What I have done in 2013 - Part 2

This image belongs to the past where I spent my time in
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo.
Just a reminder for FB if Park Hotel ever is fully booked.

I told you 2013 was a year of cars and a similar one was almost our 

new family car, but sudden changes finally pointed in a new direction

 at the end of the year.

Tometaro continued his training in spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. 

This is strictly a two seater and sometimes we need to take old mom with us.

Indoor cycling started to became a serious problem in my life.

We spend sometime in Andorra in one of the snowiest week of 2013.
Lots of fun and some problems to move from one place to another.

In the Plaza Monumental Mall. Old Bull Fighting Arena.

We visited Scotland, where we manage to get some snow too 

and visited some Castles, Loch Ness and made some friends... 

Father bunny drove his first Mitsubishi and

I spend some time talking with very nice and soft cows and 

long time ancestors (hares).

Tometaro, AmpanMan, BaikinMan and my Dutch cousin eating 

biscuits we bought in Tokyo.
Below a beautiful t-Shirt FB bought for me while out for running.

What I have done in 2013 - Part 1

2013 has been one of this years you will like to forget, and as all the things you don't enjoy it has proven extremely long, despite it had 365 days as all the normal years.

I spent my last 2012 days in Japan and so i did with my first 2013 ones celebrating that my father got his senior citizen status.

We usually fly from The Netherlands and so we pay a respectful visit to
Old Grandma at Schipol airport, where she stills make good sales

After some terrible journey - this if flying today with KLM / Air France -
we took the Limo bus and we arrive to OUR hotel in Tokyo.
 I don't know why but my father fell in love with Shiodome and Park Hotel
 and we have been regular guest since our second visit to Tokyo

I cannot complaint about the views from our room

Ironically Tokyo Tower has not been in our favorite's list but after six months
 we spent some time there when 2013 showed his nasty face

Our first day in Tokyo was for visiting its famous Asakusa Shrine

This was taken in Kiddyland - a famous toy store in Tokyo's center -

Something was telling me that 2013 will be a year devoted to 4 wheels...

But, of course, we had the opportunity to try some nice food, even FB and
 me tried Tsujiki market famous sushi thanks to our friends from Cafemiffy 

My father got some interest sin road bikes

And I was invited to the new A380 cabin

Talking with Tometaro's father at Shiodome

As many of you know Tometaro Jr has been living with me for some time and has traveled to exciting and not so exciting locations.

Furthermore sometimes he has be in charge of Orange Cap Sect activities related to travel and lodging. Try this http://miffaisno1.blogspot.sg/search?q=tometaro for more information

This past Sunday I was talking to his father in Park Hotel Tokyo's lobby - where he works - to give him some feedback about his son. I told him I was impressed about his notable performance and achievements during that time and that in my opinion he was ready to take over the position in the hotel...

But Mr. Tometaro said that he has not the feeling that the moment to step over had arrived. More time gaining experience and facing good and not so good things all over the world should be positive to prepare his son for the difficult but rewarding task.

Ok, Mr. Tometaro. 

It's always a pleasure visiting you!

Tometaro Jr. and Father Bunny climbed "Turo de L'Home"

With only one day left in Barcelona and fearing a whole month without extreme adventures both Tometaro and my father decided, just like if you think it's chocolate ice cream time to ride up to Turo de L'Home mountain.

Located in Montseny Massif is one of the highest mountains at 1712 meters. Well known by cyclist and sport freaks from Catalonia its classical climb starts at Sant Celoni and last for approximately 26 kilometers.

It's one of the hardest mountain passes in Catalonia and also in Spain with a difficulty grade of 299 (www.altimetrias.net)

They spent 1:54 minutes in a non stop climb from Sant Celoni to the summit where they took some pictures. 

The last 6 kilometers are very hard, not only because of the gradient but the road condition. The surface is uneven, plenty of holes and cracks with loose stones than makes the bike to lose traction and fear of a flat tyre is a constant feeling in your head.

Father bunny was forced to use the 50 x 25 combination a couple of times and for real the are a pair of slopes that due to gradient and road conditions are not easy with 52/53 x 25.

Almost 75 % of the climb HR was over 80% of MAX Hr. So they took the ride seriously. 

And to confirm they're are great morons, temperature was around 33 Celsius, no other cyclist were on the road (nor climbing or descending it) and only three cars and two cows were around. 

Edinburgh Castle

Weather wasn't good with temperature around 3 Celsius and intermiten snows in Edinburg. We decided to visit the City Centre, while looking for a Parking space we ended in Grassmarket area so we decided to start with Edinburgh's Castle.

It was snowing outside but we queued for about one hour and paid around 16 pounds each to visit The Castle. 

Yes, you're right we are kind of lame!

Inside, well a lot of information about the brave Scottish soldiers and their heroism, but unless you are into soldiers and this sort of stuff like visiting prisons and militia relics is not a good investment IMMO.

I will say the better part of the "museum" is where the "Scottish Honours" are displayed (a stone, a sword and some apparel used in kingdom ceremonies). But still if you are not really interested in Scottish people or Kings there are many other places to waste your money.

Snow & Ski - Andorra GrandValira - Part 2

Now it's time for more pictures of beautiful snowed landscapes. 

I was wearing goggles in the past in many of my travels and adventures around the world, but at some point the frame said "enough". Sometime ago Father Bunny bought me a new ones.

My original ones were SMITH (a well known brand of snow goggles) but know he got me some from LIDL (Crivit Brand)

Anyone there wanna be my stepfather? 

I remind you I inherited 1 million USD from my grandfather and that the money is well kept in a Swiss account.

 Tometaro did not need any clothes,
 "I am a Polar Bear" he said

 I know my grand grand grand ma was a snow hare,
but when the family moved to Hong Kong
we lost our cold proof DNA 

Accidents are likely to happen on snow.
Protection is a must kids!!!

Snow & Ski - Andorra GrandValira - Part 1

It had been a while since my first trip to Andorra. I was there with my sister in 2006 (you can check it here).

But lately I have discovered a nice place called Canillo (from there you can access Grandvalira ski resort). I visited it for the first time past December and this past weekend too. 

I love snow - have you notice my fur is white and that I wear winter clothes? - but unfortunately there's not a lot in Barcelona or Hong Kong... Even in Andorra you ave to go up in the mountains to step on it.

Fortunately my two visits to Andorra have coincided with some of the best snow days people can remember in last years. And lowest temperaturest too.

So, what we got was a very nice hotel with spa, plenty of snow (more than one meter) just on the streets, great powder to ski, great food, great fun...

...and of course an old man complaining about the road conditions and thinking if we could be able to return home. (i am talking about my Father).

 It was snowing a little bit when we arrived

 Tometaro and his friend at Grandvalira

  Ski Shuttle with "some" snow on its roof

  Father Bunny took his new snow boots

 Summer tires 255/50/R19, not the best choice
for snowy roads, but a lot of fun if fully insured.
(that is not the case)