Roberto, Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Nicoley


Posted Mar 5, 2008, 2:38 am
I am sitting at home and am wondering where I will go! My mommy tells me she will try and find me hosts, because she doesn't want me lost in the world.  :rolleyes:
Mommy said before i am shipped off to the land down under she wants to take me to play and get a journal. I would like if my hosts would hlep me write in it, because my hands are so small and won't be able to hold a pen or pencil. :)
My mommy wants me to add that if I get any souvenirs you should send them to her (address in my journal) so that my package doesn't get too heavy!

My destinations:
1. gingermuggins -- Australia
2. Eryah -- Netherlands
3.
4.
5.
Nicoley


Posted Mar 7, 2008, 12:39 am
Today Mommy and I went to run errands! As soon as i left the house I met Gloria our door greeter. She told me she likes being outside and wishes Mommy's mum wouldn't switch her out so often. She tells me there are different greeters for ever season and/or holiday! Then we went to check the mail! Dang mommy gets a lot of junk mail! Colleges are already bgging her even though she doesn't graduate for another whole year! Mommy showed me the car and I asked if I could drive. She said YES! Turns out i take my corners a little to fast. Afterwards we went to sonic and got a sonic blast with oreo cookies! It was gooood! After we went to the library to drop her due books off, and to Walgreen's o get her medicine! We were supposed to go to the park and then to the post office, but mommy wasn't feeling to well. She tells me i will be mailed this Friday to Australia.
gingermuggins


Posted Mar 25, 2008, 1:12 am
Hello Mommy :D

I have arrived in the land down under. I got here a little too late for my host to collect me from the post office and had to stay the weekend in a dark tiny box but don't worry i wasn't lonely. Leo Lion who is from Australia was waiting in the post box too. We had lots to talk about. He has visited USA and had lots of stories to tell.
Today our host came to rescue us along with Bloem who is from Holland, and apologised for the delay but it wasn't her fault. There was a long weekend here for the Easter break which meant Friday and Monday were holidays for people who work including the postman!


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/robbox.jpg

I'm now going to explore the home i am staying in and will write again soon.
Hugs and kisses
xx Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Mar 25, 2008, 10:03 am
Hi :)

I had a busy day today. After i was rescued from the post box i was feeling very hungry. Sam, my host, told me we would need to go shopping for food. It was lots of fun shopping. The other tv's and me had our own shopping cart and we filled it with yummy food.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/shop.jpg

When we got to Sam's home after our shopping expidition, i wanted to look around outside before eating but it was raining. Miss 6 quickly gave me a tour around the yard under her umbrella

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/rainy.jpg

We then had a little picnic. We couldn't have it outside because of the rain. Sam's children dressed us up. It was hard to find clothes for a little boy teddy bear like myself, everything was pink with lace! I finally found a nice warm jacket. We met another soon to be toyvoyager named Pirate. He seems really nice, but very quiet, i am told he is old.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/picnic.jpg

I think we ate too much. We had to have a bear nap!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/snooz.jpg

When we woke we could hear someone singing in the garden. It had stopped raining so we ran outside to investigate. It was Fifi Flowertot who has just registered to become a toyvoyager. She loves to do the gardening and sing to all the plants and flowers in Sam's garden. She was picking tomatoes but was happy to have a photo taken with us all.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/group.jpg

Fifi showed us some native Australian flowers called Protea's and Banksia's. They don;t really smell but they are very pretty and big.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/robflow.jpg

It is late night here now. The children have gone to bed and now it's time for me to close my eyes and dream of the fun times i have had today.

I miss you mommy
Big hugs

xx Roberto xx

gingermuggins


Posted Mar 26, 2008, 12:02 am
Hello!

You wouldn't believe after all the fun i had yesterday and all the photos Sam uploaded for me, I forgot to tell you that the Easter bunny left me a gift even though i wasn't here Sunday morning. I received a chocolate koala and some other chocolates that have pictures of a Kangaroo, koala and Bilby on them. I am going to stick the wrappers in my note book. I am soooo lucky and can't wait to eat the yummy chocolate i have.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/robkoala.jpg

More photo's soon.
Hugs to you mommy
xx Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Mar 27, 2008, 4:35 am
Hello :D

We have had a couple of quiet days. The weather has been awfully cold and wet.
Today i ate a Lamington. It's like a small sponge cake, coated in melted chocolate and rolled in desicated coconut.


