Shake, Rattle and Roll

So apparently there was an earthquake last night. The epicenter was in Lincolnshire on the west central coastline of the island. I actually felt the earthquake, but didn't know what it was until I read about it today. I was up late reading a book and the windows started rattling, but it was not unlike the rattles that occur when the wind blows very hard. I did think it kind of strange because the doors made some noise, but we get all kinds of creaks in this old building. I did a London walk today and everything around town seemed fine, so no problems in London. Edgar was fast asleep after our 14 hour plane ride from Bogota and then a full day of work, so I think he would not have woken up if the roof caved in. I could make all kinds of jokes about my world being rocked, but since this is a family blog, I will let you use your imagination and laugh at your own jokes...

Update: Lincolnshire is on the EASTERN coastline of England...sorry for any confusion, blame it on the jet lag I thought I didn't have.

Hola de Bogota!

I had a few spare minutes while the family is watching soccer on TV and catching up with each other, so thought I would send a little update. We arrived in Bogota with no problems, other than being very, very tired. Fourteen hours on a plane is not the most fun thing in the world, but it is so worth it to see the in-laws and Edgar´s precious new nephew, Nicolas. They have given me a great tour of the city, which is the capital of Colombia, so I got to see where all the governmental affairs take place and the Presidential Palace, a.k.a. the White House of Colombia. There is a big push right now to end the kidnappings that are taking place and to free those who are currently in captivity, so it is interesting to see the banners and signs hanging around town. The old part of the city is very beautiful with Spanish colonial architecture and the area in general is beautiful as it sits in the mountains. We took a train to the top of one mountain that overlooks the city and contains a beautiful church at the top. I have to say I was a little nervous riding the train up...it´s a straight shot at about a 45degree or larger angle. Several family members have had us over for dinner, so you can imagine we have been eating well!

Today was the baptism. The morning was a little hectic, trying to get all the logistics worked out and making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be. In true Colombian fashion, I had my hair done this morning. It is a total luxury to have someone else blow dry my hair, something I can easily do for myself, but I thought what the heck, beets and pickles, right? I was a little worried about the outcome, but I think I got the master of the hairdryers and he made me muy linda.

So we are finally having our first relaxing evening together. Unless we go salsa dancing, as was suggested at lunch. Then we may have another late night! So, as always, I am just going with the flow. I smile alot, nod my head alot, and get in the car when they tell me to. Where I wind up is always a surprise, and getting there is always an adventure. Ciao, Vonda

We're Headed to Bogota, Colombia

I'm pretty much packed...just waiting to see what Edgar will have so we can arrange everything as efficiently as possible. Our dreams of a carry-on only trip won't happen since we will have some liquids larger than the mandated 100ml or less. It will be the longest flight I've ever taken. We leave Gatwick at 10:30am, will have an 8 hour flight to Newark's Liberty Airport, and then a 6 hour flight to Bogota. We will arrive in Bogota at 9:30pm local time, which means 2:30am London time.

We are really looking forward to seeing Edgar's family. One of the main reasons we are going, other than hanging out with them, is to participate in his nephew's baptism. I am very honored to have been asked to be Nico's Godmother, so it should be a special day for all of us.

We will be back on Tuesday morning. Hopefully I won't be as jetlagged as my last jaunt across the pond. I don't think 6 days will give me enough time to make that time transition as completely as I did during the holidays. I hope everyone has a great week and weekend! ~Vonda

Beets and Pickles

When Edgar and I got a TV and finally cable, we were so excited to be able to watch some of our favorite American shows. It seems at any one point in the day, you can find Friends or Scrubs, our two favorite shows. But as much as I like these shows, I can only watch so much of them. So we started branching out and discovered that most every show was a really bad American show that I didn't watch in the first place, or they are old shows from the 80's that are now in rerun mode. I guess if you have a hankering for The Golden Girls, Cagney and Lacey, Knightrider, Xena: Warrior Princess, or even Battlestart Gallactica, you are in luck! This is only a sampling of the wonderful programming included with our Virgin Media cable package. One of the reasons I wanted to get a TV was to be able to watch British programming and get a further insight into the subtlties of the culture as well as understand the different accents a little better. There are some really funny, edgy sitcoms and dramas on tap over here. They are much more riske than American shows and sometimes I can't believe they show them in primetime. I guess Europe is just a little more liberal.

