Adventures in Ice Fishing

Winter is my second favorite time of the year at our lake cabin. Summer is the obvious winner, but winter brings peaceful surroundings and togetherness with our immediate family and the few neighbors who continue to use their cabins year round.

We try to spend as much time outdoors in the wintertime as possible. It's cold, yes, but it sure beats wasting away the weekend indoors!  Andi's taken to ice fishing because it's something we can all do together as a family. And, it's an activity we can do regardless of temperature. We have a large 8x16 ice house that we use for "camping on the ice" as much as we do for fishing. The kids love it! Andi bought a smaller deer stand / ice house this year that we use for shorter outings on the lake.

Last weekend, Andi and I decided to pull the ice house to Hayward, Wisconsin for something fun to do. Hayward is about 1 1/2 hours north of our lake cabin, and one of my favorite cabin towns. He hired a local fishing guide to take us crappie fishing on Lake Chippewa, then we planned to fish for walleyes overnight on Gindstone Lake.

Saturday morning, Andi and I packed the big ice house with food and cooking supplies, bedding and ice fishing gear. Then, we drove north to Hayward where we met Tom, the fishing guide. After we dropped our ice house in place, we followed Tom to Lake Chippewa. It was a nice treat having a local expect lead us to prime fishing spots on the lake. His ice shack was the perfect size for our family of four to use, and had a kickin' heater inside which is the key to my happiness. And, the crappie fishing was excellent! Andi and I reeled up one after another in our first 30 minutes of fishing.

Tory was (fishing guide) Tom's little shadow outside our shack. She followed him from tip-up to tip-up, playing in the snow and throwing snowballs. Every time he caught a fish, he'd let her reel it up for him.

Aden likes to fish, but he still has a tough time focusing his attention on it for long. Fortunately, I brought lots of snacks and his iPad which kept him busy while the rest of our family fished. Tory joined us for snacks inside the ice house whenever she needed to warm up.

We fished for two hours, then decided to head back to our ice house on Grindstone Lake for walleye fishing. I appreciate all Andi's work in setting us up for fishing. The kids and I played Old Maid inside our warm house on the lake while Andi worked outside to drill holes and set up tip-ups. Next, he cleaned all the crappies we caught earlier in the day and fried him for dinner. It was delicious!

Meanwhile, Aden kept saying his "mouth felt funny." He became increasingly fussy and kept asking to be held which isn't like him at all. I wasn't sure what he meant exactly since nothing had happened to his mouth, but I wondered if it meant he was about to get sick. Sure enough, as we were cleaning up dinner, Aden vomited all over the ice house floor, his clothes and mine. It was a mess! "Open the hole!" I shouted to Andi, so Aden could throw up through the hole in the floor into the lake. With no bathroom and no running water, there was nowhere else to go. Andi and I stepped all over each other as we worked to clean up the vomit and Aden. "Why do we do this to ourselves?!" I asked Andi in the moment of chaos. We contemplated packing up and driving back to our cabin, but it would take us a while to pull up the ice house, trailer it to the SUV and then drive the 1 1/2 hours home. So, we decided to ride it out in the ice house for the night.

I laid down with Aden in the double bed, and he fell asleep shortly afterward. Andi started a movie on the TV, and he and Tory watched it while they fished for walleyes until bedtime. Tory was such a great sport throughout the evening. She happily laid on the top bunk and watched her show, or fished alongside Andi. He even made her s'mores on the stove for a "camping" treat.

Aden threw up once more around 11:00pm, then we all slept the rest of the night. Thank goodness! The next morning, he was pale but spunky and seemed to feel much better. Andi chiseled his tip-ups from the ice outside while I made us breakfast - pancakes, eggs and sauteed kale.

As I cooked breakfast, I worked to fold up our bedding from the night. I grabbed Tory's blanket from the top bunk and heard a PLOP! Uh-oh. Tory's iPad must've been laying on the blanket and I didn't see it. It flung off and sailed perfectly through the open fishing hole in the ice house floor. Yikes! I couldn't believe it. Andi and I used his underwater fishing camera to see if we could find the iPad, but it was long gone.

Other things that fell down the fishing hole during our 24 hours in the ice house: Aden's leg (he stepped right in the hole and was drenched from boot to waist), Tory's boot (good thing it floated long enough for Andi to grab it!), and a minnow scoop ... just to name a few.

Andi fished for a bit longer that morning while the kids and I laid around and relaxed. Then, we packed up the ice house and drove back to our lake cabin.

As eventful as our evening had been, I wouldn't have changed a thing. It's all part of the adventure. Though I have to admit, I was never so glad to take a shower!

21 Day Fix Meal Plan - Week of January 16-22

It's been a while since I shared my family's weekly clean eating meal plan. Click here to view / download a copy of my plan, including recipes and a grocery shopping list for the week of January 16-22.

