Dear Travel Journal
Ariana in Western Europe
- Ariana Fiorello-Omotosho
- 5-23 August 2006
- Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, France
- 12 years old
- 5 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
I just arrived at the Netherlands. Sienna is the cutest little thing. Monday we’re off to Denmark.
Mom is resting. Later we went for a walk.
Yours truly,
Ariana
P.S.
Adrienne, Roel, and Sienna gave me a gift (soap). Ryan is in America visiting his father. The gift came with a red feather.
P.P.S.
We’re just visiting. This is my second time here, in the Netherlands.
P.P.P.S.
I collect postcards.
P.P.P.P.S.
I also got a box of Dutch chocolates.
- 6 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
In school, I studied Anne Frank. Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl, who lived during World War II. Anne and her family moved from Germany to the Netherlands and then went into hiding. Sadly, Anne Frank didn’t live through the Holocaust. Neither did her mother and older sister, but her father did, and he had Anne’s diary published. [Every time we came to the Netherlands; my mom and I would always make a visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.]
I also studied Vincent Van Gogh. He was a famous painter, who was mentally ill. His paintings were of his misery. He as hospitalized a few times. He cut off his ear, or left ear lobe, and gave it to a prostitute. I absolutely love his artwork. [We visited the Van Gogh Art Museum.]
I love to study history.
Anyway, today we just hung out and packed, we even went shopping.
I taught Adrienne how to play 4-of-a-kind Go Fish.
Your studier,
Ariana
- 7 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today I had to get up bright and early, so we could be off for Denmark.
The car ride was very long. I watched a movie on my portable DVD player, Sienna slept, and the adults chatted.
We ended up staying in a hotel in Germany. To get to Denmark, you must pass through Germany.
We took a stroll through the streets of Germany to find a place to eat.
I ordered a Margherita pizza and a Fanta.
After dinner, we walked back to the hotel. We went into our rooms and got ready for bed. I was exhausted, but I needed to get up early for the rest of the trip.
Exhaustedly yours,
Ariana
- 8 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
I woke up again and had cold pizza for breakfast. Yum! Yum!
We drove to a ferry and we drove the car onto it, then waited [above deck] on the ferry. I stood on the balcony of the ferry and looked for whales. [I saw none.]
The ferry took us from Germany to Denmark.
When the ferry ride was over, we drove some more, until we reached our hotel.
We settled in and unpacked. Then rested.
Later that evening, we went to the Tivoli Gardens. I had an awesome time. The garden was wonderful, and the food, was good. It was like a dream come true.
Also, different characters from different stories, made a show. I watched, mesmerized as the fireworks exploded and then rained down.
Your Tivoli,
Ariana
- 9 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today, we went for a bus tour around Denmark. We saw a castle, that I went into. I was disappointed about the no beds thing, but otherwise, it was good.
Then we went to see the famous statue of the Little Mermaid. It was beautiful. I wanted a plastic model of it, but it was too expensive.
We then walked through an amazing garden. It had plants from all over the world. Some plants, I had never seen before. Some were uglier than others.
When we arrived back at the bus tour stop, [we saw the Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Guinness World Records museums. We stopped and went inside to do the tours.] I liked [them]. My mom on the other hand, wasn’t that amused. I liked the man who was tall. He was more than 7 feet tall and died at the age of 20. Another man weighed 425 pounds, no that was the width of his waist. He weighed more than 500 pounds, gaining a pound a day, and died at the age of 35.
Later that evening, we ate dinner at the Hard Rock Café, but I ate McDonald’s food.
After dinner, we went back to the hotel and got ready for tomorrow.
- 10 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today, we went to a Viking village. I had a lot of fun. I rowed in a canoe. Roel got stung by a wasp. I saw many animals and many Viking homes. It was cool being inside a Viking’s home. Some of the workers were actually staying there for a week. They had to try and survive the way the Vikings did. I got two, no three, souvenirs. A horn from an animal, three coins, and a gem. Then we drove off to a different hotel; a hotel closer to Legoland. I watched some more of Charmed on the way.
The car ride wasn’t long. Only a few hours probably passed. When we did get to the hotel, wasps started to attack us. I quickly grabbed my stuff and dashed inside the building for safety. Roel got our keys and then we all went to our rooms to unpack.
