Tag Archives: Christmas

Walking Stockholm. With Gifts and Christmas Snow.

January 8, 2019 Tiny 70 Comments

She smiled and greeted me when I stepped into the British Airways lounge area close to my departure gate at Chicago O’Hare airport. I greeted her and handed over my two remaining boarding passes on this “points trip” to celebrate Christmas in Sweden. She lifted her head and with a big smile she asked if I would like to sit in the first class on my trip to London. I said I would love to but didn’t have enough points to do the upgrade. She smiled even wider and handed me my first class boarding pass. “You’re worth it”, she said.

It was an early Christmas gift I was grateful for and thoroughly enjoyed. After a delicious dinner and some champagne, I changed into my provided pajamas, received my pillows and a comforter, and slept practically until touchdown at Heathrow. For the first time ever, I slept through the breakfast service! But there was one more ribbon on my gift yet to be opened, a wonderful sit-down breakfast in the 1st class arrival lounge.

I felt rested and well fed for the rest of my journey to Stockholm. When we approached the Arlanda airport I glanced out of the window – and saw snow! I would experience my first white Christmas in over 20 years. Another unexpected gift.

I thoroughly enjoyed the long walks that Beppe, the poodle, took us on every day along Stockholm’s snow covered sidewalks and paths through the many parks. As you can see this Florida girl was properly attired for the winter weather with a hooded buffer jacket, snow boots and borrowed warm gloves.

I made some interesting discoveries on our walks, like this Santa climbing up the side of a tall condo building in my sister’s neighborhood. And the sentinel cats guarding a shop door.

The blue hour was always beautiful…the snow adding a magical hue.

And the late night walks allowed me to immerse in the feeling of warmth of the Swedish Christmas – despite the below freezing temperatures. Most windows in the city were lit with chandeliers or Christmas stars, like this one at my sister’s…

… and many courtyards of these over a century old buildings were decorated with lit trees.

Very festive and beautiful indeed.

On the Saturday before Christmas I visited my aunt in Gothenburg. A convenient MTR Express speed train now provides a three-hour connection between the two cities. It was great to see her after 13 years! And I couldn’t complain about the all natural Christmas decorations at the Central Station in Gothenburg.

On the Sunday before Christmas, as is customary in Sweden, we visited the grave site of a recently departed loved one. The cemetery was beautiful in its all white outfit. And light snow was still falling.

After some silent moments of remembering our loved one, we felt it was time for an afternoon ‘fika’. And the nearby café offered coffee and lots of goodies to choose from.

Warmed up by a good fika I decided it was time for an afternoon solo walk. I wanted to see some of my favorite places again.
The old town was charming with snow-covered sidewalks and lots of lights outside and inside the shops.

I walked the narrow streets and slippery cobble stone alleys to the Royal Palace, which rises at the north end of the Old Town.

The Old Town is sometimes called “the city between bridges” as there are seven bridges connecting this island, first inhabited in mid to late 1100s, to other islands that form the city of Stockholm. I walked out from the Old Town via the Riksbron bridge.

From that bridge I admired the City Hall and the Centralbron bridge on one side and the Royal Opera House and the Strömbron bridge on the other.

I loved the beautiful Christmas lights on and around these bridges.

By now I was really cold and needed something warming. I stepped into a busy bistro and Santa kindly offered me a tasty Irish coffee.

I lingered inside long enough to feel my toes again. Then stepped back outside on the busy Queen’s Street full of shoppers making last minute gift purchases.

I walked to the Central Square and took the metro for a couple of stops back to my sister’s. My walking quote for the day was full.

Now it was the time to carry home and decorate the live tree… and bake the Christmas tarts. While my sister decorated the tree, I baked the tarts. To be enjoyed with a cup of warm glögg, of course.

In Sweden the Christmas Eve is the time for a sumptuous Christmas dinner, glam and gift giving, while the Christmas Day is more for quiet contemplation and celebration of the real gift of Christmas.

Our dinner was delicious with all the traditional Christmas dishes, from two kinds of hams, all the vegetable casseroles and Janson’s Temptation to small sausages, meat balls, beet salads, red cabbage etc. etc. Poor Beppe was left guarding the presents under the tree while we lingered at the table enjoying all that food. Finally Santa came and Beppe could open his presents, among them a toy squirrel from Florida. He thoroughly enjoyed chasing it.

