BEING CREATIVE FOR CHRISTMAS

Making decorations for Christmas tree

mom jumping of steep hill/wall

This week we had a lot of time to get into the atmosphere of Christmas. Many streets and shops were being decorated for Christmas and white and blue lights have been switched on making the town very cozy.

We really got into the mood of being creative for Christmas too and started making and writing beautiful Christmas and New Years cards. We also decided that we set up a Christmas Tree in our apartment, so we went out hiking to find branches and recycled stuff for decorations.

Giving fruit to Sinterklaas' old horse

We went walking with the four of us in the mountains just outside Antequera. We saw a sheperd with lots of goats and while dad had a long telephone call mom and I went our own way walking more into the mountains. We had made it into a big adventure by jumping over streams, pulling each other up with a long scarf we had with us and collecting fruits which we found laying in an old orchard. There we saw the old retired horse of Sinterklaas (the younger one 

recycling materials

decorating Christmas tree

was in the Netherlands) so we took care of it by feeding it the fruits. I held out my hand holding it in front of his nose for a few long minutes. Eventually he smelled it and then ate all of our fruits we collected. We kept him company sitting in the wet grass looking at the cold, wet, shining sun. We headed home where we saw dad and Steven with a strong branch that was supposed to become our Christmas Tree. Perfect!!!! and Steven and I went decorating the tree. We collected many decorations for the tree using string, elastics, bottle tops, ribbons, pine cones, paper, t-bags, wrapping paper that we 

used from mum's birthday. When we finished decorating I said, "that is what I call a Christmas tree". We bought cheap  Christmas lights in the Chinese Shop and .......we are ready for Christmas!!!!!

The inside of Mezquita

On the 6th December it was the day of Saint Nicolas. The Dutch
celebrate this on the evening of 5th December with presents. Here in Spain it was called Day of Constitution. Just before Sinterklaas we went to Cordoba, where the streets are full of trees with 'appeltjes van Oranje' (orange-trees). It was only 1,5 hour away from our town and we went with my friend Esther, her mother, my mum and Steven. The old city was very beautiful. You enter the center that existed from 113 BC, walking over the Roman bridge of Cordoba that goes along the Guadalquivir river. Walking in the old part of Cordoba is very interesting since every small street or patio is different. The most beautiful building was the Mezquita, the Mosque that was made into a Cathedral. The inside is very impressive with high ceilings and columns and many patterns of red and white. The big old paintings are all in golden frames. It would be a beautiful place to hold the Christmas-Eve service.

Family photo in Torcal mountains

Steven,dad and me on a rock in El Torcal

Finally on a sunny day, for the fourth time, we went to El Torcal. Remember that we have been their 3 times were it was raining and bad weather with clouds covering the rocks. Well this time it was a clear blue sky with a yellow dot in it. El Torcal is a natural park / reserve with strange rock formations, grass, trees and animals. We went hiking up the rocks, slipping because of the muddy stones, climbing, jumping. The game reserve was 17 square kilometers so we had to make sure we did not get lost. When we thought we lost our way we started to be scared, because it was so big and it was beginning to get darker. We were actually with our backs facing the parking so very close to the end of the trail.

In Torcal with goats (Spanish Ibex) behind me

The winners!

The beginning of December was our last Tennis lesson, because of the colder weather! Steven and I earned a medal and a piece of apple pie. Now I need to find something else to keep fit so dad and I are doing early morning walks to see the town waking up. Steven is still playing soccer 3 times a week for 2 hours and mum is still at her Pilates lessons. Also the hikes are lovely and we still have our badminton rackets to practice in the street or park here.

Family picture in front of Antequera on a sunny hiking day

(up side down picture) with Christmas lights in streets

Castle of Antequera from our hinking path on a beautiful sunny afternoon 

Dear blog followers, ITS PARTY TIME,

5000 blog followers!!!!          Thanxxxx to you I reached 5000 page views!!!!! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY BLOG weekly or regularly and  following our journey's!!! In late October I had 4000 page views and now  5000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Also thanks to our proud sponsors (if you want to be one , ones off E 5 / R 50 ) and all the local friends who gave me the ideas.

As you know, it is cold here in Antequera during the night so as a 5000 page view gift mum 

heated up 5000 rice grains in the microwave for 5 minutes!!! 

And dad organised a cake with 5000 calories.

Your comments and page views inspire me to write my stories and I want to thank- you

so much !!!  I have viewers from all over the world check it out !!!

