This is Dan Bigelow

After his owner, Rachael, died Dan Bigelow (or Bigs for short) went to live with Dan and Rhia so they could heal their hearts together.

Bigs is a kind and gentle sheep who loves nature.

…and sometimes he gets hungry so he eats some grass or other healthy things.

Bigs especially loves oceans, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls.

He says that he finds the sound of running water very relaxing and healing.

Sometimes Bigs likes to paddle in the water,

…and at other times he likes to surf!

Bigs also loves people…

from…

all…

different…

cultures!

He also loves ALL animals,

no…

matter…

what…

type…

or…

shape…

or…

size!

One of Dan Bigelow’s greatest loves is to travel. He enjoys traveling by plane, train, bus, ferry, and car. This is the story of Bigs’ summer spent backpacking around Western Europe.

It was almost a disaster! The plan was to go by car from Tucson, Arizona, to Phoenix in order to catch a plane from Phoenix to London. BUT when Dan and Rhia were 20 minutes away from the house, they realized that Bigs wasn’t there! Oh no! It wouldn’t be the same without Bigs…so they turned around to fetch him.

Phew! Bigs was happy to be in the car and on his way to Europe.

The flight was long…very long… so Bigs hid away and slept most of the time. In fact, he didn’t come out to play until he was in Britain and on the way to Worthing.

It’s worth noting that this is the backpack Bigs wanted to take…

But he quickly realized it was WAY too big for him to carry. Anyway, he only needed one change of ribbon and some snacks, se he chose a far more appropriately-sized backpack.

This meant that Rhia could take the other backpack and Bigs could ride on it when he chose. Clever Bigs thought that was the perfect solution!

The couple of days spent in Worthing allowed Bigs to catch up with his friend Jules, stroll along the beach, and get over his jet-lag.

Bigs also tried some different food but he was a bit uncertain about it, really.

Still, he didn’t throw up so Bigs thought that was pretty cool!

Then it was a quick trip to France (trains to Dover, a ferry to Calais, France, and other trains to Dunkirk.)

Actually, it wasn’t quick at all so Bigs slept most of the time. Like most sheep, Bigs is very good at ruminating and sleeping.

He did wake up for the ferry ride, though, as he likes ferries! Bigs was so glad he’d worn his best ribbon for this part of the journey.

Bigs found Dunkirk very interesting. He reads a lot about World War II so wanted to see the beach where 338,000 soldiers were saved by the British Navy and regular people on fishing boats.

On the way to the museum, Bigs saw some pretty cool paintings along the quay.

And he was impressed by the cars from WWII era as they had the perfect place for a sheep to ride.

But the tank from the war scared him. Bigs was so glad he wasn’t a young sheep 80 years ago or he’d have been sent to fight in the war!

After talking to a doctor and nurse, Bigs spent a quiet moment thinking about all the people who were killed during WWII so we could be free. He feels very grateful to them for their sacrifices and says he’ll never take it for granted.

It was then on to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Although Bigs loves people, he’s scared of big crowds so he stayed hidden most of the time.

He wanted to try his hand at photography in a park and is pretty proud of his attempt.

He says he’s going to buy a nice house like this for Dan and Rhia when he’s rich!

Bigs was also keen to come out at a medieval museum because he says he doesn’t often get the chance to talk to a faceless soldier…

…and a dragon!

After having a good conversation with his new friends, Bigs went on to star in a play. That was great fun!

In a market, Bigs was interested in some hats but couldn’t quite figure out how to wear them.

So it was off to a park for Bigs. Parque de Brussels turned out to be his favorite part of the city because he went on a personal ferris wheel…

…and then went swimming in a fountain. Bigs is SO glad he’s only little and is able to do such things.

Next, Bigs went from Brussels to Paris (which is the capital of France). He couldn’t wait to see the Eiffel Tower…and it didn’t disappoint! Although he went to the top, Bigs kept his eyes closed as he doesn’t like heights too much.

He liked the Louvre because it was at ground level!

And he thought the Topiary at Versailles was spectacular. Bigs wanted to try his hand at topiary but the gardener didn’t think it was a good idea to let such a little sheep use such a big and powerful electric machine! Bigs understood!

Next, our little friend visited the Picasso museum. Bigs was very pleased he’d done so. Although he’s not sure he particularly likes Picasso’s style, Bigs believes that we should always keep an open mind about things!

Without a doubt, Bigs’ favorite part of Paris was walking along the river Seine…

…and chatting to new friends along the way.

It was hot work, but totally worth it!

Barcelona, Spain, was next. Bigs loved Parc Guall. He decided to take another photo all by himself.

Taking photos is a lot of effort when you’re so little so Bigs then looked for places to rest…

…and to cool down.

Bigs was excited about his next place to visit as he’d heard so many great things about it. It was a special church called La Sagrada Familia. There was time for a quick snack before going in.

Bigs loves olives! Can you count how many he’s eaten?

Then it was time to go into the church. Bigs held his breath, hoping it was as good as he hoped, and WOW!

The stained glass was glorious and breathtaking!

But Bigs did have one question about the church; what was Darth Vader doing there?

Silly Bigs, that’s not Darth Vader!

Bigs was definitely enamoured with Barcelona because of all the places he could explore and he hoped the next place would be just as exciting.

The next stop was Tarragona and Bigs loved it immediately because of all the trees. He knows sheep don’t usually climb trees, but he can, especially when he thinks like a goat! Bigs is such a funny little sheep.

Tarragona is another ancient town full of Roman ruins and medieval buildings and Bigs, once more, was delighted because so much of the art is just the right size for a little sheep!

Bigs was so inspired that he jumped up on a column and pretended to be an Emperor

He may not be a real Emperor, but Bigs is certainly cute!

One of the museums had dioramas that were the perfect size for Bigs.

So he hopped in for a while and made even more new friends.

Bigs found the medieval kitchen interesting…but was sad that the food was only pretend.

So he snuck outside for a quick snack…

…and then sat down for a bit of a read and a siesta.

Bigs loved Tarragona so much that he rented a summer home there and hopes to go back one day.

But, for now, it was back on a train to Madrid.

Madrid is the capital of Spain so it’s another big city that scares Bigs a bit. But don’t you worry about our little friend as he always finds great places to hide and seek the city from.

To get away from the traffic and noise, Bigs went to El Parque de Retiro.

