Travelog for: Bart

Hi Mummy,
today I left Germany after saying good-bye to Katja and all my friends here. Belka also left today, so the other TVs might be a little bit sad.



I packed some sour candies into my envelope. I hope you will like them 

Love
Bart

I just got back home from Germany and I had the best time! I l gave my owner the candies that I brought back with me and she loved them!!! I am off now to California and heard I am going to Las Vegas!!! I cant wait!!

Bart

Hi Mom!
I made it to San Diego California just bearly! Bear-ly get it? Hehe!
My trip was all but dark except at some point something happened to my package and it was torn open! I was so worried I would fall out, but luckily I did not. I think the postmen here are a bit more rougher than the ones in North Carolina!



Although the contents of the package were no longer a surprise to my host, all of her toys were surprised and excited to see a new visitor!



They all greeted me with a big welcome sign!



I got to meet the Pillar family, a family of wind up caterpillars and Rosario a dragon who hopes to travel soon too!



They seem like a fun bunch and I can't wait to play with them and explore San Diego!

Oh and I didn't forget to give the postcard you sent to my host! She was very happy to add it to her collection! 

Hi Mom, it's me again, Bart!

Today my host and I went downtown to the San Diego Convention Center to the 2010 Comic Con International! We had tons of fun, unfortunately due to the crowds and indoor lighting some of the pictures came out somewhat blurry. 

To get to the Con my host and I took both a bus and a cable trolley to get downtown. The streets were so busy and littered with thousands of people! My host had to hold on to me really tight to make sure I didn't get dropped or lost in the huge crowd!



There were also other events happening just off the trolley, but we did not get time to go to them.  However if you look at the signpost to the right, it belongs to the orange line trolley and all signage had been converted to the Klingon language.





After my host got her badge we were then allowed to enter the main part of the con and wander around.





There were tons of huge statues and banners from movies, here's me by 'Bumblebee' a transformer from the movie Transformers!



My host thinks this is from the movie Aliens... EEK!


A banner from Iron Man





The Ghostbuster's car! Neat!



Femme Fetales... an anime? A comic? A manga? My host has never heard of them. Anyway, the banner was pretty cool.



Another banner, but of the new Resident Evil movie coming out.




While I was here I met several giant toys and people dressed as toys! I wonder if there has ever been a lego toyvoyager?









Statues from the Clone Wars Adventures!



We also got to see a display for the Tron Legacy movie coming out. It displayed some of the trademark special lighted up objects in the movie, gloves, keyboards etc - however my host could not get a good picture that wasn't blurry or had dozens of people in the way. 



After eight hours of walking around, my host decided it was time to head home! One last photo for the road!



Bye Comic Con! Maybe I will get to come back again some time!

Hi Mom, it's me Bart!

Today a large package came in the mail.



Out popped Punk! Punk is a monkey from Australia who will be sharing adventures with us for awhile! 

It’s me again, Bart!

Today is finally the day we travel to Las Vegas, Nevada!
My host spent most of the morning packing up her suitcase.
Us toyvoyagers helped pack of course!

Clothes? Check!
Hair brush? Check!
Extra camera batteries? Check!



Soon it was off to the sun, fun and um…nothing around for miles! The car trip to Las Vegas took five hours and on the way was nothing but lots of desert!



After several hours of traveling, we finally reached our hotel at Ballys and got checked into our hotel room.



We all wanted to go out and see the sights, but our host was tired, so we all decided to take a nap.

Today our host took me downstairs to the Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire Convention. I got to play many new games coming out!



Here’s me by the huge Clone Wars Adventures game poster. It looks like it could be a fun game!



DC Universe Online looks way more fun though! I want to play a super hero!



Here’s me with some of the game mascots: Antonia Bayle and another lady from the game Vanguard Saga of Heros!



Unfortunately the convention hall was very dimly lit, so a lot of the pictures we took did not turn out well at all.  My host was very sad 

Last night our host had a terrible spill in her high heels and was pretty banged up and bruised! We let her sleep in that morning and the other toyvoyagers and I amused ourselves with trying to figure out the purpose of this weird bucket in our hotel room.



Later we found out it’s to go and put ice in! After we explored other interesting things in the room, such as the blow dryer, safe, and dresser drawers we waited patiently for her to wake up.



Soon our host woke and after shuffling around getting ready we headed out to the Las Vegas strip to do some sight seeing.

We decided to go out the adjoining hotel called “Paris” which had several quaint bakeries and café’s inside.





Inside was also a restaurant at the top of a mock Eiffel tower!





Me outside of the MGM Grand hotel



What a huge lion!



This is the Luxor hotel, which is modeled like a giant pyramid and sphinx!









Can you spot me?



The Harley Davidson Café! Vroom Vroom!



