Vienna, Austria

Reporting a few highlights from Vienna, Austria, gathered during a brief phone call with Brian today. A work trip brought him there for the rest of this week and he had an opportunity to complete a walking tour and grab some dinner today. From what he told me, I guess he was in Stephansplatz, a huge plaza in the center of the city. He mentioned a gigantic cathedral, likely Stephensdom, one of the largest cathedrals in the world. He also said it was very busy, because the Opera was nearby. It sounded like a lovely day both weather-wise and touristy.

Blog Name

I guess I should have titled our blog something slightly different. I set it up very quickly when I was initially inspired to write a blog. Here are some more appropriate titles:

* LisaBrianLucyJuliaInBrussels - Brian is clearly involved.
* LisaLucyJuliaInEurope - You have already read about a planned trip to Germany; more locations to follow.
* LaCroninsInBrussels - this is a nod to a nickname that my friend Sara Cormeny gave to our family years ago.

Now that it is all set up I'm not going to change it. I just wanted to acknowledge that I perhaps did not pick the best name.

Hauptbahnhof

Why a German word, you might wonder. As part of our stay in Brussels, we are taking advantage of being in Europe by visiting a few other places. We'll no doubt take a plethora of day trips around Belgium and into neighboring lands. We also have at least two longer weekends in the works, maybe more.

The first such journey we're planning now is a visit to Frankfurt, Germany (more precisely the town of Butzbach and I think a smaller section called Pohl-Gohns), where we'll stay with the Imig family: Michael, a friend and former colleague from AAMC, his lovely wife Silke, and their three children. The girls had met their oldest son a couple of years ago when they visited Maryland and DC; they were charmed by his German accent and suitably impressed by his fluent English.

We'll spend three plus days with them, and I understand there will be lots of great outdoor explorations. We'll have to learn a few words of German too, to put forth a good effort for our hosts. I recall how to say "I speak little German" from visiting there 20 plus years ago, and maybe how to count close to 10, goodbye, good evening, thank you. I now know how to say train station - bahnhof. There seem to be some fairly direct trains from Brussels to Frankfurt from my search online.

Speaking of foreign language practice, our French practice has stalled a bit. The girls seem a little intimidated so I think we'll pause for a couple of days. Or I'll go the opposite direction and buy a CD so we can learn during long drives back and forth to tennis camp in College Park, MD, this week.

Bonsoir and guten nacht.

Journals, Art Supplies and Bag Selection

The girls and I are in full preparation mode. Last evening, after treating ourselves to Georgetown Cupcakes (likely the last before our trip: J & L had chocolate cubed; Mommy branched out with key lime), we went to Plaza Artist Materials in Bethesda. The girls selected some watercolor pencils, three nifty woodless colored pencils, glue stick, decorative papers for scrapbooking and art, and new paintbrushes. I needed some new watercolors, brushes and a watercolor paper notebook.

We had such fun selecting our journals which will also function as scrapbooks and art sketchbooks. The girls chose nifty ones with paintable canvas covers. I picked a plain black one with quality paper and many pages.

Today we thought about backpacks, tote bags and purses, and what to pack in which bag for our flight, for day trips and for scooting around Brussels for shorter outings. All fun planning!

Last evening, Lucy said that she was excited before, but now that we got these supplies she really looks forward to writing, drawing and painting in her journal and to exploring during our travels. I think these detailed preparations are making the trip more real for them. And for me, too.

Learning French at Home

No Rosetta Stone software or intensive course at the language center in Bethesda for us. We're learning basic French at home, mommy style. We have little books, nothing formal, Collins Easy Learning French Phrasebook, as our guide.

Today's attempted phrases and words include:
* I don't understand.
* I speak very little French.
* various fruits, vegetables and foods.
* names of stores like bakery and cheese shop.
* Do you have...

We have already mastered please, thank you, my name is ..., I am "y" years old, hello and goodbye. Lucy is getting better at her nasal "un" sounds. Julia just sounds so cute speaking French. I remember about 1 percent of my seventh grade French. It is all fun.

We agree that one has to learn a long sentence in French to be able to say, "I speak very little French." Maybe we will take a class of conversational French when we first arrive in Brussels.

Taking Transit to the EC

Brian is taking transit to his job at the European Commission (EC). Appropriate of course for someone who works in transportation! We were fortunate to find an apartment near the Merode Metro (subway) stop, which is 4 stops (I think) from his office, without any transfers. You can see from the picture that there are buses and light rail (tram) options too.

The girls and I will be taking transit all over Brussels since we won't have a car.

Celebrating Brian's Arrival

Brian's work team at the European Commission is celebrating "the arrival of Brian Cronin and St. John's Day" on Friday with champagne at 16:30 in the boss's office.

I think he's going to like it there.

First Pic

Brian sends this first picture from Brussels, the Arc de Triomphe in the Parc Cinquantenaire which is about 2 blocks from our apartment there. If you are interested you can read some history on the park and the arc.

Julia says she looks forward to doing some drawings or paintings of the fountain and arc when we are there.  She thinks we might need some larger paper in addition to doing sketches in our travel journals (to be purchased).

Phase One Begins

Phase One of our family adventure began today.  Brian left this afternoon for Brussels.  He is going to start work with the European Commission on Wednesday after a day to adjust to the time zone and get settled in our apartment there.  He said his goals for tomorrow are to find the apartment, go to the grocery store or market, find some coffee, and nap.

We three girls handled his departure well I thought.  The girls got home from their half-day art camp this afternoon and they read while I made dinner.  We ran some errands including a trip to the library, grocery store, cupcakes and stopping at a friend's house briefly.

We have finalized our three reading lists for the trip; I'll have each of us write a reading list post soon.

The only snafu from Brian's departure from home was that the green strap which was to hold one of his suitcases more secure fell off before he even got down our steps to the driveway.  At least we did not lose it since it belongs to my in-laws.

And so it begins.

We Three Girls

Brian has a work assignment with the European Commission and we three girls are tagging along for five of the weeks (he'll be there 8).  Since Brian will be working, I thought it would be fun for us girls to blog about our time there, including our preparations from Bethesda, Maryland (home) before we leave (and after Brian leaves).

Join us in our fun by checking in our adventure.