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/lamington.jpg

Sometimes they can have a strawberry flavour to them. Some people say it's a traditional Australian cake. I had a chocolate tasting lamington and it was yummy!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/lam3.jpg

Hugs
xx Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Apr 2, 2008, 1:46 am
Hello Mommy :)

Today we had a new toyvoyager arrive, ducky-duck and also an adpoted toyvoyager who my host has named Eliza. We sat around and chatted for awhile.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/newtv.jpg

The weather is still horrible. Very wet and windy. I dream of sunshine and blue skies all the time.

Big hugs to you
xx Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Apr 5, 2008, 4:06 am
Hi :D

We are still having very stormy weather here. Lots of rain and wind. Trees have fallen down, branches blown all over the property. The last few days have been spent clearing up outside and helping neighbours too.

I'm not sure if you can see the trees blowing in this picture. The wind was very strong and if Sam wasn't holding me tightly i would have flew away!!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/today4.jpg

For most of the day the power was out because of trees falling on the power lines around the area. We played card games, read a book about australian animals and bush life, then when we were feeling cold and sleepy we settled back in bed and watched a movie on the portable dvd player, luckily it is run by batteries and not power from the house.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/today.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/today1.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/today2.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/today7.jpg

I'll speak to you again soon.
Hugs
xx Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Apr 6, 2008, 12:40 pm
Hello!

You wouldn't believe how quick the weather changes around here. Today was a beautiful sunny day. Blue skies, white fluffy clouds, sunshine all around, very different from the last week! Just when we thought it was a great day we saw something that wasn't too great. Lots of thick, black smoke rising from the forest. Yes, it was a fire! We thought maybe it was started on purpose but after some investigating (lots of phone calls), Sam found out it was a controlled burn by the forestry people. They were cleaning up fallen trees and branches after last weeks windy weather. Phew, our minds were put at ease, it wasn't too far from Sam's home!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/fire2.jpg
gingermuggins


Posted Apr 13, 2008, 4:38 am
Hi :D

Today we said goodbye to Leo Lion and Bloem. We wish them safe travels and are eager to read their future updates.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/b3.jpg

Then when Sam came back from the post office she brought with her 2 new toyvoyagers. Sunshine and Rex.
We had a group photo with them
!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/group1.jpg

I hope we are going to have some fun adventures with them!

Hugs
Roberto xx

gingermuggins


Posted Apr 13, 2008, 11:50 am
Surprise!

Tonight we went to Sam's neighbours for dinner, that wasnt the exciting part, we saw........Kangaroos!!! Yes, in the wild, well in the neighbours back yard. These roos live in the wild but every night they come to have a nibble on some wheat they neighbours leave out on the grass for them. It was exciting to get close to these animals. We had to be really quiet and stand very still. Sam took lots of photos, some were blurry and some were really good, i think she was as excited as we were!

This is the 1st attempt of getting a photo with a kangaroo.


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/k4.jpg

This one is where we got closer but it's blurry. It was soo much better then the photo shows!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/k5.jpg

Hugs
Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 4:04 am
Hello :)

Today we drove to Hamilton, about an hour and a half from Sam's home.
The view on the way there was beautiful. Lots of green and brown paddocks, hills, blue skies
!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h10.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h11.jpg

When we arrived at Hamilton, we went to visit Sam's husband in hospital.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h8.jpg

We had fun exploring the different things in the room. We even got to have a little sleep on the bed!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h9.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h4.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h2.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h1.jpg

We then went to the arts centre to see what performances where showing. Unfortunately nothing was on at the time we were there.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/h6.jpg

Love and Miss you
xx Roberto xx
gingermuggins


Posted Apr 23, 2008, 11:19 am
Hi!

Today Sam's daughter had a playdate at her friends house so we got to have a playdate at the play park! But 1st we took a couple of tourist photos.
This is me sitting on an emu statue in front of the information centre in Casterton.


