http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/TravelQueen/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from TravelQueen en-us Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:20:34 +0000 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:20:34 +0000 New York New YorkWhat didnrsquot we see in New York Well a celebrity so that was my only disappointment. But we did see a guy who could have been...OMG he was my highlight so funny see the pics We stayed in a great location and our hotel room was better than we were expecting. We stayed at Hotel Pennsylvania mainly because it was across the road from Penn train station and we wer http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-400438.html Our second week in The States New EnglandWe left Wilmington Pennsylvania on a Shinkansenlike fast train and arrived about 5 hours later at Providence Rhode Island. We were greeted by Mario's friend John who was once studying for a few weeks at Taishoen bonsai nursery in Japan quite a few years ago.The next day we went to New England Bonsai Garden in Massachusetts and Mario was back to wor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Rhode-Island/blog-400313.html Lucky the weather held out for us when we visited Longwood Gardens however almost half our time there we spent indoors in the conservatories as they were so massive. We were also fortunate to be able to visit the gardens in spring as the gardens were just filled with colour especially from the tens of thousands of tulips I know gardens may not be so beautiful in photos but try to imagine E http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/blog-400289.html Mario and I took a direct flight from Madrid to Philadelphia and didn't have too much fuss getting into the country. In fact we had more trouble even before check in at Madrid as they didn't realise that Mario had already received his American visa which was in his passport.We were cheerfully greeted by Roy our driver and were shocked when he rolled up in a massive white limousine He took us t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/blog-400258.html Mario and I went camping for two nights on the Fleurieu Peninsula. One Sunday we went with mum dad and Pete to the Gorge Wildlife Park and then to Uncle Con's for lunch and checked out his huge property.Check out the pics http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/South-Australia/blog-400247.html Mario and I spent one month in Adelaide before we moved to Spain.It was his first time there We went to Victor Harbor camping Glenelg and rode bicycles home after a great night out http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/South-Australia/blog-377061.html A short flight from Alicante to London and I was in freezing London being greeted by Josie and a delicious dinner cooked by Matt I spent just over a week there checking out all the Christmas lights walking around the city and spending time with my cousins I had a great time and enjoyed being understood by everyone...except for one funny event haha x2193As Mario's and my Spanish is still v http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-355253.html On the weekend Mario and I went to our favourite place the Izu Peninsula for his birthday and our last trip away before we leave Japan.In Kawazu there is a different type of cherry blossom that flowers much earlier than the others so we made a stop there catching our last glimpse of the beautiful flowers before we leave Japan.We stayed near Shirahama beach at a very nice Japanese ryokan the http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Shizuoka/Izu/blog-256170.html Braving the Cold My WalkMario was sick for about 5 days so we stayed in a lot that was fine by me as the heating was great outside was mostly dull and it was totally dark by 430pm. However one of those days was beautiful and clear so I went for a walk outside took my camera and... have a look Snowflakes Miracles of BeautyI have experienced a bit of snow in Victoria Australia when I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Poland/Silesian/Czestochowa/blog-365794.html Mario and I somehow spent almost 24 hours getting to Poland even though our actual flight was only 2 and a half hours Three busses one plane and one car ride later we arrived at Mario's parents house The main Christmas celebration in Poland is on Christmas eve and usually involves a feast of 12 dishes. Even though I think the drinks were included in the 12 dishes I was full halfway through http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Poland/Silesian/Czestochowa/blog-361227.html Ensalada mixta in Spain is a mixed salad usually consisting of lettuce tomato tuna sweetcorn egg olives grated carrot and white asparagus just in case you wanted to know Anyway this blog is just some mixed photos from November and December in Spain...and an ensalada mixta http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/blog-362952.html 01012009 Oscypki and the Broken ShoeWe had a quiet new years eve so we could be up early on New Yearrsquos Day to drive to Zakopane in the Polish Tatra mountain area. Note to self if you want to drive anywhere without traffic do it on the morning of the first day of the yearBarely a sole on the road made our drive very easy on the way up coming back was a different storyhellipThe clo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Poland/Lesser-Poland/Zakopane/blog-359734.html In October Mario and I drove to Madrid for the Alcobendas Bonsai Exhibition. One week a month Mario works here at the Alcobendas bonsai museum. We were also lucky enough to catch Danielle and Josh during their Eurotrip http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-351006.html Our second visitor Amira came to stay with us in Alicante Always great to see friends from back home we had a great few days and I enjoyed hearing about all of her contiki gossip. Wish she only stayed longer http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Alicante/blog-343993.html Danielle came to visit us in Alicante for 3 fantastic days and she was our first guest in our new apartment Danielle is currently living in London and recently went on a holiday to Poland so was exciting to hear about that We spent a lot of time in the sun a little too much for Danielle and her poor red tummy. We hung at our local beach people watched and enjoyed the shopping coming to us http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Alicante/blog-343980.html Our apartment and new area Los Arenales del Sol Moving from Japan to Spain was quite a shock and a little difficult. Barely anything about one another can be compared. Ok maybe that both countries donrsquot speak English. Spain is an extremely relaxed country something we are totally not use to. Everything in Spain takes ten times as long and they donrsquot seem to mind Summer time http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Alicante/blog-337344.html Just some random photos from Alicante and when we went to the F1 Grand Prix in ValenciaAlso some random information... Did you know that Chupa Chups are SpanishChupa Chups is a Spanish lollipop company founded by Barcelona native employer Enric Bernat in 1958. The name comes from the Spanish verb chupar meaning to suck. Chupa Chups were also originally called just Chups and the plastic sti http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Alicante/blog-329355.html Jerez to AlicanteWhen we left Poland we flew to Girona then caught the bus to Barcelona airport then flew to Jerez. When we were in Jerez last we bought a car and so now had to go back to pick it up thinking now that we had all the correct paperwork but we still didnrsquot itrsquos a long story but just another problem in our move here. Anyway finally we got the car with help from http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/blog-327847.html Mario and I had to fly to Poland in a bit of a hurray as the immigration office rang and wanted interviews with both of us in order to get my Polish visa so I can stay in Europe. So we went and we had the interviews separately and I had to get a translator. The guy at the office asked questions like where did we meet how did Mario propose and what did he give me names of his family members http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Poland/blog-327841.html Alicante Fire FestivalWe have not ventured into the city too many times at night as even not during a festival it is packed and difficult to park Alicante is quite a touristy city it almost feels like we are on a permanent holiday On the main strip there are lots of little stalls selling handmade knickknacks cheap clothes and also lots of black men with copy everything bags sunglasses http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Alicante/blog-302825.html