Burj Khalifa
December 12, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Trip to the top of the world's tallest building. 828 meters (125 floors) and only 77 seconds to get to the top
The views are breathtaking and even at that height the air is warm and still.
Roda el marooj hotel
December 12, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
We had a huge two bedroom apartment here with breakfast on the balcony overlooking the pool. First thing to note - don't ever order a gin and tonic at the poolside bar - $40NZD - (each).
Kids lovingRead more
Gold souk
December 13, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Walked through the gold souk. Can't really move for people coming up to you with cries of "copy watch" or "copy bag". Most of the gold is that very yellow gold - not really to our taste so wasn'tRead more
Desert Safari
December 13, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Desert safari and wadi bashing (four wheel driving over the sand dunes) - great fun.
The kids had a go at sandboarding and we all had a camel ride before a big meal on carpets under the clear nightRead more
Desert safari (II)
December 13, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Dubai Beach
December 14, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
A great promenade with cafes and restaurants interspersed with shops and leisure activities for the kids all while looking out at the Persian gulf.
Last day in Dubai
December 15, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
On the way to airport - next stop - Heathrow.
7.00 am and Dubai is just waking up. Love this time of day anywhere but the colors here are amazing.
Leaving the heat for the cold of the UK andRead more
Hatfield Peverel Football Club
December 16, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Watching Sienna play football on a cold clear afternoon. Unfortunately the girls lost 3 - 0 but Sienna played well and they had fun.
Considering we arrived in driving rain yesterday it was a bit of aRead more
London Eye
December 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
We took a spin on the London Eye today. Weather perfect and you could see for miles.
Madam Tussauds
December 18, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
I was the only one who wanted to interact with the figures so here is me hanging with some of my historical and not so historical homies:
- discussing the relative merits of Irish self rule withRead more
Winter Wonderland Hyde Park
December 18, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Winter Wonderland (II)
December 18, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Fun in the cold
Randomly London
December 18, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Bits and pieces as we wandered around.
Bruges at night
December 19, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Wandering around Bruges at night. Amazing town. The architecture is fantastic and the Christmas markets are great.
Bruges at night (II)
December 19, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Kids having fun ice skating in the town square.
Bruges by day
December 20, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Spent the day wandering around Bruges. Managed to get lost (saved by Google maps), find a bar with 400 beers, take a horse and cart tour of the town and sample some Belgian chocolate.
Leave tomorrowRead more
Paris, France
December 21, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Made it to Paris after two nice train trips, one from Bruges to Brussels and then from Brussels to Paris (Gare du Nord, the largest train station in Europe according to our taxi driver).
Found hotelRead more
Paris II
December 22, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Police and protesters.
Eiffel Tower
December 22, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Not a very good day unfortunately so only went to second floor as visibility was restricted higher up.
Even from here though, the views are fantastic.
More Paris
December 23, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Hop on hop off bus around Paris. Great fun and a great way to see the city.
Visited the Louvre. What an amazing place. A few small photos does not even begin to do it justice. Huge crowds around thatRead more
Heybridge, Essex
December 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Just a short walk from Chez Hoskin. Heybridge, the Riviera of East Anglia, oh and one photo of how you make a billiard ball.
Christmas Morning
December 25, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C
-2 degrees on xmas morning. Kids have been spoiled and weirdly I have found myself wearing a Christmas Jersey. I look like Jack bloody Tame.
So much wrapping paper- anyway here's some pics.
South End Pier
December 27, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Spent most of the day at South End Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. The iron pier was built in 1889.
The fair rides were all closed being winter but it was a slightly hazy cold still dayRead more
The Football
December 29, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Went to local football match. Colchester v Morecambe. Nil all draw but fantastic game.
Followed this with curry and beer. Perfect!
New Year's Eve at La Guaca
December 31, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Brilliant dinner at the local Mexican restaurant - great food and a great margarita - perfect!
TravelerA very quick ride to the top. Great photos.