We are the Champions!

It was a bittersweet weekend.  The International Festival was being held at ISB (our favorite day of the school year.)  And, it was also the weekend for the CESSIB basketball tournament in Paris.  We knew that Allison would be playing in Paris as she was a part of the Girls A Team this year.  However, we weren't sure if Thomas would be chosen as he was on the Boys B Team, and they would only take 10 players.  The plan was for the whole family to go to Paris for the tournament.  Well, Thomas was not chosen to go.  He was devastated, but there was the consolation that he could now go to the International Festival, which in turn made Allison miserable because she had to miss.  We decided we couldn't make Thomas go to Paris to watch his team play AND miss the festival.  It was a doubly whammy.  So, the guys stayed in Brussels, and the girls went to Paris. Allison left on Friday, and I drove over for the day on Saturday.  Yes, I was just in Paris two days before.  Crazy week!

I helped set up for the International Festival on Friday morning.  It looked great!

I arrived at the gated school welcomed by military personnel heavily armed with automatic weapons.  Personally, I think that wouldn't be a bad idea to have in Brussels.

It is still surreal for me to sit in a gymnasium and look at this sign across the way.  Dunlap...yes...Paris...I never could have imagined.  

I am thrilled to report that the Girls A Team took FIRST place!

Happy Girl!

The Girls B Team took first place as well!!!

And, so did the Boys B Team (Thomas's team!)

Our Boys A Team took second place.  I had a picture of their team too, but it seems to have disappeared...

This obviously calls for a team selfie.

Congratulations ISB Raiders Basketball!!

I spy the Eiffel Tower on the drive.

 I made it home in time to head over to the going away party for Kristin and Mark.  We are really going to miss them in Brussels.

Sunday afternoon, we celebrated the successful basketball season for Thomas's team. 

He decided to wear his uniform for the big day...interesting choice...but okay.

A pic with the tournament trophy!  You'll be there next year, Buddy.

What a super weekend!  Congratulations Raiders!

Until next time,

Wendy

Celebrating in the 16th!

It was time, once again, for a day trip to Paris.  This day was particularly special because it was Cori's birthday.  We were all excited to help her celebrate.  What's better than celebrating your birthday in Paris?  Not much.  We had a 9:43 train time.  Perfect!  Kids were dropped off at 8:25 which gave Lisa, Julie, and myself plenty of time to get to Midi Station (approximately 10 km away.)  We got on Franklin Roosevelt, and it was stopped.  Now, there is nothing really unusual about this as traffic here is generally a nightmare.  But, it continued to be stopped.  We checked our phones for other routes with less traffic and came up with nothing.  After nearly 30 minutes of inching along, we had to abort.  I did it.  I made a left turn across a grassy median to head the other direction.  Rebel!  Now, we had to decide how we were going to get there.  Thankfully, the main road to get to a metro stop was wide open (that NEVER happens) and things were going to be okay.  We got on the metro, had to change lines, trying to stay calm (close the d#%& metro doors), and hoped for the best.  We made it to Midi.  After an attempt to go up the down escalator...oops...we went running through the station.  That was a long, fast run.  We were running up the platform at 9:44, and the train was gone.  It actually left on time.  UGH!!!  Luckily, the other three girls sweet talked the gentleman at the counter who could get us on the next train (30 minutes later) for around 50 euros.  Perfect!  Fortunately, we made it on that train, and he didn't charge us. What a great guy!  And, thankfully the day was not a total loss.

The celebration was due to begin on the train, but with three of us missing, we celebrated at Gare du Nord in Paris. :)  Shoshana had an adorable box of chocolate covered strawberries and champagne for each of us.  What a way to restart the trip!  I cannot think of a better planner, hostess, baker, decorator extraordinaire than Shoshana.  This trip was her idea.  She lived in Paris for three years in the 16th arrondissement and wanted to show us some places off the beaten path.  Love it!  I'm all about venturing away from the tourist spots and learning new areas.  

How adorable is that!

Some bubbly for everyone....a little extra for the birthday girl!

The super cool apartment where Shoshana and her family lived.  Jealous!

No matter the time of year, Europe has beautiful flowers.

And, Paris always has beautiful food!

Group pic!  It wasn't the best weather, but who cares when you are with the best people!

We ventured into the Marais.  I WILL eat here the next time I'm in Paris.

And, we ended our day here.  YUM!

I totally forgot I had Flat Sophie and Flat Sawyer with me, so I don't have a picture of them in front of the Eiffel Tower.  What a terrible aunt!

This is the sweet message I received on the train.  I turned the pic, so you didn't have to strain your neck. :)

Sophie and Sawyer loved the train!  Are my friends good sports or what?!

Beautiful Paris!  I never grow tired of visiting.  

With eight sets of visitors coming this year, this won't be the last Paris post you see for 2015.  Stay tuned!

Happy Birthday, Cori!!!

