Decorating for Christmas and Dentist

We met some good friends here that moved to Berlin about the same time we did.  Hollis and family lived across town above our favorite Greek restaurant.  They moved here with the intent of living here for 3-5 years so their first year they bought a small, artificial Christmas tree with lights.  Sadly, they had to move back to North Carolina this summer but before they left they left us their Christmas tree.
Once we returned from Mallorca we were excited to put it up.  It has never been so easy to put a tree up as all we had to do was walk down to the cellar, sort through just a few boxes and bingo.... there was the tree and our small box of ornaments.

Benjamin came home from school before Josie and was so excited he did 95% of the work and the remaining 5% of directions. We strung lights around the windows and and around the tree.  Anything to shine more light during these dark winter days. The tree might be small and fake but it was decorated with SO much love!!
Josie also had another dentist appointment to have a tooth pulled.  Unfortunately, she is a bit phobic of the dentist and I know she gets it from me.  She nearly had a melt down as they came at her with the shot.  Again, they were very nurturing and

patient with her.  They talked her down and slowly went about their business.  I held her hand the entire time and we talked about going to the Christmas market across the street for a treat afterward.  She was a trooper and afterward I followed through on my promise.  Funny enough, she wanted a chocolate covered apple but her mouth was so numb she had to wait a few hours to eat it.

Letters from Home

I've said it before but I don't tire of saying it or thinking it.  Letters from home
are the best.  They brighten our day even if they are not for us.  Meaning no matter who gets a personal letter or package out of the 4 of us, all 4 of us are happy that personal mail from the States made its way to us all the way over here.  Seems silly in this day of instant messages and email but there really is nothing like a personal message.  I know I'm not so good at keeping in touch and I'm trying to be better. 
Benjamin's best friend in Seattle sent him a gift package and it was priceless watching him open up the card and find all the treasures within.  Thank you Callum (and Kristie!!!)  Right after he read the card he sat down and wrote one
back to Callum.  All on his own and then asked me for three days straight if I had mailed it.  After a few days I finally popped it in the mail heading back to Seattle. 

Cap de Formentor and Palma

On our final full day on Mallorca we decided to drive up to a famed lighthouse and an infamously winding road.  We drove out of Cala Millor, the area of the island where we were staying and things seemed quite calm but after about 30 minutes (about half way) things started to get windy.  Benjamin, who has the weakest stomach, was

about to get carsick so we pulled over and he and I switched spots.  He sat up front and I went to the back.  Unfortunately, he got his weak stomach from me and I was pretty

uncomfortable in the back.  But, I'd much rather be queasy, knowing I can take care of myself, instead of being worried that he will throw up all over the back seat of the car.  Legend has it that when I was growing up there was not one trip to the Oregon Coast when I did not throw up in the back seat of the car.  My mom would always be worried about me getting sick and was always on the ready to get me a beach pail to throw up in.  Apparently, according to my older sister, Kim, the bucket she normally grabbed first was hers (Kim's) and she was mortified. 
So, anyway, I understood Benjamin's pain and we had no beach pails so the back seat for me was the best solution. 

After about 30 more minutes of winding roads, we arrived an incredible rocky view point.  There was just one spot left to park - there were only about 20 total.  I can see how
We walked down to the lookout area and it really was breathtaking.  Sitting 300 meters above the coastline gives you an incredible view of the water and the craggy hillside.  After living in Berlin - one of the

flattest places I've ever lived-  the hilly, jagged mountainside was comforting.
this would not be quite as enjoyable in the high season.  Actually, we were told that the road is closed to cars 6 months of the year an

only tour buses and bicycles are allowed. 
After some time spent looking at the view and taking some pictures, we started talking to a couple cyclists on the way down and they asked if we were going to continue up to the lighthouse.  We hadn't planned to but they said that it was a must see so we climbed back into the car and drove up and around and up and around on some of the tightest hairpin turns I've ever been on.  Apparently the local joke is a priest and the local bus driver (driving the route to the lighthouse) are at the gates of heaven and only one can enter.  The bus driver is chosen to walk through the pearly gates because he has caused more people to pray.  Marty was pretty cool going around the turns, I was in the back trying not to get sick and also trying not to freak out.  Josie and Benjamin just

kept saying "WHOA" 
The cyclists were right.  It was a must see.  They were also right in saying that between a car or a bike they'd prefer to bike the road rather than drive it.  I'm sure the way up is a bitch but the way down (with assured brakes) would be pretty amazing.
On our final morning on Mallorca we packed up the car and spent a couple of hours in the capital city of Palma before our late afternoon flight back to Berlin.