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a7.jpg

This is the post office where us TV's arrive and depart from.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a12.jpg

This is me in a gum tree with the Glenelg River behind me. Not much water in the river at the moment, there hasn't been much rain at all this year.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a4.jpg

Then it was time to PLAY!! Having a swing with friends is much more fun then doing it on your own.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a15.jpg

Slip Sliding around was fun too but each time we slid down the slide Sam was too slow in getting a photo, hehe.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a14.jpg

Behind us is the play equipment, it looks like a big long train!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a16.jpg

We then has a leaf fight, throwing leaves at each other was lots of fun and we laughed alot!

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/sami_jae/toyvoys/a21.jpg

I had a fun day today, now i'm really sleepy.
xx Roberto xx

gingermuggins


Posted May 13, 2008, 1:51 am
Hello Mom

I am at the post office now waiting to leave Australia. I enjoyed my stay with Sam and her family. I am anxious to see more of the world so i am off to The Netherlands.

I have tried my best to contact you with the help of Sam and Isobel. Together, they decided i should continue my journey and as Eryah was 2nd on my travel list, it is her i am going to visit. Please know I will be safe and happy with Eryah. If you do visit the TV site please message me. I miss you alot.

xx Roberto xx
Eryah


Posted May 22, 2008, 5:03 pm
Hello!

I just arrived in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.

Pictures comes soon :)

Hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted May 22, 2008, 5:36 pm
Hello!

The moment i arrived i heard several voices talking about me. Everybody was very curious who i might be and what kind of animal.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/roberto001.jpg

They all sound so nice, that i wasn't scared to come out of the envelope at all!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/roberto002.jpg

This are from the left to the right:
Margarida, Davy, Lumi (that's the little bear sitting in front of Davy), Count and Ambrosius.

I think i'm gonna have a great time here!

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted May 24, 2008, 11:57 am
Hello!

Today we asked Eva to tell us everything she know about Alkmaar and the Netherlands. She told us some funny stories!

Alkmaar is above all Holland's cheese town. During the season from the first Friday of April to the first Friday of September a traditional cheese market is being held here on Friday mornings between 10 and 12.30. The cheeses are sold by dealers on a clap of hands. Thereupon the 400 year old cheese porters' guild goes into action, carrying the cheese off on barrows after the lot has been weighed at the Waag (the official scales). In the Waaggebouw - in which the scales are housed - a cheese museum that tells everything about dairy farming has been established.
Cheese has been weighed in Alkmaar since 1635.

Alkmaar is historical with around 400 monuments. The Waag, dating back in its earliest form to the 14th century, the 16th century town-hall, Grote St. Laurens Church and the many courtyards, facades and canals give the town an ambience all of its own. With the past as a setting, the town has a modern stock of shops offering a wide choice. Besides the predominantly small shops in the old centre, the Noorder Arcade with large scale shopping facilities stands by the side of the Noord Holland Canal.

Alkmaar is the biggest town in the region. Relaxation can also be found in the Geestmerambacht recreational area close by.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alkmaarennederland001.jpg

The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland]) is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy, located in Western Europe. It is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.

The Netherlands is often called Holland. This is formally incorrect as North and South Holland in the western Netherlands are only two of the country's twelve provinces. As a matter of fact, many Dutch people colloquially use Holland as a synecdoche, being well aware of the widespread use of this name. For more on this and other naming issues see terminology of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying and densely populated country. It is popularly known for its traditional windmills, tulips, cheese, clogs (wooden shoes), delftware and gouda pottery, for its bicycles, its dikes and surge barriers, and, on the other hand, traditional values and civil virtues such as its classic social tolerance. But primarily, the Netherlands is a modern, advanced and open society. An old parliamentary democracy, the country is more recently known for its rather liberal policies toward recreational drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, abortion, and euthanasia. The Netherlands is also one of the most densely cabled countries in the world; its internet connection rate is 87.8%, the 2nd highest in the world.

