NEW YEARS EVE DAY AMSTERDAM

Sofie also wanted to go ice skating for her birthday so just before lunchtime we set out in search of a winter wonderland. The beauty of being located smack bang in the middle is that we get to walk everywhere and see all the sights along the way.















Man, this city is laid back ;) It's good times, easy times, and all times in between.

Sofie conned Dave, Dave conned Jayden, but none of them conned Jason and myself. We happily stood on the side and watched and laughed, especially at Dave who got the hang of it quite quickly and let go of the sides. Sofie only came unstuck once, Jayden twice and Dave (the hero) none.

There's still lots of Christmas attractions around. We had a crack at archering balloons but Jason was the only one to pop one balloon out of four so we came home empty handed from that sideshow.

At lunch we had our very own freak show, courtesy of Jayden. He can bend his fingers any which way and turns our stomachs.

Anyway, we're heading out for dinner now and all excited about letting these suckers off.

Today's photos here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFIE & AMSTERDAM BABY

Happy Birthday to our beautiful girl Sofie who turned 11 years old yesterday (30th).















She got a couple of books, soft seal toy, sour straps and her very first camera (also an I owe u when back in Australia).




















We said goodbye to Domburg and Zeeland and drove the 2 hours 10 minutes to Amsterdam. The last of Zeeland photos here.

We arrived at our hotel, Dikker & Thijs Fenice, 1/2 an hour before check in time so we unloaded the car into the storage room then Dave and Jason took the car to the drop off point and said goodbye. Meanwhile after a quick bite to eat, I lugged all the luggage up into the room and unpacked.

So, here we are at Amsterdam.

"You know what they put on fries in Holland? Mayonnaise, they f**ken drown 'em in that shit man." Quote Pulp Fiction

Under Mum's instructions what happens in Amsterdam, stays in Amsterdam so got nothin to tell you really (haha).

Every year Sofie always picks Chinese for her birthday dinner and this year was no different so after a hug from Dad we headed out to celebrate.

Dave loved Mr Tong's crispy fried duck. Poor Mr Tong was flat out and made me want to get up and help him.

Unfortunately, we couldn't get the cake Sofie wanted (a plain vanilla cake with vanilla icing) so after changing her mind a couple of times we found ourselves at Ben & Jerry's for icecream. Sofie was most embarrased, not when I bought a cookie dough cookie with a candle in it to her, in front of everyone, but when I started singing Happy Birthday.

Amsterdam day 1 photos here.

It's now 11 am on New Years Eve and we're getting ready to par-tay!

ZEELAND, HOLLAND

What a fun filled day we've had at Zeeland today.

It started at DeltaPark Neeltje Jans. This is an artificial island. It was constructed towards the end of the 1960's for the main elements of the storm surge barrier. We checked out all the exhibitions some of which including Max the mammoth who was caught by fishermen,















the mosselexpositie (mussel exhibition),

and the Stormvloedkering (storm surge barrier).

Later, after locating ten pin bowling and rock climbing and finding out both were closed, our third pick was Indoor Go Karting at Middelburg. Jason and Sofie got on their rev heads and took to the course.

With no instructions from the staff on the accelerator and brake (they were supposed to) Sofie crashed full force into the barrier and is now sporting a sore back. Being the brave one she is, she carried on and thoroughly enjoyed it as did Jason.

With Holland being famous for windmills we had to stop on the way home and get a picture, even with the weather being very, very foggy today. We think this was someone's home as Dave said there was a light on.

10 minutes from Domburg is Melis at Westkapelle which sold fireworks. We wanted the big ones, the ones that go BANG and got the loudest that is allowed in Holland. Thought we'd just get some now in case we can't find any in Amsterdam.

Lastly it was dinnertime. Sofie had Chinese fried rice and Jayden a pancake with sugar and syrup, in the room whilst Dave, Jason and I headed to the beachfront restaurant for seafood (mussels and prawns).

Phew, tired and off to bed now. Welterusten. Today's photos here.

FROM SALZBURG TO DOMBURG

Leave Salzburg.
Drive 7 hours.

















