Ghana

GHANA

Aunt Meg and Frannie LOVE Ghana! Tia Meg wants to go back there right now but she just got to Cape Town - so she is happy:-)

Ghana was fabulous! Very different then anywhere else. They speak English in Ghana! I had no idea. Here is Ghana on a map. Can you find it on your map?

Tia Meg and Frannie went to a bead making factory! It was wonderful. They learned how to make their own beads. Frannie made a lot of bracelets! She even made some for all of you!

Frannie and Tia Meg went to a village and met the Chief. his name was Chief Nana. There were so many kids in the village. Frannie played with them for days!

 More Beads!

 More Kids!

 having fun in the Village!

Morocco

Morocco

Frannie started to feel better on our way to Morocco! Yay:-) So when we got to Morocco she was ready to travel. She did so much in Morocco. Look at all the pictures below.

Emmy, Cassidy, AJ, Vivi, Noe, Reedy, Ximena, Sammy and Kendra..... Frannie misses you all and your frogs!!!! So does Tia Meg/Aunt Meg

This is The Moroccan Flag

Here is a map of Morocco. Morocco is in Africa. All of the the other countries Frannie and Aunt Meg went to were in Europe. Morocco was very different from all of the other countries and very different then The United States.

Aunt Meg went to a market one day and there was a dentist! The dentist was just pretending to pull my tooth out but Moroccan's go to the the market to see the dentist :-) That was very different then the U.S. 

Frannie went on a 3 day trek with Aunt Meg into the desert and villages. She became friends with Janett and Ruben, who are two of Aunt Meg's good friends.

 There were also 35 college students on the trip who loved hanging out with Frannie as well!

 We went to a garden in a city called Marakech. The garden was full of lily pads! Frannie used to live on a lily pad so she was very excited to see her old home. 

In Morocco, the women usually do not wear shorts or tank tops. They usually have their arms covered with a scarf and sometimes even their heads. Frannie decided to be culturally sensitive and do the sa,e.

 Aunt Meg and Frannie in the garden.

 Frannie covering her head with a scarf:-)

 See, Aunt Meg wore a scarf too. Frannie and Aunt Meg and some other friends found a beach. They always find beaches in every country!

 After 4 days of traveling, everyone has to be back at the ship at a certain time. it is called On-Ship time. usually there is a big line of people waiting to get back on the ship. We don't want the ship to leave without us! Frannie was so tired waiting in line. 

 Frannie, Ruben, and Janett - with the ship behind them.

 WOW! Frannie went surfing!!!!! She LOVED it!

 This was one of Frannie's best experiences. She rode on a camel! The camel's name was Mimoona. Camels are very silly animals. They eat plants and have humps on their back. They can store a lot of water in these humps. This is why they live in the desert. Sometimes the desert is very dry and there is not a lot of water. But camels always have water with them!

 Frannie and Aunt Meg in the desert. 

 Camels love to sit down. they are kind of lazy. 

Frannie had so many new experiences in Morocco. She will need to go back their one day.

Merci!

Spain

SPAIN

Tia Meg LOVED Spain. They speak Spanish in Spain and both Frannie and Tia Meg speak Spanish. Unfortunately Frannie was not feeling well again in Spain so she rested up. 

This is the Spanish Flag

This is a map of Spain. Can you find it on your map?

Tia Meg loves speaking spanish. She learned how to speak Spanish when she lived in Chile. Kendra and Sammy I know you know how to speak Spanish too! Ximena, you too! Cassidy always goes down to Mexico where they speak Spanish too! Emmy, Noe, Reedy, Vivi, and AJ I bet you all know some Spanish too! Agua, Por Favor, leche, uno, dos, tres. :-)

Aunt Meg rented a bike in Seville Spain. She loves riding her bike! Vivi, AJ and Noe - do you love riding your bikes too?

As always, Aunt Meg found a beach to go to in Spain! There were a lot of palm trees. Emmy and Cassidy - it looked like San Diego!

Vivi, Noe, Reedy, and AJ - Aunt Meg found a kitty in Spain that looked almost like the cat that Grandma and Grandpa have named Putter.

 There was a gym at the beach too. Aunt Meg could only do 1/2 of a pull-up!

 Horses were all over Seville. Ximena - I saw a picture of you riding a horse once! Do you like Horses?

