Kai and Tanja - ready to take off...

Indian-Summer-Farewell-Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Last weekend the weather turned nice again, after a couple of terrible days. So we used the chance on Sunday to drive through the country side and experience Canada at its best:

We only had this one afternoon, but it felt so good to be out there again!

CANADA, WE WILL MISS YOU!!!!!

RV Tour for a week 13-19 July 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Approx. a month ago I talked about the RV trip in Ontario. It was only a week, but a week of , fun, hiking, beautiful nature, with sun, clouds and in the end with rain...

On Saturday the 12th of July all our guests had arrived and we were all excited to leave Toronto for a week with an RV. When we packed our Jeep, to pick up the RV later, it was quite a challenge to have everything and everybody on board. The car was soooo packed including roof top that there wasn't space left at all. When I came back from my last walk upstairs a slightly panicked Kai (;)) came towards me and told me, that he couldn't find the keys for the car anymore....oh oh! All of us searched for it...I went upstairs again...While I did that Kai only saw one possibility which was the garbage on the 3rd floor parking garage...and...he found it!!! WOW!

Okay after clarified that we drove up to the north of Toronto to pick up our RV Chateau Sport! Which was fantastic. We were all impressed even it didn' t really feel like a sport edition...

When we left the RV park Kai and myself suddenly could remember how our last trip felt with a RV on the road...noisy...anywhere in the cabin things were shaking ...but after a few hours, it felt like waves of the ocean ;)

Our first stop was a grocery store where we bought everything we needed (or not?) for the next days...afterwards the cupboards were full and we had everything for everyone on board, ...just in case ;)

Then we drove up to Tobermory, to stay there the first night. We had our first BBQ and our first camp fire. The kids were busy to adventure the campground while we had a glass of wine.

Later on we had marshmallows and Kai was telling a story...(wasn't that the first EDWARD night?!?)

We went to bed early. Next day we organized ourself the ticket for the ferry which brought us up to Manitoulin Island. The ferry should leave in the early evening. So we decided to have our first hike along the Bruce trail in the Bruce Peninsula National Park ( a renowned 535 mile footpath that spans the Niagara Escarpment from Tobermory to Niagara. Some of the most spectacular scenery along the Bruce Trail is found in the park. The sculpted cliffs of the escarpment enable robust hikers to enjoy glorious views of Georgian Bay.)

The sun came out and we had a beautiful day! In the afternoon we had a late lunch on a patio in Tobermory and afterwards we went on the ferry. Everyone of us was happy and a bit tired and we all enjoyed the beautiful sunset and the wind, which was pretty cold a bit later and so we went inside playing a round of "Mensch aergere Dich nicht".

When we arrived at Manitoulin Island an approx. 10 pm we had to find our camp ground for the next two nights. In the meantime we had to call the owner twice and a nice lady stopped by to help us out because we were lost! (Not sure if that would have happened in Germany?!!!) Finally we made it at approx. 1 am and we only had to put the kids up to their bed. Couldn't see anything outside.

But therefore the next morning was a nice surprise! Awesome campground, directly at the lake!

We all enjoyed two days and nights there...we rent a small motor boat to explore the lake and the surroundings, had a "kids-portion" (;)) of ice cream were lying in the sun, went swimming....totally relaxing!!! And we were developing our EDWARD Good night stories while sitting around the fire! We were all so creative...it was real fun! We were all a bit sad, when we left the camp ground and the Island to drive up more to the north in direction to Lake Superior Provincial Park, Pancake bay, via Sault St. Marie (lunch).

Pancake bay was our favourite spot last time when Kai and I where on our trip 2 years ago.

It is still beautiful...even if the Indian summer was more nice. It is located directly at the lake superior with a nice white sandy beach, forest around and less than 200 m from the highway...

Unfortunately the weather wasn' t sooo good anymore, it was raining and the humidity after the rain was a paradise for mosquitos! :((( After two days and a couple of hikes in the park we all hated mosquitos, even if the hikes were stunning..., there was always the negative part..!

We had funny nights in the RV, we played games again, where reading, talking...listen to "3???" and made the best out of the cloudy or sometimes rainy hours...

Our last night we spent at the Killarney Provincial Park, this time without any electricity. It was so dark, I was happy to have Leon with a lighter with me on my way to the washrooms, which was 5 minutes away from our place on the camp ground.

While we were sitting around the fire again a Racoon was our guest...the kids were excited and at least we had seen some wildlife. :) After a cozy night in the forest (in our RV) we were able to have breakfast outside...we drove into town, where was more or less nothing but a beautiful small harbour and while we were walking enjoying the last hour of sun, suddenly there were a lot of black small and huge snakes around us...aaaaaah! I can't really handle snakes...(Britt and Jule were also not amused...) Leon was cool and wanted to have a closer look....

