From Europe to Africa in America - A Sisters' Expedition

[PNO4TE]

Elin, I thought it was the Wildlife Discovery Excursion which is a safari tour for CL guests that was going away. I had not heard about Wild by Design also ending. That would be a shame, it is such a unique tour!

You are so right, Magdalene! Sorry about that mistake. Blame it on the heat wave we are having here in Virginia... 102 with a heat index of 117 yesterday. My brain was cooking a little, I think.

I will go back and edit my post so no one gets mis-information!

 

[nodnol]

Thank you again for your help! It has been suggested to look on ebay for a used phone. I think I will start there and then get the SIM card when we arrive. Oh do you think 3 and 1/2 days is enough time to see Berlin? At least the highlights? Once again thank you!

I hpe you won't mind me commenting on that
In my opinion 3.5 days is enough to see a lot of the sights as well as to just enjoy the city and its atmosphere. A lot of Germans travel to the capital for a "long weekend" arriving on thursday and leaving on sunday. I think it is great that you are prepared to spend so much time in Berlin. Most overseas travellers stay only for one night...

 

[mebbradley]

I hpe you won't mind me commenting on that
In my opinion 3.5 days is enough to see a lot of the sights as well as to just enjoy the city and its atmosphere. A lot of Germans travel to the capital for a "long weekend" arriving on thursday and leaving on sunday. I think it is great that you are prepared to spend so much time in Berlin. Most overseas travellers stay only for one night...

I get to be in Berlin for an entire week within the month! I'm so excited!

 

[lovealldisney]

I hpe you won't mind me commenting on that
In my opinion 3.5 days is enough to see a lot of the sights as well as to just enjoy the city and its atmosphere. A lot of Germans travel to the capital for a "long weekend" arriving on thursday and leaving on sunday. I think it is great that you are prepared to spend so much time in Berlin. Most overseas travellers stay only for one night...

Thank you! Berlin was a must stop for my husband. It looks like a really exciting city! I can't wait to go. We have been saving for 3 years for this trip we are celebrating our 20th anniversary! We are both of german desent and we have always wanted to visit. In fact a distant cousin years ago traced my mothers family back to Germany somewhere near the Baltic Sea. He tried to gain entry to that area but was denied due to it being communist at the time. I wonder if he ever finisished. I wonder if I have relatives still there?

 

[Flossbolna]

You are so right, Magdalene! Sorry about that mistake. Blame it on the heat wave we are having here in Virginia... 102 with a heat index of 117 yesterday. My brain was cooking a little, I think.

I will go back and edit my post so no one gets mis-information!

And I went back and edited my reply in order to really reply to your new post!

102 sounds horrible enough to me! And it was kind of confusing with wild in both names... I hope you will survive the heat!

I hpe you won't mind me commenting on that

Thanks for that! You are much more the Berlin expert than me!

I get to be in Berlin for an entire week within the month! I'm so excited!

Thank you! Berlin was a must stop for my husband. It looks like a really exciting city! I can't wait to go. We have been saving for 3 years for this trip we are celebrating our 20th anniversary! We are both of german desent and we have always wanted to visit. In fact a distant cousin years ago traced my mothers family back to Germany somewhere near the Baltic Sea. He tried to gain entry to that area but was denied due to it being communist at the time. I wonder if he ever finisished. I wonder if I have relatives still there?

I guess you still have those relatives! It really sounds like a dream come true trip to you! Where else are you going to go to in Germany? I agree with Katharina that Berlin is definitely worth the time you want to spend there, there is so much too explore!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I love the update. You got some beautiful shots of an empty AK! I love the pictures of the prayer flags. So beautiful!

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey Magdelene!

The one handed typing bandit is back. I AM reading!! Really, REALLY I am, just can't respond.... just yet.

I just got up from a 4 hour nap, and it felt wonderful!

 

[eandesmom]

what a beautiful update and wonderful tour! Fun facts.

 

[winkers]

I'm trying to get caught up...but I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm loving your report!....now back to reading

 

[All7OfUs]

Good Morning, Magdelene!

I am trying to catch up and have to say, I enjoyed reading your latest update even more the second time! So much good stuff in there.

I don't love multi-quoting- I'll leave that sort of finesse to Glenn.

I think the cherry danish I got at Starring Rolls in DHS was a lot better than the one you got. Mine was more cherry-filled, and a lot less gooey looking; ie. sickly sweet with glaze. It's my #1 pick for my DHS snack still, unless I get other better suggestions soon.

