The Traveling Adventures of Amanda

This journal is all about my European Adventures! Have a read but just be warned that reading could lead to extreme jealousy!!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Missing Adam!

For anyone who doesn't know (and I'm sure a lot of you don't!) my amazing friend Adam has moved to Australia to go to Teacher's College. He has started his own travel blog and I wanted to share the link with you.
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/AdamNKuhn/
If you know Adam or if you might be interested in going to Australia or if you just love blogs then check it out!
We all miss him already but can't wait to hear all about his adventures!!
Love You Adam!!!

Super Heroe!


Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, its SUPER COOL-SLEEPER!!!! She is here to rid the world of over-tiredness and puffy eyes!!! YEAH!!!!

Cruisin' Together

Its been a while since we got back from our amazing Carribean adventure but I wanted to share it all with you! I'm going to break it down by day to make it a little easier to get but of course I can't post all the pictures we took...So enjoy!

Getting there!
Grandma, Ben, Matt, Leah and I left Toronto early Saturday morning and flew to Miami. Matt and I were so excited that we made sure that our lips were good and protected and the wouldn't get sun burnt before we even left the plane! By the time we got to the boat terminal, checked in, and got to our rooms it was early evening. The sunset over Miami was so pretty!
















Day One - At Sea!
Our first day on the boat we were at sea heading to Mexico. Because we are stuck on a huge ship there was ALWAYS something going on, like the Hairiest Chest competition. The cruise was all-you-can-eat, all the time but we had to buy our own drinks. Luckily they weren't as expensive as we had thought. This is Matt and I enjoying the cocktail of the day...I totally forget what it was called but it was surprisingly yummy! Every night we would all meet for dinner and go to the Dinning room (the Paris Dinning Room to be exact) and eat. We always sat at the same two tables and had the same two waiters. The first full day and second last day on the boat were 'formal' nights where we all got dressed up and looked pretty. That's Matt, Ben, and Leah looking really hot. After dinner every night we would go back to our rooms to find our beds turned down, a chocolate on our pillow and a list of the next days events. And the best part was that they would make an animal out of a towel. So cute! This is Matt's and mine elephant kissing Ben and Leah's.



























Day Two - Cozumel, Mexico
Our first port was in Cozumel. We decided not to do any of the tours because there just wasn't anything that really sounded amazing. Instead Ben, Matt, Leah and I went and did a little shopping and had the best food I have ever eaten in my life! It was so interesting to see Christmas decorations all over the place and be walking around sweating! I LOVED it! The place that we went for lunch was so good. They made the Guacamole right in front of us and we drank good Mexican beer (Corona is not what they drink...just the tourists...apparently much like Foster's, Corona is the joke they played on the world!). After eating we sat at the bar on the hysterical bar stools that were really saddles. After lunch we went and did a little shopping. Leah and I bought some new shoes and some souvenirs. Benny got some Cuban Cigars and Matt bought some Tequila. We weren't allowed to bring bottles of alcohol on the boat, we were supposed to check them and then we would get them back when we got off in Miami. Unfortunately Matt wanted to drink his so he put it in a water bottle, but the customs people were too smart for that and caught him. They took it away...so sad...but at least he has this funny picture with a donkey! That night Dad, Ben, Leah,and Matt went into Cozumel for dinner (the boat didn't leave until 10pm) and I stayed on board and went for dinner with Mum, Grandma, and Aunt Gail. So nice to spend time with them!









































Day Three - Out to Sea
Our third day on the boat was at sea heading from Mexico to Grand Cayman. It was a pretty typical day of sleeping in, tanning, swimming, drinking, napping, and reading. That night at dinner the waiters threw on some frilly tops and did a little dance for us. Our waiter Julian really got us all into it and you can see Grandma just givin'er in the purple.







Day Four - No Grand Cayman
Unfortunately when we arrived at Grand Cayman the waters were too choppy so the Port Authority closed the ports and we weren't able to get off the boat. Instead all our excursion money was refunded and the crew gave us an extra $25. Not bad considering it was the weather's fault. Instead we spent the day hanging out on the boat, playing Bingo, Trivia Games, and getting burnt on the deck. That night Dad, me, Leah, and the boys decided to check out the cigar bar on the boat. It was a really fun night. It turns out that one of the musicians in the Jazz band that plays in the bar was from Sudbury...such a small world! Matt was so mad at me for jumping in this picture of him and Ben...look at his face...its like he already knew! But then he saw it and thought it was pretty funny so I got to sleep in the room and not in the hall!







