Summer 2023 - Juan Dolio

The universal eternal balance in life..It was evident that after a week high in paradise there had to come the descent..We left Punta Cana with hearth warming greetings from our newly made friends and hopped into a 10-seater with Mr. Santander who guided us the next 2,5 hours through the penisula to our next destination called Juan Dolio close to Santo Domingo. Santander suggested avoiding the highway being dangerous and hence we took the country side road through the local villages. It was a culture shock for my children, they had never seen poverity to this extent. My son could not keep up with his questions himself: "Mom, why are the cows so skinny, why is there so much rubbish everywhere, why are there many houses unfinished?" Indeed, it was a good opportunity to discuss with a fresh 8 year old about the differences in the living conditions in the world and realize the very priviledged life we are blessed with in Europe. A memorable scenery was a road disappearing in front of us as the storm Fiona had wiped away the bridge in the middle of a village not so long ago. We could hear from Santander the sadness and seriosity in his voice when speaking of these storms which hit the Dominican Republic more hazardiously and stronger than before. I was looking around the shabby huts thinking they offer no chance of sheltering what so ever. In a village Santander stopped to get some cold red bull. Apparently he had been driving already several rounds this morning and felt tired. This is not something I wanted to hear as he was driving the most precious package of mine. I had to be creative. Warm coca cola did not do the deal, but a half pack of kids Haribos was accepted by our young driver (and he finished it in one go). What else did we learn from Santander - family is important as long as you bring in money (.), monogamy does not exist and the caribian love has no boundaries (..), the president is corrupt gathering all the wealth to his family, and last but not least, Punta Cana is a a hub for international criminals in escape (with lots of wealth) hinting the international law does not reach this distant corner of the world. As we get closer to our destination Santander starts to inquire why we had to leave our previous hotel, which made me a bit uneasy. I notice there is no security neither any gate to access the hotel, contrary to the heavy protocol in place with reservation checks and armed security guards in our previous home away. The last glimple of Santander as he waves good buy to us and whispers to me "cuidado" "be careful". So here starts the second part of our experience in the Caribian. We are completely immerged to a latin movie scene as we enter the hotel lobby late in the afternoon. It is super hot and humid. The place is packed and bustling with people with their luggage waiting to leave or arrive, the reception has a long line to wait, people are making lots of noises (positive I like to think) and merengue beats in the background. We look at each other with my husband and I ask whether he had already paid for the hotel. He nods. We wait for our turn (while I take my son three times to the toilet - the first travel diarrhea, not at all surprising given the mix of cream cakes he ate three times a day for a week..). The evening did not get much better - the hotel had not received our reservation for the second room and it took 2 hours in the managers office, 50 eur call to the internation travel customer service. 100 dollar deposit to get an extra room for the time the agency clarified the mistake (not theirs, the hotels). Thanks to my husbands Spanish and determination we ended the day in two rooms, kids showered and fed with warm dominican dinner. Oh, and the evening trip to the roadside kiosk where I was ripped off 7 dollars for a dusty cleaning product (had to be paid to be able shower my babies). We were happy and tired bunch to lay down for the night, believe me. As the new day started things have started looking better. The 4 stars hotel is actually 2 stars in Europen standards, but having recovered from the initial shock, we decided to change our frame of mind and look for the positives. The rooms are modern, with fan & airco and quality wifi. The beach with the Caribean scenery just in front is breathtaking. The personnel is authentic and friendly, they clearly love children very much. The atmosphere is unpretentious, the food in the restaurant is local and hygiene is prioritised. Renting kayaks and masks are free of charge. I find myself completelg mesmerised by observing the local families so much full of positive vibes, noise and laughter seemingly enjoying each other (probably bringing all their 2 cents in if to believe Santander). The personnel in the restaurant are efficient and are not seemingly running after dollars, they are just busy doing their job. We had a great morning snorkeling with the kids and witnessed the marine life still very much vivid on the coast: crabs, morenas, ray fish and little yellow rainbow fishes I think. And we made our first collection of little shells. I ask myself - what better could I offer to my kids and ourselves than discovering the culture in its authenticity, isn't this the very reason of traveling and to also experience a bit of adventure? Enriching life experiences. (Provided that we stay healthy and safe this week..).

Summer 2023 - Punta cana 2

Our last day in this blessed paradise is in the horizon. The whole family has very much fell in love with the place. The week has been rich in all senses: the warmth of both the wheather and the dominicans, the lushness of the nature, the variaty of food to meet all possible tastes and beyond, the good energy of the place with many young families around. Not to forget the carabian rhytms and yesterday's night beach party with dance and fire show, which will stay in our memories for a long time. The kids have been taken to sing karaoke, get their face painted, experience their first dives. They have made new friends from Venezuela, United States, Greece and with locals - language is no issue with this bunch who manage well in English and Spanish. They are curious to see different families - the common thread being all appear to be united and having great time together. For us, it is also the first time for a long time we are actually all together in the water at the same time, throwing balls or kids doing saltos. The water is so incredibly warm, it is the only place to stay for the long ours of the days. After the intense work centered winter I was already worried my heart was no longer able to sing or feel the bliss,but suddenly I feel again a re-connection, happiness and joy.

