Sol: My Holland Adventure

I have been in Holland. The other day I went biking in the big forest. Yesterday we all went to the Efteling. I liked the flying boat ride and the Bob Sled ride - it was really fast and went flying around the corners. I also liked the water-thingy ride - I got really wet but it was awesome. Arlo and Dad went on the big, big rollercoaster - they said it was really cool. They had arcade games where you shot balls into holes - I was pretty accurate and so I won a bunny rabbit and a bear. At our cottage in the woods there were lots of caterpillars (I mean hundreds) - I liked playing with them and even putting them down Arlos pants! Also there was an awesome adventure playground.

Sacha: I Went to the Efteling

At the Efteling we went to a show that was called the Raven Riders. The Raven Riders rode around on horses doing a story with a big bird monster. After it was over I got my picture taken with the girl Raven rider. Also, last week my tooth came out and there was lots of blood - I looked like a vampire. I can say some Dutch words now like, "Ik spreek Engels" (I speak English) and "Dank u well" (Thank you very much). My teddy Pinky has been on this adventure with me and she has got a new friend 'Browny' - Solly's teddy. At night Pinky and Browny go out and have fun in the woods, but I am asleep.

Karel: Netherlands - 'tot ziens'

We have said 'see you later' to the 'land of my fathers' and are now in Belgium after a cool day at Holland's answer to Disney Land, The Efteling. It's various rides, activities and shows are based loosely around Fairy Tales. Over the last few days we have had an excellent time biking through the local forests, going to one of the best zoos we have ever seen (Burgers Zoo near Arnhem), canal-cruising around Amsterdam, spotting red squirrels, rabbits and deer around our little cottage, introducing the kids to Van Gogh paintings and the amazing sculpture park in the Kroller Muller Museum, and trying to sample as much good Dutch food as possible - Appel Flap, Pannekoeken, Frikandel and of course hot chips with 'frite sauce (mayonaise)'.

MaryAnn: WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you are reading this we'd love to hear how things are going for you. You can also email us on vh5ontour@gmail.com. If you are having trouble figuring out how to comment on the blog apparently you have to register for a google account before you can comment. It is free to register.

Mary Ann: were back from the forest!

Hey everyone we're back - no 'wi fi' in the forest but plenty of fun and lots of practice at my driving on the right. No accidents yet and getting used to driving fast on such good roads. We had a great time catching up with Oom Joop (Karel's Dad's younger brother) and cousin Adele. We arrived 2.5 hrs late (you could blame the GPS but Karels taking the blame) and they waited!!!! Amazing! Karel is impressing us all with his Dutch and the kids have started getting quite bold with what they know - I can forsee that the phrase "chocolade hagel slag" will become common place from now on (chocolate hail that you sprinkle on bread)! Off to Paris then onto Morrocco on the 16th - can't wait- then we'll have to learn Arabic!

Mary Ann: Ik Spreek Engels!

Yes it is true, only 1 language I speak! We are now in Holland and it's hot we've been swimming in a lake - the kids having weed fights - and now back at Marianne and Clemens (Karel's cousins) to watch the football. Sacha has taken a real liking to Marianne and wants to sleep over. We are staying at a Bungalow Park in the forest near the Hooge Veluwe (Dutch National Park) and the boys found a snake yesterday which I hope was not an endangered species round here.

Karel: Football, Fudge and Fantoms

Champions League semis - Barcelona through, Man Utd need to hold off Schalke tonight - watched with a beer down the local. Walked down the Royal Mile from the Castle and stopped in at a Whisky shop (very educational) and an amazing Fudge shop (much consumption of sugar and butter). Today we are descending into the belly of the city to hear stories of ghosts and gouls. Have been getting a lovely dose of historic Edinburgh and will head up Arthurs Seat for a view of the whole area this afternoon.

Sacha: My Funny Mirror Pictures

Yesterday I went to a cool museum  (Camera Obscura). There was this dark tunnel with a bridge and it had a spinning around thing with lights all around it. It was a bit scarey! There was a room with a big camera that could show everything that was happening in Edinburgh right at the moment - people walking, birds flying and cars moving and everything. The man running it did tricks using a piece of cardboard - he looked like he was lifting people up. It was really awesome. Also they had a room of funny mirrors that made me look wierd.  Also me and my cousin Olivia have been on the double decker bus and did a show on the trampoline - that's me all dressed up like a witch. We are going to Holland tomorrow.

Arlo: Last full day

Tomorrow is the last full day in Edinburgh and guess what we are going to do to celebrate it, walk up a big steep hill. But in the darkness of all that there is still light a very bright light in fact. We went to the Camera Obscura Exhibition and it was amazazing I've chucked in a few photos of some of the awesome illusions.

ps.tell me what your favourite food is in your next comment I'll tell you if I approve of it in my next blog.

Mary Ann: got lost - again

Hi there, jet lag must be fully over now because the coffee works again and Ive started walking too fast so I went out for a run. Unfortunately as you may know my sense of direction is not great and although my intention was to just go the same direction there and back I could not manage it. To me all these old buildings look the same! So I stopped and asked directions from a couple of elderly women walking their little dogs. Well after some talking they realized I was struggling to understand a word they said so one decided to personally escort me some distance. During this walk her dog did a whoopsie (not sure of the scottish term)and in her fluster she picked it up in her bare hand without using her plastic bag. She then looked a bit awkward for the rest of the walk with one hand behind her back but was taking her job of getting me back to safety so seriously. The general public have been so patient and friendly here. The bus drivers are particularly patient and people don't seem to be in a huge hurry. Perhaps it's the unusually warm weather?