What's Up Monaco...

Hello everyone.  It's been AGES since I last wrote.  But I've been busy with a little project.

Introducing...

I created an on-line show about what to do in and around Monaco for families and kids.  When I moved here, I had the hardest time deciphering the signs or simply finding what to do with the kids and always wished someone had put it together for me.  In English.  So I could navigate my way.

Well, I decided to put my own talents to work and not wait anymore.

You can view the videos on Facebook @ "What's Up Monaco" or check out the website...


http://whatsupmonaco.wix.com/whats-up-monaco



I'm still working on parts of the website and eventually the site will be simply... www.whatsupmonaco.com

But, one thing checked off the list at a time.  I'm still trying to decipher information for the next show!  Two major problems with the "French Way", no info given unless asked specifically for it.  Seriously, there are signs for events going on without the time, place, fee, you name it!  And there isn't just one place to go to see all the events going on in town.  Geez, how's anyone supposed to get along around here?

Anyway, here it is.  Hope you like it!

Back to the Homeland...

Back to the homelands for a little fun in the sun.  A week on the island of Kos in Greece.  But not without a visit to Athens...

You may not know this about me, but I'm a quarter Greek.  Yes, true.  So, many a year ago, my lovely husband, boyfriend back then, took me to Athens so I could connect with my "roots."  Well, I loved Athens, more precisely the Old Town and it's many ancient buildings or pieces of and the fabulous food in the Plaka.

So, like last year we met with two other families and had some fun in the sun together.  I like this new ritual!

Hello Athens...

No vacation is complete without a selfie!!

And off to the island of Kos...

The Imperial Hotel.

So, as it was, you had to wear pants to dinner.  As we were on an island vacation, we didn't pack any for J.  So, he got some snazzy new ones at the resort's shop. Looks like he feels real good in them!

                         
And as it happened last year, T's birthday was during the holiday.  Once again the resort did us well.  Happy 8th B-Day my super cool young man!!

                         

Some pool fun...

Woohoo, water sports!

He looks like a right ole California boy!

Back at the pool, J led the way as first class Aqua Gym helper.

Even the kiddies got involved.

And were rewarded well with an ice cream break.

After a couple of Pina Coladas on our afternoon Pina break. Ahhh,
vacations are great! :)

And we put our under-water camera to work.  I sure do love underwater pics!!

Some evening entertainment...of course James got in on the fun.  Can't miss those white pants anywhere!

 A little Greek dance lesson...

Art at the Kid's Club...

And the ringing of the dinner bell.  Yummmmmm!

Such a super group of kids.  It's cool to think how they live all over the world,
but are making such a close bond.  We've got Monaco, Moscow, and India locations accounted
for here with English, American, Serbian, and Greek nationalities!

They look like sisters!  And because of this little pistol, I was asked by

my kids if we could have another baby!

Emmy made lots of new friends...

Yep E, I think it's a thumbs up for Greece!! 

See you again next year!!

Snow Land Year 2...

There's one thing I love about the French school system....vacations!  Every 6 weeks the kids get two weeks holiday.  So, winter vacation in February was a return to Austria and Snow Land for a second go at skiing.

We decided to drive this year and stopped in Italy at Lake Garda both going there and coming home.

A quick breakfast and we were back on the road...lovely scenery...

Well, Snow Land it certainly wasn't this year.  We arrived in Austria for our second year at the Sporthotel in Achensee, Austria, to a land of green, not white.  Thank goodness for snow making machines!!  The slopes were covered nicely so the skiing carried on.

The road heading to our hotel.  Where's the snow?  Hard to have a snow vacation without it!

The entrance to the slopes, only a thin layer of snow.

This year E actually enjoyed learning to ski and after a day on the bunny hill, her group got to go up to Snow Land on the mountain.

First try....

Getting better... 

Got it!

 The morning starts with a little warm up dance and then up we go to the mountain...

T had the same teacher last year, Andrea's the best! :)

A little snowman hanging on to the last bit of snow he can.
Someone made him an umbrella to help him out.

This section is Snow Land for the kids to work without
interference and where the competitions happen.

Lovely!

E is in pink working the moguls.

View from the top....

View from below.  I did that!  Whew!

  The lack of snow on the ground actually made it easier for Grandpa and J to do their walks.

At the end of the week, T, E, and I all had ski competitions.  The kids did wonderfully, T took second place again and E took third.  I came home with a prize as well...a mini bottle of champagne for coming in dead last. :)  Hey, if I get champagne for coming in last, why come in first??

Thankfully on competition day we woke to fresh snow.

A little practice...

T's course had a jump option.  He and only one other in his
group chose to try it...

Well done T!!

All packed up and ready to head back...Bye Austria, til next year.

We stopped on the other side of Lake Garda, Italy, on the way home.  

We've taken to the practice of always having pens, markers, and paper
when we head out.  Comes in handy and gives the kids some quiet
focused time.  Also allows us adults to enjoy our wine. :)

And there you have it.

The Austrians are such lovely people, the food is super yummy, and they make some great wine; it actually makes us consider moving there.  Although the cold is definitely a deterrent. :)  Both the kids actually came up to me after an evening in the kid's club and told me they wanted to go to German school now.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.