Needless to say my Christmas was warm and wonderful. Full of love…

… and good food 🙂 Luckily Beppe took us out several times a day, and on Boxing Day we did a long walk around the Karlberg Kanal in the bleak winter sun.

At a marina out there, I spotted an interesting weather forecasting device. A hanging stone.

Since many of my readers don’t speak Swedish, I will provide the translation of the forecasting guidance here:

CONDITION OF THE STONE	FORECAST
The stone is wet	Rain
The stone is dry	No rain
The stone casts a shadow on the ground	Sunny
The stone is white on the top	Snow
The stone is not visible	Fog
The stone swings	Strong winds
The stone jumps up and down	Earthquake
The stone is missing	Tornado

That made me smile. And I saw a faint shadow of the stone on the snow, a treat during a long walk in nature.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and soon it was time to travel back home. But the good memories last. I am still musing on the wonderful time I had.

I wish you all ‘happy continuation on the new year’ or ‘god fortsättning’ as we say in Sweden. May this year bring you many blessings.

Holiday Season, Photography, Travel

Christmas. And Stockholm in My Heart.

January 3, 2018 Tiny 83 Comments

Darkness fell early. Around 3 p.m. But it wasn’t really dark. Stockholm, my former home town, was lit up for the holiday season. Chandeliers and Christmas stars lit up almost every window of the respectably old buildings in the city. And the streets were decorated with Christmas lights.

The day before Christmas Eve, I decided to take a pre-dinner walk down the memory lane in the historic Old Town. Coming up from the metro station I was happy it wasn’t raining. My puffer jacket proved its worth in the near freezing temperatures and I felt ready for a long urban hike. A man selling Christmas flowers greeted me from inside his tent.

I walked the narrow cobble stone alleys admiring the old buildings, a few built as early as the 13th/14th century, most in the 15th to 19th century. All of them modernized for comfortable city living.

Walking on one of the main streets, I made a nostalgic discovery. Our favorite Italian restaurant from the late 70s and 80s, Michel Angelo, was still there.

I walked closer and snapped a picture of a very special table. Husband and I sat there one cold night in February over 30 years ago. And got the fastest service ever. You see, I was expecting our son. And it was obvious he would arrive soon. The waiter politely asked me when the baby was due. I responded truthfully that he was due two days ago. I will never forget the expression on his young face. Needless to say our pizzas arrived in record time. Quattro Stagioni with different toppings for each quarter, like the four seasons.

Here I was, so many years later, a reflection in the window of my memories.

I continued my walk trying to find my way to Stortorget, the main town square in Old Town, where the traditional Christmas Market has been held every year since the 1920s.

My sense of direction has always been poor so I ended up enjoying many an old building on my way. I came to a smaller square, Järntorget, where a big tree lit up the surrounding buildings. And tomtar, reindeers, dala horses and viking helmets filled the shop windows.

I crisscrossed a few more alleys and finally heard the music and saw the familiar sights of the Christmas Market.

I lingered there between the stalls for quite a while. I was looking for a Yule Goat, just like the one husband had bought over 30 years ago. And found the last remaining one! It is now continuing the tradition in our son’s family home. I also found warm glögg and enjoyed a small cup with a ginger bread cookie in the company of visitors from Japan and Poland.

It was all so familiar. Heartwarming. I felt at home right there standing in the crowd sipping my glögg.

Now all warmed up, I continued my journey through the Old Town finding many interesting buildings and churches built starting in the latter part of the middle ages.

And finally arrived at the Royal Palace. It has over 600 rooms, but looking up from the darkened court-yard only a few windows were lit here and there. A soldier stood guard at one of the entrances.

From there I walked down the castle hill and continued towards another island, Riddarholmen, the Island of the Knight. You see, while the earliest findings of human activity in the Stockholm area date back to the stone age, about 6000 B.C., the city of Stockholm was built starting in 1180 and was officially established in 1252 on Stadsholmen, or the Town Island now broadly referred to as the Old Town. The city then gradually expanded onto several other islands connected by bridges.

From there I could spot Kungsholmen, the King’s Island, were we used to live in our early years in Stockholm. And where we got married at the City Hall seen in the distance.

From the bridge to Riddarholmen I also spotted the Royal Opera House lit in changing colors for the festive season.

I then walked over the bridge to the beautifully lit city center…

…and took the metro a couple of stops back to my sister’s home, also located in a century old building in central Stockholm.

