Where to begin?

I'm just going to dart right through my apprehension about blogging and the the intimidating 3-week bottleneck of news like a silver arrow through water.

We love Prague!

The flight over was great. Chris was busy trying to fit his long legs into the space in front of his seat, I was entertaining Lucas and Lucas was being the world's best traveler. The flight was almost 9 hours long. Lucas slept for three and spent the other six playing in his seat (plus a couple of walks to the potty.) It was miraculous!

We arrived during the morning rush hour, caught a cab to the hotel, napped a bit and then headed out. Chris went to work and Lucas and I went in search of food. I had an unrealistic idea in my head that I would attempt to keep the Lenten fast more or less. Instead, I broke it with a sausage the size of my leg. No qualms.

We started out living in a hotel suite which was very comfortable and reasonably sized. Now we are living in a simple and beautiful apartment in the old town. It has light wood floors, light and white furniture (IKEA), high ceilings, and the windows are engraved with Mucha or Mucha-style art. There is a 24-hour concierge so we feel safe and taken care of.

When we first arrived and up until recently, many days were bitter cold. The first day Chris had off, however, was beautiful and sunny! But we were dealing with jet lag, and even worse, a jet-lagged toddler who come to find out was manifesting a nasty cold. We were walking around with the old ball and chain wondering what we needed to do next to keep the waters calm when we stumbled into Zofin Garden Restaurant. It was a large restaurant by the Vltala river that looked like a greenhouse with fake grass for a floor and orange trees everywhere. But best of all, there was a large space where kids play right in the center! We could sit and eat while Lucas played on the trampoline, swing set and pushed around cars. They play relaxing music and the menu is delicioso. You should have seen our faces, as if we had walked through the gates of heaven.

Fast forward to our current lifestyle. Lucas is getting over his cold, eating ravenously and building his strength back up. While Chris is at work, Lucas and I walk all over our side of the city. The child can walk for hours! And the excitement never ends. We are right by the river so we are always crossing bridges and watching trams, cars and boats. There are playgrounds and green spaces within walking distance. The Astronomical Clock is a few minutes away.

We often get a pastry and eat it on during our long walks. Lucas thinks he is eating a cookie, but it is really a multi-grain croissant with German wheat germ and various seeds. I am splurging on poppy-seed pastries and apricot, cream cheese croissants and double espressos.

I'm cooking about as much as I was back home. Pretty frequently. Everything we need is steps away from our front door - two markets, a drug store, pharmacy, a butcher. Today I got broccoli, zucchini, a leak, and sun-dried tomatoes at the market and made a pasta dish.

People here are in tune with children. They smile affectionately when Lucas bumps into them on the sidewalk (thank goodness for this) and old women frequently start animated conversations with him in stores or on the street. I just smile and act as if I am not responding because of my ultra-demure personality.

So far, no dog bites, no flashers, no merde on the shoe (but I still love you Paris). Really, I feel as if I am in a dream and have literally pinched myself to make sure this wasn't the case. We will be here til the end of June.

Love to you all!
Natali