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Archive for July, 2010

Stella - Photo taken by her dad

Hooray for another kid Q&A!  I have been getting great feedback on these interviews and you are asking for more….so here’s another.

I interviewed Stella in New York City during a playdate at our house.  She and Charles have been buddies since they were born.  While eating snack, Stella took time to really think about the questions and her answers are some of my favorite so far.  Stella is proud to be 6 ¾ yrs old.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Yes because I get to see new things and I like to meet new people.   My habit is every time I go to a new place, I make 2 new friends.  Each of my 2 new friends show me around a little bit of their favorite places.  Then I try 2 new things and 2 kinds of foods.

What is your favorite part about traveling? Least favorite part?

My favorite part about traveling is I get to go on a plane and I get to see some clouds from above and one time I was traveling to Paris and I think I saw an angel outside of the window.  She had a pretty face and wore a white dress…she smiled and said hi to me. She was quite petite.  So, I know she is always in the clouds looking down and watching me. (Least favorite) I don’t like all the waiting.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Why?

Paris because there is a very nice park and one of my very best friends go there and we have a playdate together.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why?

I would go to India because I’ve never seen an elephant and there are lots of animals there and they do beautiful dances there that I would like to see.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Like 5 minutes.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

My iTouch.

What kind of vacation is your favorite; ie. camping, hotel, house exchange, safari?

I would choose a resort because I would like to go to the Nickolodeon resort with Spongebob square pants and all of the nick friends.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

If you are going to dinner or something, it will be okay because the food will be really yummy. Just try it.

What advice do you have for parents who want to take their child traveling?

Just go…travel take your kids. Because I want them to find out things for themselves.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

My friend, Charles

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

I learn to say hi to other people even though I don’t know them.  I learn to be friendly.  I learn things from people because I ask questions.

When you are older, do you think you will travel more with work or on vacation?  What kind of job do you think you might enjoy?

Vacation, because you just get to relax.

What has traveling taught you?

It has taught me to be brave.

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Charles' Growing Collection of Giant Microbes

Charles had an entire conversation in a Stockholm restaurant about loving and cuddling his Lyme’s disease.  The looks we were getting were incredible.  He was talking about his new stuffed animal, Lyme’s disease, a green coiled furry critter with two black eyes, created by Giant Microbes.

Charles is a stuffed animal lover!  He has gone through stages and fixations with various companies, like Steiff and Ugly Dolls, but now, he is obsessed with Giant Microbes.  Obsessed is the accurate term, since Charles now has 35 of them!

I find the company (and concept) to be absolutely genius.  The stuffed microbes are adorable, resembling tiny microbes – “only a million times actual size.”  Each microbe comes with their own informative card that is both educational and silly (most of the descriptions leave me learning and laughing).

Hint. Hint. Make a Baby!

Knowing that Jeff and I are trying to get pregnant, Charles gave Jeff the sperm cell and the egg cell for his birthday.  Not a subtle hint.

These stuffed microbes are great gifts for kids of all ages (even adults).  Crazy fun, educational toys and a brilliant product for all!

Charles favorite microbes: Lyme’s Disease, Bed Bug, Scum and Brain Cell

My favorite microbes: The Fat Cell, Algae, Measles and Flesh Eating

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Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries is one lucky park!  It got a playground face-lift just in time for summer.

Charles and I adore this park because the location (1st arrondissement).  But to be honest, the enclosed playground was not so great…it was outdated, unimpressive and Charles would get bored easily with the equipment.  Not anymore….the playground now has a beautiful wooden climbing structure, slides, teeter totters and other classic playground equipment.  Last week, it wasn’t finished yet, but was scheduled to be opened this weekend.  Check it out!  We know we will, when we return in the fall.

The Enclosed Playground Still Under Construction

Also, do not miss the carnival set up in the summer with its huge ferris wheel, the brand-new carousel and the mini trampolines.

Tuileries' New Carrousel

Don't Miss the In-Ground Trampolines

Location: Just west of the Louvre museum. You can also get there from the Musee d’Orsay’s “Solferino” footpath over the Seine river.
Metro: Tuileries (Line 1)
Bus: Lines 42, 68, 72, 73, 84, 94

Nearby Sights, Hotels and Food:

Click here, to check out other great Paris parks.

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Air France First Class Lounge - Paris Charles de Gaulle

Airline Delays….they happen.  Best scenario: you are ‘stuck’ in the first class Air France lounge for 4 hours.  This happened to us last week and we were well aware of our cushy predicament.  Surrounded by extravagance, we sat back and waited with no complaints.  What did we do?  We ate, played Lego, got a massage, ate again, explored, and I interviewed 2 brothers who were on our same delayed flight.