I was happy when we went back to the RV...because of the following rain we decided to drive back to Toronto that evening.

We picked up our Jeep at the RV park...unpacked the RV (which took us an hour) to finally be home at approx. 10 pm.

It was a great trip and a new experience with kids! And here are some pictures of our trip...

Bad news for us...:(

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Before I ' ll write about our RV tour with Britt, Leon & Jule in July... I have to add some bad news which affected us somewhere along the way. The company of Kai (it' s not mine anymore) decided to close the office in Canada. First we thought we might stay until the end of the year, but now it' s the 1 October 2009.

So, we only have a few weeks left...

Kai is traveling a lot...and I am busy, finding us a new home in Hamburg, organizing the moving from Toronto back to Hamburg...etc.

In the end it was a great experience which we'll never forget! :)

See you guys in Germany end of October...

Sports events (official & inofficial) in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:37:00 +0000

Swimming...;)

Motorboat trip on Manitoulin Island (Kai, Britt, Jule)

Horse racing at Woodbine, Toronto - afterwards BBQ & Boules

Kai & Jule - Rogers centre - Baseball

Biketour at the lake

Hiking tour during our Camping trip up to the north

Toronto FC : ? (arrgg...?!?!) Soccer

Yoga in the garden...

Our guests during the summer... (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:37:00 +0000

So, finally some of our friends and family now have a good explanation why we like Toronto so much. Life is easy here and also to find the right spot for himself/herself. From swimming in house, to Baseball, soccer, to shopping and dining or just browsing the city or enjoying the sun at the harbour or the nice view from our apartment ;) Here are some nice shots from the last month... BBQ Algonquin.BBQ at Steffies & Martins place

"Hangover" breakfastHippotour mit MareikiDistillery district

wonderland

"Macho libre"

JET BOAT Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Anni was the first of our guests who could enjoy the "Wet boat" tour on the niagara river. (One hour high-speed ride upriver into the Niagara Gorge, through the Devil's Hole rapids, to the edge of the whirlpool, and back)!

That time we had to put on a sweater, which was wet from the beginning, an overall and a poncho...but only against the cold, don't think a second that we didn't got wet...

We did it again with Mareike and also with Britt, Jule and Leon....I think I am done now ;)

Our guests during the summer... (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:12:00 +0000

As you can see on our kitchen board Dirk was our first guest in the end of April.

Because I only worked part time, I was able to browse the city with him in the afternoon...

It was quite a challenge to canoe at the Algonquin park in the beginning of May...They brought their tent, made a fire and I' m sure they had a couple of drinks...:)

After the came back I made a great shot for "Heineken": Sundowner at a favorite spot of ours at cherry beach...isn't it beautiful?...

After Dirk left, we had only a few days before Anni arrived.

I was busy to plan a rafting trip with "my" girls here in Toronto. It should have been the Farewell chicks party for Susan as a surprise. It was an awesome day near London on the river and all of us did a good job...(What a challenge ;)) In the evening we had a BBQ (inside!!!) followed by an awesome karaoke night! I was happy that Anni had the chance to join and requested the Rafting trip...so it was originally her idea! Thanks!

We had a great time together!!!

Here we go again...!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:00:00 +0000

LONG TIME AGO, BUT I' ll make sure updating our blog from now on...I will tell stories from April until August...stories you' ll love and maybe stories you' ll hate (and at least one I hate, too)...but I 'll give my very best!! ;)))

So, be aware....here we go!

Tequila, Corona, Mexico (4-11 April 09)

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:07:00 +0000

2.5 weeks ago, Susan asked us to come with her on holidays for a week. She lives in Toronto, too. But she has to go back to Germany in June. Because Kai does a lot of business trips this month I decided to go with (I mean, WHY not?!! :)) . Finally we booked a nice resort in Mexico!!! Because we decided so spontaneously we only had to wait 7 days since a "little dream" became true. Wow, what a huge resort. It has disadvantages but also a lot of advantages (!) to book such a resort. Food, drinks, pools, gym, sun, beach, ocean....all inclusive. If you are a fan of all inclusive resorts, this has a lot to offer, especially for families (Grand Sunset Princess / Mayan Reviera - Playa del Carmen, Mexico). What can I tell... have look at the pictures, you will understand....Cu

Happy Easter Everybody!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:55:00 +0000

This year Kai and I got a very nice Easter gift....a new sofa arrived, wow!!! And its so comfortable, have a look here! :)

...and that' s what we did last Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:00:00 +0000

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!!!

