Florence part 1 - shopping paradise

Amirah and Paula - on the way to the Barberino Outlet Stores

Amirah and Papa at the Barberino

One tired little girl after some shopping spree

Mama in front of Prada Store - Mamma Mia!

After shopping in Polo Ralph Lauren Store

Amirah at home - trying on her Papa's swimming goggles

Preparing Amirah for cold weather outside

We never thought of having this opportunity to stay in Florence for a few months... the best thing was that the location was really superb... it was not in any of the middle east countries that Petronas could send Papa to.... or else Mama would really need to think about bringing Amirah along... having to spend about 2 months in Florence was really fantastic... how we wished we could come here again someday...

One of the best activities that Mama and Amirah loved to do when we were in Florence were definitely shopping! shopping in Florence during sales period was considered relatively cheaper compared to some branded items which were also available in Malaysia during sales time...

Our everyday routine when Papa was not around was to enjoyed ourselves playing around in the room and watching Amirah's favorite cartoons (Little Einstein, Upin & Ipin, Madagascar 2, etc). Mama would feed her for lunch everyday before we went out to the Florence city which was just a few blocks away from Palazzo Ricasoli, where we were staying...

In order to bring Amirah out, Mama had set a rule that Amirah had to stay in her stroller during the walk or else, we would just stay in the room and never go out... at first she was quite reluctant to sit inside her stroller but later on, she began to understand the concept and how Mama would be very tired if Mama need to hold her while pushing the stroller all at once....

One of our favorite stores when we go out to the centre of Florence was the Ilcentro, where most of our groceries were made there. We were lucky enough that we were given Buon Chef coupons for about 700 Euro to spend each month in some groceries stores, restaurant, etc which could accept the coupons. Ilcentro was one of them... almost everyday we would stop by the Ilcentro to buy some groceries items or some other personal things... they also sold some everyday toys that Amirah could play in the room so that Mama did not have to spend any cents to buy...

Other favorite stores that Amirah and Mama loved to visit when we were in Florence was definitely the Disney Store!!! the best thing we loved about the Disney Stores was that they frequently change their items especially their sales items... the sales or clearance items were really cheap and affordable to buy... most of the toys that we brought home to Malaysia were bought from here... Amirah's Cinderalla dress, High School Musical Ball, Princess tumblers, Disney handphones, Nemo's bath figures, princess stationaries/colors sets, Mickey's drinking glasses, pillow, Princess handbag and hairband set, etc.... those were some of the items that Mama can think of....

Another worth to buy items could be find in the Zara Stores... we happened to be in Florence during the sales time... so we did get good bargains for some of the items... We managed to buy a Zara t-shirt as cheap as 2.99 Euro each... Definitely you could get that cheap from Zara store in Malaysia... Mama also bought a pair of Zara boots to wear in one of Papa's formal dinner....

United Color of Benetton was also a good store to be visited during sales time.. Mama bought a small handbag and a few t-shirts at 1.99 Euro each.

Papa also enjoyed shopping in Florence. One of the best bargain that he got was from Massimo Dutti.... jeles mama... hehehe...

There were also bazaars which we could go everyday in Florence to buy souveniers.... items such as local t-shirts, leather items (eg: handbags, purse, wallets, jackets), fridge magnets, scarfs, etc could be find at affordable prices if one knows how to bargain with these Italians.

Mama also shopped a lot of tapestry kat florence... sangat laa mata rambang... hehe

The first weekend in Florence, we went to Barberino Outlet located about 20-30 km from Florence.. the place was quite cold as it was located at a highland... We took a bus there together with some other Papa's friends... Amirah met her new friends from Venezuela; Santi (3 years old) and Paula (1 + yrs old - same as Amirah)... Mama also met some shopping friends; Aimara (Santi n Paula's Mom @ Alejandro's wife) and Irene (Vinky's wife)...we really went crazy in the Outlet... For the first time in Mama's life, Mama managed to grab some Prada's stuffs from the store... no kidding... these were original Prada that we were talking about.... we also grabbed some other things in Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas, etc which were available at the Barberino Outlet… The stuffs that we got were really cheap compared to Malaysia… We also managed to get an Adidas swimming suit for Amirah which as soon as we got home from the Outlet, she took out and tried it on her.... and also a nice Burberry dress for her...

Okay... will be right back ... i think that will be enough on the shopping part in Florence...

Venezia, Italy

8th - 10th January 2009

Finally we reached to the end of our Euro Trip. Our last stop before going back to Palazzo Ricasoli, Firenze was Venezia aka Venice. We arrived in Venice via train after a transit in Milan. I love Venice because there were lots and lots of things to look at and shop. I was crazy about murano glass and its jewelleries... after all, it was all about finding the right shop to bargain... bought also some pinnochio puppets and a few gondola models. Amirah was quite ecstatic to see water all around, as if she wanted to jumped into it. we travelled from a place to another via water taxi. cool though... luckily we arrived venice just after the flood but the water condition was not really good.

one of the main attractions that we went was Piazza San Marco, which has the same name as one of the piazzas in Florence. There were lots and lots of birds in this Piazza that made amirah really excited about it. the birds did not scare of human and would come near you if you fed them. so, you can imagine how long we had to spend in that piazza until amirah tired of looking at those birds.

