holiday summer 2011

So, this year we went on a 3 week holiday to Italy and France. As usual we divided the 3 weeks in 2 and made reservations at two camp sites; Belvedere in Italy at lake Garda and Parc des Monges in France near the small town of Auribeau sur Siagne. The camp sites were nice and clean. In Italy there were lots of dutch people but we were not bothered too much as we did not have them as direct neighbours. Instead we had a nice couple from Germany who turned out to be lovely people who live near Würzburg which I visit at least once a year for training purposes. They visit the camp site twice each year for the last 25 years and they were right when they said that this camp site has the most beautiful view at the lake. We stood first class, directly at the lake. Our second camp site was a small one but without the excess amount of dutch people and instead we had a mix of French, German, Swedes and ducth. The wifi was a bit of a problem but then again, on every camp site you have to be near a antenna for the best connection.. I tried to update the weblog from the camp sites but I was only able to send a couple of emails with pictures to my dad. We did not do too much of sightseeing because it was a bit too hot for the kids to walk about city centres for hours, instead we stayed on beaches and cooled down at swimming pools and lakes. We had a great time and we can really recommend these camp sites, click on their names to visit their websites.

Swans visiting us every day at lake Garda



Our German neighbour with his cool racing boat

Our place at the lake Garda




Hey a Mirror Dinghy!
Wende before and after

Walking around Sirmioni

The beach at Theoule sur mer

Second run of the day to the swimming pool

ST Tropez

It was hot...

yum yum, what does France have delicious deserts

Nils and Lisette jumping from a barch which was anchored out for swimmers

Our only rainy day (morning only) in France

The isle San Biaggio, entrance 5euro per person please

A cool trip onboard the boat of our German neighbour, Nils and Wende loved it!

On our way to Bardolino

Bardolino

Isla San Biaggio

Wende and Ingmar at Diny's pancake festival, Partyboat and grandparents

Close harmony workshop performance at the Toonzaal Den Bosch

Lisette and her fellow workshop members had to perform one las time in De Toonzaal in De Bosch and it sounded great!

More jazz in Duke town and Swimming pool Oosterhout and best of all! Wende is cycling without extra wheels!!

Here are some more videos of jazz in juke town and one of them on the big square is a band directed by Benjamin Herman, the best alto sax player in the Netherlands. And today (sunday) we went to the great swimming pool in Oosterhout called De Warande. Only the weather was not very coopertive, the wind was quite cold and clouds blacked out the sun every once in a while.. But the kids had a great time and that ia what counts I guess. And if they have fun, we have fun as well.

The best part today was thet Wende is now cycling without the extra wheels! It took some time but we only had to let go and off she went, not stopping for anything!!

Lisette's performance at the jazz in Den Bosch Festival

Lisette had to perform with her singing workshop fellow singers at the jazz in Debosch Festival today. We were lucky because of the weather, just before they had to start, a rain cloud emptied its contents en then it stayed dry.. The performance worked out well, although they only had the chance to practise 8 times.
After that we went to see Benjamin Herman play with a new band and that sounded really cool! Nils and Ingmar had ice creams but Wende didn't like ice cream so we went for spanish churros. At first Wende was a bit reluctant but once tried there was nothing left for dad but crums..

Long weekend! Jazz in Breda, beach, swimming pool

We had a nice long weekend so we went on a morning trip to the zoo and went to the local beach in the afternoon. It was very warm that day.. The water didn't even feel cold it was nice and cooling. Saturday we went to Breda where we met with my dad who came by bus from Hulst.

In Breda the yearly jazz festival took place and lots of music everywhere. We tried to find the chinees restaurant where used to eat when we came driving back from summerholidays when were kids but unfortunately, the restaurant wasn't there anymore.. Explaines why I got the busy tone when I tried to reserve seats the day before.. Anyway, we did find a great place to eat and enjoy some of the music played. Thanks dad, it was great! Sunday we went to the swimming pool as the weather was a bit less.. Started with some rain but that was refreshing in a way. It hadn't rained in a long time and the lawn is desperate in need of water.This time we all went to the pool and enjoyed every minute of it.

Wende's first change to perform in public and Niall's boat

Last Wednesday Nils had his school trip to Plaswijk Park near Rotterdam and Mom had the chance to see him off, he had a great time and the whole week before he was so nervous, he just couldn't sleep. The night before he came down and asked if we knew that we had to get up earler then normal because he had to pack his bag with drinks and all sorts of things you take with you on a school trip.. In the afternoon, dad made it back again from work in time to see him arrive again. Saturday Wende's teacher of the dance club invited her to join them at a demonstration afternoon in Wijk Aand Aalburg. Wende practised at home until the very last minute but once there at the market square she suddenly lost all her courage.. Stage fever.. So we ended up just watching them all from the side but she did shared the lemonade and the sweets the children were given as a treat.. Sunday we had our usual breakfast together and after that dad took Wende to the swimmingpool while Nils and Ingmar styed at home with mom. Ingmar was a bit ill yesterday and the day before so we didn't take him to the swimming pool and Nils wanted to play with dad's old train track. At the swimmingpool we saw Mels, Wende's friend from day care and school. Mels was practising with his dad to jump from the side of the deep end into the water but Wende didn't dare.. Strangely enough Wende had no problem jumping from the dive board..?? In the afternoon dada went to help Niall rig up his new (used) sailing boat. Some pieces were missing and parts of wood were not in a good shape.. Lots to do for him and dad will help him out a little with advice and tools.. Yesterday dad finally did some adaptions to Wende's bike so she can practise to cycle without extra wheels mounted. Mom bougth her a vest with a "handle" on the back so she can hold on to her.