Pixiedustlady Posted Mar 19, 2009, 3:02 pm |
Hi everyone! I am Ladomar the Lion and I just got activated. I am looking to come and visit anyone at anyplace in the world!! the other TVs that live in this house have been telling me all about their travels so now I am ready to go!! Please send my mom a PM if you want to host me!! |
vickyp Posted Mar 31, 2009, 11:52 am |
Hi mom!
I have arrived to Greece! My hosts are so happy to have me and they say we are gonna have a great time together! They send you a big "THANK YOU" for all the things I had with me! So this is me with the rest of the toyvoyagers here! That's Skippy Kangaroo who has been with this family for a couple of months and he is getting ready to travel to his next host, and Kunigunde the little pig that arrived today with me! So I guess it's time to introduce you to the family. Vicky is the mom, she is a computer teacher but apart from computers she loves anything crafty! Aris, the father is a computer programmer and he loves anything that has to do with electronics and music Maria is the 3 years old little girl, she plays all the time with her toys and she is a big fan of Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse. Konstantinos is the baby boy of the family, just 10 months but he is walking!! He loves to play with cars and to destroy everything that comes in his way! LOL I have to help Vicky to cook a typical Greek lunch, so I'll update later today. Take care Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Mar 31, 2009, 5:33 pm |
Hi again,
today we have helped Vicky to prepare lunch. She cooked a typical Greek food, using Greek olive oil of course. So here is what we did to make stuffed zucchini. First she washed them, cut them in two and made holes! Then she prepared the filling using onion, rice, mince, olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and dill After that she stuffed the zucchini with the filling and then in the casserole with water and olive oil So this is the finished food, with a lemon sauce One for each one of us ... so tasty ! |
vickyp Posted Apr 4, 2009, 2:21 pm |
Hi mom! Today the weather is great
take a look at the sky and since it is Saturday we had the chance to go sightseeing with the bike. We went at the park, where we had the chance to lay in the grass, smell the flowers and enjoy the sun The park is next to the marina, so we went to see the yachts and the sailing boats. Oh mom I wish I had one of them to go sailing in the Greek islands! But Vicky says we might go this summer, well if I am still here! Hey! Look what I found at the marina mom! The American flag! On our way back we also saw this small orthodox church. White walls and blue doors is usually the style of churches and houses in the Greek islands. Oh it's been a great day! I'll update soon Hugs and kisses Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Apr 6, 2009, 7:20 pm |
Hi again mom,
on Sunday we visited a small town in the suburbs. There is an artificial dam there and a lake full of ducks. There is also a park close to the dam, where there is a nice playground for the kids and other facilities such as tennis and football courts. well take a look... Take care Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Apr 7, 2009, 8:04 pm |
Hi mom,
this is a quick update just to show you the neighborhood. We had a small walk this afternoon so take a look... A new toy has also arrived, SunnyHH. But we had to say goodbye to Skippy Kangaroo who is packed and ready to go tomorrow! I'll write again soon Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Apr 15, 2009, 8:49 pm |
Hi mom,
today we made some preparations for Easter. As I told you before here in Greece they celebrate easter this Sunday, because they are orthodox Christians. One of many things they do is to dye eggs. They always dye them red, to symbolize the stones they were thrown to Jesus and they were red by his blood. On Easter Sunday they have a very funny custom involving the eggs (no egg hunt) ... you'll see on Sunday!!! So if you are into organic and biological foods here is a traditional natural way to dye red eggs!!! You boil water with skins from dry onions. and there you have it! Red dye! A traditional way to make designs on the eggs is by placing flowers and leaves on the eggs, hold them in place with net fabric and tie the fabric with thread. so here is the result! not bad for a totally natural way don't you think?! Well we also used red dye from the market for others... |
vickyp Posted Apr 15, 2009, 9:10 pm |
We also helped Vicky to prepare "tsoureki". A traditional sweet bread they make for Easter. There is no house in Greece on Easter without "tsoureki".