Arrive Luxembourg.
Stay overnight at Hotel Stand Inn.
Play cards.
Sleep.
Wake, shower, breakfast.
Leave Luxembourg.
Drive 2.15 hours to Grimbergen, Belgium.
Check out Ardelis, Leonidas, Bakkerijderouck and purchase some fine Belgian chocolate.

















Drive 1.5 hours to Domburg, Holland.
Check into Hotel Vierwegen.
Stay here for 2 nights.
Few more photos here.

BAVARIAN MOUNTAINS, SALT MINE TOUR, BERCHTESGADEN

This afternoon we took a Salzburg Panorama Tour through the Bavarian Mountains















via the Alpenstrasse travelling parallel to the King's Lake River to the Obersalzberg where we could see Eagle's Nest, Hitler's former Conference Centre.

We then toured the over 450 year old Salt Mines wearing traditional miners' clothing and using the same slides as hundreds of miners before, we descended into the grottos.

Afterwards there was a short visit to Berchtesgaden where we walked around the village until we got too cold, then warmed up in a cafe with hot chocolate and cake.

More photos here.

THE REST OF CHRISTMAS DAY SALZBURG 2010

Nibblies ready















Grog on snow
















Take your places

Get ready to play hearts

It's been lightly snowing at minus 4 degrees all day making for the perfect white Christmas. The only thing that could make it even more perfect is having our families here to celebrate with us :(. We've missed you all on this special day but next year will be HUGE! After the card game of which the usual up himself won the usual took place, naps and dvd (Rocky got a re-run) resting time.

And then dinner - who's heard of pizza for Christmas dinner? There's always a first for everything. Second game of cards, this time 500, about to take place before ticking Christmas Day Salzburg 2010 off the list.

Photos here.

CHRISTMAS MORNING SALZBURG 2010

We were up around 6.50 am. Santa had been and we couldn't wait to open the presents.

Jayden got what he asked Santa in Finland for, Harry Potter Nintendo DS game




















Some very special nutcracker soldiers

Sofie, a beautiful musical jewellery box

And her very own, first ever, mobile phone, which has been delivered to the Telstra shop in Australia for her upon returning.

Jason got the shirt to prove Nuremberg and bier

And got a laugh out of some boxer shorts, plus his Car

We've been for breaky, made phone calls, the boys have just cracked their first beer at 10.45 am and the cards are being dealt, with Christmas treats nearby.

More present photos here.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER

Whilst you, at home, are probably up on Christmas Day and opening or already opened presents, we've been out to a special pre-organised Christmas Eve Dinner. Christmas is mostly celebrated here on Christmas Eve not Christmas Day so we celebrated Austrian style tonight and will celebrate Australian style tomorrow :).

We were booked into the Gabler Brau Restaurant for Christmas Eve Dinner at 50 euro/head. Sofie was half price and Jayden ordered from the kids menu.


















First of all it was "prost" all round.

Assorted starters

Sherry soup with roulade

A choice of filet of char in chervil butter, saffron risotto and almond broccoli or veal steak in morel sauce, home made noodles and vegetables. Sofie ordered the steak, the rest of us the fish.

An assortment of desserts from the buffet

And Christmas cookies

Merry Christmas to everyone from Dave, Sofie, Jayden, Shelley and Jason xxxxxx

More photos here :)

FETUNG HOHENSALZBURG

Whilst myself and the two littles ones had more important things to do today like watching dvd's, hairdying and handwashing in the bathtub Dave and Jason went off to Festung Hohensalzburg. This is simply the German word for high Salzburg fortress, another large medieval fortress in Europe.

Another interesting history lesson.

Some more pics here.

ICE SKATING

Well, the ice skating went well. Jason didn't break his leg. In fact he didn't even have a go. Instead he sat with his Mummy and had great conversation.

Even though Sofie had done it before it took her a bit to get back into it with the ice being very slippery. Jayden, on the other hand, was a brave little soldier continually getting back up after falling over and ending up soaking wet. See funny video here.

Good night, sweet dreams to you all as you go to sleep on Christmas Eve there. Here's hoping you've been good (or very bad ;) and Santa pays you a visit. It's Christmas Eve morning here and we've not long got back from breakfast and starting our day (10.30 am).