Hola!!!
I haven't had internet connection for EVER so thats why i haven't been able to post for a while.
We've been having a GREAT time as you would expect!
Since i last spoke we took a drive to the Costa Brava, North of Barcelona. we arrived at a beautiful, huge, old Farm House. It dated to the 1750s! The roof had lots of old, great pieces of timber, some still rather tree-like! it had many paddocks surrounding it and a magnificent garden with a massive swimming pool in the centre!on our first day we took a trip to Besalú, the ancient city not far from our house (in Quixes : say kesh-es) we had a delicious gelato and walked across the SUPER old bridge which was estimated to be built in 1034!
The next day, guess where we took a trip to? Look up a map of where 'Gerona' is or 'Figueres'. now look at what country is near...
done? good... yes... we went to France!!! ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it took half-an-hour to get to Ceret, a gorgeous little Village very near the border of Spain and France! after a YUM hot chocolate (which i ordered in french... whoo hoo!) we hopped back in the car and drove to Collioure, a lovely place right on a amazing beach. The town was proud of its fort going back into history and friendly people! here, we strolled along the beach and admired the wonderful ocean. Of course, we shared a 'pan au chocolat' after saying "Un pan au chocolat s'il vous plait (ask Mademoiselle Caitlin)' and 'Merci'
The day after we just lounged around the pool before it was time to drive back to barcelona to catch a plane to Hong Kong :( we cried quite a bit for the spanish part of our spanish trip was over!!! :( :( :( :( :(
we arrived in hong kong after more looooong flights and settled into our 5✭ hotel. lots of shopping in Markets and converse shops has been done. we've feasted on delicious chinese food like dumplings and peking duck. We took a trip to the peak of HK where we were greeted with a stunning view!
this morning we spent our time by the AWESOME pool! we also visited the shopping centre connected to our hotel where we had a yummy Indonesian lunch!
we are now at the airport, awaiting our flight home (more tears)............... but not without one last visit to zara!
adios,
Bella !!!
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Guess what!!!!!!!...
Buenos Dias amigos!
You can probably tell that I'm having a hoot of a time because I haven't posted for quite a while...
Once again, we've been sooooo occupied what with a day trip by ferry to morocco where we where toured around tangiers by our amazing guide Rashid who blabbed away to us in Spanish, English, German, Italian, Danish and japenese! But he could also speak Arabic and French! Our group was full of all cultures (as you can guess by the languages!) we stopped off for a camel ride where I was TOTALLY freaked out... Especially when the camel gets up and down! We were attacked by hawkers trying to sell us stuff and sometimes bought something just to get them away!!! Arrrggghhh!!!! We had a yum moroccan lunch of soup, chicken and cous cous, and a delicious biscuit... All this accompanied by many bottles of coke.
Then the next day we took a trip into old town Marbella and just strolled. We were quite upset that it was our last day on the costa del sol. we saw the old Trinidad wall, many little toy shops and gelaterias selling scrumptious ice creams. We had dinner down on the beach at our favorite beach bar (guayaba beach)and enjoyed Delish Sea-Bass and gilt-head cooked on bamboo skewers over a fire!
The day after, we were out of the house early with our bags packed and eyes brimming with tears as we left to Malaga airport. I didn't want to leave taxi (the dog). But we were trying to stay on the bright side with the thought that we were about to travel to BARCElONA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We arrived three days ago in our tincy apartment and headed out to see the gorgeous city.
A walk to LA Rambla was a highlight for me. We wondered down the loooong street gazing into florists and admiring the art that people were selling. It's such an interesting, colorful place where you would spot the occasional tourist, thumbs red from flicking through Barcelona travel books and eyes sore from soaking up as much information as possible, even after they've memorized the whole book! The awesome store 'Desigual' is spotted all around the place like seven-11 is in Melbourne. The city is so old but yet modern in such confusing ways!
Day two in Barcelona we officially named it 'the gaudi day'
We took the metro to the amazing sagrada familia.it is a massive cathedral built by the amazing architect 'Antoni Gaudi!' well...designed and partially built by him... Up till when he was crossing the road to get a sandwich and was hit by a tram! Since then... Many incredible architects have been working on this, towards a goal of finishing Gaudi's masterpiece of a cathedral(estimated to be finished in 2025). Look up some pictures just to get an idea of how amazing it is!!
We then walked down passage de gracia. It is a street that holds two more of Gaudi's works... This time, just houses... But not just houses, amazing, whacky, awesome buildings (Casa batlow and the predera).