Pageviews by Countries

Entry	Pageviews
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United States	562
Argentina	414
United Kingdom	319
Spain	252
Russia	145
Germany	133
Australia	109
Ukraine	84

AND EVEN MORE : FROM CHINA (but these are our secret viewers) , SWEDEN,INDONESIA and even EGYPT,!!!!

I hope that when I am back in South Africa that I can write a blog about " Loes in the Cape"

I'll see if I don't have too much home work or I can do it every 2 weeks, because also there many strange, funny, sad, interesting things happening every day.

If you do want me to go  on with writing, be my FOLLOWER! On the left had side of my blog!

We have 3 weeks till our world journey is over! Please keep on following till the end of this year  and write comment and email me, because I love it ! 

I have seen a lot of countries and every one inspired me on a different way, the beautiful cities en nature the most impressive was to meet so many nice and friendly people in the towns, the busses, the trains. I expect that many of them we knew better are going to visit us in Cape Town.

If you can also be a follower of my blog!!! Go on my blog and on the left side it says follower press the button and 

write your email address and then you are a OFFICIAL FOLLOWER!!!

Please keep following and commenting

on my email : loesjelindiwe@gmail.com

or blog : kreeftonthemove.blogspot.com

MUCHO GRACIAS, BAIE DANKIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DANK JULLIE WEL, 

谢谢, DANKE, MERCI, ΣΑΣ ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΟΥΜΕ, GRAZIE, DZIĘKUJĘ, СПАСИБО, شكرا  !!!!

from Loes van the dream town : Antequera, Spain

Missing my Friends!!

All of my friends together !

" MY FRIENDS" age of 12 years

 note I got from my friends

a note I got from one of my friends

Now we have been 'on-the-move' for almost 12 months, people start asking me what I learned from the trip. I started thinking how much I learned about all the people in the many countries, about their food, their manners and sometimes strange habits and languages, about the history in the many museums we visited. BUT most of all I learned this year how important friends are to me! They are so so very important to have!

My first BFF moved to Australia

I also found out an interesting and funny thing! Some friends that you expect to stay in contact with, have not been in contact so much or at all AND the friends you did not expect to stay in contact with, have been in contact all the time. There are a few friends who always contacted me in different ways, short messages or long messages. It's just the idea of them always being there for you, even when you are not with them! I know I am the one who left to go away for a whole year, but by writing my blog every Monday I try to stay in touch and I am always very excited when someone contacts me after I published. Some are really good at it and write a comment on the my Blog, send me a short message saying hello, writing a postcard, sending me a Whats App, email, Facebook or Skype. Sometimes I can see when their school is busy, because there are less messages and no time for Skype. Sometimes when I am sad that no friends have contacted me for a week, the next day they suddenly all contact me at once and I am on the top of the world!!!
I love my friends and I am coming back for them, not for school, not for my own bed or house, but for my BFF's. A few days ago a friend even started counting down the days till I come back. THANKS friends for always being there for me!
Here I posted 2 of my favorite images which friends have Whats App-ed me!

Playing the instruments

Esther and Me kissing a statue

Talking about friends;  I have met a lot of nice friends during the trip. A lot of them are still reading my blog or emailing me. I hope I can stay in contact with them and most of all I wish they come to visit me in South Africa.
One particular friend I met here in our village/town Antequera. She is 17 years and she is born in Holland so also speaks Dutch. She came to Spain when she was 10 years and went to school here in Antequera. She can speak very well Spanish and wants to improve her English, so we decided that we would tutor each other. Esther is teaching me Spanish and I am teaching her English. We went to Malaga together with the bus and also went with her brother. We were a whole day in Malaga and went to a small music museum where you could play all the instruments and we were there for 2,5 hours playing everything they had. We  also had a free Hanna tattoo with a peace sign, went shopping, walking from left to right, eating, but most of all TALKING! We were talking the whole day to each other about all the different kinds of subjects!

Reserving a bench in the park!

Lying in the forbidden area

We had found a bench in the middle of the center of Malaga where next to us was someone playing soft music and behind us were trees with birds in them with the sun shining on us! It was a great spot. Than we wanted to walk around and see the center. We reserved our VIP seats and when we returned there was a 'bergie' sitting on our seats. I guess he couldn't read, because it said " RESERVED VIP" clearly! After having a busy, fun day we lay on a grass patch for a while and rested. The rest was short because a police officer sent us away, haha! Anyway, the day went by very quickly and when we looked at our watch we had to run otherwise we would have to take a bus 2 hours later! We made it and in the bus we were all terribly tired!

