Reliving the Mediterranean

This past weekend me and some friends took a trip to the south of France. We flew into Nice, but didn't actually see much of Nice at all. We took a train to Cassis, a little bit west, though we had a slight layover due to a strike in Toulon. We walked around Toulon for a bit, had lunch, and then headed back for the train. In Cassis we took a boat tour of the Calanques (the cliffs that I took so many pictures of!). I had been to both Cassis and to see the Calanques when I studied abroad, but it was no less beautiful this time. The weather all weekend was perfect; sunny and warm. We even got a slight sun burn!! When we got off the train in Cassis, we decided we would stay the night there instead of what was planned since the Toulon layover cost us a lot of time. We walked to the city from the train station, getting rather lost for a few hours until eventually finding signs to follow. Getting lost wasn't really so bad though, we walked by vineyards and flowers were blooming everywhere. It was really cool seeing Cassis again; it brought back so many memories from when I was here last. I could remember specific things that I hadn't thought of until I was in the same place again. So, the next day we took the train to Marseille to go see Chateau D'If (the famous prison from The Count of Monte Cristo). I had also been here before, but going again was still enjoyable. We were only in Marseille for a short while but we saw a fish market, relaxed in the sun, and took the tour of Isle D'If. After that we headed back to Nice. Once there, we made our way to our hostel where we ate dinner and hung out for the night. I had an early plane in the morning, while everyone else had later ones, so I had to catch the 5:25am bus to the airport. Totally worth it though. The south of France is sooo beautiful, I'd go back a million times!

26.2 miles and flower crowns

I did it!! I finished the Zurich Marathon last Sunday. Me, Katie, and Luke rode the train to Zurich on Saturday, stayed the night and then ran the marathon Sunday morning. I didn't finish as well as I'd hoped, but I finished none the less. It was more difficult then I thought, but I pushed through and finally crossed the finish line!! I slept 11 hours Sunday night, was really sore Monday, kinda sore Tuesday, and I've pretty much recovered now. Despite all that, I'd do it again. Well, I've already been asked if I'd run another one, and I think I would. Though, next time I'd do it when I had my own schedule and I wasn't traveling so much. But yeah, I think I got the first one out of the way and now I know what to expect. So maybe I will do another, just not anytime in the near future!

The first couple of pictures are from the Expo on Saturday where we got our numbers and bags and stuff. I was starting to get nervous as you can tell. Then there is a picture of Katie and I on the bus Sunday morning heading to the start. Super nervous at that point. The next 2 I stole offline. There were over 4800 people who ran as you can see by the huge crowd. It was really cool though. Lots of fans cheering, "hop hop hop" and they also had music along the course. There were bands, dancers, and people playing the big swiss horns like on the Ricola commercials. Then there's a picture of me after I finished. I didn't even want to stand up for the photo; I was too tired. All who finished got a medal and finisher shirt. I love how in this picture my hair is blown back in the front. I was going sooo fast my hair didn't even stay in place (just kidding)!

The last three pictures are from today actually. Sterre stayed home from school today sick with a cold, so I was at home with Romee and Sterre all day. It was the first none rainy day in what seems like weeks, so we enjoyed ourselves outside for a bit. I showed them how to make flower crowns. As you can see, the backyard really needs to be mowed. But the good thing is, Spring is coming!! We have dandelions everywhere and trees are starting to have leaves again. I'm so excited! Excited that Spring is here and excited that I finish a marathon!

