Hippity Hop

Got an early start on Easter since we'll be away next weekend on an impromptu road trip to Heidelberg and Michelstadt, Germany, taking advantage of a small school break for the kids.  And who knew (I didn't) that it was the Germans who brought the custom of decorating eggs to North America.  We had much fun dyeing, decorating and hunting eggs in anticipation. 

The Italian flag egg, by Reese in honor of our recent trip.

Financial Planning

Here we go! Hopefully, today, we set the foundation for the kids to learn lifelong money management skills.  Then, again, maybe it was simply a fun sticker project, which would be okay too!

Spring "en papier"

These paper flowers took my breath away.  Made by my college bestie, SB always adds whispers of beauty in everything she does.  Love.

Ready, Jet Set, Go!

A lovely, smart, and very well-traveled friend recommended these city guides to me.  They're pocket size and concise, but full of fabulous ideas both on the beaten path and off.  The best part is the tongue-and-cheek style of of the writing.

The guides are not exactly geared to a family of four with two young kids, but a mom can dream can't she?  And dreaming I am, about a trip to this exotic city . . .

Bag-a-licious

Here in Amsterdam, we shop for groceries every day.  Perhaps this is the urban way, perhaps it's the Dutch way since we can only fit a day's supply on our bikes.  Either way, the only way to go is with a fun bag. 

Thanks, SF, for this fabulous tote.  It really does make going to Albert Hein so much better!

F***king Perfect

One of the things that struck me when we moved to Amsterdam was how often the Dutch drop the F-bomb or say "shit."  The curse words fly around here, especially all the "bad" words they know in English.

I'm not exactly priggish and happen to think the F-word fits certain situations in a way no other word can.  And I suppose I'm a somewhat regular user.  But that first summer here in Amsterdam, standing on the sidewalk in front our house with neighbors and their kids, I couldn't believe the swearing!  In front of the kids, to the kids . . ."Oh, what the f**K, how did that happen sweetie?  Let me see your boo-boo."  I'm not kidding.

It's common for a person not to fully grasp the strength/emotion/significance of word when it's not in one's native language or culture.  This is true for anyone learning a second language.  There are plenty of rather nasty words in French that don't sound nearly as shocking to me as they would certainly be considered if I said them aloud in conversation with my French friends (it doesn't help that even the nastiest words sound so pretty in French).

I imagine this is much of what is happening here in Holland, but the word "f**k" is so pervasive and used by adults and kids alike, I can't help but think that it has skipped past being a loaner word from English and is now fully incorporated into Dutch culture in its own unique way, one that would be surprising in the US.  It is much more everyday over here--less vulgar.

So today, while on my morning run, I got quite a giggle when I saw this poster advertising a new Dutch film.  It illustrates my point f**king perfectly!

Finishers!

One week ago today, Doug and I ran the Paris Semi Marathon.  The tag line to this marathon is "spring challenge," and at 65 degrees and sunny, it was as though the weather itself was up for a challenge.   First sunny day in Paris in weeks, apparently.

I've run a number of 1/2 marathons in the past, but have always wanted to run the Paris race.  What a dream come true to do it while we are living in Europe, and for Doug and I to get to do it together.

Three easy hours by the train from Amsterdam, and voila!  43,000 runners.  13.1 miles.  4 days in Paris.  

Abby & Reese LOVED the expo village.  What's not to love with so much swag.  Everything from free balloons to free bananas.  They wrote sweet notes to us on the dedication wall.

Coincidentally, some good friends from San Francisco found themselves in Paris at the same time.  We spent a sweet day at Jardin des Tuileries, happening upon a fabulous and fabulously-French lunch, and then capped it off with a visit to the Musée de l'Orangerie. 

And, quelle surprise!  These two NoCal buddies ran the 1/2 marathon too!  They didn't have bib numbers, but jumped in at the end of the pack, ran, and then joined us for a celebratory dinner afterwards.  They're both amazing runners, but so impressive to do it on the vacation fly.  Love it!  Thank you CW and GRW for a great weekend in Paris!   Hoping we'll see you in October for the Amsterdam 1/2 marathon . . .

We spent one of our two remaining days at Jardin d'Acclimatation, and the final day on a quiet, cloudy walk around Montmartre before catching our train home.

Nothing beats the Jardin d'Acclimatation for old school charm.  The rides are perfect for the under 10 crowd; the park is green; and the games lack any "shazam" factor and are sweetly simple.  It reminded me of my childhood and summer carnivals.  Big treat for the kids.

Montmartre:  The Sacre Coeur and macaroons for the ride home.

Positively Positano

Positano is positively picturesque.  As is the entire Amalfi Coast.

This postcard village was our base in Italy, but we hopped around between Positano, Amafli, Ravello and Sorrento, which of course means a few hundred S-curves on mountain roads.  All part of the charm!

Our villa was perched high above the town with an incredible view of each evening's setting sun, and cool, colorful Italian tiles beneath our feet.

Pictionary was our evening entertainment, made all the more fun seated on our deck overlooking the Gulf of Salerno.

I wasn't feeling the least bit blue in this blue beauty:

Lots of stairs down to the beach.  And back up to our house. 

Around the bend from Positano is the coastal city of Amalfi and the mountain town of Ravello.

Throughout the MIddle Ages, Positano and Amalfi rivalled each other for maritime superiority, and it was Amalfi that ultimately became a major naval power until the Normans took care of business in the 12th century.  In Edwardian times, the English wintered here, often as part "The Grand Tour."  

Nowadays Amalfi is geographically small, but really bustling with residents and tourists.  It serves as a transportation hub and launching point to explore the rest of coast.  

The cracked and crumbled look of the buildings mixes with crowds of people and cars on the one main street that runs straight uphill from the beach to the crest of the hill overlooking the water .  

Town life centers around the towering Duomo in the main square:

Here's the one main road  Seriously.  All cars go up and down this one hill through the buildings, including the police.  The police station is at the top of the hill . . . . ? The "road" used to be a river coming down mountain to ocean.

Did you know that the tomato is not indigenous to Italy?  The Spanish brought it over from South America in the 16th century while they were doing all that conquering.  Turned out that the Mediterranean climate is perfect for cultivating tomatoes, and hence you have Italian cuisine as we know it today.

It's seriously important to try every single local type of dessert.  

Sfogliatella and Delizia al Limone

Scorzette Zest

One can find fountains and rock installations like this all over the place.  They consist of hundreds of tiny painted people, animals, and buildings that depict village life, and are usually religious in significance.  People believe in the supernatural power of these scenes and come to pay homage, pray, make wishes, etc.  Children love them.

 After lunch and a walk, we skipped rocks and relaxed on the Amalfi beach.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of Amalfi, Ravello is quieter, more refined.  Indeed, this village, perched high on top of a mountain with unparalleled views of the coastline, seems high on attitude too.

Historically removed from the goings-on below, residents of Ravello were often artists and religious persons seeking a retreat from regular life, a place to meditate, contemplate, and to find the space to be creative.  Wagner, DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf all hung out here.

There's my kiddos in the corner-left pocket!

Finally, we have Sorrento, a very popular American tourist destination and cruise boat port.  Lot's of shopping.  It's fine, it's pretty, I got a new leather bag.

Please try Donna Sofia for lunch if you are ever in town.  It's at the tippy top of Sorrento, way above the craziness of the city.  In a lemon grove.  Family run. Need I say more? And February was high season for lemons in Italy.  So, so good.

The Donna Sofia, after Ms. Loren.

Anitpasti.

Limoncello.