Later, we drove into town. We went in the Fortex grocery store and parked in the Fortex garage. We walked around in search for a restaurant. We ended up eating in a Chinese restaurant. I had shrimp, noodles, watermelon, and rice.
After dinner, we went back to the garage, to find the car locked up in the garage.
Roel [who speaks several languages including Danish] told one of the janitors in the grocery store about the car. We waited approximately 30 minutes ‘til one of the security officers arrived. There was a long argument, and then we paid the man. Instead of paying $300 we paid $100. Then we went back to the hotel.
Locked up yours,
Ariana
- 11 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today, I went to Legoland. I saw magnificent models made from Legos. The Statue of Liberty. Mount Rushmore. Hollywood. All made from Legos.
I also went on many cool rides. The Power Builder was scary. I went in every direction and my butt, never sat in the seat. Other rides got me wet or went fast and dropped down.
I had a lot of fun here, and I hope to go back. After Legoland, we went back to the hotel and packed. Tomorrow, we were going back to the Netherlands.
Legoly yours,
Ariana
- 12 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today, we drove back to the Netherlands. Along the way, we stopped at a store for the restroom and then I got fries.
We also drove over a bridge that brought us to another island of Denmark. Then we drove through Germany and into the Netherlands.
Once we reached home, for the rest of the day we rested.
Curly yours,
Ariana
- 13 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today we rode bikes along the dike. We rode all the way to where Adrienne and Roel got married. We also stopped every once in a while, to look around.
One of the places we stopped at, was a ferry that would bring us to a castle. We didn’t go to the castle. We may, in a few days.
Another place we want to visit is the Anne Frank House and the Rembrandt House Museum. I love art! Last time I came here, I went to the Van Gogh Museum. I also went to a flower garden; the tulips were beautiful.
Anyway, after the ride, we went back home. We watched TV and played games. For dinner, well…dinner was marvelous as usual. Adrienne made it.
The rest of the evening was relaxation. Television. Then mom read to me. More of Melanie Goes Dutch.
Bikingly yours,
Ariana
P.S.
Roel’s niece came over and we had lots of fun.
- 14 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
All day it rained, but I still had fun. Samantha, Roel’s niece, came over. She’s visiting from Spain. She was at the wedding last time I came.
We played with Sienna and then played Sorry and a card game. Her grandad came to pick her up for lunch. She never returned.
Later we had dinner and just relaxed.
Rainingly yours,
Ariana
- 14 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Thursday, we spent most of the day at home, while Roel was at work. I played with Sienna, building and knocking down blocks. I also played games with my mom, Adrienne, and Roel.
Later, we had dinner and played two quick games of Rummikub.
Before this, we tried to go into town with Sienna. When we were halfway there, she vomited, and we went back.
Gamely yours,
Ariana
- 15 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today, I vomited. It happened when I was home alone. This morning my two front teeth hurt, so now I think it was a sign.
Also, today I changed Sienna’s toxic poopy diaper. I thought I would vomit. I also fed her toast. It was as if I was babysitting her. No wait. I was babysitting her!
I went for a walk after dinner. I got ice cream too. When we returned, I played a game with my mom, and then took out my hair. I watched TV. Mom read to me again. And then bedtime.
Nighty night,
Ariana
- 16 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
There are a lot of travel things that I think you should know. I’ve been to Texas. I was born and raised there for 6 weeks, until I got adopted.
I’ve been to Massachusetts, seeing how I live here I have a cottage in New Hampshire. I go swimming and go to a zoo [Roger Williams] in Rhode Island. I’ve gone to Disney World in Florida. I stopped in Puerto Rico, on my way to Antigua. I went to Antigua for a wedding. I stopped in Iceland on my way to the Netherlands for a wedding and went to an amazing theme park [Efteling Amusement Park]. I traveled through Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, to get to Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, I met up with friends [Kelsey and her mom, Cay] to go to Hershey Park and Amish Country. I go camping, white water rafting, and rock climbing in Vermont. In New York, I had regionals for track. And you know the rest from here: Germany, Denmark, etc…
***
When I awoke, I took a shower and washed my hair. After my shower, my mom braided my hair.
After I got my hair done, I had a strawberry popsicle. Then my mom read some more of Melanie Goes Dutch. It is almost dinner time, so I must leave you. I am hungry.