Could Have Even Taken a Nap!

The boys were enthralled with their shiny new iPads and didn’t seem to notice the hours tick by.  Jack was the older brother, who wanted to be called Ninja Platypus Four (which I’m assuming is a character from one of his video games).  Dash, the younger brother, took time with each answer and was never short on words.  Both boys were a delight to interview and never complained about the delay…they were pros, pros with iPads in the first class lounge.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Jack, 11 yr old : Yes. Well it depends kinda….I like the places we go, but there’s a lot of waiting in travel.

Dash, 10 yr old : Yes, I enjoy it.  It’s fun. And we travel a lot!  We do a lot of touring and learning.  I learn about history when we travel. And I like history.

What is your favorite part about traveling? least favorite part?

Jack, 11 yr old : My favorite is being at the places that we are visiting and flying on planes.  I don’t like waiting or having to go through all of the stuff….like taking out my computer or iPad when I go through airport security or a delay like this.  Not fun.

Dash, 10 yr old : It’s nice to have a change of scenery. My least favorite is jet lag! I get so tired and can’t sleep when I’m supposed to.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Why?

Jack, 11 yr old : Oh, that’s hard…probably New Zealand.  There were a lot of sports and people with painted faces and trees and things. And there weren’t too many historical places that we had to go see.

Dash, 10 yr old : I don’t know my favorite, but we go to a few places every year (Antibes, California, and Paris). We used to live in Antibes and London.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why?

Jack, 11 yr old : I would probably go to Brazil.  I hear a lot about it, but have never been there.  Or I could say India or Egypt.

Dash, 10 yr old : I do want to go to Dubai (my uncle is moving there). Also, China or Russia because they have a bunch of history I’d like to learn.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Jack, 11 yr old : Maybe 10 days.  So it still is kinda long, but doesn’t get boring.

Dash, 10 yr old : It depends where I’m going….. actually 1 week for one place and then keep moving.  I could do that week after week after week, and keep seeing new places. Up to 1 year. That sounds exciting.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Jack, 11 yr old : IPad, iPod, and ummm that’s pretty much it.

Dash, 10 yr old : It was my computer, but now my iPad.

What kind of vacation is your favorite; ie. camping, hotel, house exchange, safari?

Jack, 11 yr old : A mix…you could stay in a resort in a place and go on a safari.  Do both.

Dash, 10 yr old : I like it all….but I’ll tell you I don’t want to do another safari anytime soon.  Last time we went on safari, we got attacked by a crazy elephant.  Its’ tusk went into the front windshield.  We had to shoot it…well we didn’t, but the guy driving the truck use to be a hunter, so he knew what to do.  We were lucky…he was the only one on the reserve who would have known what to do.  It wasn’t my best experience.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

Jack, 11 yr old : Bring food and a screen (like video games, or computer, or iPad) and such, so it doesn’t get boring.

Dash, 10 yr old : I don’t know…traveling is carefree, you don’t have to worry about things because your parents do it all….you just have to enjoy it.

What advice do you have for parents who want to take their child traveling?

Jack, 11 yr old : Let your kids use their screens as much as they want (because my mom doesn’t like when I look at a screen too much).

Dash, 10 yr old : Don’t be late (my mom is always late). It is so annoying.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

Jack, 11 yr old : My brother because he doesn’t get me in trouble.  He is always on my side.

Dash, 10 yr old : I’m always with my mom and brother, so I don’t know anything else.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

Jack, 11 yr old : I learn a lot about different countries and stuff….history, new good apps to use when you are in a new place, and get to stay in new cool hotels.

Dash, 10 yr old : History mostly.

When you are older, do you think you will travel more with work or on vacation?  What kind of job do you think you might enjoy?

Jack, 11 yr old : Vacation I hope…it’s a lot funner.  Well it depends…I want to make lots of money.  Can it be something that doesn’t exist?….like a video game tester, a professional traveler that tells people where to go and things to do, a food tester…those things.

Dash, 10 yr old : I think both.  I don’t really know yet, but I have time to figure it out….a lot of time actually. (laughs)

What has traveling taught you?

Jack, 11 yr old : I have learned a lot about other places.  And that it [traveling] gets easier…the more you travel the more you understand and the easier it is….you learn how not to be bored or go crazy on family trips.