The Netherlands has an international outlook; among other affiliations the country is a founding member of the European Union (EU), NATO, the OECD, and has signed the Kyoto protocol. Along with Belgium and Luxembourg, the Netherlands is one of three member nations of the Benelux economic union. The country is host to five international(ised) courts: the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. All of these courts (except the Special Tribunal for Lebanon), as well as the EU's criminal intelligence agency (Europol), are situated in The Hague, which has led to the city being referred to as "the world's legal capital."

A remarkable aspect of the Netherlands is its flatness. Hilly landscapes can be found only in the south-eastern tip of the country on the foothills of the Ardennes, the central part and where the glaciers pushed up several hilly ridges such as the Hondsrug in Drenthe, the stuwwallen (push moraines) near Arnhem and Nijmegen, Salland, Twente and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug.



Religion
Main article: Religion in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the more secular countries in the Western Europe, with only 39% being religiously affiliated (31% for those aged under 35), although 62% are believers (but 40% of those not in the traditional sense). Fewer than 20% visit church regularly .

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 34% of Dutch citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 37% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 27% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

In 1950, before the secularisation of Europe, and the large settlement of non-Europeans in the Netherlands, most Dutch citizens identified themselves as Christians. In 1950, out of a total population of almost 13 million, a total of 7,261,000 belonged to Protestant denominations, 3,703,000 belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, and 1,641,000 had no acknowledged religion.

However, Christian schools are still funded by the government, but the same applies for schools founded on other religions, nowadays Islam in particular. While all schools must meet strict quality criteria, from 1917 the freedom of schools is a basic principle in The Netherlands.

Three political parties in the Dutch parliament (CDA, ChristianUnion and SGP) base their policy on the Christian belief system.


Culture
Erasmus (1466–1536).The Netherlands has had many well-known painters. The 17th century, when the Dutch republic was prosperous, was the age of the "Dutch Masters", such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruysdael and many others. Famous Dutch painters of the 19th and 20th century were Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan. M. C. Escher is a well-known graphics artist. Willem de Kooning was born and trained in Rotterdam, although he is considered to have reached acclaim as an American artist. Han van Meegeren was an infamous Dutch art forger.

The Netherlands is the country of philosophers Erasmus of Rotterdam and Spinoza. All of Descartes' major work was done in the Netherlands. The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) discovered Saturn's moon Titan and invented the pendulum clock. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe and describe single-celled organisms with a microscope.

In the Dutch Golden Age, literature flourished as well, with Joost van den Vondel and P.C. Hooft as the two most famous writers. In the 19th century, Multatuli wrote about the bad treatment of the natives in Dutch colonies. Important 20th century authors include Harry Mulisch, Jan Wolkers, Simon Vestdijk, Cees Nooteboom, Gerard (van het) Reve and Willem Frederik Hermans. Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl was published after she died in The Holocaust and translated from Dutch to all major languages.

Replicas of Dutch buildings can be found in Huis ten Bosch, Nagasaki, Japan. A similar Holland Village is being built in Shenyang, China.

Windmills, tulips, wooden shoes, cheese and Delftware pottery are among the items associated with the Netherlands.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alkmaarennederland002.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted May 25, 2008, 4:37 pm
Hello!

Today was such a rainy day that we all get very bored. We watched the rain outside the window.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fantasie004.jpg

Before we all get depressed we decided to take a good look in Eva her house. You never know what you can find...

Margarida, Count and I found some gnomes and asked them what we can do here....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fantasie005.jpg

Lumi found a very strange creature. He asked her the same after she gave him a very wet kiss with her strange lips...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fantasie006.jpg

Ambrosius asked it too to a very beautifull but mysterious girl...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fantasie007.jpg


They all pointed to a closet full of books. We had no idea what they mean with that but we decided to take a look in the closet. We found some very old books. Eva told us she get this books from her father. You can't buy them in the shop anymore. Even the pages in the books felt old.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fantasie008.jpg


We read the books and they were so great! Appie has a lot of adventures with his friends. Before we know we were in a other world: the world of Appie.
Time really flies when you read and especially when you read about adventures.

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted May 27, 2008, 7:34 pm
Hello!

Today we went to Heiloo. Eva her ex husband lives there.

