On June 22, 2018 my family and I took a plane to spend 2 days in Vienna. We went to Vienna to selabrate my great uncle’s birthday.

On Friday (our first night) we went to a restaurant called Plachutta Wollzeile (https://www.plachutta-wollzeile.at/.) Plachutta Wollzeile has yummy food and a good verity. I give this restaurant 4 stars.

Saterday evening my family, my uncle and my cousin all went to a Buddhist center to celebrate my great uncle’s birthday.

The next day (Sunday) my family and I took a horse carriage ride around town. After the carriage ride on our walk home we stopped by an old restaurant called griechenbeisl. Here’s the link http://www.griechenbeisl.at/page.asp/lang%3Den/24.htm. The restaurant opened in 1447. My favorite part about it was the adografts. The man that showed me the autographs let my use a big stick to point at the autographs and didn’t let others use it. He also let me pour a beer from a 1447 tap! I give this restaurant 4 stars.

On July 4, 2018 my dad and I left (Greece) to spend 11 days in Croatia. My family and I meet up with some old friends (arriving from the US) for lunch in Sibenik. Then we drove up to our house in Srima. Our Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms19618016?location=%C5%A0ibenik%2C%20Croatia&adults=4&children=3&guests=1&home_collection=1&s=iRDl-vmh) was perfect and the hosts were great. For our first night there we enjoyed a fresh homemade Croatian dinner cooked by our hosts.

A few days later we took a break from swimming in the pool, we rented a boat to take us around. We saw a few other islands and swam in totally secluded spots. My dad went diving for sea urchins and brought us back a tasty treat of super fresh urchins.

One of the other days we took a ferry ride out of Split and into to Brac and did a food tour. There, we learned a lot about the history of the island and that they just got running water 40 years ago! We had a great snack at an old olive press. Were we enjoyed olives in several ways. Then we continued the tour and had fantastic Brac lamb chops. We wrapped up the day by swimming on the beach.

For one day we headed down to the water organ in Zadar. Here is a link for the water organs (https://www.zadar.travel/en/city-guide/attractions/19-04-2007/sea-organ#.W2LDSVqxWfB.) While we were in Croatia, the croats had 2 matches in the World Cup. They won both games we watched with the locals, but ended up losing the championship match. Croatia ended with second place.

Once the week was over we drove down to Split for a few days to see family. On the way we went to Krka National Park: (http://www.npkrka.hr/) where you can go swimming in the waterfalls and on beautiful (but busy) hikes. The floor underneath the water of the waterfalls is quite rocky but the water is fresh and clean. If you go and want to swim then I recommend bringing water shoes.

In Split we got to really enjoy the city. The city is defined by the Diocletian’s Palace. On our last day of vacation we went to the top of Diocletian’s Palace or the belltower (https://www.sirena-booking.hr/.) The palace is a very popular place to go in the city. This statue is very popular in Croatia. If you touch the man’s foot they say that you will have luck.

On our way back we stopped at the Bacvice Beach and there we went kayaking and my cousin went on a jet ski.

Croatia is simple and beautiful, but also can busy and loud. Split is a great place to go if you want to visit beautiful busy beaches or small towns.

Did you know that the Croatian people call their country Hrvatska?

In many words, they have a mark above certain letters. When you see the mark, that letter is followed by an ‘h’ sound. So, Brač is pronounced “Brach” and Šibenik is “Shibenik.”

On June 24 2018 my dad and I left to Mykonos for two days. The place that we stayed at was called Ilio Maris: http://www.iliomaris.com/. Our place had a great view of the Aegean Sea and sunset. The first day we where there we relaxed at the pool and for dinner we went out for sushi. The sushi place was called Sushi Med: https://m.facebook.com/SushiMedMykonos/. The sushi was good and worth the trip. The place was not busy. They had great customer service and where very kind. The next day we went to a rocky beach and beside it was https://mykonos.gr/en/.

In the middle of the day we took a fairy over to Naxos, Greece. Where we stayed with my friend for 1 week. (7 days) It was our 3rd year in Naxos with the same friend and staying at the same place. The place was https://www.studiosathina.gr/. In Athina’s place we enjoy our trip while being right next to the sandy Plaka Beach. She also provides free snacks and is now running a restaurant. Next to Athina’s are a couple restaurants. The first place is Yazoo which unfortunately does not have a website. Yazoo also has a gift shop run by the owner’s wife. The gift shop has things for the beach like shovels and beach balls but also has food like Oreos and they also have accessories like hats and necklaces.

The next place is https://el-gr.facebook.com/souvluckynaxos/. Souvlucky is a Greek food and also the name of the place.

Then we have https://www.picassoismexican.com/, The name is Piccasso. Picasso serves Mexican. The place is a family run business. Picasso also serves food on the beach.

Next up is Cedar Cafe which does not have a website either. Cedar is my favorite restaurant but is sadly only a lunch place, for us. Dinners are great for romantic nights out. After that is JAN’s Salmon and Deli. And Jan’s does not have a website either but the restaurant is new. Jan’s is a great view if Plaka Beach. Last is an Italian place called AMORE MIO. Which does not have a website either.