Once inside, I was wrapped in the warmth of the Christmas spirit…

…served delicious traditional meals, loved and hugged by family.

And I was kissed by a sweet boy. He did a great job in comforting me when I missed Dylan. While being the first without my dad and husband, this Christmas truly nurtured my heart and soul.

Thank you for being here, and for all your encouragement throughout 2017. I wish you all good health, renewed joy, love and peace. May your light burn bright in 2018.

Holiday Season, Photography, Travel

Yule Goat.

December 17, 2017 Tiny 70 Comments

Snow boots. A hooded winter coat. Gloves. Leggings and jeans. Wool sweaters. Layering tops. Christmas gifts. My trusted carry-on refuses to collaborate. It will not close. And don’t dare to sit on it. I give up and go to fetch my large suitcase. The Florida girl is going to Sweden.

I feel emotional. Browsing my photo libraries for pictures of Christmases past. I travel back in time. All the way to our son’s very first Christmas. He’s crawling under the lower branches of our live Christmas tree. Mesmerized by the lights and the sparkling tinsel garland. It’s Christmas in Stockholm.

Our home is filled with seasonal aromas. Ham and rutabagas, potato, carrot and macaroni casseroles. Meatballs and spicy sausages. Jansson’s Temptation and herring salad. I’m in the kitchen cooking traditional Christmas dishes for my little family. Husband and son play in the living room. The camera clicks.

Snow. I taste the word. Cold. Fluffy. Beautiful. And again I’m back in Stockholm. Playing in the snow with my son. Husband taking pictures. Those precious moments frozen in time.

And soon I will be there again. Same city, different time. Christmas. Hopefully white. Long walks with my sister’s family and their poodle. Beautifully decorated streets and shop windows. Delicious traditional dishes. Christmas market in the historic Old Town.

I look at the old yule goat on my dining table. Its yellow straws and red ribbons are still fairly intact, after faithfully standing on whatever table it decided to jump onto for over 30 years. Every Christmas, on three different continents. It asks me if I remember. I nod.

It is a crisp, snowy December evening. The Old Town is wrapped in Christmas spirit. Seasonal music streams from the market stalls. Warm glögg and lussekatter. Husband stops at a stall and the yule goat becomes part of the family. Life is good.

Now silently conversing with the yule goat Love wraps me in a warm blanket. So much to be grateful for. I wish you all a wonderful, soul-warming Christmas and a happy holiday season. Feel the spirit.

Dog Life, Holiday Season, Photography

Christmas Photo Shoot. I Don’t Think So.

December 21, 2016 Tiny 63 Comments

It’s not even Christmas yet, but I’ve had it. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m looking forward to my first Christmas with mom and dad. Anticipating great celebrations with my new extended family. Including Amelia, the white Chihuahua, whom I’m excited to meet for the first time. But I’m done with all the pre-holiday hubbub.

You see, yesterday mom told me we’re going to the grooming place. I tried to hide behind dad’s legs under the table. But she found me. Then I tried to show my disappointment in what was going on by not jumping into her car. She lifted me up. Once in the passenger seat, I turned my back to mom and didn’t even look at her. Not once. She should have gotten the hint. I don’t like grooming and baths. The people there are all wonderful, but I just don’t like the ‘pampering’. But mom carried me in there and I patiently went through all the motions. I was happy when I was done and she came to pick me up. We went to Petco together before driving home. That was a small reward.

I had a great time there and thought all this pre-holiday stuff was finally behind me. But no. This afternoon mom told me we were going to do a holiday photo shoot. I had no idea what that meant. But when I saw the camera and the Santa hats, I knew it was nothing I’d enjoy. In addition to the possibly blinding effects of the camera, it was obvious that one of the hats I was supposed to wear was huge and the other far too small. Sigh.

But I tried to comply with mom’s wishes after my best ability. While showing my displeasure with the whole procedure. We go though worse trials for love. So she took a few pictures. But just when I thought it was over, she told me there were no pictures. No pictures? Something was wrong with a card she had put in her camera. We would need to do it all over again! Let me be straight. That. Was. Too. Much.

I have to confess that when dad got involved as the wingman in the second photo shoot, I decided not to collaborate in any way or manner. He whistled for me to jump on the sofa in mom’s office, but I saw right through it. He had no treats. So I remained all alone with the Christmas tree in the living room. Why can’t they just take pictures of each other?