So here we are preparing the yeast making the dough ... while we were waiting for the dough to raise we went outside in the balcony, it was warm and sunny (always is in Greece) Oh look! The dough is ready! So Vicky made some with "nuttella" inside and some simple Yummy! |
vickyp Posted Apr 15, 2009, 9:58 pm |
All packed and ready to go on a 5 days trip, with mom, dad and the kids!!!!
Tomorrow morning we are going for a 5 days trip to Volos and mount Pelion. Grandmother lives there and we are visiting her for Easter! Pelion is one of the must seen places here in Greece after the islands! We are gonna have internet access so I'll keep my updates coming with some great sightseeing photos!!! Take care! |
vickyp Posted Apr 17, 2009, 8:12 pm |
Greetings from beautiful Volos, we are here for vacation and we love it!
Take a look at the photos! At the park by the sea here are some strange statues.... i think they look like trees... This tree is called "Salt tree" or "almiriki" in Greek because it grows by the sea and it's roots are in the sea! If only it was a bit warmer... I'd love to swim on these clear blue waters! A Greek orthodox church at the city center, in the main square The weather was so nice and since it's Easter, everyone was out drinking coffee, walking and enjoying the day Laying on the daisies |
vickyp Posted Apr 19, 2009, 9:30 pm |
Dear Mom,
Today we visited Afissos! It's a small traditional village at Pilion. Take a look at some photos when we were driving to get there... This is Afissos! Beautiful and traditional little village! This is the village center Take a look at this yard A lemon tree! can you see the lemons?! Here we are laying on the beach! The whole area is full of olive trees! And this is a photo of all of us, at the summer house the family has there! You can see us together with some fish bones and other nautical staff! |
vickyp Posted Apr 29, 2009, 12:22 pm |
Hi there!
Today we welcomed a new toy in the family! Etwas is here! So in order to welcome him we have formed a music band and we went crazy playing all the songs we could think of!!! Here I am playing the xylophone. Then we had some fun playing with the kids toys.... Things have been quite around here lately but .... 1st of May is a day off so there is a loooong weekend ahead of us! So we'll surely update then. Take care mom! Ladomar P.S: I've send you some postcards from mount Pilion and Volos, I hope you get them and enjoy them. |
vickyp Posted May 5, 2009, 10:33 pm |
Today Vicky took us to the city center.
She doesn't like to go there, too many people, too much traffic and it takes an hour to get there from home by bus, with all the bus stops and traffic lights. She says we have to come on a Sunday when everything is calm and we can enjoy the squares, monuments and museums. We'll do that soon. Well for now here are some photos we managed to get while we were there. This is the Aristotelous Square, it is the central square of the town. It is named after the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. This is Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) church. It is one of the oldest Byzantine churches in that city still standing today. Hagia Sophia is part of Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. And here is a photo form one of the open shopping centers |
vickyp Posted May 8, 2009, 8:46 pm |
On Sunday the family that hosts me is christening their little boy.
A custom in Greece is to give to the guests before they enter the church a little cross to put on... it could be a pin...or a bracelet in our case! At the end of the ceremony it is common to give a favor, a little toy, always together with "koufeta". Well "koufeto" is an almond in chocolate and sugar. They always give koufeta here in Greece after a wedding or a christening. So here we are helping Vicky to make all the little bags with "koufeta". I hope one of the extended family member or a good friend will take me to the ceremony on Sunday and get some photos to post, because Vicky wont be able to do it. |
vickyp Posted May 10, 2009, 10:29 pm |
Today was the christening day for the baby boy of the family!