Hungry Ari
- 16 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Dinner was tremendous! I had 14 (small) chicken fingers, carrots and broccoli, and rice. I had ketchup on my rice and chicken.
After dinner, we drove to the train station to buy tickets. (Sienna fussed the whole ride.) On the way back, we stopped at McDonald’s to buy softer-serve ice cream. We also drove by a castle and, while driving on the dike, saw a castle in the distance. We passed by ponies, cows, sheep, and horses. I liked when we parked the car on a small bridge, and the bridge carried us to the other side.
When we returned home, we put Sienna to bed. Then we played three games of Rummikub. I won two and Roel won one. After the games, my mom read to me and then it was time for bed.
Funnily yours,
Ariany
- 17 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Today, I woke up extra early. Roel was driving us to the train station on his way to work. We were taking the train into Amsterdam. We were going to the Anne Frank House and the Rembrandt House Museum. I couldn’t wait!
Impatiently yours,
Ariana
- 17 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
When we arrived at the train station, we started looking for platform 7. Once we spotted it, my mom remembered that Roel had told her that she needed to get the tickets stamped. So, we walked to the stamper. She wasn’t sure of what to do, so we walked into a store and asked the woman, “Do we stamp the tickets?” The woman answered yes and then showed my mom which way to go to get the tickets stamped. Then we walked back over to the stamper, stamped our tickets, and walked up the hall to where it had a sign that said “7a; 7b.” We took the elevator down. When we got off, my mom asked someone where 7 was. The Woman pointed her in the right direction.
We walked down to where 7a was but saw no 7. My mom asked a man where 7 was. He told her that 7 is 7a. Soon after, the train arrived. We got on and off, and then we finally got back, hoping we were on the right train.
We sat waiting for the train to move. Slowly, the trained rocked out of the station. Faster and faster, the train started to pick up speed. Homes, buildings, cars, bicycles, and people started to whiz by. Even trees and lampposts.
The train rocked and bounced a little. I could hear the train’s wheels as they traveled over the rusty tracks. Each time the train slowed down to stop at a station, a screech and a faint whistle sounded. It’s almost my stop, so my writing must end.
Rockingly yours,
Ariana
- 17 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
The map to the Anne Frank House Museum was horrible. We got lost a bunch of times and had to ask for directions more than 10 times. When we did get to the Anne Frank House Museum, the line was out the door and around the corner. We waited about 30 minutes in line. We chatted with the family, who was friendly, behind us. My mom thinks the family might be Jewish based on what the mother was saying. (My mom didn’t mean it in a bad way.)
The tour wasn’t as bad as my mom had said. I thought it was cool that they could gather so much information. I think Adolf Hitler was a cruel and heartless man. I feel bad for all Jews, and for Otto Frank, Anne’s father who lost both of his children and his wife. Anne knew her mother and sister were dead but didn’t know her father was still alive. One person thought, “That if she only knew her father was still alive, she might have had more hope.”
Anne and her family hid for more than 2 years. She wrote a diary that later got published. One day, Anne and her family got taken away, along with the 2 people that helped to hide them and the other people that were also hiding with them. Otto Frank, somehow, escaped. No one knows how or who found out, but someone did. A theory my mom thinks is from the people sending things to other people. Someone else thinks that one of Otto’s colleagues found out and told someone. [These theories are about how the family was caught and captured.] Anne’s diary was left behind when they were taken away. I hope to read The Diary of a Young Girl again. It’s about Anne Frank. It’s her diary.
After the tour, I bought a couple more postcards. We were going to the Rijksmuseum. We found the museum faster and we only asked two people for directions.
When we got there, there was another long line. So, to pass the time, my mom and I got a hotdog and a drink. Then we started talking with a couple in front of us. Another friendly bunch. The line passed by quickly. I did a children’s book tour and my mom did a listening tour.
The paintings were wonderful. I am now into Van Gogh’s and Vermeer’s artwork. Some paintings, you’d think, were so real. Others were just portraits that you could careless about. I also got a sticker book of painters and paintings. I can’t think of any thing else to say about this museum. Words can’t describe it.