Finally mom came out and went to the kitchen. More precisely, to the pantry I know houses my treats. On the uppermost shelf. That was progress. She emerged with two pieces of my favorite pumpkin cookies. Deceptively she held a cookie piece above the sofa in her office, and I went for it. So there I was, my resolve not to be photographed again in small crumbles. And what did I do? I let her have her shot. But only one. We needed to get over this hump.

I hope you see what I mean. It should be obvious. This was not what I wanted. And those ridiculous ‘singing’ dogs and reindeers around me. Excuse me. Lets forget about this next year, shall we mom? Now I’m just hoping for one simple thing, a peaceful Christmas. No stress. No more hubbub. Kind and joyful spirit. As it should be.

Oh, it’s time for my evening walk. I think I’ll make mom run. She should get used to regular running just in case she’ll put on weight over the holidays. See, I love her even after all she put me through.

Mom and I wish you all wonderful Holidays, whether alone or with family and friends. Bring a smile on someone’s face with your kindness. Now that all the ‘stuff’ is behind me, I hope, I intend to do just that. With love, Dylan

Holiday Season, Nature, Photography

Christmas Morning at the Salt Marsh. But Don’t Come without a Gift. Please.

December 26, 2015 Tiny 74 Comments

The Christmas morning was beautiful. Little on the warm side. Okay, we were probably one of the warmest places in the country. No jacket required, not even in church. Late morning everybody was heading to the beach, including Santa.

I got out too, for a much needed walk. A solitary break from cooking and eating. And eating again. I took the shortcut through our garden to the beach and then to the salt marsh.

It was very peaceful. You see, the park was actually closed. No cars coming in. The birds were not many either. A couple of Great Egrets, a few White Ibis, Moorhens and several Night Herons sleeping in the bushes.

This juvenile was the only one agreeable to a photo shoot. Albeit half-heartedly.

When I arrived to the east end of the marsh, the Osprey nest was empty. But I enjoyed the company of the “duckies” who have pretty much reserved the deep water for themselves. A young Moorhen came up on land and was quite funny walking the “plank” with his big feet.

Soon the Ibis also wanted to show me his style, balancing on the edge of the installation that regulates the ocean water coming into the marsh.The young Muscovy duck was resting further out, at the corner of the same installation. He lifted his head to acknowledge me, but didn’t move.

I was admiring the little Grebe, who seems to have made the marsh her home, when Mama Sandy flew into her nest.

After saying hello, she settled on the back edge of the nest and scanned the skies. Looking up, I didn’t see anything interesting.

And she scanned the ground too. Two unleashed dogs came running with their owner. When outside the dog park, dogs must be on leash. But I don’t think they knew how to read. It’s a pity that their human didn’t either.

Mama Sandy continued to stare at the sky, and suddenly she gave a sharp, loud warning. I saw the young Great Blue Heron approaching the nest with his landing gear already down.

But Sandy was adamant he wasn’t welcome. Full stop. So he picked up his legs and flew towards the bay side. Soon after that I saw Papa Stanley fly high up in the sky, not far from the nest.

And he was coming close. Very close. He was about to land, but Sandy told him not to come to the nest. Not without the customary gift!

See, that’s a clear message. You don’t arrive empty-handed. Stanley changed his mind in the last minute. Sandy knows what she wants. And he knows very well he needs to bring a gift to be allowed into the nest. So he flew towards the bay. This courting is getting serious.

Soon after Stanley disappeared from sight, Sandy flew away too. Maybe to check on him.

When I walked out from the park, I spotted the Northern Mockingbird again. He lives somewhere close to the wooden fence of the park. He was in deep thought. Very serious. Maybe he’s been following the Osprey saga, and was pondering where to find a mate of his own.

Just before arriving home, I saw Sandy and Stanley flying together very far over the bay. It looked like she would get her gift. Sooner or later. Stanley had already caught a fish. I didn’t get a good picture of the two of them as they flew so far apart, but I’ll share what I’ve got so you’ll see I’m not kidding. He clearly has a fish. In less than ten minutes. There’s hope for this romance.

With that continuing excitement at the salt marsh, I wish you all a great Boxing Day! Peace.

Holidays, Humor, Nature

Peeking into the Salt Marsh. While My Turkey Was Cooking.

December 26, 2014 Tiny 27 Comments

I just had to go to the salt marsh on Christmas Eve while my turkey was cooking. Needed to wish Happy Holidays to all my feathered friends, and deliver the greetings many of you sent to the “team”.

