We've just arrived back in Cyprus after travelling for a month in western Europe. It was a great break for the family, and we were fortunate to enjoy a somewhat late arrival of summer conditions in Europe. We flew in and out of Brussels, drove up through Denmark, across Sweden and then down to Germany and back to Belgium, stopping for up to a week at various places on the way around. It seemed a little strange coming back to Cyprus after such a long break, but the kids are glad to be home, and it's also good to back in some warmer weather.
Here are a few brief highlights of the holiday:
- A visit to Legoland in Denmark. Quite a remarkable place. A fantastic day out as a family, enjoying some innovative rides and amazing lego constructions.
- Copenhagen, where we stayed with good friends Scott, Pernille and family. This was the first of our biking experiences, and we enjoyed touring the city on two wheels. Actually, Ross and Sarah enjoyed the bike tour and the kids endured it wondering how far they had to go. Angus came into his own when we visited the Freetown Christania, which is a large alternative community right in the heart of Copenhagen. The main reason for his interest.....a large 'skate-ramp house' that has been built right in the heart of the community. Sarah was in heaven all the way through Denmark; the royal family, Danish culture, the healthy bread, shopping for nice jewellery and the general scenery was awesome.
- Staying in a summer house belonging to Pernille's family at a small coastal town called Rågeleje about an hour north of Copenhagen. Imagine, a house in the thick woods with a private road leading to a beautiful beach! We loved swimming in the clear Baltic Sea everyday, catching crabs, eating smoked herring, and generally relaxing together around the old beautifully renovated house.
- A week on a small Danish island called Bornholm, which lies off the southern coast of Sweden. Bornholm is a stunning place, covered with forest, beaches, colourful cottages in old villages and a general feeling of serenity everywhere you went. To our delight, there were bike paths through forests everywhere. We all had bikes for the week, and spent our days riding, swimming, shopping (to appease Jessie) and visiting some of the lovely old towns on the island.
- Berlin, where we once again found ourselves on two wheels taking in the city. Berlin has always been one of Ross' favourite cities, and it was fascinating to see how the city has changed since 1989. A brief dose of some remarkable history for the kids also:)
- Belgium, where we spent the final part of the holiday. For the first week we stayed in Liege with good friends Gene, Boris and their 6 boys. The kids were elated, after 2 long days of driving, to find a backyard to play in and Gene kept her promise to them about the Belgian Chocolate Breakfast Experience. We were also treated to walks both in nature and the city of Liege, waffles in the centre square, shopping & lunch for the girls on Jessie's birthday, watersliding for the boys (much to Sam's delight), various lunches and dinners with Gene's family including a Belgian Beer and Cheese night. It was really special to celebrate Jessie's 10th birthday with a big dinner all together - our family and Gene's.
The last week we spent resting in a place called Lac de l'Eau d'Heure, which is a series of large lakes and green rolling hills. A riding adventure for Angus and Sarah in which a 1.5hr bike ride turned out to take more than 4hrs. Jessie delighted all with her courage at the Nature Park as she donned a harness and flew across the lake on a zip wire.
So overall we are very thankful to have had the opportunity for some good rest, and also to have some respite from the August heat in Cyprus.
Here are a few brief highlights of the holiday:
- A visit to Legoland in Denmark. Quite a remarkable place. A fantastic day out as a family, enjoying some innovative rides and amazing lego constructions.
- Copenhagen, where we stayed with good friends Scott, Pernille and family. This was the first of our biking experiences, and we enjoyed touring the city on two wheels. Actually, Ross and Sarah enjoyed the bike tour and the kids endured it wondering how far they had to go. Angus came into his own when we visited the Freetown Christania, which is a large alternative community right in the heart of Copenhagen. The main reason for his interest.....a large 'skate-ramp house' that has been built right in the heart of the community. Sarah was in heaven all the way through Denmark; the royal family, Danish culture, the healthy bread, shopping for nice jewellery and the general scenery was awesome.
- Staying in a summer house belonging to Pernille's family at a small coastal town called Rågeleje about an hour north of Copenhagen. Imagine, a house in the thick woods with a private road leading to a beautiful beach! We loved swimming in the clear Baltic Sea everyday, catching crabs, eating smoked herring, and generally relaxing together around the old beautifully renovated house.
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| Daily transport to the beach |
- A week on a small Danish island called Bornholm, which lies off the southern coast of Sweden. Bornholm is a stunning place, covered with forest, beaches, colourful cottages in old villages and a general feeling of serenity everywhere you went. To our delight, there were bike paths through forests everywhere. We all had bikes for the week, and spent our days riding, swimming, shopping (to appease Jessie) and visiting some of the lovely old towns on the island.
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| A windy trip across from Sweden |
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| The forests of Bornholm |
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| Can't get enough of those long twilights |
- Berlin, where we once again found ourselves on two wheels taking in the city. Berlin has always been one of Ross' favourite cities, and it was fascinating to see how the city has changed since 1989. A brief dose of some remarkable history for the kids also:)
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| Brandenburg Gate |
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| A remnant of the Berlin Wall |
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| A hot sunny day in Alexsanderplatz in East Berlin |
The last week we spent resting in a place called Lac de l'Eau d'Heure, which is a series of large lakes and green rolling hills. A riding adventure for Angus and Sarah in which a 1.5hr bike ride turned out to take more than 4hrs. Jessie delighted all with her courage at the Nature Park as she donned a harness and flew across the lake on a zip wire.
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| Gene, Boris and the gang |
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| A visit to Gene's family's butchery. This is Benoit, Gene's brother |
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| Liege waffle, time to share Sam.... |
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| A birthday for Jessie; (surrounded by older men!) |
So overall we are very thankful to have had the opportunity for some good rest, and also to have some respite from the August heat in Cyprus.
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| Anna's preferred transport attire |
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| Bornholm sunset |
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