He was much happier here because there were lots and lots of trees.

Bigs wanted to be part of a statue so he climbed up on a plinth…but oh no! He thought this statue had smelly feet!

Ah, this is better! At 1.4 km², the park is huge…

…so Bigs had to stop a few times for a snack. He also had ice cream but didn’t want a photo of him eating that because he’s trying to be healthy!

Toward the end of the day, Bigs got playful and wanted to play hide and seek. Can you find him?

By the time he was found, Bigs was exhausted so went back to the hotel to sleep.
Good night, little Bigs.

It was just as well Bigs had a good night’s sleep because the next day he took a trip to Segovia and Avíla. These are another two medieval towns with their roots dating back to Roman times. In Segovia, Bigs was, once again, overwhelmed by the size of the churches!

He loved all the wooden and iron carvings inside!

Bigs was also impressed by the armor, and he could hardly believe that this one was worn by a real person about 1,000 years ago.

But he was most impressed by the aqueduct that was 2,000 years old and still in great condition. And to think that no concrete was used in building this aqueduct that’s 28 meters high at this point and that runs for 17 kilometers! Bigs feels so very small next to it; can you spot him?

Avíla is a medieval walled city. The 1,000 year old wall is still intact and runs for 2 1/2 kilometers.

Bigs inspected the wall closely and thinks that the builders back then really knew how to build well. He doesn’t think the houses that are built today will last for 1,000 years!

Inside the walled city, Bigs saw lots of very big doors. The knockers were so heavy that someone as little as he couldn’t even use them.

Bigs made another new friend. The horse wanted to shake hands with Bigs…but it wasn’t easy when one only has trotters and the other hooves! Do you know which one Bigs has?

Bigs learned about Saint Terés (who lived about 600 years ago). She wrote books during a time when women weren’t taught how to read or write, so is the patron saint of writing.

Bigs thinks Saint Terés is very special because he’d like to write a book one day. He went to sleep that night dreaming about being an author…what pleasant dreams!

Granada was next. Granada is another medieval city with Roman roots, but this city has maintained much of its Arabic influences and it still has a lot of Arabic people living there.

Just like in other places, Bigs’ warm and loving personality helped him make friends easily with both people and animals.

There was a bit more pep to this donkey’s step after she and Bigs had shared a joke.

Bigs snuck up onto this painter’s palette without him noticing; the painter accidentally got paint on Bigs’ nose and the two of them had a good laugh about it!

Bigs spent quite some time with this bull. He is 2,000 years old so can’t get around like he used to. Bigs hopes someone will sit and chat with him when he’s old and can’t run around any more.

But, being young still, Bigs decided that his next stop was the Alhambra which is a fortress and palace complex from around 750 years ago. The Alhambra sits atop a very big mountain but, being a healthy sheep, Bigs decided to walk there instead of taking a bus!

He took many stops on the way up…

…but finally made it all the way up. And it was spectacular! Being a sheep, the gardens were what Bigs liked the most.

He loved how green they were (so plenty to snack on)!

And he greatly appreciated their beauty (and how the trees framed his portrait so well!)

And he had a delightful time running up and down beautiful passageways that were covered in plants and flowers. Bigs said that the gardens of the Alhambra made him feel like a young lamb again.

All that running had made Bigs thirsty. Thank goodness there was an ancient fountain nearby that still had running water.

Near the fountain, Bigs marveled some very old mosaics and spent a lot of time studying them. He said he’d love to make such beautiful things but with trotters (and no fingers) he couldn’t do anything so intricate. But this didn’t make Bigs too sad because he knows that he has other skills instead.

Walking back to town, Bigs found some very well-preserved medieval baths.

So Bigs did what every self respecting sheep would do…he took a bath.

But then he decided to play hide-and-seek (can you find him?) and got dirty again.

So he jumped into another bath! Bigs was pleased that this one still had some surviving mosaics so he could admire them while he soaked in the bath.

By now, our squeaky clean little friend was hungry again so he had a salad. Bigs wanted to be cultured and eat with a fork. Sadly, it was taking too long and his little tummy was rumbling.

So Bigs gave up on the fork and ate like a regular (and very hungry) sheep.

Before Bigs’ time in Granada came to an end, he wanted to run up and down some of the narrow alleys he loved so much.

And then he went shopping. There were hundreds of different teas and Bigs tried them all. He bought one that was good for aching muscles because that mountain WAS steep, even for a sheep (who can think like a goat)!

He then played some musical instruments that were just his size and was about to buy one when he realized it wouldn’t fit into his backpack!

Bigs jumped up and down with excitement when he saw this lamp because he thought it was the one Aladdin had. So he rubbed and rubbed and rubbed it, but no genie appeared. Little Bigs was very disappointed…

…but quickly got over it when he found this hookah shop. Bigs doesn’t smoke (because he really wants to be healthy) but he had a great time talking to people.

Granada had been the perfect few days for our little friend and he had created memories he’d never forget.

It was time, once more, for another train ride. But this time Bigs was prepared.

He played soccer with one of Rhia’s Maltesers (candy)…

…and then ate it when he got hungry!

He did some word puzzles,

and he napped (a lot). I wonder what he’s dreaming about…

When Bigs woke up, he was ready to wander around Zaragoza. He decided to take things easy and spend time getting to know the people and the culture. First, though, he wanted to see one of the city’s oldest cathedral from the city’s oldest bridge.

On his way to the old part of town, Bigs passed this HUGE statue! The man was a giant! Bigs was so tiny, comparatively, that he felt like an ant. And even though he jumped up and down as hard as he could, and shouted as loudly as he could, the man didn’t even know that Bigs was there.

So Bigs went looking for someone more of his size and found a lovely boy so the two of them chatted for a while.

Bigs really enjoyed talking with the fountain lady. He asked her if the pitchers she was carrying were heavy but she said they weren’t heavy at all. Bigs was glad because he didn’t think he could have helped her much if they had been!

The next people Bigs spoke with were a medieval musician and his daughter. Bigs was a bit scared of the big stick the man was carrying so he spoke to them from behind the man’s back. The little girl giggled, and said that her dad was a very kind and gentle person. Although Bigs was pleased to hear that, he wasn’t taking any chances.

He then passed the remains of the Roman city wall. Bigs thought the tower in the background didn’t look straight so he wanted to investigate some more.

