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Did you ever think about when Santa Claus takes a vacation and where does he go?
While everyone else is busy thinking about Christmas and getting ready for a nice Christmas break, Santa Claus takes his holiday where it’s warm.
Rose and Landy found Santa Claus in Portugal, of course. Isn’t that where you’d go for a week’s vacation if you lived in the brisk, cold North Pole?
Santa sees you! But you already knew that, didn’t you?
The very best way to travel…
First stop – Wien – or Vienna for those of us who are US-bound. This is the Upper Belvedere Palace. May is evidently the best month of all to go sightseeing in Wien… nobody else is around.
Oh. Here are some people leading the way to the Museum of Natural History.
The Imperial Palace, Hofburg, is in the center of Wien and was built in the 13th century. I think it looks brand-new.
The gardens and parks in Wien are beautiful and very well-maintained.
Pink Baby Alligator and an orange tree. In Austria. Can’t you just hear her?
“Look at this, folks. Landy from Florida found an orange tree in Austria.”
The Schlossberg is in the center of Graz, the second largest town in Austria. It’s on top of a high hill, that looks more like a mountain to Rose, that overlooks most of the city. Two hundred and sixty steps lead to the top of the hill, but there’s a lift for those who prefer to still be breathing by the time they get to the top.
Guess who Landy and Rose ran into at the Eggenberg Palace? Yep, it’s Petey!
Here’s an admirer who is wondering if that really is Petey. Or… if I may …. a fan looking at a fan. Hahaha.
Pink Rose found a pink rose. Well done, Landy.
T
#FlatRose is ready to travel with Landy to the Czech Republic. Oreo is ready to go too. Oreo has a reservation at a Doggie Spa while #FlatRose and Landy fly. But I’m not going to tell him.
#FlatRose Travel Tip: Check the bed. This one checked out just fine.
#FlatRose is at the Maiselova synagogue in Praha. Or Maisel Synagogue in Prague for us who aren’t fluent. It is one of the historical monuments of the former Prague Jewish Ghetto.
#FlatRose visits a Jewish cemetery with Landy. Europe, especially Eastern Europe has centuries of history. Our eyes might find the stones crowded, but the Czech Republic is roughly the size of South Carolina.
#FlatRose and Landy visited the Soan Synagogue – the Spanish Synagogue for us English-only readers.
According to #FlatRose, the most interesting building they saw was the Bone Church. The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel, part of the former Selec Abby in a suburb of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic. After 1511, the task of exhuming skeletons and stacking their bones in the chapel was given to a half-blind monk of the order. There are reported to be between 40,000 to 70,000 skeletons in the ossuary.
No more bone church pictures, just in case you’ve got the heebie-jeebies, but can you imagine the monk stacking the bones and skulls carefully, praying for each person? No? That was my first thought – what a responsibility!
#FlatRose recommends a Four Cheese pizza and a nice dark adult beverage – for those who are adults – after a long day of walking and sightseeing in the Czech Republic.
Na Zdravi, Landy!
#FlatRose took her new assignment as Marketing Assistant seriously at the I Heart Books signing event in Jacksonville, FL.
When folks stepped close enough to snitch a piece of candy, Rose directed them to the opportunity to be eligible for our drawing for a free book, Sweet Deal Sealed, and the opportunity to be among the first to know when The Girl Who Saw Clouds is published. Triple bonus!
She was a little embarrassed for the balloon creature that was supposed to be an alligator, according to the balloon guy. Rose was heard to whisper it looked more like an anteater.
We’re at the Hamfest in Waldo.
We had the primo spot! Right by the entrance where everyone said, “Good morning” when they walked in the door and next to the garbage can where everyone said, “Howyadoing?” when they dumped their trash.
Do you see #FlatRose?
Pink Baby Alligator is a Semi-Finalist in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition.
Pink Baby Alligator is ready for her next adventure! Safe Travels, FlatRose!
Pink Baby Alligator went to the Veterans Memorial Park to celebrate Veterans Day. There were bands, speeches, organizations with information for veterans, and food. The smell of the burgers on the large smoky grill filled the air.
She helped staff the Gainesville Amateur Radio Society. Do you see her pointing at the skydiver in the sky? But best of all – The American Flags waving in the breeze.
To all our veterans, we salute you. Thank you for your service.
Pink Baby Alligator loves signing books. In Pink.
Pink Baby Alligator’s Super Fans were excited to see she was at the Florida Writers Conference. She very graciously agreed to a photo shoot. It was hard to get a good picture because of all the flashbulbs going off. Local paparazzi were cleverly disguised as writers.