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In early December Joe and I got to go to New Jersey for a few days before heading to DC for business. We got to spend some time with Mike and Cor and solidify the plan that we would meet them in Rome in April and have a pre-Christmas celebration with Dona, Gavin and Lara.
We also got to join my parents for Christmas brunch with their friends at Rat's Restaurant. The brunch was great as was the band and having our own room with a big fireplace made it a special afternoon. From there we jumped on the train to DC.
Minibar
In addition to work in DC, Scott joined the rest of his team for the holiday celebration at the newly opened Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, can't really say I'd recommend it. On the other hand, Janine, Martha and I went to Minibar for one the most amazing meals of my life. A very tough reservation to get, but well worth it for the almost 30 "bites" that made up the meal.
I headed to Barcelona for business. It was nice to have Joe along. We didn't get much time to tour as I was working, but he wandered around the city and we strolled through the old section of town one evening.
Fortunately Fernando recommended a great restaurant around the corner from our hotel and we ate there a couple of times.
Joe and I were both taken by how big the city is as well as how big a port it has.
We're still not sure if Steve was coming to visit us or drink beer in Dublin, but we know he managed to do both and most importantly he was here for Thanksgiving. We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday since Joe was in Germany for work where he had his own feast.
In celebration of the team's work, the client hosted a feast worthy of a US Thanksgiving. A giant wooden table for almost 30 people, endless wine and courses and of course an American as an honored guest on Thanksgiving day.
Thanksgiving Friday involved lots of great food...I made my first Duck...it was great they tell me, but I still don't think they were truthful about the sauce...it was way too salty. In addition to Steve, Leo and Francesco joined us. Friends of my friend Michelle from back in the states, they really seemed to enjoy the meal and the company.
Steve left Sunday morning and Joe and I headed to the airport a couple of hours later for Barcelona.
Our second DCDD member came just before Thanksgiving. Gene was here on business, but despite his tight schedule he managed to find an evening to join us for dinner at our favorite local pub, The Fentiman Arms.
Budapest was great fun! In addition to attending a choral performance in their world famous opera house...it has to be seen to believed...we had a great, low cost (by the usual standards) spa day at Mandala Day Spa, take time if you can.
We stayed at the K+K Opera, our second stay at a K+K hotel (we stayed in one in Prague a few years back) and we were very pleased. One night we did have a power outage, but since we had already gotten a good seat at the bar before the lights went out it was a nice couple of fun hours.
The oldest subway line is so beautiful you have to see it to believe it. It's like a little toy train.
We made the trek out to Monument Park, where they have several Soviet era statues on display.
We celebrated my 45th birthday with dinner at the Four Season's Peacock restaurant. An amazing view of the Chain Bridge by night and of course great food and impeccable service.
The highlight moment of the trip was when we went to see the ruins of the anciet Roman city Acquincum on the outskirts of the city center. We got there and of course it was closed for the season. We did visit the museum and met up with an Argentine music teacher touring Europe on summer break. On the way back to the train to head back to town, the three of us decided to walk the long way around and stare through the fence.
It was then that a man came at us from the other side of the fence. At first we thought we were going to be in trouble, but instead he asked us if we wanted to visit the ruins. When we explained our predicament, he arranged for us to be his guests and left us to spend as much as
time we wanted to tour the ruins.
When it was time to head home, though we were bummed to end the vacation, we enjoyed the idea that it would be a 2-hour flight and home was London! It was like the vacation would never end.
A week or so after Jon and Meliss left, Janine and Martha came to visit. They both had been to London before and wanted the native's tour. So we went to Borough Market the day they arrived and went out to lunch and had some wine...and plenty of it.
While they were here we went to see the very short-lived Desperately Seeking Susan play version of the movie featuring music by Blondie. If you were of the era it was great fun, but I can certainly understand why it may not have had a broader appeal.
On Monday they headed out to Paris via the Eurostar and came back on Friday in time for great fun and food and one of our favorite local haunts, Madiera. Excellent Portuguese food and atmosphere, with a little singing and dancing thrown in for added fun.
On Saturday we headed to the airport with them - Martha and Janine back to the US - Joe and I off to Budapest for a week's vacation.
Just so you know, we do live and work in London. We joined the Tate Museums and I went to see the Dali exhibit three times before it left so I could sit through all the films. Before the days got really really short, strolling the Thames from St. George's Wharf to the Tate and back was an almost daily event.