On closer examination, Bigs decided it definitely wasn’t straight so he asked the statue of Caesar Augustus about it. The Emperor told him that the tower had been built so quickly that the builders hadn’t done the job right. Bigs was glad that the tower was leaning away from the Emperor at least!

It was time for lunch so Bigs ate at a Chinese restaurant where there was a tank of little fish to entertain him. He tried to talk to them, but they had no interest for some reason. Bigs thought that was rude. But he was soon eating his lunch so didn’t mind.

After lunch, Bigs got playful and laughed when Dan couldn’t find him!

Bigs then chatted to three little boys. He made sure to face forward because they were naked 🫢 Bigs didn’t really mind because, other than his ribbon, he’s naked too!

Bigs then walked past some ruins of a Roman amphitheater. He imagined the place filled with 6,000 Romans as they watched something. That’s too many people in one place for Bigs’ liking!

The Victorian lady was interesting to talk to. She said that when she had a house in Zaragoza, the tower wasn’t leaning. She said she’d like to see that so Bigs showed her the photo.

Bigs’ time in Zaragoza was almost over but there were two more things he wanted to do before leaving. Firstly, he went for a quick dip in a beautiful fountain.

Next, he wanted to see the lights that are used in an important parade every October 12th. There were lots of them but Bigs wanted to share his favorite two. He liked this one because of the lamb, of course.

And Bigs liked this one because he thought it was so pretty…and just his size!

It was then time to go back to the hotel to sleep because Bigs knew that he’d be on the move again when he woke up. It was time to say goodbye to Spain…for now 💖

Travel day arrived and Bigs was up bright and early. Actually, Bigs isn’t a morning sheep so he stayed, snug as a bug, in Rhia’s travel purse…but he still wanted to look out of the window.

As the day got colder and wetter, Bigs hunkered down until you could only see the tip of his nose!

But Bigs felt much better when he got to his home for the next 3 days.

And he loved 2 things about the room. Firstly, there was a fan that spun around so Bigs could ride it to his heart’s content. Secondly, he loved the wall as it had been built 2,000 years ago and Bigs felt he was living in a history book!

But that wall was nothing compared to the Roman baths Bigs visited.

There were channels built for the water to flow (that were just the right size for Bigs to have his own Roman villa)!

There was so much history at the site. Bigs tried to imagine 3,000 people all taking baths at the same time, but his sheepy-brain felt like it would explode!

Then it was on to the coliseum. Even though Bigs didn’t like that gladiators fought animals (and each other) in the coliseum, he still liked seeing these old buildings.

This one was interesting because so much of it was still standing and it reminded Bigs of the football stadiums back home!

Well, sort of…!

This coliseum had a tower that was added about 500 years ago and Bigs had a spectacular view from there!

Bigs held on for dear life for this photo as he did NOT want to fall!

From the coliseum, Bigs went to the amphitheater (which is where the Romans went to watch plays).

This was better…Bigs loves watching plays, especially funny ones and musicals about animals!

He was even allowed to explore an area where stones carved 2,000 years ago were scattered.

Some of the stones made Bigs feel like it was a stage made especially for him.

He even visited some Roman underground buildings that made the buildings on the ground flat and safe. There were plenty of places here to hide and, on other days Bigs would have had fun playing hide-and-seek.

But not on this day because today, Bigs was feeling sad. His owner, Rachael, died 5 years ago today so Bigs was feeling thoughtful.

Bigs knows the importance of letting himself feel his feelings, so he took a photo of Rachael and went to sit, quietly, in a pretty place.

Bigs wants all of us to know that it’s okay to feel sad sometimes. It’s okay to want to be quiet and thoughtful for a while.

BUT if the sadness continues day after day, Bigs wants us to know that we need to Remember RACHAEL and:

R each out to adults who love you.

A dmit to them that you feel sad.

C hat with them (honestly) about everything.

H old on tightly to their strength.

A ccept help so you can start to feel happier.

E very day, think of things that make you happy.

L ean on others for as long as you need to.

And, Bigs says, sit somewhere that makes you happy with a photo of someone you love…and know that tomorrow, or the day after, things WILL feel better 💖 hi

The next day was ‘museum day’. Bigs was NOT impressed by the first one as he didn’t really understand the art. Poor lamb thought these brushes were there for him to paint with, but they weren’t and he almost got into trouble!

Some of the statues were a bit weird. Bigs thought this one had gum stuck to his hands and feet so tried to help…and almost got into trouble AGAIN!

This one was better, though the sun didn’t have a very sunny disposition! Bigs said he’d be grumpy if he had to live here too!

There was one room that had beautiful paintings that were so well done that they looked like carvings. And they were huge! Can you see how small Bigs looks?

Thankfully, Bigs found a little nook in the chapel so he stayed there until we were ready to go to the archaeological museum.

This museum was MUCH better right from the start! Bigs walked through some lovely gardens to get to the entrance.

And then he was greeted by a lion from 500 BC! Just think…the lion was carved 2,500 years ago!! Bigs was glad that the lion was friendly or he would have regretted jumping into his mouth!

The whole museum was brilliant. Bigs wants to share his three favorite things with you. The first was a beautiful, 2,000 year old mosaic floor. Oh, how Bigs would like one of these in his house.

Next, Bigs wants to share an almost intact Roman boat that was discovered under the silt in the river.

This boat has been labeled a national treasure, and no wonder! It’s almost unheard of to see an actual wooden artefact from 2,000 years ago.

Lastly, Bigs wants to share him as a divine being. He knows he was a bit naughty to jump into the empty space where the head of Caesar Augustus used to be but he was careful to be very gentle.

It was the perfect end to Bigs’ time in France. The next day it was another long train journey from France through Monaco to Italy.

It was the most beautiful train journey Bigs had ever been on (and he’s been on a lot of trains!)

Bigs didn’t mind spending a long time on the train with views like these.

Finally he was in Genoa (to spend the night before going to his next big stop) so he went for a walk and was delighted to find pretty marble floor. This one isn’t old but it still made Bigs happy!

Bigs was very excited today because he was on his way to Porto Venere to meet his friend, Jules. After so much traveling, he was looking forward to a relaxing week. Dan had gone to get himself a coffee but the cup was so tiny, he thought it was much more appropriate for Bigs. Bigs was grateful!

Then it was off to Porto Venere…and it was more beautiful than Bigs could have imagined! This was the view from the balcony off Bigs’ bedroom! He can’t believe that this is his view for a whole week!

