Tristan & Tino in Milano

We had planned a weekend with Tristan & families for some time and so it happened!!  We set of in Monty's Land Rover which comfortably seated the six of us and off we went for a mini cultural and culinary trip to Milan!!

We checked into our hotel in Brera and then hit the road again for a nice lunch at the lovely Trattoria Montina (Dadda was previously introduced to this charming place from Francesco Patimo & Serena a year or so before)... 

It was nice to see the always joyful Luisa though i did miss Cesare and Giulia... apparently they were on holiday in the Caribbean where I just came back from!! 

After lunch we jumped on a couple taxis and dashed over to see the Cenacolo... I couldn't wait to get in (irrespective of what I was going to see!!)... Open the gates!!

We eventually made it in an empty big room with a bunch of people clustered next to a wall with a large painting on it.. 12 or so folks sitting at a table around some famous dude named Jesus... 

Not sure I got the jist of it but apparently this is a really famous piece from Leonardo, not my uncle, Leonardo Da Vinci.

In fact within the premises pictures were absolutely forbidden!!!

A sunny hug with Tristan...

...and then we jumped on the tram - without tickets!! - taking our chances to play the innocent foreigner trick on anyone that may have come round to ask!

After a few stops in shops and the Duomo we stopped for the most expensive afternoon juice and cake ever in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II!!

Group picture with Monty!

Fun times waiting for pregnant mummies to catch up with us!!

Taking Tristan and Monty for a ride on my scooter!!

"Once in Rome do like the Romans do" goes the saying... we'll we weren't quite in Rome but it's the same country and the same traditions... 

So before we set off back home we took a morning ride on the electric bikes in Parco Sempione!!!

Family visit to Dr. Lang (Scan 1)

After much talking about having babies added to the family in the form of a new brother or sister we went to see Dr. Lang with Mamma and Dadda to have a look at what had been creating so much discomfort and sickness in my poor Mamma since the day we got back from holiday!!

While I sat on Dadda's lap and the doctor investigated Mamma's health, a video came up on the screen capturing a strange little movie in black and white... and then as the sound came on, it was clear this was the sound of a heartbeat!!!

Indeed I was soon informed it wasn't Mamma's heartbeat, nor mine, nor Dadda's and not the Doctor's either!  It was the heart of a little creature... A dog!! was my first thought not being able to make much of what I was staring at.... but then was confirmed this was a tiny weeny version of a baby I will get as a present in 8 or so months... 

Fingers crossed that this little creature can continue growing healthy and come and join us all soon!!

Nonno's Eye Aua Aua

I keep hearing that Nonno's eyes are not in great shape.. what a nuisance that must be!!  I must admit thought that I'd love to wear a band aid that big... the ones I get from Mamma or medical centres around  here are tiny and can merely wrap around my little fingers!!

Oberiberg with Tristan & Co once again!!

On yet another cold but beautifully sunny day Monty, Claudia and Max came round nice and early to pick us up in their Land Rover and head off to the mountains... Oberiberg once again!!

As we approached the mountains and the sun came out the scenery was wonderful...

Shame I missed it all while sleeping at the back next to my energetic little friend!!

Maximilian tucks into my bed!!

We had little Max and his parents Michael & Rozalia come over for dinner at ours for some melanzane alla parmigiana and some fund and games... before long my little buddy was fast asleep in my bed!!!

Starting to wonder where I will be spending the night tonight :-/

Skiing with Tristan in Oberiberg

From +30 to -10 in a week... Sunshine is now a scarce commodity, swimming trunks have disappeared from my sight and we're back into heavy clothing to face the ice cold Swiss winters.. only one way to put a positive spin on this is getting out there for some more skiing action!!

This time we joined Tristan and his parents in Oberiberg for some good practice at the baby slopes!!  

New Haircut

...after the long hair displayed in the Caribbean, Mamma felt it was time for me to have another trim!!  Not particularly bother if you ask me.. as long as I get my balloon!!

Santa's Late Surprise!!

I was well aware my long awaited helicopter would be waiting for me under the tree upon our return from holidays but wasn't quite sure what to make about Mamma and Dadda's excitement at this little surprise...

Don't ask me what it is but whatever it is, it got Mamma and Dadda to start talking me into whether I'd like to have a little brother or sister!!  

Go figure!!

;-)

Time to go home!!

New York, Orlando, Palm Beach, Miami, Curacao....How many great places, good times... and what an enriching trip that was!!!

Time to pack up and return back home... Dadda give us a lift please!!! 

Last (& Best) Day in Curacao!

...finally everyone is fully restored in optimal form.. shame it's our last day on holiday!!!

So off we go straight up to the north in search of those lovely flamingos on route to the beach!!  You may spot a few in the very far distance behind me!!

Then off to the beach for a swim with Dadda...

...and then with Mamma of course!

...then some quality sand time... have to make the most of it before we get back to wintery Zurich!!! I might not see sand for several months!!

Here are Dadda and I building up our fortress!!

A lovely day for some canoeing in the open sea!!

Group picture before setting off for some lunch in yet another beach nearby...

Mamma and I well happy with a bit of food and liquids in our stomach!!

A final group picture after lunch!!

And we couldn't of course leave the island without one more round of 18 holes at the mini golf.. getting better each time!!!

Iguanas & Mini Golf!

... after a good afternoon kip I felt decisively better so we took a nice drive up to the north of the Island...

It was fascinating to work out who had been pooing on our car possibly terrified by the sound of fireworks that have been rocking the island all week!!

we ventured an hour north and stopped in a great estate with displaying some local art & craft in Jan Kok.. 

...come on let's go in and have a look!

we met more of this big iguanas on our way back home...

The revelation and undoubted favourite time of our Curacao holiday was when we hit the mini golf range adjacent to our restaurant!! Love it!!

Dolphin Encounter

... just when I thought i was back on track I had a difficult night with fever and was far from my top form when Mamma and Dadda were getting all set bright and early to head off for our Dolphin Encounter... something we had been looking for in months!!

I made treasure of the stock of medicine we had left and we went off to see what it was all about!

Was quite chilly as we got there well before 8am... and i was in no mood to get close to those creatures!!

Hey you!  Get off my Mamma!!

Felt much more at ease exploring the aquarium and making funny faces at big fish when I was at a safe distance from them!!

We stayed on for the dolphin show and then headed off home for a long afternoon nap hoping to shrug off those nasty bacteria that are still harassing me!!

Finally the beach after 4 days in the Caribbean!

...on day 4 of our stay we finally made our way to Jan Thiel beach, just footsteps away from our resort! Still haven't fully shrugged off the flu but we felt it was about time to absorb some energy from the sun and the sea breeze!

We started off with a dip in the pool...

...then it was for real!  

During the warmest hours we found some shelter to rest and have some food together!  As you can see Mamma is still not very well and I was doing my best to keep her going!!

Another dip in the sea after lunch!  Love it!!

 Waiting for sunset playing Snakes & Ladders by the sea... What else could anyone want?

Still had a bunch of fireworks left to use so made the most of the ammunition we had left before dinner!

Argentinean steak at sunset... could be worse!!

Welcome 2013

2013 didn't start in an ideal manner for us..  Mamma and I were really unwell though Dadda at least started feeling better...

He fetched us more medicine in the morning and then ventured through the island in search of interesting spots to take us all once we were all up and running again!

With the aid of medicine we did manage to spend a few hours out of our resort to see what Curacao had to offer...

So we went off to see the capital Willemstad!

Here are Mamma and I trying to pull off normal faces...

The two of us again while crossing the bridge to make our way to the old town...

My energy levels were very low so had to rely on a lift from Dadda to make it across!