After the museum, we bought a few more postcards and then I had soft-serve ice cream (vanilla) and my mom had [regular] hard ice cream on a waffle. Then we took a picture of the letter that read: AMSTERDAM. We took a bus to the train station, grabbed something to eat, and now I write in this journal as we train home.
Yours,
Ariana
P.S.
Last time I went to the Anne Frank House Museum, I didn’t do the tour and I went to the Van Gogh Museum.
P.P.S.
Your new name is Travel Journal.
- 17 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Roel picked us up a minute after we arrived at the meeting place. The drive home was long, but I kept myself busy. I put the stickers, in the sticker book, in their right spots. Now, I’m writing to you. After I finish writing to you, I will look out the window at the world around me. I have now finished writing to you. Bye!
-Ariana-
- 17 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
We just got back home, and Adrienne finished mowing the lawn. Sienna was pulling out the freshly cut grass. It was now dinner time.
I had 3½ slices of pizza, honeydew, salad, and a lot of rice with ketchup on top. Soon after dinner, Roel’s father stopped by to drop off a toy box. I liked it! We gently placed Sienna inside and she danced and played.
When Roel’s father left, I left with him. I got to sit in the front seat. (Roel’s father is a safe driver.)
I was a bit shy when I got to his house. I don’t speak much Dutch and he and his wife speak little English. He showed me his garden and got me a Coca-Cola. Then we sat and talked a little, while I worked on the book that I got from the Rijksmuseum.
About around 15 or more minutes passed, and I could see the heads of my mom, Roel, Adrienne, and Sienna, but no Samantha. They came to check on me. My mom took me to the pool to see if maybe Samantha was there. When we realized we couldn’t find her, we went back. When we got back, we left to go back home (Adrienne and Roel’s house). At home, I had tea and cookies, and I played a game of Rummikub by myself. I lost to myself, by the way. After my game, my mom and I played a quick game of Rummy [Rum card game]. She won, but I almost did because once she put down the last card, I also had rummy/gin. Now I write to you, while my mother packs. We’re leaving for Paris [France] tomorrow. Now I am through talking to you. I shall now read and then I will sleep and hopefully see you tomorrow.
Truly yours,
Ariana
P.S.
Paris, here we come!
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
I awoke around 7:25 in the morning. When I woke up, I had to pee really bad, but I didn’t go. I went down to pee around 7:36 in the morning. I found that the bathroom was occupied, so I sat and waited on the steps. When Adrienne came out of her room. She told me to use the bathroom downstairs and I did.
Peeingly yours,
Ariana
P.S.
We’re going to Paris today!
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
I just had a fight with my mom, but we made up. For breakfast, I had one of the chocolate breakfasts milks.
I am now writing to you in the car because we already left for Paris, France. Before we got to the highway, we stopped at a market square. Roel bought a few things, and my mom mailed some postcards.
In the car, where Adrienne, Sienna, and I waited, Adrienne sang to Sienna to try to get Sienna to fall asleep. I was reading my Melanie Goes Dutch book. Almost everything that she saw in Amsterdam, I saw. I feel like I can relate to Melanie Martin by a lot.
The pitter patter of rain falls. Sienna is now sleeping. Everything around us, disappears as we drive along.
At the moment, we are driving through Belgium. We have to drive through Belgium to get to France. I am not into Belgian chocolate, but I am into Switzerland chocolate. I love chocolate!
Chocolaty yours,
Ariana
P.S.
Every once in a while, Sienna wakes up and then falls back asleep. Sienna is teething and her poop is runny and sometimes, her tooth bleeds. Ewwww! Ouch!
P.P.S.
I one day hope to go to Switzerland and travel the world.
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
We just passed by white and black, black, and black and white cows. We are still in Belgium. Guess what? I finished my Melanie Goes Dutch book. But now I have to finish reading my schoolbook, Chasing Redbird. I’m more than halfway done.
Sienna’s awake now. She is playing and eating Cheerios. I decided that when your pages are filled, I shall publish you. I will make the words on your pages become words in a book.
As we speak, I just saw some more cows. Actually, they may have been sheep. Oh well, who cares? Not me.
Sienna was just eating applesauce. Then she started whining. Adrienne thinks she didn’t sleep long enough. I think I agree. Here is a poem:
Sienna if you sleep,
You won’t weep.
