My trip in Switzerland was highlighted with cheese, cars, HM, and family. We drove to Zug, a city in Switzerland, from Germany, and we immediately were whisked away to the opening of my mom’s cousins, (Miriam) fashion atelier. As I said family, and the family part didn’t end there. We met my mom’s aunt and another cousin, (Alexander) there as well. That evening we all went to eat at a touristic, but delicious, cheese fondue restaurant. There you go, cheese just like I said! Later in the week, my dad and I went to go visit Zurich. I saw 5 HM’s, on one street!!! Not to mention the watches that cost 280,000 dollars or more! I also ate at a vegetarian restaurant called Hiltl. Which you pay by the weight of your food. It’s quirky interior and the delicious food made the restaurant shoot up all the way to my list of top five of all time! All of this was amazing, from seeing a designer at work at her own atelier to ogling watches that cost a fortune. But the most memorable of our time in Switzerland was on our second day. We started of the day by going to eat brunch at Alexanders place. There we were met by him, his wife, Miriam, her boyfriend, and Helga, Alexander and Miriam’s mother. After a heartwarming meal my family and Alexander went to go look at his car’s. You might be thinking, “What is so special about his cars”. Under the misconception that he has one or two. But actually in all he has 8 cars! All antique cars, except for his Tesla and his wife’s car. My brothers and I joined him in his Tesla, and we drove to his garage where he keeps all his cars. ​

Tesla P85D, built in 2015. You guys might be wondering what P85D means, and so did I!  So the P stands for Performance, because of its 691 horsepower and a top speed of 155 miles per hour! Thats fast… The 85 stands for the 85kWh battery that has an operational life span of 275 miles! The D stands for dual motor because there are two motors in the vehicle, one located right above the rear axle, that provides 470 horsepower, and one above the front axle that provides 221 horsepower. Having two motors allows the vehicle to drive in all-wheel drive that is amazing considering most high performance vehicles can only drive in front wheel or rear wheel.  ​

Hi!
​Leaving Greece behind we flew to the Black forest in Germany. Other than being known for its dense, mysterious and breathtaking forests, it is also known for making clocks. Not just any clocks while we are at it, but everyones favorite  Cuckoo clocks. The history  of the Cuckoo clocks has a surprising amount of twists and turns, at least for their makers. Like many other things, we do not  know exactly who invented the cuckoo clock,  but it is thought that most of the development and popularization of these intricate clocks  was in the  Black Forest  area in southwestern Germany. These  magical   devices  were exported to the rest of the world from the mid  1850's to today. In the late 19th century  clockmakers were replaced by machines that made many more clocks faster. The clockmakers then became musicians and they turned to making music boxes. Once again with the invention of the record player, the music boxes were no longer of use to people. This time they switched to  making huge music boxes to perform at street fairs  and carnivals. Sadly once again they were put out of  business , because of powerful speakers,  but this time they turned back to something a bit more close to home. These  ex-musicmen  turned back to their roots to continue to make cuckoo clocks for the myriad of tourists that keep streaming through The Black Forest.  
Now that my friends is the end of our tale!