A "Tribute"

So, my friend Michelle, I'm sure you've heard her mentioned a few times, has left Basel (though she'll be back to visit for 2 days in a couple weeks after traveling a bit). She came this time last year, so her contract is over now. It's been weird because I've always felt like I was the new one and I was counting how long I've been here. Now I'm counting how much time I have left. It's a wake up call because she's the first close friend that I have to say goodbye to. I only have 3 more months before I'm back in Florida. It's so crazy, especially since I still am not set on what I am doing after this. I have somethings I'm looking into now, but nothing is set in stone yet. Anyways, these pictures are from the weekend before the Black Forest trip (sometime I have to write these things out of order so to collect other people's pictures). We made a whole list of things that we had to do before Michelle left, such as the castle camping. Another was to go to this restaurant called Blindekuh (Blind Cow). We ate our meal in complete darkness. You first look over the menu in a lit room and then after you know what you want the waiter leads you into the restaurant. All the waiters and waitresses are blind, and so eating there is experiencing what they do. I ordered the vegetarian surprise, and didn't actually find out what it was that I ate until the end. I guessed pretty well though. I also cheated a bit and ate with my hands some; it was just easier to make sure I got everything. The food was delicious and the experience was really cool. Sorry no pictures of that.... it was dark. Anyways, the first picture is a good-bye cake Katie and I made for Michelle. It was oreo cheesecake!! The others are from the last night out before Michelle left. We went to our usual place: Paddy Reilly's. It started off as a pretty normal evening, but ended with us doing Irish dancing, and I don't even know how to do Irish dancing. Anyways, just thought I'd put a few more photos up while I was in the mood to update; anything to distract me from thinking about the marathon on Sunday.
Oh, and thanks Katie, I stole everyone of these from you!! And, Happy Birthday Sister!! (though I don't know if you ever read this).

Hansel & Gretal's house

Hansel and Gretal were in the Black Forest when they cooked the witch in the oven and I seriously think I stayed in the cottage where this occurred. This past weekend 8 of us went to Germany to stay at my friend Erin's husband's parent's cottage. It was the coolest place ever. It was sooo old and had so much character. You could see the Alps in the far distance. It was a really relaxing weekend. We went on a little hike in the forest, played on the hammock, ate good food, slept, played some fun board and card games, and talked A LOT! The weather was perfect for those couple of days and it was especially noticeable because it has been incredibly rainy lately. The old red station wagon is what we drove there in. It was actually a rather nice ride and it was only about an hour away in a village called Hutten. It was the perfect way to spend the last weekend before the marathon. Yep, next Sunday, the 20th, is the day. yikes! I'll let you know how it goes.

Castle Camping

Not this weekend, but the last, Michelle, Katie, and I went "camping" in the castle in my "backyard". The castle is the same one I've mentioned previously: Chateau Landskron. We hiked up there at 12:30am and set out or sleeping bags in the pitch black room. It as cold and so we were really layered up. We took some pictures, talked for a while, and then went to sleep. How many people can say that spent the night in a castle!! The first pictures are from where we slept, followed by what my hair looked like the next morning.

I also added some cute pictures of Romee I took recently. The first is Romee with her head buried in her doek, which is her blanky, then her with the fish we made. We've been teaching her to use glue and scissors, so this is what we made. Then there is a video of her singing her version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I use to sing it to her when we'd go on walks and now she sings it to herself all the time. Sorry the video is sideways, I always seem to forget that you have to shoot it horizontally with the camera.

Super Hero

The other weekend, not this past one (that ones next on my list to write about), I went to a Super Hero party with some friends. There were 6 of us au pairs that went and we were Kryptonyte!! so that we could kill all the others. We spelled out the word with letters attached to our capes and all wore black with green. These are some pictures from the party. The last one is from a dress-up dinner party we had Sarah's house the next night. I love fun weekends, they keep me sane after spending hours upon hours during the week with a 2 year old!

Play Date

The kids had a two week break from school, of which four of the days Marit, the mom, was gone to the Netherlands and Martijn was at work, so it was me and the 3 of them.Instead of losing my mind and trashing the house, I tried to keep them busy out of the house. One day Katie and I took my 3 kids and her 3 kids to a place called Trampolino. It was a big indoor play place and they loved it. Plus it tired them up a lot. The next day we went over to Katie's house and let them play, watch movies, and we also went to a park nearby for a bit. I enjoyed the park too as you can see! So, here are some recent pictures of the kids. Aren't they super cute. They are so much bigger than when I first got here. I love them!