Longest Post Ever

This month has been pretty busy so I've neglected the blog. Here's all our adventures since my last post.

We've been missing our kayak and boating back on the Chesapeake so we found a place that rents kayaks just south of Leuven. We had a peaceful trip down the river with the boys in a couple of double kayaks.

Kathy and Jesse with some of the local fauna

We also found some used kids' bikes on the internet. Now we just need to train the boys to ride them without training wheels.

Jack practicing without training wheels

We also bought a device to attach their bikes to ours so we can take longer trips. It's worked great so far; we can ride out of town and then the boys can practice. Here's a short clip showing how it works.




Kathy's parents arrived at the first of October. We rented an electric scooter for her dad since he has MS. It's been a great way for him to explore the city since most things are within walking (or scooter) distance but aren't easy to drive to.

All this month we've been giving unit dinners for the students. Basically the 70-person dorm is split into 6 units with around 9 to 15 students each. We host two dinners each week. Kathy's parents really helped out by cooking up a big pot of chili one week. The students loved it and it made it easy to feed these large groups. Almost half the students are from Loyola in the US, the other half are a mix of Belgians and internationals. So we always have a diverse group of different nationalities to talk to.

One of the unit dinners

We also took a few side trips with the whole family. One weekend we took a scouting trip to Ypers (we'll be heading back there with the students next week). This was the site of some of the worst battles during WWI. About a million soldiers died in this area. The city was totally destroyed but has been rebuilt to match the old structures. So the city hall and churches look much like all the other original structures you see in Belgium. Just outside the city is a place called Sanctuary Woods with some trenches that have been preserved.

Some existing trenches in Sanctuary Woods

The next weekend we headed east. We stopped for lunch in Maastricht just across the border in The Netherlands. With the EU being so seamless now you don't even know when you cross into another country. The only indication we had was a change in the look of the road signs

Bill (Papa) and Marilyn (Nana) having lunch in Maastricht

That afternoon we went to Aachen. This city was an old spa town during Roman rule and later became Charlemagne's primary home.

Charlemagne's church. The center section is original (786) and the rest was added over time.
The church was very ornate inside with marble columns and mosaic tile in the ceiling.

Aachen also has several great fountains. This one has figures you can pose.

As you can see the weather turned a little wet that morning so we got back in the car and headed to the Neander Valley the site where they first found Neanderthal bones. We had a hearty German lunch and toured the large museum about the history of the Neanderthals and homo sapiens. The museum was even kid friendly so it was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.

After that we tried to get a room in Dusseldorf but they were all booked up so we went a little north to the town of Duisburg and managed to find a room. The next day we also stopped by Cologne, Germany the site of a very impressive Chathedral.

Jack took our picture in the Cologne Cathedral

A few days after we returned Bill and Marilyn left on a side trip with some friends to Normandy. While they were gone we took the students to Ghent.

Gravensteen

Here we are at the top of the castle. Jesse was surprisingly glum even after seeing the very cool room full of medieval weapons. Maybe he was bummed he couldn't take one home.

The boys in front of a very old cannon showing off the castle set we bought in Ghent. Jesse perked up after our visit to the toy store.

On the walk home from the train station we meet a family from St Louis that lives just up the street in the Begijnhof. They have two boys 6 and 9. They also know another family from Montreal that live in the Begijnhof that have two boys 6 and 12. So we should have a few friends to hang out with when the weather starts turning cold.

Day trips

An old coworker of mine has noticed I haven't posted lately. I guess he's a little short of reading material to keep him entertained at work. So here goes:

We've taken a couple of short trips lately. One afternoon in Brussels and a day in Brugge with the students.

Brussels is only a thirty minute drive so we went over to check it out and do some scouting for a possible day trip with the students later.

Atonium building

Our first stop was the Atonium park area. We also looked in on a very nice indoor water park at that location. Not much else there, we passed on the rest of the tourist attactions. Instead we took a subway into the center of town.

It turns out that we came on the anniversery of the liberation of Brussels by US troops. So the town square was filled with vintage vehicles and people in costume. There was a band playing 40's music and even a marching band at one point. We tried a fizzy cherry flavored beer called Kriek. It was good for a hot day, but tasted nothing like beer. I think it's a Lambic beer which is normally very fizzy and often tastes more like champagne than beer.

Liberation day in the middle of Brussels

We also did a day trip to Bruges. It's about 1 1/2 hours by train. It was kind of hectic with the boys and the 24 students. I think Kathy and I need to make it back one day without the kids to fully appreciate the city. I think it would be fun to bring a bike to explore and to see it at night when it's all lit up.

Boys playing in the center of Bruges, the famous tower is in the background

Besides that we've just been starting to get into a routine. The boys go to school at 8:30 and get out at 3:30 most days, so I've had some time to take some bike rides to explore the area. I'll try to remember the camera next time to show some of the sites.

We also had a reception wine and cheese party for all 70 students that live in the dorm. That includes the 24 Loyola students from the US and all the other Belgium and international students that are staying there. It got pretty packed with that many people in the house, but everything worked out ok.