More Very Soon!
Liv the Cuckoo Clock Expert
​

Dear Reader
Santorini, a picturesque honeymoon island off the coast of Greece that will keep your cameras flashing. The mountainous area is covered with cement houses painted in a myriad of colors. All the homes are somehow connected, their arches and flat roofs entwining. An ancient stone step case spirals through all the island villages, with more steps than you can count. Of course, that means that climbing down to the harbor and back up to the village is quite a chore considering there are over 500 steps! You couldn’t possibly do that alone, especially on the way back up. But don’t worry there are a plethora of mules offering their services to you for a mere 5 euros! It makes quite a bumpy ride and the mules seem to race between themselves to see who can get up first. That doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable experience, and my entire family came back for seconds and thirds! The Island of Santorini is divided into to main towns. Fira is the larger of the two, and also where we stayed. While Oia, pronounced Oh-ya, is smaller. Both villages are beautiful, and similar, yet surprisingly different. In Fira there are mostly restaurants, big hotels, and shops. Fira is where families and larger groups go to travel. In Oia, there is mostly restaurants, shops and small honeymoon getaway cottages. The cottages are breathtaking, with a small two-person pool, views to the ocean and cushions on balconies. Other than the cottages, photographers and women in wedding gowns can be seen posing with their husbands.  We spent one day in Oia and the other three in Fira. The two most enjoyable things we did, other than the mules, of course, were a hike up and old volcano and then a dip in the not so hot springs, and a fake Greek wedding which we attended to get a sense of what a Greek wedding is. 
The Volcano of Santorini is on a small island off the shore of the mainland. The whole island is covered, from figurative head to toe, in volcanic rock, of all kinds. Red rocks, black rocks, porous rocks smooth rocks, boulders, and tiny pebbles. It was a very scenic hiking trail, and the view was fantastic from the top. We then took a boat and stopped next to a ridge next to a cliff. This was where the not so hot spring was. Our guide told everyone on the vessel that the water would be cold in the beginning but would get better. She under exaggerated, by a lot. I felt as if I had pins being stuck into my frigid body, and all my muscles cramped up. I swear I would’ve drowned If it weren’t for the adrenaline that rushed through my blood. I kept swimming and waiting for the nice warm water to hit me, but soon I realized it wouldn’t. I quickly turned around and swam back to the boat. Overall this was an enjoyable experience, minus the frigid water. 
Our plans for the “Greek Wedding” were slightly altered when it started pouring in the early evening. The stone streets of Fire were flooded, but we managed to make it to the place where the “wedding” was held in relative safety. The rain had caused the whole wedding to be moved inside which was a bit disappointing, but what could we do. We soon realized that another family there was Dutch, and we socialized with them. Lucky for me the children were all girls. We were seated at tables covered in little Greek snacks and the wedding commenced. It started with a little play that put us into the story and before we knew it, it was the wedding reception. We were told to dig in while the actors started to dance across the stage. I worried we would have to watch them dance the whole time, but soon enough they called us to come dance too. Dance we did, or at least we tried. I, being a very clumsy person may have tripped over my own feet once, or twice, but who's counting? At the end of the ceremony, when every drop of wine was gone from the adults glasses, we were given plates to smash at the ground, as is Greek custom. It reminded me a bit of the Jewish custom for the newly wed groom to smash a cup under his foot. I found the action of smashing the plates and later once again dancing over the shards very therapeutic and found that it really can calm you down. The wedding ended late, and we hopped straight into bed afterward still humming the tunes… 
I had an amazing time in Santorini, though it is very touristic, I highly suggest visiting if you want a relaxing weekend away from the bustle of Athens during your visit Greece. 
Keep posted!
Liv the Explorer

Dear Readers!

315 days behind us and 50 more days to go. A week and a half ago we once again packed our bags and left the small, simple life we had built for ourselves in Israel over the course of the last four months. Don’t be mistaken; we might not have had so much there but the emotional impact of leaving all my new found friends was pretty hard for me and It left me in a bad mood for the next week. Which we spent in Greece! We spent one-half of the week in the city of Athens, viewing the Parthenon, the temple dedicated to Athena, visiting its museum and a tour of the Jewish quarters in Athens and their history. One of my lifelong dreams has been to see the Parthenon, and I thought I knew a lot about it. I had read book after book after book about Ancient Greece, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much there still was to learn. Knowledge is like the universe, it can always, and is always expanding. Which is knowledge in itself because outer space is in fact always expanding and getting bigger. 

Sadly, because of frequent strikes and protests that are happening all over Greece because of the economic situation, we could not enter the Parthenon grounds, but we did view it from the outside and we then later went to the Parthenon Museum, which was an excellent substitute for the real thing. One of the most amazing things about the museum is that the floors are partly made of a see through material so you can see all the ancient Greek ruins that you are walking just above. It is a very different experience, and It gave me a strange feeling inside. Mostly sadness that such a great powerful, exciting and challenging Empire different from many that had come before it and will come after, is now lying under my feet. In nothing but ruins. 