On the last day we said our goodbyes and took a ferry over to Santorini and spent our last two days in Greece there. We stayed at a fairly small hotel called https://www.villasonsantorini.com/. The hotel had a great view of the volcano and of the sunset. For our first dinner we went to http://www.vanilia.gr/ and enjoyed the sunset view. The food was good but there service was slow because they where super busy. At this place you must call and make a reservation. Unless they probably won’t have space.

Once our two days where over we took a sailboat tour before heading of to the airport. The tour was relaxing and thought us a lot about Santorini and it’s Coulter. We hade a few stops to go swimming in the sea around the volcano. The boat ride was called Santorini Sailing. The boat served small bites and makes sure that everyone is hungry for food before giving. At the end we had a lunch buffet then it was our choice what we wanted to do individually.

On 5/18/18 my family and I went to Northern Germany (Rhine River and Moselle River areas). Germany is known for its castles. So of course while we are in Germany we had to go see castles!

After, seeing a few castles, we drove down to a castle (over looking the Rhine) and slept there for one night.

Then, we went to the Nürburgring which is the hardest race track in the world and also the fastest cars in the world tested their cars on the track to make sure the cars worked before they sold them. So we took a tour of the Nurburgring and we rented a BMW M and rode around the track. While waiting for the tour to start we could have free water and we could also play a video game based on a car race, which was awesome. But, good thing it was just a game otherwise I would have had a high repair bill. In the middle of the tour we got to watch cars race on the track.

If you like cars then I would definitely recommend going to the Nurburgring. Even though I’m not a humongous fan of cars, I still very much enjoyed our visit to the Nurburgring.

We continued The trip by touring a mid evil castle in Cochem. The Cochem Castle is built at the highest point around. It has great views of the Moselle.Then having a mid evil dinner in the castle. The waitresses (servants) where in costumes and pretending that it was actually in the time period of mid evil.Before the dinner the workers picked a couple to be the king and queen of the dinner. While waiting for the castle tour there is a wonderful view of the city. And a gift shop.

While in Cochem, we also took a chairlift up to look out over the river. At the top, we were surprised to find an amusement park. I was able to talk my parents into going. It was fun to try some new rides.

If you live in Amsterdam than happy kings day/koningsdag! kings day is the only day all year that you you can sell stuff without a store and with out paying taxes. Kings day is also the kings birthday so we wear his favorite color witch is orange.  So on kings day half the people sell food, drinks, objects, clothes and/or games for a very cheap price. And the other half walks around and buys it. For kings day the past 2 years I tried to sell and make profit but it did not work. But for the first time I celled lemonade and I was successful.

San Marino is the seventh smallest country in the world. Witch is surrounded by Italy.This is a castle that me and my family past in San Marino. It’s capital is the city of San Marino and it’s largest city is Serravalle. San Marino has the smallest population of all the council of Europe. San Marino lays claim to be the oldest extant sovereign state as well as the oldest constitutional republic.

While me and my family were in San Marino on a road trip we stopped at a restaurant and got gnocchi, pizza and a folded bubble pizza. I would recommend gnocchi. #foodwasgreat

Siena used to be a mid evil city. Siennas heart is the central piazza known as ll Campo. The ll Campo has now been transformed into a museum with lots of mid evil treasures including sculptors, paintings, chests, cups, drum looking things, carvings, statues, etc. After that my dad and I went to a doughnut like tent. The donuts were good and I recommend them because they tasted scrumptious. The real name of the doughnut is Struffoli. If you like ice cream/gelato and you are either in Siena or want to go to Siena then you must go to suso. Suso is a great ice cream/gelato place. I would give suso a 5 star rating.

I spent two days in Venice, Italy. Venice was built upon water. Many centuries ago people came to the ocean and got brick and tile’s and started building Venice on top of the water. Even today they’re still floods in Venice when the water is knee-high it was a flood when I was there I missed it because it was at 5:00 AM. They put out tables on the ground that way people could walk on top of the water without getting wet. Venice is a place that has no streets no cars and no bikes, you either have to walk or take a boat/gondola.

Venice is the home of A certain type of glass. There glass is colored.

A few days ago I flew over to Taiwan for a funeral of my Aunt, Kailin. The night my father and I arrived we went to a hot pot restaurant with my dads brother. At the restaurant we ate goat eyes. The goat eyes looked like two medium balls of meat but when my dad and I tried it it was squishy and chewy. For a drink I got a guava juice which was really good because it had small chunks of guava put into the drink.

The next day me and my father where walking around looking for a place to have breakfast and found a good place. At the place we ordered three Chinese dishes which were taro, dumplings and a savory omelette thing with a green mix inside. There we also got a milk tea. Milk tea is my number one favorite drink I got in Taiwan. Milk tea was also invented in Taipei. Most of the drinks there had manufactured lids on top you had to poke with a straw to get into the drink.

