going. Tomorrow we are heading to the Loire Valley which is famous for its wine and chateaus. I'm feeling a little tired after the first week of travelling but at least getting used to European time and not getting so much jetlag. I can't believe it is only at least a 1/10 of this trip and we still have so much to do in the next nine weeks, that includes going around the rest of western Europe and flying over to America for atlest two weeks. Oh well, this trip is going to be something I remember for a long time. Anyway for those at home I hope this week has been good for you if it hasn't well yeah and I hope to see you in nine weeks. Au Revoir


Some painting by some Italian...

First Few Days . . . .

Me in Singapore

Well for a 10hr flight to Singapore it wasn't all that bad. I got to watch at least 2 movies, a couple of new CD albums and eat nice Asian styled food for lunch. But once I actually got to the airport and took my first step in Singapore it was awesome, the airport was huge at least 3 times the size of Christchurchs airport and at least 10 times better. There was plants and trees inside the buildings everywhere, at least 2 or 3 malls in it and amazing sculptures and fountains.
Our first day in Singapore was cool we wandered around the city, looked at some really cool buildings, statues and surroundings, and went to Sentosa Island. Also if you've ever been to Singapore or want to know what the place is like ...well it is covered in heaps of tropical plants and flowers and is very, very, VERY green, also it is extremely hot like 30 degrees every day, it is boiling!
And speaking of boiling at one point my body like took shock of like some heat stroke or something and I felt sick for ages, which absolutely sucked but I guess I'm not used to that sort of heat everyday. Anyway so thats how the first day and night went on our trip for me so far, but apart from that right now I am in Munich, Germany which is covered in lots of old historic buildings and is very cool.

Nicolette: Thoughts before the trip

My thoughts before the trip are mainly OMG I'm going overseas tomorrow and YAY! but yeah I guess I'm a bit nervous as well since its going to be a new experience for me as well as my family. It definitely feels a bit weird thinking that tomorrow is the big day because it all seems to have gone so fast. Things I'm really looking forward to about the trip are going to Singapore, France, Italy, Spain,Victoria on Vancouver Island in Canada and just travelling to different places around the world. Things I'm not looking forward to are getting up tomorrow at six and jumping on a 10 hour flight to Singapore, lots of long hour flights, having to stay in a camper van with five other people and the dreaded jet lag. So it all seems huge and exciting for all of us in my family but for those who are here at home in NZ especially family and friends you are sure going to be missed for 10 weeks and hope you have a good winter without me.