In fact, Bigs was so happy that he decided to play hide-and-seek again. Can you see him?

The place is stunning and Bigs is excited to see what adventures he’s going to have.

To celebrate his joy, Bigs quickly made friends with other houseguests and they had a little shindig in anticipation of a great week!

Oh what a lovely day Bigs had! After a leisurely (4 hour) breakfast of bougainvillea on his private balcony…

…Bigs walked around the pretty port town of Porto Venere.

While walking around the narrow streets of the old town, Bigs fell in love with this hat. He thought it perfectly suited his personality; unfortunately, it was a spot too big.

Bigs thinks it’s just as well he likes the sun. And anyway, you don’t really need a sunhat when you’re covered in wool!

So Bigs walked up to a beautiful spot where the poet, Lord Byron, used to go. Lord Byron used to swim a couple of miles from here; Bigs, however, was having a more leisurely day!

The ocean did look inviting, though, so Bigs had a quick paddle.

Bigs thought that the view was stunning – probably one of the best in the world!

And the view was enhanced by an old church on top of the hill. The doors were beautiful…

…and, even better, once he was inside, Bigs felt like he was inside a candy! Bigs likes candy so he was one happy sheep as the day drew to an end, and he went to bed with boats and ocean and candy swirling around in his mind.

Good night, Bigs.

The next day, Bigs decided to spend the day at the beach. He loved this little fishing village and was excited to paddle again.

It was wonderful!! Even though it was the Mediterranean, the water was cool so that helped cool down our little friend after walking around.

It truly was a great day because, after paddling, Bigs got to climb trees…

…and then had a big bowl of spaghetti all to himself! He got into a bit of a mess but managed to eat every bite.

Later, Bigs played in some beautiful bougainvillea. He was going to play hide-and-seek but realized that his white wool was too easy to spot amongst the magenta of the bougainvillea.

But that was okay as he hid in a boat later. Bigs felt that his colors matched the boat much better and made him harder to find.

The next day, Bigs went to a neighboring island by boat. He was a bit scared of falling in so Rhia held on to him tightly.

Bigs went for a walk and had a great time. Bigs feels that nature is always beautiful and that nature involving water is even better.

Bigs had a wonderful walk! He found a pretty geranium…

…a cool looking boat…

…and even a fisherman to chat with. Bigs felt that only one thing would make this day better…

…so he played hide-and-seek on some old steps he’d found. Bigs tried to make himself look like a rock but thinks you can still find him.

It had been another fabulous day in Portovenere!

Bigs was so excited the day he went on a ferry ride to some nearby mountainside villages. He loves boats and quite fancies himself as a sea captain!

Bigs was delighted to find some artwork at the first stop as it gave him a chance to rest and admire his new friend, a beautiful blue octopus.

The next stop was a pot of glorious flowers by the sea…those are two of Bigs’ favorite things in life!

Sometimes Bigs likes to be a bit artistic with his photos. Sometimes it works well and, other times, not so well! What do you think about this one? Bigs says that the great thing about art is that everything appeals to some people (and nothing appeals to all people!)

One of Bigs’ favorite things about Europe is all the sheep-sized books and crannies they seem to have. He says it makes a little sheep feel right at home.

All the little ports were truly spectacular…

…though not as spectacular as Italian pizza (when you’re a hungry sheep!) Bigs thinks that real, Italian pizza is THE BEST!

Bigs had a great time talking to this angelic mermaid; he really is such a friendly little sheep!

It was a fantastic day and it was one tired little Bigs that trudged home that night.

The next morning, however, Bigs was up early and ready to go before. Although he loves to travel, he knows that all the adventures leave him a bit dirty. So Bigs went to get groomed! He loves his new hair-and-body style 🐑

To celebrate his new look, Bigs climbed a vine. He’s probably not going to be clean for long!

Bigs climbed up a lot of steps to visit a church…

…to see some great views…

…though sometimes he didn’t want to look down…

…to play hide-and-seek…

…and to eat some delicious things he found growing along the way.

Bigs isn’t sure but he thinks these tiny round rooms were watch towers back in the 13th century when this castle fort was built. He knows that Napoleon used it as a prison for a time! Perhaps you can ask an adult to help you search about the time Napoleon was in Porto Venere?

Back down at port level, Bigs found another tiny house that was perfect for a little sheep. He played there for a while before heading home to have strawberries and chocolate ice cream before bed. Bigs had another great day planned for tomorrow as that will be his last day in this beautiful place! 😘

On his last day, Bigs decided to take another ferry, this time to a place called Lerici. As soon as he got off the ferry, Bigs met a very friendly elephant who gave him a ride on her trunk. The elephant then told Bigs where to go to see some pretty things. So off he went.

After admiring a pretty emblem on a floor…

…Bigs found a ship’s anchor to climb. He felt like a very important sheep stop that anchor!

Then it was another long climb up a hill to see an old castle. Bigs needed a break halfway up so he played hide-and-seek until he caught his breath!

Once at the castle-fort, Bigs found himself a lovely nook from which he could see the whole place.

There was an art show there so Bigs spent quite some time admiring the pictures.

Bigs then posed on a candelabra in the little chapel…and then went to the tippy-top of the castle.

It was way too windy for Bigs to have his photo taken as he was scared of blowing away but he made friends with a seagull so he took a photo of his new friend instead. Bigs thought the bird to be quite handsome.

The next day, Bigs said goodbye to Porto Venere. He’d had such a great time there. He’d seen beautiful things and had found a lot of stuff that was just the right size for him. Bigs had his photo taken by his favorite lighthouse and then, with a little tear in his eye, he left for the train station.

Bigs needed some alone time so slept the whole way to Naples. He hadn’t meant to get up until the following day but decided he was hungry so went to a restaurant. The place overlooked Naples so Bigs started to get excited; he ate quickly and went to bed, eager to see what the next day would bring.

Bigs decided to have breakfast before going to see underground Naples. He thought it a bit odd that this man had jumped into his breakfast bun but decided to join in anyway. The bun was delicious!

Then he went 40 meters underground!! It was fascinating to discover that Underground Naples started in antiquity as a place to mine stone (volcanic stone) in order to build the aboveground buildings!

During WWII, these underground tunnels were used as bomb shelters and a place to store ammunition.

