Travelog for: Aaron

I arrived safely in Canada. It was still a bit cold here when I arrived but now I may be able to take off my sweater soon! I am staying with a nice family in Montreal. They have 2 girls
(4 and 8 years old) and lots of stuffed friends for me to talk to. Today, I went to school with the older girl and everyone there spoke french! I couldn't understand much but they were all  friendly. We are leaving for Disney World in 3 days!!!! I CAN'T WAIT! Maybe I'll get to meet my idol: EEYORE FROM WINNIE-THE-POOH!

I'm here in Orlando, Florida at Disney World! I actually got to fly in a seat on the airplane instead of in a box!!! It was amazing, I could see clouds out the window. It was a little scary to see how high we were but I really enjoyed it. I shared a bit of my friend's meal but got a little sick to my stomach. Luckily, I didn't need to use the little bag in the pouch in front of me! I also decided to wait to have landed to use the bathroom because it was tiny in there, even for me!

On the second day we were here, we went to the Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom. We got to eat breakfast with the characters from Winnie the Pooh and I met my idol: Eeyore!
AAaaahhh! He was SO nice and I told him I want to be just like him when I grow up!

We stayed at the Pop Century hotel. It was great! There were ducks and rabbits all over the grounds and even little lizards. Over the next few days, I spent a lot of time in the hotel pool because it sure is hot in Florida. Even without my sweater, I was very hot!

Aaron is on his trip to California now. We hope, he has a good time there.

It's me Aaron the Toy Voyager donkey.
I have been visiting Fresno, California with the Fujino family since the end of May 2007. I have had fun since I have been here. I will tell you about Fresno and my stay here. Fresno, which is the Spanish name meaning Ash Tree,  is located in Central California, about 200 miles (  K ) north of Los Angeles, California and about 190 miles (  K ) south of San Francisco California. The county of Fresno was settled in 1872. The city of Fresno including Fresno County, is about 104.4 sq mi (270.3 km²) with about 1/2 a million people. Fresno being the 6th largest city by population in California. ( Los Angeles being the largest city by population in California with over 4 million people.)

It has been really HOT here in Fresno this July. The last few days, it has been about 110 degrees Fahrenheit  ( 43 degrees Celsius!).  That is even hot for Fresno, though they do expect it to cool down soon to the average summer temperature of 98.6 degrees F ( 35.9 degrees C). Luckily we can swim in the pool in the evenings.
I can say, especially coming from Bruchsal, Germany, that I notice that Fresno has very flat land geographically, as it sits in a vast valley. Also, Fresno would be a desert if it wasn't for the water that is channeled in from the  great Sierra Nevada Mountains that are seen in the distant from here.

A beautiful place that I haven't been to yet, is Yosemite National Park  which is about a two hour drive from here. 

As with most of Fresno and where the Fujinos live, this land use to be agricultural land. Where I am at now, and north of us, is full of relatively new


neighborhoods, (15 years)  with grocery stores,  restaurants, walking/bicycle paths, schools and parks.
(Photo: Shopping center in  northeast Fresno 2007.)

Fresno main University is California  State University at Fresno, also know locally as Fresno State. http://www.csufresno.edu/  It is a well loved university in Fresno. The whole community of Fresnians seem to love and support the Bulldogs. ( I thought the photo  of their logo was a bit more aggressive then need be, as I think Bulldogs are also kind and gentle dogs.)

The area where the Fujinos live is a multicultural group of people. The cultural population in this area  many who were born here are:  Mostly Whites, including people of German, Irish, and Armenian decent. Indian from India. Black- Americans
Hispanic from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Japanese, Chinese.  Southeast Asians are here namely a large  group called Hmongs from Laos.  There are also small groups of other cultures. I love the cultures here and the food the groups bring!

Hi everyone,

This is Aaron again.  June  2007 was fun here in Fresno with the relative of the Fujinos' coming to visit. They had a reunion with 21 in total. All had a great time.

