A Low Key Swedish Delight

After such a whirlwind Paros and Rotterdam trip it was time for some down time. Our arrival in Askersund was not without problems (Amsterdam's Schiphol airport was closed on the day of our departure, resulting in our flight being 3.5 hours delayed that, in turn, made us arrive after the car rental office closed, resulting in our needing to get a hotel room to stay the night, meaning that we had to scavenge opportunities in the hotel shuttle bus pick up lane) but once there it was nothing but relaxation and time outdoors!

Members of Moca's extended family where there and were gracious enough to let us join in their summer holidays. It allowed us a great chance to have great conversations, partake in board games, play some volleyball (though not enough, really) and, literally, jump in the lake (time and time again). We also were privy to some great cooking even if, at times, the new tastes challenged our mental models. :-) In there, also, were the fundamental elements of our visit... quality time, sharing conversation, sharing a walk in the woods or by the lakeshore, picking mushrooms and all the little things that make family time so very special. 

In the end our departure was as beautiful as our arrival. The Swedish countryside was as beautiful as ever with green fields and forests making way for rivers and lakes and then opening up to the small hamlets of wooden homes that make the Swedish countryside so idyllic. An amazing visit in every way!  Thank you to all for the hospitality and the love that makes this family such a wonderful life experience!

 

Rotterdam with our Guide, Avi.

This was the third part of the Brownie summer in Europe. Following some time in Athens, and our visit to Paros, we all returned to the apartment in Athens for a few more nights... and then departed the next day for Rotterdam!  Our day in transit allowed time to Avi to work out the hosting situation at her university residence hall where, the lot of us, were going to spend the next six nights!  It turns out, students are well situated in the walking district of the downtown of Rotterdam, nestled in between the City Hall and the shopping district, surrounded by cafes and places to eat and only a stone's throw away from shopping, shopping and more shopping!  

Avi's first attempt at hosting a large group went beautifully!  She dealt with the pressure of multiple needs and wants, organizing the movement of people in and out of the building and was able to balance her family life with a bit of her personal life as our collective experiences crossed those of her friends from time to time. She was also able to show the family her new apartment~ her first chapter as a full-fledged independent adult!  

The visit was part shopping, lots of eating, a good deal of walking (and trams/metro) and some sightseeing to boot. Add to that the mosey to the fruit market, the visit to the university and her favorite coffee shop, the cafes and the parks and it was a pretty good overview of what the city has to offer!  Apart from a day where our Irini was sick (and stayed in the room with daddy) the rest of the trip was a good opportunity to share family time (now shared by Adri who also came to visit for this leg of the trip!) along with finding space to see the city. 

It was also a chance for us to reunite with old friends. Though only for a couple hours, our time spent with Paz and her husband was well-appreciated as well. Paz took notes on the types of professional positions that might entice us to move to Holland one day. Who knows?  We have been around the world enough to know that flexibility is key. And so, why not Holland one day?  Certainly the summers, the family and friends there would make it an agreeable option. 

As we departed - all in the airport simultaneously trying to say goodbye and check in to various flights - we were once again reminded of the power of love and the positives of family. We will miss you all and send love to Holland, to Colombia, to Malaysia, to Italy... in all directions!  Thank you, Avi (and all) for showing us 'your town' and for being such a gracious and wonderful host! 

Goodbye, for Now

Ralph and Anne (and Maria) have been our extended family in so many ways. God parents/sister, down the street neighbors, office mates, professional support and all manner of wonderful. Though we see them every summer, this one was a bit more emotional. 

Last year we were sad to see Ralph and Maria leave the UAE but were happy to have Anne "just down the road". Ralph would pop in and out also, making the whole experience more bearable. Now Anne too has decided to move on, leaving us to see them only in the summers... so summers it is! 

This summer we saw a fair bit of them (at least in the early part), enjoying our breakfasts at Varsos or seeing each other for dinners or coffee. We were also invited to Ralph's birthday where he proudly wore a t-shirt noting his newly approved Greek citizen status!  Way go to Ralph! The girls, as is customary, got lost in talks and giggles with Maria and barraged her with questions. She is quite the social magnet for our girls! 

Our final night before heading out for the Netherlands was the last time we would see them this year and so, of course, it was necessary to visit them, enjoy dinner and have one last hurrah, so to speak. A few days later all of them - Oddie and Penny included - were heading off to their new adventure in the US.  One day it'll happen, though... it's only a matter of time before we're all just "down the street" from each other again. Big hugs to all!

The Colombians Invade Paros

It's hard not to go "big" when the Colombian extended family arrives from all corners of the world. This time was no different, but it came with a slight twist... the choice of summer get away locations was the first time our girls got to choose the location they wanted to go. It started with a Google search of photos of Greece and, after some looking around, ended with a photo of Paroikia, Paros. Though our final destination was, in face, Dryos, it was close enough and filled with the wonderful of Cycladic lifestyle and the goodness of Mediterranean fare. The place we stayed, a family owned hotel and rooms, was supervised by a friendly man named Frangiskos. On two ocassions during our stay he was out at the back of the hotel overlooking the sea below, singing and playing a guitar with two others. The ladies of the party allowed themselves a chance to go and be absorbed by the Greek music and cool evening spirit. 

But while were there it was important to get around as well. Arguably the best day was our visit to Antiparos, a smaller island just seven minutes away by ferry boat (the 'pandofla' as they call the open boats you just drive right onto). Around Antiparos, on the very end of the westward side, we found our way to Agios Georgios, a delightful place with idyllic, calm waters. Perfect for a game of volleyball on the beach.   The town too was beautiful and, though smaller than Paroikia and Naousa (which we also visited one of the prior evenings) it could complete with the 'feel' of the Cyclades. 

Of course, another highlight, for which we have no photos, was the time spent on the deck of the six hour boat ride (leaving from Rafina and making it's way south eastward to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos before anchoring in Paros) looking - just looking - at the sea, the waves, for dolphins (sadly we saw none), the islands, anything and everything. What beauty the sea holds for us. 

Add to this a fair share of sunning, eating, walking around, shopping, etc., and we found something for pretty much everyone (except, on occasion, for TTMouz - who's thoughts were elsewhere to friends and workouts missed). 

We returned with a bit more 'red' to our tone, a bit more bulge to our bellies and a bit wider smile to our faces. Ready for the next stop of the holiday... Athens and Holland awaited!

The 'Brownies' in Athens

On July 3 the Brownies descended in Athens from all sorts of places. From Colombia. From Malaysia. From Holland. From Malaysia by way of Holland. All arriving within 24 hours. Once we finally got everyone on the ground it was Athens all the way!

Some of the visit, of course, was procedural in nature, with the customary cleaning of the apartment, organizing of the beds, shopping for this and that. Other parts of the visit were a bit more touristy, with the requisite visit to Monastiraki and Plaka being the highlight of the evening. Yet other parts of the trips were aimed at bringing people together. One evening, for example, we enjoyed the visit of their aunt Anna and her new partner Carlos. Another evening we celebrated (by extension) the second wedding of Taita and Abuelita who brought with them a piece of their wedding cake to share with the family and with Stefan and Vicky were, by virtue of their extended Brownie family status, celebrated with us!  

It was a great start to our family summer holidays and the beginning of a three week Brownie tour of Europe!  :-)