The Netherlands

We took a family trip to Amsterdam and it was by far one of the coolest cities we have ever been to.  The canals that wind throughout the city provide picturesque views and captive you as you walk throughout.  The Dutch are such lovely people and their culture was so pleasant.  Bikers rule the roads and I mean rule the roads.  They are everywhere. No one wears helmets and many will be carrying small children in baskets on the front or friends sitting sideways on the back.

The beauty of the city, while very large, is you can walk from one side to the other in an hour.  We had a list of sites we wanted to see and things we wanted to do and were able to do most of them all the first day.  Unfortunately the weather was pretty poor on Friday and rained all morning until early afternoon, but came well equipped.

Highlights of the Trip:

Museumplein:  Since it was raining we thought we would try to visit the Van Gogh Museum.  We are not art people, but of all museums and artists, we thought we would enjoy that one.  We weren't the only tourists in town with that idea and found a long line wrapped around the building.  No thank you.
Same intentions with the Rijksmuseum, but both days found super long lines and knew AB would not hang.  The architecture of the museum is so beautiful and sets a great backdrop for museumplein, where a lot of the famous museums are located.

Bloenmarkt:  I wanted to see the floating flower market, as it is the only floating flower market in the world, and while it was pretty and neat to see, it wasn't breathtaking. The market spans about a half mile long and is filled with houseboats, floating on the water, offering a variety of bulbs.

I Amsterdam:  We wanted to get some pictures with Annabelle in front of the I Amsterdam sign and as I was snapping photos, this Chinese woman came up to Annabelle and picked her up.  I was looking around wondering what was happening and I saw her husband behind me snapping photos of this woman holding Annabelle.  It was so odd, but Andy and I were standing there looking at each other laughing like is this really happening?!  She finally moved away from Annabelle after Andy basically picked her up and was like what the heck and then she ran over and showed me all these pictures on her phone of what I concluded was her daughter or grand-daughter?  Wish I could explain it more accurately, but basically Annabelle got kidnapped by a Chinese woman for her tourists pictures.  Ekkkk….

Red Light District: You cannot go to Amsterdam and not venture through the Red Light District.  I think I was most excited to see this area and if it truly was what it has been painted out to be.  Well let's just say I was slightly uncomfortable walking through the streets and viewing what the scenery had to offer.  I think I felt sorry more than anything for these women that stand in the stall windows twirling their hair, some eating chips, some smoking cigarettes, hoping that a man will come and "make a deal" with them.  We saw women of all shapes and sizes, some not dressed at all and others with some interesting undergarments.  We were told you were not allowed to snap photos, so secretively tried to take some as we strolled along pushing our stroller.  Yes we got some looks and were the ONLY people in the district with child.  Classic.

Weed/Pot/Marijuana:  Okay call me immature, but think it is fascinating that you can just walk into a bar and buy some pot or a store and buy a bong.  I had to see it with my own eyes, so went into a couple bars that had glass Burken-type jars sitting on the counter filled with grass that was for the taking.  My favorite was a bar down by the Red Light District that had a haze billowing out the front door, with people doing their thing inside and a Pringles machine when you walked out in case you needed some munchies for the road.  Don't worry Mom and Dad, we did not experiment :)

Nuclear Summit:  We quickly learned that Amsterdam was preparing for the Nuclear Summit during our time there. Andy had learned about it when he headed off early in the week and as the weekend rolled around, the increase in security and personnel started to make their presence throughout the city.  Our hotel was bumping with security and a large police barricade Saturday, as someone attending the conference was staying at our hotel.  It was pretty neat to see the city prepare for such an event and the security all around.

Flight Cancelled:  Not delayed, but cancelled.  We were scheduled to leave late Saturday night and as we were at the airport eating dinner, Andy got a message on his phone that our flight had been cancelled.  After an hour wait on trying to figure out how we were going to make it home, we were told that there were no flights out that night or the next morning, so would be on an afternoon flight with an additional stop in Lisbon.  We proceeded to get in this over sized van, no car seat as we knew we would take public transportation all week, going 60 miles per hour down this side street to an airport hotel for the night.  Can't say it was an awful hotel by any means and were in company with what seemed like the entire Dutch army that was put up there in preparation of the nuclear summit.  We kept our spirits high, proceeded to raid the mini bar, and were thankful that Annabelle was such a trooper!!  Extra day also meant another day of Starbucks!

On the canal outside our hotel.  Day 1 and 2.

I Amsterdam letters on Museumplein with Rijksmuseum in back.  Trying to get a family picture…and then the interruption occurred.

Friday rainstorm, umbrellas in hand. Poor AB yet again in her stroller.

 Bloenmarkt (floating flower market):

Bikes…and more bikes:

Dam Square.  Ironically there was a protest going on, but decided to pass on partaking in this one.