 Aunt Meg hung out with her friend Carlos in Cadiz Spain. Carlos is from Guatemala - another country that speaks Spanish. Cassidy - have you been to Guatemala?

 Me Encanta Espana!

Portugal 

Frannie was not feeling well while we were in Portugal and Spain so she didn't get off the ship very much.... but Aunt Meg had a great time in Portugal! They speak Portuguese in Portugal and both Aunt Meg and Frannie can speak Portuguese so it was fun to talk to everyone in another language. Ximena, did you know that your daddy's name is Portuguese? I met a lot of people in Portugal called Joao.

Here is a Map of Portugal. Can you find it on your map?

 Here is the Flag of Portugal.

 

We came into Portugal early in the morning and the sun was not up yet. We went under a bridge that reminded me of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I later found out that the same designer was used for both of these bridges. No wonder it looked familiar!  Noe and Reedy, Have you been across the Golden Gate Bridge? It is close to where you live.

 This is my home! The name of our ship is called the M.V. Explorer. Isn't she pretty? Boats and ships are always females so we call them "She". Noe, Reedy, Aj, and Vivi - grandpa and poppop love boats. Have you been on their boats? They are not as big is this one.

 Tia Meg went to the beach and went surfing. Cassidy have you been surfing lately with daddy and mommy? Tia Meg also had a delicious hamburger and fries. It reminded her of back home.

Frannie didn't surf but she did sunbath!:-) Kendra, Sammy, Cassidy, and Emmy - Is it still sunny enough to go to the beach in Southern California?  Aj and Vivi - is it too cold in New Jersey for the beach now?

Frannie goes to Ireland

IRELAND

Frannie and Tia Meg had an amazing time in Ireland. Do you know that Aunt Meg and her family (AJ and Vivi you too)  have family from here. Grandma's family is from County Cork and PopPop's family is from Belfast. Can you find those places on your map? AJ, you look Irish! Vivi - you look a little more Italian but you are still 1/2 Schuck! :-)

Here is the Irish Flag!

Aunt Meg and Her friends went to the beach in Ireland. it was GORGEOUS but the water was freezing. She still went swimming though. it is the same ocean, the Atlantic Ocean that AJ and Vivi

swim in at Ocean City.  Emmy and Cassidy - I bet you have both been to the beach lately - I know your mom and dad's love the beach!

Frannie went for a hike and decided to climb a tree!  Kendra and Sammy, I know you go hiking all the time with your mom and dad! Maybe Frannie can come next time. Do you ever bring Faith the Frog hiking?

Wow! In Ireland People drive on the other side of the road. Tia Meg thought it was funny! Frannie hung out in the back window a lot - looking at the view! The car was named Erin O'Malley :-)  Cassidy , We named the care the same name as your mom! Silly:-)

Frannie went to the West Coast of Ireland on a road trip with Aunt Meg and her friends. This was a magical place.  The pictures below are of the Cliffs of Moyer. They were just stunning. There is a castle in the background too. 

Frannie, Tia Meg, and Their friend Julie:-) 

Frannnie Loves sunsets just like Tia Meg.   Cassidy, Kendra, Sammy, Noe, Reedy, and Emmy - since you live on the West Coast of the United States, I bet you get to see some sunsets over the ocean as well. 

Frannie is looking at the Atlantic Ocean. She is trying to wave to Ximena, AJ and Vivi. You 3 are just on the other side of this big ocean!

So Pretty!!!! Aunt Meg wanted to stay forever!

So did Frannie!

We also went on a road trip to Cork County. Frannie was in charge of telling us where to go. 

Sometimes she even drove!

Do you know about Leprechauns??? Frannie saw 5 of them! WOW

She also saw A LOT of sheep. Do you know that in Ireland there are more sheep them people!

Cassidy!!!! Tia Meg found a store with your name on it!

There are a lot of Lakes in Ireland as well. Ximena - Have you been to the lakes in Michigan where your mom is from? They are small lakes though - not as big as Lake Michigan or Lake Tahoe!

The Blarney Castle!!!!  Aunt Meg loves Castles:-) Noe, do you think a princess lives inside?

Slainte! Have a great day Emmy, Ximena, Cassidy, Noe, Reedy, Aj, Vivi, Kendra and Sammy!