We bid adieu...

Friday, March 24, 2006

This has nothing to do with the kids except that not many youngins' can say they traveled in style for free in Europe. Sadly, we have to turn in the Mercedes sedan we were given to drive since November. We are thankful to have a car period, but our new ride will be a Ford and well, that's just stepping down a notch or three (sob). I was so looking forward to driving through Europe this summer in style (I know how snobby of me). Oh well, here's a photo of the car as we say adios, au revoir, good bye.

You have a baby...in a bar?!

While not another country, a daytrip nonetheless. Friends Pete & Suz Ludeman who are on the GDP program in Frankfurt, Germany, came to visit us in dear 'ole Brussels. We gave them the 50 cent tour - the Mannequin Pis, mussels at Chez Leon, real Belgian waffles, chocolate from Neuhaus and beer beer beer.

Suz had heard from a friend about this old bar in Brussels called, A la Morte Subite, so off we went and boy what a selection. And yes, we did have the kids in the bar (hey, we don't have babysitters and I'm sure Belgian mums wouldn't approve). Saoirse was social and trying to grab the glasses and dear Ciaran was asleep in the buggy (otherwise our night would've been cut very short). So after several rounds of different Belgian beers, some served in margarita sized glasses, we had a good idea of what we liked and didn't. We definitely will be going back.

Thanks Pete & Suz for a great weekend (and the photos) and we'll be in Frankfurt soon when our reinforcements arrive!

2nd Trip to Amsterdam

January 27, 2006

The braved a solo trip with the kids on a 2.5 hr train ride to Amsterdam to meet up with my friend Melanie Sweeney who was in town with her hubby Andrew on business. We braved the cold, she braved my kids and after the lovely lunch and super patient waitresses at the Hard Rock Cafe, we hit the Van Gogh Museum. This was a great spot to see the artist's works over the 10 years that he painted. We would've seen a bit more if Ciaran didn't make a break for it and then throw a fit near Sunflowers. Well, better luck next time. At the very least, Melanie got a taste for the terrible twos as she's expecting a son, Logan, in July. Hehehehe :)

And just because they're cute!

Ciaran is 2 here and Saoirse is almost 9 months.

Luxembourg

Pretty city/country, not much to do there, but it was nice to see for a few hours, the people were friendly and it's always nice to have a playground in the middle of a square to burn off some toddler energy. Saoirse lucked out with new bunting for the stroller so she wouldn't be frozen.

Coffee Shops, Red Lights and more

Amsterdam, all that and a bag of chips, or hash or whatever you're into. Needless to say it's a bit weird to walk through the Red Light district with your parents and your kids. Watch out for the roadkill and bag 'o wrinkles hookers in the windows. I hope they make enough to pay their rent!

On another note, the city is beautiful, gaining it's reputation for being one of my favorites. Oh the kids? They have no idea where they are unless it's IKEA for meatballs. This is my attempt to stay sane and avoid learning too much French, but I digress...

We saw the haunting Anne Frank house, worth the wait in line, did a canal boat ride, always fun for Ciaran, and the above mentioned tour. Next time maybe just the adults will go.

New Year's Day in Brussels

Nothing like a cold New Year's day in our expat homeland. It's not really a daytrip unless you consider it a nice trip to eat Mussels in Brussels and famous Belgian waffles. Mmmm oh and see a pissing statue! Happy Holidays. hehehe

Callahan/Welch daytrips

December 29, 2005
Brugge, Belgium

We all took a day trip to this old port city - very pretty, plus it was very pictoresque with the snow. There's a good spot for a pint and Flemish Carbonnade, plus a good chip stand infront of the Bell Tower (should there be any other kind?). The kids look like they live in a bubble, but that's just the English craftyness behind the Maclaren strollers.

Carndonagh (Carn), Co. Donegal, Ireland

December 4-6, 2005

Nothing like a trip to the Motherland. This was Saoirse's first trip, Ciaran's second (lucky duck). We went to visit my cousin Lorraine Simmons (Callaghan) and her family. There's a photo of Lorraine hiding behind Ciaran and her girls, Ellen and Molly. It was nice to be with family that a) are nice b) spoke English and c) had kids. I went with Lorraine to her daughter Ellen's first feis (Irish step-dancing competition). She won a medal and was super cute!

We also went to a birthday party for another cousin's son, Dempsey. Ciaran had fun on the taxi cab and bumper cars and then we had the long drive to Dublin to fly home.

2nd trip to Disneyland Paris

This time it snowed! You'd think you were in New England over Thanksgiving Weekend. For those of you that worked at WDW this is a weird version of the park, and a freezing cold one at that! Nothing like cold buns on outdoor attractions.