Dash, 10 yr old : Knowledge.  It has given me a lot of historical knowledge. We do a lot of touring.

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Proof that I finished the NYC Marathon.

Last year, I trained for the NYC Marathon.  This year I am training for our family summer vacation!  If you knew my family, you’d understand.

Summer Vacation.  Sun, sand, palm trees and water.  Some families relax on a beach or by a lake, others chill-out on a family cruise, and some choose to experience new cities together.  My family, on the other hand, craves adventure.  Outdoor, active, high-octane burning adventure.

Something must be in our blood…I come from a family of marathoners, cyclists, swimmers, triathletes, surfers and snow skiers.  The youngest of us, Tyler (9 yrs old) just joined a swimming team and challenges anyone in the water to the breast stroke.  The most mature member, my grandma, Nanny, (who has the sexiest 78yr old legs I have ever seen), could wipe the tennis court with my sweat without ruffling her pleated skirt.  We are competitive, tough and love to be outside challenging our bodies to yet another adventure.

My Parents at the Breath of Life Ventura Triathalon

My Nephew, Tyler. A Stud in the Water!

So, I am training to be ‘race ready’ for our family summer vacation to Mammoth Lakes in California!  We’ll play hard, laugh harder and eat well.  There will be running, biking, swimming at Lake Mamie, fishing Lake George, hiking through mountains, checking out Devil’s Post Pile and then relaxing our tired muscles in the hot springs.  Sounds like a Marks/Clow/Lepine/Turner vacation indeed!  All topped off with lots of lovely home-cooked meals, great wine, Tequila shots (with an orange slice & cinnamon) and laughter, lots and lots of laughter.

Mammoth Lakes....Oh, it is on! Bring it!

As you know, I have been working, traveling with Charles, for a month now and haven’t been running, working out, or exerting my body in any way, beside lifting a fork full of amazing food.  I am off my game, out of shape and now 3 weeks away from our family trip no doubt full of adventure and hard-core fun.  Time to buckle down, hit the gym and train my muscles to keep up with my triathlete parents, cycling sister and ballin’ brother.  It is on!  And I will be race ready for this year’s family vacation!

I'm all business at Clay Fitness in NYC!

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The kids' dessert that I wanted to eat.

I ate my way through Stockholm, Sweden!  Here is my top 10 child-friendly restaurants for this city.

10.  Erik’s Gondolen – Get a bird’s eye view of the city from your table.  Although we had to wait a bit for our food, the view is amazing and so was the food.

Erik's Gondolen Menu

9.  Cafe Pettisan in Skansen – Before you could see the cafe sign beside the cobblestone street, you could smell the warm sugar and buttery pastries.  Hooray for desserts!  And this place got it right!

Oh, the sugary goodness at Cafe Pettisan.

8. Restaurang JT – The entire menu spoke to me.  I wanted the elk burger, the reindeer roast, the grilled fillet of char, but finally chose to satisfy my steak craving with the fillet of beef tournedos.  It hit the spot, but my eyes were still covetous of the other plates exiting the kitchen.

7.  Lisa’s Te Kaffe Choklad in Gamla Stan.  The chocolate creations in this shop were absolute pieces of art made to be savored both with your eyes and taste buds.  I wanted to buy and taste EVERYTHING!

Chocolate Heaven at Lisa's

6.  Huge, Mouth-Watering Food Court: Ostermalms Saluhall.  It’s an indoor market with some great restaurants, the best being Lisa Elmquist, a fantastic seafood restaurant.  I could have spent hours wandering through the food stalls, admiring the displays, sampling the food, and wishing that I had access to a kitchen.

Huge ugly fish at Lisa Elmquist's counter.

5.  Let’s talk some history.   Den Gyldene Freden (The Golden Peace) is apparently the oldest restaurant in the town, dating back to 1722.  Get a glimpse of old world charm in this exceptional building, sample traditional Swedish cuisine, and don’t leave without wandering through the rooms in this lovely restaurant that has changed very little over time.

4. Roda Villan cafe on Stora Fjaderholmen- A combination of good food, great company and a remarkably spectacular setting makes this restaurant experience one of my favorite Stockholm moments.  A 30-minute boat ride took us to the this lovely, artisanal island that seemed untouched by big business.  The cafe with stunning sea views is nestled amongst rocks and trees.  While waiting for our food, the kids got to explore the woods, lay in hammocks, climb rocks and play by the water.  A magical afternoon indeed.