I've really gotten into watching Breakfast on BBCone. It's like Good Morning America...a mixture of the day's news and weather, with some fun stories thrown in. This morning they had a teaser about the next segment showing "the newest thing to come over from America". On a side note, I've been surprised at how much they compare British vs. Americans, because Americans never really seem to have whole segments or stories related to anything in British (or any other) culture. Maybe it's what makes us the "Ugly Americans", to be so ignorant to other cultures and trends. Anyways, so what was this newest thing to come over from America? Baby Showers. Yep, they had two "experts" on the show to discuss it. And I must say it was quite funny to hear someone else describe this newfound thing that has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. One expert was the editor of a parenting magazine and I can't remember what the other lady was, but an expert nonetheless. Apparently the British are really bad at receiving gifts, they like giving, but not receiving, and the 2nd woman said she would just feel so uncomfortable being surrounded by friends who had brought things for her unborn child. And the "gift list"? Just another bad, materialistic thing ranking up there with the wedding gift list that the Americans have also sent over.

It's little discoveries such as this one that make me feel like I'm back in the 3rd grade spending the night with my best friend Holly McCaleb. Up until that first slumber party, I thought every family ate beets and pickles with their dinner...my family always had them on the table. As I was helping her mom set the table for dinner, I asked "So, Mrs. McCaleb, where are your beets and pickles?" She gave me the strangest look and I think at that point, I had my first realization that people are different. I loved her family and always had a ton of fun at their house, so I came to the conclusion that it's OK if they don't have beets and pickles, they are still good people. When I find myself in a different culture, be it European or South American, and I think that some little thing may be a bit odd, I just say to myself "Well, some people like beets and pickles, and some people don't".

We are headed to Bogota, Colombia on Wednesday to spend some time with Edgar's family. I'm sure we will have so much fun...with a few beets and pickles thrown in.

Hope you Had a Great Valentine's Day!

Edgar and I didn't do anything really big this year. As Edgar says "Every day is Valentine's day..." Yeah, I know, a little on the cheesy side. I told him all I wanted was to not have to cook dinner or clean up the kitchen. It could be a restaurant, take-away, whatever. So he decided to cook for me...spaghetti, my favorite tomato/bufalo mozzarella/basil salad, bread, and a delicious wine. We topped it off with a chocolate dessert from Maison Blanc, a really good French bakery. He did a great job and I couldn't even tell he had been in the kitchen!

Our friends Matthew and Claire are in London this weekened, their final stop on a trip through France and Germany. We are so excited to catch up with these newlyweds and have someone stay in our guest room!

Have a great weekend!

Amsterdam-A City of Tolerance

I didn't quite know what to expect when visiting Amsterdam. It does have certain stereotypes attached to it, so I was ready to dig in deep and put them to the test.

The first thing you learn about Amsterdam is that its citizens are not necessarily open-minded, they are just tolerant. It has a history of tolerance dating back many centuries. During WWII, there was even tolerance toward Jews for much longer than other parts of Europe. Eventually history played out and the Jews faced the same fate as millions of other Jews. The Dutch are friendly and laid-back, if not blunt. I'll try not to get too graphic in this blog...just enough to get my points across.