After a a few days being miserably cold and jealous of Cape Town with a temperature difference of 25 degrees C! Esther and I went cycling in the cold winter weather. The mountains are very near by, but in the town it is quite easy to cycle around. It was great!

view of Malaga from the castle!

  MUM and Dad 15 years Married !!

our home made cup cakes

Flamenco show in bar

Steven and I planned a 2 day-away in Malaga for my mum and dad, because they had their 15 year wedding anniversary ( and also because we wanted to be alone without parents, DISCO haha). Steven  booked a cheap, romantic hotel and  I organised a not touristic original flamenco show in a bar and a museum where they could go to. We both gave them an envelope with maps and direction and their booking prints and said good- bye. Our plan was : "go with the flow" have fun!!!

The first 3 minutes we were "happy dancing" and excited to be alone......... no mum and dad! We had a great time being alone. Our friend came over and we went out to meet other friends for pizza. Later we watched movies till late in the night, we baked, we washed the dishes and had fun! Mom and Dad also had an amazing time since the old center of Malaga was decorated with Christmas lights who were officially switched on that evening with music and dancing and many people partying. By luck I phoned them to 'check' on them when I heard all the noise in the background. !!! They had their first Christmas feeling seeing the lights go on in the cold weather. When they came home again the next evening we had made them a 3 dishes surprise dinner with candles and music and delicious home-made food!!

\

Next Week : "The Kreeftenberg's getting ready for a CREATIVE CHRISTMAS!!! "

Loes Lindiwe Kreeftenberg

Abuelo and Abuela

As you know, Abuelo and Abuela ( Opa & Oma Muts) visited us in Antequera being there for  mum's birthday and staying with us for a week. The first few days the weather was good, could have been better, but we could walked outside without feeling any raindrops or feeling very cold! Let's just say that the weather was good enough to eat ice-cream, but too cold to wear your shorts!

Oma and mama eating Churrios

far away you can see the flamingos

We went with Oma and Opa Muts to............. wait .... let me first translate Opa & Oma Muts for you. Opa & Oma Muts means " Grandpa & Grandma Hat " We named them like that because Oma Hat always wears a hat when she comes to South Africa! Steven and I decided to call her/them just like that Hat a long time ago. Just like our other granny who we name: Oma Muis. Granny Mouse because she used to catch mice on our attic!.. (ok! now let's go on).......

Oma and I with our cup cakes

Oma and Opa Muts posing 

During the week after the birthday we did many things with Oma and Opa Muts; we went to a fruit-vegetable and clothes market. I thought it was a great market with lots to taste like delicious oranges etc!! The only thing they could have changed was the order of the stalls. If we wanted to go to another row of stalls we had to go back around and go through the other stalls which we already saw. After walking through the busy market buying the fresh good looking fruit, we headed off going to have a cappuccino which ended up with having... yummy, traditional oily, circled CHURRIOS (do you still remember what they are, we have had it a few weeks ago. Anyway it was delicious again!)

Alhambra wall carvings and tiles

On Wednesday we were supposed to go to Granada (a city in Andalusia  and go to the Alhambra. This is an Arabic castle which is very well know and many tourist visit this when they are in Andalusia  Everyone was looking forward to go at 10:00 and at 9:45 dad said he had a little problem, he did not have the tickets for the Alhambra. That was not a little problem, more a BIG problem, because the Alhambra is always very busy and you have to buy the tickets in advance. The tour was cancelled, but instead Granny and I did a lot. We baked cup cakes, made Christmas cards and went shopping in the little Local boutiques and Chinese shops! At the end of the day we also had time to go to Fuente de Piedra, a place not far from Antequera where you can see the flamingo's in a beautiful nature reserve. We were just in time to see the last group of flamingo's leave for Africa! We could see a pink/orange group of flamingo's very blurry, because it was so far away!
The next day we had reserved the tickets and went in our hired car to Granada. 1,5 hour in the car, but worth it! The Alhambra was fantastic, wonderful, because of its beautiful rooms with hand made wall and ceilings which the Arab kings had made for them! I also loved the clean green gardens in between the palace rooms with different color flowers and plants all cut in shapes or animals! The fort (Alcazaba) in front of the castles was also magnificent. A huge castle with many corridors and rooms all empty and my favorite part was the "mirador" = " the viewpoint". We saw the view of the whole city of Granada with all the white houses and red/brown roofs. If you look much further you could see the snow on the mountains (Sierra Nevada)!! We didn't see the high gardens of Alhambra, because it was too much for grandpa to walk.

