Let's Go Dutch...

Wow. Do you ever have those experiences that are so full and amazing that when people ask you to describe it you can't? I mean, how am I supposed to write about my very first visit to Europe? Well- here I go. A VERY abridged account. List style. Cause that's how I roll. I present to you, my family friendly experiences in the Netherlands.

* First stop, Rotterdam. We stayed with our great friends Chad and Suzanne who showed us their beautiful city and took us to some great places to eat ( I heart food). We saw some amazing architecture and learned about the devastating bombing of the city during WWII. We also learned how to NOT get hit by the fast moving bicycles that have no regard for human life.

* Going to Amsterdam. And in ONE day seeing the Anne Frank House, watching the Netherlands win a soccer game while cheering them on with loads of intoxicated Dutch people wearing bright orange wigs, walking the Red Light District (hubba hubba!), drinking flavored gin from an establishment that has been at its current location since the dinosaurs, eating these weird pancake thingys that have bacon, cheese and a fried egg on top (which were DELICIOUS), and exploring a city that constantly battles the sea (resulting in many of the beautiful old homes leaning at dangerous looking angles), and walking along some of the most beautiful canals I have ever seen (granted to actually get into the water would result in a round of immunizations).

* Going BACK to Rotterdam to stand in the rain whilst cheering on THE TOUR DE FRANCE! Say what?! Yes. We stood along the guardrails as the Tour de France Prologue started in Rotterdam. THIS close to Lance Armstrong. Unfortunately I blinked and he was gone. But he was there, and so was I. And a whole bunch of other people. But still.

* Watching how carefree the Dutch are while biking along their historic streets. They load their infants onto a small seat on the front of their bike and cycle along as their tiny child slumps and hangs precariously as they bump along the stone streets. Sweet Lordy. I could never have done that with Austin. Even better, the mom with 4 kids and groceries in what looks like a huge box with wheels attached to the front or back of the bike. I thought that maybe the talk of how much the Dutch love their bicycles was slightly exaggerated. Um. No. They really do love bicycles. Maybe more than their children.

So there. And here are a few pictures that I had on my point and shoot camera and a handful that Chris sent me. The very best ones are on Chris' fancy pantsy camera in Germany. But you will see them soon enough!

Wooden shoes!

Bicycle parking.

Above one of the beautiful canals in Amsterdam. Can you find the naked lady in the picture?

Just kidding!

Fabulous old homes along the canal. They control the water levels with amazing precision.

Chris and I at the lane where the cyclists rode past on the Tour. It finally stopped raining.

Alberto Contador. Eh.

And- LANCE FRIGGIN' ARMSTRONG!

The Apartment

Here's what y'all have been waiting for! The apartment in Germany! We had our own version of House Hunters International for two days, and to be honest, the choices we had were pretty awesome. I had to get pretty nit picky about the line up so we could make our top 3. The one we chose was actually the very first apartment we looked at, and somehow I knew. I have a great feeling when I walk in the door, and the space is newly renovated in a traditional German home.

Some of my favorite things about the house hunt:

* When the Realtor and our House Hunting Helper would speak to each other in German for more than 5 minutes and then the translation we got was " She says the laundry is in the basement". Really? That's all?

* When we saw an apartment that was the top floor of a house. You took a long winding staircase up to the top, and the balcony was very narrow with a great view of the death drop below. I almost peed my pants when the Realtor tried to get me onto said balcony. It got even better when she motioned to an old wooden ladder in the hallway and said that the guest room was "up there" and "go look". Note to self, mention "DEBILITATING FEAR OF HEIGHTS" on application form to avoid this situation in the future.

* The apartment in a former Communist building. Sparse, very square, and the creepiest basement area ever. East German Police interrogation rooms much?

* The apartment that was pretty nice, but smelled like a cheap Indian Restaurant. I couldn't get over the smell. But now I want Indian food.

* The fact that we saw 2 closets in the 9 apartments we visited. 2.

* The apartment building that was about 20 miles into the wild outside of Dresden. We drove up some crazy winding and wooded roads that made WV proud. And when we got there the Realtor says, "Are you sure you want to look at this apartment? It is very far from everything. Then again you could get a horse." The landlord was a tiny nervous German man who spoke swiftly to us in German while gesturing madly at all of the things that should make us love the space. Then as we left he kept of mimicking us signing the paperwork. Sorry sir, only if we get a free horse.

* Most apartments/ houses do not have the following:

light fixtures (wires hanging from the ceiling), a kitchen (pipes sticking out of the wall), closets (everyone uses wardrobes. I better not find a Lion and Witch in mine.), no blinds (usually in US apartments you at least get the cheapo mini blinds), no AC (sweet heavens help me), and an itty bitty refrigerator (college dorm room size). And thats IF you have a kitchen.

* If you like an apartment, you then enter into a month long negotiation with the landlord. Fortunately Chris' company handles that part.

And here are a few of the pictures that 75% of you went straight to without reading my amazing commentary above. For shame.

Ground Floor 120 sqm. Two Floors. Open Floorplan.

Living Room, Study, 3 Bedrooms, Built in Kitchen, 2 Bathrooms, Parquet Flooring, Parking Lot, Balcony, Shared Garden Area, 2 Blocks from Tram.

Ze Floorplan.

Ze front of ze house.

Artsy fartsy photo of ze house.

Ze back of ze house.

Ze kitchen. Ze refrigerator is ze cabinet door that is slightly open.

Ze living room and dining room.

Ze study on ze bottom floor with ze stairs to ze right.

Ze master bedroom.

One of ze bathrooms.

One of ze bedrooms.

When I upload the photos on my point and shoot camera I'll add those too!

The Taylor's Go International

Soooooooooo. The Taylor's are relocating to Germany for a while. It is a great opportunity, and the company Chris is working for has been helping us get ready, settled and adjusted. I have been M.I.A. for the last few weeks because Chris and I were in Europe visiting friends and doing some some house hunting! I am now home, and back to diaper duty. Austin, Mom and I are finishing up some last minute things here in NY and then heading back to West-By-God Virginia for a while while Chris completes training in Germany. Then, mid August we three take the LONGEST STINKING FLIGHT to our new home! We've had so much excitement, that I'll try to do a few posts regarding the different things that have been going on since I last posted. Stay tuned!