Yesterday we spent a day walking around Barcelona (as you do)! We went down to the beach, strolled down the la Rambla again and got caught by a huge thunder storm. We took shelter under a covered walkway. Dads famous last words: "it'll only last a few minutes" 5 minutes later: "oh, it's starting to calm down" BUCKETS of rain later: "whoops" the streets kinda flooded and so many people got soaked!!! We saw some girls that had come from the beach running along in the downpour in their bathers! It was rather funny! When it did calm down we noticed the damage properly! Many streets were damaged with rubbish, trees down, watermelons(!?) and sausages from the butcher! We had a delicious lunch of roast chicken, roast partridge and roast lamb followed by the most amazing creme caramel! ( THANKYOU for sending us there Phoebe Jamieson...it was scrumdidliumtious!) so we had lots of energy. It took us FOUR hours to get home cause we stopped in markets, shops and churches.
It's only morning here so we haven't done anything yet,
ADIOS!
Bella!!!!!!
You can probably tell that I'm having a hoot of a time because I haven't posted for quite a while...
Once again, we've been sooooo occupied what with a day trip by ferry to morocco where we where toured around tangiers by our amazing guide Rashid who blabbed away to us in Spanish, English, German, Italian, Danish and japenese! But he could also speak Arabic and French! Our group was full of all cultures (as you can guess by the languages!) we stopped off for a camel ride where I was TOTALLY freaked out... Especially when the camel gets up and down! We were attacked by hawkers trying to sell us stuff and sometimes bought something just to get them away!!! Arrrggghhh!!!! We had a yum moroccan lunch of soup, chicken and cous cous, and a delicious biscuit... All this accompanied by many bottles of coke.
Then the next day we took a trip into old town Marbella and just strolled. We were quite upset that it was our last day on the costa del sol. we saw the old Trinidad wall, many little toy shops and gelaterias selling scrumptious ice creams. We had dinner down on the beach at our favorite beach bar (guayaba beach)and enjoyed Delish Sea-Bass and gilt-head cooked on bamboo skewers over a fire!
The day after, we were out of the house early with our bags packed and eyes brimming with tears as we left to Malaga airport. I didn't want to leave taxi (the dog). But we were trying to stay on the bright side with the thought that we were about to travel to BARCElONA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We arrived three days ago in our tincy apartment and headed out to see the gorgeous city.
A walk to LA Rambla was a highlight for me. We wondered down the loooong street gazing into florists and admiring the art that people were selling. It's such an interesting, colorful place where you would spot the occasional tourist, thumbs red from flicking through Barcelona travel books and eyes sore from soaking up as much information as possible, even after they've memorized the whole book! The awesome store 'Desigual' is spotted all around the place like seven-11 is in Melbourne. The city is so old but yet modern in such confusing ways!
Day two in Barcelona we officially named it 'the gaudi day'
We took the metro to the amazing sagrada familia.it is a massive cathedral built by the amazing architect 'Antoni Gaudi!' well...designed and partially built by him... Up till when he was crossing the road to get a sandwich and was hit by a tram! Since then... Many incredible architects have been working on this, towards a goal of finishing Gaudi's masterpiece of a cathedral(estimated to be finished in 2025). Look up some pictures just to get an idea of how amazing it is!!
We then walked down passage de gracia. It is a street that holds two more of Gaudi's works... This time, just houses... But not just houses, amazing, whacky, awesome buildings (Casa batlow and the predera).
Yesterday we spent a day walking around Barcelona (as you do)! We went down to the beach, strolled down the la Rambla again and got caught by a huge thunder storm. We took shelter under a covered walkway. Dads famous last words: "it'll only last a few minutes" 5 minutes later: "oh, it's starting to calm down" BUCKETS of rain later: "whoops" the streets kinda flooded and so many people got soaked!!! We saw some girls that had come from the beach running along in the downpour in their bathers! It was rather funny! When it did calm down we noticed the damage properly! Many streets were damaged with rubbish, trees down, watermelons(!?) and sausages from the butcher! We had a delicious lunch of roast chicken, roast partridge and roast lamb followed by the most amazing creme caramel! ( THANKYOU for sending us there Phoebe Jamieson...it was scrumdidliumtious!) so we had lots of energy. It took us FOUR hours to get home cause we stopped in markets, shops and churches.
It's only morning here so we haven't done anything yet,
ADIOS!