Summer 2023 - Happy birthday in Punta Cana

For the first time I thought I would not be able to make it this time - pack the life of 6 for 4 weeks in just 2 suitcases. After 2 days of re-adjustments (and prioritisation) and a few extra kg bought we managed to close the bags..My usual travel fever has been full on for weeks now resulting in 4 am sweats of forgotten vaccins, hasty notes on the "to-do" list by the bed side drawar and nightmares having read of "bermudas triangle" to my son as evening tales. We are, after all, going to cross the big Sea tempting the first long-haul flight with the kids. I have reasoned to myself that it is not actually much longer than our usual journey up North (flight to Hki or Madrid - 7h train/8h plain). Our biggest concern was how to entertain our 5 yo.in the plane.I was picturing the tantrums in the DR immigration point 1 am in the morning. And? Maybe because of the intense pre-visualisation, when the difficult moment happened I had the much needed chupachups in my purse.Yey! At the end, the trip went flawlessly - flights on time, transport waiting with our name on the sign, hotel reception welcoming. The first few days can be described with positive superlatives only. I get moved by the joy of our kids discovering the tropical nature (and wheather, the humidity..!) the breathtaking choico of Food in the restaurant...I knew my son's appetite is insataible, but have to admit my jaw dropped when my little girl finished a full donut for breakfast. After her cereals and minny mouse pancake..on the other hand, given the humid warmth, we stayed all practically 8 hours in the pool yesterday. And learned to dance Bachata into the Carabian night. Reasons for a good appetite! Today was probably THE most important and high-pressure day of the whole summer (and contributing to my panicky packing) - my sons's 8th birthday! He had been raisin his expectations for several weeks now, worried about gifts and cake and suprises and whether they would actually make it to the Caraibes. So we had conversations with probably 5 different persons at the hotel yesterday to ensure they would make the day for him. The happiness in his little face when 10 dominicans come singing to him! The day reached its perfection for him with the very first diving lesson in the pool (competing the top place with the huge police car with blinking lights we carried from home). These moments are irreplacable and make all the efforts worth it. Feel so ever grateful and relieved.

Travel tales - Spring 2023

The first week of June is behind and only today did I take the first dip to the pool or "loose my winter coat" as we say in Finland! We are a month late with starting the summer season this year due to the very cool late spring here in Belgium. Admittedly for us, this has not been really an issue given the opportunities to travel to seek the sun ourselves in the pas 6 months: Alps in carnaval, Lanzarote at Easter, Palma de Majorca and Orléans in May and Lisbon in June..The kids have had new holiday planning from school this year and we have been grateful to follow them through. We were pleased to have seen Lanzarote before Majorca, given the impressive contrasts both of these beautiful islands offered. Lanzarote with its rugged, lunar-like, volcanic paysage and Majorca with the lushness, hills and beautiful white sandy beaches. We stayed in Lanzarote in an appartment in the capital by the beach and realized it was a very good choice given the authenticity and local life compared to the busy vibes of the saturated hotel chains in the South. Food was absolutely brilliant and very affordable and we all enjoyed the fresh sea food and ice cream to the fullest! The wheather in March took us also by surprise, as we got to enjoy Nordic summer temperatures of 23 degrees celsius. The highlight of the vacation was the celebration of our baby girl's fifth birthday, which will certainly stay in our memories❤ The following month went by in a flash at work and school routines and thus we did not have much time to prepare for our May holiday in Majorca. What a positive surprise ! Beuatiful lush nature, pittoresque hill-top villages with authentic artisanal crafts. The people were - as everywhere in Spain - very loving towards our children and family. This time we had given in to the kids wish to stay in a hotel, although we did hire a ca and moved around a lot, they got to enjoy the pool and kids disco in the evening. Our favorite spots turned out to be Pollenca and its Sunday market to celebrate the Mother's day, Fornaluxt, Alcúdia beach and Portocolomn. This island is definitely worth a return trip!

