Life After our Adventures

It's hard to believe that we returned from our adventures a week ago.  It took a few days but we have fully recovered. We celebrated Arose's 4th birthday last week, will be celebrating M's 8th birthday tomorrow and had a birthday slumber party over the weekend.

Chris has been off from school so we are reliving some of our pre-kid Chicago days and it's awesome.  Today we hit the beach and did a little first time SUPing (stand up paddle).  So FUN!!!  Will definitely do again (Lisa---here we come!)  Then, we spontaneously dropped in for a little late lunch at one of our favorite noodle restaurants --the Slurping Turtle.   Finishing our day at the Hole in the Wall.

Perfect day!

A Walk Through Bavaria

Spectacular!!!!

More Munich Fun!

Munich: Augustiner Keller Beer Garden

We said goodbye to Belgium a couple of days ago.   After 4 trains and 7.5 hours later (with one mishap of missing our train stop in Brussels :-0), we arrived in Munich and have been enjoying Munich with family ever since.  Can you tell we are having fun?

We need beer gardens in the States.  It's all about community and I love that!

What to do on a rainy day in Ghent?

Despicable Me 2 in 3D!

Belgium: The Picturesque Ghent

Ghent, Belgium

Known as Gent in Flemish and Gand in French, Ghent is a warm and charming medieval canal city.  Just what I had imagined and hoped for.  It's a real town that enjoys tourists but does not bend to tourists...that's what our taxi driver told us.  And, I agree and love that about this city.  Everyone was so kind.  We met some really cool people.  It was super funky and full of life without being overwhelming.  Unfortunately, because of the cool weather we missed the famous Belgian mussels which we were super bummed about but we were not disappointed with the local beers and pastries!  

I loved this place and this part of Europe.  

Can't wait to return one day!!

Purple Noses....a Ghent specialty made of Arabic gum and raspberry juice.
Check out the vendor in the back displaying a nose for us!

Cute little guy (or maybe 1 pint too many!)

Yunis, the mastelle genius....these are cookies made with brown sugar and butter.
Delicious!!

Our boat tour

Cool bike, huh!

Gorgeous views everywhere!

more

and more

Here We Come, Belgium!

Our Days in Paris

Our days in Paris were short but we made the most of them by filling them with loads of fun.  We visited many museums--some planned like the Louvre, but others randomly picked during our many walks like the City of Paris museum.   Enjoyed carnival rides.  Took a boat tour of the Seine River.  Ate crepes, falafel and poached eggs in wine sauce (a traditional and MOST DELICIOUS French dish).  Explored the amazing neighborhoods.  Learned the train system.  Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower (bummer it was a cold, rainy day...but we did it!).   Took in local markets (why can't we have these markets at home:-().  One of my favorite things in the world is to pick up market goodies and have a picnic in a nice patch of grass with gorgeous flowers and architecture---Paris was perfect for that activity!

Play time

Caterpillar roller coaster ride at the Tuilleries Park

Ham and cheese crepe...yum!

One of those random picnics

To be honest, I don't remember. the building..but it was beautiful.

Our boat ride

Stinky feet at the Louvre

At the Louvre

Chilly Eiffel Tower Day with Uncle Paul and Aunt Connie

Our crepe guy!

A little navigation time at a museum

M's first escargot...she liked!

Ferris wheel ride

A bridge in Paris

Notre DAme with Uncle Paul and Aunt Connie

I love the Metro signs!

The Louvre

A street artist

M's Mona Lisa sighting ...it's there in the far back, really!

ARose's Mona Lisa sighting

Our grand finale on the last night was to grab Lebanese take away and a bottle of French Rose for our viewing of the 11 PM Eiffel Tower light show.  We were beyond exhausted at this point but our efforts were rewarded by the magical lights that twinkled before us.  A perfect way to end our Paris adventure!!

Will we return?  Well, Mia informed us on this trip that she would like to come back to pick out her wedding dress.  So....:-)!