Bella!!!!!!
Friday, 22 July 2011
FUN!
Hola! Buenos Tardes (good afternoon!)
you are probably sick of hearing this but we are having THE best time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
two days ago we took a drive to tarifa! it was sooo cool! Tarifa is on the very bottom of Spain... in fact only a 40 minute ferry ride to Morocco, the top of Africa! we figured that we had to take a trip to Tangiers (a city of Morocco) so we collected all the brochures of companies that boat across and are planning to go soon! the old town, which is very Arabic , dates back to the 12th century! We had a ball looking into little shops that sell cotton clothing, amazing smelling spices and delicious, sugary churros! But the beach is what Tarifa is Famous for...
it was a massively long stretch of fine, golden sand with the beautiful, aqua and deep blue water that would lap up at it. we walked along the stunning shores until we decided to get a snack and head home... so thats what we did.
Yesterday our friends Mia, Rory and Juliet arrived in spain from their new home in Beijing! Of course, we went to visit them and got fairly lost on the way! we took a trip to some roman Baths where we had to scrape mud off the riverbank and smother ourselves in it! we then let it dry and washed it off in the gorgeous, natural pools in the river. we swam in the one for a longer time... it was in a cave (roman made) and was freezing! It had little passages leading off from it and we swam through them only to find that it swallowed us in darkness. we reckon that Gladiators swam in it! ( it was that old)
my friend mia stayed for a sleepover at our house and today we took another drive to a different water park! and guess what... we found it! :) :P :D
We had soooooooooooo much fun going down the steep, turning slides on the bright yellow, inflated doughnuts. my favourite ride was the Gran Niagara! You got on, slid down two slopes, then down a huge drop where the doughnut completely came off the slide! It was super fast!
heres the link to the awesome water park so you can check out the rides!...
http://www.bahiapark.com/
we just got back and are now flopping on the couch and starting on dinner!
ADIOS!
el amor Bella
!
you are probably sick of hearing this but we are having THE best time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
two days ago we took a drive to tarifa! it was sooo cool! Tarifa is on the very bottom of Spain... in fact only a 40 minute ferry ride to Morocco, the top of Africa! we figured that we had to take a trip to Tangiers (a city of Morocco) so we collected all the brochures of companies that boat across and are planning to go soon! the old town, which is very Arabic , dates back to the 12th century! We had a ball looking into little shops that sell cotton clothing, amazing smelling spices and delicious, sugary churros! But the beach is what Tarifa is Famous for...
it was a massively long stretch of fine, golden sand with the beautiful, aqua and deep blue water that would lap up at it. we walked along the stunning shores until we decided to get a snack and head home... so thats what we did.
Yesterday our friends Mia, Rory and Juliet arrived in spain from their new home in Beijing! Of course, we went to visit them and got fairly lost on the way! we took a trip to some roman Baths where we had to scrape mud off the riverbank and smother ourselves in it! we then let it dry and washed it off in the gorgeous, natural pools in the river. we swam in the one for a longer time... it was in a cave (roman made) and was freezing! It had little passages leading off from it and we swam through them only to find that it swallowed us in darkness. we reckon that Gladiators swam in it! ( it was that old)
my friend mia stayed for a sleepover at our house and today we took another drive to a different water park! and guess what... we found it! :) :P :D
We had soooooooooooo much fun going down the steep, turning slides on the bright yellow, inflated doughnuts. my favourite ride was the Gran Niagara! You got on, slid down two slopes, then down a huge drop where the doughnut completely came off the slide! It was super fast!
heres the link to the awesome water park so you can check out the rides!...
http://www.bahiapark.com/
we just got back and are now flopping on the couch and starting on dinner!
ADIOS!
el amor Bella
!
Monday, 18 July 2011
busy, busy, busy!
Hola amigos!
having loads 'o' fun
the other day we took a drive to a water park! such a shame that we couldn't find it!
we got home and had a dip in our pool instead!
later, we headed out to the cinema and watched the phenomenal Harry potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2!!!
i cant give anything away so all i can say is get your hands on tickets as sooooooon as possible!!!!!!
we returned home and me and mum put flowers in our hair for the 'Virgin de los Carmem' procession.
the Virgin de los Carme is the virgin of Fishing and every year they have a parade whick includes a marcing band, a flock of white doves and a group of fishermen that carry the large, heavily decorated statue of the virgin to the beach where they would launch her into the water for good luck to the fishermen. Unfortunately,
the water was too rough to launch her so they had to turn around and carry her back through the streets that were decorated with lots of mini spanish flags.