First we found a beautifull car and you can imagine i have to drive in it.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping004.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping007.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping008.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping009.jpg


Suddenly a woman called us she have to show us something.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping018.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Camping022.jpg

Look how sweet!

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted May 29, 2008, 2:46 pm
Hello!

Today it was time to say goodbye to Davy. Tomorrow he is going to his next host. He is very emotional at the moment, so that's why he decided to do it today.
I'm gonna miss him a lot! Allthought we just met, we became good friends. Hopefully i see him again in our journey!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/afscheidDavy004.jpg
Goodbye sweet Davy and i wish you a lot of fun!

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted May 31, 2008, 5:16 pm
Hello!

Today the mail man brought a magazine called Yes. It's a magazine for girls and we were all very curious what they write in it.
Suddenly we saw Eva in it! We called her and she explained us that she had an interview a couple weeks ago about her divorce. Now we understand why Eva is sitting in a white dress next to a boy on the picture in the magazine.
She also told us she was pregnant on that picture. Good to know because we thought she had a big belly because she is addicted to the Mac Donalds.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Yes002.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 1, 2008, 7:02 pm
Hello!

Today we watched a practice game football between the Netherlands and Wales. It was for the Europian Championchips. It was very exciting and the Netherland won the game with 2-0.
To support the dutch team we wear orange stuff just like the other supporters.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kroket004.jpg

Eva made us a dutch snack to eat while we were watching the game. It were kroketten, aardappelkrokektjes and a kaassoufle. It was very delicious!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kroket006.jpg

We really wanna know some dutch words. so Eva tought us some.

Hello= Hallo
Bye= Doeg or Doei
Hugs= Knuffel
I love you= Ik hou van jou
Sweet= Lief
Food= Eten
How are you= Hoe gaat het met je
What's your name= Hoe heet je
Stuffed animal= Knuffel
Thanks= Bedankt
Monkey= Aap

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 2, 2008, 5:01 pm
Hello!

It's very hot here today.
Look at this picture and you know what i mean.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin001.jpg

When it's hot like this in the Netherlands it's very muggy. I sweat my pants off today, and i don't even wear pants...

We want to find something cool here. In the garden we found a cage that is standing in the shadow.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin007.jpg

Suddenly a big rabbit came to me and ask me what i was doing in his cage. First i was a little bit afraid of him, but he told me that it wasn't necessary to be scared. When i told him about the hot weather he said i was welcome in his house. Pfieuw!!!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin002.jpg

Later this afternoon i saw Eva lives by the water. Water= refreshment so i decided to take a look there. It was so cool because a bird was swimming there with her children.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin010.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin013.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin018.jpg


Dharma also take a look by the water. He's a 4 moths old puppy who lives here.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin017.jpg

Because of the heat i was getting tired and i heard there is someone in this house who sleeps all day long. I find her and now we are gonna sleep together. Sleep well Isis...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/tuin021.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 4, 2008, 9:10 pm
Hello!

Today we went with Eva her mom to Callantsoog.
Callantsoog is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zijpe, and lies about 13 km south of Den Helder. Until 1990, Callantsoog was a municipality; its area is now part of the municipalities of Zijpe, Den Helder, and Anna Paulowna.

Callantsoog has the oldest official nude beach of the country, dating from 1973. It is a sandy beach 1.5 km to the south.

Callantsoog was a separate municipality until 1990, when it was merged with Zijpe.

In 2001, the town of Callantsoog had 1956 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 0.58 km², and contained 899 residences. The wider statistical area "Callantsoog" has a population of around 2580. This includes also the village of Groote Keeten and the hamlet of Abbestede north of Callantsoog itself. You can imagine it isn't a big town.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/callantsoog002.jpg
Here we are sitting on the car and watch the dunes. You can also see them behind us.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/callantsoog005.jpg
The dunes.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/callantsoog001.jpg
On our way back we saw this dutch mill! On our righthand you see the dunes again. On out left hand we had the Noordholland Kanaal.
The Groot Noordhollandsch Kanaal (Great North-Holland Canal), now known simply as Noordhollandsch Kanaal, is a canal in the Dutch province of North-Holland. The canal stretches about 75 kilometres, from Den Helder in the north to Amsterdam in the south, passing the cities of Alkmaar and Purmerend.