Mallorca was wonderful.  It wasn't at all what I expected but it reminded me a lot of a few of my favorite places - namely, Mexico, Cuba and Barcelona.  I don't think I'd ever want to go there in the high season but this quiet, slower island life was nice for a long weekend. 

Son Servera Mercado

There was a small town just about an hours walk away from our

hotel that was having a Friday morning market.  I have a thing for outdoor markets.  Sometimes they are lame and you don't end up buying anything but there inevitably are things in baskets which I just love.  I love seeing all the things - even if they are crap things- all displayed out in the open.  This particular market was a little bit of everything.  A bit of produce, a bit of tea, a bit of crappy Chinese import stuff, a bit of leather goods, some scarfs, some toys and as always, some locals and in this case just a few

tourists.
We walked the wrong way, we found out on our return trip when we took the right path all along a beautiful walking path and promenade along the beach.  But the wrong path led us up through small residential streets and farms with cactus  and definitely not a friendly

One of my many dad holding hands pic.  💗💗

walking path.  We get to the market and we all have a look around.  We end up buying a few things - me a leather purse that I don't love but I like and since it was low season it was apparently regularly priced 50 Euro but I got it for 15.  I know that is a scam to tell

you it normally cost more but the point is it was only 15 so even if I don't love it, I like it and it was only 15.  Marty got a leather wallet because his old one was a US one and things you don't think about until you live here is that the Euro is wider than the US dollar so his Euro kept hanging out of his wallet and the edges kept getting frayed. 
Benjamin wanted to buy some Pokemon cards that ended up being a bit of a bust as he thinks that all of them were fake other than the top one.  But oh, well.  He got over his disappointment quickly. 

We walked back on the actual path which was lovely and along the beach nearly the entire way.  But as we were leaving the small town there was a small park with a skate boarding area.  No skate board - no problem for our kids.  They played here for nearly an hour.

Along the way there were small outdoor areas that had exercise equipment.  The kids can't pass up a chance to goof off.  

We went to the hotel pool.  The inside one because the outside one was closed.  The inside one was the size of a postage stamp and there were a couple other kids in the pool with huge flotation devices so it was pretty comical but Benjamin and Josie had a good time. 
We later went back to the hotel buffet for another amazing dinner.  It wasn't the Gala dinner but it was still pretty fabulous.

Then we hit the hotel Bingo Night.  We played in Turkey too and even though we didn't win in Turkey the announcer there and the whole scene was a great source of entertainment.  Here in Mallorca it was no different but for

 different reasons. We had to walk to the sister hotel just across the street and it was a bit like a Senior Citizens place.  Mostly older Germans were playing but we actually one once.  The prize was just the pot divided up and then given out as prizes.  We bought 2 cards at a 1 Euro per card and ended up winning 13 Euro.  So no so bad. 

Cuevas del Drach

It has been a bit strange celebrating big holidays here without our normal family, friends or traditions.  Last year for Thanksgiving we were invited to join our British friends, The Kitcheners, at their home just outside of London in Oxfordshire.  We had such a wonderful time and even though it wasn't the same as our past Thanksgiving it was so special to be with special friends, eat good food and see great sights.  And for Christmas we had Josie's best friend, Elliott and her family here to visit.  It would have been really tough I think to be without good friends for our first year abroad on these major holidays.

