Teddy Bears Around the World

Hello,  I just got back from a terrific cruise with Krysta on her birthday.  We went to Key West, Florida and Nassau in the Bahamas.  I found out many interesting things on my trip and had a really great time.

We started our trip aboard the Carnival Fascination in Jacksonville, FL.  The ship is 70,367 tons and can hold up to 2052 passengers.

Krysta and I learned all about ship safety and what to do in case of emergency. 

Our first stop was in Key West, FL.  Key West is the southernmost point of Florida.  Krysta took me to the Butterfly and Nature conservatory where we saw all kinds of butterflies.  We saw Longwings and Blue Morphos from Costa Rica, Rice Papers and Tailed Jays from Malaysia, and even the Julia from Florida. 

Next, we headed East to Nassau, Bahamas. 

While we were there, we visited Fort Charlotte.  I found out that this fort has a well that is 60 feet deep and was once believed to be more than 100 feet deep. 

The soldiers here had to dispose of large amounts of gunpowder for their cannons because it was ruined by the moist air. 

I really enjoyed my trip and can’t wait for my next adventure!

Miriam and Jose at Byblos Lebanon

Miriam and Jose at Byblos , the city is at least 7000 years old  and it is the oldest continuously inhabited city.  Around 1200 BC the scribes of Byblos developed an Alphabet phonetic script, the precursor ot our modern alphabet.

Cathey  , Miriam and Jose at our home in Lebanon , with the beautiful sunset on the mediterranean in the background

Jose at Our Lady Of Lebanon ( Mary the mother of Jesus), that looks over  the Mediterranian and Protects Lebanon.

Miriam and Jose at our home town Hammana Lebanon . with the Shagour Mountains in the background altitude about 3000 feet. The shagour mountains are the source of drinking water for the town of Hammana and surrounding villages.

This is Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii. We brought Jose on our adventure to the 10,023 foot summit.

Kinley, Maguire and Jose on Maui beach

Globe Runner visited Washington DC just as the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom. It was beautiful, the blossoms are white and pink and the trees fill the tidal basin by the Lincoln Memorial.

He also had a tour of the White House West Wing.

West Wing of the White House

There aren’t too places you can take pictures inside the West Wing but we found a few spots.

The Navy Mess (dining room)

Globe Runner at the White House Dining Room

and the kitchen…

In the kitchen at the White House

He also stopped into the Press Room where the news reporters receive updates from the Press Secretary and sometimes even President Obama.  Globe Runner stopped right at the Presidential Podium.  See the White House seal behind him?  That’s what you see when the President gives a press conference from the Press Room.  (There are many different places that are used for press conferences.)

Globe Runner in the Press Room at the podium.

The Rose Garden (outside of the Oval Office) is another place you may see a Presidential Press Conference.

Rose Garden, outside of the Oval Office, site of press conferences and other events.

And the tour is over, Globe Runner Bear waves good bye, it was a great tour.

We are excited to be a part of this Teddy Bear Project. Please watch for upcoming posts from our newest friend, Globe Runner!

Monday, January 5, 2009 - this is our last day of our very fun trip.  Sam was especially happy this morning as we had a big surprise for us when we woke up.  Every day on this trip Sam and I have wished for snow - today our wish came true!   Sam, Hannah and their cousins Khazaria and Safi quickly put on hats, gloves and boots so we could play in the snow while we waited for our car to come to take us to the airport.  We had fun making snow balls and will make for good memories of our trip.

I hope I can come back to England one day with Sam and his family.  I especially enjoyed meeting everyone, and seeing all of Sam’s English aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was nice to see Ella’s parents (Helen & Mike) and to see Ashely and Christian her two big brothers.  They gave me big hugs and wished for us a safe trip home to Jacksonville.

Thursday, January 1, 2009 - today is new year’s day and a good day to visit London.  We had to get up quite early today as just under two hours by car for us to drive up here.  We really enjoyed this day seeing all of the sites.

My favorite was seeing Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.  Sam really liked the Tower of London and thought the guards or Beefeaters as they are called were really cool in the black and red uniforms.  Sam’s sister Hannah liked seeing Buckingham Palace and when were were leaving London we drove past it one last time just to wave goodbye to the Queen!

December 31, 2008 - Today Sam and I went to Portmouth and Southsea which is where Sam’s Mommy grew up.  We went to the dockyard and saw lots of boats, ships and ferries.  In Old Portsmouth we saw the elementary or primary school that Sam’s Mom went too.  It was called St. Judes Church of England school.  It was very neat to see this school and very much reminded Sam and I of SJEDS.  We also saw a really old church that has no roof - we were told that the roof was blown off during World War II.  Luckily no people were in it.

On this day, my favorite thing was our visit to Southsea castle.  Sam, his sister Hannah and I had lots of fun running around and enjoyed sitting on the old cannons.  This castle was built during the time of Henry VIII and is very old.