Gan-Garoo Australian Zoo 5/26/2013

After swimming at the Sahne we went to the Australian park next door called Gan-Garoo. It has Red Kangaroo that you can feed and interact with it was so much FUN!!!

Tristan, Olivia, and Michael loved to be right by the Animals

Jonathan was much more hesitant to feed them but was still excited to be there. (could be that he didn't wear any shoes and had to hobble around, goof ball)

Tristan loved to feed the animals, he wasn't afraid at all. 

They also had Goats that the kids could feed and play with.

There were birds, lizards, and koala bears that you could see but not feed.

The Sahne- Gan Hashlosha 5/26/2013

Is a natural spring in northern Israel that is 28 degrees Celsius year round, it isn't nearly as warm as Moapa but it feels nice during the summer time. If you hold really still fishes come to nibble at your dead skin. We took our snorkel gear and a camera and went with some friends of ours the Slights. The kids didn't want to leave but I wanted to go to the Gan-Garoo (Australian park) while we were there, since they are next door to each other.

Olivia's Princess Birthday Party!!! 5/19/2013

We threw a princess party for Olivia and it turned out so well. It was a frustrating morning trying to find a pinata in Israel but after driving around to a couple of party stores, and with the help of an Israeli friend we got a pinata. (the one I ordered on Amazon never came)

We had crown decorating, fingernail painting and games like pass the poison apple, kiss the frog prince, balance the book on your head to learn graceful walking, and of course the pinata.

The girls seemed to just eat it all up and they were so cute and happy. Olivia had a great day and now I can breath with relief. 

Rome Day 1 April 11 2013

When in Rome....

Going to the Borghese Gardens was a huge surprise for us. We knew we were going through a garden to get to the Borghese Gallery but we didn't realize how big and beautiful the gardens were that surround it. It was amazingly beautiful, you could literally spend an entire day just strolling and relaxing in the Gardens.

We made our way to the Borghese Gallery and saw some of the most amazing sculptures.

          Apollo and Daphne                                Pluto and Proserpina       

After the Museum I talked Chris into renting a little motorized pedal car and spending some time in the garden. (It was a total highlight for me)

We also took some silly pictures.

We couldn't go to Rome and not sit on the Spanish steps. Did we eat Gelato on them like tradition suggests?.......

No, but we kissed and that was romantic enough :)

 

Oh.... the Trevi Fountian, has got to be one of our very top favorites.

Yes, even though it was overly crowded we did get to sit on the rim of the Fountain and toss our coin in.

Rome Day 2 April 12 2013

St. Peters Basilica was our first stop of the morning and because we got there first thing we missed all of the lines. 

The Pieta Italian for "Pity" by Michelangelo was such a touching sculpture and so beautiful.

The Vatican and its museum was really neat although Chris and I were both a bit disappointed in the Sistine Chapel. It was so big and the main part, with the fingers touching (the hand of God giving life to Adam) it is so minuscule in comparison to the whole ceiling. But it was still really cool to have been there.

What a shame though that there are no pictures allowed, I totally hated all of the Museums that we would pay to go in and not be able to capture memories with a camera. Grrrr.

Below is a stained glass window that I loved in the Vatican.

The Colosseum was next on our stop, we did the audio tour and learned a lot about it. 

It was very interesting to learn about the animal hunts and gladiator games that were held in the arena.

Just a short walk from the Colosseum is Palatine hill. It was a very pretty walk and had some very interesting ruins.

Palatine Hill was also the home of Caesar Augustus during his reign.

Roman Forum the ruins of an old market place was another sight right by the Colosseum. It was so big that we only walked around a short while. 

We were not fortunate to be in the Pantheon during a rain storm but it's open ceiling was still pretty cool.

Out Side the Pantheon (Temple for the Gods)