On Friday, February 15, our shipment of household goods arrived! We had hoped that it would get here a few days earlier as we had a trip to "the Continent" planned and we were leaving on the 16th!
It was quite the coordination of efforts as we had to get all of our rental furniture (which included dishes, pots and pans, a TV, beds, bedding, etc) ready to be picked up just an hour before the sea container was set to arrive! It was kind of a pain having to unload all of the dressers and everything - plus, I had to be thinking of what to pack for our trip!
The rental furnitu
re dudes showed up at around 9am - and so did the sea container! When I got home from dropping the girls off at their respective schools everything was in full swing. All we could really do is stand there and watch the guys pack everything up and load it in the truck. The guys we've run across so far who do these working class type jobs, are straight out of a movie - you can hardly understand them because they have really heavy accents and say things like "nuhfink" (nothing), and "me mates" (my friends) - and they have all been very nice and super helpful!Then the movers showed up and the unloading began - the lory (truck) driver was amazing as he backed that monster up into our driveway - I am constantly amazed at how skilled the drivers of large vehicles are at getting about on the narrow passages here - although, I think that breakaway mirrors and proximity alarms on cars were invented in Europe!
It was cold and cloudy, but at least it wasn't raining! Pat and I were very concerned that we would have trouble fitting everything into the house, although in the end, we only had to put a few boxes into the garage - mostly garment boxes and toys ;) We got as much stuff as we could put away and then had to finish packing for our trip! Fortunately our flight was not until 5pm on Saturday, but we planned to leave before noon to make sure to leave lots of time to get to the airport...
We flew into Zurich, Switzerland, where the local currency is the Swiss Franc. We stayed at Hotel Allegra, which was nicely suited for families - our room had four twin beds and a futon! It was RIDICULOUSLY large! And very reasonably priced! The next morning we had continental breakfast (I now understand why they call it that - we were on the "continent" of Europe - and that is what they eat for breakfast there!) Fairly different from what Americans consider a Continental breakfast - no waffle makers, bagels or Lucky Charms... there was the coolest self serve coffee maker that made espressos and capaccinos and the like. For food there was an ice table with various types of yogurt, fruit, slices of cheese and very unfamiliar 
looking cold cuts - some of it looks like bologna, but I'll never know what that stuff tastes like - they are way too fond of organ meats over here - lord knows there are lamb's eyes and pigeon livers in that stuff! (yes, they eat pigeon here...). There is also a chaffing dish with bacon and scrambled eggs, and lots and lots and lots of bread and rolls - they have rolls made out of soft pretzle dough with out the salt - yum!
looking cold cuts - some of it looks like bologna, but I'll never know what that stuff tastes like - they are way too fond of organ meats over here - lord knows there are lamb's eyes and pigeon livers in that stuff! (yes, they eat pigeon here...). There is also a chaffing dish with bacon and scrambled eggs, and lots and lots and lots of bread and rolls - they have rolls made out of soft pretzle dough with out the salt - yum!
Then it was off to Grenoble, France - I had meetings with HP on Monday and Tuesday... It was a very nice drive, although it was quite hazy and difficult to see the mountains. We had a bit of a stress when we started going through toll gates as we entered France - all we had were a few Swiss Francs left over from our banquet at McDonalds and a handfull of Euros that we'd had since we went to Ireland 3 years ago! Oddly there was no where to stop and get cash along this toll road - fortunately we had enough to get through the tolls but I really don't know what would have happened if we hadn't had what we did!We stopped at a rest stop outside of Geneva where there was a McDonalds - sometimes you really lean on these American chains when you are in a strange land - the food is quick and consistent and McLanguage is universal - everyone in the world knows what a chicken nugget is :) So, we broke down and had McDonalds - $30 for the four of us - and all Pat and I had were a couple of cheeseburgers and something to drink - the happy meals were like $7!!!!