Upon arrival I was greeted by a dragonfly in full holiday attire. She was busy, just posed quickly for the photo shoot and then flew away.

A Great Egret was playing Santa and delivering Christmas gifts. No reindeer needed. He left a small package in the grass, not far from the osprey nest. Maybe a treat for Papa Osprey?

In a tree next to the deep water, a Green Heron was happily guarding his stocking. It had already been filled by Santa, and was now hanging securely next to him.

Then I heard music! An Ibis was singing carols, accompanied by bells in a nearby tree. His deep baritone entertained everyone in the salt marsh for quite a while. Including me.

When I arrived at Mama Osprey’s nest nobody was home. I sat for a while on my usual bench admiring her decorations. Suddenly I saw her fly in with a huge branch! She has started restoring the nest on her own! She worked hard before she was happy with the placement of this large beam. I was impressed. Again.

After wishing them all Happy Holidays, I hurried back home to check on my turkey. It was a nice little walk before all that eating 🙂 Many more walks are needed, however, in the next few days.

PO, Bumble and I say thanks for the many beautiful cards received from blogging friends thanks to Jackie’s Great Christmas Card Exchange! And we thank you all for being such an inspiring part of our year. ❤ Tiny

Ps. This post has been edited after publishing when I discovered that Papa Osprey (PO) actually was Mama Osprey.

Holiday Season

Christmas Is Love in Action

December 23, 2014 Tiny 31 Comments

Christmas, my child, is love in action. –Dale Evans

The whole crew at Tinylessonsblog wishes all friends, followers and visitors Happy Holidays filled with Love, Peace and Joy!

Tiny and her two sidekicks, Bumble and Papa Osprey

Just Life, Photography

Changing Horizons. Literally.

December 17, 2014 Tiny 30 Comments

The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. – Christopher McCandless

Last night was gorgeous, clear skies and calm waters all around us. The lights from the beach establishments reflected beautifully on the strait between the ocean and the bay at the north end of the nature reserve.

clearwater beach at night — The strait beyond the nature reserve as seen from our terrace

And the bay side did not disappoint either. With the lights from the city dressing up its calm waters, the bay looked somewhat more grown-up and sophisticated than the laid back birds’ paradise I’ve often pictured.

Clearwater fl bay at night — The bay side at night as seen from our terrace

Approaching home in the cool night after a walk with Bumble, the lighted palm trees brought a warm feel of the approaching holidays.

xmas lights Sand key fl — Lighted palms bring holiday cheer

That was last night. This morning was a different story. We woke up to an eerie landscape. Only a builder’s crane stuck up from the fog on the beach side of the strait.

crane in the fog — A crane sticks up from the fog

Then, gradually, we could see the tallest buildings, the nature reserve and the ocean emerge from the fog.

nature reserve Sand key park in fog — The nature reserve emerges from the fog

I was on my second cup of coffee, when the fog finally drifted on to the ocean like a long snake on the water.

fog on the ocean gulf coast sand key clearwater — The “fog snake” swims out to the ocean

As the salt marsh was clearing from the fog, I had to check on Papa Osprey. He was in the nest, perched on his favorite spot enjoying the first rays coming though the fog. But he had no breakfast. I was happy the visibility was rapidly increasing, PO could finally go fishing.

osprey in the morning fog — Papa Osprey (as seen from our terrace) soaks up the first rays when the fog is lifting

I hope you enjoy your fishing today, wherever it might take you. May your horizons be pleasant and your suns bright.

Just Life

Lions for Christmas. Out of the Blue.

December 21, 2013 Tiny 10 Comments

One year in the last century, completely out of the blue, we got lions for Christmas! For some odd reason I had completely forgotten about this particular, shall we say, slightly different holiday experience when I wrote about the holidays we have celebrated in various corners of this earth. But last night I saw this funny lion ornament my hubby had put in the tree, and it all came back to me.

It all came about entirely without planning on my part. Saying that it came out of the blue might actually not be quite truthful. That particular year it was very difficult to find blue skies where we lived, in Stockholm, Sweden. It was all grey drizzle, ice and snow starting from mid November.

