Banneux

Banneux is the sight of well known miracle in Belgium, where Marriette Beco saw the Virgin Mary appear to her three times giving the same message every night. At the sight there is a water source, it is said that the water from that source is holy and has healing properties. You can see people there who have travelled long distances to take some water and pray to the Virgin Mary. Mamy often goes to Banneux to take some water for herself. Here we are collecting some water at the source; Doro and I.

Belgium in Spring

After we got back from Venice we still had a couple of days of holidays so we hopped over to Belgium for four days. They'll be getting sick of us soon! But we had a very nice time. These are some photos I took one night at Kilani's appartment.

Wajdi, Sami, Mehdi, Cyrinne and Kilani (from left).

Cyrinne, Wajdi, Sami and Mehdi (from left).

We were there over the weekend, and as Dorothee had the weekend off, we decided to go with Sami and Dorothee to an Amusement Park in the country side. It was a beautiful sunny day and the scenery was just as lovely. We were even able to wear short sleeves (a real treat in Belgium!).

Here we are at the lookout (I really like my new glasses).

Sami and Dorothee on the octopus ride. We made sure we did this one before lunch!

Mia Anniversare alla Venizia!

My Birthday in Venice!

Mehdi and I were at a bit of a loss as to what to do with our holiday this month, as the Carribean Islands were off our list due to Swine Flue and flights to Aus were overbooked. So we ended up in the City of Lovers- Venice. Since we were on a bit of a budget we decided to make it short and sugary, instead of long and, well... average. So we booked in at the Palace Bonvecchiatti for two nights. And sweet it was!

Mehdi on the Vaparetto (water bus), on our way to the hotel.

Me in the St Marcs Square (pigeon mecca!).

The Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge). Legend has it that if two lovers kiss while passing under the brigde at sunset they will share life long happiness.

Gondolas on the Grand Canal.

A side 'street'.

Me at the Ponte di Rialto showing off two lovely birthday presents, sunglasses (from Mehdi) and pearl bracelet (from Mum and Dad).

Abu Dhabi

Today we went for a drive to the capital, Abu Dhabi.

We went to see a Big Boys Toys exhibition, but on the way to stopped off to see HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan's private car collection that is open to the public as 'Emirates National Auto Museum'. It's very impressive, you can check out the official website at http://www.enam.ae/ver4 for a few quick facts about His Highness see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_bin_Hamdan_Al_Nahyan he is a very interesting guy!

Mehdi with the mother of all Landies! Take that Big Pineapple! (it's a cafe!!)

'What do you mean you can't make it a monster truck!?'

'Daddy, I want the BIG one.' The world smallest *!@?, I mean the worlds largest truck! It's custom built by dodge, inside the tray is an appartment and it tows HH's scale built globe shaped carravan into the desert, duh? You can see a ute parked under it and the original and toy size in front.

Belgiqia encore

Mehdi and I had a few days off at the end of April so we took the chance to go to Belgium.

Here is Mehdi at a tiny friterie in a little town that we stopped at AS SOON AS we crossed the belgian border.

Fritte-mayo, tre belge! As it was ANZAC day, I had to have a beer! -Bitburger, not excactly a Tooheys, but it was cold and fizzy.