Roda Villan Cafe on Stora Fjaderholmen

3. P.A.&Co. Yum, yum, and more yum.  A friend recommended this cozy restaurant and our stomachs were thrilled we took her advice.  I have never had nettle soup before, but under her instruction, ordered it.  Ohhhh my God…the best soup I have ever tasted.  The food was crazy good.  It was a unanimous decision to come back the following night.

Nettle Soup - So unbelievably good!

If I could only eat this picture, I would. The best lamb chops.

2.  I was not one to resist indulging in the cultural favorites: Swedish meatballs, Swedish pancakes, Swedish ice cream.  One of the young girls we were traveling with said that she would become a vegetarian like her older sister AFTER she had her fill of Swedish meatballs.  Clever girl!  Although, the country’s obsession with Korv (hot dogs) was only sampled by Charles and his friends.  The korv ‘burrito’ concoctions were crazy to see, but the locals swear by them!

Bizarre Corv (Hot dog) Concoctions

1. Grand Hotel – There were two restaurants at the Grand that I could have eaten at for the rest of my life!  First off, The Cadier Bar had a corn-fed chicken on rye bread with feta cheese and avocado that I literally ate 3 times.  So so so good.  The perfect sandwich.   The other obsession of mine was The Food Bar/Matbaren by Mathias Dahlgren, one of the most prominent young chefs in Sweden.  The food and cozy ambiance was so perfect, we went two nights in a row.  It’s the more casual of Dahlgren’s restaurants (both of them designed by Ilse Crawford, founding editor of British Elle Decor), and the menu is very Swedish, simple, and smart.  Love the ‘order as you go’ concept!  The salmon and reindeer sashimi melted in my mouth and the kids had fried chicken that was out of this world crazy good!

I was addicted to this sandwich-Thanks Cadier Bar!

Sashimi of Salmon and Reindeer

Corn Fried Chicken- The kids liked it and so did we!

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Jardin du Luxemburg

I found Max standing with his mom outside of the kids pay park in the Jardin du Luxemburg, while his younger brother, David, and younger sister, Sarah, were playing on the playground.  He was traveling with his family and had just gotten to Paris the day before.  Max had an infectious grin and could have chatted about travel all afternoon.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Max, 13 yr. old : Yes.  I really like ancient history, so I like going to places that I have read about.  Seeing all of the magnificent buildings and experiencing the culture directly in front of me is amazing.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Why?

Max, 13 yr. old : Greece. (2 different places in Greece actually) The Temple of Poseidon, just outside of Athens is number 1.  I love Greek mythology, so seeing the cliff where Theseus’ father threw himself into the Aegean Sea was amazing.  My friends and I climbed to the bottom of the cliff and back up.  And number 2 would be Delphi.  It was great there.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why?

Max, 13 yr. old : Right now, I’d like to go and pop my head into the Roman Coliseum.  We are going soon and I can’t wait.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Max, 13 yr. old : 2 weeks. 3 weeks is too long. I’d want to go home already.  2 weeks is perfect, especially if you spend a week in one place and then travel to a new place for a week.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Max, 13 yr. old : A book or my iPod  (which recently got stolen, but that is a whole other story)

What kind of vacation is your favorite; ie. camping, hotel, house exchange, safari?

Max, 13 yr. old : A resort in the center of town that is convenient and close to everything, so my little brother and sister wont whine (as much) with walking or traveling from place to place.

What advice do you have for other kids that travel?

Max, 13 yr. old : Slow down.  Don’t miss anything.  Learn all you can about the place you are visiting.  And try new food.

What advice do you have for parents who want to take their child traveling?

Max, 13 yr. old : Don’t try to see too much.  Really learn about one place, instead of going from place to place and seeing too many things.  It is too much to handle otherwise.

Who is your favorite person or people to travel with?

Max, 13 yr. old : My friends.  We had such a great time in Greece.  Especially if you stay at a place that has no rules and you get to have as much fun as you want.

What kinds of things do you learn when you travel?

Max, 13 yr. old : You learn about people’s culture, I’d say.  Overall, I see their values compared to mine.

When you are older, do you think you will travel more with work or on vacation?  What kind of job do you think you might enjoy?

Max, 13 yr. old : Why not both?  My mom says I could be a writer or a poet, but I’d love to be an archaeologist and travel to see and study ancient ruins.  That would be my dream job.  So, I guess I would travel a lot for that.

What has traveling taught you?

Max, 13 yr. old : Never forget your charger.  But on a serious note…Expect the unexpected.

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