Amsterdam Central Station:

This pretty much sums up the city.

We didn't go on the Heineken Tour as our concierge told us children were not allowed, but had to walk by and get a picture in front of it.

Red Light District:

 American food store next to the Magic Mushroom store.  Grab a box of Cheez-It and then some magic shrooms.

Waiting to head to the airport…couldn't resist posting these.

Airport Round 2.

Randoms Over the Past Couple Weeks

I had a lunch date with my only friend over here.  It was nice.  She is exploring opening up an American sweet store, where she will make goods like chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin pie, peanut butter cookies, and other American sweets that the Portuguese do not offer. She asked if I would help with her marketing.  Might give me something to do on an adult level.

Once we received our shipment Annabelle wanted her things put together, especially her Big Wheels, so Andy put the bike together using a frying pan as the hammer.  We have not one tool in this house, so was banging the wheels on using a frying pan.  Classic.

When the time came around to get the wagon together I asked Bob if I could borrow some tools from the workers at the complex.  When we got back from our walk he came down to the house with Annabelle and I and within a minute had one of the carpenters inside putting together the wagon.  I kept saying, "No I will do it, I just need the tools."  He proceeded to put it together.  I was trying to help and kept hold up the instruction manual and pointing to it.  All the while he and Bob were talking in Portuguese and once he was almost done, Bob told me that he knew what he was doing and I didn't need to show him the instructions.  Dumb Sally...

The weather has been awfully nice, so have had lots of time outside.  We even went down and put our feet in the water.  It was pretty chilly but not as cold as I thought it would be.  There are some interesting people out and about now that the weather is nice and you see a lot of thong bikinis, men in speedos, and a lot of people walking with their swimsuit tops and pants.  Pic below ;)

I met a new friend online and we have a lunch date next week.  She is from Minnesota and a spiritual/life coach.  If anything, I'm sure she will be able to provide some insightful advice on my life as it stands currently!

The Porto airport has a supervised kid play area where you can drop off your kids to play and do whatever you do sans children at an airport.  Annabelle and I stumbled upon it when we were waiting for Andy to get home from Poland and she played around for a little while.  As we were walking out she was holding a piece of paper with colors all over it, which wasn't hers, but didn't care and figured the other kids didn't notice and if they did...well we couldn't understand them.  Anyway we went and got Andy and she ran up to him and said "Daddy I made this for you."  It was pretty funny after I broke the news to Andy what happened.

You know you aren't in the United States when you look at the arrivals board at the airport and see the pic below.

When we were out to dinner with Abbey and Eric, we were seated on the second level, of a pretty nice restaurant.  Around the center of the floor was a huge cut out area with wood beams under it and about a 4 foot tall plexiglass border.  It was towards the end of dinner and Annabelle was sitting on Andy's lap when she dropped her paci.  It managed to make its way through the one inch gap between the plexiglass and drop down to the first floor and land directly into a woman's pasta dish.  She was not looking at the time and Andy saw it all take place.  I jumped up and ran downstairs.  In the meantime she had noticed the green pacifier laying in her pasta and given it to the waiter who had it washed off and had it waiting for me.  It was hilarious and thankfully she was very sweet about it.  That damn paci...

 Airport play room and AB giving her dad her picture.

The paci incident above.

Thanks for the help Bob and Daniella!

Our First Trip to the Hospital

This past weekend we were watching Annabelle pretty closely as we thought she was coming down with a cold.  She had been a little hoarse, had a runny nose and was getting a pretty nasty cough.  We didn't want to rush her into the doctor over a cold, but also didn't want it to turn into something more severe, as our little girl has had a history of pneumonia in the past.

Needless to say we thought she was doing much better on Sunday and decided to forego the doctor.  Well we woke up Monday morning to her face covered in blood.  Thankfully Andy was still at home with us, as he was leaving for Poland, so had the honors of getting her out of bed to discover what looked like a crime scene.  The poor baby had blood all over her, all over our bed and all over her crib. Her nose was just gushing blood and snot.  She had been up coughing pretty hard in the early morning and obviously had splattered blood everywhere.  Sick I know.  

So, we took Andy to the airport and Annabelle and I braved the hospital.  I had no clue where I was going, but knew she needed to be seen.  My first interaction was with a gentleman who spoke "very little English" he told me, but asked if I had an appointment and asked if I had to be seen today. "Is it urgent" he said with his Portuguese accent as I was standing there with Annabelle's nose dripping blood. I was like, "Yes I need to be seen...and no I don't have an appointment Captain Obvious. Tell me what to do.  My child is sick."

The process was actually very smooth and they were very accommodating.  We got seen fairly quickly, probably the quickest experience we've had over here, and saw a doctor who spoke good English.  He was floored that she had tubes and said that they would never insert tubes into a 2 year old, let alone a 1 year old, which is when AB got her tubes.  (Thank god for US practices because those tubes have made the world of difference).  He diagnosed her with a nasty virus and put her on 3 antibiotics to help clear up all the swelling, irritation and bacteria that was taking place in her body.  

