Thursday, April 7, 2011
, 4/5 - 4/10 Montana
Today we visited 5 properties around Livingston, Montana and Paradise Valley. We didn't go as far as Emigrant where we rented the house for a month last year. The first property was absolutely gorgeous, but had 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. That sounds like a lot of work and why do we need a house that big? It had a geo-thermal heating and cooling system, was the last property on the road and had an incredible view of Livingston and the Yellowstone River. It was extremely well built with a virtually maintenance-free exterior, but had a small family room because it was built as a bed and breakfast. Therefore, it had an awesome kitchen!
Monday, April 4, 2011
The flights to Bozeman, Montana were uneventful, just long. Our layover was in Minneapolis/ST. Paul, Minnesota. The ride was a little bumpy on this leg of the journey due to the winds and we landed in Bozeman in the wind. But Montana is known for it's winds. We are supposed to meet with the real estate agent at 2:30, but he didn't have any lined up for today. Tomorrow we are to view 6 properties in and around Livingston and Paradise Valley. We drove down to Chico Hot Springs, but we didn't stop. Hopefully, we can do that later in the week, we are pretty tired from little sleep the previous night and the long full flights.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Sunday, February 27th, 2011.
We had to get up early to eat breakfast and get Sofia down to the ski school. She was a little scared, but she did okay. It was bitter cold outside and we were freezing because we weren't wearing our ski snowsuits. Sofia did fine but her face was really wind burned! So were some of ours. By the time we arrived back at the house Andrea, Jeff and Conner and Jeff's brother, Doug, were at the house. We made roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner. Tomorrow Andrea will watch Conner and Zachary while the rest of us go skiing or snowboarding. Then I will watch the little ones while Andrea, Jeff, Jon and Doug go snowboarding.
Skiing was a hoot! You realize how out of shape you are when you get on the skis. There are muscles that you haven't used in years that you need in order to ski; especially when you end up on a flat section of the slope and you haven't gotten your speed up! We did several of those! By the time we arrived back at the house we were whipped!
Skiing was a hoot! You realize how out of shape you are when you get on the skis. There are muscles that you haven't used in years that you need in order to ski; especially when you end up on a flat section of the slope and you haven't gotten your speed up! We did several of those! By the time we arrived back at the house we were whipped!
Saturday, February 26th, 2011.
We arrived at the house around 3:30 PM on Saturday. It was 62 degrees in Denver and 1 hour later the temperature was down to 28 degrees. UNREAL!!!! The trip took about 1 and 3/4rds of an hour. Jon, Jenn, Pat and the kids arrived 2 hours later. The house is awesome! It is a green house with monthly electric and gas bills of only $60.00. The architect from California made use of every inch of space. here are So many nooks and crannies with places to store things. There is not one inch of unused space! The floors are hardwood and heated instead of a duct system. It is a small development of 25 houses on 2 streets, with plans for more to come. Above the garage is a separate wing with a bunk bed made of a queen bottom and a full top bunk. Then there are 2 fold out couches. Jenn, Pat and the kids will stay there. Andrea, Jeff and Conner will stay in the main section of the house with us in a big room with eaves perfect for the placement of a crib. The rental agency provided us with 2 pack'n plays and 2 highchairs. It is pretty cold outside, but the house is very warm. We had to open the windows in our bedroom at night to be able to sleep. But then you really hear the trains that come through about 2 AM and the coyotes howl quite a bit!
Our supper tonight was pizzas from Costco. Jon chose the living room that turns into a bedroom. That's the coolest room in the house. There is an eight person hot tub on the back deck and the snow is piled high all around. The driveway is covered, but has been plowed. Between the main house and the wing is a really awesome mudroom that is huge. The garage is heated also! The house is furnished really nice. The owner and builder from California named Clark dumped lots of money into these houses. The furnishings are all upscale and very comfortable. Tomorrow Sofia attends a ski school and Andrea, Jeff and Conner arrive.
Our supper tonight was pizzas from Costco. Jon chose the living room that turns into a bedroom. That's the coolest room in the house. There is an eight person hot tub on the back deck and the snow is piled high all around. The driveway is covered, but has been plowed. Between the main house and the wing is a really awesome mudroom that is huge. The garage is heated also! The house is furnished really nice. The owner and builder from California named Clark dumped lots of money into these houses. The furnishings are all upscale and very comfortable. Tomorrow Sofia attends a ski school and Andrea, Jeff and Conner arrive.
Our Colorado Trip Feb. 25th to March 5th, 2011.
We were to fly out of Jax airport at 1:15 on Friday, February the 25th. The flight was completely booked, so we gave up our tickets for the next flight out. Because of that we flew out 2 hours later and received a comp for our original tickets and $300.00 each for giving up our seats. So instead of flying to Nashville then to Denver, we flew to Tampa, to New Orleans to Denver and arrived there 2 hours later than originally planned tickets. What a deal! We didn't have anything to do in Denver anyway. We cannot get into the rental house until Saturday at 4PM. So we went to eat at Ted Turner's Montana Grill. I had a bison burger and Daddy had a grilled chicken sandwich.