This year we knew we would be on our own for both special holidays where we are normally surrounded by family or friends.  I knew I wasn't going to make a turkey even if we had stayed in Berlin and although we were invited to a couple different friends houses

to celebrate with them we knew this would be a turkey free (other than classroom celebrations) holiday.
On Thanksgiving day, we decided to go to the famous Cuevas del Drach.  I had read about this cave before and was fascinated.  Thankfully the family agreed and we were off.  Apparently in high season it is hard to get a ticket and then you have to wait in line forever.  Another benefit to the low season.  No line and we just waited about 10 minutes for the next entrance time.

Cuevas del Drach is a pretty amazing, subterranean world.  The caves have been around since the middle ages and these limestone caves were fascinating. It was 1,200 meters filled with amazing stalactite and stalagmite formations.  It was so dramatic that we kept saying that if Disney had created it it would have looked so overblown.  There were lakes
We eventually ended up at the end where we sat in ampitheater seats and watch as a slow moving boat carrying classical musicians and they played 3 or 4 classical music pieces from their boat as it slowly passed in front of the all of us seated.  It was beautiful and a bit cheesy all at the same time.

and water dripping off certain formations.  It wasn't at all crowded (theme of the trip) so we were able to take our time and wander through the cave.   One of the biggest complaints of this cave tour is that the hurry you along so that you all end up at the end area for the concert.  Because there were only a few people we could take our time.

We were able to exit by boat which we chose to do and then were done.
Later in the day we walked along the several mile promenade - we had it all to ourselves.  For dinner we ate at the hotel.  Thursdays happen to be "Gala Night" which worked perfectly since it was Thanksgiving after all and a special meal was in order.  The food was really pretty amazing.  Fresh paella, freshly cooked meat or fish to order, tons of fresh salads, veggies, fruit and bread. 

And to top it all off they had an incredible chocolate fountain with fruit to dip into it along with several other amazing dessert options.
We went to bed full, thankful and missing family a bit.  Our meal was delicious and I didn't have to lift a finger but I would've made 5 Thanksgiving dinners just to be with family on this holiday.  OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration.  I certainly would have made ONE Thanksgiving dinner.

Mallorca

On Wednesday afternoon, just after Benjamin's school Thanksgiving potluck, we jumped on a bus to the airport.  We met Josie and Marty mid way.  It is always a bit complicated when we take these late afternoon flights.  We send the kids to school with very little.  We have their bags packed (we fly so cheap we are all just allowed one backpack each) and then meet them at school as their day is ending and then we go straight to the airport from school. Because Benjamin had a potluck that day it made it a touch more complicated but it all worked out and got to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

When we first started talking about celebrating Thanksgiving and my birthday we looked around for deals.  Where could we go for cheap. Which has been and probably always will be our style.  We talked about Mallorca but I'd always been a bit turned off as I know it is quite the tourist trap, particularly with Germans.  But it seemed in the off season there were some pretty amazing deals.  We ended up booking a fairly nice (great layout, clean, right on the beach although not necessarily brand new and showing its age a bit) hotel which included what was reviewed as

amazing breakfast and dinner.  This is what the Europeans call "half board"  This was our biggest win of the trip because had we not planned on eating at the hotel it would have been VERY difficult to find open restaurants.
So, anyway, our deal was 4 RT (2.5 hour direct flight) airfare, hotel on the beach, all food and drinks, (we would normally just pack an extra roll or fruit for a snack at lunch) rental car and gas - pretty much the entire vacation for 4 people for 4 nights came to 600 Euro.  Which breaks down to 150 per person.  I don't even know how that works.  But we were thrilled all the same.

Turns out Mallorca is not only quiet in the off season, it is flat out dead.  We stayed on the Eastern Coast, about an hour drive from the main city, Palma, and the airport.  The area was called Cala Millor and I can imagine it is bustling in the high season.  There were TONS of hotels - the majority were completely closed down for the season.  By the way, I don't think I have ever been to a city where things just completely close.  Alki beach, just a couple miles from our Seattle house, gets really quiet in the winter but businesses don't just close.  It seems the smart choice though for these businesses because other than our hotel and a handful of others that had a handful of people staying the area was so unbelievably still.  There was a pristine beach and a several mile promenade that NO ONE was on except us.  It definitely wasn't warm, beachy weather but it was upper 60's nearly 70 and often sunny.  We were in shorts and short sleeves and sandals and coming from a barely above freezing Berlin it felt great.

