Dec 2022 – Jan 2023

Ice Ice Disney

The Big Five have left the enclosure again.. Read more

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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 26
- Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 3:03 PM
- ⛅ 8 °C
- Altitude: 277 m
- Italy Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige 46.5, 11.3546°30’0” N 11°21’0” E
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The Iceman Cometh
January 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Onwards to Bolzano: home of Otzi the Iceman and gateway to the Dolomites. The feel is decidedly German, particularly with the Christmas Markets still open.
Traveler enchanting
1/10/23Reply
Traveler love those !
1/10/23Reply
Traveler OMG wall envy
1/10/23Reply
Traveler love that hat !
1/10/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 27
- Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 PM
- ⛅ 4 °C
- Altitude: 275 m
- Italy Palazzo Mercantile 46.500041, 11.35437846°30’0” N 11°21’16” E
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Hold the Ice
January 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C
We had ignored all of Lara's pleas to go ice skating in places like Garda because we had a plan to skate near Bolzano... on a real lake in the mountains.
Unfortunately, today was a balmy 11 degrees! You can't skate in a Slushee. Thankfully there were other fun things to do and a cold front is around the corner for skiing (fingers crossed).Read more
Traveler My type of Cable car enclosed love Dad
1/5/23Reply
Traveler Better than a drive tour at 300euro
1/5/23Reply
Traveler 😂
1/8/23Reply
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- Day 28
- Friday, January 6, 2023 at 9:25 PM
- 🌙 -1 °C
- Altitude: 1,399 m
- Italy La Villa 46.584136, 11.90944746°35’3” N 11°54’34” E
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Aussie Sledging
January 6, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 -1 °C
Snow at last! Even better we have entered a "bubble" under the care of Manuela: travel agent, resort owner and wife of a previous Italian national 4 course ski champion. We were provided with coffee, instructions, sleds and a bag of sandwiches and off we went. We imagined that the 15 minute 3km sledging run would be a nice warm up for skiing tomorrow. It was more like Mario Kart! High speed, tight corners, poorly manoeuvrable sleds and inexperienced drivers! Luckily our injuries were all minor so tomorrow the serious stuff beginsRead more
Traveler Oh dear Nana
1/8/23Reply
Traveler Need to fuel up for the skiing!
1/8/23Reply
Traveler Your dad style may explain the lack of smiles in the later photos…😂
1/8/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 29
- Saturday, January 7, 2023
- ⛅ 0 °C
- Altitude: 2,071 m
- Italy Monte Forca 46.486667, 11.82546°29’12” N 11°49’30” E
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Ski Safari Day 1
January 7, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
This was the whole reason for coming to Italy, but we (the adults) were full of nerves. The concept is to do the Dolomites with a guide who would take us from mountain hut to mountain hut a bit like the Milson Sounds walk in NZ. The unknowns: how far were we expected to ski? What sort of slopes are they? Could we remember how to ski since pre-covid? What happens if we don't make it by sundown????
The end result after day 1:
A looong way >50km. I put Strava on after lunch and it was 45km by dinner.
Mostly red and some black
I think our guide was a bit worried when he first saw us, but muscle memory kicked in after a couple of runs so he didn't cancel our dinner reservation. (He did suggest we hold off the off piste until later in the week!)Read more
TravelerBlack petrifying red... never dared !!
1/10/23Reply
Traveler 🤣
1/10/23Reply
Traveler great photo
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 30
- Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 8:00 AM
- ☁️ -4 °C
- Altitude: 1,973 m
- Italy Sasso di Tasca 46.39271, 11.82809846°23’34” N 11°49’41” E
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Ski Safari Day 2
January 8, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ -4 °C
Our step learning curve continued today. It seems like two steps forward, one step back - especially when the visibility dropped off in the afternoon. At least the afternoon gloominess brought fresh snow so tomorrow morning should be nice. Our lodgings went up a notch too. It doubles as a restaurant. People hire snowmobile taxis to get here for a meal!Read more
Traveler wow!
1/10/23Reply
Traveler my heavenly space
1/10/23Reply
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- Day 31
- Monday, January 9, 2023 at 11:55 AM
- 🌧 0 °C
- Altitude: 1,477 m
- Italy Coldemies 46.411667, 12.04833346°24’42” N 12°2’54” E
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Ski Safari Day 3
January 9, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 0 °C
There was plenty of powder today but also pretty bumpy runs. Our accommodation was a step down to a dorm style set up with shared toilet and shower etc. Outside, however was the "set" of For Your Eyes Only which l will now have to watch again.Read more
Traveler stunning photo ! print that !