So one day I get this call from a reputable development agency. They asked if I was interested in doing an urgent evaluation of a heath care project in Zimbabwe the following month. December. That was interesting. I had a regular job and so did my hubby. But the thought of doing something truly worthwhile in a warm place – and as a bonus being able to skip all holiday stress, was intriguing. So I braved myself and asked my employer for a month of unpaid leave starting the second week of December. It wouldn’t hurt asking, I hoped. To my total surprise my employer agreed! And so did my hubby’s employer. It must have been the good cause that persuaded them – or was it simply the good old times?

So one snowy morning in early December we were on our way to London and further to Harare, where we established our home for the holidays in a small hotel room. I worked every weekday, and sometimes until late at night, but on the weekends and holidays we were able to explore the sights together.

Our first weekend outing was to the impressive Chapungu Sculpture Park in the outskirts of Harare. The exhibition included hundreds of beautiful stone sculptures of people, animals and some mystical beings by contemporary Zimbabwean and other African sculptors.

We spent almost a full day there walking around, admiring the works and talking to the sculptors “in residence”, who were actually working right there in the park.

I found this stone cat truly charming but he was too fat to take home in the suitcase so I opted for much smaller sculptures from there, like this stylized stone elephant.

zim stone elephant ed

Unfortunately it seems that this wonderful sculpture park has not fared well through the recent times.

The next day we visited a nearby crocodile farm and a snake exhibition. I think our son will never forget his spitting cobra experience. For obvious reasons I didn’t get a picture of that fast action.

The following week my work took me out of the capital to the town of Masvingo in south-eastern Zimbabwe. As this town is close to the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, we decided to spend the following weekend in a small resort at walking distance from the ruins.

Great Zimbabwe was the capital of Kingdom of Zimbabwe in iron age. It was constructed by the ancestors of today’s Shona people over more than three centuries in the 1100-1400s. It covers almost 1800 acres and may have been inhabited by up to 18,000 people in its heyday.

Zim ruins ed

The ruins are impressive, constructed completely of stone – without mortar. I was truly fascinated by them. Walking there I could still sense some of the lively energy that once inhabited this walled city. It was a very interesting pre-Christmas weekend.

Christmas fell on the following weekend. We spent the Christmas eve and day quietly. Took long walks in the city, stayed at the pool and did all our dining in the hotel’s excellent restaurants. No cooking or hassle. No tree, just a fresh flower arrangement that the hotel had kindly provided for its Christmas guests.

Then we watched the mid-night mass on TV and it brought some additional Christmas spirit to our holiday. Our son got a couple of small presents Santa had bought for him at Heathrow. He was happily playing with his new remote-controlled car on the pool deck and in the hotel room. I’m sure he sneaked it into the hotel corridor as well – for a quick speed test.

On Boxing Day we took a drive out of the city to a small wildlife sanctuary. It was not a real safari, of course, as the lions were in a large enclosure, separated from other wildlife.

But we could observe them at a close range as long as we wanted, like this huge male taking a nap in the afternoon sun. And then, during a game drive, we saw many species of antelopes, zebras, ostrich and hyenas.

Even after having lions for Christmas, our son’s absolute favorite was this old tortoise. He was huge and over 250 years old!

For our last weekend outing before returning home and to work, we drove to Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe to celebrate the New Year. I believe Lake Kariba is still the world’s largest manmade lake.

It covers 2,150 sq miles (5,580 sq kilometers) and was formed when one of the world’s largest dams, the Kariba dam, was built in Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in late 1950s. The lake has quite a dramatic history in terms of displacement and resettlement of about 57,000 people and the famous 1960-61 rescue of thousands of large wild animals and numerous small species from the rising waters of the lake. In many parts of the lake, one could still see the dead trees sticking up out of the water.

We stayed at the then very fresh Caribbea Bay resort situated right on the lake Kariba shores. In addition to resting and swimming in the pools, we did some wonderful excursions on the lake by boat to see the spectacular sunsets. We saw some wildlife too, like hippos, crocs and a large variety of birds.

We did not have the time to visit Victoria Falls, but you can find a post about that beautiful spot on earth here.

All in all, this was a wonderful holiday season. It was somewhat work filled for me, but also offered relaxation and some very interesting experiences for our little family. We did return to work, kindergarten and our daily routines thoroughly refreshed after 12+ days of Christmas. The lion in the tree is a good reminder.

I will take a small break from blogging and editing my book to spend some quality time with family. It’s been a great year for me with so many new friendships formed in the blogging community from all corners of the world. Thank you everyone!