And guess what mom! I was invited! An uncle of the baby was kind enough to take me with him and get some photos, since both the parents couldn't take me with them obviously! Here are some photos of the little church the christening took place, it was in a small village called Trilofos, at the suburbs of Thessaloniki. (translation: "for the poor") For the sacrament of Baptism (Christening) the godparents must bring the following items to the church. 1 small white towel 1 large white towel 1 large white oil sheet 1 set of baptismal undergarments 1 large white candle 1 bottle of olive oil 1 bar of soap 1 baptismal outfit for the child Martirika - Christening witness pins A gold cross and chain A baptismal box So here they are! And this is the baptismal Font where the baby was immersed thrice in the blessed water and pure olive oil was hallowed and administered to the various members of the baby's body. Well it was a nice experience, something different from what I've seen! After the ceremony we went on a party with food and drinks and had a really great time! Oh and the baby was so cute! He really enjoyed it and didn't drop a tear! Love Ladomar |
vickyp Posted May 14, 2009, 9:31 pm |
Today we are watching Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
It's the semi-finals, so here we are supporting the Greek song! I hope we'll make it to the finals on Saturday ... For those who don't know what this is .... The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition. The country that wins the competition will be the host of the contest next year. The Contest has been broadcast every year since 1956 and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world. |
vickyp Posted May 18, 2009, 10:40 am |
Hi mom!
Here I am again, we are usually more active than the last couple of weeks... but don't worry we'll start doing things and visiting places from now on! Here we are at the nearby playground. We took the kids yesterday evening, to play there. And this is a photo of all of us by the window, just to see that we live in a flat with a balcony... |
vickyp Posted May 18, 2009, 10:46 pm |
Here I am again, helping Vicky this time to organize the kids books in the bookshelf.
They have so many and they keep reading them all the time so they are mostly on the floor than in the bookshelf. OK mom, to feel more part of the family here are a couple of photos from some rooms of the house. This is where the baby boy sleeps, in the middle of the universe! And this is a part of the playroom, which is usually a total chaos with toys all around... not that in the photo is nice and tidy but I did my best! |
vickyp Posted May 28, 2009, 7:24 pm |
Hi mom,
can you guess where I am? Have you guessed? I am in a car wash... Today I went to work with dad Aris! First we went to wash the car and then we took some photos at work. He is a computer programmer, he works at the suburbs and here is the view from there. See the small vineyard? There are lot's af them around here. Can you see the sea and the city far away in this photo? That's Thessaloniki. OK, the view is nice, but what he mostly see all day is this ... although he isn't complaining! |
vickyp Posted May 29, 2009, 9:30 pm |
Hi mom,
since I am staying here for some time now I thought it is time to learn greek. And this isn't easy, I am telling you! They even have a different alphabet... So here is a photo of me and my homework, where you can see the alphabet and a note I just learned to write in greek. Translation: Hello from Greece! With love Ladomar (and Ladomar written in greek alpahbet) |
vickyp Posted May 30, 2009, 11:23 am |
Today is Saturday and since my hosts are refurbishing their summer house we had to go to IKEA first thing in the morning.
We had a cup of coffee and a generous breakfast there and we did a lot of shopping. In exactly a month we are off to the summer house for 2 months vacation... so we are getting prepared! I am so excited. |
vickyp Posted May 30, 2009, 8:49 pm |
Ok mom here comes a big update!
My hosts decided that it is time for me to fulfill one of my life missions, the one about the candy! So today we went to a very famous pastry shop here in Thessaloniki that my hosts happen to know the owners! I took so many photos of syrup sweets, ice-creams, cakes, chocolates and candies you could ever imagine! ENJOY MOM! I just hope you are not on a diet if you've seen this!!!! |
vickyp Posted Jun 1, 2009, 9:04 pm |
On Sunday we went to see a basketball game.