Many of the original sculptures were in the museum while only replicas are actually on site, which meant I could see the real thing. That was carved over 2,500 years ago by an ancient Greek. There was so much to see and learn, and while my brothers thought it was sleep inflicting, I found that it was one of the most enjoyable museums I had every visited. Second only to the tech museum of course. The most interesting thing I discovered in the museum, were the plethora of Kore that covered an entire floor of the massive museum. A Kore is a statue of a young lady, with the ideal body and face of the time. You could call them the Supermodels of ancient Greece! These Kores were given as thank you gifts from the rich to the rich or, as offerings from the rich to the goddess Athena. Of course, these statues were female because Athena is female. At least that is what a kind lady at the museum, who I suspect was a tour guide because she had been talking to a large group of senior tourists had said, when I sidled over to hear her explanations. I am a bit confused with the logic of giving the ideal woman statue, the supermodel of the time to a lady. Wouldn’t they want to give her a man? I don’t question the way of the ancient Greeks though; they must have had a good reason. Alright back to the Kore, these Kore ranged from formidable women towering high above us, to little girls I could hold in my hand. Some were smiling some were not. Some had apples and doves in their hands, and some had intricate braids in their hair. I took the time to sketch my favorite one. A small girl who’s name was quite long, The Kore with the Almond Shaped Eyes. It was true these little girls eyes were slightly angular, but it made her so much more interesting.
​

Other than the Parthenon museum, we did another immensely fun activity. We did two escape rooms. Escape rooms have nothing to do with Athens, or Greece as they can be found worldwide but the were still very enjoyable. An escape room is a sort of game. Each room has a theme, and the point of the game is to try and escape a room. To escape the room you must solve all kinds of riddles, puzzles, locks, and do challenges together as a team. Each clue leads to a next and eventually you need to have found a specific item which in the end helps you escape the room. Oh, I forgot to mention that you have an hour to complete the challenge. These rooms sure make your heart beat, your adrenaline run, and your head try and think under immense pressure. The first room we did was called the Perfect Crime. It was about a serial killer, (It wasn’t as scary as it sounds), and the second on was called the Da Vinci Code. It used all the hints that Da Vinci supposedly hid in his work as a starting point for the story plot. I loved these rooms, and I hope to do more in the future!

More coming soon!
Liv the Explorer​

 Dear Readers!
Ready to hear more about my visit to Prague? On Wednesday,  Lenka, my third and only non-danish Au pair came to visit us. She lives in a small town about an hour away from Prague. The first thing thing my brothers did when Lenka arrived, was strip to their underpants and dance around the apartment,  you can tell they might have been a bit nervous to meet her. Luckily I wasn't there during this debacle, I was  at the grocery store with Aba and Safta.  We met up with Lenka, Mamma and the boys and a Thai massage store. Where Milo was sticking his feet into a pool of little  fish. My first reaction was, "Ewwww!!" and I looked away. But later, I timidly put my hand in the water and was surprised by the strange tingling sensation all throughout my arm. I yanked my arm out and was scolded by the lady supervising us. Embarrassed, I carefully put my hand back in the water.   Once I got used to the strange buzzing feeling of the fish biting my hands, I  joined in on the conversation between Lenka, my parents, and Safta.  Lenka is an aspiring actress,  after she lived with us for almost a year she moved to L.A. and then to London. I enjoyed listening to her stories, because I like acting myself. But I don't think I'd want to go professional.  After Milo finished drying of his feet. We set out to go and  ride a segway. You see, each of us kids got  to pick one thing we wanted to do or see in Prague. Milo picked the fish massage, and Yanai and I picked segways.  Yanai, Mamma and I set off one the segway. We didn't do much sightseeing just  riding around. Our guide is an architecture student, and he told us the history of lot's of the famous buildings in Prague.  