The Noordhollandsch Kanaal was dug in the 1820s to shorten the sea route to Amsterdam. Also, the city's harbour was becoming inaccessible to sea-faring ships due to the increasing number of shoals and shallows in the Zuiderzee.

Construction of the canal was begun in 1820 and completed in 1824. It was part of King Willem I's efforts to revitalize the country's once-flourishing trade and industry. The canal connected a number of existing waterways, including various canals and the small Rekere river. At either end of the canal, sluice gates were built: the Willem I-sluis at the Amsterdam end and the Koopvaardersschutsluis at the Den Helder end.

The canal soon proved inadequate due the growing size of ships, the many bridges and sluice gates and the many curves and turns in the canal. Also, the canal froze in winter. It was therefore decided to dig a new canal, the Noordzeekanaal, between Amsterdam and IJmuiden. Completed in 1876, it made the Noordhollandsch Kanaal largely obsolete. Though still used for commercial shipping, the Noordhollandsch Kanaal's main functions today are recreation and water management.

A unique element of the canal are the floating bridges, so-called vlotbruggen ("raft bridges"). These bridges were constructed because engineers in the 1820s were not able to build bridges long enough to span the canal. The bridges opened by sliding the floating middle sections underneath the fixed end sections.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/250px-NHkanaalRekerdijk.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/250px-FloatingBridgeKoedijk.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 7, 2008, 1:31 pm
Hello!

A new tv arrived today!
We were wondering wo could be in that envelope.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fietsen001-1.jpg

We told the TV in the envelope he could come out because it's fun here!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fietsen002-1.jpg

This is Summy
I think we gonna be great friends!


Hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 7, 2008, 1:39 pm
Hello!

I ride on a bike today! It was scary! But i also love to do it! Fortunate for me the bike has wheels on the frame. So i kept well in balance.
Look at me mum!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/fietsen006-1.jpg


When i'm home a want a bike for myself. You feel the wind and you can go fast if you want. I notice that in Holland they do not wear helmets for their safety. Everybody here rides on a bike and the people learn it to there children almost before they can walk. I looked my eyes out.

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 9, 2008, 4:10 pm
Hello!

Today we saw such a beautifull insect. Eva never saw such thing before here in the Netherlands, so she made a picture of it. Off course i wanna share it with you mommy.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/insect.jpg

Because of the sunlight his wings look gold. Eva searched on the internet and we found out that you call this a Libel in dutch.

Hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 9, 2008, 4:35 pm
Hello!

Every evening Eva read us a bedtime story.
I really wanna share this story with you because i'm a little bit flabbergasted they call this a story for children...

Egg drop

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop002.jpg

Egg was young.
He didn't know that much.
We try to tell him,
but he wouldn't listen.

If he only had whaited.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop003.jpg

This is a story about the egg that wants to fly.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop004.jpg

Egg loves to look to the blue sky.
There he saw the birds, baloons,
plains and insects,
helicopters, bats and clouds
.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop005.jpg

Egg wants to fly with them.
He dreamt about ways to fly.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop006.jpg

But egg was young.
He didn't know much about flying.
The only thing egg knew was that he had to go up.
On a hill there was a high tower.
Inside the tower there were 538 steps.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop007.jpg

Egg climbed to the top.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop008.jpg

Egg was in the clouds.
A bird fly near him.
Egg closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath,
and stepped into the space.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop009.jpg

He heared the wind.
Egg opened his eyes.
He saw his friends in the sky.

'Woehoe,' he shouted.
'I'm flying!'


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop010.jpg

But egg wasn't flying.
He dropped.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop011.jpg

It took a while to clean up the mess.
We tried to fix egg.
But it didn't worked.
Egg shelves doesn't heal.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop012.jpg

Egg was young.
He wouldn't listen.
If he only just had whaited.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/eggdrop013.jpg

Luckely egg didn't get lost.


I hope you enjoyed the story just as much as i am.

Hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 10, 2008, 4:57 pm
Hello!