Adrienne should give Sienna her blanket. Right now, they’re doing the Itsy-Bitsy Spider.
Cowingly yours,
Ariana
P.S.
We are now in France.
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
We had lunch at Auto Grill. I had a salami, ham, and cheese sandwich. I had 1½ sandwiches. My mom had ½ a sandwich with coffee and chips, Roel had coffee and Adrienne had tea. Oh yeah, I also had sweet and sour skittles and a Fanta. While I ate my lunch, I watched cartoons on the TV they had.
We are now back on the road. Only 1 hour and 30 minutes of driving left to go. Roel just turned on the music CD.
We drove by, just now, a humongous mountain or hill. Anyway, it was really tall and wide. It was compacted with dirt and grass of different colors. The dirt was black.
Once again, Sienna is whining. I wish she’d go to sleep. Here is another poem:
Why weep,
When you can sleep?
Humongously yours,
Ariana
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
It is showering. There is one big gray cloud in the sky. The other clouds are white. The sky is a baby blue color and the moon is a crescent shape. Even with the dark gray cloud, the sun beams brightly. The clouds slowly drift away with the wind. The sky is now a mixture of different blues. The rain shower stopped. The color blues I see in the sky: baby blue, [royal] blue, dark blue, navy blue. Color of clouds: white, light white, dark white/light gray, gray, dark gray. Today, the sky is unusual.
Try to figure this out: “shaking a tower.” Get it? Take out the “sh” in shaking and put it before the “t” in tower: “aking a shtower.” Then take the “t” and put it before the “a” in aking: “taking a shower.” (Hee! Hee! Ha! Ha!)
Skyly yours,
Ariana
P.S.
We have about 1 hour left. Mom didn’t get it, the joke. Sienna woke up a few times and fell back asleep.
P.P.S.
I hope Adrienne’s niece can help me publish a book. She is a published author. She wrote 4 stories, one Adrienne said I might like. It’s about a child with an imaginary friend. I think I might like it. I’m going to ask my mom if she’ll buy me the book. Adrienne said she’ll give me her nieces email. When she does I’ll tell you about it.
P.P.P.S.
Nana wants me to read to her. I might. Only 18 kilometers left.
P.P.P.P.S.
We just passed white cows.
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
We finally arrived here, at the Ibis Hotel. Here is what happened. We entered the streets of Paris and started searching for the hotel.
“We’re off the map,” my mom told Roel.
“Oh,” Roel said.
“Is that a good thing?” my mom asked.
“No,” Role replied. We were lost and we couldn’t speak French.
Along the way, I saw a glimpse of the Eifel Tower. When we got there, to the hotel, we checked in. The elevator was cool. We had to open a door before we could step in. Time for dinner.
Bye,
Ariana
- 18 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
As soon as we left the hotel, walked to the Notre Dame church. Inside, we walked around. Each one of us, except Sienna, lit a candle. Even I lit a candle.
After we walked around the inside of the church, my mom and I went to wait in line for the bell tower, while Adrienne and Roel stayed and walked around with Sienna.
We finally got Domenic a gift. Anyway, the gargoyles were great. Some looked scare and funny. My mom also took a picture of the bell. On e the way back down, the stairs were atrocious. There were like 450 stairs.
The Eiffel Tower was next. We went up to the third floor [via elevator] and looked around. It was cool. For dinner, I had a hamburger with fries.
After dinner, we saw the Eiffel Tower all lit up. It was a marvelous site. I got a mini-Eifel Tower made of glass, and it lights up. Cool, right? We took a train back to the hotel. When we were walking back to the hotel, Sienna fell asleep. After all the whining she did, I wasn’t surprised. It is now time for bed.
Good night,
Ariana
P.S.
I watched TV while my mom read. Paris is awesome.
P.P.S.
Tomorrow, I hope it doesn’t rain. Today it poured on and off. I was lucky my windbreaker had a hood. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, hopefully.
- 19 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
This morning, I woke up and took a shower. My warm shower was nice and relaxing. After my shower, I got dressed and then my mom and I went downstairs for breakfast.
The breakfast room was in the basement of the hotel. It looked like a wine cellar, except it wasn’t cool. I had two jelly breads, hot coco, cereal, and a little bit of yogurt. We are now going to the Louvre, so I must go now.