After walking around for a bit, my host started to get hungry. There were plenty of places to eat on the strip, but she doesn’t really care for fast food.

My host considered going into the M & M’s World, but thought better of it. Maybe candy wasn’t a good idea for lunch anyway…



After walking around awhile we found a nice Chinese resturaunt, P.F. Changs, however it was very crowded so we decided to just continue on and eat later at the hotel. We did manage to grab a quick picture by huge horse they had stationed outside of the eatery though 



This is the New York, New York hotel. See the huge mock bridge? Maybe it is the Brooklyn bridge? My host is unsure.





Visitors can also ride a huge rollercoaster that wraps around the hotel for around $30.



Beautiful statues outside of the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino







As there are many visitors in Las Vegas, the streets are always under construction with all the wear and tear from so much traffic!



Diablos Cantina, a bar and eatery along the strip. It’s a devil lady!



The hotel Excalibur, a castle hotel that is furnished very medieval inside and has nightly shows that involve jousting, knight role-play and eating renaissance type food with your hands!



This is just outside of the Bellagio, where all the rich people come to stay. Every fifteen minutes a fountain show is performed!



Any minute now…

[

Here it comes! The pressurized air causing the water to shoot up into the sky is so loud!



What a fun day! Well tomorrow we pack our bags and head back to San Diego!

Hi Mom!
Today my host took me around town to view some of the decorated electric boxes painted by local artists. The electric boxes are all over the city, but most painted ones are along the more busier roads.

The electric boxes start out plain, just like this one.



After a little paint and a whole lot of work they are transformed!











It's Domo!























These boxes need a little TLC, they look a bit downtrodden!



Whew, what a day of walking, but thankfully the weather is always nice here! 

Today my host received a package from Russia.  Of course we had to open it right away!



Why it’s Ragamuffin!



Hurray! Another friend to have adventures with!

Hi! It’s me, Bart!
Today my host took me and the other toyvoyagers to the La Jolla Cove. It was a very overcast day out so we didn’t go in the water; instead we roamed around the shore line.



For about a mile along the beach there are various rock formations.



These formations are very smooth to the touch and in some parts appear to have rings due to all of the years of the water pounding away at the rocks.



Some rock formations higher up on the beach are still very much rough however.



Look at all of this seaweed!



The other toyvoyagers and I found a rather odd object lying around.  It turns out that it is an oyster!






These oysters are all over the beach and hang out in clusters on the rocks.





As we went further down the beach, we saw the coves that the area is famous for.  Some coves however may have been dangerous, so they have been closed off by stone.



Other coves are still open and tourists are able to wander inside.



Here is one giant cove in particular. My host could not figure out how to get to it except for swimming.



Some seagulls taking a nap!



A mini stone pier along the beach



A kayak rental place in the distance. I wonder how all those kayaks stay put?



By the time the sun started peeking from behind the clouds it was time to go.  My host said she would take me back to a beach on a sunny day sometime.

Hi Mom, it’s me Bart!

Today my host took the other toyvoyagers and I to a neighborhood park!

We got to play on the playground!



Wee! Boy that slide was hot!









Time to blow a few bubbles!

Today I got to visit part of the Los Pensquitos Canyon!



In total, we hiked six miles, thankfully I and the other toyvoyagers got a free ride in my host’s backpack.





Nothing but dirt, shrubs and trails for miles! You can't see it very well but there are houses in the distance.  I’m beginning to learn that Californians aren’t afraid to build their houses on the top of mountains!





Time for a break! Hrm..this spot isn’t the most comfortable to rest. The monkey seems to enjoy it though, he likes to scratch his back on this strange plant.



We hiked up to a waterfall…but we could not find it! It must have been further down the stream.



The drop down was actually very steep and scary!





The picture my host took of me by  the sign did not come out well, but she wanted you to see it anyway.  It’s a sign warning hikers of rattlesnakes in the area! Scary!

Hi Mom!
Today my host took me out to a new hiking spot in the Torrey Pines State Preserve!

Heading up the trail to the pines!



Quick view of the beach.





The torrey pine is very rare and is only in two places in the world, this happens to be one place!







Overlook of the marsh across the way. There are not that many marshes left in California



That's me! I'm valuable!



Along the way one can see many different desert plants.





Let's go on this trail!











Time for another trail before it gets too dark!









My host said it was a tiring day... but I'm ready to go on another trail!! I guess riding in a backpack has it's advantages!

Halloween is coming up soon... I can't wait to go trick or treating!!

Hello mom!
Just a quick update.  Today my host got a mysterious package in the mail! 



Upon opening it she discovered it was from Punk's mom.  His mom had sent lots of goodies from Australia!




Our host later took Punk out to the store to gather some surprises to send back