But back to antiquity. There was a market, houses, narrow streets, and even a theater underground. This marble box was part of the theater.

One woman (who lived aboveground) had a secret passage to an underground theater and used to make ‘sets’.

Bigs loved her place because the mini sets were the perfect size for him!

He felt right at home there!

Then, somewhere along the line, people started turning these mini sets into Nativity scenes.

But they don’t look like the Nativity scenes we’re used to today.

Bigs loved them all…

… except for the one where he felt the butcher was looking at him as though he was a lamb chop…so he ran away!

Whew! He was glad to be at the underground houses and market.

Bigs had a wonderful time peeking into people’s lives from the past…

…and an equally wonderful time running up and down some ancient stairs.

Back aboveground, on a street called Christmas Street, Bigs found himself the perfect home. Sadly, it didn’t fit into his backpack but Bigs was happy to have seen such wonderful things and he was sure that he’d be dreaming about them for a long time!

Bigs didn’t think it possible to have more amazing adventures, but he was wrong! The next day he went to Herculaneum.

Herculaneum and Pompeii were the towns that were destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in the year 79. You can see Mt. Vesuvius in the background.

Because the town was covered in burning ash so quickly, many of the buildings are still standing.

But what fascinated Bigs the most was that the ash that drowned the whole place had even protected some of the paintings!! Imagine, these are over 2,000 years old and are still in their original house!

There were also lots of mosaic work still in place and Bigs stood on as many as possible. This little sheep felt privileged to stand on actual mosaic floors that were over 2,000 years old and still in the original houses.

It was certainly a very happy (and exhausted) little Bigs that went to sleep that night!

The next day, Bigs was up early as he was going to Rome for the day. He was really excited to see the Colosseum (which held around 70,000 people!) It was much bigger than any he’s seen before. And the crowds!!!! Bigs was scared so he enjoyed the Colosseum from the safety of Rhia’s purse!! Bigs was hard on himself until he realized that we all need to be carried sometimes, so then he perked up.

Bigs really enjoyed the rest of the Roman ruins as the crowds weren’t as bad.

When he jumped onto a plinth to pretend he was an emperor, Dan and Rhia knew he was over his fears.

And he really enjoyed playing on some statues in a church.

Our friend was certainly a happy little sheep by this stage!

Bigs made everyone laugh at Trevi Fountain because he had to jump up as high as he could to be seen above the crowds. It’s just as well he’s a great jumper!

Then, outside the Pantheon, Bigs found another fountain but, this time, he could paddle in it. Thank goodness because it was a hot and humid day!

Bigs was so grateful that the Romans loved fountains so much!

It was fortunate that Bigs had taken his shower in the fountain because the 1 hour train journey back from Rome took 5 1/2 hours!!! Everyone was tired, hot, and grumpy by the time they got into bed at midnight. We all know that little sheep (especially those named Bigs) need their beauty sleep!!

It was no surprise that Bigs was a bit grumpy the next day! He drank a coffee to try to get himself going, but it didn’t work very well.

So Bigs decided to spend the day relaxing on the beach. It was just what he needed to be ready for the big adventures he had planned for the next day. Where do you think he’s going to go?

The next day, Bigs got up bright and early and went to…

Pompeii!!

He had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. Just like Herculaneum, the people of Pompeii were killed when Mount Vesuvius (a volcano) erupted almost 2,000 years ago. People died instantly from the noxious fumes and hot ash covered the city for many, many centuries preserving many of the buildings and some precious artwork!

Bigs was excited to see so many columns and buildings still standing.

But he was even more excited to see some of the mosaics in situ (that means where they were found).

Bigs noticed a bit of grass growing through this mosaic so it was his pleasure to help out and get rid of it! He was actually feeling a bit peckish!

It made Bigs feel very privileged to walk where people had walked such a long time ago; Pompeii had existed from at least 300 BC until the eruption so that’s a very, very long time ago!

Bigs learned a lot of things about the Romans from back then. He was pleased to learn that they loved nature so much that having a beautiful garden was very important to them.

As you know, Bigs loves nature too so he thinks he would make a great ancient Roman!

He also learned that the ancient Romans loved snack shops (there were over 70 in Pompeii!). Bigs says that he loves snacks too!

Bigs was so happy to see some of the art work that had survived and he learned so much from the creatures and people he spoke with. For example, most Romans had an altar to the gods in their houses.

Bigs also learned that many buildings were painted on the outside as well as on the inside!

Bigs had such a fun time imagining the splendor of all the buildings before the eruption.

He also had a fun time imagining all the statues that were everywhere! He was told that there were thousands of them around Pompeii;

It was so much fun to wander around and see everything!

The last thing Bigs visited was the amphitheater and he was happy to see that there was a little one right next to the huge one! He felt that this one was for small creatures such as he. This excited Bigs!

Before going back to the room for the night, Bigs had some food and lemonade.

Bigs wanted to share the size of the lemons with you…some were bigger than he!!! Can you imagine a lemon that was bigger than you? Bigs says you’d only need one to last a whole year!

Bigs had intended going to the beach the next day but decided to go to the Naples Archaeological museum instead because he’d been told that a LOT of the stuff found in Pompeii had been taken there to protect it.

He was glad he did because he saw so much there. The statues told him so much.

Many of the were gods who told him stories from Roman mythology! They were some pretty great stories!

Some of them were huge so Bigs had to shout so they could hear him. This one was a healer so Bigs told him about his bad trotters. The healer told Bigs he might have plantar fasciitis and needs to see a doctor or a vet when he gets home. Bigs learned that the ancient Romans were way ahead of their time with medical stuff and research.

The other things Bigs enjoyed at the museum were the paintings taken from the walls.

Bigs thinks there must have been a lot of talented artists around back in those days.

Many of the characters were from Roman mythology and we’re happy to share their stories with Bigs. He says he learned so much, he could write a book!

But he was even more impressed by the mosaics. They looked like paintings.

This one was Bigs’ favorite. The sea animals told him how important the fish and sea animals were to the diet of the ancient Romans… especially in Pompeii as it was right by the ocean.

Bigs thought that this was the perfect way to spend his last day in Naples. He needed a very good sleep tonight because he’s going to be traveling for over 24 hours tomorrow. Guess where he’s going…

It was a very excited Bigs who woke up the next morning because he was going to…

GREECE!

Bigs quickly got ready and then it was off to the train station. He said a final goodbye to all the people in the Nativity scenes there…

…and then it was on to the train.