Only 4 people on the tour?? That's great! I'll bet you got a lot of individual attention. Nice!

I agree the park did look a bit bare from the cold weather. I'm always impressed with how "on top of things" the gardening staff is.

My strategy for park touring here is to ride EE, get a FiP for it, then head straight back to the front of the park, so I can get some (mostly) people-less photos of the Oasis and Disc. Island. I had read in the Img. Guide about the theming and backstories for each shop. I'd love a photo for each of the four. Also, the 4 sultans of the Maharaja Trail- each one representing a different "philosophy" of life. Those are on my photolist too.

I can't even believe your photos of the tigers!!! WOW!! You'd like be sitting on them if you were any closer!

LOVED your bird photos too! They are soooooooo beautiful!

I've never seen a photo of EE getting a test run before- cool!

Ok, my hand is hurting, I need to end it here GREAT UPDATE!!

 

[Flossbolna]

I love the update. You got some beautiful shots of an empty AK! I love the pictures of the prayer flags. So beautiful!

The prayer flags give this area such a special feel! One thing I learned was that while in "real" Asia people would write real prayers on those, Disney did not want to use prayers as a decorative element without the meaning behind it. That's why there are only pictures of animals on them. I really liked that level of sensitivity. And it even can be read as a prayer or wish for the wellbeing of the animals.

what a beautiful update and wonderful tour! Fun facts.

Thanks, the tour was really wonderful!

I'm trying to get caught up...but I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm loving your report!....now back to reading

I just realized a few days ago that you were one of the readers on my very first dining review! I was writing about how sad I was that we did not get the Angel food cake at 50's PTC as dessert and you were so nice and did post a recipe for it for me. Unfortunately I still haven't tried it out... But I was thinking about making one the other day, that's why I searched on my old thread for it. I think it might be a good cake for the summer?

Hey Magdelene!

The one handed typing bandit is back. I AM reading!! Really, REALLY I am, just can't respond.... just yet.

I just got up from a 4 hour nap, and it felt wonderful!

Good Morning, Magdelene!

I am trying to catch up and have to say, I enjoyed reading your latest update even more the second time! So much good stuff in there.

I don't love multi-quoting- I'll leave that sort of finesse to Glenn.

I think the cherry danish I got at Starring Rolls in DHS was a lot better than the one you got. Mine was more cherry-filled, and a lot less gooey looking; ie. sickly sweet with glaze. It's my #1 pick for my DHS snack still, unless I get other better suggestions soon.

Only 4 people on the tour?? That's great! I'll bet you got a lot of individual attention. Nice!

I agree the park did look a bit bare from the cold weather. I'm always impressed with how "on top of things" the gardening staff is.

My strategy for park touring here is to ride EE, get a FiP for it, then head straight back to the front of the park, so I can get some (mostly) people-less photos of the Oasis and Disc. Island. I had read in the Img. Guide about the theming and backstories for each shop. I'd love a photo for each of the four. Also, the 4 sultans of the Maharaja Trail- each one representing a different "philosophy" of life. Those are on my photolist too.

I can't even believe your photos of the tigers!!! WOW!! You'd like be sitting on them if you were any closer!

LOVED your bird photos too! They are soooooooo beautiful!

I've never seen a photo of EE getting a test run before- cool!

Ok, my hand is hurting, I need to end it here GREAT UPDATE!!

I am glad that you are back to posting and don't worry about the mulit-quoting.

I think your plan for AK sounds great! But do get the FiP first, then ride EE. Oh and on those 4 sultans: each of them has a hidden Mickey as well!

The gardening stuff did an incredible job! There was so much frost damage, but the parks were incredibly beautiful still.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hey Magdelene!

Saw your link on Liesa's PTR - finally had time to come over and catch up. I am so enjoying the TR - photos are wonderful!

Jan/early Feb is a time I like to visit WDW as well - the crowds are low and weather is usually nice daytime, if chilly early morning and evening. One year it poured rain everyday during our trip the 1st weekend of February!

Looking forward to fallowing along! Very nice - thanks for sharing your trip with us!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hey Magdelene!

Saw your link on Liesa's PTR - finally had time to come over and catch up. I am so enjoying the TR - photos are wonderful!

Jan/early Feb is a time I like to visit WDW as well - the crowds are low and weather is usually nice daytime, if chilly early morning and evening. One year it poured rain everyday during our trip the 1st weekend of February!