The food turned out to be some of the best we have had since moving to Europe.  I really despise eating at the hotel I'm staying in while traveling normally, but in this case it turned out to be our best decision.  As mentioned one out of every 10 stores or restaurants was even open and even then had very select menus and hours.  The food at the hotel, even though it was a buffet, was truly delicious with plenty of variety and high class touches.  One night they had paella, one night they had sushi, two nights they had a chocolate fountain.  Every breakfast and dinner was fresh and handmade.
We scored.  Now we keep telling everyone to go to Mallorca over Thanksgiving break.  For if you do, you will have the island to yourselves.

Thanksgiving in Berlin

Josie's class Thanksgiving Feast
She is on the right side of the
table looking toward the camera

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays.  There are not gifts to buy and wrap and there is typically not the frenzy that surrounds so many other holidays.  It has always been about family and friends and food.  Three of my favorite "Fs" 
Growing up I always helped my mom with making the food.  The arrangement for more years than I can remember (when my parents lived in my childhood home in Vancouver) was that my mom and I would prep the food the night before, work out at the gym or go for a long walk the morning of Thanksgiving (after putting the turkey in the oven to start cooking) and then return home to finish up the feast.  My other two sisters and sometimes my brother would do all the clean up. 
Once my parents sold our childhood home Thanksgiving changed and sometimes we were all together and sometimes we weren't.  We celebrated Thanksgiving sometimes in Bend, Oregon where my parents moved to retire, sometimes in Bellingham at my older

Benjamin's feast.  He is at the head
of the table sitting next to his awesome
new teacher, Mr. Olson. There were two
tables and the kids naturally
divided based mostly on gender

sister's house but typically we were together.  Once Marty and I had kids things were shared with my family and his and more times than not his sister, Liz, did EVERYTHING!!  The food buying, food prep and all of the clean up.  We had young kids at the time and it was such a treat to just show up.  Same when my sister hosted.  They did everything.  So even though I'd always loved Thanksgiving, the feast my sister, Kim and Marty's sister, Liz would put together and invite us just to come and be a part of made the holiday even sweeter. 
Moving to Berlin I knew our

Benjamin's class did a "thankful tree"
Each student wrote what they were
thankful for on the back of a leave
and then taped it to the tree
while explaining it to the class. 

Thanksgiving traditions would change.  Not only is it not a German holiday but many of the traditional foods we eat at this time of year are unavailable here.  Namely, canned pumpkin.  YES, I know I can cook my own but man, there is something about canned pumpkin that now having lived here for over a year I really miss.  But thankfully, our German/American school celebrates this holiday better than any US school ever has.  Each class does a potluck.  Last year I had no idea about this and Benjamin told me a few days later that he walked to a classmates for their Thanksgiving feast.  Clearly, I must have missed the email stating each parent was supposed to bring in something to contribute to the meal.  Typically a parent volunteers their home and their oven to cook the turkey and then everyone else brings the side dishes.  Last year and this year Josie's

Benjamin signed me up to bring a pie.  I've never been
a good crust maker so I often buy pre-made crust.  I thought
I had done that here but then realized it was phyllo dough.
So I improvised and made it into an apple crisp with the
phyllo dough just on the bottom crust. It turned
out really tasty though!! 

class just had their feast in their classroom but with the full spread of Thanksgiving side dishes.  Marty and I helped last year and this year in Josie's classroom.  And I helped this year in Benjamin's.  He again walked some and took the bus some to a nearby house.  I met him there and helped out with serving and cleaning up.  At both kid's celebrations they had each student say what they were thankful for.  Both Josie and Benjamin clearly and

Since I had bought a top and bottom crust
I had leftovers enough to make
apple turnovers.  They were delicious too. 

happily stated that they were thankful for their family who was always there for them (yes, my heart exploded) and their friends.   SO SO much to be thankful this year.  Even if our traditions have changed and we are not able to be surrounded by our immediate families we sure have a lot to be thankful for.

