Cory and Mike's Visit!

After returning from Croatia, we had a very busy week involved in the thing that I can't talk about for 6 months. As fun as that was, I was so excited when it wrapped because my college friend Cory and her boyfriend, Mike arrived the next day! Normally, I spend weeks anticipating and getting excited for visitors, but there wasn't a second to think about it in the last few weeks. So the excitement hit me Friday night and they were there the next day!

They arrived by train from Paris where they had spent the week with Mike's ex-pat brother who lives outside the city. Jude took an instant liking to Mike, which was so sweet to see! He's got a number of nieces and nephews and is a total natural.

We drove to Oudekerk ann de Amstel and ran into 2 different sets of friends there! Amsterdam is a really small place. 

Over the Amstel River

We had a big day out in Amsterdam, where I failed to take any pictures :( We went to Dam square and attempted to take Jude to a new man-made beach/park while Cory and Mike toured the Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk, but Jude fell asleep! We ate lunch in the Joordan and walked to Vondelpark. 

The next day we road tripped to Rotterdam, the Netherland's "second city" as it is called. We had yet to go and were excited to check it out. Don't expect pictures of cutesy canals and buildings below. After the city was bombed flat in WWII, they decided to rebuild in a totally modern way. The city is known for its unique architecture. It also boasts the country's tallest building. 

We aren't in (insert cutesy Dutch town name here) anymore.

Oude Haven (Old Port) 

I could not wrap my head around how people lived in these cube apartments. When you look in the windows, all of the furniture appears to be slanted! Crazy town! 

New Market Hall. Ground floor is food vendors and the surrounding "rainbow" is apartments. Projected on the ceiling is really graphic, bold flower and food prints. 

Cory and Mike with some of the unique buildings behind.

I was really excited the see Hotel New York. This was the place where all of the Dutch immigrants left from to head to New York. And the rest is history. The city that we love was founded by the Dutch. From New Amsterdam to Old Amsterdam. Full circle!

The Netherland's Tallest Buidling. The Mast Building, home to Deloitte apparently!

Ok, so as it turns out, Rotterdam does have (at least) one section of cutesy canals and buildings, in Delfthaven, a village within the city. I was glad Cory and Mike got to see some of the old with the new.

Back home, we all went out to our local restaurant in a windmill. It was our first time eating in their outside courtyard so you could look up and see the windmill. Not our best meal food-wise there, but excellent company and an awesome setting :)

Cory and I went to a cheese tasting at Reypenaer in the center of Amsterdam. Unlimited cheese paired with wine. Yes, please! 

Before their departure to the airport, we visited the pancake house in the bos. We had to force at least one of the Dutch local treats on them :)

Croatian Hill Top Town of Motovun

Apparently feeling like we hadn't visited enough hill top towns this summer (here, here, here and here), we set out to visit one in the Istrian Peninsula, Motovun. Another, preserved Medieval village on top of a hill with beautiful views. Oh, Europe. You are pretty amazing!

                               

 You park at a lot at the bottom of the hill and ride a shuttle bus to the near-top. 

                            

Town gate

The town and walls took about 10 minutes to walk around. Another 5 minutes in the church and then that appeared to be it!

Croatian Countryside. Really beautiful, no?

This is a big truffle region so we stopped for some lunch at this scenic cafe and shared the truffle gnocchi. As cute as we find pictures of our own child with food all over his face, I didn't think you wanted to see that today :) 

Ending our Croatian Trip in Rovijn

The final leg of our Croatian tour was two days in the town of Rovijn in the Istrian peninsula, the northermost part of Croatia close to Slovenia and Italy. By this point of the trip, the Durneys were feeling a bit traveled out. It had been quite the summer already! So apart from an afternoon trip to the hill town of Motovun, our time consisted of exploring the old town, going to the beach and dinning sea-side, enjoying the sunsets. 

Overall, we had a really nice trip to Croatia- fun family memories, beautiful scenery and awesome weather. We found the people to be pretty reserved and not as warm as other European countries, though. Some of the places we went reminded us of Italy, but not quite as nice and with not quite as good food. Still very cool to get a new passport stamp and have to use new currency (the kuna)!

The mountainous drive from Krk to Rovijn. Jude loved all of the "nunu"s :)

So determined with his water and his cup.

Sunset night one.

Day 2 exploring Rovijn in the morning.

More friendly kittens. 

Contemplating the cathedral.

Day 2 dining seaside.

Lots of seafood and pasta on this trip.

Oh, and pizza :)

Jude drenched himself at dinner and the temps cooled so Pete gave Jude the shirt off his back for our walk home. What a father wouldn't do for his son! 

Day 3 beach time before our journey home.

Bye, bye Croatia

It was a long journey back to Amsterdam. A three hour car ride turned into 4 with massive toll lines and then the 2 hour flight home. This little man's 25th flight! What a crazy year it has been!

NBD

A Guide to Picking up the Ladies. Courtesy of our Little Flirt.

What can I say, our baby's got game. At the tender age of 16 months, he has mastered the art of flirtation. While lunching in the Croatian town of Dobrinj, Jude really put on a show. 

Here are his tips for getting the ladies.

Step one. Best to begin by removing one's pants. The diaper look is a sexy look. 

Step two. Take on a group of boys much bigger and stronger than yourself to impress the ladies.

Step 3. Show off... 

And then play shy.

Step 4. Go after one of the girls to incite jealousy in the other. 

It worked!

Well done, you've got them hooked.

Now remember. Always keep your options open.

And final advice to future Jude: Make sure to have your mother around to give the final approval :)