Day 4 - Warning signs

You are warned about everything down under... 

... from birds which attack you as you walk through the park...

...to ducks that may cross the road in front of your car.

There is also advice which is very sensible.

 

Some areas have a definite anti-alcohol feeling to them.

You can't even stop and parking is out of the question.

The sign refers to the birds called kiwi - not the native New Zealanders.

However, some warnings are really useful such as the signs above which were in the Wai-O-Tapu thermal wonderland. But more of that later.

Day 2 - First flights

Barcelona airport is great at any time and is so quiet and clean. A great place to start our air travel.
 

Our flight to Munich crossed the Alps and we were treated to some spectacular views.

In the airport itself there are lots of good quality shops and restaurants with a vast array of great food on display.



We enjoyed lunch in a Thai restaurant.

The flight was delayed by almost 3 hours which wasn't such a bad thing as we had plenty of time to spare for the next connecting flight for the final part of our journey by air.

Day 1 - We're off!

They say that the longest journey begins with a single step. Well ours started with a taxi ride to the station and then a train journey to Barcelona.



From the station we got a taxi to the hotel. We've stayed there before...



...so we were used to the various types of lighting in the room,...



 ...the open-plan layout...

..and of course, the restaurant with it's excellent cuisine.

Then, an early night due to an early wake-up call to catch the shuttle to the airport in the morning.

Los Tres Reyes

Tonight is the night when the 3 Kings or 3 Wise Men give presents to the children.

Everyone assembles for a torchlit procession through the streets of the village behind the 3 Kings who are on a trailer pulled by a tractor. You have to imagine the camels and horses they would have used originally when they visited Bethlehem.

The procession passes the Christmas tree on the way to the Church. The 3 Kings and their pages are finally delivered to the hall next to the bar/restaurant where they hand out the presents to the children.

To see more photos of what happened go to this link, HERE

Christmas Day!

It's Christmas again and what could be better than to have Christmas dinner with friends.

At the heart of the meal is the turkey...

...and to have it carved well the electric carving knife comes in very handy.

Cheers - here's to a great Christmas and 
another wonderful New Year!

Sudoku - another record!

It speaks for itself! 

I always knew Margaret was 100% better!! 

In this case, 100% better than over 3,350 others!!!

Valjunquera - the 5th world fair!

The 5th World Fair...

...at least that's what the tee-shirts say!

Yet another outing for Margaret's embroideries...

...but there's a lot to contend with...

...from all over the world.

Even the music had a South American flavour!

But the Amas de Casa of Torre del Compte were there!