tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6124921056140817692024-03-05T02:10:19.939-08:00Somewhere in...Anywhere we are, anytime you want, anything you want to read... Just something small for you - news, photos, stories from somewhere in... from usUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-21758011692498992642010-03-07T08:18:00.000-08:002010-03-07T08:23:54.833-08:00Somewhere in.... ParenthoodAnna-Sofia came to our lives on the 20th February 2010, and we find ourselves yet again in unknown territory. This time, it is not a new place, a country yet to discover, a city yet to explore, but the life-changing experience of parenthood. Anna-Sofia is now two weeks old, and each day we look forward to seeing this gorgeous little one grow up and become increasingly less dependent on us. And Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-45895429875390120192009-07-28T12:32:00.000-07:002009-07-28T12:36:39.092-07:00Somewhere in ... the Black ForestIt has been a long while since we updated this blog and what best excuse than our first wedding anniversary? Yes, it has been one year since that amazing night in the beautiful castle of Palmela. We found ourselves celebrating it in yet another beautiful old historical building, a charming hotel called Parkhotel Adler which has been in the same family since the 15th century, and lies in the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-51144873410320395552009-03-04T03:44:00.000-08:002009-03-04T04:08:54.137-08:00Somewhere in Chicago...Yes, the dream came true and I managed to organise trip to the city I always wanted to see. The city of blues, famous pizza and The Bean monument:). Haven't eaten the famous pizza yet, need to plan it soon as I am leaving on Friday afternoon. So it is approximately 5am in Europe and my body is fully awake thinking what a great afternoon. I have warned the trainer that she should ask me questions Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-28786920740964539552009-02-15T11:24:00.000-08:002009-02-15T13:03:29.615-08:00Somewhere in between the countries...February is almost finished and our travels continued. The trip to Czech Republic was quite successful (or I hope) and all papers and documents were submitted. Of course it didn't help the mood when I went early in the morning to the town- hall and saw a paper on the door - Today closed! (Every last Friday in a month the office is closed). Well lucky me, that they were open on Saturday morning. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-68479270750409230392009-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:002009-01-25T12:16:45.088-08:00Somewhere on our white sofa...Another Sunday behind us and we are sitting on our white sofa, enjoying being at home and don't have to travel. Well, it will start again, but it was a nice change to stop and just look around, without being part of the crazy world. We couldn't though just sit and do nothing as Pedro would say that I am hyperactive and won't let him in peace for couple of hours, so he took me to a trip to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-74007061223844093042008-12-25T07:35:00.000-08:002008-12-25T07:57:33.102-08:00Somewhere in...... It has been more than a year that we have written an article about our travels. This doesn't mean that we haven't been travelling - may be too much and we have said many times that we need to go back to our lovely blog and create some more tips and stories from our travels. The 2008 was a long and a busy year and it included travels around the world again, though in a different style. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-78415039759766055442007-08-18T04:57:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:32.281-08:00Somewhere back in Europe ...We have proved that indeed the World is round, and travelling eastwards for the last 8 months, in a journey starting at the end of December, a cold windy day in Frankfurt, Germany, we have ended up back in Europe, in a much sunnier Portugal, a fitting final as a tribute to the first world traveller Ferdinand Magellan (or Fernão de Magalhães) who set this trend which we have now followed!And what Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-79042775292878633242007-08-07T18:35:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:32.710-08:00Somewhere in...between both ends of the East CoastIt is again some time ago since we shared with you our journey. It is not because we are getting lazy or because we stopped caring about you, but believe it or not we were quite busy. In a week's time we will be sitting in the plane which will take us back to Europe, so we are trying to enjoy every single minute of each day.After Quebec we crossed the border back to USA, though the queue was muchUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-9884110889637491002007-07-30T21:38:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:32.828-08:00Somewhere in ... Quebec"Bonjour Quebec" we said as we crossed the state line into the province of Quebec, Canada, when all the road signs turned to french only, even the until now universal STOP signs! And this "Nouvelle France" does try to retain much of the Older France culture and language while, at times reluctantly, embracing many features of the nearby English-speaking New World!Our first destination was the big Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-63217722817048084512007-07-22T06:59:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:33.381-08:00Somewhere in ... Ontario, CanadaWe have crossed the border now between the United States and Canada with the first impression immediately that we were in another country - we can understand the temperatures which are in celsius and the distances which are in kilometres! What a beautiful border too, decorated as it is by the famous, and most impressive, Niagara Falls, which we had the chance to experience upclose in the boat "Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-38685833817755409562007-07-19T07:57:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:33.732-08:00Somewhere in ... The Big AppleWe had a successful crossing of the American Continent and arrived at the chaotic JFK, where Ponty, our new hire car, took us through the New York Saturday traffic, across the very busy Brooklynn bridge where we got a taste of the impossible New York traffic. Thank goodness for the invention of the GPS which again saved us from spending most of our trip finding our way! Driving in NY became Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-62666613754741885192007-07-13T10:13:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:33.929-08:00Somewhere in ... the National Parks"It looks exactly like a Google earth", said today a five years old kid to his father, when we were enjoying one of the amazing views if Yosemite valley. Oh well, this is one way how one can enjoy the wonders of nature.It is our last day on the West coast and after three weeks of national parks marathon we are flying from San Francisco to the Big Apple and we will start our race across the East Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-32052516671014741342007-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:002007-07-07T09:00:10.248-07:00Somewhere in... the Wild WestNevada, Arizona and Utah followed California, and what a difference they make, much