Later in the day we went to a great cafe in the park where we ordered something mango – it was delicious! It had shaved mango flavored ice with a mango ice cream ball with a waffle on top and then extremely fresh cut mango slices on the side. it was so delicious! While we were there we saw a movie being shot. I think me and my dad were in it! After that we went to a place called National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall In the same building we went into an art hall. At the end of the art hall we met a lady and she said that she painted two of the pieces in the art hall. She showed us them and told us how she made them and where she got the inspiration. This is one of her pieces that she made.

Then we saw the soldiers that you see when you walk into the building. We saw them swap places and they had a small five minute ceremony to swap places. Because when the soldiers were on their turn they had to stand still without moving for one hour.

After that we headed over to the Taipei 101 building. The 101 used to be the tallest building in the world. Now the 101 building is about 8th or 9th Place in the tallest building in the world. When we were at the top of the 101 building we went on a really fun ride that was all virtual reality. We put the new Samsung phone hooked up onto your face and then it would be a virtual reality roller coaster and you got to pick which setting to experience. The chairs would move so you felt like you were actually there. If you do go to the 101 building one thing to remember is that you do have to buy a ticket for kids that are a certain hight. Me and my father did not know that so we thought it would be for free. So when we were at the front of the line we had to go all the way back to the end of the line and get another ticket. Then we went to couple levels down and found a ball (counter weight) and we found out the ball would move to the right, left, forward or back to help reduce the amount of sway at the top.

I may look tired, and I probably was but don’t judge me. Because when I flew back to Amsterdam from Baltimore I only had six hours at home until I had to leave my house and fly to Taiwan.

That night I went to the night market. The first piece of food that we got there was octopus on a stick. They were twirling the octopus around on a stick on top of a grill that had heat coming out from the bottom. She would spin the octopus stick so all sides would get cooked.

Then we got several other street food items, but I have no idea how to explain them. Then it was time to go back to our place for some sleep.

For our Tuesday morning walk we passed a place that had taro pancake and an egg crepe thing. So we got them. You may be wondering why I keep on getting taro, that is because I really like it. Then we continued our walk down to the Funeral place. We participated in the ceremony. Afterwards, they did the cremation and when they were finished we took an hour bus ride up to a Buddhist temple on top of a mountain.

On top of the mountain there were a couple stray dogs. When you live in Taiwan they don’t have pounds. Many people then bring their unwanted dogs to the top of the mountain and drop their dogs off there. The monks at the temple will take care of the dogs.

The older brother brought the urn up to the temple where he and his brother put it in her final resting place. After the bus ride back from the mountain we went to a Chinese seafood restaurant. In the Chinese restaurant there was a Lazy Susan. A Lazy Susan is a part of the table that spins. This allows everyone to share dishes as they spin the Lazy Susan to get want they want in front of them. One Chinese foods I really liked was the pork bun. It was soft white bread stuff with barbeque pork meat.

In the afternoon we went to the day market and got strawberry’s covered in bright red candied sugar on a stick.

The next day which, was Wednesday, my dad found a really good breakfast place so we went for a walk. As you know, Chinese is not very similar to English and a lot of people did not speak English so we had to just point to what other people were eating show with our fingers how many we wanted. One bad thing about that is we could only get what others got but we also had to try new things.

Later we went to the zoo. The first thing I found on the wall was this – After a baby koala stops drinking mothers milk and before being able to eat Eucalyptus leaves, it will eat their mother’s poop. The microorganism that helps to digest, metabolize, and detox exists in the poop.

After continuing our walk in the zoo we passed a crêpe place we got a crate with vanilla ice cream whipped cream and bananas.

After the zoo we had to take the metro back to our place and in Taipei. Instead of having like a card that you scan in and out with, you have a little blue coin that you scan and you can only use once. The metros are also really nice because they show you where you are, where the next stop is, and a couple other things that really makes it easy to understand – even when it is all in Chinese.

That night we went to a Japanese restaurant. The food was really good. I got a miso soup and a couple other small things. My favorite dish was a piece of chicken on a stick dipped in cheese, I thought that was really good. I would give that restaurant a 10 out of 10 rating because it’s service was good, it’s food was good, and at the end they give you free piece of gum.

The last night for dinner we didn’t want to go out so we went down to a 7-Eleven and got some strawberry chips and strawberry marshmallows with strawberry gummy inside. The marshmallows with the strawberry gummy’s I thought were really good but it wasn’t good to have even just three at a time because it was really sugary. The strawberry chips I did not like at all, they tasted really weird. The weird flavor was really strong.

The next day for lunch we went to dim sum. It is a style of Chinese dining where you would see carts coming around your table and then you could point out something and tell them if you wanted something off that cart and they would put it on your table. The restaurant also had a Lazy Susan. At the end, we had some sweets and I really liked the jelly fruit dish.

After that we went on a hike to see a great view of the city and 101 building. The surrounding area was beautiful with lots of plants and nature. I got lots of great selfie’s with the 101 building. After the hike we went to a dinner place which was like a pub. So had fries and burgers. And I got a delicious cocktail there.