Thankfully we had visited a pharmacy earlier in the weekend in investigation if we could have our US doctor call in a script if we ever needed, so knew where to go with the prescriptions.  Their healthcare system is very different than ours, starting with both the hospital and pharmacy did not accept insurance.  The pharmacy did not need a written script.  They could just have the doctor call it in, or email, no proof or signature needed.  Their quantities are not regulated by doses, so if you have a script for some pills that come in packs of 25, but only need 15, they will still give you the 25.

It was a learning experience for sure, but so thankful that she was seen and is on the road to recovery.  Fingers crossed we don't have to visit there again and this nasty virus clears up soon!

Our Things Have Arrived

After 7 months of patiently awaiting the arrival of our goods, we had 3 large boxes delivered to our door step last week.  Annabelle and I were out to lunch with my only friend over here, BethAnne, when Andy called and said that the shipment had been delivered.  We quickly wrapped up lunch and went sprinting home.  We had been communicating daily with the transportation company the past couple weeks, as our items had to be routed through the UK to avoid Portuguese customs. They were supposed to call me an hour prior to delivery, but of course that little step was neglected.  Not 100% sure why there was concern in getting our goods through our own country and the penalty of tax that was going to have to be paid, but the UK blessed them and they are now in our possession.  Hallelujah!!

Annabelle was ecstatic when we got home and saw the boxes sitting outside.  After I broke down all the large boxes and got the goods inside Annabelle looked at it all and said "It's Christmas".  It sure felt like it.  Thanks to Bob, he was able to help get in some of the heavier boxes that I couldn't carry and have been busy unpacking our goods for the past few days.  There's more to sort through, but so happy we finally have our stuff.  Not sure why it took 7 months, but enough complaining...it's here!

Our entryway after the first box was unloaded! Our place now looks like a daycare center.

Friends Visit

We had our first friend visitors Abbey and Eric come to Porto this past weekend and it was amazing.  They currently reside in Germany, so popped on over for a fun filled weekend!  They flew in Friday evening and left Monday afternoon, so got to spend a long weekend with them, showing them around Porto and our life abroad.  The weather was absolutely horrific and down-poured the entire weekend, so the beauty of the beach and proximity of which we live, was not well portrayed.  We were able to make the most of it, of course, and had ourselves an amazing weekend.  It was so great having some of our best friends in town and being able to explore the city.  We trotted around town in our rain gear, enjoying Port wine, learning the history of the wine caves, eating some local Portuguese favorites (Francesinha, bacalao, chocolate croissants, fresh squeezed juices) and dinning at what Andy called "the best meal he has ever had".  We are so grateful that we got to spend the weekend with them and hope to visit them at their humble abode in Germany.

 These first two pics pretty much sum up the weather all weekend!!

A little Port tasting.

 Casa da Musica.

 Sandeman tour.

 Dinner out...best meal ever!

Top Euro Destination

Once again Porto has been named the top European destination.  Pretty cool considering the other cities on the list and that we are living in the heart of it.  Being named the top destination for the second year in a row, different organization/publication each year, it will definitely bring a larger number of visitors come the tourist season.  Looking forward to seeing the city hustle and bustle and maybe a few more English speaking friends :)

http://www.europeanbestdestinations.org/top/europe-best-destinations-2014

Our First Visitors

We had our first visitors in Porto last week and it was AMAZING!  Andy had a trip planned back to the states and as the time approached, I was not comfortable with staying here for the week solo.  Fortunately my sister Kim and her son Will made the long trip over the pond to come stay with Annabelle and I.  It was so wonderful having the company and another warm body in the house during the day.  The weather surprised us, as the sun came out a few days and allowed us to spend some much needed time down at the beach.

Annabelle's reaction when she saw Kim was priceless and so pure.  She was so happy to have them here.  Annabelle and Will wore each other out every day and thankfully would nap at the same time, so Kim and I could catch up on our guilty pleasures...The Bachelor and E.

The first day they arrived we headed out for a walk and decided to grab a glass of wine down at the beach when a huge storm blew in and we found ourselves running back home pushing the strollers and getting drenched.  We made a couple great meals and treated ourselves to the nicest Pizza Hut in the world :)  We found daily indulgences in the sweets the culture has to offer and put away many bottles of wine.  We were under strict orders not to venture out and explore the city, as the Hatten family is coming next month, so enjoyed our normal daily routine.

It was by far the best week we have had since being over here and am so thankful for the time we got to spend.  Annabelle was the happiest little girl all week long and loved having her Aunt Coco and Cousi Will in Portugal.  We are already looking forward to their trip back next month!