Pompeii, Germany, and the Curse of Dar Kastle

As part of our exploration in Busch Gardens, Germany was  the next stop.  We want to visit Europe and Germany  is one of the many places we want to see but we can't afford it yet so Busch Gardens is the closest that we did for now.  Even just roaming around  on the Germany part of the park  was quite entertaining.

The kids wanted to  try the Curse  of the Dark Kastle so we went in. We fell in line but unfortunately we were not admitted because the kids did not meet the height requirement. 

It would have been nice to experience  deep in the snow covered hills of Bavaria stands a foreboding castle frozen under the spell of a centuries-old curse. In a way, I was  relieved that we werent admitted because even though the ride  begins as an enchanted sleigh ride, it  ends in a bone-chilling chase packed with dizzying drops, surprise twists, and such sensational 3-D visuals.  I would have  peed myself  hahaha.

However, we enjoyed the mist outside and since it was getting so hot, we stayed under the mist for a while.

I think that the festhaus is the  room tucked inside Das Festhaus’s main hall that holds a beer-enthusiast’s paradise.  There are samples of  hand-crafted brews from around the world, with 30 rotating craft beers on draft, including seasonal varieties.  We didn't but it's worth taking a picture lol.

To relieve the disaapointment at DarKastle  attraction, my son rode the karousel while we sit  for a while waiting for him.  

The problem with going to a huge park like this in a very hot weather is, it makes you tired really fast.

We wanted to ride the train so that we could  relax and take a break from walking a little bit but the employees told us that it would be late since they have a mechanical problem, sigh. So we walked around a little bit and then came back afterwards.  

The Busch Gardens Railway is  a 20 minute trip around the park riding the three steam-powered locomotives whisk guests through 100 acres of lush landscaping with stops in Scotland, Festa Italia and New France for a breathtaking tour of the park.

It was a fresh breath of air.  We got to look around the parts of the park that we would have not seen by walking.

By the looks of the display at the entrance of Pompeii attraction, I got the impression that it would be a wild ride so I immediately declined from going.  My son  stayed with me  and later on, my husband came  back and did not go either because he didn't want to get wet.  My daughter was old enough to go alone although I was worried, my husband said to give her a little freedom so we let her go alone.

Pompeii attraction is an adventurous journey through the ancient ruins of Pompeii.  As history has it, even the mighty Roman Empire had been no match for Mt. Vesuvius, which draped Pompeii with a blanket of lava and ash, erasing it from the map for nearly 1,700 years.

My daughter said that the ride would certainly  require you to hold on tight as a leisurely boat ride through the ruins of this great city suddenly turns explosive. 

One rumble from the mighty mountain and the race to escape from Pompeii is on.

 After this attraction, we decided to call it a day.  We were all exhausted not because we walk a lot but because it was so hot that day.  Our time there was when Virginia was having the heat wave so it wasn't that enjoyable to really be out in the sun all day.  We did however had some fun time while out there.  

Beach Breaks: The Best Ways To Make The Most Of Your Time In The Sun

For a lot of parents, beach breaks are the preferred option for family vacations. This is because beach breaks are a lot of fun and aren’t too expensive - once you’ve paid for your accommodation and flights, there’s little else to pay for. The problem is that most sights and attractions in destinations that are popular with tourists are incredibly expensive, and when you’re traveling as a family, you have a budget to stick to. Or, at least, most families do, anyhow.

The great thing about beach breaks is that you don’t need to budget for sights and attractions, as the beach is where you will be spending the majority of your time. Of course, if you spend your entire break doing the same things day in, day out - swimming, sunbathing, and building sand castles - the chances are that your little ones will start to get bored. So it’s important to find ways to make the most of your time in the sun, and ensure that your beach break is everything that you dreamed it would be.

With that in mind, below are some ideas for ensuring that your next beach break is memorable for all the right reasons.

Choose a destination that offers activities

To ensure that while you’re away, the whole family has a good time, look for a beach destination that has plenty on offer in terms of activities. You should be able to find plenty of places that have beaches that offer a range of activities, from pedalo hire to banana boating. Take the time to read up on each destination, to see whether what it offers is suitable for you and your children. Look for beaches that offer family activities, such as Paddle Boarding, for example - to learn more about this sport read up online via sites like Paddleboard Thrills. Surfing is another activity that could be perfect for the whole family, as could kitesurfing, so look for destinations that offer these types of activities.

Have a sandcastle competition

Instead of just letting your little ones build sandcastles, why not make castle building a family affair? For one day while you are on vacation, plan to have a sandcastle building competition. Split off into teams and spend some time building sand castles with your children. Then, once you’ve completed them, ask another beachgoer to judge them and pick a winner. It doesn’t have to be just a basic sandcastle, you can build anything, so make sure to get creative.

Pack beach toys for the kids

For those times when you want to sit back and relax in the sun, it’s worth packing some beach toys for your little ones. That way you can sunbathe while your little ones play in the sand. Pack little toys that are sure to keep them occupied for hours, from beach balls and buckets and spades to blow up toys; there are plenty of things that you can pack to keep your little ones busy on the beach.

There you have it, a guide to how you can make the most of your time in the sun.