Our night's stay at the Hyatt Hotel was really good. Such a nice hotel room, a good mattress and a continental breakfast the next morning. Then we had to find the closest Costco and Walmart for food for the house for the week. We bought lean ground beef, frozen chicken breasts, Italien sweet sausage, brats, frozen meatballs, pasta, tomatoes, romaine, puddings, ice cream, soda, wine, beer, chips, cookies, yogurt, flour, sugar, olive oil. We will have spaghetti, meatballs, chicken parm, roast beef, tacos, soup, turkey sandwiches, salsa ,pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
Our night's stay at the Hyatt Hotel was really good. Such a nice hotel room, a good mattress and a continental breakfast the next morning. Then we had to find the closest Costco and Walmart for food for the house for the week. We bought lean ground beef, frozen chicken breasts, Italien sweet sausage, brats, frozen meatballs, pasta, tomatoes, romaine, puddings, ice cream, soda, wine, beer, chips, cookies, yogurt, flour, sugar, olive oil. We will have spaghetti, meatballs, chicken parm, roast beef, tacos, soup, turkey sandwiches, salsa ,pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010, to Zagreb
Today we left the boat early and traveled by bus for many hours to Zagreb. We fly out of Zagreb early on Monday morning. Our trip back in the bus was through the mountains and tunnels with several stops. It has snowed here overnight also, and it's cold enough for it to stay. I looked for some souvenirs on this trip back, but wasn't lucky. Even the small shops in Croatia are decorated for Xmas. I asked at one shop for the tiny reed or grass woven ornaments I saw in the beginning of our trip, but with no luck. they were really unique. Being only one to two inches tall they were woven of grass or reeds into angels, bells and Xmas shapes and decorated with a tiny red ribbon. they would have been perfect to carry home as they weighed almost nothing.
Once we arrived in Zagreb we were able to go on a tour of the town around our hotel. The first day here we arrived so late that we couldn't do it. They have a Christmas Market downtown and it is nice and chilly outside. It had snowed overnight so it is laying on the cars, houses and grass. It is like a festival downtown with lots of people of all ages. Outside of the Roman Catholic church was a live display of the nativity scene. They had goats and one was eating the thatch on top of the hut! There were sheep and donkeys too. it was called Bethlehem. All around the church were small shops so I was able to do some souvenir shopping. I bought a mug with a map of Croatia on the outside with the towns listed that we visited. In the Xmas Market I was able to buy the gingerbread baked and painted ornaments for which Zagreb is known. I also bought an unbreakable red Xmas ball with Croatia and its symbol on it. The man added our name and the year also for us. At first he didn't understand me because I can't speak Croatian, but another local man shopping alongside of us interpreted for us.
We stayed down at the market till it was dark. They had an ice skating rink set up and the line was extremely long to get in. daddy took some pictures of it. We are at the end of the camera's battery because Daddy forgot to bring the battery charger and I dropped my camera and messed up the lens. I really liked my camera because it had a good zoom. We stopped inside a huge tent set up with all kinds of stalls selling food. the hit dog stand was unique. They served beer along with the dog, but their rolls have no slit for the dog to fit into. Instead they have a contraption that is a heated cone sticking up and they slip the roll onto this cone to toast it. Then they slip the hot dog into the slot the cone made. It was really neat! We have never seen anything like it!
We went back to the hotel for our Farewell Drink which was red and white wine and orange juice. The 2 guides: Darko and Matt gave each couple a gingerbread ornament just like the set I bought in the Xmas Market. Darko was buying them as we were buying ours and I didn't even realize it. Then Bruce and Cynthia walked with Daddy and I to eat dinner at a restaurant called Hansel and Gretel. It is amazing that so many families are outside this late at night with young children and it is school tomorrow. It is really cold outside, but the locals are used to it. A lot of the people in our group are just dressed in layers with no winter coat. I'm glad I have my coat, scarf and gloves!
Once we arrived in Zagreb we were able to go on a tour of the town around our hotel. The first day here we arrived so late that we couldn't do it. They have a Christmas Market downtown and it is nice and chilly outside. It had snowed overnight so it is laying on the cars, houses and grass. It is like a festival downtown with lots of people of all ages. Outside of the Roman Catholic church was a live display of the nativity scene. They had goats and one was eating the thatch on top of the hut! There were sheep and donkeys too. it was called Bethlehem. All around the church were small shops so I was able to do some souvenir shopping. I bought a mug with a map of Croatia on the outside with the towns listed that we visited. In the Xmas Market I was able to buy the gingerbread baked and painted ornaments for which Zagreb is known. I also bought an unbreakable red Xmas ball with Croatia and its symbol on it. The man added our name and the year also for us. At first he didn't understand me because I can't speak Croatian, but another local man shopping alongside of us interpreted for us.