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So, we have an oversupply of half-eaten bananas at our house. Let me explain:

Last year, Andi began serving Tory bananas with a handle; meaning, he'd pull the peel halfway down the banana and snip the droopy parts off leaving a "handle" for her to hold onto at the bottom of the banana. While this might've been be a super genius way for Tory to eat bananas (and now is her preferred method), it has since created dozens and dozens of half-eaten bananas in our household. Maybe hundreds, really. Tory loves bananas.

What's a mom to do with so many half-eaten bananas? It pains me like no other to toss out perfectly good fruit of all things!

The answer is freeze them, of course. At any given time, my freezer contains a gallon-size Ziploc bag full of half-sized bananas. No problem, though, because I use them in my Shakeology, to make banana bread muffins, and in my beloved overnight oats recipes.

On the menu for this week is Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats, a recipe I haven't made in a long time. I'm excited to enjoy it for breakfasts this week! If you like blueberry muffins, this oatmeal recipe is for you. The combination of banana, blueberries and lemon zest come together to make this overnight oatmeal taste like the sweet bakery treat. Here's the recipe:

Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats
Serves: 1

Ingredients:
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 small banana
2 Tbsp. blueberries
1/4 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 tsp. pure maple syrup

Directions:
1. Mash together oats, banana, lemon zest and maple syrup in a small mixing bowl or reusable food storage container. 
2. Pour milk over top of banana oat mixture.
3. Top with blueberries.
4. Close lid and refrigerate oatmeal mixture for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
5. When ready to eat, remove from refrigerator and microwave for 30-90 seconds to your liking, or eat cold - your choice!

Please Note: I'm following the 21 Day Fix Eating Plan and fall into the 1,200-1,499 calorie bracket. Each person should individually determine their own calorie level with following this plan. The colors on my meal plan represent a different color-coded portion control container. If you'd like more information about this Eating Plan or any of these recipes, email me at hcdickson@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from you!

Amsterdam: Days 6 + 7

Monday, December 12 was our final full day in Amsterdam, and the last day of our European vacation. Andi and I slept in until 9:30am again which is completely unheard of at home in real life. What a treat! That said, we missed the opportunity for a carby vacation breakfast which was a bit of a shame. We decided to check out Foodhallen for brunch, The Netherland's first indoor food market.

It took us about 45 minutes to walk to Foodhallen from our rented airbnb apartment, which was completely fine with us. Walking is such a great way to see the city first-hand, and allowed us to work up quite an appetite. Andi and I arrived to Foodhallen in the Oud-West neighborhood around 11:00am and at first, weren't sure it was open. The building itself was open, but individual restaurants within were still setting up for business. Andi and I milled around for a bit, deciding what food we wanted to eat and eventually settled on potstickers and sticky buns (Andi) and a crispy tostada (Heather).

 
All of our food was very good and the quick-service nature of the modern food court was nice. Next, Andi bought a flight of bitterballen (deep-fried balls with different meat mixtures inside) for us to share. His sister recommended we try bitterballen while we were in Amsterdam as they're a popular Dutch food, but Andi and I weren't sold on them. They tasted like fried casserole to me.

After lunch, Andi and I left the Oud-West neighborhood and headed back to the central part of Amsterdam. We had reservations for the Anne Frank Museum mid-afternoon, so we took our time getting there. On the way, Andi and I stopped into a chocolate shop for traditional pannekoeken smothered with nutella. The Dutch pancake was bigger than our heads, and perfectly sharable. We each ordered hot teas as well to warm up from our cold walk over.

Next stop was the Anne Frank House, a must-see in Amsterdam. Fortunately, we'd made reservations weeks in advance because the wait for those without tickets was over two hours long. Since we had ticketed reservations, our entry into the museum was a breeze.

Our visit to the Anne Frank House was a somber one as far as vacation activities go, but I thought it was well worth it. Millions have read Anne's diary written during World War 2, and I found it very moving to stand in the very spot she lived during hiding. The museum did a great job of retelling the story through pictures and video as visitors toured the public offices of the spice manufacturer and the secret annex where Anne and her family lived for several years. The tour concluded in a final room with Anne's original diary on display. It's hard to believe this event took place less than 75 years ago.

Andi and I finished our tour of the Anne Frank House, and then walked to Koan Float for spa appointments. Andi read previously about the experience of "floating" - a relaxation technique where you float weightlessly on the surface of very salty water - and we decided to give it a try. We each booked a one-hour massage and a one-hour float session. I opted for my massage first, while Andi floated and then we switched.

The "float" experience was like nothing I'd done before. It's designed to remove all external stimulus such as noise, temperature, light and gravity. Each person has the privacy of their own room with a lockable door. It felt so ... weird to climb into the tank of water, but I followed the employee's instructions. I wore ear plugs and avoided contact with my eyes and the very salty water as I acclimated to my surroundings. Natural instinct is to fight against the water, but I soon relaxed as my body floated to the top of the water. I let the calming spa music quietly play in the background and closed my eyes, surprisingly falling asleep in the tub of water for 45 minutes! Floating was truly a unique experience; I left feeling rested and relaxed.