Spending Christmas Time with Dad

On Sunday, we went to Serra Manor to deliver the mails that the former owner of this house have received in this address.  Unfortunately he wasn't there  so we  just gave it to the employees.  On our way out, an old lady talked to me so I stayed a little while.  Then when we left, we proceeded to visit my father-in-law who is staying at Gables Care Center in Hopedale Ohio.  It would be nice if Dad can stay at Serra Manor, it would be closer and we can visit him more often.  Unfortunately, they are always full and  we are still waiting for some vacancy for him.  

 We were glad that he's awake when we arrived.  For a couple of times that we visited, he was  sound asleep so we were not able to  talk to him.  He was actually at the  church inside the  Gables facility when we arrived.  The nurse  got him  so we could visit.  

 My husband  pushed the wheelchair so  we can walk around with him.  We  stopped at the entrance where  there is a piano.  The kids wanted to play piano for him.  It was festive  there so I took lots of photos.

 I can tell that Dad doesn't really know who we were.  We talked to him and he barely responded.  It was nice seeing him though.  We didn't see any bruises  at all and he seem to gain a little weight while staying at  Gables.  When he stayed at one of the  nearby facility here in our area, he always had  bruises.  We didn't have an evidence for  maltreatment  from the employees but my SIL believes that they were not very nice to Dad when he stayed there that's why the family decided to   relocate him at Gables Care Center even though it was very far from here.  He seem  very happy there.  All the nurses calls him Pap.  

 Alzheimer is a hard thing to go through.  We miss Dad, we miss him when he can still recognize us and talk to us.  We were  watching old videos this morning and made us miss him even more.  

 O am glad that people at Gables Care Center  really takes care of him.

 I am not sure if he will ever  have a vacancy here in the area but that's what I pray for so he could be close to us and we can visit  him a lot more.  

My daughter brought this nativity frame to put in Dad's end table.  She made this in her art class last year.  

 We had a chance to  take a family picture with him before we left.  He was getting cold so we took him back to his room.  Below are the videos of the songs they played for him.  

  

We will try to go back there again before the year ends or on Christmas day. We will see how the weather will be like.

Spending time with Dad here at Gables Care Center, in Hopedale Ohio. #seniorLiving #familyTime #familyOnChristmas

A photo posted by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Dec 18, 2016 at 12:14pm PST

Keeping Budget-Friendly Family Vacations Fun

As the head of the household, you are used to making difficult decisions. Deciding between how to turn a family vacation into a fun experience and how to make it fit your budget is one of those tougher choices. On the one hand, you want to make sure your kids are asking, “Are we there yet?” for all the right reasons – in excitement over arriving at the destination, not begging to finally be back home. You want your children to love the experience so much that it becomes a cherished lifelong memory. On the other hand, you want to make sure this trip does not break the bank, so that your family can enjoy more trips in the future. Finding that balance requires a bit of creativity, but you can enjoy family trips together without damaging your budget.

To achieve that delicate balance of an amazing trip that your kids will love forever, but that also respects your family’s budget, no matter its size, you just need to get creative about how and where you spend your money. If you take advantage of fantastic Internet-based coupons like what are being offered by a new partnership between Hotels.com and Groupon, you can definitely enjoy many more family trips in the future.

Taking a look at Hotels.com’s Groupon page, you will find coupons not only for 10% off, but also for $50 off, 50% off, and even an entire night free. Depending on your length of stay, you may want to utilize different coupons. Of course, these coupon offerings do vary over time, so do not be concerned if you do not see those coupons by the time you read this post. However, Hotels.com and Groupon are constantly updating their offerings, so you should definitely keep a close eye on the Hotels.com page when it comes time to making hotel reservations for your trip, whether you are in the pre-trip planning phase or the on-the-fly mode in the middle of your trip.

Keep taking your family out for vacations you all love, without worry that you are breaking the bank. With a little creativity, you can all enjoy these wonderful family memories.

Europe in the Air at Busch Garden

Busch Garden is a huge amusement  park with lots of cool things to do and see.  One of the many things we tried there is the Europe in the Air.  We actually  came  early in the park so  some of the attractions were still closed.  

The kiddos wanted to check this Castle of Sullivan but it was still closed.

So we tried this  high-tech simulator  that takes you to  on a fun-filled journey across the terrain, over the seas and through the air over Europe.  This attraction reminds me of the  one we did in Disney World years ago.  Although the one in DW is a lot nicer, this one ain't bad.   

The continent’s most recognizable landmarks are featured, like Stonehenge in England, the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and the Coliseum in Rome. The journey continues through the streets of Paris, along the Thames River and into the sky over Ireland for a view unlike any other.   Call me lame but this kind of stuff still gets me dizzy, I dunno why.   Below is a YouTube video.  (video isn't mine)

What I enjoyed the most in walking around the Busch Garden  was the beautiful landscape all through the  park.  

I forgot what ride is this but as usual, I did not go with them as it involved speed lol.  I

The one that I went with them is this sky-high mode of transportation that provides guests with a 3 minute scenic tour. Passengers enjoy views of all six European countries while relaxing 80 feet in the air. The sky ride stops in England, France and Germany. Here are the routes.
• England - arrival from Rhinefield departure for a one-way trip to Aquitaine
• Aquitaine- Arrival from England, departure for one way trip to Rhinefield
• Rhinefield- Arrival from Aquitaine, departure for a one way trip to England

It is so nice to look around with a refreshing ride atop the park.

Themepark wouldn't be complete without these two asking for  dip and dots treat.

Busch Garden is nice and fun but I don't think I would go back again.  I would rather see the historical  places in Williamsburg next time.