Today it was envelope time again!
We were again very curious about our new friends. It's always fun when new tv's arrive.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/aankomst001-1.jpg

A black head popped out of the envelope. He was very excited about this adventure and he really wanna get out of the envelope.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/aankomst002-1.jpg

Suddenly he began to talk to the envelope. We all looked to each other and thought he was a little bit crazy. Maybe because of the temprature in the envelope or something.
So it was a big shock to see a second head coming out of the envelope!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/aankomst003-1.jpg

The black one his name is Nepomuk. The mouse his name is Dottie mouse. They both are very nice!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/aankomst005-1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/aankomst004-1.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 14, 2008, 1:59 pm
Hello!

Today it was time to say goodbye to Lumi and Margarida. It's alawys hard see another TV leaving. I hope they both are gonna have a wonderfull trail. Maybe we see each other again, you never know.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/afscheid012-1.jpg
Bye Margarida

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/afscheid006-2.jpg
Bye Lumi

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 14, 2008, 5:30 pm
Hello!

Because Eva isn't able to go outside at the moment we decided to show you information and sites about Alkmaar at another way. I hope you enjoy it!

Cheesemarket:

This cheese market is open every Friday morning between 10 and 12 from the first Friday in April until the first Friday in September. Market activities are explained in Dutch, German, English and sometimes Japanese. There are four teams (vemen) of cheese-porters (kaasdragers), who can be recognised by their differently coloured straw hats: red, blue, green and yellow. Two porters bring cheese on stretchers to the weighing house (Waag) - a typical stretcher "weighs in" at about 160 kilograms. Merchants sample the cheeses and decide on a price using a barter system called handjeklap, literally clapping hands.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt027.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt018.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt026.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt028.jpg

Ruin church in Bergen:
This picturesque ruin church in Bergen once was the biggest church in Noord-Holland. From the 16th century church there is only a ruin left now, because the Beggars started a fire here. Only the choir of the church was rebuilt, so from the original church you can now only see the ruins.
In the village Bergen in Noord-Holland there are many beautiful old houses situated around the old village church.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruine004.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruine005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen015.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen010.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen009.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen008.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen007.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen006.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen002.jpg

Big church
During building the largest medieval church in Alkmaar, the church was already called the big church, because of its size. The big church is not only the largest and highest church in Alkmaar, but also the church which trough the centuries, stood most and called the jewel of the city. Originally the church was dedicated to Saint Laurens. That’s why, for centuries, the church is called The Saint Laurenschurch.

The church was probably designed by architect Anthonius Keldermans (Belgium) (1440-1512)

Beside Anthonius Keldermans brother, also his son was involved in the disign of the church, in which 26 freestanding columns support the roof. The Saint Laurens church is a basilica,

The outside walls rest on a fundation which is just below the ground. Built in the Brabant’s gothic style, which is bigger and more massive in its form than the French gothic. The building is 35 meters high and has a cross length of 85x56 meters. The outside walls rest on a one meter broad foundation which is just below thethe ground, and gradually becomes broader to a depth of tree meters. The last resauration of in-and exterieur was accomplished in 1996.

The large saint Laurens church counts two, world famous organs: Van Covelens organ (also called choir organ) and it VanHagerbeer/Schnitger or large organ. The choir organ descends from 1511 and has been placed against the northern wall of the church. The last restoration of this old, still playable, organ in the Netherlands, was completed in the year 2000. In 1636 arose the idea for the construction of a large organ in the church. Several organ builders have worked on it, but in 1645 Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer completed the large organ. Jacob Van Campen devised the organ cupboard and in 1643  Caesar Van Everdingen got the task to paint the doors of the organ cupboard with the ‘triomfe van den Coninck Saul’. This painting belongs to his first large work. Above the organ the painter Romeyn de Hooghe painted in baroque striking, (‘de deugd, die de ondeugd verplettert’)" virtue crushing the vice". From 1723 up to 1725 the large organ was restored and extended by Frans Caspar Schnitger. In course of time there have been several restorations on this organ.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kerken019.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kerken020.jpg


St. Joseph Church
This church was put in use in 1910. Designed by famous church builders and students of PJH Cuypers, the Margry brothers. The church is built in neo-gothic style, which shows by the way the towers are placed and by the arched roofs.