We stayed down at the market till it was dark. They had an ice skating rink set up and the line was extremely long to get in. daddy took some pictures of it. We are at the end of the camera's battery because Daddy forgot to bring the battery charger and I dropped my camera and messed up the lens. I really liked my camera because it had a good zoom. We stopped inside a huge tent set up with all kinds of stalls selling food. the hit dog stand was unique. They served beer along with the dog, but their rolls have no slit for the dog to fit into. Instead they have a contraption that is a heated cone sticking up and they slip the roll onto this cone to toast it. Then they slip the hot dog into the slot the cone made. It was really neat! We have never seen anything like it!
We went back to the hotel for our Farewell Drink which was red and white wine and orange juice. The 2 guides: Darko and Matt gave each couple a gingerbread ornament just like the set I bought in the Xmas Market. Darko was buying them as we were buying ours and I didn't even realize it. Then Bruce and Cynthia walked with Daddy and I to eat dinner at a restaurant called Hansel and Gretel. It is amazing that so many families are outside this late at night with young children and it is school tomorrow. It is really cold outside, but the locals are used to it. A lot of the people in our group are just dressed in layers with no winter coat. I'm glad I have my coat, scarf and gloves!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010, Opatija, Croatia
We are in Opatija after a very long bus ride for 8 hours. It is a resort town. Park Angiolina (Angelina) was originally a private park but since WWII it is a public botanical garden. There are 3000 species of Mediterranean plants covering 3 hectares or 8 acres. They have the sequoia or redwood tree, a Japanese camellia, several magnolias, various palm trees and shrubs.The palms have to be protected in the winter. The music gazebo was rebuilt 2 years ago; the Communists destroyed it in 1945. Noble families traveled long hours to arrive here to vacation. The original family owner was a gardner in 1844 and he built the villa and sold it to an Austrian nobleman. After WWII it was owned by the town. This gardner, Scarpa, built a second villa in 1847 and named it after his daughter, Amelea. At this villa is growing sage, lavender, roses, cedar and cypress. It has a 9 foot wide chandelier with over 7000 crystal pieces, the largest in all of Europe. It is found in the gigantic ballroom. There is a statue of Isadora Duncan here because thiis was her favorite place to visit.
The town's name, Opatija, means abbey or monastery. The Franciscian monastery is next to ST. James church. The bell of ST. James rings early on the hour and continues slightly past the hour too. Next to ST. James church is a gold covered statue of the Madonna from Florence. The first statue made came by ship, was caught in a storm and lost when the ship sank. The second one came by train instead. In town is a healing spring that the nobility visited. The town is situated on the sea, but no swimming occurred until after the 20th century. It just wasn't fashionable and wasn't considered healthy. Along the sea is a 5 mile long promenade that extends to a town south of here. The residents take very long walks.
In 1904 a girl named Maria drowned in the whirlpool up against the sea wall. The fresh water from an underground spring flows out there so fast it creates a whirlpool that she couldn't swim out of. Of course, in 1904 swimming wasn't even taught. The whirlpool was called Slatina. There was a bronze statue erected by her father for her, but in 1942 Mussolini confiscated it for the bronze to be used in weapons.
The town of Opatija is a relatively new town, being only 160 years old. Rich people came from Vienna and Buddapest to visit the villas. Their transportation then was by carriage meaning it took 7-9 days to arrive. When the train lines were built, it became a 12 hour trip. The gazebo in the park was originally the pastry shop in that time. But they never really baked the pastries here. They were shipped by train from Vienna the afternoon before.
We stopped in a coffee shop to use the restroom and ordered 2 cappuccinos, mainly because it was cold outside. This was the first place I have seen over here to eat in that is no smoking! There were 2 old men that bought beers and went outside to drink and smoke. This is a Sunday morning around 9AM!
The town's name, Opatija, means abbey or monastery. The Franciscian monastery is next to ST. James church. The bell of ST. James rings early on the hour and continues slightly past the hour too. Next to ST. James church is a gold covered statue of the Madonna from Florence. The first statue made came by ship, was caught in a storm and lost when the ship sank. The second one came by train instead. In town is a healing spring that the nobility visited. The town is situated on the sea, but no swimming occurred until after the 20th century. It just wasn't fashionable and wasn't considered healthy. Along the sea is a 5 mile long promenade that extends to a town south of here. The residents take very long walks.
In 1904 a girl named Maria drowned in the whirlpool up against the sea wall. The fresh water from an underground spring flows out there so fast it creates a whirlpool that she couldn't swim out of. Of course, in 1904 swimming wasn't even taught. The whirlpool was called Slatina. There was a bronze statue erected by her father for her, but in 1942 Mussolini confiscated it for the bronze to be used in weapons.
The town of Opatija is a relatively new town, being only 160 years old. Rich people came from Vienna and Buddapest to visit the villas. Their transportation then was by carriage meaning it took 7-9 days to arrive. When the train lines were built, it became a 12 hour trip. The gazebo in the park was originally the pastry shop in that time. But they never really baked the pastries here. They were shipped by train from Vienna the afternoon before.
We stopped in a coffee shop to use the restroom and ordered 2 cappuccinos, mainly because it was cold outside. This was the first place I have seen over here to eat in that is no smoking! There were 2 old men that bought beers and went outside to drink and smoke. This is a Sunday morning around 9AM!
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