1/10/23Reply
Traveler 🤣
1/10/23Reply
Traveler beautiful photo of you two. Love the beard Mal Mum
1/11/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 32
- Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM
- ⛅ -8 °C
- Altitude: 2,732 m
- Italy Piccolo Lagazuol 46.528333, 12.00833346°31’42” N 12°0’30” E
Ski Safari Day 4
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ -8 °C
Today we completed the big loop around the Dolomites and returned to Alta Badia. A bit more detail: "The Lagazuoi circuit leads across canyons for 7.8km along the Armentarola slope". It was also our last day with Luca. The wind was high today, but the sun was bright and the runs were all smooth powder. It was just the three boys for the afternoon and a busy afternoon it was. There was a lot of backcountry stuff and amazing long runs as we made our way back to La Villa.Read more
TravelerHooray for the Ski Al-bunnies! Your ski safari is not for the faint hearted!!! I probably would have been late for lunch and dinner! 😂
1/10/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 33
- Wednesday, January 11, 2023
- ☁️ 1 °C
- Altitude: 1,399 m
- Italy La Villa 46.584161, 11.90946246°35’3” N 11°54’34” E
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Freestyling
January 11, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C
A final day on the slopes... We were back at base today so skiing was optional. It was now survival of the fittest: Elliot, Lara and yours truly.
At the peak of our powers before we forget half of everything that we've learnt we took on the fun parks, the timed slalom runs and let our hair down. This is the first time that I've skiied for five days straight. After a couple of weeks of touring and eating in Italy it feels good to get the fitness level back up a bit!
We covered 28-55km/day on the slopes although day 1 was probably more with all the zig zagging at that stage!

Manuela turned up to farewell us before dinner which was a nice touch. Overall impression: best skiing experience I've had by a long way. For more serious skiers than us, this would also be the best way to get into the movie level off piste stuff with the best teachers in the world... and the best surroundings too!Read more
Traveler You won't forget the dolomites in a hurry Love Dad
1/13/23Reply
Traveler Elliot is a cool hand Luke on the slopes and well done Mal
1/13/23Reply
Traveler Narnia Magic photo
1/14/23Reply
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- Day 35
- Friday, January 13, 2023 at 12:34 PM
- 🌧 9 °C
- Altitude: 117 m
- Germany Flughafen 50.049778, 8.58226650°2’59” N 8°34’56” E
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Go West
January 13, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 9 °C
36 hours of transit, washing, airport hotel, transit. Plenty of time to study Genie plus stacking strategies!
Traveler Next stop Orlando ???
1/13/23Reply
TravelerWDW in about 10 hours
1/13/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 36
- Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM
- 🌧 15 °C
- Altitude: 26 m
- United States Disney's Hollywood Studios 28.357259, -81.56061728°21’26” N 81°33’38” W
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Park hopper plus PLUS
January 14, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
We had in our minds a leisurely few days of strolling around the parks, but a few things happened:
1. FOMO: that ugly beast again
2. Genie plus: another ugly beast. We don't like the concept of paying for fast passes beforehand, but also didn't want to spend all our time in lines. The problem is that it works and once you pay for it you don't want to waste it
3. No dining plan available at the moment and "bots" taking over the dining bookings: we had less TS meals
4. Less available time because we were booked into the Halcyon
End result: 3 very, very busy days (hence no penguin for a bit) that were a complete whirlwind. They were, however, lots of fun and made even more fun because we got to share all the new rides, snacks, shows etc with the Berlee clan. Thanks Berlees!
This is our first full day: Hollywood StudiosRead more
Traveler glorious family photo
1/21/23Reply
Traveler adore !
1/21/23ReplyTranslate
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- Day 37
- Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM
- ☀️ 7 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- United States Disneyworld 28.372371, -81.54904528°22’21” N 81°32’57” W
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Epcot and Magic Kingdom
January 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C
This was our big day! All the big ticket items across the two parks with the exception of 7DMT. First stop: Test track - "sorry folks it's down"! Quick to Frozen Ever After! Heather's step counter kept prompting her to admit that she was taking part in some sort of event: no, just Disney.Read more
Traveler It appears like you are suspended in space and you are all obviously enjoying it.
1/21/23Reply
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- Day 38
- Monday, January 16, 2023 at 8:00 AM
- ☀️ 3 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- United States Disneyworld 28.372371, -81.54904528°22’21” N 81°32’57” W
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Perfect Disney Day
January 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C
Having hit the must dos it was now time to slow the pace... "just after this next genie plus hit, I promise!" Today we went to my favourite park, Animal Kingdom, and after the big three ticket items we did indeed turn it into a lovely, leisurely day. We had lunch at my favourite Disney eatery, Satu'li Canteen, then headed back to the Poly for a long siesta. I stacked a few Epcot Genie items from the hot tub then, at sunset, we jumped back on the monorail for our last park evening with the Berlees. Dinner was a snack "around the International Showcase" affair before we settled in for Harmonious and a bit of shopping. Lastly, we scored one last Cosmic Rewind spot for good measure so we went out with a bang.Read more
Traveler No but Belinda was my translator! Cool shirts! 😎
1/23/23Reply
TravelerI thought the true Star Wars fan would choose Hollywood Studios as their fave park?!? But AK is very special…
1/23/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 39
- Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 3:00 PM
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- United States Epcot Center Ultralight Airport 28.350821, -81.56135428°21’3” N 81°33’41” W
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Galactic Starcruiser
January 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Galactic Starcruiser was better than expected... And my expectations were very high. The theming and the food were excellent, but the whole vibe created by the staff was fantastic. It wasn't a show or anything like that. The whole thing was like one long RPG where various cast members would come and find you and give you specific tasks. The choices that you make and the allegiances that you declare determine your future experiences and outcomes. It was super fun.Read more
TravelerAwesome attire! I didn’t realise you had multiple costume changes! Can’t believe you fit it all in your luggage!