First, marijuana. Technically it is illegal here, but the government has a "policy of tolerance" toward soft drug use. They must make it technically illegal to comply with foreign treaties, etc. You can carry and buy up to 12 grams of marijuana, hashish, etc...you know, the herbal plants. Hundreds of "coffeeshops" are spread throughout the city, where you can walk in, look at a menu, and order your choice of the day. You may even sit next to a granny and smoke it! Very recently, coffeeshops had to choose between selling pot and alcohol because it became illegal to sell the two in the same establishment. Most places actually opted for the alcohol, while other places just divided their joint (no pun intended) and had one side for alcohol and the other for, well...all the other. Hard drugs are stictly forbidden here, though. You will find many dealers trying to sell it, but police try to actively squash it...and trust me, they stay busy. Pot is as about as exciting to the Dutch as drinking beer. Surprisingly, Holland has a lower drug use rate than most other European countries, and definatley the US. It is a drug policy model that is frequently debated and has proven successful. I guess they have decided, if you can't beat'em, join'em...so they make it a public health issue, rather than a criminal issue, focusing instead on regulation and education.

The Red Light District. Now I can't say this one wasn't a shocker. The district dates back hundreds of years as the city is surrounded by canals and was once the major shipping channel in the area. Lots of sailors mean lots of...employment opportunities (no offense to any sailors out there). We only visited the area at night, but I've heard it isn't particularly subdued in the daytime either. When you turn the corner onto the main street, you see it. Red flourescent lights outlining hundreds of windows with women (and some men) sitting in chairs waiting...and tapping the glass, and yelling sweet nothings. They come in all shapes, sizes, nationalities, and ages. Some looked completely bored, while others look thrilled. Prostitution is legal here. The women are seen as entrepreneurs. They pay taxes, can go to prostitute school, and must get health exams. The Dutch decided that the oldest profession would never go away, so, once again, let's regulate it. They focus their efforts on underage and forced prostitution now. And, let's not forget the revenue! I could write loads on this topic, but I will let you research it yourself if you are interested. When the search pops up in your google history, just tell your husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend that Vonda told you to. There are the philosophical views toward prostitution. But I have to say, as you watched a man walk out a door...generally slightly timid with head down...while you know the woman was counting her money, it's hard to say for whom it was the most demeaning.

Anne Frank wrote her diary in a hidden room in Amsterdam. They have transformed the canalside location into a museum where you can walk in her footsteps, stand in her rooms, and gaze at her views. It is a great little museum and should be on your list if you are ever there.

In all fairness, to characterize Amsterdam as one big pot-smoking brothel would be like characterizing all of Texas as one big gun-slinging rodeo. There is so much more to the city than that for which it is prominently known. The look of the city is very reminiscient of Bruges, where we spent our anniversary. There are lots of canals, quaint houses, bicycles, and coffeeshops that actually sell coffee. It is a city for walking and we were beat at the end of the day, having walked from one end to the other. The electric street cars can easily take you around if your feet are on strike. I have to tell you that between the bicycles in the dedicated bike lanes, the street cars on slender rails of metal snaked in all different directions, and the car lanes that I never quite figured out, you have to look in a 360degree circle to make sure you won't get run over. This is a beautiful city. A lesson in tolerance, a study of contrasts, and a surreal glimpse of the past. It's no wonder it is one of Europe's most celebrated cities.

Finally Some Travel Plans!

We are putting our travel wheels in motion and have several trips lined up...

1) We decided last night to go to Amsterdam this weekend. We leave on Saturday morning and will return Monday morning at 7am. We fly into the London City Airport which in next to Canary Wharf where Edgar works, so he will have plenty of time to make his 10am meeting! I just booked our hotel this morning, so we are set to go. We probably won't see any tulips, but, it's Amsterdam...I can only imagine what we'll see!

2) Since we didn't make it to Colombia in December, we are headed to Bogota Feb 20-25to visit with Edgar's family and participate in the baptism of his new nephew, Nicolas. It will be a quick trip, but we, and Edgar's family, are so looking forward to seeing each other. I've got the Rosetta Stone on high alert.

3)I knew I packed my snow pants for a reason! March 8-11, we will attempt to ski the French Alps in a little village called Bourg St. Maurice. We will fly into the Lyon airport, where we will rent a car for the 2-hour journey to the resort. This will be my second ski trip and Edgar's first, so it should be a fun time. I am so excited to see the scenery!

