Swedish Friends

The day after we returned from Turkey our good friend, Toby, and his 4 kids and wife came to Berlin for a visit.  None of the kids had flown before and it had been 11 years since his wife, Susanne, had taken a flight.  We felt honored that Berlin warranted such a first for them.

Josie made yummy Halloween
treats for everyone. 

We first met Toby MANY years ago on our yearly vacations to Europe.  He was dating a friend of ours, Tracey, and they would meet up with us in Berlin and then travel around with us.  He was also so fun and kind.  I remember the last time we saw Toby was in March of 2007.  Josie was a mere 6 month old and at the time Germany was in a bit of a negative birth rate thus making Josie the most loved thing on the streets.  Literally, people would cross the street to come and ogle and pinch her cheeks and try to make her smile.  Josie was the easiest baby and so she normally took to this extra attention quite well.

Photo from 2007 on a ferry in Venice.  Toby
in the middle. 

We met up with Tracey and Toby in Berlin, we then headed to Cottbus and then onto Italy.  Toby would often offer to carry Josie in the front pack and really doted on her.  So it is strange to think that this was the last time we saw him.  Tracey and Toby broke up and both are married to other people now.  Toby has a 10 year old girl who hit it off instantly with Josie.  He has an 8 year old son who hit it off instantly with Benjamin and then boy/girl 6 year old twins. 

They came over to our place for dinner on Monday and Tuesday we headed to the zoo.  It was a strangely warm (nearly 70 degrees) and sunny and we all enjoyed wandering the zoo together. 

Antalya

Antalya is a apparently the fifth most populous city in the huge country of Turkey.  We had never heard of this city before - Istanbul and Akara, sure but not Antalya.  Even though our vacation was mostly just relax by the sea or pool we did hop a public bus one day and head into the city center.  As always, the getting there (and back) was half the fun (or frustration)  The bus ride took nearly an hour after several discussions from locals about how and where to buy tickets.  Antalya was one of the first places that I have been that accept all different world currencies.  US dollars were fine, Euros were fine and British Pounds were all fine.  We brought the first two, The Kitcheners brought the second two and we were covered. 

When we arrived into town it was mostly markets with vendors selling their wares.  There is something about a market when their colorful items are displayed in baskets that I just can't pass up.  I remember feeling the same way in Cuba with the cars.  I don't even like cars but I couldn't stop taking pictures.  I don't even like all the stuff they are selling but I can't stop taking pictures.  Strange, I know.

All 8 of us walked around, meandered through the markets, down to the port and up and back through the markets.  When it was about time to return to our hotel it started to rain.  Truth be told, that is why we chose this day to go into town as we knew a beach and pool are no fun in the rain.  But we didn't expect the rain that came

down nor the wind.  We all huddled into an already crowded bus stop waiting for our bus to pass.  Finally, it did. 
We made it back and spent the rest of the afternoon playing cards and games before dinner and then a Riemer kids vs. Kitchener kids game of bowling in the rather depressing resort "game room"  It is

funny that all 3 boys were clambering to go to the "arcade" all trip and when we finally went the adults were all depressed by it (dark, lame, old arcade room with everything from small little coin

operated carousel like the type outside of grocery stores in the 70's to a two lane bowling alley to computer operated games to real arcade video games) but something about this space was so utterly depressing.  Fine for a bowling match but not a place I'd like to hang out in.
Other than our Antalya day trip there wasn't really much else cultural about our trip.  We heard the "call to prayer" each morning at 6AM and sometimes the mid day one.  No one seemed to do anything different when this happened but we heard it.  We tried a few turkish dishes and learned to say "thank you" in Turkish.  But other than that it was simply a relaxing vacation. 

We struggle with the All Inclusive mentality - not only because we eat and drink more than we would otherwise and there isn't much culture in it but also watching the greediness of humanity - nearly always taking more than they can eat.  Walking through the restaurant and seeing tables with plates piled with left over food that inevitably goes into the garbage is heart breaking.  But there is something so nice about never having to worry about food or drink and if your kids will be hungry or full. The kids LOVE being able to order and eat anything and everything they want.  As of now, we are done with all inclusives... but we have said that before.  Like last time I guess we just need a bit of time to pass so we forget and then we will book another one in the not so distant future. 😏

Die Türkei

For the first week of a two week Fall Break we took off for a fun filled week on the Turkish Riviera.  Before booking this trip I had never even heard of the "Turkish Riviera" nor the city we flew to and stayed into.  Antalya, Turkey really truly could have been Cancun, Mexico. We flew into a rather small airport with a ton of vacation shuttle buses parked and ready to transport We went to Cancun with them and our other friends, the Warrens back in 2014!! 

vacationers to their respective resorts.  We passed shanty towns and run down areas before arriving on "The Strip"  It was really like Cancun collided with the Las Vegas strip with a bit of Miami at Spring Break thrown in.  This is not our normal style of vacation but after 6 countries (mostly big, European capital cities) for long 3 day weekends, we were all ready for a vacation that was actually lie by the beach or pool, swim in the sea and read books type of vacation. 