Today we took a day trip to Ronda, the pretty little white-washed village with a large bull-fighting ring and the Nuevo bridge. the Bridge was placed there to make crossing the green and mossy, lots of aqua colored rockpools, stunning Gorge of Ronda, easier.
well thats about all i have to spill at the moment so ill finish it here!
hope school started smoothly!
Muchos Gracias por leer!
¡adiós! Ojalá estuvieras aquí!
(thank you very much for reading)
(goodbye! wish you were here!)
having loads 'o' fun
the other day we took a drive to a water park! such a shame that we couldn't find it!
we got home and had a dip in our pool instead!
later, we headed out to the cinema and watched the phenomenal Harry potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2!!!
i cant give anything away so all i can say is get your hands on tickets as sooooooon as possible!!!!!!
we returned home and me and mum put flowers in our hair for the 'Virgin de los Carmem' procession.
the Virgin de los Carme is the virgin of Fishing and every year they have a parade whick includes a marcing band, a flock of white doves and a group of fishermen that carry the large, heavily decorated statue of the virgin to the beach where they would launch her into the water for good luck to the fishermen. Unfortunately,
the water was too rough to launch her so they had to turn around and carry her back through the streets that were decorated with lots of mini spanish flags.
Today we took a day trip to Ronda, the pretty little white-washed village with a large bull-fighting ring and the Nuevo bridge. the Bridge was placed there to make crossing the green and mossy, lots of aqua colored rockpools, stunning Gorge of Ronda, easier.
well thats about all i have to spill at the moment so ill finish it here!
hope school started smoothly!
Muchos Gracias por leer!
¡adiós! Ojalá estuvieras aquí!
(thank you very much for reading)
(goodbye! wish you were here!)
Friday, 15 July 2011
Loving Marbella
Hola!
soooooo sorry that i havent posted! we've had some technical issues!
its been so busy here, i mean... after spending yet another beautiful day in sevilla visiting the huge catheral with many chapels and statues of saints and the alcazar, the palace with detailed stone engraving on the walls instead of paint! our first night in sevilla was great... ( a yum dinner in a restaurant right on the river then to a bar for authentic flamenco singing, guitar, dancing and clapping) compared to the second night ( a disgusting dinner that made us all feel sick with a expensive price that the staff didn't reduce even after we complained. but the night brightened when we went to a delicious icecream shop)
We drove to marbella and met walter (one of the members of our home exchange) he gave us a guide of the house. Dipping in the pool, shopping in marbella ( we are in san pedro, a place five minutes from the central marbella) and cuddling the exchange family's dog, taxi, is how we've filled the last couple of days.
Yesterday, we took a 2 hour drive to Granada. we shopped in the little twisting alleyways and big main roads (gran via) and discovered never to order food at a bar/pub because you get free tapas with your drinks!
we stayed in a perfect hotel for the night and in the morning (today) hailed a taxi to the alhambra! we walked around the palaces/towers/churches for hours. the towers were sooo tall with little narrow spiral staircases leading to the top where you would find a fantastic view of granada... all the white buildings, the blue swimming pools and courtyards in the middle of buildings.
the gardens were full of pretty plants and flowers like bougainvilleas and lots of fancy fountains.
the alhambra dates from 1237! It was arabic until the catholics took over in 1492. in 1984 it was declared a world heritage sight. Words just cant explain how amazing it was... it was just.... WOW! you will never get how old and wonderful it is until you take a visit yourself. not even pictures will do it justice!
we drove back to our house back in San Pedro and have jumped in the pool.
tomorrow we are going to a water park nearby. And guess who found a cinema that plays movies in english?! yep... tomorrow we are also seeing harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2!!!!!!! i think weve done pretty well... seeing for part one we saw it on the release date and for part 2 were seeing it on the second day!
Adios!
ps. all my friends from pmps... hope school starts smoothly!
soooooo sorry that i havent posted! we've had some technical issues!
its been so busy here, i mean... after spending yet another beautiful day in sevilla visiting the huge catheral with many chapels and statues of saints and the alcazar, the palace with detailed stone engraving on the walls instead of paint! our first night in sevilla was great... ( a yum dinner in a restaurant right on the river then to a bar for authentic flamenco singing, guitar, dancing and clapping) compared to the second night ( a disgusting dinner that made us all feel sick with a expensive price that the staff didn't reduce even after we complained. but the night brightened when we went to a delicious icecream shop)
We drove to marbella and met walter (one of the members of our home exchange) he gave us a guide of the house. Dipping in the pool, shopping in marbella ( we are in san pedro, a place five minutes from the central marbella) and cuddling the exchange family's dog, taxi, is how we've filled the last couple of days.
