It all went well. When we arrived, we were swift to repack our carry-on chaos and deplane. No one fell down the stairs to the tarmac. Caroline did not throw up on the bus that shuttled us to the terminal. All of our four checked bags appeared promptly. Steve’s cell phone could access the internet after rebooting, and we could find online directions to the Utrecht Taxi desk. They had our reservation, and the driver arrived within ten minutes. Our driver was an honest and interesting conversationalist from Kabul, Afghanistan. Though his van couldn’t make it onto our narrow lane in medieval Utrecht Centrum, he found it on the second try and we only had to lug our baggage 25 yards to our front door, where our realtor and the homeowners were waiting with flowers, wine, espresso, bread, ham, cheese, and fruit to show us around our amazing rental. imageWithin hours, our kids were in bathing suits, frolicking with the neighbor kids in their back garden sprinkler. Our neighbor came over to ask what our policies were concerning snacks given between meals. “We generally say no candy, but we give each other’s children a rice cracker or something to drink,” she shared. “If the garden gate is open, that means the kids can come in to play. If it’s closed, then the family is going out.” The ten houses on our block share a locked back garden divided into plots, so the kids can safely play in the whole area without traffic, dogs, or passersby. imageThis, need I write it, is a house more wonderful than we could have imagined. Also, the sun was shining. Over dinner al fresco on the patio, I taught the girls what the phrase “I’m pinching myself” connotes.

8 thoughts on “Arrival”

  3. What a wonderful welcome to your new life! Safe and uneventful travel, instant friends and neighbors and a forecast for sun for most of the week. It is hard to imagine anything nicer. We love you! Wingfield and Fritz 🙂

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    1. Yes, Wingfield, I keep thinking about how meaningful the friendships that you built in Palau are. I need to make some effort here and spend time with our neighbors. I’m not all that patient with small talk, so maybe I can think of something to do together, or maybe I’ll be ok with small talk in small doses each evening that the weather is nice and people gather and chat in the back gardens. Also kind of like the common grill by the pool in Ladera?

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  4. Thanks Erica. Yes, this home with nice neighbors is better than we could have hoped for. Today we took a fun paddle boat ride around the city’s canals. I’m still learning my way around.

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