Next week Kathys parents arrive for a visit and I'm starting my first fencing class. So I should have more to report by next week.

First day at school

Jack and Jesse had their first day at school on Monday. They were excited to go meet some kids and make some new friends.

Ready for school

Lets Go!

Jesse with his teacher and other students heading for class

It's hard to tell from this picture but Jesse towers over most of his class.

The play yard at the school (they just put in a new big play set)

They weren't quite as sure once they saw all the chaos and us leaving, but the teachers were very nice and all went well.

Kathy and I enjoyed our day alone with a long bike ride into the surrounding country side. When we got home for lunch we both noticed how odd it was not to have the boys underfoot.

On the way home Jesse reported that the teacher 'Taught me nothing'. I guess he was expecting a little more rigorous academic environment. He also said that a girl pushed him even after he used all the nice words that he knows. Jack said he made a couple of friends and that he took a walk with the class to a playground.

They must have liked it because they happily went again this morning. At school we even got an invite to an upcoming birthday party at a class mates house (our social circle is expanding rapidly).

France part deux

This time we left for Paris on a large tour bus with 24 students. The US students from Loyola had arrived just a few days earlier.

On Saturday after a long bus ride and heavy traffic in Paris we went straight for the Eiffel Tower. At the Trocadaro we were greeted by a beautiful view of the tower and a circle of dancers commemorating the death of Micheal Jackson, complete with several Jackson impersonators.

The Loyola students

Sunday morning we went to Notre Dame. Kathy and most of the students even made it to mass there. After lunch in the Latin quarter we went back to the boys' favorite playground in Paris at Luxemburg Gardens.

Video of Boys at the playground in Luxemburg Gardens

Monday was the Louvre. The boys and I broke off from the guided tour after about 15 minutes (too slow and boring for the boys - maybe for me too). We did a whirlwind tour of the lesser known but very cool exhibits at the Louvre. We saw mummies' coffins, creepy skull statues, funky African artwork, giant paintings, and one of the boys' favorites, the Easter Island Head (aka the Dum Dum guy from the Night at the Museum movie).

The boys with Dum Dum

That night we had a picnic with some pizza, beer and wine on bank of the Seine. It was a nice night so there were lots of locals also enjoying the scene. A group next to us even provided some background guitar music for our dinner. Not a gourmet meal - but very pleasant and memorable.

Tuesday we headed for Versailles. Unfortunatly it was rainy and cool so we didn't tour the gardens but the rooms were still impressive. That afternoon we went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and even got to see part of the nightly military cermony at the tomb of the Unkown Soldier.

Wednesday we stopped by the cathedral in Chartres then back to the coast. The next day Kathy took the students to Mont Saint Michel and I took a day off with the boys in St Malo just exploring the beach. The boys even got a French hair cut that afternoon.

Friday we went back to Bayeux. At this point we realized that our bus driver was good at finding the general location for the main tourist sites like Chartres and Bayeux, but he had no idea where he could park the bus. So we drove in circles a few times before homing in on the correct location.

That afternoon we went back to Point du Hoc. It's a very impressive site. They have left it pretty much as it was after D-day. The point is covered with bomb craters and German fortifications.

German Gun Emplacement

Jack in the remains of a blown up German bunker

Friday night we spent in Arromanches at the nice hotel with the ocean view (Hotel de la Marine). The harbor still has remnants of the temporary port that the British used to off load equipment just after D-day.

One of the pontoons for the floating docks; the break water is in the distance.


Boys playing army on a half track next to our hotel

Great new park and new friends

We found an awesome kids' park just about 10 minutes up the road from us. It has a large kids' pool, various boat and go cart rides for kids, and the best playground slides and climbing forts I've ever seen. It's a short bus ride from us so I think it will be our new favorite place to entertain the kids.

Pool with a water slide (the pool was packed with people)

Jack at the bottom of the really tall slide

At the park we met a woman from New Zealand that was also new to the area and had three boys (3, 5, and 8). From my previous travels I knew that if you want any sort of social life in a new city you have to make an effort to met new people so I invited them over to our place for dinner.

So on Saturday we had Jo and Marcus and their three boys (sorry I can't recall all the names) over for dinner. We had a great time talking with some other adults for a change and comparing notes about being here with young children. The boys got pretty rowdy by the end of the night (not surprising with 5 boys) but we all had fun.


The boys enjoying an ice cream after dinner (Jack was on a time out by this time for getting a little to rough )

Storming the Beaches

Kathy was the designated driver of our stick shift VW Touran since I've never owned a stick shift and almost all of her previous cars have been stick. I figured our first trip in a foreign country wasn't the time for me to work on it. Plus it's a great excuse for me to let Kathy do all the driving.

The first day out was longer than expected thanks to all the traffic. Apparently everyone in northern Europe takes the month of August off to go to the beach. It's pretty much like heading down to 'the shore' from Baltimore in August on a weekend. The French put plenty of toll roads along the way so we had the pleasure of waiting in line to pay or get a ticket about 5 times.