Yesterday, we took a 2 hour drive to Granada. we shopped in the little twisting alleyways and big main roads (gran via) and discovered never to order food at a bar/pub because you get free tapas with your drinks!
we stayed in a perfect hotel for the night and in the morning (today) hailed a taxi to the alhambra! we walked around the palaces/towers/churches for hours. the towers were sooo tall with little narrow spiral staircases leading to the top where you would find a fantastic view of granada... all the white buildings, the blue swimming pools and courtyards in the middle of buildings.
the gardens were full of pretty plants and flowers like bougainvilleas and lots of fancy fountains.
the alhambra dates from 1237! It was arabic until the catholics took over in 1492. in 1984 it was declared a world heritage sight. Words just cant explain how amazing it was... it was just.... WOW! you will never get how old and wonderful it is until you take a visit yourself. not even pictures will do it justice!
we drove back to our house back in San Pedro and have jumped in the pool.
tomorrow we are going to a water park nearby. And guess who found a cinema that plays movies in english?! yep... tomorrow we are also seeing harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2!!!!!!! i think weve done pretty well... seeing for part one we saw it on the release date and for part 2 were seeing it on the second day!
Adios!
ps. all my friends from pmps... hope school starts smoothly!
Friday, 8 July 2011
sevilla!
¡hola amigos!
sorry i havent posted for a while its all been so busy
the day after my last post we took a walk to chueca, where we went shopping. we bought shoes, clothes, and icy cold lemonades (dad got beer). we then took a further walk to the palacio real, the 2000 room, soaring ceilings, grandly decorated, ex home of King Charles III.
The next day, our plans for toledo were postponed for our next trip to madrid after we took a trip to atocha renfe station and discovered it was going to be a boring hour long wait to get our tickets! Instead dad, mum and i took a visit to the `reina sophia gallery´ which held the modern, colourful sculptures, paintings, beachballs and light fittings of the japenese artist Yayoi Kusama and the unusal mixed-up portraits painted by picasso. we also took a trip to the `prado musem´ which contained many realistic, detailed paintings such as the `Las meninas´ where the artist put himself in the huge painting showcasing him painnting the scene of him painting (the young princess with her maids fussing over her before the painting was to be done.)
today we caught a quick train down to sevilla! we have hopped on a horse drawn cart and have been towed around the small town by the beautiful horse named pilloto, seeing palaces, the maria louisa park, plazas and a tourist office that looked as if the queen should be living there! we are about to head out for a hopefully scrumtios dinner.
adios amigos!!
Bella
Ps. photos should be coming soon! otherwise... get the iphone app called `instagram´ and follow me. my username is `smiley-bella´ and i post photos on the app.
sorry i havent posted for a while its all been so busy
the day after my last post we took a walk to chueca, where we went shopping. we bought shoes, clothes, and icy cold lemonades (dad got beer). we then took a further walk to the palacio real, the 2000 room, soaring ceilings, grandly decorated, ex home of King Charles III.
The next day, our plans for toledo were postponed for our next trip to madrid after we took a trip to atocha renfe station and discovered it was going to be a boring hour long wait to get our tickets! Instead dad, mum and i took a visit to the `reina sophia gallery´ which held the modern, colourful sculptures, paintings, beachballs and light fittings of the japenese artist Yayoi Kusama and the unusal mixed-up portraits painted by picasso. we also took a trip to the `prado musem´ which contained many realistic, detailed paintings such as the `Las meninas´ where the artist put himself in the huge painting showcasing him painnting the scene of him painting (the young princess with her maids fussing over her before the painting was to be done.)
today we caught a quick train down to sevilla! we have hopped on a horse drawn cart and have been towed around the small town by the beautiful horse named pilloto, seeing palaces, the maria louisa park, plazas and a tourist office that looked as if the queen should be living there! we are about to head out for a hopefully scrumtios dinner.
adios amigos!!
Bella
Ps. photos should be coming soon! otherwise... get the iphone app called `instagram´ and follow me. my username is `smiley-bella´ and i post photos on the app.
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