Rich and I watched the movie Julie and Julia recently. I can't say that I could make one recipe a day from Julia Child's cookbook (not sure if anyone has tasted my cooking!). But, I think it is reasonable to research and go on one big trip a month in 2010 until we end this chapter of our life together.
To that end, Elisabeth, Kate and I made a calendar for the next six months. We also made "tickets" to various countries, cities or sites we would like to visit before we leave. For Elisabeth, it is the Bridge in Avignon and Monet's garden in Giverny. For Kate, it is Disney Europe for her birthday. For Rich, a trip to Barcelona, Spain to introduce the girls to his friends Luis and Budapest to visit his friend, Nedzad. For me, it is a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia and Athens, Greece.
Here is our itinerary for the next six months. If you have any ideas or would like to join us at any point, we would love the company!
January 28 - 31st, 2010: Athens, Greece
We are flying to Greece for my 37th birthday! We are spending a day in Athens to visit the ruins and then to Delphi. Would love to go to Crete, but not sure if we have time.
February 12 - 21st, 2010: Paris, France
We are driving to Paris to spend a week in an apartment we rented on VBOT.com. It is near the Luxembourg Gardens and Musee d'Orsay.
March 10 - 14, 2010: London, England
Rich has his ACT conference in London that weekend. We are taking the Eurostar to London and renting an apartment through VBOT.com again. We would like to visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the Museum to see Van Gogh's famous sunflower painting. Would love to catch a show with the girls: Mary Poppins, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat or a ballet.
April 1 - 4, 2010: Rome, Italy
We would like to take Elisabeth and Kate to the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, and the Roman Forum. Elisabeth loves art and enjoyed Michelangelo's Pietat at the Church of Our Lady in Brugges, Belgium (the only Michelangelo sculpture outside of Italy). Would also like to take them to Tuscany to see Florence and Sienna. I think Elisabeth would enjoy the Botticelli paintings in Florence. Not sure if we are ready for the David sculpture.
April 8-19, 2010: Brussels, Brugges, Amsterdam, London - To Be Determined
My parents, Walt and Patty Keyes, are coming to visit in Brussels. Elisabeth and Kate are very excited. We are starting to plan their itinerary. Elisabeth told me today that "Papa Keyes wanted to visit Erasmus University" so I need to be sure to include it.
April 30 - May 2, 2010: Monet's Garden in Giverny, France
We read a book at the Falls Church City library called Linnea's Garden. The girls fell in love with it. We're planning to drive to Giverny and stay in a B&B.
May 12 - 16, 2010: Barcelona, Spain
Will it be too hot in May to visit Barcelona? Perhaps we should go in April. Rich would like to show the girls where he lived and worked in Barcelona and introduce them to his friend, Luis. Of course, we would like to show them the La Sagrada Familia and the Picasso museum.
May 21 - 24, 2010: Avignon and Arles, France
Elisabeth would like to visit the Bridge in Avignon. Thanks to Waterford at Mount Daniel in Falls Church for planting the seed!
July 1 - July 22nd: Germany, Switzerland, and Austria
Rich and I are big fans of Rick Steve's travel books. He has a 22 day excursion along the Romantic Road and other regions in Germany, as well as Austria and Switzerland.
July 22nd - July 31st: De Haan, Belgium or a Beach in France?
We are considering renting a house in De Haan, Belgium (where we first started this year long journey) or in France on the beach. I can't believe it is the end of our journey or is it the beginning?
If only we had another month (and funds!)...I would love to take a cruise to St. Petersburg or go to the beach in Croatia.