FIFTY!?!

On Sunday, November 18th I turned half a century. HALF A CENTURY!!! How in the world can I be 50 years old.  That just seems crazy to me.  Fifty years old used to seem SO old.  Like, grandparent -old and I suppose quite a few 50 year olds do in fact have grandchildren.  But when you start as late as we did we are NOWHERE near grandchildren stage with both of our kids still in elementary.  Most days I don't feel "50"  But not sure what I assume "50" should feel like. 

Marty asked me many, many times what I wanted for my birthday and how I wanted to celebrate.  Travel is always, by far, the first thing on my list for gifts or ways to celebrate.  Not only is travel awesome - especially being so close

and convenient to so many cool places here -but also I'm not much of a material things type person.  I would take a trip nearly anywhere over a physical gift.  So, our trip to Turkey in October was the first of my gifts and our

upcoming trip to Mallorca was the second part.  I told Marty I just want to be in Spain.  I don't care which city or what part but Spain. He found an amazing deal to Mallorca because it is low season so off to the Island of Mallorca on Wednesday for more celebrating.  When you turn 50 the celebration can last for the week, right?  Maybe the month or even the year.  Actually, I'm hoping to take a trip of some kind every

month to help me celebrate my birthday.  I think when you turn fifty you can do stuff like that, am I right? 😄

So, if I'm keeping track Stockholm in September, Turkey in October, Mallorca in November....  I was supposed to go to Coppenhagen to spend the weekend with Simone but now Marty has to go back to Seattle the same weekend we had planned 😞 But we may go to Krakow the week after Christmas so that counts for December and I already have a trip booked to meet up with my friend Ali in Sevilla in January... that's 5 months right there!!

On the morning of my birthday I woke up to a big surprise.  It was a Sunday and Josie has spent the night at her friend, Aurora's house because she had an all day Odyssey of the Mind tournament on Saturday and Marty and I had a big Friendsgiving party to go to Saturday night.  Benjamin also was not here as he had spent the night with his best buddy, Clayton.  Marty and I got home pretty late (for us anyway) and I woke up around 7am to the sound of light whispering.  I knew no one was home except Marty so this was strange.  When I walked out of the bedroom Josie and Marty yelled surprise and led me into the kitchen which was fully decorated with balloons, party hats, beautiful orange

(my favorite color) roses, some chocolate mints (my favorite candy) cards from my parents and from Marty and the kids.  Acactus plant (I'm not so good with keeping plants alive here) They were so proud of themselves.  I was so shocked to see Josie.  I knew she had spent the night at her friend's house and could not figure out how she got home so early.  Apparently she and Marty made the plan that she would be home by 5:45AM!!!!  Her friend lives just a 5 minute bike ride away but still that early in the morning it is still pitch dark and it was SOOO cold that morning.  Wow!!  I was really touched that they would both get up so early to decorate and surprise me. 

I told Marty that I wanted to walk to the lake with him  and around it by myself.  It was cold but sunny - my favorite type of winter weather.  So Marty and I took off to walk to the lake.  It's about a half hour walk to the lake and so when we got there Marty headed home to go pick up Benjamin from Clayton's house and I continued on and around the lake - about a 3.5 mile walk.  It was beautiful and I was able to reflect on my life and how great it really is.  I get so bogged down in the day to day that I often - or at least not often enough- reflect on just how good I've got it.  

After finishing up around the lake I still had a 30 minute walk home.  But again, it was bright and sunny and walking was exactly what I wanted to do on my birthday. 

Later that afternoon we went to a pretty authentic (as authentic as we have had here in Berlin) Mexican place.  I wanted a good margarita and I got one.  The gaucamole was great as was the salsa.  Everyone was happy and full and content.  We rode home and all had an early to bed night after a VERY early morning for Marty and Josie and a late night the night before for Marty and I.  

Here is to 50!!!