Day Five - Ocho Rios, Jamaica
The day that we were all most excited about had to be our stop in Jamaica. Mum, Dad, Leah, the boys, Aunt Denise, Uncle Jim, Kelsey, and I all decided to start the day off with a climb up Dunn's River Falls. Before we were allowed to climb we had to change our sandals to water shoes. The woman laughed at Matt when he asked for a pink pair...she even questioned his manhood....so funny! The falls were amazing! There were probably about 40 of us in our group and with 2 guides and two people taking pictures and video. Everyone helped each other to climb up, but you'll just have to take my word for it. Unfortunately all of our pictures were taken on film so none of them are digital so can't be put online but do a google search and you'll see lots of random pictures! After the falls we went to Dolphin Cove. Here we could swim with dolphins, sharks or stingrays, or we could snorkel. Leah, Kelsey, Ben, Matt, and I decided to just be cheap and did the Rain forest Walk. It was pretty cool. We all took a picture with a parrot that liked to make out (for serious! The Keeper asked if Ben and I wanted a kiss and the thing tried to jam his tongue in my mouth! It reminded me of a few dates I have had!), then everyone except Kelsey took a picture with Elvis the Iguana. Matt and Leah HATE snakes so Ben and I were the only ones who were brave enough to take a picture with it.

















































After our adventures with the animals we did a little shopping then got back on the boat for our second formal dinner. Here's a picture of the whole family looking all dressed up in our snazzy outfits. Unfortunately with 12 people it took a few minutes to get us all organized enough to look at the camera at the same time. Kathy brought some fake teeth so a bunch of people put them in for two pictures and then took them out for one. No one told Grandma because we thought it would be funny for her to see them. Unfortunately she didn't find it to funny...but the rest of us loved it! Here are my two VERY handsome brothers in their suits. I still can't believe how grown up they are! After dinner Kelsey, me, Leah, Ben & Matt decided to check out some more of the night life on the boat. We got a few buckets of beer, danced, laughed, and had a great time...Kelsey and I even looked up a few kilts to see if there was anything underneath...unfortunately we weren't steady enough to tell.
























Day Six - Last Day on the Ship!
Our last day on the ship was a pretty relaxed one. Most of us were done with the sun (or were too burnt to lay out anymore!) so did a little shopping on the boat. In the afternoon we all (except Gail who we forgot to tell) got together and played a round of mini-putt. It was so fun! The oldest from each room teamed up with the youngest from another room...and the oldest team won! Grandma was really on fire with 2 or 3 holes in one. After the game Kelsey, Aunt Denise, Leah, and I went for a steam in the Spa and then we all met again for our last dinner in the Dinning Room.












So that was our Cruise adventure! There is so much that I left out because there just isn't enough room to include it all but I'll be sure to share the pictures whenever I see any of you!

Friday, January 19, 2007

No Chopped Liver!

I received a message from Aunt Michell asking whether or not I thought my family was chopped liver because I didn't mention my visit with them...Well NO you aren't! I was just waiting for some of the pictures that Mum took so that I could post them too! It was a great day in Niagara Falls visiting with the Gulka Clan. Here are just a few pictures because for some reason I didn't take any! I guess I was just so excited to be chatting with everyone! I love our Gulka days and can't wait for another one!

Kristian, Kim and Robin





Noel, Ben, Me, Leah, Aunt Lois & Jen



Aunt Jen, Uncle Mike & Aunt Michell



Aunt Jane & Daddy

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

...3,2,1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!




Before heading out on the town for the night, we decided that it was really important to fill our tummies with some yummy food...this is Adam & Heidi at the Red Papaya.
PS Isn't Heidi HOTT as a Burnett?!?






Adro and Sheena (the hair cut twins) at dinner at the Red Papaya...so yummy!





2007 is the year of the finger heart! So do it, love it, pass it on!!!
Adam...I think you have something in your teeth!








LOOK OUT ADRO!!! ITS CRAZY SCISSOR LADY AND SHE'S GOING FOR YOUR HAIR!
Just kidding...Adrian realized that he needed a little hair trim before the big night out...don't you love our smock?




Now this is what I call creative co-operation! The scissors were just plain old kitchen scissors though and SO blunt that it took a lot of effort to cut the hair. But we made it look HOTT!





Its always important to get all the little snips of hair after you cut someones hair dry...they can get into your clothes and be very itchy!








Yes, Adrian is checking out Heidi's boobies in her super hot boobielicious top!






Cheers Adam!









Happy Boys Adam & Naeem...looking so yummy I might add!










Group Picture! Heidi, Adam and Adrian enjoying some of the free champagne...bubbly always tastes better when its free!


I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! Singing my heart out to something good!





This is why I am the Queen of Class! Not only is this the best way to dance while holding two bottles of champagne, allowing you to keep one of your hands free...its also a great why to keep cool!







Bathroom break! Lip gloss, teeth check, pee break and out the door!






Finger Hearts!!!







Adrian and I doing some sort of dance routine...it obviously had nothing to do with the 2 bottles I am holding!





Heidi and I the two Party Queens....seriously though...isnt she so hot with brown hair?!?








Dirty Wall Dancing Queen...shake that booty!







And now Dirty Dancing with Adam!












Adrian and Heidi sharing a New Years hug





Practicing for the icecapades...we are going to rock that audition!














That's all folks!!! Hope your New Years night was as fabulous as mine was!