Thanks to the lovely sun, it was a great, moving, smiling, magnificent day!!



The last afternoon for oma and opa Muts to be in Antequera I had booked a nice tapas restaurant for 6 people. When it was time to go to this restaurant,...I did not know the way back to the restaurant, because I went with a friend and I was chatting with her and did not pay attention. I lost the way! stupid of me!! ( as dad always says: " you learn everyday"). Anyway we had found another nice tapas restaurant where we could have lunch! We had to rush a little, because we lost some time looking for my original restaurant, but we were in time at Malaga airport and had to say good-bye to them.! Thanks Opa and Oma for staying with us.

(next week = missing my friends!)

Loes - Louisa Lindiwe Kreeftenberg

!!!!!!! " LA SOPRESA / SUPRISE" !!!!!!

Breakfast in bed

mum's BFF  - Best Friends Forever

On the 15th of November it was mum's 50th birthday. During the week Steven, Jaap and I were preparing Mum 50 party.  We were waiting for the last weather forecast, because this week was not to be expected to be the sunniest week. At the end it was not too bad. On Tuesday Steven went alone by bus and train to pick up Opa & Oma Muts (grand ma & pa) from the airport of Malaga. They arrived with airbeds and many presents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We checked the hotel and restaurant and the bar for the evening with drinks and tapas. On Thursday Ellen & Marga

(mum's BFF = Best Friends Forever), Ernie, Oma Muis en Lex arrived in the morning in Antequera and settled in their hotel.

guided tour around Antequera

We gave Mum breakfast in bed and she could watch for 30 minutes her favorite Dutch program (DWDD). At  11:00 we had presents for her (even though she said that she really did not want presents and only wanted us to be good and not misbehave) and coffee.

We were all sooooooo excited to know if our big birthday surprise that we had organized worked or if mum found out something was going to happen!!!! 

mum holding a speech

Hanging out with friends of Antequera

with local friends!!!

At 13.30 we walked with 4 of  us and  Opa & Oma to the restaurant to have lunch and our friends were already installed and had the wine ready!!! When we arrived the friends were sitting there and mum was completely surprised. Mum held a speech made for the 6 of us not knowing we were with more, but it was beautiful and very well prepared. Thank you mom! After lunch we had a guided tour through ancient Antequera with Mireille, who is living in Antequera for more than 6 years and works for the tourism board. We visited the castle and after that we went to the soccer field to see Steven playing soccer and me playing tennis. Germaine skipped her Pilates of course to be with her BFFs. 

The day went fast and at 20:30 we had our party at the Casino, the bar next door to our apartment where we are regulars. We had our European friends and our Antequera friends all together and with around 30 people Germaine said she had a dream Birthday party with a lot of drinks and tapas of course. 

Friday everybody had to recover, certainly the birthday girl! :). The (hard core/doorzetters) Ernie, Lex, Opa Piet, Oma Mieke and Jaap continued in the evening with drinking and partying. Because of his nominations Opa Piet was chosen as " Sir Pierre " that evening. 

Oma muis upside down in a tree

Next day we had another surprise. We went to the beautiful city, Ronda. We were guided by Jose, a colleague and friend of uncle Lex who works with him in the plant and flower business in London (see sponsor-  "plants for London"). Jose was on a week holiday back in his home town. He just arrived and he was guiding us and every 2 minutes he had to stop and greet his friends! He showed us every plant of Ronda and the beautiful landscapes and history. He also showed us the 98 meter waterfall, which was absolutely scary!!! He dropped us of at a tapas bar. It was very warm and cosy inside with many people. He had ordered a few tapas for us and after 4 rounds of delicious plates of tapas we were full, but there still was a lot more!!! " We loved it". 

We were back in time from Ronda to go to a beautiful classic concert of Jose Luis Nieto a young Spanish pianist who played music from Sergei Rachmaninov. Here is a short piece of his music to enjoy!

It has been a wonderful week with all these big surprises. Thank you everyone for coming to Spain!

!!!!! Thank you for the surprise, hope you had a safe and relaxing flight, after 
doing all the activities!!!-

Monday, last week Steven and I waved Sinterklaas good bye when he left Spain to go to Holland. because of security reasons we are not allowed to tell you the exact place of his departure. He left with many Piets and we sang together "dag St Klaasje".  
Hope they arrived safe in Holland and that nobody or no-one's presents fell over board.

(definition of Sinterklaas, http://dutchfood.about.com/od/s/g/Sinterklaas.htm)

Loes Lindiwe Kreeftenberg