We got to St Malo in the late afternoon. St Malo is a walled city with narrow lanes full of shops and restaurants inside and packed full of tourists, all very cool until we realize that our hotel is in the middle of it. After asking the local police about how to reach our hotel she says that hotel guests and residents can drive into the city but all other traffic is off limits. So she opens the chain to let us in the gate to the city. We drive a few yards and just past the gate is a sea of people (I wish I had taken a picture). Imagine a narrow road jammed full of people, like you would see at a large outdoor festival or tourist trap. Now imagine driving up this road in a strange city, somewhat lost, after driving for 8 hours in heavy traffic. Needless to say Kathy was about to lose it by the time we reached the hotel.

Now for the topper: the hotel says the parking garage is full and that we can park outside the walls of the city - now Kathy lost it.

After unloading our bags and recovering for a few minutes we drove out of the city (again with the sea of tourists giving us angry looks). We had to drive about a mile away to find a place to park since all the lots were already full near the city. Needless to say our initial impression of St Malo was pretty bad.

Things got better from there. We had a nice dinner with plenty of wine, bought the boys some toys for being reasonably good during our long ordeal, and took a sunset stroll along the city's walls and down to the beach.

The boys checking out the rocks at St Malo

Sunset at St Malo (Jack took this one)

Kathy and I are probably both buzzed with wine at this point so we're looking pretty relaxed. I think Jesse's slightly manic grin is due to the sugar rush from the large ice cream he consumed just before this picture.

The next moring Kathy made the jog to our car and met the boys and I just outside the gates for the drive to Mont Saint-Michel.

Mont Saint-Michel - impressive sight as you drive up.

Less traveled path between buildings

Saint Michel was just as crowded as St Malo but Kathy spotted a secret passage to get us up and down and avoid the large crowds.

Near the top of Saint Michel

The cars in the background give you an idea of the crowd. Gotta love the boys posing. Jesse sticks with his Richard Nixon impression and Jack is more free form. I call this one the face smash.

Big Wheel at the top of St Michel

Apparently the monks would use this wheel for exercise. Sort of like a huge hamster wheel. I guess you need a good work out after transcribing manuscripts all day.

Sled at the top of St Michel

Actually the wheel is for hoisting up and lowering this sled to haul up supplies. There was sort of a stone ramp up the side of the wall and the sled had rollers on the bottom that would roll up the ramp. The large wheel would give them mechanical advantage to lift large loads. Not sure how they turned the wheel, maybe they did go inside and walk?

Walking the beach around St Michel

Climbing the rocks around St Michel

The shore in this area has a very shallow slope and the height change of the tides can be as much as 50 feet. This combination leads to the shore line moving as much as 9 miles in and out. So at the highest tides St Michel is surrounded by water but most times the beaches are exposed. As we were leaving we had some time so we hiked around St Michel on the exposed beach. About half way around the loud speakers came on and said everyone should leave the beach due to the danger of the incoming tide. We had plenty of time and were heading around the other side anyway, but the loud speakers were a little disconcerting.

Just to prove it wasn't all smiles and fun here's a shot of Jesse having a melt down after the long day at St Michel.

Jesse in melt down mode

The next morning we headed for Normandy. We stopped in Bayuex so Kathy could check on the location of a famous tapistry for our upcoming trip with the Loyola students.

Jesse in a happier moment at Bayeux

From Bayeux we went to Point du Hoc, the site where US Rangers scaled the cliffs to take out German guns between the landing beaches Omaha and Utah. The site still had bomb craters and the remains of the German fortifications. I'll try to get some pics of this site when we go back at the end of August.

After that we went to Arromanches where the allies had set up a temporary port to off load supplies. Parts of the floating port and break waters are still there. The hotel in Arromanches was great; our room had a sea view and they even had parking at the hotel - definitely the best part of our trip.

View from our Hotel in Arromanches

Paris

The high speed train (185 mph according to my GPS) only took about an hour from Brussels to Paris. Although adding in the bus ride to the Leuven train station, 30 min train ride from Leuven to Brussels, and the Paris metro to our hotel, the trip out totaled around 3~4 hrs.

Our first stop was the Eiffel tower. The boys were impressed but weren't too excited about posing for a picture after the long morning trip.

The boys were even more impressed by the run down self propelled go carts located in the Parc du Champ de Mars adjacent to the tower.

The next day we hopped the Metro to Notre Dame.

Some Gargoyles at Notre Dame

From Notre Dame we made our way to Luxembourg Garden for a pony ride and a very cool playground for the kids.

Here's Jesse sampling some fine french cuisine.

After dinner we caught an evening boat tour down the Seine and got some ice cream YEAH!

The tower is lit every night but every half hour they put on a special light show.

After promising the boys for the first three days we finally made it up to the top of the Eiffel tower on the last morning.

We made it to the top!

Great view

We're now back in Leuven. It feels like a home after returning from the bustle of Paris. Next weekend we storm the Normandy beaches.