Papa giving goat petting instructions
We spent a few months in Amsterdam and Papa and I went on a quest to visit every petting zoo in Amsterdam. I love petting zoos. I like avocados as well. And my yellow boots. After visiting nearly all petting zoos my conclusion is that people in Amsterdam really like goats.
running with the pigs
This one is on the side of a canal on the bickersgracht in a small neighbourhood near ‘het IJ’ where we lived close by. It was my perfect for my size. They have a few goats, ducks, chickens, geese, sheep, bunnies and pigs. There’s also a little playground right next to it with a slide and some tricycles. It’s not very busy and I liked it a lot. Tips from Papa: This is a perfect little set-up for small children. The playground is completely fenced in so you can chill while the kid plays.
Rotterdam Zoo with Papa and Opa
Many strange ducks in this pond, including Opa.
Mama doesn’t like zoos and I went with Papa and Opa to Blijdorp in Rotterdam. I like animals and there were a lot of them in all shapes and sizes. I have a book at home with a lot of animals and I knew a lot of the sounds they make. I was yelling sounds every time I saw an animal even if I wasn’t sure. Papa and Opa were playing along with my game.
The boulevard of Oostende with parents
Flying into the Oostende sunset
A few weeks ago we stopped in Oostende in Belgium on our way to the UK. Oostende is a seaside town in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium (Flanders). We were only there for about 12 hours but the place left a good impression.
Feeding seals in Victoria, BC with parents
Mama feeding a seal
A lot of my family lives in Victoria, BC, Canada. Last year we visited for Easter and also dropped by some friends of Papa and Mama. They live near the Oak Bay Marina where you can feed the seals! Mama bought a whole bag of frozen fish near the dock. I didn’t get any but it smelled funny so I didn’t mind.
Windsor Castle with parents (and some Queen spotting )
Windsor Castle made me feel very small
On the same day we visited Stonehenge, my parents took me to another playground called Windsor Castle. It’s where the Queen lives. Well, sometimes. It’s close to Heathrow Airport and planes flew over all the time. I like planes a lot and I point it out every time I see one just in case my parents miss it.
Papa expected the castle to be in the middle of a large park or something but it’s right in the middle of town. We parked almost in front of the castle where I got strapped in my stroller. Walking up to the castle, the streets were lined with people. They told us the Queen was about to pass by. How exciting!
Plane spotting at Schiphol, Amsterdam with parents
Planes are as much fun to watch as to travel with
I like planes. Every time I see or hear one I will point it out to Papa and Mama. We’re in the Netherlands right now and there’s a lot of them everywhere. Pointing to the sky is a full time occupation for me. Papa calls me a planespotter and took me to the place where they go into the sky! Apparently it’s a populair thing to do in the Netherlands and Oma is a big of an expert. Mama said we were nuts.
An apartment is the way to go when travelling with parents
Travelling can be exhausting and a good night sleep is important
One of the challenges of travelling with parents is that they’re not on the same sleep cycle as me. I mean, who wants to stay up past 9? Well, Mama and Papa do and when you share a hotelroom it can be pretty annoying when they’re not quiet.
Most hotel rooms don’t have a separate room where I can sleep in peace. When Papa and Mama put me down to sleep, they leave the room and sit out in the hallway otherwise I’ll keep yelling their names. I can’t help myself, it’s a compulsion. When I’m asleep they come back in and put blankets over my crib so I won’t notice the lights or TV. It works but it’s a production and I appreciate the effort.
Biking in Whistler with parents
Biking in Whistler is a great way to take a nap while travelling from playground to playground.
A few months ago Opa came over for a visit and we took a weekend trip to Whistler. Whistler is a mountain resort north of Vancouver. Just the drive there is awesome. It was my first time there and I had a hoot. My cousin Alex was there as well and I like playing with him.
Transportation is one of the things parents are very useful for and they found an new and enjoyable way to move me around. They rented a bike with a buggy and Papa pulled me and Alex around Whistler.
Stonehenge with parents
Stonehenge is just a pile of rocks but Papa and Mama liked it.
It was a rainy October morning when Papa and Mama hoisted me in the car again. We were leaving a lovely place called the New Forest where mini ponies walk around freely. I like ponies. They were taking me to a place called Stonehenge. Doesn’t sound exactly like a playground.
Let me introduce myself
The young girl and the sea
Hi. My name is Mari. Thanks for visiting my blog. I was born in 2011 and at the time of writing this I’m almost 1.5 years old. I like to travel and my parents do as well. So far I’ve visited 3 continents and 8 countries. I’ve seen some cool things along the way and met some incredibly nice people as well.
Travelling with parents can be hard. They don’t always know what they’re doing. Travelling with me isn’t that hard but sometimes they over prepare and sometimes they under prepare. I’ve learned a lot about what to do and my Papa tells me I should share these tips about our trips on this blog. Let me know what you think.