Last week at the beginning of July 2007 the Fujino's went to visit a place in Fresno called the Poverello House http://www.poverellohouse.org
It is an organization  started over 30 by a man named Mike McGarvin " Papa Mike" who  passed out Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches on the streets of Fresno. Now the organization helps to care for the homeless and disadvantage of the Fresno area.
(Photo: Volunteers making sandwiches a the Poverello House. July 2007)
Though Fresno has many people that are doing fine economically, there are many in Fresno that need assistance. I love the Poverello House, because they have made Fresno a better place for those in need. They not only serve food three times a day, and provide groceries, they also provided social services, rehabilitation, showers and laundry service at no charge. The church that the Fujinos go to is going to have a day when they go and play music and get to meet the folks that go to the Poverello House.

Good Traveling,
Aaron

Hi Everyone,

This is Aaron again, visiting in Fresno California.

This summer the girls, Holly 13, Demi 11, and Sheri 8 have spent a lot of time with me and their friends, swimming and cooking, (as their mother loves cooking,)  Photo: Demi and friends cooking. July 2007.) Also,  they are having Bible Study, practicing gymnastics and because of Fresno's hot summer- more swimming! (Photo  of Aaron with Demi and her dog Taiko (Tiko). July 2007 Fresno Ca )


Photo : July 2007 Aaron showing off his gymnastics' moves for the girls.)


This last Saturday (July 7, 2007 or 7-7-07 as they write it.) We went to a manmade lake by the dam, they call the Friant Dam. It is about 20 minutes from their house.  (Photo: Aaron with Sheri on there way to Millerton Lake)It was hot so it was nice to get into the water, though the area around it was very dry with few trees.


Well, that's all for now.
Happy traveling, Aaron the Toy Voyager.

Aaron at Fresno, City Hall in Central California built in 1991- downtown
Aaron got a new baseball outfit. Thank you so much.

Here is a building that is interesting. It is the library near my hosts. It was designed by a well know architect named Art Dyson. http://www.arthurdyson.com The Library's name is Woodward Park Library.  This library is about 5 years old. ( built about 2002) Aaron commented how so many places in this area are named Woodward. Such as Woodward, Park, Lake , Library, Shakespeare Festival,  churches,  pet hospital. 
Ralf  Woodward was a generous man who was living in Fresno and gave land to the city for the large regional park. At some point when new development went up around the park probably from the 1970's to present, the name Woodward took on new meaning. It came to represent a more modern successful Fresno. So people started attaching the name Woodward to their developments and businesses and even Churches if they lived anywhere around Woodward Park.
Try to find Aaron in the photo.
Photo: Woodward Park Library, Fresno California Aug 2007

Aaron at one of the main parks in Fresno California. It is called Woodward Park.
Aaron is sitting enjoying the day by the lake.

At Woodward 300 acre park they have a Japanese Garden, but it was closed when he went.

Also at Woodward Park near the Japanese Garden they have Peacocks. They sound like a cross between a cat and a monkey. It is funny to see them sitting in trees as they look too big to be up there. Aaron tired to get next to one of the peacocks, but it just ran away.

Hello everyone, I arrived Thursday, October 25, 2007. It was a chilly and rainy day so we stayed in doors. On Friday, October 26, 2007, we went to the St. Louis Zoo. It was the scariest zoo I have ever been too. We were allowed to be dressed up in Halloween costumes. I went as a mummy. We went to the zoo at night. Not many of the animals were out but there was all kinds of tombstones and other scary things. But at least we got to warm up with some hot chocolate and got to watch a nice show that had interesting animals. We are going to add pictures soon. Our pictures are too big at their current size. Bye for now!

Thanksgiving November 22, 2007, and Halloween at St. Louis Zoo. The Thanksgiving pictures starts off with Paisley, next December and Finally Sebastian.

Christmas 2007, Christmas lights
Some of these Christmas lights were hard to take and some won't have Aaron the Donkey in them at all. Some were at bad angles.

More Christmas and Christmas lights

   
   

 

First snow of the winter December 2007. Some of these pictures Paisley tried to take of herself and Aaron the Donkey. They didn't come out too well. The girl in the pink coat is December. Sebastian is with everyone too.

   


 

pictures of Aaron the Donkey with the Brown's kids. The first one is with Aaron and his Valentine's Day cards. Then he has pictures with Paisley, John, Sebastian and December.