When we got home from  the 'exhausting '  Segway  trip, we all (including Milo, Safta, Aba and Lenka) made our way back to our lovely little apartment to  warm up some leftover pasta for dinner. While Safta, Mamma and Aba prepared dinner, Lenka the boys and I retreated to my room to make a movie. We started by doing our makeup. The boys with dirt (eyeshadow) blood (lipstick) and scars (eyeliner) all over their  faces. Lenka and I had matching evil faces, we drew with eyeliner. One big arching eyebrow,  one eye with overdone eyeliner, half our lips painted black, and  a scar  on our foreheads.  Then, based on the makeup, we made up a story.  We were the four people who control the 4 elements of the earth. Fire, water, wind, and earth.  Lenka and I decided that we wanted the world to be evil and so we began to fight Yanai and Milo.... I mean Howling Wind and Water Man.  Then they destroyed us and good ruled over the world again.  A classic hero story.  I think Lenka was particularly good  at playing an evil character considering she is not ONE BIT evil! Her evil laugh and expression weren't half  convincing. 
(Being not half convincing means really  convincing.  It is a  saying I picked up in England. Like I wasn't half scared means I was REALLY scared.)   The first day with Lenka was wonderful  and  we toured the city with her for the next to days. Climbing to the top of the fake Eiffel tower. Sitting on the babies with barcode faces and  just walking around touring Prague's many historical sites.  

Bezpečná Cesta!
Liv the Explorer

P.S. I might not be able to post for a while because I am now traveling in China and I will not always have WiFi.

This is a list of travel tips I put together! There will be more throughout the year. I know some of the tips sound silly, but they work! (Ish)

Liv’s rules for travel on airplanes without looking like a train wreck

1. Try to wear summery clothes. Don’t overload with scarves and jackets which will get crumbled and make you feel icky.

2. Try to go to the restroom before you board the plane because then you won’t have the memory of the horrible airplane toilet.

3. Wear your hear in a tight braid, not loose or in a ponytail, because then your hair will be nice and back tied.

4. Try not to eat too much chips, candy. Try something lighter which will make you feel better.

5. Don’t read a book or stare at a screen the entire way. I know it’s tempting because there is nothing else to do, but it will make your eyes look red and tired.

6. If you have to wait in a terminal for a long time, try sit next to a window because I don’t like to sit in the dark for a long time. Also try to stay active, walk around and look at shops to keep moving.

7. Don’t use neck pillows because it will mess up your hair. If you insist on wearing them just remember to take them off before getting off the airplane.

8. Drink lots of water because it will make you feel fresher.

9. Take a shower before you get on the airplane, which will make you feel clean.

10. Pack light or if you didn’t pack light (like I did) then put all your stuff in your suitcase, not a carry-on bag. It will make you feel lighter.
 
11. Bring your toothbrush and toothpaste with you on the plane, nobody likes having stinky breath!

Dearest Readers,

Last Sunday, my family and I traveled to Prague in the Czech Republic. Prague has a very rich history, and picturesque architecture. The Czech Republic was a communist country under the control of Russia from the 1940’s to the 1980’s. There are many memorials commemorating the students that lost there lives trying to free the Czech Republic from communism and Russia. At first, I didn’t understand what was so bad about communism. I mean, the government takes care of you and makes sure everybody is equal. No one has personal possessions and everyone lives together. A bit like a kibbutz. To better explain what communism was, my mother found a book called Breaking Stalin’s Nose. (Stalin was the leader of Russia during the communist time.) The book is in the perspective of a young boy who lives in Russia when communism is at it’s peak. At first the boy is a true believer in communism. But many things happen throughout the book and in the end, the boy thinks otherwise. This book really helped me understand communism, and gave me a better picture about what life would have been like for me if I lived in Russia or the Czech Republic during the communist time. I highly recommend this Newbury award winning book for tweens/teens and adults alike. It is a quick and easy read, though I would not suggest younger children read it due to the heavy topic. If you guys find the time to read it, I’m sure you will enjoy the book.


