Colourful Madrid

Some bright and colourful photos of my trip to Madrid in May last year with my sister Elena, I do really like to see colourful buidlings. I have basically told you all about the trip in the other posts, so I won`t bore you guys again with more information.

This my sister and I are not having a trip away this year, but in 2017 we will have another one. Already ideas are floating around Morocco, Latvia and Lithuania. Anybody got some other ideas?

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Photo of the Week - Plane View!

This amazing view was on our way to Scotland on the first flight to Frankfurt on Tuesday 23rd December. As soon as I saw this I whipped out my camera, and later on I saw another brilliant sky but on the other side so I was not able to get any photos!

The Weekend!

So already two weekends gone in January, this weekend we visited the new FIFA Football Museum, it is actually not opened yet. The temporary exhibition was about the Ballon d`or ceremony and it`s history which took place this evening. They showed all the awards that the people would win this evening at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.

Of course Alessio is mad about Lionel Messi, and supports Barcelona FC, as we all do in our family. So when I told him that Messi would be coming to Zurch for the award ceremony he wanted to go and see if he could see him.

Sunday we went to Schaffhausen to visit my brother and sister in law for lunch, it was nice to see them and my nephews too. As it was raining the whole day we did not go outside, but Alessio and his uncle Luca made this and had fun watching the ball go down the slides.

An up-date about the Ballon d`or ceremony, we went this eveneing and managed to see Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta, Dani Alves and a few others!

A Weekend in Yverdon Les Bains/Grandson

The first weekend in December Alessio and I visited my friend Aimee and her family. They live just outside Yverdon les Bains in the French part of Switzerland. Alessio was really excited to have a sleeover and play with Noah with threats of staying up as late as possible.

The Saturday we arrived we visited Grandson Castle quite near to where they live. This is a medieval castle dating back between the 11th and 14th century and is the second largest castle in Switzerland. It is situated on the shore of Lake Neuchatel and it has a great view of the lake. Sadly when we visited it was not the best weather, it was interesting to walk around, it has a great collection of weapons and armour, plus a vintage car museum in the cellars. Just outside the castle was a Christmas Market which we looked around, and saw a lovely St.Bernard dog!

The next day we went briefly to the lake and saw the castle from the other side, then we went into Yverdon itself and wondered around the Christmas Market in the main square. It was a lovely day and the market was just opening and slowing getting busy. I think in general Christmas markets are not really for kids, they just get bored, want to eat and drink and run around. I only saw a bit of this town so look forward to see more of it the next time we visit!

Afterwards we hopped on the train back to Zurich, it was a lovely weekend and as usual it was great to see Aimee and the kids.

Photo of the Week - Edinburgh from High

Nearly finished my first working week of the year and am looking forward to the weekend, I can tell you! Photo of the week comes from the beautiful Scottish capital Edinburgh. This is the view going on our way up to visit Edinburgh castle, the Christmas markets and the Scott Monument.

There will be another post about Edinburgh in the coming month or months depending when I decide to put it up.

December Reading

In December I managed to get through 6 books, which I was quite amazed about that. I doubt this will happen in January but you never know.

I brought back many books from Scotland, I went to loads of charity shops and filled my suitcase since here there are not so many options to buy cheap books.

First I read The Bat by Jo Nesbo this was his first Harry Hole book, but was not published in English until 2013. I am getting through his books but not in their correct order. As usual it was a great book and Harry Hole is a great character.

The Lewis Man by Peter May is the second in the trilogy. They are set in the Outer Hebrides and I would really like to visit these Scottish islands now. I have the next one to read and am looking forward to it.

NYPD Red 3 by James Patterson, this was an easy read and was finished quite soon. NYPD red protects the elite and wealthy people in NY, I have not read the others.

A Heart Bent Out Of Shape by Emylia Hall it is set in Lausanne which was one of the reasons I read it. I really enjoyed it a lot, about a young English girl going to college and meeting new friends, it is a drama with a little bit of crime.

Continuing with some more crime is Reykjavik Nights by Arnaldur Indriadason. This was an interesting book, Erlendur is a young policeman, not yet an Inspector as in the other books. It centres around two cases in which he feels they are connected to each other, a homeless man and a missing women. The names in the book reminded me of names from Lord of the Rings. I would certainly read more of these books and I would really love to visit Reykjavik too.

Finally another crime novel The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths, this is the latest installment with Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson they discover a world war II plane with a body inside. I like this series very much, I like all the characters too.

What have you all been reading?

Holiday Recap 2015

Baden Baden

Tokyo

Kyoto

Madrid

Paris

Albuferia

London

Scotland

Happy New Year to you all! Hope everyone had a great start to 2016 so far! I have been back in Scotland over the Christmas festive time and only returned on 1st Jan.

As is usual here is the holiday recap of last year which I normally do about nowish.

February I visited the German city of Baden Baden for a weekend with my friend Arlene.

April saw the big holiday to Japan again with Arlene for about 8 days we visited Tokyo and Kyoto. This was a fantastic holiday and we both had a great time.

May was a long weekend in Madrid with my sister Elena, it was the first time for her and the second for me.

May/June, Alessio and I went to Paris for a wedding, this was my first time away with just Alessio and it went very well.

July we went to Portugal with my parents, my sister and her family. We stayed in Albuferia, but for myself and my mother it was just way to hot.

October Alessio and I went with my parents to London for nearly one week. I was really excited about taking Alessio to London as there is so much to see and do.

Finally in December we returned to Scotland and managed a few trips, one to The Kelpies which is the last photo. They were really amazing, we also visited Edinburgh and some seaside towns too.

Of course in between these, there were a variety of day trips in Switzerland and one to Germany with my parents.

So the plans for 2016 have already been well underway for a while now, and in February I will go to Bergen, Norway with Alessio. I am looking forward to that and for Easter to Slovenia.