The church is placed beautifully and is in possession of wonderful stained glass windows. The statue of Christ has been placed in 1948, in memory of Alkmaar war-victims. Their names are placed on a memorial plaque on the churches wall.
http://www.alkmaar.nl/monument/monument/foto/Dscn9758.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 17, 2008, 1:05 pm
Hello!

Today we were playing in the garden and suddenly Eva had an idea. She wants to do something for us to thank us for our stay here.
Just like the tiles on Hollywood she write down our names. Take a look:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels001.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels002.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels003.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels004.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels006.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/stoeptegels007.jpg

How great is that? Now she will always remember us :)

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 18, 2008, 6:11 pm
Hello!

We had such a great party last night! We watched the football game were the Netherlands were playing against Roemenia. This was the thirth game they win and all the people in Holland were celebrate it.

The Netherlands have a strange creature that is there mascotte.
It is called a Welpie and they even have a song for it. The national color of the Netherlands is orange so he's orange too.
But dear, he can party!!!!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/welpie003.jpg

This morning at 6 o clock i finally go to my bed. I dance all night long.

Off course we made a picture together with the Welpie.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/welpie004.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 19, 2008, 5:12 pm
Hello!

Today it was bad weather here as you can see:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/welpie002.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/welpie001.jpg

We decided to each build or own dreamhouse. It was so much fun to do! Here you can see mine:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Lego002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/Lego001.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 20, 2008, 1:11 pm
Hello!

Today we said goodbye to Count and Ambrosius. First we were with so many and now suddenly one by one the others goes away. But it's also excited for them to go on. I'm glad i get to know them both.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/CenA003.jpg

Bye Count and Ambrosius!

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 25, 2008, 8:32 pm
Hello!

We are watching the football game Germany against Turkey right now for the Europian Championships. The other three TV's who are visiting Eva right now are from Germany and they shout very loud for their team.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/voetbal002.jpg

Big Hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 27, 2008, 7:55 pm
Hello!

Do you remember we made ourself our dreamhouse?
This time we also gonna do that, but this time for real!

Eva bought some wood and now we are building it.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/huisje001.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/huisje002.jpg

When the house is finished i'm gonna show you!

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jun 28, 2008, 5:41 pm
Hello!

Woepie! We build the house.

It was a lot of work and sometimes hard to do so Eva called her ex husband for some help. Luckely he said yes.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/huisje001.jpg

Here he is making the roof. We couldn't do that ourselfs and Eva is afraid of hights (yes even this hight).

But after six hours this was the result:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/huisje006.jpg

We were not afraid of the hight at all, and wanna sit on the roof to get a tan. Look how lovely the windows are.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/huisje005.jpg

from the front.
We also saw a dwarf who wants to live in this house. Eva said yes, so here he is.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/huisje004.jpg
From the inside.
As you can see the dwarf outside wasn't the only one who wants to live here.

Now we have our own dreamhouse!

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jul 7, 2008, 1:27 pm
Hello!

A new TV arrived today. This time we didn't have to wait before he came out of the envelope. Dharma broke the envelop. Luckely he didn't hurt the TV!

This is Clem
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend001.jpg


He have the same arms as me. We can both hug very good!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend002.jpg

Big hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jul 7, 2008, 1:39 pm
Hello!

Today we were thinking what we can do...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend003.jpg

Suddenly we had a great idea! We decided to play hide and seek.

Nepomuk hide in the tree:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend005.jpg

Dottie hide by the dwarfs:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend006.jpg

Summy hide by the Yogi man:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend007.jpg

I hide in the lamp:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend008.jpg

Clem hide behind the african box:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/weekend009.jpg

It was so much fun!

Hugs Roberto
Eryah


Posted Jul 11, 2008, 1:54 pm
Hello!

Eva and i decided that i go home.
I hope everything is okay with you because i can't get in contact with you.
Here my last picture in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/spin002.jpg

See you soon mommy!!

Big hugs Roberto

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