Vacation news

Paula · July 14, 2008, 10:15:48 PM

My vacation went like this:
It started with my daughter's fourth birthday party. Then one day to for running errands.
Then we drove to Kuhmo, which is north and back-and-beyond countryside. The drive took about seven- eight hours (of "Are we there yet"). Hubby's relatives have little farm there, with some milk cows. The children were very taken with the calf Otto. My daughter proved to be "miss sensitive nose". The farm had no WC, just outhouse, at the end of the barn, above the cow manure pile... (so our crap goes to the same place as the cows's). She was holding her nose and complaining about the smell everytime she had to visit the outhouse, or go near the cows. We have some thunder's and everytime there was thunder, the electricity went down (now I know why hubby's aunt still has a wood stove besides the ordinary electric one.) On our way home, we stopped at the gas station to take gasoline and fill stomachs (and empty bladders), unfortunately also a buss full of elderly german tourists stopped there at the same time too. Let just say the toilet line was LONG!

After we returned back to civilization, we spent week recoving from the rustic countrylife. We visited a museum of zoology (the kids loved the skeletons and dinosaurs), a big indoors playground (outside was thunderstorm and hails!) etc. Hubby's tooth got infected and he's now going thru root canal-work? Something unpleasant anyway. Our digital camera broke, second in four years time. Luckily, we still had the old film-camera. The company actually fixed the camera free, even the guarantine-time was over.

Then we went to Sweden, with ferry, which was new experience itself to the children. We were two days there, visiting Zoo/Safari Park Kolmården and Amusement Park.

Last week we have guests. Hubby's friend and his family; hubby's sister and her fiancee. They took my son with them, he's staying this week at the grandparents. We saw them off to the train, and my daughter started crying when big brother got up to the train and she didn't. She cried all the way back home. The last few days of vacation was spent just at home, the three of us. We did go for a swims in nearby lake.

Amanda N · July 15, 2008, 07:56:52 AM

Whew. Sounds like you've had a busy time of it Paula!

emma · July 15, 2008, 10:19:06 AM

Sounds fun. I'm booking my holiday this weekend. Going to Disneyland Paris with my cousin and her boys (aged 8 & 6)

Eimi · July 15, 2008, 03:10:11 PM

I take ferries sometimes! They're fun :D

Amanda N · July 16, 2008, 08:53:29 PM

We went on the ferry in New York. It was the only time I really got to see the Statue of Liberty. Maybe I can actually go to the statue next year (we're going for a friend's wedding).

Eimi · July 16, 2008, 09:57:27 PM

Definitely go to the Statue of Liberty! Its a must-do. Though I regret I didn't do Ellis Island while I was there... That one place I still need to go!

Vix · July 17, 2008, 03:47:01 AM

I've only been to NYC once -- must go again.

Then again, I've not been to DC often, so perhaps I should get in a few more trips there first.

As to ferries, I often rode the one between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE when we vacationed at Rehoboth. And my old home was near a smaller paddlewheel ferry which was loads of fun to ride.

Nowadays, I worry about ferries, since it's usually in relation to a call from my daughter saying "and I'll be taking the ferry from ____ to _____" and I have all sorts of visions of overloaded boats suddenly sinking.

Amanda N · July 17, 2008, 11:54:35 AM

Shall I cook for you again when we're up there next year Vickie?

Oh yeah...I have a picture of you now! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Jane · July 17, 2008, 03:54:50 PM

Paula, I loved the toilet story.

I refuse to go camping any further afield than my own back yard because then at least I know I'll have access to an inside loo and I'll know exactly how clean it is.

Toilets rule my life! :laughing5:

Vix · July 17, 2008, 04:30:01 PM

Quote from: "Jane"Paula, I loved the toilet story.

I refuse to go camping any further afield than my own back yard because then at least I know I'll have access to an inside loo and I'll know exactly how clean it is.

Toilets rule my life! :laughing5:

Which is why we can't claim that we know one of the orcs in LotR.

Of course, I don't do camping either.

Vix · July 17, 2008, 04:31:45 PM

Quote from: "Amanda N"Shall I cook for you again when we're up there next year Vickie?

Oh yeah...I have a picture of you now! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Of course -- I prefer having people cook for me!

As to pictures, I don't remember a picture.
:angel5:
Must be someone else.

Eimi · July 17, 2008, 04:42:56 PM

Quote from: "Jane"Toilets rule my life! :laughing5:

Beware lest ye ever come to Japan...

One thing I will NEVER miss when I'm back in the states is the squat toilets they have here. Older Japanese people prefer them because they think putting your naked bum on a seat where other ladies have put their naked bums is unclean, and yet they don't seem to mind standing in other people's... Well, let's just say they the squat toilets splash no matter how careful you are. Ironically, though, they see nothing wrong with sharing bathwater with strangers, nor sitting naked on a stool used by strangers to wash themselves before getting into the bath! Explain that to me!

Chelle · August 07, 2008, 11:39:00 PM

Yeah my japanese roomie in college was explaining the whole same bathwater thing to me... and she was like and after everyone use same water all day, we use it to wash clothes!

And I was like OMG you never have clean clothes....
XD
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Paula, which ferry did you take? The one from Helsinki to Stockholm? If so, you shoulda went to Skansen or Grona Lund.. My friend works at Grona Lund. hehe....