Entries Tagged 'Europe' ↓

A few days ago the boys and I spent the day at a local attraction called Parc Paradisio.  Initially, this was a bird park and garden, but over the years has grown to be quite a zoo.  The site is built on the grounds and building remains of a magnificent abbey. With crowds milling about and a temperamental camera, I cannot do the parc justice.  But here are some shots from our day for you, nonetheless.

a portion of the Chinese gardens

mysterious rat/deer/kangaroo hybrid -- any suggestions?

the biggest maple I've ever seen... you have to be there to understand how huge these trees are.

elephant totem

Borobudur model?

Hindu temple on-site -- to be opened next season.

images of Ganesha abound

does he dare?

The pink building seen behind Gamma in this last shot today houses the aquarium.  Go here to see some of the fantastic animal life to be found at Parc Paradisio, as well as a few of the monuments.

You know those “homeschoolers” who always laugh at the ill-fitting moniker?  You know, the ones that are never actually home, and are always out exploring nature, frequenting museums, and taking more classes than your average college freshman?  Yeah… that’s not us.

We’re homebodies.  At least, I should say, Alpha and I are homebodies.  Gamma seems to follow suit, although whether that’s due to nature or nurture is debatable.  Epsilon has yet to make his preferences known.

So, most of our time, we actually ARE at home.  And I think that’s fine.  But I’m also trying to get out and do more with the kids, to expose them to what our area has to offer.  This week, we ventured out to the PASS, a science adventure park a mere ten-minute drive from our house.  It’s a former colliery, turned into a great hands-on museum.  Although, obviously, all the info and audio-bits are in French and Dutch, the areas of the museum geared for the younger set were relatively easy for me to translate on the fly.  Not that the kids cared about the text.  They were more concerned with trying out absolutely everything.

There’s lots more to explore, including a weather observatory that Gamma’s excited about, so I think this was a good find and we’ll be back frequently.    Where to venture next?

…some highlights from our most recent trip to Scotland.  We base ourselves in Fort Augustus, a wonderful albeit tourist-filled town at the base of Loch Ness.  I find it funny that we scorn the “tourists” and wish they’d clear the streets and leave us in peace.  We’ve been there enough we feel like locals.  But that’s probably what all the tourists say!  Next year we’re hoping to go up in the winter and really slip off the tourist radar.

Without further ado…

We’re back, and ready to hit the books, so to speak.  Scotland was…. awesome.  Incredible.  Bonny.  Alpha and I spent a good portion of our time there trying to figure out if there was really, truly, a way we could stay there permanently.  We both know it’s simply not practical, but, oh!  In our hearts we desperately wish it were!  It was two weeks of relaxation, luscious surroundings, enjoying each other and the kids, and visiting with good friends.  And the bonus?  No internet.  Funny, I imagined I’d go stir crazy without it, but it was wonderful.  No constant e-mail checking, no blog updates, no mindless celebrity gossip.  I’ve actually been loathe to sit down at the computer since we returned home on Sunday.

School has started.  By the end of day one, I was quite literally re-evaluating the local schools.  Epsilon turned two while we were on hiatus, and has hit the terrible twos with a passion bordering on madness.  He’s turned into a screaming-hitting-fighting-whining machine.  And Gamma, well Gamma has perfected the fine art of backtalk.  And ignoring one’s parents.  And making glaring faces.  And blatantly refusing do anything that’s asked of him.

Day two was a little better, but it’s been a tough return to reality.  And let me assure you, we’re not attempting to do hard-hitting, sit in your seat academics.  I don’t think at this point it’s a matter of what we’re doing.  It’s a matter of me trying to establish a little parental control over the situation. Of re-establishing boundaries that have somehow disappeared somewhere along the way.  When did that happen?  Neither of the boys has ever really challenged us before.  Now, to have both of them doing so at once, is really difficult.

OK, enough complaining.  I’m just going to pretend I’m back in our cottage in Fort Augustus, back when I thought the behavior issues would disappear when they got home to familiar surroundings.  Imagine that!  I’m 37, and I’m still that naive!

the view out the kitchen window

the River Oich, as seen from our living room

canal-side, as seen from the living room

I’ll post a link to photos from the trip in a day or two, when I get organized.  It’s going to take some time to get back in the swing of things.

This month, Alpha is taking an immersion French course at the local université.  He says it’s kicking his ass and that it’s a complete waste of time, obviously geared for someone with far more French experience than he.  And yet he’s coming home with all kinds of new words and phrases daily.  I think he’s getting more out of it than he realizes.

Rather than driving into the city daily to drop him off and pick him up, or him attempting to find parking within the city limits, we purchased bus passes for the month.  Unlimited travel within our zones for an entire month for just 27 euros each.  Both kids travel for free.  We find this to be a remarkably good deal.  Aside from the obvious savings on fuel and parking fees, you simply can’t beat the convenience.  I don’t have to worry about parking, or loading and unloading Epsilon from his stroller.  So many times I’ve wanted to take the kids out and about and go exploring in the town, Mons, Belgium, but haven’t wanted the hassle of getting there.  It’s been wonderfully convenient — so much so that we’re considering getting a yearly pass.

So a few days ago the kids set out to really begin exploring the city.  Here’s a teaser photo — the local collégiale church — St. Waudru.  We didn’t venture in today, but I’ve visited before.  It really is a beautiful gothic church, and not the tourist throng that some of the larger European churches can be.

That’s Gamma in the picture, more interested in running around than in getting his picture taken with a piece of history.  Also in the background is the Belfry.  More on that in coming posts.  Today we simply walked around, seeing what there was to see.  It’s high time we really learned about our local area and took advantage of all that it has to offer.  While we’re educating ourselves, we’ll give you a brush with European History as well!  Come back soon to read about our exciting European adventures!