Now that you know a little about Prague’s history, I will go on to tell you about our travels. When we arrived, we took a taxi from the airport to our lovely apartment. It was on the top floor of a bright yellow building, only a five minutes walk from the main square. After lugging our three suitcases up what seemed like an endless staircase, we finally arrived at the apartment. The interior was miss matched, and light colored which made the place feel like home. There were large windows on the ceiling and a blue clock and a traffic sign on the wall leading to the kitchen. Wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling and the wall alternated from brick to white paint. After the usually fight about who would sleep were, we came to a conclusion. My parents would sleep in the room at the far end of the apartment, which was furnished with an assortment of dark brown wooden furniture and dark blue bedsheets. Safta, who would arrive from Israel later that day, would sleep in the room next to the living room with me. It had a chestnut color wardrobe, two black faux velvet chairs, a white desk and a honey colored bed, a blue mattress on the floor, and white and blue striped bedsheets. By brothers would sleep in the living room on an extra bed. The living room had old off-white leather couches, a golden colored wooden table, a fluffy dark brown carpet, a big white beanbag, and a small green bean bag. Lenka, one of our old au pairs, would sleep on the couch when she arrived on Wednesday. Lenka, lives in a small village about an hour away from Prague. After unpacking our suitcases, we set out to the supermarket before my dad would go pick up Safta from the airport. 


Prague really is breathtaking. Its colorful buildings and clear blue skies looked like a painting. Most of the buildings in Prague are very old, from as long ago as 920 AD. At the main square we saw a beautiful clock tower, and every hour small windows open up and a short puppet show featuring an assortment of saints commences. We also saw a formidable castle, which looks exactly like the Disney Palace, only darker.  



Every now and then, there is a modern building, like the Dancing House. The Dancing house was designed by Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry. It is supposed to be an artistic interpretation of the famous American dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I love this building, it flows with the buildings around it, yet at the same time it stands out. 

 

Prague is also the home of the 4th ugliest building in the world. It is a T.V. tower that juts out of the landscape a soars high in the air. It looks a bit like some silver straws with a band around them. If you are far away it will seem like there are oversized ants crawling on it. But if you get closer you will see that they are actually babies, with a barcode on there head instead of a face. These babies match a statue next to the modern art museum. Three huge babies with barcodes for faces. 

There is another modern statue at the top of a hill right on the edge of Prague, it looks like a  giant metronome that is actually going from side to side. We couldn’t figure out why the artist decided to build a metronome, but there is an interesting story behind. Remember that Stalin guy I told you about earlier? Well, there used to be a stone statue of him on the mountain, with people standing behind him. But when Stalin grew out of favor, the city of Prague decided to destroy that statue and replace it with a metronome.

 There is also a smaller version of the Eiffel tower on the top of a hill. The Czech government didn’t have enough money to make it the same size of the Eiffel tower in Paris, so they built it on a hill. If you measure the tower including the hill, it is exactly the same size as the real Eiffel tower! We climbed the hill and went to see the tower with Lenka later in the week. The tower is tiny! Though they do have delicious ice cream and some hilarious fun house mirrors. 


After we finished grocery shopping, my dad went to pick up Safta, and my mom, the boys and I went home. Once we arrived, my brothers ran to get the iPads and were glued to the screen immediately. Even though we are only aloud to have 30 minutes every time we complete a school day, or a certain amount of a book, Yanai and Milo always find a way to get a lot more time. My mom went to research Prague on her computer and I just hung around, reading a bit and then doing some extra school work. 6:30 pm my dad still wasn’t back and my stomach began to gnaw with hunger, so I started making dinner. Right when I was setting the table, my dad came back, with Safta! We all ate and went to bed early, it was a long and tiring day full of sightseeing, and there was more yet to come. 


Bezpečná Cesta! (Safe Journey in Czech!)
Liv the Explorer
P.S. I'll post about the other days later this week.
P.P.S . I will FINALY post the pictures of my travels so far later this week.