Location: our flat

Reason: Kai' s and Sascha's Birthday

Time: 7.30 pm - 4.00 am

(click link below for ALL the pictures...)

http://gallery.me.com/kbartram#100265

What do you do on Sunday afternoon?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:22:00 +0000

Because we have this sunshine for quite a while here in Toronto (!!!) we always know on Friday that we might go for a nice walk on the weekend! With our iphones we are pretty well prepared for Geo Cashing!

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) (an Iphone ;)) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Currently over 823,000 geocaches are registered on various websites devoted to the pastime. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

So we went out "hunting"...you know, its always nice to have a target...;) And we were successful both times !!!!

St. Patrick' s day

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:43:00 +0000

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by those of Irish descent and increasingly by non-Irish people (usually in New Zealand, Australia, and North America). Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the colour green. Both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink (such as Irish stout, especially Guiness, Irish Whiskey or Irish Cream) and attending parades. This day was celebrated on 17th March 1737 the first time.

Because we missed the large parade in the city's downtown which attracts over 100,000 spectators we decided to meet friends and be "Irish for a day". And it was Sascha' s birthday!

While we were standing in line to get into this favorite Irish pub, we received all this promotional stuff. At 6 we thought it might take a while to get in..and we had some "starbucks coffee" (which was golden and had a nice latte crown)?!! ;)))))

After 2 hours it wasn' t that funny to stand in line still and we already had a couple of drinks, it was very cold, so Kai and I left and went home to have a hot tea....Next year we definitely meet earlier to party inside!!!

Bad news?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:30:00 +0000

...sometimes bad news have the be published, too. Milk is done... on a Sunday Morning...:(

How could I forget to buy... But at the moment we are two people who could have thought about it!!!

Today we could discuss who should go down, cross the street and buy new milk for our loved Sunday Morning Coffee (yes, Starbucks, second cup, Tim Hortens we have our own perfect coffee!!!) but in the future I assume, that is my responsability! :(

My contract with my company ends in the end of June! Earlier than expected. So I can't complain...But at least I HAVE A RESPONSABILITY...! :)

Powder snow

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Hello dear friends,
the last to weeks were quiet busy. Our team at work had a lot of things to do with preparing the first show in Denver. It was only a small exhibition booth but it kept us all busy...! - After getting up at 4 on a Sunday (!) we left Toronto on the 21 Feb.09 in direction to Denver, we were overtaken by beautiful weather there, 15 degrees C and sun - suddenly winter was gone...and we got 2 hours more that day...:)
Because it was my first time in Denver I was fascinated by the amazing view from Denver downtown (flat) to the Rocky Mountains...beautiful! - We were looking forward to our Ski weekend - even though we couldn' t believe that 2 hours drive from Denver would have been enough to have snow...

But it was the other way around....snow, snow, wind and snow.....

When we arrived at Breckenridge, Colorado the snow was so heavy that we had luck to park in the garage...otherwise we couldn' t reach the parking lot in front of our building up the hill.

Breckenridge is a nice town with a lot of restaurants and shops and we could book a hotel next to the slopes, perfect. - The next day when we woke up at 7 (we had problems with the 2 hour time difference the whole week) the snow was amazing. But the advantage was that day, that we
didn' t have to wait at the lifts. :) The disadvantage...I could hardly find my skis in the snow after a crash...

BUT someone thought we need to have the opposite conditions and so the next day we had the best ski | snowboard day ever....! Thank you!!!

On Saturday evening we decided to go back to Denver because our flight was on Sunday Morning again. A lot of traffic showed us that we decided right...

So, back in Toronto since a few days Kai left again and is now on his flight to Germany!

He doesn' t like to party with me on his birthday, you know...;) (Maybe I should think about it...the second time in a role...hmmm?!!)

CU soon!

Yes, we Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:04:00 +0000

We are first! Obama is visiting Canada!

Right now he is landing in Ottawa to meet the prime minister. He will be here for 6 hours.... Oh, well, as size, time doesn't count. We feel very important that he found the TIME to visit us.

Yes, we CANADA

"Nomaen"

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:24:00 +0000

When my brother sent me the picture of our youngest in the family, I had to upload it to our blog...isn' t he cute? My brother is talking English to him so his comment was ..."Nomaen"!!! :-)
Axel and Linus..you did very well!! And I am happy that you in good old Germany have snow!

Bye, bye Sabine...

