Decorations at the elementary
Elle's classroom door (yes, I did that too)
The middle school hallway
The pumpkin patch in the elementary
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Decorating for Halloween
This is what I have been working on this week... fun stuff!
Decorations at the elementary
Elle's classroom door (yes, I did that too)
The middle school hallway
The pumpkin patch in the elementary
Decorations at the elementary
Elle's classroom door (yes, I did that too)
The middle school hallway
The pumpkin patch in the elementary
Dani's trip to the store
A new grocery store opened up about 4 blocks from our villa. It's small, but great for getting those quick things. Dani had to work a science project for school and needed corn starch. So I asked her if she wanted to go to the store and get some. She decided to take her scooter so that it would be faster. She walked into the store with scotter in hand and a store attendant told her "No scooter allowed." Dani explained that if she left it outside it might get stolen (probably wouldn't happen in Dubai, but still). So the guy said, "Ok, bring here, I watch it." Now of course think of Dani telling me this store in her very best Indian accent. She proceeds to walk in the store and the guy leaves the scooter. Dani says, "I thought you were going to watch it." "Ok, ok, I watch it."
Then little miss assertive asks another grocery store worker, "Where can I find corn starch." "Corn?" "No, corn starch." "Corn flour?" "No, corn starch." "We not sell." Then Dani remembers that I told her she could find it in the baking section. "Is there a baking section?" "Yes." "Where?" Pointing - "There." "Where there, can you show me." "Ok, I show you." "Ah, yes, corn starch we sell!"
So Dani takes the box up to the register. I have her 2 ten dirham bills. The cost was 2.25. She hands the man a 10. He says, "You now want 3 dirham?" Dani says, "Yes, I want my change." "You no want 3 dirham." "Dude, I want my change." "Ok, you buy something else?" "No give me my change."
I so cracked up when Dani told me this story. Just so that you know, coins are not rare here, but they are not used a lot. Giving you 1 dirham as change back is ok, but more than 2 they don't like to do. At a big store, not an issue, but at small stores, it's often a problem.
Then little miss assertive asks another grocery store worker, "Where can I find corn starch." "Corn?" "No, corn starch." "Corn flour?" "No, corn starch." "We not sell." Then Dani remembers that I told her she could find it in the baking section. "Is there a baking section?" "Yes." "Where?" Pointing - "There." "Where there, can you show me." "Ok, I show you." "Ah, yes, corn starch we sell!"
So Dani takes the box up to the register. I have her 2 ten dirham bills. The cost was 2.25. She hands the man a 10. He says, "You now want 3 dirham?" Dani says, "Yes, I want my change." "You no want 3 dirham." "Dude, I want my change." "Ok, you buy something else?" "No give me my change."
I so cracked up when Dani told me this story. Just so that you know, coins are not rare here, but they are not used a lot. Giving you 1 dirham as change back is ok, but more than 2 they don't like to do. At a big store, not an issue, but at small stores, it's often a problem.
Vienna
If you haven't been to Vienna, we'd highly recommend it! They have an incredibly efficient public transportation system that is so easy to use. Plus so much is within walking distance.
We stayed at the Hotel Konig von Ungarn, which is the oldest hotel in Vienna. It was really nice! Our "apartment" was 2 stories with the girls room being upstairs. Their beds were built into the wall with curtains on the outside - awesome forts! We saved the best hotel for last. It was less than a block away from St. Stephen's Cathedral.
The first night we walked around St. Stephen's and ate at a local pizza place. We ended up eating a lot of pizza on this trip.
The next day we visited the crypt of St. Stephen's - cuz I dig that kinda stuff. Then we met up with Ronnie and Giuseppe to take in a few sites. The first was Hofburg Palace where we learned about Sissi, Elizabeth of Bavaria and the Habsburg family. Next was the Imperial crypt where over 600 years of Habsburgs are buried. Their bodies are in the Church of St. Mary of Angels, their hearts at another church and intestines at St. Stephens. Later we took in the Belevedere art museum to see The Kiss. Oh and of course we had beer on the street! Love that!!
The next day we went to Shonbrunn palace and gardens where we spent the whole day! We started at the children's park that had a maze, laybrinth and AWESOME play ground. The play ground had this bird that you could sort fly, interesting water devices, all kinds of ingenious play things. We also went to the zoo. It was one of our best days yet, relaxing and outside.
Our last day in Vienna we visited the Albertini art museum and the Spanish riding school to see the Lipizzaner stallions.
The trip was so much fun. Next time we'd all like to see more of Austria. Especially since we watched the Sound of Music before going... gotta see Saltzburg some time.
The stoic, beautiful windmills of Austria... love 'em!
The stoic, beautiful windmills of Austria... love 'em!