further than the timezone difference! Our first stop out of California was none other than the absolutely crazy Las Vegas, a gambling megalomania, neon lights competing for the gambling dollars in a Stravinskian symphony of light. How could we not enjoy this crazy town, it's hard not to have fun enjoying the weirdUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-85075915874409966512007-07-02T18:51:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:34.461-08:00Somewhere in... where streets have no names!For the U2 fans, I don't have to explain... For those who aren't, all will be explained.We left our gracious hosts Joshua and Dominic in Oakland, San Francisco, and we took the US famous "Pacific Highway" and drove the Pacific coast towards our first national park visit - Sequoia and Kings Canyon national park. Like its australian sibling "Great Ocean Road", this drive must rank among the best Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-40098167573335192632007-06-25T12:05:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:34.619-08:00Somewhere in ... the city of LoveYes, we do mean San Francsco, California. After a horrible flight on United Airlines,we arrived to hippie, chilled out (and I mean cold) San Francisco. We loved it from the start, a mixture of hip cafes, expensive shops, many homeless people and poor neighborhoods but also a sophisticated, european charm with its abundant, gorgeous 20s architecture with fire escapes everywhere, the tram-covered Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-16104499412149104262007-06-21T15:53:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:34.915-08:00Somewhere in ... Waikiki BeachAloha from Waikiki beach, where we are relaxing our tired bodies and souls for almost a week now. It seemed to us that we are getting less and less readers as people got used to us being away, but it flattered us when we heard from various sides, that we haven't written for some time and that we still haven't posted photos from Japan! Apologies, apologies to everyone!We have successfully finishedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-18174158799329778002007-06-13T01:51:00.001-07:002007-06-13T01:52:09.934-07:00Somewhere Lost in Translation, TokyoAnd so the goodbyes are said to Richard, our travelling, drinking and sushi partner for the past two weeks, and soon we will also be leaving the land of the rising sun.We loved Japan, that is clear! This proud nation surprised first and foremost through its friendly, polite and respectful people. Everywhere we went, be it train stations, restaurants, hostels, supermarkets or simply walking down Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-84032375480906957612007-06-09T01:30:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:35.488-08:00Somewhere in Hiroshima .... With guest Blogger Richard GowerPedro and Lenka are fast asleep on the train after a busy day in Hiroshima, so I have stolen their computer and am taking over the Blogging duties. In the last exciting installment we had just left Tokyo. The adventure continues........Straying off the Shinkazen Bullet Train main-line we headed up through the Japanese Alps to the historic town of Takayama. The place was a great contrast to the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-26601195105906427432007-06-04T07:20:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:35.905-08:00Somewhere in ... the train in Japan... With Richard!As always we have changed our plans a little bit and stayed in Seoul for one more day. We couldn't resist the party and the BBQ invitatons from our hosts, and as Richard (who we were meeting in Japan) was arriving two days after us so we had some leeway. We have made it again with Asiana Airines to Tokyo and got 90 days entry visa to Japan without any problems. Another stamp on Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-42978833758737982692007-05-29T03:16:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:36.285-08:00Somewhere in... Seoul (already!)We haven't been in touch with you for a long time, but we didn't know it would be so difficult to find an internet cafe in Beijing! So you would need to be a bit patient to see the lovely photos of Mao or of the Chinese Great Wall which was really amazing. But again I am writing ahead of time... From Taian we took the local train to Jinan, where we waited for a super fast connection to Beijing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-87772836099530420442007-05-21T02:34:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:36.576-08:00Somewhere in...Shandong We have arrived to Shandong, an overnight journey by train which would have been very comfortable - the beds and carriage certainly were -had it not been for the fact that we shared our 4-bed carriage with a guy who must certainly rank amongst the world's loudest snorers. As we tried (unsuccessfully) to sleep through the constant, never-ending rumble, we remembered all the people we met who Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-31154884922081079332007-05-16T21:12:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:36.702-08:00Somewhere in ... ShanghaiSo we are moving forward on our journey through this imense country. After our stay in Hangzhou, we took a bus (the tickets are bought in the china post office!) to Suzhou - town famous for its Unesco heritage gardens and beautiful women (as Pedro said, he could see the point about the women. For details please ask him:) We were welcomed into the house of Trevor, the English teacher, who is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-67509230430007849352007-05-09T03:36:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:36.831-08:00Somewhere in ... the most beautiful city in China, Hangzhou... Or this is at least what the adverts in the TV are saying. To be honest, this regular sized town (6 million people!!) is situated by a beautiful lake surrounded by gardens, small hills and old temples. We are staying in the university campus, in a "hotel" :) for foreign students. So from the expats point of view we are seeing China from the eyes of university students, in particular from Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-6151985072654294932007-05-06T18:44:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:37.172-08:00Somewhere in . .. Xiamen, ChinaWe are now in the real China, after having made a short stopover at Hong Kong. Hong Kong was very distinct to Macau, certainly a lot less older european architecture, as the British architectural legacy seems to have been less marked than that of the Portuguese in Macau, but such a huge hub of activity! We walked around the streets of Hong Kong for the two days, visiting strange markets of Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612492105614081769.post-6392612357692114022007-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:29:37.446-08:00Somewhere in MacauSo our chinese adventure has now officially started! Back to the familiar smells of Asia, we are delighted to see again the deliciously looking food stalls, the incense-smelling budhist temples, the extremely useful low prices! But there is more to Macau than its oriental side, the one we had found in Thailand and Malaysia. There are two more sides to Macau in fact: Portugal and Gambling.The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3