Until next time,

Wendy

Kraków, Poland {March 2015}

This is why I needed to get home from the States....  

I arrived back in Belgium on Thursday morning around 8:00 am.  I was at the kids' school by 11:30 to assist in hosting the teacher appreciation lunch and then spent the rest of the day (until 6:00 pm) in conferences.  I did the laundry we needed for the trip, repacked, and we boarded a plane at 6:45 am Friday for Kraków, Poland.  

I've have been wanting to visit Kraków for some time now.  They say it's "The new Prague!"  I'll let you know after I've been to Prague.  I think my family would still say Prague was better.  Anyway, we stayed one block off the square in the Orlowska Townhouse apartments.  Our accommodations were very spacious and clean, and the check-in process was great.  I had doubts with check-in being at a separate location, but it worked out perfectly.  Our apartment wasn't decorated as fancy as others I saw online, but it was plenty for us.

Big beds for each of the kids.

Getting logged on...super important!

We traveled to Kraków with the Kuznicki family.  After checking in, the plan was to meet near the square for our bike tour.  We stopped at Coffee Heaven, and it was really terrific.  We did need to find the Starbucks at some point to get my mug, but this place was good and would suffice for now.

Next up was our 5+ hour bike tour.  It was pouring rain and maybe 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  We talked about canceling, but what the heck.  We're here, so we might as well do it.  "There is no inappropriate weather only inappropriate clothing"....or so the Europeans say.  Well, the weather still stunk, and it was not a day for bike riding.

Checking out a well.  To be honest, I can't remember what was significant about it.

A clock similar to the glockenspiel in Munich.  Check out the rain!

Pope John Paul II was not born in Kraków but lived here, and they claim him as their own. 

We biked by the Wawel Castle and its fire breathing dragon.  Bike tours are great because you see a lot.  They are not so great when you can't go in because you need to keep moving.

Our tour took us through the old Jewish Quarter.  The wall that surrounded it was shaped like that of the headstones in the Jewish cemetery.  Subtle cruelty...

We also rode by Oskar Schindler's factory.

 Our stop for lunch and some authentic Polish food.

Part of the evacuation of the Jewish people in Schindler's List took place here.

Cruising Krakow was our tour company.  Bike Mike was great!  He had so much information to share.  Thumbs up from the Vastines and Kuznicki families.  Just hope for better weather if you decide to participate.

The only picture of us all together!  At this point, I barely have a voice and am running a fever.  Good times!  Must. Push. On!

Beautiful Kraków at night!  My pictures will never do it justice because of the weather.  But, Kraków has the largest Medieval square in Europe.  It's gorgeous!

Dinner that night was at Wentzl and was FANTASTIC!  Look at the size of those curtains. :)  

Wild boar...YUM!!!

To. Die. For!

Saturday was an early start.  We booked a bus tour through isango that would take us to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines in one day.  It's ambitious, but with only two days, we really had no choice.  If I could do it again, we would definitely stay another day.

To begin...our visit to Auschwitz.

The entrance to Auschwitz I.  Auschwitz was actually divided into three camps.

"Work Brings Freedom"

This place was haunting.  I have no words that can express the horror of what happened here.

The people were told to write their names in large print on the side of their suitcases, so they would be easier to find when it came time for collecting them....

Some of the statistics posted at the camp.

A collection of eyeglasses.

This room contained 80,000 shoes....80,000 shoes that were collected over the course of just three days.

The location where roll call was done daily.

After our tour of Auschwitz I, we were taken to Birkenau (Aushwitz II). 

The old fireplaces still remain, but most of the buildings are now gone since they were made of wood.

One of the remaining train cars that brought the prisoners to Auschwitz.  Most people were taken immediately to the gas chambers from here.

The Nazi attempt at destroying evidence.

There was so much mud, and it was so cold.  Our guide told us to imagine what it was like standing in mud up to our knees with no clothes on in this weather.  That was what it was like to be a prisoner here.

Definitely not a place for smiling, but I had to include a picture of them.

Next on our tour was a visit to the salt mines.

It was a long way down!

Horses worked in the mines and never lived above the surface.  Can you imagine never seeing the sunshine?

There is a cathedral within the mine.  The acoustics are phenomenal and many concerts are held down here.  That is all salt!

Salt crystal chandelier!

A salty Pope!  He was supposed to visit here but was never able to.

Over 200 km of corridors.  You don't want to lose the group!

Back to the city center to enjoy the end of the evening.

Silly boys!

Just before 10:00 pm, we literally ran over to the mall and grabbed a mug at Starbucks.  Unlike malls in Belgium, this mall was huge and open until 10:00 pm...not 6:00 pm.  Another reason I wish we had more time.

I highly recommend a stop in this city, and if I have the time, I will be back.  I want to see it in the sunshine with blue skies with stops inside the castle, Schindler's Factory, and maybe even the mall.  Fingers crossed!

Until next time,

Wendy