We are planning something for April, as Edgar has promised me and himself a respite from his endless CFA study sessions (THANK GOD THIS IS HIS LAST TEST!). We are thinking Spain or Thailand, but haven't made any decisions. Anyone have any pointers? I'm thinking Spain in hopes of seeing the lavendar and beautiful flowers in bloom. I can taste the paella and sangria already!

Tourist Day-Little Venice

Wednesday was Tourist Day, so Charlie and I set out for a London Walk with bright blue skies, crisp air, and a shining sun. We opted for the Little Venice walk, which winds through the residential areas along Regent's Canal and the Grand Union Canal. This is a very posh area, boasting residents such as Earl Spencer (we stood in front of his house), brother of the late Princess Diana, Joan Collins, numerous British actors and actresses, and major players in the West End Theater District....think Andrew Lloyd Webber status.

The area reminded me alot of Paris, with white stucco facades and black iron balconies. Regent's Canal is home to many of the long canal boats, some are permanently moored, and is the place from which you can hop on a boat and take a nice 50 minute ride to the Camden Lock and Camden Markets. Richard Branson, czar of everything branded Virgin (i.e. Atlantic, music label, media, etc), used to live in a canal boat here, but apparently sold it a few years back. I am currently reading his autobiography, so I'm going to go back through the photos to see if I can identify which one was his-our guided didn't know (WOW! Something a London Walk guide didn't know!). After the walk, Charlie and I headed to a little cafe on the canal and enjoyed our panini's in the sunshine.

We learn lots of little interesting facts on our walks. Some of them I remember, and some of them leave as soon as they go in, but I will remember one factoid from this walk that I will pass along to you. The beginning of our walk had us stop in front of the Hotel Colonnade, birthplace of Alan Turing, the father of computer science and the man who cracked the Nazi code with Enigma machine during WWII. While he was very successful in life, he was very personally unhappy and committed suicide by biting into a poisonous apple. Ever looked at the logo for Apple computers? Yep, it's an apple with one bite taken out of it...an homage to Alan Turing? While the field is divided, it's a fun little urban myth to roll around and talk about.

What a Weekend!

Just want to catch everyone up on our very fun weekend...I know it's a little delayed, but better late than never...

Charlie's parents were in town, so she, her mom and I headed to the Borough Market to sniff out some stinky cheese and browse at all the foodie delights. That place is amazing and I just love to walk around and browse. You can find pretty much any type of food you may be looking for....from traditional to gourmet and from all different wordly locations-they even had Argentine empanadas. Last time I was at the Market was on a Saturday where the crowd was so thick, you were pressed for mobility. This time, we arrived as soon as they opened and beat the crowd. This is the oldest market in London and is where many top chefs flock for their weekend stock-up. In the middle of the market is an apartment building where Bridget Jones lived while writing her diary!

Saturday was our big West End Theater day! Edgar escorted us ladies to a production of Mamma Mia! The musical was written by the two guys from Abba (Abba is Swedish, Charlie is Swedish=good times!), and they managed to perfectly weave many of their popular songs into the storyline. The whole thing was very funny and was set on an island in Greece, which brought back many happy memories for Edgar and I. The singing, dancing, AND acting were terrific. Sometimes the acting is a bit dodgy with musicals as the cast are usually better at singing and dancing...but what a professional group. At the end, after all the bows and applause, they had the entire Prince of Wales theater on their feet clapping and dancing while they belted out Waterloo and Mamma Mia. Would highly recommend this one if they are passing through your town.

We had lunch on Sunday with with co-workers of Edgar's and their spouses. Georges and his wife Dorothy hosted us in their very cool home, and served up a fabulous lunch of Greek cuisine-Georges is Greek, so it was truly authentic. Their one-year old provided endless entertainment. Georges even sought out Edgar and my's favorite Greek dessert, galaktaputico (I'm sure I totally butchered the spelling of that, but that's how it is pronounced). We slept happy that night.