I must say that Grenoble was a bit of a disappointment...as we drove into the city the air quality seemed to worsen with every mile - and the sides of the freeway were coated with litter - the overpasses and concrete barriers were plastered with graffiti... The architecture was early "projects" It felt more like Chernobyl than a former Olympic city! We stayed at a hotel call 
Chateau de la Commandier- it was this really beautiful property that has been around like 400 years - surrounded by a wall and a gate that is locked at night - because it is in the middle of the ghetto, I tell you! The desk clerk, Caroline, was awesome - the most friendly French person I've ever met! We asked her where to go for dinner and she recommended pizza of all things... so we went to the town center at Caroline's recommendation - unfortunately, it wasn't much better down there - the "free" parking we were at is only called free because that's where all of the car theifs get their goods - it was beyond sketchy - Pat was freaking out - I was in denial... It was really a shame because it was a very cool area - very Paris like, with Parisian architecture and even a river running right through the middle of town. On the far end is a sheer cliff with a Bastille built into the side of it - very impressive looking...
Chateau de la Commandier- it was this really beautiful property that has been around like 400 years - surrounded by a wall and a gate that is locked at night - because it is in the middle of the ghetto, I tell you! The desk clerk, Caroline, was awesome - the most friendly French person I've ever met! We asked her where to go for dinner and she recommended pizza of all things... so we went to the town center at Caroline's recommendation - unfortunately, it wasn't much better down there - the "free" parking we were at is only called free because that's where all of the car theifs get their goods - it was beyond sketchy - Pat was freaking out - I was in denial... It was really a shame because it was a very cool area - very Paris like, with Parisian architecture and even a river running right through the middle of town. On the far end is a sheer cliff with a Bastille built into the side of it - very impressive looking...
The street Caroline sent us to had no fewer than 20 pizza restaurants - and at 7pm they were all empty - just barely opening up for the night. We had a fantastic meal, and the restaurant to ourselves - the French do not eat dinner before 8pm - we felt like circus freaks... 
Check Pat's blog for what they did while I was at work on Monday and Tuesday 
http://www.tepidbeer.blogspot.com/ The work stuff was good - a little uncomfortable at times when the HP folks would break into French and start discussing things - they were probably talking about me - I would never have known one way or the other! Lunchtime was an adventure - the "canteen" looked like nearly any other at a place of business - until you looked a bit closer... beer and wine available at the checkout, this salad bar type thing with just plain yogurt (they call it frommage - cheese) and apple 
puree (applesauce) - I watched closely - they put the frommage in a bowl and then added in the puree - so I tried it - it was pretty good! All kinds of desserts and cheeses - all in proper little dishes, no styrofoam plates and cups - all glass and metal. Each table had a pitcher of water and no one drank out of a bottle or can - everything was poured into a glass. More awkward times here trying to make small talk, sometimes it was just easier to let them speak French to each other - another Quantum employee from Scotland was there, so we stayed pretty close to each other - I always had someone to talk to if we were excluded... The first night we went out to dinner with HP - we didn't even meet until 8pm - I had time after work to go out with the family - guess what they had? Yes, Pizza - NOTHING else was open, and we were too freaked out by the ghetto to venture too far away from the hotel... The dinner was worth the wait - I tell you, French people eat SO MUCH FOOD - they have a huge lunch and a huge dinner late at night - I don't understand how they are all so small! There was not an overweight character in the bunch!
puree (applesauce) - I watched closely - they put the frommage in a bowl and then added in the puree - so I tried it - it was pretty good! All kinds of desserts and cheeses - all in proper little dishes, no styrofoam plates and cups - all glass and metal. Each table had a pitcher of water and no one drank out of a bottle or can - everything was poured into a glass. More awkward times here trying to make small talk, sometimes it was just easier to let them speak French to each other - another Quantum employee from Scotland was there, so we stayed pretty close to each other - I always had someone to talk to if we were excluded... The first night we went out to dinner with HP - we didn't even meet until 8pm - I had time after work to go out with the family - guess what they had? Yes, Pizza - NOTHING else was open, and we were too freaked out by the ghetto to venture too far away from the hotel... The dinner was worth the wait - I tell you, French people eat SO MUCH FOOD - they have a huge lunch and a huge dinner late at night - I don't understand how they are all so small! There was not an overweight character in the bunch!
