Lunch in Amsterdam

Relaxing in the Penn Club Lounge Showing off her new tights from Belgium London Eye Big Ben Russel Square Russel Square

Travelling on "babytime" means a very different pace.  The biggest thing to consider is Clare requires 3 naps a day - which is actually a wonderful pattern for mummies as well as baby.  We get up, eat breakfast, have a nap, go out and do something (usually ending up with Clare napping a little in the carrier), come back have a big nap, and have dinner, then Clare usually goes to bed and Beth and Katherine read - or go to bed early. It's one of the reason's we booked so much time in one place. There are 2 big things we've noticed about London on this trip.  The first is the large number of very well-used green spaces and parks.  Not just the big ones like Hyde or St. James or Regents, but small ones too.  There is a park at either end of the street we're staying on, and every day there are masses of people sitting in it - on the benches, on the grass, in full business suits and dresses as well as more casual clothes. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous

St Pancras Hotel in London where we stayed our first night. It was perfect for getting over jetlag, one tube line in from Heathrow and the Eurostar (for travel to Belgium the next day) is located in the same building Brouges: The Flemish Pot Restaurant Brouge: Clock Tower Brouge Brouge: Market Square

 London: Clare's First meal in England: Plums, Pears, Parsnip and Swedes   Brouges: Waterzooi (creamy chicken stew), and shrimp croquettes  Brouges: Flemish Stew with frites and applesauce and Belgian sausages  Brouges: Moules 

Photo 1: Canal on the terrace just outside our B&B door in Belgium  Photo 2: Horse-drawn carriage ride around Brouge Photo 3: Katherine and Clare at the British Musuem Photo 4: Clare's first London Black Taxi ride

We`ve arrived in Belgium.  Between the Mac and the Flemish, we can`t quite figure out how to post photos yet, but stay tuned - we head back to London tomorrow. Travelling at baby-speed means more relaxed schedules and lots of naps, so we`re feeling the jet lag has passed. We`re staying at a sweet little B&B not far from the centre of things and have walked all over the city. We were warned the country wasn`t terribly baby-friendly, but are relieved to find people are very welcoming of Clare - in fact, the cafe-owners are holding her right now, teaching her to make a latte, I think. Bruges is absolutely beautiful.  Everywhere you turn is post-card worthy, old and clean.  Cobbles everywhere have made us happy with choice of backpack carrier over stroller! We have eaten waffles and fries (friets) everyday so far. Last night`s dinner was gourmet - Flemmish stew with applesauce and -you guessed it - friets.  We even toured the friets museum (just after the chocolate museum, of cou