Hotel Konig von Ungarn
Budapest
Our hotel was on the Buda side of the city. If you haven't been to Budapest - one side is Buda and the other is Pest... interesting huh? We stayed at the Gold Buda which is walking distance from the castle district. Right now I am so wishing that I had written these posts right after our vacation even without pictures... it's hard to remember the names of all of the places, plus I am tired... spent all week decorating the school for Halloween. Ok, back on track!
So Budapest. We spent our first night there in the castle district looking around. It's an historic area that sits high on a hill in the city. Buda is hilly and Pest is flat. We had dinner at an outdoor cafe, unfortunately with each city that we visited the beer got more expensive. Then headed back to our hotel for some much needed rest. We had done a lot of walking the past several days and our feet hurt.
Day 5
In the morning we first had to tackle some money issues. Our bank cards were not working in the machines in Budapest. We ended up going to a bank to take money out and would you believe that the teller didn't give us the right amount of money? We had been warned about checking restaurant receipts, and taxi drivers and such, but were shocked to have that experience at a bank. In any case, I won't waste time talking about the negative stuff.
We walked around the castle district area again. Checked out a few churches and things. Unfortunately most museums were closed on the day that we were there. Later we headed over to the Pest side of the city where we checked out the "shopping street." Larry bought a new pair of shoes for me to help my aching feet. We took a break during the day with a couple of beers and sodas hanging out by a fountain. Then we decided to check out Buda Castle way up a hill side. Yet another hike, but it was fun, we sang and told stories about our trip.
Day 6
For our last day in Budapest we decided to go to the Aquincum which is an ancient Roman city. Afterwards we went to a Turkish bath house. It was pretty cool! Just like in the Aquincum there were 3 pools, one cold, one medium and one hot. We spent about 2 hours there. Interesting to figure out how that kind of thing works, what kind of pass to buy, where to change, etc. It all worked out albiet awkward. We had lunch at a street vendor in the park. It was nice.
Then we headed back to Vienna!
The Gold Buda Hotel where we stayed.
Mathias Cathedral
Fisherman's Bastion
The Aquincum
the Turkish bath that we went to and Hero's square which is in the same park as the bath.
So Budapest. We spent our first night there in the castle district looking around. It's an historic area that sits high on a hill in the city. Buda is hilly and Pest is flat. We had dinner at an outdoor cafe, unfortunately with each city that we visited the beer got more expensive. Then headed back to our hotel for some much needed rest. We had done a lot of walking the past several days and our feet hurt.
Day 5
In the morning we first had to tackle some money issues. Our bank cards were not working in the machines in Budapest. We ended up going to a bank to take money out and would you believe that the teller didn't give us the right amount of money? We had been warned about checking restaurant receipts, and taxi drivers and such, but were shocked to have that experience at a bank. In any case, I won't waste time talking about the negative stuff.
We walked around the castle district area again. Checked out a few churches and things. Unfortunately most museums were closed on the day that we were there. Later we headed over to the Pest side of the city where we checked out the "shopping street." Larry bought a new pair of shoes for me to help my aching feet. We took a break during the day with a couple of beers and sodas hanging out by a fountain. Then we decided to check out Buda Castle way up a hill side. Yet another hike, but it was fun, we sang and told stories about our trip.
Day 6
For our last day in Budapest we decided to go to the Aquincum which is an ancient Roman city. Afterwards we went to a Turkish bath house. It was pretty cool! Just like in the Aquincum there were 3 pools, one cold, one medium and one hot. We spent about 2 hours there. Interesting to figure out how that kind of thing works, what kind of pass to buy, where to change, etc. It all worked out albiet awkward. We had lunch at a street vendor in the park. It was nice.
Then we headed back to Vienna!
The Gold Buda Hotel where we stayed.
Mathias Cathedral
Fisherman's Bastion
The Aquincum
the Turkish bath that we went to and Hero's square which is in the same park as the bath.
Banska Stiavnica
Day 4
The day after the wedding we headed to a Banska Stiavnica. It is a completely preserved medieval town which is also a UNESCO site. It was an amazing place, we all wish that we would have had more time to explore it. We did get a chance to go up to the Calvary which is a church of sorts which has 13 monuments relating to the Bible. It's on a mountain side so it's a pretty aggressive hike to get to the top.
Later that day we headed to Budapest.
The day after the wedding we headed to a Banska Stiavnica. It is a completely preserved medieval town which is also a UNESCO site. It was an amazing place, we all wish that we would have had more time to explore it. We did get a chance to go up to the Calvary which is a church of sorts which has 13 monuments relating to the Bible. It's on a mountain side so it's a pretty aggressive hike to get to the top.
Later that day we headed to Budapest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