We had discussed the Greek Islands but waited too long and all of the direct flights became so expensive (relatively speaking... airfare within Europe is still insanely cheap no matter how long you wait to book) and we also discussed the The Portuguese Algarve but that didn't pan out either.  Our good friends, The Kitcheners, also had school break from their school in the U.K. and were on board for the same type of relaxing vacation.  Actually, one of the only other times we took a vacation of this nature, the Kitcheners were along for that too.

The resort, Limak Lara, was really super nice.  It was an all inclusive place and the food was really amazing.  It was mostly buffet style and although as one tends to do at a buffet, we did get a little tired of eating at the same place breakfast and dinner (lunches had different options) We really didn't tire of the selection.  And the presentation and quality were really top notch. 

The kids loved having endless food and drink options and all in all we all had a very relaxing and rejuvenating time.  The kids rate it the very top of all of our 7 vacations/countries since we have moved here.  Well, Josie rated her 6th grade camp trip a few notches above.

Neighbor Visits

We have had several people visit us here in Berlin and we truly appreciate each and EVERY one.  It reminds us that although we are living half way around the world the world really isn't all that big when one of our friends, or in this case West Seattle neighbor, stops by for a visit.
While we were home in Seattle this summer our neighbor a couple of doors down from us told us that she had won a trip to Italy (how lucky, right??) and that she would be visiting Europe in October and wondering if we would be around.  We knew that Josie had 6th grade camp and that we had a 2 week break but thankfully her (Judi's) visit would come right while we were certain to be home.
She and her friend Chris had a fabulous time in Italy before hoping on a plane to visit Prague and then hoping on a train to visit us here in Berlin before heading back to Rome and then returning to Seattle.
Marty and I met them downtown for a bit of sightseeing and then they trekked all the way out here for dinner at our place.
SO great to see you, Judi, and meet you, Chris!!  We loved having you visit.

Wasps and Stumbling Stones

On Tuesday Marty and I went for a walk around our small area of Berlin.  Zehlendorf is a sleepy little corner of the city and we love living here. It is the SW corner, much like our other home in SW Seattle.

While walking we ran across two areas where there were Stumbling Stones."  It really brings the atrocities of the war to life when you see these small stones commemorating the people who were taken/deported and sent to a concentration camp or murdered. Their names are on the stone along with their birth date and when they were deported and when they died if that was known.   I've seen there in other areas of town but was shocked that there were a couple right behind the bus stop we use all the time.  We had never noticed them before.  And again later in our walk we ran across these four.

Later we went for a bite to eat and this little wasp was just hanging around.  The wasps in Berlin this year were NUTS.  It was nearly impossible to eat outside all of August because the minute food came to the table the wasps came out in force.  Last year it was mosquitos, this year wasps.  As annoying as the mosquitos were wasps are much worse.  Even this late into Fall they are still

hanging around.  They are VERY lazy though and must be on their last leg.  This guy barely moved around this ashtray the entire hour we were here.

JFK Clean Up

On Saturday both kids went to soccer practice in the morning as usual.  After Benjamin's practice the three of us (Josie was still practicing) went over on the other side of campus and helped with their twice yearly "Garden Day"  We both like to give back to the school as much as possible.  There were quite a few people racking leaves, sweeping the sidewalks, picking up garbage and other campus maintenance projects.  It is always so nice to be apart of your community and the people (parents and students alike) at JFK are the very very best.

Benjamin and His Buddies

On Friday Benjamin's good friend, Clayton, normally comes over after school.  There were a few other friends that he has been wanting to invite over and so we thought we might as well just invite them all over at the same time since they are all friends with each other. 

After helping Josie cart her suitcase home after her camping trip I raced back to school to pick up Benjamin and his 3 friends: Clayton, Noah and Felix.  It was a really warm (nearly 80 degrees) day.  They all rode their bikes together to our house and then after a game of

Overcooked (a fun video game based on cooking and serving food) they had a fun snack on the deck.  Followed by some soccer in the back yard and then a few games on the deck.  Phew!!  4 Boys.  Fun for an afternoon but doubt I'd survive if they were all mine all the time.

SHE'S HOME!!

Marty and I were right on time (we were warned that kids have a really hard time if you are not there to greet them after a school trip!) to welcome Josie home.
She walked off the bus tired but very happy.
I asked her what number on a scale from 1 to 10 she would give her camp experience.  She couldn't really answer.  Marty said 600?  And she replied, "More like 6,000"
There were stories upon stories about their hiking and their survival skills training and the crazy things they did in the hostel where they stayed.  The food was good and there was always a vegetarian option for her which is quite remarkable considering she and one other girl were the only vegetarians. 
Yay! We are so happy to have her home!!