Lauren's Flat Stanley in Australia!

Greetings from Coledale, New South Wales, Australia!

Seamus' Flat Stanley Continues his World Travels!

Seamus' Flat Stanley is in Amsterdam, Netherlands where the earless painter Vincent Van Gogh was born and where Anne Frank lived hiding from the Nazis and wrote in her diary about the secret annex.  

 Flat Stanley also went to Rome, specifically, in the colosseum built in 80 AD where the ancient Romans watched gladiator/animal fights and naval battle reenactments! 

 

Seamus' Flat Stanley in Tokyo, Japan!

These are views out my hotel window in two of the largest cities in Japan. They look a lot alike with tall buildings as far as you can see in all directions. Because much of the country is mountainous, all the people have to live in small areas near the sea which makes them very crowded. It's too bad it was a little cloudy in Tokyo or you could have seen Mt Fuji in the distance. Aunt Jill and Uncle Dave climbed to the top of it a couple years ago. 

Uncle Dave invited me along to a business dinner in Tokyo. Everyone at the table liked to hear about my travels! I tried sake (pronounced saw-kay) which is a wine made from rice and served in small glasses. It was too strong for me. Maybe I'll like it when I'm older. I also tried sushi (pronounced sue-she) which is raw fish and rice wrapped with dried seaweed. I was skeptical at first but it's actually rather tasty.  

 I got to fly first class back from Japan which put a big smile on my face as you can see. Look at the funny way they write in Japan. It's more like pictures than letters. The seat was very comfortable though perhaps a little too big. I was worried someone would sit on me for the whole flight!
 

 

Seamus' Flat Stanley in Paris!

This is me along the Seine River in Paris at night. The Eiffel Tower is in the background which has a blue spinning spotlight on top. The tower was built in 1889 for a famous world's fair. Did you know it was only supposed to last for 20 years and then get torn down? Now it is the most famous landmark in Paris so I think it's a good thing they changed their minds. 

Seamus' Flat Stanley in Taiwan!

This is me in front of Taipei 101 in Taiwan. This building was the tallest in the world from 2004 to 2009 though now it's dropped to number eight. I then went up to the top! Just 30 seconds in one of the fastest elevators ever made. The observation deck was cool though very windy and scary as you can see. 

Seamus' Flat Stanley travels to California and New York!

I wanted some sun and warm weather so I made my way to Los Angeles, California! The Los Angeles marathon took place while Seamus' Flat Stanley was visiting Los Angeles, California. Elisha Barno, the man in red at the front in this photo, won in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds. He is from Kenya.

 Here I am hiking in the hills above Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. This sign had me a bit alarmed but I was very watchful and saw no rattlesnakes. Be careful, Flat Stanley!

 Here are skate boarders on Venice Beach. Cool!

 

 This is Grand Central Station in New York City. Can you find me? The station is 104 years old and has the most train platforms and tracks in the world. The clock on top of the information booth in the photo has four faces made from opal, an expensive stone, and it is estimated to be worth over $10 million dollars. Staff at this information booth answer over 1,000 questions an hour.

 

Here's the Empire State Building in New York City. It's difficult to get me and the Empire State building in the same photo because it's so tall, 102 floors.

 

Flat Stanley hanging out in Times Square in New York City!

 

Oliver's Flat Stanley in Paris, France!

Oliver's Flat Stanley has been very busy flying to Paris!  Here he is in front of the Eiffel Tower! Have a great time, Stanley!

Here he is on a pillar on top of a Viking burial mound!

Nick S.'s Flat Stanley flies to Mexico!

We load up to head to Cancun, Mexico.
We boarded a flight at Boston/Logan International Airport on Jet Blue. Safe travels, Stanley and friends!

Hola from Cancun, Mexico!

Flat Stanley is having a great time at his hotel in Riveria Mya, Mexico!

Here he is fishing with some new friends in Riveria Mya, Mexico.

Flat Stanley is having a nice, relaxing time in front of the pool at the Hard Rock hotel.

 

Nick S.'s Flat Stanley in New Jersey!

Nick's Flat Stanley has been very busy traveling around the United States.  Here he is in Mullica Hill, New Jersey.

Nick S.'s Flat Stanley in Maine!

Nick's Flat Stanley arrived in Maine and visited the Holden School! 

  He had a great time seeing the whole second grade! Our second grade at Great Falls says Hi! We would love to meet you!

 Flat Stanley got to help the 4th graders serve lunch!

Nick S's Flat Stanley in New Hampshire!

Nick S.'s Flat Stanley has been very busy. He first took a trip to Black Mountain in Jackson, New Hampshire. He loved the snow sculptures.

Nick S.'s Flat Stanley Having Some Fun in New Hampshire!

 Flat Stanley visits the Kahuna Laguna Water Park at the Red Jack Mountain View Resort.

 Here he is, showing what it's like behind the scenes!

Nick S.'s Flat Stanley visits Uncle Jon and Aunt Trish!

Rachel's Flat Stanley in Colorado!

Hello from Colorado Springs, CO.


Thank you for sending Flat Stanley to me. I really enjoyed hanging out with him. I was wondering where I should take Flat Stanley since we have so many outdoor activities in Colorado. Many people from around the world come to Colorado to ski, bike, camp or hike.