I also really enjoy hitting Borough Market on Fridays. Though it pains me to say it, it really does outshine Eastern Market by leaps and bounds. From the guy who only sells Parmesean Reggiano to the olive people, the various bread folks and of course the truffle guy, it's an amazing place to just to visit, forget the shopping!
So, with Joe still spending lots of time in the Southern Netherlands I thought it was time I checked out this little town called Eindhoven. It turned out to Veldhoven, just outside of Eindhoven, but you get the picture.
Having flow and trained, we decided to cross by boat this time. Cheap, but an all day affair. We left out of London by train, then the crossing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland which took about 7 hours and then 2 trains before getting in a cab in Eindhoven.
Joe stays at a hotel that used to be a monestary in the woods. It's a really peaceful place to hang out and frankly work from the hotel room.
In addition to this, you can head to downtown Eindhoven where there's a bit of city including a bleeding edge contemporary art museuem called the Van Abbe Museuem as well as a few great places to eat.
In den Bergsche Tuin is great because most of there meat dishes are available in a vegetarian option. Plus the salat met kaas has a great selection of kaases on it. Don't get the surprise dessert though...you'll only be disappointed, but you'll have to go and eat there to find out why.
The amazing highlight dining experience was De Luytervelde. When Joe called the week before to make the reservation he asked the obligatory question about vegetarian accomodations...I was particularly interested in the tasting menu. The response, well, if you're willing to order the tasting menu now, the chef will be happy to construct a menu just for him. I knew I was in for a real experience. From the champagne in front of the fireplace to the ride home three hours later it was an amazing meal Nederland inspired meal that was worth the trip.
Shortly after joining the Tate I got an email noting that they had an upcoming performance of a new piece called Maritime Rites and they were seeking musicians.
Joe was easily accepted into the group and had his first performance in London in late September. Not only did he play on the Millennium Bridge in front of the Tate with St. Paul's in the background, but with the London Symphony's brass ensemble and a few other famous folks and the composer...he's got the details on this one.
In early September we met Jay (my brother) at Euro Disney just outside of Paris to participate the inaugural of his "time share". He's promised me that we can be there for the last use...I'll be 95 or so then, should be fun.
Not sure you should make the trip for Euro Disney...go to Florida! But it was interesting to see it in real life and awesome to take our first ride on Eurostar through the chunnel. Fast, cheap and easy.
Joe was spending lots of time in Eindhoven, in the southern part of the Netherlands, so one weekend in September we decided to give him a break on the flying and get me out of London...so I flew to Amsterdam and he rode up to spend the weekend.
The highlight was our dinner at Restaurant De Kas. The restaurant is a bit outside the city but easily accessible by tram. It's in a park and the building is a giant green house...all glass and just amazing. While they happily accommodate vegetarians and food allergies, the deal is simple...this is what we made tonight, eat it! It of course is an amazingly elegant meal with great wine pairings in surroundings that are world class.
We were almost the only Americans there...there was an American expat who had moved to the Netherlands in teh 1980s who chatted us up. Incredibly atmosphere and amazing food...if you're going to Amsterdam, make sure to make a reservation.
Toni was the first visitor in July. I was bummed Otis didn't come along, but was happy to have Toni here for a long weekend for the Harry Potter convention which coincided with the release of the last book.
We were barely prepared, but the furniture from the states was here so there were enough beds.
We had dinner at the restaurant at St. George's Wharf...it was OK. We also learned that it's not very European to get a lemon rind with your expresso, a disapointment.
Welcome...since Joe and I moved to London many of our friends have given us a hard time about starting a blog. So, I'm getting one started and we'll see where it lands.
Just to make this whole, I'll start quickly at the beginning...Joe and I moved to London so Joe could bring his instructional design talents face to face with ESI Internationl's EMEA clients. In the bargain I took a job as head of ESI's global PR program.
After a crazy search, we moved into our flat just south of the Thames, easy walking distance to the London Eye or Buckingham Palace - take your pick - in June 2007.
Unfortunately work got a bit in the way and Joe was in the Southern Netherlands, Monday through Friday from late March through mid-September and most weekends too...but that gave me plenty of time to "kit out" the house!
I've upgraded since this photo and have a real office chair, throw pillows and a nice bedspread!
In August I was back in DC for work and visited Mom and Dad on the way back to London. In September, we began to travel.