See you,
Ariana
- 19 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
We took a train to a town close to the Louvre. As we walked to the Louvre, we walked in and out of ships and videotaped certain things.
So far, I’ve recognized a few paintings that I learned about and saw in my Italian class. And guess what? I saw the Mona Lisa up close. Cool, right? One painting I saw, that I like and remember, is: the virgin with the baby and 6 angels. One of my favorite paintings Rembrandt did was The Butcher’s Cow, 1655 (I think that’s the name.)
I saw a lot of marvelous and beautiful paintings and structures. I even got a few things for my cousins. I got a Paris coloring book, another sticker book, and another postcard of the Mona Lisa.
Write now, I am sitting in a garden square eating my lunch, pizza. I have to go and find Adrienne and Roel.
Later,
Ariana
- 19 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
We went to the Sacred Heart Church. My mom and I got in another fight, but we’re cool now.
I also got a French pancake with Nutella on it. We looked at some pictures people had done. I wanted someone to do my picture but my mom said no.
We finally got Domenic’s present. I had someone draw my name with pictures. We are now taking a few trains to go back to the hotel. Then we’re going out for dinner. (I’m really thirsty.)
Thirstily yours,
Ariana
- 19 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Dinner was great! I had 1½ rolls of bread, a chocolate mousse for dessert, and spaghetti with sauce. I also had a Sprite because I didn’t like my green mint drink. Time for bed.
Goodnight,
Ariana
- 20 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
I think I have a passion for art. I also might become and architect. I think we might go to another museum. In Belgium, we’re going to stop and go to mini-Europe. Last time I came to the Netherlands, we went to mini-Netherlands. I have to go shake a tower.
Showeringly,
Ariana
- 20 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
My shower was great and breakfast was okay. We are not going to another museum. We are now driving to mini-Europe. We are hoping we can get a postcard in Belgium because in Germany, we forgot to get a postcard. Adrienne said she would mail me a postcard from Germany.
-Ariana-
- 20 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
As we drove on, we stopped at a café for lunch. It was good; soup, Fanta, and bread. Sienna got her poopy diapers changed 3 times in the café.
Mini-Europe was awesome. I feel as if I’ve been to every country in Europe. When I saw Mt. Vesuvius, I pushed the blue button. When I pushed it, the ground below me shook and my body trembled.
On the way out, I got a postcard and Uncle Leonard a Europe mouse pad. I also got a double scoop of chocolate ice cream in a cone.
We are now driving home. It is, or was, pouring and the sun is, or was out. I finished my schoolbook. Yippee!
Tot zeins,
Ariana
- 20 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
For dinner, we had Chinese food. It was terrific! After dinner, Roel and I went to visit Roel’s parents and niece. I had fun talking to Samantha. She even gave me a poster. She has a hamster, just like me. Samantha and her family are living in Spain, but in the spring, they are moving back to the Netherlands. Samantha even said I was her friend.
When we came back, we all played a quick game of Rummikub.I won. Roel lost after saying he was going to win. Ha. Ha. Ryan comes home. Yeah!
Home comingly yours,
Ariana
- 21 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Ryan finally arrived!
Today was a lay back day. I played with Samantha and Ryan. I went for a walk. It poured. I played. I played with Sienna. I ate dinner (had salmon). Helped hang birthday decorations for Sienna’s early birthday tomorrow. Watched Ryan play an evil game. And now I am off to bed.
Laid back,
Ariana
- 22 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
Sienna’s early birthday party was fun. The case was okay. Sienna was hysterical.
Later on, we all talked and played games. Roel’s parents left.
Roel’s dad came back with an interesting scrap book. Then he left. Ryan, Roel, Adrienne, my mom, and I talked until it was time for bed.
World traveler,
Ariana
P.S.
Tomorrow we leave.
- 23 August 2006
Dear Travel Journal,
My mom and everyone cried, except me. We also arrived home safely. We gave Julia her chocolate. My pets lived. I can’t wait to see my cousins and show Patricia, and you, my postcards. This will be the last, or well, I won’t be talking to you for a while, unless I travel to California or Ohio.
On takeoff, they didn’t put peanuts on the floor. They did that on the way to Florida. Cool. TNWM (‘til next we meet).
See yah,
Ariana