I decided to take Flat Stanley to a local attraction that has caught the attention of athletes from weekend warriors to professionals. People from all over come to the Colorado Springs area to test their mettle on the Manitou Incline. Sitting at the base of Pikes Peak, the Incline was an old cable car railway turned grueling hiking trail. It is almost a mile in length and climbs about 2,000 feet in elevation with an average grade of 45% and as steep as 68%.


The Manitou Incline is one of my favorite activities I do on a weekly basis. It's a good thing Stanley is Flat because climbing the Incline is hard enough. Attached is a picture of Stanley at the base of the Incline. He is smiling but he has no idea of what he is in for. No worries though, he felt like a champion at the summit.


Flat Stanley has recovered and is now on his way to New Jersey.


Thanks again,
Dean Goodwell

Lauren's Flat Stanley having fun in Australia!

 Flat Stanley had such a great time with this kangaroo in Australia!  I wonder if he got a ride in the kangaroo's pocket?!

Flat Stanley got to visit Mae Lee at Rivendell Farm in Pakenham Upper, Victoria, Australia.  Mae wrote this letter to us:  We were very happy to meet Flat Stanley and receive the letter from Lauren.  What makes your project so special is that my brother lives in Union, Maine! I'm originally from the United States, but moved to Australia in 2010.  I live on a beautiful farm about one hour southeast of Melbourne. The area Flat Stanley visited is called Toomuc Valley.  It is special because it is an area previously inhabited by the Wurrundjeri aboriginal people, who lived here before the European explorers came to Australia. Southeast Victoria is beautiful and green.  A nearby town called Koo Wee Rup produces most of Australia's asparagus, and we also export a lot to Asian countries.  Victoria also produces most of Australia's dairy products.  I mentioned to Flat Stanley that some of my favorite places to visit in Victoria are the Barmah National Park in the Northeast of Victoria because it has eucalyptus trees called "Red River Gums" which cockatoos, other parrots and koala bears like to nest in.  These trees can be as old as 800 years, and most are along the famous Murray River, which flows from the next State called New South Wales.  Flat Stanley also learned that Wilson's Promontory and Marlo are two of my other favorite places in Victoria.  My husband Bruce and I like to camp so we often go to East Gippsland, which is the area along the coast these places are located.  They are known for their wildlife and remote beach areas where you can walk for miles and hardly see anyone!  Of course in Australia you always have to watch out for spiders and snakes!  Some can be very dangerous.  Marlo is where the famous Snowy River empties into the sea from its start at the top of Kosciuszko National Park.  Kosciuszko is where wild brumbies live.  Brumbies are wild horses just like mustangs.  Flat Stanley met my two brumbies, Trooper and Mickey, who are in the photo.  We also have 4 other horses named Charlie, Tex, Shadow and Max.  Shadow is the only girl.  

 Sitting around the campfire (because we are opposite seasons to you), I told Flat Stanley that last month Bruce and I went on a vacation to Grampian's National Park in the northwest of Victoria.  You can see wild emus walking through the forest, and kangaroos, wallabies and many other special animals. Emus look like ostriches, only an emu is smaller and has 2 toes. The ostrich has 3 toes!  The emu is also found in ancient aboriginal rock art sites here that are as old as 22,000 years.  The emu, kangaroos, humans, footprints and other symbols were painted in red and white.  Australia is a very old continent.  Did you know we are also an island an a country??!  People were sent here from England as prisoners, but then settled the land and raised animals like sheep.  They also panned for gold.  There was a gold rush in the 1850's in Central Victoria, which is now a region called the Gold Fields.  Prospectors from all over the world came here to seek their fortune.  At one time, this area in Victoria was the leading producer of gold.  People from China migrated here to work in the gold mines.  Ned Kelly, a famous Australian "bushranger" or "outlaw" was born in Victoria. He stole horses and robbed people. His father bought their first house with money from finding gold.  Most of the active gold mines now are in Western Australia, which is a different state.  The smallest penguins in the world, known as fairy penguins, live on the south coast, and are only about 1 foot tall.  They get up early to fish and come back at sunset.  My friends and I go to watch then at least once per year because they are so adorable. Here is a picture of a fairy penguin!  Thank you to Mae Lee!

 

Drew's Flat Stanley in Florida!

Drew's Flat Stanley is having a great time in Florida! Florida is known as the sunshine state and is home to the Everglades! 

 

          Flat Stanley having fun in the Everglades!

Flat Stanley took an airboat ride of the Everglades and it was pretty amazing! He saw many birds and plants, but the highlight of the trip was seeing an alligator.  The Everglades are home to many alligators, some growing as large as 13 feet long! Flat Stanley and his friends saw a lot of alligators that day!

                             Flat Stanley on the airboat ride!

               Look carefully and you will see an alligator!

                 Here is the alligator up close!

 Flat Stanley with an elephant at the Miami Zoo!

             Flat Stanley with the pink flamingos!

                    Flat Stanley with a pelican!

 Flat Stanley went to Miami's South Beach.  It is a beautiful stretch of beach with many hotels, restaurants and beautiful views.

          Watch out for those alligators, Stanley!  Many thanks to Stacey!!