Oh, it was a long journey to the port in Brindisi but Bigs was excited when he saw the sign for ferry boat because that’s what the Greeks call ferries! He was getting closer!

He had to wait a long time for the ferry boat to arrive so he played hide-and-seek A LOT!

Finally, at 10 o’clock, it was time to get onto the ferry boat.

Although the lights were beautiful, Bigs couldn’t wait to go to sleep as he knew he’d be in Corfu when he woke up.

This wasn’t the first time for our little traveler to go to Greece, but it was the first time for him to see a pirate ship there! Bigs thought he may like a ride on a pirate ship one day

In the meantime, Bigs wanted to familiarize himself with Old Town (where he was staying) so he wandered around. He loved all the beautiful flowers.

And he especially loved the ocean.

But the spiked fence around the old palace frightened him a bit (you can see it in his face, poor lamb)!

And he was VERY confused by these shoes he saw at a store…they looked like they’d fit some of the huge Roman statues he’d seen!

At the end of the day, Bigs climbed into a beautiful big tree for a while to ponder how much he’d done up to now…and to imagine what else he was going to do.

Oh yes, there’s a lot of life left in this little sheep!!

The next day, Bigs felt like having a relaxing day after traveling such a long way so he took a bus to Ypsos.

He relaxed…

…and surfed…

…and pondered how lucky he was to be in such a beautiful place. He already loved Corfu and Greece!

And then, something amazing happened. He was relaxing when someone asked if he wanted a ride in a car!!

Did he ever!! His happiness was so contagious that he was then asked if he wanted a quick ride on a motorcycle!

Bigs had a fantastic time and thinks that the Greek people are WONDERFUL!

The only thing he doesn’t like about Corfu are the HUGE shoes he keeps finding; who can they belong to??

Wandering around the next day, Bigs made some new friends. The kittens told him about a beautiful place on the island called Paleokastritsa. So off he went to catch a bus.

The bus driver was in a VERY bad mood (so different to all the other people he’d met) so he was a good and quiet little Bigs for the whole journey.

It was worth being good for that 30 minute bus journey because when he arrived at the beach, Bigs was overwhelmed by the beauty.

Because he’d sunbathed yesterday, Bigs decided just to take a leisurely walk today after all, he didn’t want to get sunburned!)

Between all the sea air, the sun, and being so relaxed, Bugs fell asleep by some beautiful flowers for a couple of hours!

Thank goodness he woke up in time to catch the bus back to where he was staying. Our little friend decided to be a sensible sheep and have an early night because he had a big day planned for tomorrow. You’ll never guess what he’s going to do!

The day had finally arrived! On his walk to the dock, Bigs jumped onto a memorial of what love ked like Aladdin’s lamp and made the wish for today to be everything he had hoped for because, today, he was going…

…on a pirate ship!! Bigs was so excited!!

Corfu was tied to pirates in their heyday so, even though Bigs knew that this was a pretend pirate ship, he was looking forward to sailing in it!

At first, Bigs was a little afraid of the skulls (even though they were plastic)…

…but after making friends with a golden elephant (who told Bigs not to worry because the skulls were plastic and friendly)…

Bigs soon found his confidence and sang and chatted with the skulls for most of the ride! It was great fun!

But perhaps the most fun was climbing onto the arm of a huge pirate! He had a great view from up there and felt very special!

It had been a GREAT day and it was a very hungry little Bigs who got off the ship.

As he was snacking on some juicy plants, Bigs had a sudden thought; he now knows who all those huge shoes he keeps finding belong to!

Do you know who?

Later on, Bigs went for a walk to the old fort. He was excited to see a museum (that used to be a church) that was where Prince Philip (the late husband of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the UK) had been christened.

He saw an old lighthouse,

…and looked down upon old town Corfu.

When he was resting before walking back to the hotel, Bigs was excited to see the pirate ship come sailing by.

All his new friends spotted Bigs and called his name, waving to him. Bigs waved back and shouted, “Oh, and Captain, I know where your shoes are!”

It had been another great day!

The next day, Bigs took a bus to the house (now museum) where the late Prince Philip of the UK had been born. Before even getting into the house, Bigs passed an archaeological site where there still stood a 2,000 year old building that was built with stones recycled from a building 700 years older!

All the stuff in the museum was about 2,700 years old! It made Bigs realize how old some places are!

The gardens were beautiful too. Bigs loved this old stone artefact. He thinks it was a wheel or a grinding stone. What do you think?

He also loves this old (but not ancient) pot. He felt he could enjoy the nature that was all around him and yet be protected from anything that would want to harm him.

Bigs made friends with the museum cat who told him to visit the ancient temple that was on the grounds. So off Bigs’ went

On his way to the temple, Bigs stopped to admire the view and heard someone calling his name! He couldn’t believe that his friends from the pirate ship were passing and had spotted him on the verandah!!

Bigs was very contemplative at the temple. Our little friend is very aware that he’s sitting on a stone that a man cut to fit into place more than 2 1/2 THOUSAND years ago!!

Only bits of the buildings have been found so far and it made Bigs wonder what treasures lie beneath his feet, waiting for excavation. There are probably some fantastic things down there; it made Bigs wish he could be an archaeologist!

Sadly, it was almost time to go back to the hotel, but there was just time for one game of hide and seek! Bigs had so much fun and was excited to see what tomorrow would bring!

Because the next day was Bigs’ last day on Corfu, he decided to go to a different beach. As usual, the sun was shining brightly.

Bigs kept a keen eye on Dan while he was swimming because you always have to remember to respect the ocean as it’s very strong and powerful!

He was pleased when Dan decided he’d had enough as that meant more relaxation for Bigs!

As with all Corfu’s beaches, this one was beautiful. The beach was on one side of the road and a lush mountain was on the other side.

It was soon time for Bigs to have his last paddle before leaving Greece. His little trotters were so hot from all the walking he’d done that it was a pleasure to put them in the refreshing ocean.

On his way home, Bigs found a little nook with a picture of Atlas above. Atlas is the Greek mythological character whose job it was to hold the earth upon his shoulders. Do you know what modern-day thing we call an atlas?

The next morning, Bigs had his photo taken in his favorite spot in this motel and then it was off to the ferry. He was saying goodbye to Greece and hello to Albania!

