Hello All: Welcome to my blog! I’m not a blogger nor a writer, but this blog is to share our wonderful experiences with you! I hope you enjoy it! (FYI, this is published under the CapA website privately, so disregard the navigation links above).

Our First Month of Haarlem: LOVING IT!

Our wonderful street in a perfect location: Scheepmakersdijk

Our house is on the 2nd & 3rd floor of the 2nd brick building from the white building on the corner!

Sebastian peeking out of his bedroom window to Zuidam Cafe down below

Our home is great ... lots of light, charming, cozy, overlooking the Spaarne River and main Cathedral! We have about 1300 square feet, 2 bathrooms and very high ceilings so it feels bigger and it is all we need! The kids have a 5-8 min bike ride to school, the City Center and train station are both a 5 min ride. My gym is a 4 min bike ride and all the grocery stores are from 4- 10 min ride. No need for a CAR!

First day of school, kids cycling from our garage in the back alley

Daily Life: We went 3 weeks without being in a car before taking a road trip to the north coast of NL to a province called Freisland. So, most days we are cycling and walking 5-10 miles! The kids have so much independence riding to/from school, meeting friends in the city center and even going to the store for me! I go grocery shopping everyday ... due to the small refrigerator and carrying everything home in my bike basket and on my back! The markets are great and there is quite a variety so usually I go to a couple per day depending on what I am purchasing.

International School Haarlem: The kids’ school day is 8:50-3:50 and with a short commute, do not have to get up until 7:30am and get home around 4:00 unless they have their clubs after school. Every Wednesday is early dismissal at 12:50! Ellerbe’s grade is the oldest class and she is one of ten students from all over the world. Sebastian’s grade has about 30 students split into 2 classes, again with kids from all over. Both kids really like the school, their teachers and friends. Ellerbe was elected Class president and is in the Debate and Math Club….Math is called Maths here:). Sebastian is in the basketball club and is also a member of a local basketball club where he is the ONLY non-Dutch kid! We are so proud of him for being on a team where he didn’t know anyone or the language! The team players, coaches and parents have been so welcoming and nice to us!

Haarlem: Pronounced “Haaaaaarlem” in Dutch is BEAUTIFUL! A mini Amsterdam surrounded by canals with all of the shopping, international restaurants and services you could need. AND, it literally takes less than 30 minutes to leave my house, bike to the train station and take a train to Amsterdam. We have gone for dinner, church, brunch and a Sunday Museum visit…David goes about everyday when in town. Note: he has traveled about 50 % of the time we have been here!

Beach: Bloemendaal aan Zee is a beautiful beach 5 miles from our home! We biked out there the first 2 weekends we were here…which for the first time was terrifying….not knowing all of the cycling rules and motor scooters sharing the same biking lanes. But, once there you can enjoy restaurants literally on the beach, rent chairs and even have open beverages if you like…And, leave your top at home if you like!

Other than the dunes in the background and restaurants right on the beach, it’s just like Isle of Palms!!!

Our First Trip Living in Europe …. Spain!!!

San Sebastian … In Basque Country

First, know in advance if you are going during ‘Semana Grande’, a week long celebration with thousands of people! We landed during that week, which we did not realize! I would say there are pros and cons … Pros: parades, concerts, and the best fireworks I have ever seen, all choreographed to music! Cons: the crowds and waiting in very long lines for “pintxos” ( Basgue word for tapas).

Highlights of San Sebastian:

Being surrounded by the beauty of the Bay of Biscay
Pinxtos in the Old Quarter
The hike up Monte Urgull to its summit at the Castilla de la Mota
Playa de la Concha where I have never seen so many people on the beach and the sun is full blast until 8:00:30
Watching the Finale Firework contest while having wine (legally) on the beach.

One of the many beautiful views from the beaches of San Sebastian

Zaroutz…..a surfing town 15 min from San Sebastian

Ellerbe surfed and Sebastian and I loved the awesome waves in the very cool, but refreshing water!

Ellerbe surfing!! Even in August, wetsuit required!

Chillida-Leku … Reminds us of Storm King, one of my favorite places in NY. Chillada-Leku is on open space where one can walk amongst the sculptures of Eduardo Chillida and visit the restored farmhouse which houses some of his other works.

Onati and Arantzazu Sanctuary……Onati is a small town dating back to the Medieval period which lies in a valley in the middle of Basque Country. Above the town is Arantzazu Sanctuary perched atop a mountain. The drive is approximately a one hour gorgeous ride from San Sebastian.

Oma Forest ... An enchanted pine forest created by the famous artist Augustin Ibarrola in 1984. The walk is beautiful but steep at times…taking you through a little village to reach a unique setting of land art where shapes, lines and colors form different figures depending on how you look through the forest.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe ...This idyllic place is in the middle of the Basque Coast joined to the coast by a stone bridge and a huge staircase leading to a chapel at the top. The chapel today is not the original one, however it is believed the first hermitage was built in the same spot in the 9th century. At the beginning of the steps, is a footprint said to have been left by John the Baptist.

Santander

Santander is also on the Bay of Biscay, but not in Basgue country. So we had Tapas there! While here, we really didn’t see any other Americans or hear much English really at all. We learned that while San Sebastain is very International, Santander is mainly a Spanish destination. We stayed at a lovely hotel, Eurostars Hotel Real, sitting high on a hill overlooking the bay.

Highlights of Santander:

Walking the grounds of the Royal Palace
The shopping and food
The beaches

We are looking forward to our next adventures and excited to share them all with you!