We also took a gondola ride for about 30 -45 mins, lalu belakang rumah rumah orang and through some small channels. the man who gave us the ride somehow did not sing to us and was not wearing the normal uniform that they used to, unlike the one we always saw in the TV. maybe due to its cold wheather. summer aje kot...

Our last night was very splendid. we decided to have a very nice and romantic dinner. after all, we were in venice, weren't we? Papa took mama (and amirah) to a very nice and fine seafood restaurant for the dinner. amirah was very sporting that she slept during the entire dinner... kasi can laa kat mama ngan papa.... hehe... some of the dishes we ordered were spaghetti di frutti di mare and grilled seafood... on the way back, we tapau some eggplant and egg sandwiches for amirah.. somehow, i really loved those eggplant sandwiches... one of the best simple sandwiches that i ate so far..

on the 10th, we departed to Firenze where Papa would start his class again and mama would start to become a full housewife for the next 2 months in Firenze while looking after our lovely daughter, Amirah.. home sweet home :)

Zurich and Lucerne, Switzerland

Engelberg

Engelberg Train station

confident aje si kecik ni jalan atas snow

excited dapat jalan atas snow

on the way to Mt. Titlis, Engelberg

Engelberg

Engelberg

Old Town, Lucerne

Old Town, Lucerne

Old Town, Lucerne

Old Town, Lucerne

Old Town, Lucerne

Old Town, Lucerne

Zurich

5th to 8th January 2009

Finally we arrived in Switzerland! my dream place!!

well, we actually arrived in Zurich late in the evening.. after so many transits in Germany... somehow there were problems with the ICE train that for a certain reason, it did not stop where we were supposed to before changing to another train. anyway, we arrived in Zurich safely in Zurich SBB Station, right in the middle of Zurich city. It was colder in Zurich, as expected. even the water of the fountain located outside the station was frozen.

Our hotel located at the outskirt of the city, which was closer to the airport (lupa pulak tak naik kapal terbang laaa).. luckily the train system was really good there and quite near to the hotel to. The hotel (NH Zurich Airport Hotel) offered good facilities, about the same standard as the Mercure Hotel. we were so glad about that.

London, Amsterdam

Oxford, rumah Fakhrul

met with Malaysian family

London Eye

ICE train to Switzerland, transit in Germany

tak nak share ngan papa n mama

Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Big Ben

Green Park near to Buckingham Palace

30th December 08 - 1st January 2009

New year in London! We departed from Nice's Airport to London City Airport, London. Although we spent only 2 days in Nice, we really had a great time as it was a really nice and great place.. kalau laa banyak duit, mesti aku beli rumah kat sini... hehe

4 days and 3 nights in London.... apa lagi, sight seeing all around london la... well, pictures do tell more than the words, so paste pics aje laa kat sini... we bought 2 days bus tour via Big Bus Sightseeing Tour (Hop on - Hop off) to bring us around London. generally we went to see the followings:

1) Buckingham Palace
2) Big Ben
3) London Bridge
4) London Eye
5) Westminster Abbey
6) Trafalgar Square
7) Tower Bridge

We also went to Oxford to pay a visit to our ex-MRSM Taiping's friend Fakhrul Rozy and wife, Shaliza. Both of them are currently working as architects in Oxford. Stayed a few hours there, talking and updating ourselves. Thanks for the hospitality! Sedap nasi ayam derang buat... Amirah pulak sibuk 'mengemas' aka menyemak rumah derang dengan mengacau bookshelves yg ada kat situ... aiyooo

late that evening, we went back to hotel to rest. In london, although there were so many sales and offers at that time, we restrained ourselves from shopping as our baggages were really really full and we could not afford to bring any other additional things. However, I managed to grab some Victoria Secret's stuffs at the Gatwick Airport before departing to Amsterdam, our next stop of the tour!



2nd - 4th January 2009

Amsterdam.... ooo i really really love tulips.... sayang bukan spring time... kalau spring for sure i would be able to see tulips blooming everywhere... well, unfortunately amirah was not feeling very well when we arrived in amsterdam... fever and flu... even mama was also suffering the fever in amsterdam.. we only managed to visit the amsterdam downtown and a must visit place of Hard Rock Cafe... most of the time, we stayed in the hotel and rest as much as possible so that we can spent our best time when we went to Switzerland next....luckily the hotel that we chose in Amsterdam was good, the Mercure Hotel... so, we really did not mind to spend our day in the hotel... :)