Today Isaac took his first real steps. It was a very happy moment for all of us! We were sitting in the playroom/guest room playing with our pretend food and Isaac walked two steps by himself from the couch to the bed (and they weren't the typical "falling" steps I have seen him take in the past). I thought, was that real? Then I placed him standing up in front of me and let go. He walked 3 steps to me! I freaked out and of course Sadie got excited. We did it over and over again, and every time we all laughed and praised Isaac. It was really fun. The best part is that Sadie wanted to take turns with Isaac walking to me. It was so different from Sadie's first steps, but just as good. I love my babies. Or wait, my big kids!
No pics :(, but let's hope I get some soon!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Cartagena, Colombia
The last stop on our trip was lively, colorful, historic Cartagena. We stayed for a full week in a great apartment equipped with lush terrace, hammock, pool, and 360 views of the city from the rooftop. Here, we also had someone come every morning to make us breakfast - the best I've had in quite a while. The arepas con huevos and patacones were my favorites, and my picky toddler even liked them! Fresh fruit juice every morning, from watermelon to a kind of cantaloupe and even coconut/pina. Fantastic.
Here is Sadie getting local with her adorable dress (singing obviously). Everything here is white. Everything. You can imagine how this dress now looks after one wear.
This is our apartment. The terrace was basically just part of the space since the doors always remain open for a good breeze (there was only AC in the two bedrooms, so the breeze was quite necessary in the muggy heat of Cartagena).
Sadie's most favorite activity - a carriage ride around old town. And by favorite, I mean every evening when the carriages were out, she demanded we ride one. We didn't, and she was extremely disappointed. You can Steve quietly commenting to me something sarcastic in this picture, which makes it a good family portrait.
The cathedral. This was actually inside. While we visited there was a lot of restoration, so we didn't get to see much of it.
One of my faves.
Arepas con queso y huevos con verduras y fruta for breakfast
We used our pool every day
Plaza Simon Bolivar (our building is actually the white one to the right of the statue with the flowers on the terrace). Perfect location! Every evening there was live music and dancing in this square. Steve took Sadie quite a bit while Isaac slept, and she absolutely loved it.
Yeah, we got matching sunglasses.
Picturesque Cartagena old town.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
One day we took a boat trip to Isla de Majagua of the Rosario Islands. It was about an hour there and an hour back. The kids did phenomenal. Isaac slept the entire way there and the entire way back, and Sadie slept the entire way back (and was quiet and enjoyed watching the scenery on the way to the island). I was extremely proud of the kids. While on the island, we got some great beach time!
Playing peekabo at lunch. We really lucked out sitting next to a play area.
Back in Cartagena we visited the Spanish Inquisition museum. Pretty interesting, and pretty dark.
Finally, our favorite restaurant el Baron. It was recommended to us by a local (although clearly not a local owner, and definitely aimed at tourists). They specialize in creative cocktails. It was extremely good! Not pictured, Steve and I had a date night and went to the Sofitel Hotel Santa Clara's 1621 restaurant inside an old convent. It was absolutely amazing. Highly recommended!
Here is Sadie getting local with her adorable dress (singing obviously). Everything here is white. Everything. You can imagine how this dress now looks after one wear.
This is our apartment. The terrace was basically just part of the space since the doors always remain open for a good breeze (there was only AC in the two bedrooms, so the breeze was quite necessary in the muggy heat of Cartagena).
Sadie's most favorite activity - a carriage ride around old town. And by favorite, I mean every evening when the carriages were out, she demanded we ride one. We didn't, and she was extremely disappointed. You can Steve quietly commenting to me something sarcastic in this picture, which makes it a good family portrait.
The cathedral. This was actually inside. While we visited there was a lot of restoration, so we didn't get to see much of it.
One of my faves.
Arepas con queso y huevos con verduras y fruta for breakfast
We used our pool every day
Plaza Simon Bolivar (our building is actually the white one to the right of the statue with the flowers on the terrace). Perfect location! Every evening there was live music and dancing in this square. Steve took Sadie quite a bit while Isaac slept, and she absolutely loved it.
Yeah, we got matching sunglasses.