Looking forward to fallowing along! Very nice - thanks for sharing your trip with us!

Hi Christine and Great to have you here! In past years I really enjoyed the weather at that time of the year, this year not so much. But you are right about the crowds. I will have some pics later one which are just shocking!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi everyone! I am really sorry that updates have slowed down again... Life has been busy, also in a good way. Last weekend we spend Sunday at a beautiful lake. And the enjoyed the empty motorway on the way home while we listened to the England-Germany game in the Soccer World Cup Finals. Everyone else in Germany was sitting in front of a TV!

Now this coming weekend I will be spending nearly all my time volunteering. Katharina and I both were exchange students during our high school years and still work as volunteers for our exchange organization. This weekend I will be taking part in selection interviews for future exchange students. This is always really interesting, but also quite a lot of work...

And Katharina will be off to visit her in-laws since her FIL will be celebrating his 60's birthday in big style!

Next week things should be better: My boss will return at work and that will mean less overtime!

 

[mebbradley]

Do you work with a company for the exchange students? My family hosts exchange students every year but this coming year (with the fact that we switched to a new company) we won't have a german student!

 

[Flossbolna]

Do you work with a company for the exchange students? My family hosts exchange students every year but this coming year (with the fact that we switched to a new company) we won't have a german student!

Hi! It is not a company, but a non-profit organization. That's why we are working as volunteers, the organization only has a few staff that are actually employed. I think it is wonderful that so many families are willing to host students in the US! My parents hosted for several years as well. I think it is a great way to learn more about a different country!

Aren't you off to Berlin soon? I posted something about German soft drinks the other day on Glenn's TR. You might want to check it out: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37181241#post37181241

In case I don't see you around anymore before you leave: Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hi everyone! I am really sorry that updates have slowed down again... Life has been busy, also in a good way. Last weekend we spend Sunday at a beautiful lake. And the enjoyed the empty motorway on the way home while we listened to the England-Germany game in the Soccer World Cup Finals. Everyone else in Germany was sitting in front of a TV!

Now this coming weekend I will be spending nearly all my time volunteering. Katharina and I both were exchange students during our high school years and still work as volunteers for our exchange organization. This weekend I will be taking part in selection interviews for future exchange students. This is always really interesting, but also quite a lot of work...

And Katharina will be off to visit her in-laws since her FIL will be celebrating his 60's birthday in big style!

Next week things should be better: My boss will return at work and that will mean less overtime!

Nice to hear from you again and glad you had a wonderful weekend! Good for you for volunteering with your student exchange organization .

I was a volunteer local director which included student screening, family match and placement. I met our students at the airport with their host families and watched over them during their stay. Our family also hosted for a few years. No paid positions other than the organization director. It is a wonderful opportunity for students and host families.

Enjoy your weekend and we'll look forward to an update when time permits.

 

[glennbo123]

Katharina and I both were exchange students during our high school years and still work as volunteers for our exchange organization. This weekend I will be taking part in selection interviews for future exchange students. This is always really interesting, but also quite a lot of work...

I didn't realize that. Did we talk about that before? We hosted when I was in 7th grade...that's how I got my Belgian brother Bart, who Judy and I visited in my flashback TR in my PTR. I still remember my family being interviewed before we were selected as a host family. That was 30+ years ago.

Take your time with the updates....we'll be here!

 

[All7OfUs]

Hi everyone! I am really sorry that updates have slowed down again... Life has been busy, also in a good way. Last weekend we spend Sunday at a beautiful lake. And the enjoyed the empty motorway on the way home while we listened to the England-Germany game in the Soccer World Cup Finals. Everyone else in Germany was sitting in front of a TV!

Now this coming weekend I will be spending nearly all my time volunteering. Katharina and I both were exchange students during our high school years and still work as volunteers for our exchange organization. This weekend I will be taking part in selection interviews for future exchange students. This is always really interesting, but also quite a lot of work...

And Katharina will be off to visit her in-laws since her FIL will be celebrating his 60's birthday in big style!

Next week things should be better: My boss will return at work and that will mean less overtime!

Lots going on in your world right now! Don't worry, we all patiently (sometimes) wait for each other, don't we! I imagine when I get back it'll take some time to settle in

 

[eandesmom]

it's always ok to take time out to watch the world cup!

I think that's wonderful you are both still involved with the exchange program. What a wonderful way to give back!