Some of the town companies have basketball teams with their employees playing for fun. So we had to go and support host-dad's company team. It was really fun. This is the basketball court entrance. Those who like European basketball they know the team "Aris", and this is their home court This is me at the court, watching the game Look at me! I am hanging from the basket! Then we went at grandmothers house were we had lunch. We took some photos at her balcony. She has many flowers in pots and she even grows tomatoes and strawberries with quite a bit of success I have to say! |
vickyp Posted Jun 7, 2009, 9:30 pm |
Hi mom,
It's a holiday on Monday here in Greece, so we have a long weekend. That's why we went to visit Metamorfosis. It's a small village about 45 minutes driving from Thessaloniki, in the beautiful prefecture of Chalkidiki. Chalkidiki consists of a large peninsula in the northwestern Aegean Sea, resembling a hand with three "fingers" ( though in Greek these peninsulas are often referred to as "legs" ) and there are a lot of summer resorts on the beaches of all three fingers. So here are the photos I took from Metamorfosis. The small village has beautiful beaches and is full of pine woods! Here I am laying in the park at the central aquare of the village. We went at the beach bar for a coffee can you see me on the orange fence?! drinking frappé ... a cold shaken coffee everybody drinks here... and look at the view from here! Then we went down at the beach for swimming! I'll come back with more photos of the place..... |
vickyp Posted Jun 8, 2009, 11:04 am |
We are still at Chalkidiki, at the small village called Metamorfosis.
Here are some more photos of me at the village I love this photo!!!! the stairs are leading at the beach ... at the playground of the village Look! a strange flower! I have no idea what's the name of it! and these stairs lead at the beach as well.... wait for more photos of the place soon.... |
vickyp Posted Jun 8, 2009, 5:57 pm |
Hello again from Metamorfosis.
Because Metamorfosis has the combination of nice beaches and many pine trees there are a lot of student camps here. I took a photo of a public one, where students can go for free. There are also other private ones where the kids have to pay but they have more facilities, from swimming pools to tennis courts and cinema.... but I couldn't get a photo because of the trees. And here is a shop selling things for tourists and I also helped Vicky select a number of postcards! |
vickyp Posted Jun 8, 2009, 9:06 pm |
Here is the main street of the village (not that there are many other streets... lol.. it's very small)
and this is a photo of the restaurant where we had lunch this is the menu (written in perfect English LOL) We drunk ouzo! a traditional Greek anise-flavored spirit. It can be consumed neat or mixed with water. When water or ice is added to ouzo, which is clear in color, it turns milky white just like in the photo. and take a look at what we had for lunch - tzatziki - a Greek dip made of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, salt, olive oil and vinegar - Horiatiki - typical Greek salad, with tomatoes, cucumber, onions, feta cheese, olives and olive oil - mussels saganaki - mussels in white sauce with feta cheese, green peppers, white wine ... delicious! -Grilled octopus- no explanation... you have to taste this! -Fried potatoes- nothing Greek at that LOL -Fried Kalamari- -Fried zucchini- you normally eat them with the tzatziki dip So tasty! |
vickyp Posted Jun 12, 2009, 6:07 am |
Here are some more photos from Metamorfosi. There is a place full of pine woods where you can go for a walk, and there is a playground there.
|
vickyp Posted Jun 13, 2009, 7:20 pm |
I have to share some more photos from Metamorfosi.
There is a monastery close by at the mountain where nuns live. Here is a photo of the monastery at the background and that's a small chapel just outside the monastery After we took the photo above where I am sitting at the door's handle a nun opened and came out!!! But she didn't want to be photographed ... so I was a good lion and didn't get a picture |
vickyp Posted Jun 27, 2009, 12:14 pm |
Hi mom from Greece,
I didn't realize it took me so long to post an update! But the family here say THANK YOU for the box of surprises! The kids went crazy!!!! They have to think really hard now to make a surprise to you! They wish they could send you a box full of the sweets you like so much.... but it's not an option unfortunately... since they must travel for more than a week.... Anyway I have to introduce you to the new tv's that came in the house! It's squirt , Willy W. , Lupus-Tigger and SaruMaru. So today I took them to the artificial lake at the suburbs to feed the ducks. I've been there before but I had to show them around. And here is a great photo of me next to a geese! |
vickyp Posted Jul 4, 2009, 11:32 pm |
Hi mom!