The trip from Corfu to Sarande, Albania went smoothly…and Bigs was delighted to walk past a pirate ship on his way to his motel. But that was nothing compared to the motel itself because…

…Bigs had his own patio that overlooked the ocean! Perfect!!

Dinnertime was pleasurable for our little friend too because the restaurant overlooked the ocean! There’s nothing better in life than good food and an ocean view!

Bigs had a wonderful end to another great day in Europe when he was enjoying the balcony and saw the pirate ship turn on its lights.

But then things got even better when the ship went out on the ocean, all lit up! It was one happy little Bigs that went to sleep, dreaming of pirate ships with beautiful lights!

The next day, Bigs decided to go to visit an old monastery that had views of the ocean on one side and views of a lake on the other.

BUT the monastery was on the top of a very big hill and Bigs got tired. Thankfully, he met a tortoise and ashes for a ride…

…and the helpful tortoise said he was more than happy to help!

After seeing the monastery, it was time for the beach once more. Bigs had great fun playing in the waves

It was a rather wet Bigs who got on the bus to go back to the hotel…but he didn’t mind at all!

Walking back from the bus station, Bigs came across some interesting statues!

We all know how much Bigs loves statues! But he was eager to get back to the hotel…just in case the pirate ship was in the move again…

…and he wasn’t disappointed! Bigs thinks he’s going to miss this place.

After a leisurely breakfast the next morning, Bigs hopped on a bus to Gjirokaster. It was a place which had a castle and pretty stone buildings.

The castle was on top of a big hill and, because Bigs couldn’t find a tortoise, he caught a cab! Bigs loved the underground structures and thinks he may become an architect in his next life.

Because of the bright sunlight behind him, Bigs looks really dark in this photo. It made him laugh and he said that, perhaps, he’s the black sheep in his family! Do you know what that expression means?

The castle is still used today for a cultural show each year. People from all around this area come to sing and dance. Bigs wanted to perform so he hopped up on the stage…but he looks so tiny on the big stage!

Afterwards, Bigs got a little playful and hid from Dan!

Dan couldn’t find him anywhere! Should we tell him where Bigs is?

Thankfully, Dan eventually found Bigs and there was just time for a late lunch before catching the bus back to Sarande.

The walk through the village was pretty but all the brick pattern made Bigs feel a little woozy (perhaps he’d eaten a bit too much lunch!) so he rode in Rhia’s purse the rest of the way…all the whole hoping to see pretty lights again this evening.

And, again, Bigs wasn’t disappointed.

Bigs was so pleased as, tomorrow morning, he’ll be leaving Sarande.

He has such happy memories of this place and hopes, one day, to come back! 💖

The next morning Bigs had to get up early again to catch a bus to Durres…but he made sure he had time to stop at a restaurant first.

The bus journey was going to take 4 hours and a sheep needs his breakfast!

Oh my goodness, the bus was busting at the seams and the seats were so tiny that it made the journey very uncomfortable! Thank goodness the bus stopped for a 20 minute lunch break!

Things got much better when he arrived at his room in Durres and found a friendly rabbit who was happy to see him.

They got even better when he went for a walk and Bigs found part of an ancient wall to play on…and to play hide-and-seek!

Thankfully, it didn’t take Dan long to find our playful friend this time!

On the way back to the hotel, Bigs passed an ancient market square (that was round!!!!). He wonders what he’s going to see tomorrow and hopes it’s as good as what he saw today

And it was! The day started with munching on some breakfast leaves while looking at the ancient market square.

Then it was off to the amphitheater. This wasn’t well preserved but it was still exciting to walk through a 2,000 year old building.

Bigs just loved all the arches that the Romans built.

And this amphitheater had something he’d not seen before in an amphitheater…a mosaic of some saints on a wall! The Romans didn’t do this but someone did during the Byzantine period about 1,000 years ago!

Bigs has decided that he wants a book about ancient Rome for Christmas because he loves learning about all this stuff!

The ancient city walls were interesting too. Bigs found some of the stones on the ground; there was an earthquake in 2019 that destroyed some of the wall and these were left over after they fixed it!

Bigs had a little rest before going to the beach where he had lots of fun.

He spent time with a Roman soldier statue…

…then he played on some swings. The swooshing air helped to cool him down which was great as Bigs was getting a little bit hot.

But perhaps Bigs’ absolute favorite part of the day was when he helped a fisherman statue catch a fish!

It had been a fabulous day…but tomorrow he leaves Albania and goes to Croatia. Oh boy, he hopes the bus journey will be better than the last one!

Oh dear, what a day Bigs had! He was supposed to have a 10 hour bus journey to Dubrovnik but when he got to the bus station he was told the bus for the last leg of the journey had been cancelled! Poor Bigs would have to spend a night in Kotor, Montenegro!

There was more room on this bus than the last one so that was good and the bus passed through some beautiful places.

Even though he hadn’t planned to visit Kotor, Bigs was pleased he had because it was beautiful…

… especially at night!

Bigs thought that this unplanned layover was definitely worth it!!

Bigs was shocked when he woke up the next morning to see that a huge cruise ship had pulled into port! Thank goodness he’d be on his way to Dubrovnik.

Bigs even skipped breakfast because he was so excited!

The bus wasn’t crowded at all AND he had lovely views to look at. Bigs feels that he’s such a lucky sheep 💖

The first thing Bigs did when he got to his room was check out the balcony; the view wasn’t the best but Bigs was happy because there was a cool cross-breeze and birds were chirping.

Not wanting to waste time, Bugs hopped on a bus to go to the old city.

It was so beautiful there. Bigs spent a lot of time talking with three blackbirds (who were complaining about the heatwave). Can you see the birds?

Bigs especially loved the old monastery as it had a garden (full of birds) in the middle. It reminded Bigs of the old Roman villas in Herculaneum and Pompeii!

It also had a lovely place for him to take a bath!

While walking around, Bigs met two very friendly bears who shared an ice-cream with him.

He then visited some museums. Bigs doesn’t really understand modern art but this exhibit made him happy.

In the Cultural Museum, Bigs saw how people used to put on a fancy dinner. He was certainly glad that he wasn’t on the menu!!!!

Bigs was very proud to learn that sheep were important to this culture because the people needed the wool to make warm clothes to protect them from the cold winters.

After a quick drink (Bigs treated himself to coffee AND water!) It was time to go to sleep because the next day Bigs was going to walk around the city walls so needed all his energy!