1/23/23Reply
TravelerThanks Fi 🙂. We cut it pretty close. Our flight out of Iceland was on a budget ticket and we came in with <200g to spare on all the cases. No souvenirs from Iceland!
1/23/23Reply
Traveler armarni !
1/24/23ReplyTranslate
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- Day 41
- Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 3:00 PM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 39 m
- United States Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park 28.351519, -81.57479528°21’5” N 81°34’29” W
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Heatwave
January 19, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Today we checked out of the Starcruiser. It was 28 degrees so there was only one logical option: Blizzard Beach! We were given the VIP treatment coming off the Starcruiser so were allowed to check in at 10am. This gave us time to explore the new cable car system attached to Disney's Riviera before ditching our luggage. A lazy day on the waterslides and mini-golfing was a great end to a short, but super-satisfying WDW trip.Read more
Traveler beats Milperra Road Putt Putt
1/24/23Reply
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- Day 42
- Friday, January 20, 2023 at 3:00 PM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 66 m
- United States Palm Desert 33.722769, -116.36192333°43’22” N 116°21’43” W
California Drivin'
January 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
We flew from MCO to LAX today. The new Clear Reserve system worked really well to get us through a disorganised airport full of people who know their rights and live to express them. We hired a car from an ultra budget mob called Fox, but so far they've been great to deal with. With 3 nights before our flight home we decided to try something different and head to Palm Desert as a base to explore the Joshua Tree National Park.Read more
TravelerWas your playlist U2 or Cars2?! 😂
1/23/23Reply
TravelerCars did get a run. There were lots of family "discussions" about the playlists.
1/23/23Reply
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Ice Ice Disney
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- Day 43
- Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 4:00 PM
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 1,347 m
- United States Jumbo Rocks 33.99656, -116.06538933°59’48” N 116°3’55” W
Bump n Grind
January 21, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Today we decided to tackle the Bump n Grind hiking trail in Palm Desert. We did more bumping than grinding and soon came to the group conclusion that the view at the top was not going to be worth the steep 4 mile climb. We were expecting cold desert temperatures and dressed accordingly. Unfortunately it was hot so we quit while we were behind. We went to Petco to overspend on the dog and then continued with our main plan for the day... Onwards to Joshua Tree National Park with a stopover at Pioneer Town. The park is better than the Town! The highlight, however, was dinner at a place called Kitchen in the Desert. It is an outdoor restaurant with a great setting, funky music, amazing cocktails good food and good value.Read more
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- Day 44
- Sunday, January 22, 2023 at 9:15 AM
- ⛅ 7 °C
- Altitude: 1,298 m
- United States Cabezon Indian Reservation 34.011667, -116.15166734°0’42” N 116°9’6” W
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Bouldering
January 22, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Our last full day of the trip and we went out with a bang. We went on a guided bouldering adventure back in Joshua Tree National Park. It was near zero cold initially but warmed up so we went from down jackets to long sleeve T shirts. Bouldering was very physical but lots of fun. We all overcame a few hurdles, copped a few scratches and left feeling strangely proud of ourselves. We finished by "scrambling" through the Chasm of Doom!Read more
Traveler Congratulations Grandpa
1/23/23Reply
TravelerWhat a way to conclude your epic international adventure! Have a safe trip home!
1/23/23Reply
Traveler OMG! 😱
1/23/23Reply
Travelerthey can keep this up at home.. Rohan goes indoor bouldering weekly at Nomads Annandale !
1/24/23Reply
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- Day 45
- Monday, January 23, 2023 at 9:00 PM
- 🌙 12 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- Australia Kogerrah -33.866667, 151.21666733°52’0” S 151°13’0” E
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Any cricket left?
January 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
Well, we're back. It's always mixed emotions to be back home.. lots of cobwebs (both literal and metaphorical) will need to be brushed off, the dog will need to be collected (thanks Hugo!) and timetables synchronised. Lots to be thankful for regarding this trip...It was one of the better ones. Hope to see you all soon.Read more
TravelerThankyou for sharing in beautiful detail, I had great virtual moments with you.... even if I did turn .. GREEN !!! xxxx Aunty Cathy
1/24/23Reply
Traveler Yep finals of the BBL coming up, lokking forward to seeing you all, finally discharged from hospital, feeling great. Love Dad
1/24/23Reply
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Trip end
January 22, 2023