Today I have some exciting news to tell you! I took part to an experimental video, the first movie ever made for toyvoyagers!!!! We were playing snakes and ladders with my friends when the die hit poor little squirt. But we were lucky because the ambulance came in a flash so we hit the road! Enjoy mom! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2k5FPvs0EA |
vickyp Posted Jul 6, 2009, 8:24 pm |
Hi mom,
this weekend we went back at the beach at the beautiful prefecture of Chalkidiki. We stayed at their summer residence in the village of Metamorfosis, which has mainly summer residences but luckily it's not crowded. Here I am with my friends just playing at the sand Hey mom! Look can you recognize the mickey swim ring you send all the way from USA to the kids ?! Well here we are enjoying it! Thanks so much! My hosts just bought a new AquaGlide for the kids and they love it! It converts easily from sailboat to windsurfer, towable or even kayak. So the kids will be able to learn easily all these sports! SO MUCH FUN! Here we are by the box and can you see it in the sea?! And this is me sailing! I am enjoying myself a lot here mom and I thing I got a suntan already! |
vickyp Posted Jul 8, 2009, 10:05 pm |
Hey, my hosts just realized that although I have done so many things and seen so many places since I've been here.... they haven't show you the most important places of the city they live in!
Thessaloniki is a town build by the sea, and a great way to spend your evening is to go for a walk at the sea shore. Take a look mom! This is the Concert Hall And here is the seaside! This is the favorite place of all the people that live here, for biking, jogging or just walking. In the photos it's not crowded cause we went there quite early in the evening to get some nice photos... but you should see how many people appeared at sunset!!!! There were also some happenings going on, here is a band playing some cheesy songs (!) and here is a trio playing music (I enjoyed it more than the band LOL) It was a nice evening but keep in mind that here it's too hot! Even for a lion like me! Can't wait to go on vacation ... soon |
vickyp Posted Jul 25, 2009, 7:44 pm |
Hi mom,
I am not writing to you so often because we are on holiday. We have internet access for emails and staff but it's too slow to upload photos. Well, anyway I am having a great time here in Chalkidiki! Great beaches, always sunny and very very very hot (actually today we had a heat wave). But we are swimming all day so we don't really care! So here are some views of the village we live in.... a typical door with flowers on top of a tractor we found on one of our walks at the country overlooking the village church on top of the watermelons ( I love them) with my friends sitting in a gazebo enjoying the view to the sea and the sunset! |
vickyp Posted Jul 28, 2009, 12:25 pm |
Hey all!
I have great news to tell you mom! I am on twitter!!!! Oh I am so excited about it. I'll keep updating with my regular posts with details and photos here but you can read what I am doing through out the day there as well! Well this is going to be an experiment, with updates from Vicky's mobile... so we'll see how it's going.... Follow me on twitter here And here is a photo of me in front of a Greek map. The hand shows you where exactly I am! and a photo I took yesterday showing another view of the village Last night I had so much fun! A traditional "Shadow Theater" with a play for kids was here, and we had to go! Take a look! and here I am with my new friend Mandy enjoying the show! Mandy says she had a great time with you mom and I was so happy to meet her, bringing all the news from you! Anyway you'll hear from us again soon Love Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Jul 30, 2009, 12:33 pm |
Hot hot hot! Greece is so hot these days!
But who cares?! we are swimming all day! Yesterday we visited a nearby beach. Take a look at some photos we took on our way there! and these are photos at the beach and here I am with Mandy Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Aug 9, 2009, 10:01 pm |
Hi mom,
You know that we are on vacation at Chalkidiki. So a couple of days ago we visited Nikiti, another small village full of summer residences and great beaches. Enjoy the photos! Here I am at a yard with the typical Greek/Mediterranean "tent" made of grape vines! You can see the grapes hanging! Here I am at a tourist shop selling sea shells, wind chimes and many more.... One of the many beach bars along the coastline Playing beach volley Relaxing at the garden with Mandy and enjoying the sunset Looking at the sunset form the lifeguards post Walking at the village late evening and the restaurant we had dinner right on the beach! Well, I hope you enjoyed, more photos coming soon Lots of love Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Aug 24, 2009, 8:13 pm |
Hi mom,
here are some more photos of me and Mandy at Nikiti village, a day we went at the flea market. |
vickyp Posted Aug 24, 2009, 8:54 pm |
Since I have been on vacation for so long ..... think about it.... was there any chance I could stay away from water???
