Leila Tour 2007: Europe
England
We started our 3 1/2 week vacation in England, visiting most of Mama's relatives. It was a very busy week indeed.



We went to Bow to visit Grandpa's elder sister, Winnie. She hadn't been well and our visit really cheered her up.



With Angela and Mama's other cousin, Michael.



We spent a Saturday afternoon with Nana's side of the family. Many were away on holiday, but I had a great time getting acquainted with (L to R) Dixie, Stephen, Great Great Auntie Thelma, John, Gary, and Ann. They prepared a lovely tea and I ate way to many Gem biscuits.



With Great Great Auntie Thelma in her garden.



Ray and Great Uncle Peter

Nicola and Rachel

With Rhonda and her grandaughter Georgia in Notting Hill for lunch


This is Dada's cousin Sofia, from Sweden, who lives in Wimbledon, 3 blocks from Mama's cousin Rhonda! What a small world!



We had a lovely dinner with Valerie, Dave, Matthew, Drew, Duncan, and Gemma.
It was a quick visit, but we were happy to see them.



Gemma, Duncan, Dada, Me, Mama, and Matthew




In the maze at Hever Castle.



Angela, Mama, and me.



Sweden

Our week in Sweden was great. We spent a relaxing 4.5 days in the south, in Horby, with my great-grandparents and Farmor. Then we were off to Stockholm.


Standing at the entrance of Gamla Farmor's (Great Grandmother in Swedish) garden.



Smelling the flowers.

Playing games with Gamla Farmor.





I've discovered that I love apples, almost as much as tomatoes and raspberries. I like them so much that I would take one bite of an apple that had fallen from the tree, toss it aside, then move to the next one. All the while, saying, "Ap-ple, Ap-ple, Ap-ple" over and over again. Here I am in Great Aunt Margareta's beautiful garden, stealing her apples.




Smoochie smoochie for Farmor. I was very generous with my kisses all vacation.

Picking raspberries in Gamla Farmor's garden. I was very sneaky and if you weren't watching me, I would run to go pick and eat the berries as fast as I could!

Mama and me on the swing. Weeeeeeeee!

Petting this very friendly kitty we found rolling around this field.

In the tv room with Gamla Farmor, Gamla Farfar, Farmor, Mama, and Dada. Its our last day :(
I have had a lot of fun in Horby.

Stockholm

We spent 2 days in Sweden's capital. We took the bullet train from the south (where we were staying with my Great-Grandparents). It was a very pretty train ride......lots of green! We even passed the very first IKEA!

In Stockholm we stayed with Farmor's younger sister Gudrun and her son Max. We had a great time exploring the city and we all agreed that we would definately like to return.

Group shot with the Swedish relatives (I'm getting a little camera shy.....actually just tired of all the friggin photo taking!) From L to R: Me, Farmor, Dada, Mama, Great Aunt Gudrun, Max, Fredrik, Ann-Sophie (Farmor's cousin), and her sons, Johan, and Joel.

Running around the ferry to Vauxholm (an island in Stockholm's archipelago). The scenery was amazing, too bad it was raining most of the time.

What a surprise we got when the King (pictured here with the President of Brazil) and Queen entered through the palace as we were making our way to check out the museums there.

The Queen of Sweden!

Hello there!

Here we are in Gamla Stan (Old Town), Stockholm.

With my 2nd cousin Max. I like him a lot!

Denmark

Our time in the city of Copenhagen was short (only a little over an hour). As we missed our connector flight from Stockholm to Basel via Copenhagen due to a flight delay. Instead of wallowing in misery for 5 hours in the airport until the next flight, where Mama was dying from allergies because of the perfume shops, we took the train into the center of Copenhagen, and had ourselves a look around.

Underneath the Hans Christian Anderson statue in Copenhagen.

Leila Tour 2007: Europe Part II
Germany
What a wonderful time we had in Freiburg, Germany. Lots of relatives to see and such a cute city. Dada really enjoyed his beer and sausage, while I made lots of new friends. I hope we can visit again soon!

Joking around with my 2nd cousin Cherine.




Here's my belly button! I like to check often and make sure it is still there.





My cousins (actually 3rd cousins) Nicolas and Line. They like to holds hands everywhere they go.




Walking along the cobblestone streets of Freiburg.




Hanging out with Mama, Great Aunt Hend, and Nicolas in Freiburg



I was so happy to finally meet my Great Grandmother.




Here I am swinging in my Great Aunt Noor's garden with Farmor




I loved playing in these gutters that are all over Freiburg. Little children like to float leaves and boats down them.



Here I am on my hike in the Black Forest. See, I can keep up with the best of them!



(cue music: "The hills are alive with the sound of music!") Yay! I made it to the top!

Paris
A quick 2 1/2 days in Paris, where we were able to spend time with our friends Lisa, Damien, and their little boy Loui. It was very cute to see Leila and Loui play together (future match maybe?)



Bathtime with Loui!



At the Cafe for breakfast with Lisa and Loui. The chocolate croissants were yum!



When I was outside the Pompidou Center these Japanese tourists went crazy over me, twirling me around, and making me laugh.



I got to meet Dada's Aunt Josianne and cousin Joanna for some gelato outside the Pompidou Center.




With Mama and Versaille behind us.


Despite the crazy crowds and it being way past my bed time, I am enjoying myself atop the Eiffel Tower. Such a pretty view at sunset.



Getting ready to get on the plane. Bye-bye Europe, we had fun!