Picturesque Cartagena old town.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
One day we took a boat trip to Isla de Majagua of the Rosario Islands. It was about an hour there and an hour back. The kids did phenomenal. Isaac slept the entire way there and the entire way back, and Sadie slept the entire way back (and was quiet and enjoyed watching the scenery on the way to the island). I was extremely proud of the kids. While on the island, we got some great beach time!
Playing peekabo at lunch. We really lucked out sitting next to a play area.
Back in Cartagena we visited the Spanish Inquisition museum. Pretty interesting, and pretty dark.
Finally, our favorite restaurant el Baron. It was recommended to us by a local (although clearly not a local owner, and definitely aimed at tourists). They specialize in creative cocktails. It was extremely good! Not pictured, Steve and I had a date night and went to the Sofitel Hotel Santa Clara's 1621 restaurant inside an old convent. It was absolutely amazing. Highly recommended!
Bogota, Colombia
Colombia (not Columbia). A truly beautiful country with a sordid reputation. Many things have changed politically and economically in the last decade that has made this country a more global destination than perhaps every before (at least in modern times). The draw for me was Cartagena, but before going there, we stayed a few days in the capital of Bogota. A lively, diverse, and international city that actually reminded me a lot of Santiago. Bogota, like both Santiago and Quito, is set in a valley among mountains. The most striking thing I noticed upon landing was that there didn't seem to be a modern day downtown - it was just an endless sea of reddish, tan brick buildings. Once we arrived, we went to our apartment, which was very beautiful and well located in a nice neighborhood (reminded me of las Condes in Santiago, except without the business buildings). We had a full-time housekeeper who went grocery shopping for us and made us breakfast. Can't complain about that!
I will say that we did a lot more than what it looks like! We forgot our camera the day we went to the old part of the city to see the Museo de Oro, all the old churches, as well as the president's mansion. We also ran into a very cool parade and festival de Paz (captured a couple on my phone). Extremely interesting culture.
Here is our apartment with a great fireplace!
Museo de Oro
Random parade.
Plaza de Bolivar
Going up the funicular to Montserrate (at 3,152 m).
At the top, enjoying a nice walk up to the church.
View of the Bogota from Montserrate.
Sadie in church.
I will say that we did a lot more than what it looks like! We forgot our camera the day we went to the old part of the city to see the Museo de Oro, all the old churches, as well as the president's mansion. We also ran into a very cool parade and festival de Paz (captured a couple on my phone). Extremely interesting culture.
Here is our apartment with a great fireplace!
Random parade.
Plaza de Bolivar
Going up the funicular to Montserrate (at 3,152 m).
At the top, enjoying a nice walk up to the church.
View of the Bogota from Montserrate.
Sadie in church.
Mindo, Ecuador
My favorite place in Ecuador that we visited was hands down our lodge in Mindo. It was seemingly in the middle of the cloud forest, completely apart from everything. You literally had to sit on a man made pully platform to cross over a river just to get to it. There wasn't a bridge. It had 6 cabins for guests and one huge open lodge with hammocks, couches, chess, books, tables and an open kitchen where they made all the meals from their local organic garden. The food was clearly amazing as was the serenity of staying in nature. The kids loved it.
So many amazing kinds of plants and insects!
Our nature walk through the cloud forest.
This girl can't get enough!
The entrance to our lodge. Note the river below.
Peeking out the window of our cabin.
Inside our cabin - it was a very cool layout. Here is the bathroom.
The front room of the cabin.
The front of our cabin.
The main lodge.
Sadie loved all the fruits for breakfast.
Rebel.
Being twins at the butterfly farm.
Wait, what's on his head?
These are all cocoons. Super awesome.
Sadie trying to hold a butterfly.
Back at our lodge, time for a little swim in the natural pools made from the river!
Last lunch of amazing organic veggies and juices.
So many amazing kinds of plants and insects!
Our nature walk through the cloud forest.
This girl can't get enough!
The entrance to our lodge. Note the river below.
Peeking out the window of our cabin.
Inside our cabin - it was a very cool layout. Here is the bathroom.
The front room of the cabin.
The front of our cabin.
The main lodge.
Sadie loved all the fruits for breakfast.
Rebel.
Being twins at the butterfly farm.
Wait, what's on his head?
These are all cocoons. Super awesome.
Sadie trying to hold a butterfly.
Back at our lodge, time for a little swim in the natural pools made from the river!
Last lunch of amazing organic veggies and juices.
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