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Last weekend the Toronto guys said goodbye to Sabine. Steffi and Martin organized that great surprise party for her. She' s leaving Toronto after 3-years ..

Sascha, Eike, Thorsten, Juergen---------- Sabine and Steffi

Steffi, Martin and Sabine

Eike and Sascha ----------------- Kathi and Kai

Winter in Toronto :-)

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:24:00 +0000

recently in Wedel

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:21:00 +0000

Last week I had to fly to Hamburg to join a meeting in Wedel (Headquarter).

I arrived on Saturday and Doerte (my sister) and her kids were visiting us at my mother´s home. We went for a walk and enjoyed thinking of lying on the beach and playing with the Dolphins ;-) (-5° C)

I also met "my girls" at a café. Irinsche and Mareiki, it was very good to see you! Mareiki, I am looking forward to see you in Toronto the next time!!! :-)

While I was in Germany, Kai was partying the whole time...must be hard to live in jail!!! ;-)))

Panorama Bar

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:11:00 +0000

Matthew and Kathi

Susan, Celine and Thorsten

Sascha und Eike

Time flys

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:09:00 +0000

We are back in Toronto and after 4 weeks I will give you a short update of what Kai and I did the last month! :-)

We left on December 18th to fly to Germany for Christmas. When we planned our trip we weren´t aware that we might become lucky people on the 19th: We watched TV when they were reporting about giant snow storms in New York...Toronto is not that far so everybody who tried to fly that day was into trouble...! Luck for us! So, we landed safe on the 19th :-)

After a few days (stopping by at the office, visiting family and friends) we enjoyed christmas eve with our families. I felt like we haven´t left...:-)

In the morning of the 26th we were looking forward to our real vacation in South Africa, Hermanus. Everything went well and after 20 hours or so we reached our destination Cape Town and were really (!!!) happy to get a car - Kai wasn´t able to rent one be Internet anymore...

80 Minutes later we arrived in Hermanus at Thea´s and Jorries new home. We felt home after a minute and we celabrated our revival! (because we were there excactly 2 years ago - that time nearly no furniture was in..) Thanks Thea and Jorrie for having us at your home!!!

Kai and I enjoyed every day, the sun, the wine, the food, doing nothing,(new year...ups ;-)), riding bicycles, reading, lying on the beach, meeting friends....it was wonderful!!! Here are some pictures to get an impression:

After our Trip to South Africa we stayed for a few days in Germany again. While Kai was still on holidays I had to work for a few days until we arrived back in Toronto last Friday.

On Saturday we went shopping prepare ourselves for Sunday on the piste ....yes, we agree...:-)

While we were sitting in the lift we laught about our "Torpedo"-Life :-)))

Take care

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:49:00 +0000

Dear all,

we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a
joyous holiday season as well as a prosperous New Year!

Presse here and you have fun! :-)

See you soon on our side!

Chicks weekend in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:58:00 +0000

This weekend Suse and her friends were visiting Toronto ( and me! :-))

Today I made great pictures of Suse on our trip to the Niagra Falls...

Thanks for the great weekend, it was sooooo cool to have you here!!

Suse at the Hardrock Café

Quebec 29-30 November 08

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:19:00 +0000

Last weekend we visited Quebec city (& Lac Beauport) and enjoyed a very relaxing weekend with Matthew, Dominique and their kids. But not only that, by accident Kathi and Eike (our German friends in Toronto) were also in the City, so we met them for a late lunch in town.

Quebec is a very nice litte European looking city.The city itself is definitly different in comparison to the rest of Canada (or what we have seen so far...). The language (French), steep, narrow streets, and old buildings leaves a comfy impression. As we learned, the old city is basically divided into two parts – the upper town and the lower town.
After walking around, we headed for the Château Frontenac, the hotel that dominates the city skyline. We decided for a drink inside because it was very cold, but unfortunatly we weren´t allowed because of the kids (they were sleeping in the trolley!). In general one is not allowed to rest in a bar with children....???!!!!!!!
When we stepped outside again Matthew and I had a Maple lolly, They pour hot maple syrup on the snow and you roll it up on a stick like a lolly....see here.

Afterwards we met Eike and Kathi, we all decided for a late lunch in the nearest Restaurant...because of the "freezing factor."

After lunch, we walked down to the old city. while having a snowball-fight :-) we enjoyed nice Christmas lightnings and went back to the parking place to drive home to their house, to enjoy a warm and cozy evening in front of the open fire place.....
On Sunday we had to go back at around lunchtime...before that we went out for a walk and tried the sledge in the snow.
Thanks to Family Kowalczyk for the wonderful weekend in Quebec..!!!!!