Heartwarming connections

What a weekend behind! Actually what a beginning of year! Work wise it has been extremely intense period of the cycle with deliverables and deadlines on daily basis. Additional pressure from an important presentation to prepare and present on a complex issue to the whole directorate. In compensation, I do get unique opportunities to meet with the top of the ranks, as the Friday lunch meeting which turned out to be one of the most interesting discussions on current affairs. I cherish those moments and they do resource me in a surprising way. I think I have managed well. I always measure my success in terms of how patient I can remain with my children and husband The busier it get the more intentially I need to dedicate regular sessions of quiet in my daily routines, to stay calm in front of the waves of my tribe. It is really great times though. This week I attended gym competitions and last week swimming competitions. We practice the multiplication tables with another one. Weekends are 100% family time. This weekend was a peculier one, as we actually had a unique dinner invitation (I think generally there is post-covid inertia) with new friends. The uniqueness came on one part that we were the only foreigners among the 17 persons around the table, which is the first time in the 20 years here. Another friend said it is a sign you have become belgians! Another surprise was that as the evening advanced, I realised I was in the middle of this countries nobility. For a Nordic it seems rather unreachable as rare as they are, but in this country - as one of them rightly said - there is extensive wealth. Summa summarum, despite, the language, cultural and class barriers, I spend a very lovely and inspiring evening being immersed in the intriguing life of the nobles. We discussed about their family trees, hetage stories, children (all of us had 4 children) divorces (they seemed to be common, as was the high number of children, and marrying always among the noble lines).The Duke sitting opposite me had a huge castle, the one next to me was an antiquitaire as profession emptying also other people's castles. The duke on my left had just arrived from horse racing. I was amazed to what extent they were so charismatic caricatures of themselves ! The evening ended 1:30 with candies, donuts and ice -cream - served in beautiful silver baskets. I am touched beyond words for my friend's invitation to open her home and introduce to her family and close surroundings.As an adult and expat for decades I acknowledge having certain cynicism to forming frienships as they dissolve just when the relationship would have reached a deeper level due to change of country. Therefore, I was moved when my new friend said very frankly: "I want to get to know you and feel we have a connection, we will be friends for years to come". Well, I welcome open arms new genuine frienships in my life. How blessed and grateful we are.

Happy birthday!

My husband had one simple gift request to Celebrate his big number: à weekend à deux in Paris. Feasible ! Except if it was not the four kids and the dog needing a synchronised care solution for 24hours. And no, we still do not have the au pair to take the relay- but ode to dear friends and class mates we did it! Intensive preparations on Saturday morning, dropping off the kids to three different destinations and we were sitting in Thalys on our way to Paris. Champs Elyse, spy exposition, Cabaret and Monet paintings. Morning sauna and spa. Paris never disappoints. Walking by the grand boulevards, place de Vosges, by the Seine. There is something eternally romantic and energising in the City. Happy and tired, we pick-up the kids on Sunday afternoon. It has been an adventure for them too, my youngest 1st sleepover, restaurant dinner, movie night and even a guest at the scouts outing. One-on-one weekend - not a once a month fair perhaps to do, but surely little more often than every 10 years! And of course happy to see my youthful birthday husband so pleased ❤️

Christmas and NY Joys

It is the Evening of a long day of unpacking, washing and settling back home. The house was welcoming us last night at the height of 10 degrees, but it was there, safe and comforting. The chilly night did nothing to the joy of our kids discovering the gifts left under the Tree in the morning! The screems and laughs and energy is hard to discribe and yet those moments I would truly like to bottle for future. My youngest got her Elsa make-up kit, my son his long dreamed volume speaker and my girls their selected brands of backbag and clothes. They have clearly been very nice all year ! Everybodies dreams came true this year, amazing! Kids are usually so creative and happy to find their toys after travels, and today was no different. We heard concerts, dressed barbies and baked the 3 kings pie. The highlight of the day was undeniably getting our Taica back home from the dog carer. He had been OK despite my worries about how he will survive the New Year's fireworks and being in a new place. Apparently animals adjust quickly. The hosts were looking forward to welcoming him in the future, which is so important to hear. Our winter break was evrything one can hope: Seeing the Grand - parents, lots of snow, winter sports, Nordic scenery, food and culture. And Sauna of course. My kids are Finns by every means and during the 10 days they mastered cross-country skiing, ice-skating, sleighs, saunas and -the most wicked part of it - rolling in the snow naked afterwards! And they did this many times. True Sisu they have, even and especially my 4-year old! I have said this before, but the one place I truly feel GOOD (safe, relaxed, happy) is in my home town, on the beach trail next to my parents house. Regardless of whether I have my running shoes on or on the skis, I have a smile on my face as I roll off from the front porch and start my 6-9km trail around the ski mountain and lake. I did it every day of my holiday and if anybody wonders it makes me a better person to this wordl It was heart warming to spend time with my parents. Evening discussions around a glass of wine and treats about life and politics, breakfast together in the small kitchen table which is the favorite spot for everybody! It is a big effort on all sides to join together and I am very grateful my parents have still the energy to welcome us from far away. While living abroad coming "home" is such a highlight of the year for all of us. For our children it is during these stays, that they also get to establish their Nordic identity and immerse in their culture. I think it is hilarious they consider my little home town as the best place in the world to live in. They went as far as to search for a house and work for us to make the big move! Honestly, if teleworking became the norm, I don't think we reflected twice: the place has everything we wish for: nature, peace and quiet, space, clean air, sports and culture, high quality schools. The only bad is it is so far away..Anyways, these dreams definitely pave a nice beginning for the New year 2023! We are very fortunate to have our hidden gem to go and recover.