Bigs got a very early start the next morning so he could walk around the walls before the heat got unbearably hot! Even at 8 in the morning it was hot, especially when you’re wearing a wool coat. But seeing the whole town from above with the walls around it was amazing!

And there were places where the walls just faced the ocean…Bigs especially loved those places.

In fact, he spent a lot of time thinking and looking down at the ocean; not only because it was beautiful, but also because you could feel a cooling breeze there…

…and it was already getting very hot!

But even though he was a bit sweaty, Bigs had a great time walking the walls as the views were stunning! He knew he was a very lucky (though hot) sheep!

As soon as he walked down from the walls, Bigs stopped for something refreshing to drink. He liked this restaurant because the table centerpieces reminded him of a flock of sheep 😂

After walking around the town for a while (to say goodbye as Bigs had another bus journey the next day), it was time for something to eat. Bigs chose this restaurant because of the paintings on the wall…and the food was good too!

While taking a last walk along the beach, Bigs got very playful and wanted to play hide-and-seek. He leapt off to hide…but we couldn’t find him! It was only when Rhia said, “Well, I’m going for an ice-cream,” that he came running out! Can YOU spot him? Naughty Bigs!

Although this bus journey was another long one (5 hours), there was much more room so Bigs spent the whole time looking out of the window.

The colors were wonderful and our little friend was a good sheep throughout the whole journey; I think he’s trying to make up for being naughty yesterday!

When he arrived in Split (Bigs thinks that’s a funny name for a town), there was just enough time to find out where the old town is. It’s another town that dates back to Roman times. But this one is different because…

… BIGS FOUND SOME REAL-LIFE ROMAN SOLDIERS!!!! And they agreed to have their photo taken with our friend!! Bigs thinks this is the most exciting thing to ever happen and he can’t wait until tomorrow because (he says) Split has a good vibe 🎉😁🎉

And he was right! Bigs got up early the next day to take some photos before the crowds got there. It was heavenly!

He even found a photo of how the place used to look…Bigs wished he could have seen it back then!

But he loved it as it is now too… especially as he just posed for a photo and it looked as though he was playing hide-and-seek!!!

Everything about this place was magical, from the arches to the colors!

Bigs really liked the big palm leaves as he says they made him feel very regal!

The cathedral was awesome… especially the bit where you could see the old floor and the mosaic; we know how much Bigs loves mosaics!

The crypt was pretty…and cool! The outside temperature was soaring to around 105° but it was still cool underground.

Bigs loved the basement of the palace for the same reason…he certainly looks like a happy sheep, doesn’t he?

Even though it was hot outside, Bigs still enjoyed wandering around, imagining that he was a Roman Emperor.

When he got hungry, Bigs found the most delicious plant to eat. And then he had the opportunity to do something he’s always wanted to do…

He learned to fly on a broomstick! (Some of the Game of Thrones was filmed here so there was still some magic left over). To begin with, Bigs kept flying into things.

But then he got much better. It was such great fun! Bigs didn’t think things could get any better, but then …

…he went to the museum of illusions. Sometimes he was tiny,

…and sometimes Dan was tiny.

And sometimes Dan was tiny and Bigs was big.

Aaaw Dan, don’t worry, Bigs will protect you!

Aargh Bigs, don’t fall! He’s really standing on a table safely and the rest is an illusion.

Bigs loved the kaleidoscope…

…where did all those Bigs’ come from???

But perhaps Bigs’ favorite illusion was when it looked like he was serving Dan’s head on a platter; this made Bigs laugh 😂 What an enjoyable day!

The next day, Bigs went to the beach for the last time. It was a pretty beach

He spent time contemplating life…

… listening to the waves and the happy sounds of children playing +both make him happy)…

…and swimming.

There was just enough time to check out the train station before heading back to the hotel. Bigs is so glad he’s done with buses for the time being because there’s a lot more room on trains and you can walk about. 🎉

Early the next morning, it was goodbye to Split. Bigs was excited to get on a comfy train to travel 210 km to Zagreb.

The train WAS comfy BUT it was horribly slow! It took 10 hours to travel 210 km! Bigs thought he could have walked it quicker. And then…

A horrible storm hit. Bigs couldn’t see anything out of the window! And, soon after, the train stopped. The driver invited Bigs to come to see why…

Bigs couldn’t believe his eyes and snapped this photo quickly…a tree had fallen over the train tracks! This would not be a quick fix.

He was right…it was late when he got to the hotel room so Bigs went to sleep a bit grumpy!

Thankfully, the sun was shining the next morning and Bigs was in a better mood so he went exploring. There were beautiful buildings in Zagreb.

And lots of statues for him to talk to.

Some of the statues shared how difficult it was for them when Zagreb was under communist rule. It was very emotional!

So Bigs took the time to get a snack. He says a snack always makes things right.

Then Bigs found a beautiful park with some great graffiti…

So he pretended to get ready for a bath…

…and even pretended to go to the toilet. He thought that was really funny 😂 Silly sheep!

After visiting some Roman ruins,

Bigs had a conversation with a frog who told him to go to the WWII tunnels.

So, on his way back to the hotel, Bigs did. They were very long (and very cool on a hot day) and in great shape. Bigs wondered how they had been used back during the war. Do you have any guesses?

The next morning, Bigs was up early again to catch a train to Frankfurt, Germany. He was so happy to have such a big, comfortable carriage.

The views on the way were spectacular.

Bigs just loved standing by the window, looking out.

He saw beautiful buildings.

He also saw gorgeous countryside…

And pretty little towns.

But then the train came to a halt in Austria so everyone had to get off. Bigs talked to a conductor statue who gave him advice.

So Bigs was able to get other trains to Frankfurt but they were crowded so he hid in the bag most of the time (though he did come out to see the pretty sky once).

It was a very tired little sheep who climbed the stairs to his room that night; the journey had taken 17 hours!

The next day, Bigs was in full form again.

He spent time with some carpet sellers.

And joined in a discussion about what to have for dinner during the next feast day.

Then he went walking around Frankfurt.

He visited with a Roman and her duck

And loved his time at an old cathedral. He says he was just posing for a photo here even though it looks like he’s playing hide-and-seek!

After doing some shopping…

…and walking through the park, it was time to go to sleep. It had been a great, relaxing day and just what Bigs needed after such a long travel day yesterday!