I hope you don't mind that I got all wet but we had to use that underwater camera! So I am swimming ..... and I am diving..... With lot's of love Ladomar |
vickyp Posted Sep 9, 2009, 7:46 pm |
Hi mom,
we are back at Thessaloniki, vacations are over but we didn't do anything special the last days However today we went with Vicky to school. She is a computer teacher at public high schools. This year she works in a high school at Poligiros a town about 1 hour drive from Thessaloniki. The schools are not open yet, the 11th of September is the first day for students and the end of their 2,5 months of summer vacation! So take a look how a computer lab and the school yard look like in Greek public schools. |
vickyp Posted Oct 29, 2009, 2:57 pm |
Yesterday was the 28th of October and it's a national holiday in Greece. Actually on the 28th of October 1940 Greece rejected Italy's ultimatum and Italy invaded Greece through Albania, marking Greece's entry into World War II. Then the Germans came with the known consequences.
So it's a day to remember all the heros that fought back then for our freedom, and we celebrate it with a huge parade! It was sunny and wuite warm so everybody was there! The army, navy, airforce, policemen, doctors and nurses, fire departmnets, students everybody parades! Enjoy ! |
vickyp Posted Dec 17, 2009, 9:24 pm |
and so I am back.... making Christmas preparations!
So here I am on top of the fireplace with the kids advent calendar full of little treats. TRADITIONS: This week we prepare all the traditional sweets (update on that is coming). Kids knock on doors and sing christmas carols on Christmas Eve and families give them treats. It's tradition to exchange gifts on Christmas Day and have a family dinner... stuffed turkey that is. Did you know that Santa Claus comes to Greece the night of new years eve? So kids find their presents on January the 1st! this is the tree and meet another dear friend of mine.... Rudolf ! LOL |
vickyp Posted Dec 17, 2009, 10:32 pm |
I'll show you one traditional Christmas sweet. There is absolutely no house without "melomakarona" this time of year!
So here we go: we used flour and cinnamon, sugar, olive oil with brandy and freshly grated orange peel... zest i think you call it... So we made this dough which we used to make these round cookies you can make them with or without a filling.... so some of them had crashed walnuts, cinnamon and sugar inside them! BUT the special thing about them is on the syrup which is made with water, sugar and honey! so when they were baked all we had to do was put the syrup all over them and let them absorb it! And here they are!!! They taste great ... i wish I could send you some! More "traditional" updates will keep coming up! |
vickyp Posted Jan 18, 2010, 12:56 pm |
Hi mom,
it's me again! I have some photos I took from New Years Eve that I want to show you! It is custom here that on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve kids say the carols with a triangle. Take a look... it sounds funny Another custom is that on the 1st day of the new year we eat "vasilopita". This is actually a cake BUT we cut it in as many pieces as the people of the family (including mom, dad, kids, grandparents). In this cake there is one dime covered in aluminium foil and baked with the mixture! So who is the lucky one who finds the dime on his cake piece?! He will be very lucky for the whole year!!! So here we are baking Vasilopita and this is how it looks like after we decorated it! We also made some traditional sweets called "kadaifi". They are filled with nuts... this is before baking them and after they are baked we've put the syrup. They are so yummy! I can't find a photo of me with the kadaifi baked... lol maybe because we ate them all as soon as they were ready! But here is a photo of how it looks like: |
Pixiedustlady Posted Mar 11, 2010, 2:10 pm |
User named quivive has me and has been told to please send me home. So far I am stuck and want to go back home to my owner!!! |
Pixiedustlady Posted Mar 23, 2010, 4:25 pm |
I am finally HOME!!!!!!!!! My mom was sooo happy to see me in the mail!!! Thank god the mailman saved me as the thin envelope I was put in ripped and I almost fell out!! Mom says I will be staying home for a few months. I tell her all about Greece and what a fantastic time I had!!! I want to go visit my Greek friends again someday!!! |