Back Home

We've arrived safe home Monday night, ooh so happy to be reunited with our pappa/tata again ;-)

When I wake up in the morning I’m surprisingly impressed by the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Something what has almost become common to me.

Maarten’s reaction to the jet lag is much worse this time. He wakes up around 3 o’clock in the morning and yesterday he even fell asleep at the dentist sitting next to me during my treatment.

Amstelpark

This lovely sunny day in Amsterdam is the very last one of our stay in Europe.

It was great to see you all! We've had a super great time. Thank you!

More To Visit

We visit also the Dutch part of our family. Even Maarten is very exhausted he behaves well but crashes in the car on our way back even before we exit De Specerij.


The same happens after the wild visit at Wim's house. It's still the jetlag, I guess.

K*nk* Kappers

We are back in Holland.
Today I’ve visited the hairdresser! Always a big deal for me.
Since I haven’t found any ‘suitable’ hairdresser in CA yet I’m happy I can make an appointment at my favorite one in A’dam.




I believe Maarten is going through a growth spurt again. After his lunch and a big cake he manages to eat half of the old bread we wanted to feed the ducks with.


While ‘deda Milan’ wants to make Maarten a hunter ‘strejda Bas’ has a more acceptable activities for him ;-)

Going Czech

The day after we are back at Schiphol. We are going to visit our Czech grandma ‘babi’.

Maarten is excited about all the animals and pets they have. It’s really pouring the first couple of days.

Maarten loves the mushroom hunting with ‘babi’ and he is quite successful too.


He has enough friends to play with. But he still so scared of children smaller than him! I hope the preschool will help to solve this problem.


This time I really have to visit my home town Plzen. I’m planning this already for years! Sorry ‘babi’ and Maarten we have to pack again and...travel by train another 6 hours!!!
Not a very pleasant trip but I’m happy to see all the familiar places again. I have to admit I’m a bit disappointed. I probably had too high expectations about the improvement of the town.





Anyway it’s wonderful to see all my friends after so many years. It feels like there were no years of separation at all. I’m very fortunate.

You won’t believe that but this is the very first time I have a sitter!!! ‘Babi’ with ‘teta Vladka’ manage Maarten very well. It feels so good like I'm some 10 years younger and I sure fully enjoy the nightlife ;-)
Though to be honest…on my way home through the night streets of Plzen I already looking forward to snuggle next to Maarten.
The morning is less lyrical when Maarten wakes me up at 3 o'clock.

Artis/Beatrix Park

I’m not disappointed by the Dutch weather. It’s nice and rainy. I believe you appreciate this only after the sunny and hot Californian summer ;-)
Together with ‘teta Zdenka’ and ‘strejda Bas’ we visit the Artis ZOO and we even get a little bit of sunshine.





Feeding ducks at the Beatrix Park.

Going Europe

At the airport as usual Maarten refuses to say good-bye to daddy. Later this afternoon he asks several times when is daddy coming back from the restroom…
Even I’m quite nervous about flying with Maarten at this age he is behaving so well we even get compliments from our fellow travelers and the crew.
I panic when our flight from Houston to Amsterdam is delayed because of the engine problems. I feel the same way like last October when we got stuck for two days at the SFO airport because of the same problems…
It takes an hour and something till the engine is working properly (hopefully!) and we can depart.
After some 10 hours we happily meet ‘teta Zdenka’ at Schiphol.

Sunol Loop

Despite the heat it’s time for another hike. Maybe because this is for the very last time before my trip to Europe? Here we have to miss our favorite Diablo Foothills RP where we spent a lot of time last year. But the nearby Sunol Regional Wilderness makes it up quite well. And it’s definitely more secluded than the trails around Walnut Creek.

Leaving Rob and Maarten behind by the creek I’m going for the five-mile Sunol Loop. Starting with a climb along the dried up bed of the Indian Joe Creek I have to think about the documentary I’ve seen last night. Yes, it was about hunting cougars ;-)
Continuing up I forget about the cougar and pay more attention to the beautiful views of the rolling hills and oak studded grasslands.


I finally reach the great boulders of the Cave Rocks and hope the climbing is over soon. Mistake! There is more climbing to come!
I have a feeling someone is watching me. I see an animal ahead of me. Oh no! I throw my bottle of water on the ground with a big bang to scare it off...

…and someone is coming from the other site of the path watching me diffidently.

My potential beast turned to be a fallen dead tree.


There is no shade up there on the summit and the sun is merciless. At least I get some breeze from the bay and… also the view of it! In the distance I see the Oakland harbor and even the skyline of San Francisco.


And you won’t believe that but the dry hills are blossoming up here!

I get finally over the summit and from the Cerro Este Overlook I have this lovely view of the Calaveras Reservoir.


I go down in the direction of Little Yosemite. It’s tempting not to take the shortcut through McCorkle Trail but let’s finish the whole loop.


Otherwise I would miss the last California grizzly bear ;-)


I’m back much sooner than expected and we stay a while at the creek.
Can you guess why?