Anyway, by Wednesday we were glad to be heading out of France - the bad air hurt our eyes and smelled like a campfire in a landfill - seriously terrible! The bad air stayed with us all the way to Germany - we were digging the autobahn - there is honestly NO speed limit - we were going over 100 MPH and people were BLAZING past us - unreal!
We traveled through Stuttgart on our way to the home of one of Pat's team members who had invited us to stay in his home - it is a cool town, but we didn't have time to stop and check it out - it was really a privlidge to stay in someones home like we did - to see how they live. It was a little uncomfortable at times because his wife and child did not speak any English. We went out to dinner - at, of all things and Italian restaurant - the kids were having nothing to do with even the suggestion of pizza :) During the meal Audrey began to kind of make friends with the little boy and they started playing a little game where she was trying to get his candy away from him - the game continued the whole way back to the house (we were on foot) - it was cool to see that kids are just kids and have their own mode of communication even when they don't share a language... he showed us around his room when we got back to the house speaking in German, and we responded in English - it was very interesting...
Next day, we went to the Quantum facility in Boemenkirch - it was a lovely drive up a winding mountain road Pat and I had a chance to get caught up on some work and the kids colored and played video games... Then, we finally had a proper German meal for lunch - spetzle and everything - it was delicious!
On our way out of Germany, we stopped by Ulm briefly - they have boasting rights to the tallest Cathedral spire in the world - it is a beautiful church - I really wanted to stop and take a tour, but once again, we just didn't have the time, we had to get back to Zurich and we had decided that we would take some time in Leichtenstein instead... oh well, we'll just have to go back!
As we headed back into Switzerland I was reminded of our visit there in 1999 - the mountains are SO amazing there, just jutting straight up out of the ground - waterfalls cascading off of the sheer cliffs - it had been raining and the clouds just hung in the crevaces - it was breathtaking. Leichtenstein was cool - the capital (and probably the only city there) has a castle built into the mountainside - it is incredibly picturesque - we stopped to do a bit of shopping and snap some photos (and took Zoe to the bathroom).
Friday we were in the Quantum Zurich office. Again the kids colored and read books while Pat and I did some work and met some of the people we've been working with but have never had the opportunity to meet... I really felt kinda bad for the kids on this trip -in hindsite, it may not have been the best idea to do things the way we did - it was just too much in too short a time - and with all of the working and driving, there wasn't a whole lot of time for fun - although, I think that they really liked having us all together like we were, and Zoe and Audrey have really been 
bonding - as they rode along for 
hours and hours they kept themselves busy telling one another stories, or making believe they were horses, or princesses, or whatever - we'd stop every once in a while to run a bit (and take Zoe to the potty :)) and to check out the candy selection in the roadside stop :)
bonding - as they rode along for 
hours and hours they kept themselves busy telling one another stories, or making believe they were horses, or princesses, or whatever - we'd stop every once in a while to run a bit (and take Zoe to the potty :)) and to check out the candy selection in the roadside stop :)We took a tram/trolley to go to lunch in Zurich and the kids loved that, even if they weren't crazy about the food - it is really hard to feed a picky kid in Europe - Zoe ate a ton of fruit ang veggies that we picked up at grocery stores here and there, and not much else - I hope that kid gets a little more adventurous before this is all said and done!
Anyway, we are 'home' now and were SO glad to be here! As crazy as this whole moving to the UK thing has been, I think we have really settled in nicely, and our trip to the Continent has really helped us apprecieate the "quirkyness" of the UK - its different than the US, but not as different as France or Germany are!
Sorry for the long posting - had a lot to say, I guess! Hope you are all enjoyingit - I do appreciate your feedback (especially my brother-in-law, Adrian!)
Even though we are feeling settled here, we still really miss our family and friends - I hope that you are all doing well and are planning your trips to come visit!!!
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