Surprise Vacation 101

Okay. So I leave for surprise vacation 1 week from today. And we've officially received all of our clues. And I need help. Your help. Here's the deal.

A little history for you.... back when my sister and I were little, I'm talking 6, 7, 8, 9 years old, we would always have birthday parties with all of our friends. And more times than not, one kid at the party (usually me) would end up crying and having a miserable time. Why is it that you always cry at your own party?!? So after my 9th birthday party, my parents suggested that instead of having birthday parties each year, they would plan a fun surprise vacation for us. All we would know is what to pack and then we'd be swept off to our surprise vacation.

Basically it's the best idea ever. The anticipation up to the vacation is just plain awesome. It's fun. Over the years we've gotten all of our friends and family involved. It's become a game for lots of people that know us. Even my tennis coach from Tucson, whom I haven't seen in way too long, is still totally into the clues.

And these aren't just any clues. My parents literally spend months thinking of these bizarre and outlandish clues. Here's one of my favs:

Noisy Sheep. Tasty Pig. Ah

Like really? What the heck does that mean. Well... here it is.

Noisy Sheep - what sound does it make: BAAAAAHHHH

Tasty Pig - what's a tasty pig: HAM

and then there is AH

Put them all together: BAHAMA.

Like I said. Who the heck thinks of these things?

Here are a few of our trips:

Disney World, Napa, Los Angeles, Vegas, Texas, Bahamas, Cancun, Hawaii, New York, Washington DC, England/Scotland/Wales, Turkey, and Italy. I think there might be another one in there but I can't remember.

So here's where I need your help. We've got 8 clues. Each clue correspondes to a city or event that will take place on vacation. I concluded that we are not going to Africa or South American based on the clothes we need to pack. So we are going to Europe. I'm 100% positive of this. And I don't think we would repeat any of the above countries. So here they are....

Surprise Vacation Clues:

1. Where only buffalo would roam

2 .When puppies take a little nap they always take their favorite bone, a part of the fun!

3. When I told my brother about the trip, Al says, "have a glass for me."

4. Towering above the river, and such beautiful scenes to behold. Away from the dust and dirt in the west. What a day it will be, or two or three......

5. Beautiful she is, yet such a hard name. Could she be the place, so bubbly and warm, or just a stop on the way?

6. This little piggy went to the market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy ate strawberries and nuts
This little piggy had none
And this little piggy cried wee wee wee all the way home.

7. Hey Anya, Give Ernie a call, it's not that far!

8. Paddling the river, there's a dog in the middle - hope it can swim!

Alright. There you have it. I promise to send a giant box of cookies to anyone who can decipher the clues. wooohoooo!! Thanks guys 🙂

Happy Friday!

44 Comments

  1. I have to wonder if #5 is referring to Mona Lisa! Def Paris is a stop. #4 makes me think you're spending two or three days in Pisa, Italy not dusty old ruins of Rome (south west? Lol). Please tell the answers when you know? Such a great traditon!!! Enjoy your vacation!

  2. I'm with everyone else on France.! In addition to the theories above, I think #3 refers to Alsace ("Al says" + have a Alsatian riesling?) and #7, with "Give Ernie", sounds like Giverny, which is just north of Paris. Sounds like it's going to be a blast!

  3. Gaby, this is just sooooo exciting!! Can't wait to hear about this journey and I must do this for my kids too 🙂

  4. Could #8 mean the Dordogne River in France? There is the word "dog" in the middle of the river name!

  5. Wow Gabby, what an AWESOME idea - I actually love to do the same thing as birthday gifts to my sweetie.
    I think you’re going to the Dordogne in France...

  6. I agree with France as well. I wonder if clue #1 refers to fields and the lavender fields should be in bloom over there now. #2. Bone=Bon as in good #3. I think refers to Champagne #4. Eiffel Tower. 5. sounded like it could be hot springs or something of the sort. so after extensive googling LOL there is a town in France called Vichy that has hot springs, not sure if that counts as difficult to pronounce or not. I agree with Dana above on #6. Being a French Market with the oui oui oui #7 was wondering if Hey Anya Give Ernie It's Not That Far would equal HAGE or La Hague, France? # 8 a name of a river in France is a Dordogne So if you look "dog" is in the middle?!??!?!
    I think you need to pack your beret my friend! Sounds like you are going to have a blast no matter what. I think I want to adopt this awesome tradition that your family puts together. My daughters birthday is in June so it is the perfect time to travel almost anywhere in the world!

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