  
Andi and I were both in sleepy daze when we left Koan Float around 6:00pm, so we decided to grab dinner and call it an evening. We'd previously made reservations at a fondue restaurant one of Andi's employees recommended in Amsterdam, so we walked over to the Nieuwmarkt area. We had about 30 minutes to burn before our dinner reservation, so we stopped for a drink at a nearby pub. Soon after, we made our way to Cafe Bern for fondue.

Cafe Bern looked unassuming from the outside, but opened up to a warm and cozy pub-style restaurant. Andi and I ordered cheese fondue with steak cooked at our table, and the meal was also served with an appetizer salad course. The food was fantastic (or maybe it was the wine talking?); we very much enjoyed ourselves there. With full bellies and happy hearts, we made our way back to our rented airbnb apartment in Dam Square.

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The next morning (Andi's birthday!) we woke up early for breakfast at Cocotte, a charming French restaurant, before heading to the airport. I ordered a traditional French breakfast consisting of a baguette with seasonal jams which were all freshly made and reminded me of the local jam shop we'd visited days earlier in Paris. Andi ordered a savory galette. We enjoyed our last few moments of vacation, sipping coffee and enjoying the company of one another - the way it should always be.

After breakfast, we hopped in an Uber and drove to the airport. Our nine-hour flight home was uneventful, and we returned home to happy kiddos and life as usual in Minneapolis.

I'm thankful for our spur-of-the-moment trip to Europe, and all we experienced there. There's nothing quite as wonderful as traveling the world with your love. Until next time ...

Amsterdam: Day 5

Continuing right along with the details of Andi and I's trip to Europe last month...

We woke up in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Day 5 of our trip. The night before, we'd arrived into the city late and it was dark and rainy. Andi and I were both a little disoriented having never been there before. The serious party scene in our Dam Square neighborhood didn't help; it felt like the European version of the Las Vegas outside our rented airbnb apartment.

The dawn of a new day brought a new perspective though. The sun shined brightly on this cold, December day and Andi and I were excited to go out and explore all the city had to offer. We got dressed and packed a small carry bag for the day, and then descended the steep four flights of stairs to the city street below. It looked much different - much quieter - than it had the evening before. A very intoxicated guy fumbled his way down our narrow street, bouncing between brick walls like a rubber ball. Shop owners were busy setting up for business, and a cheese shop across from us looked gorgeous with rows and row of cheese wheels lining its windows.

Andi and I set out to find breakfast; first walking several blocks to The Pancake Bakery by recommendation of his sister, Lindsay. As we walked, we talked, and really enjoyed the quietness of the city on a Sunday morning. The canal areas outside Dam Square are very quaint and neighborhood-y; like somewhere you'd want to live.

We rounded the corner of The Pancake Bakery to find a long line of people standing outside its doorway. Eh, we weren't into waiting. Andi pulled up Yelp! on his phone and we found another brunch spot called Gs a few blocks away. I suppose Sunday mid-morning is a tough time to score a table for breakfast as this place was packed with people, too, but fortunately we were able to snag two bar stools in the front window. Andi and I are belly-up-to-the-counter type diners anyway, so this spot suited us fine.

Gs had a hip, trendy vibe. Our server handed us menus printed on vinyl records, and its food seemed very L.A. Andi ordered a cappucchino, I got a coffee, and we agreed to share a cup of Brunch Dip on Crack and the Avo Bae which was a sesame bagel topped with avocado and tomato. The sesame bagel left some to be desired, in my opinion, but the crack dip was amazingly warm and flavorful. 

After brunch, Andi and I walked through the canal neighborhoods of Amsterdam. The city is historically beautiful, and very "Dutch" - as I'd envisioned it, at least - with row houses, wooden shutters and canal boats lining the streets.

 

The weather was cold and gloomy, about 30 degrees F, but we didn't let us stop us from exploring. Many people get around by way of bicycle in Amsterdam, but Andi and I sided against renting them. If the weather had been warmer or we'd been in any sort of a hurry, we might've thought differently, but walking as a method of travel around the city center was easy enough.

Eventually, we stumbled upon a Christmas Market being set up along one street. Andi and I took our time wandering by the stands and stopped in a few stores to see what they had to offer. A pop-up band began to play Christmas carols on the sidewalk, and I couldn't help to think how wonderful of a time the holidays are to visit Europe. Sure, the weather could be better, but the magic of the holidays all around was something to remember.

Andi wandered into a store along the market street called Ibericus for a snack. This meat shop was all about the ham! The ceilings and walls were lined with parts of the pig and legs displayed neatly in glass countertop cases, ready for the slicing. Andi ordered a paper cone filled with sliced meat to-go. The freshly sliced ham on a baguette also looked amazing.

Andi mumbled about the wonderfulness of the meat for this shop as he stuffed bites in his mouth. "Some of the best I've had," he declared. We continued to walk along the Christmas Market for a bit more, and stopped in another neighborhood cheese shop to buy raclette cheeses for our Christmas celebration back in the States. Andi's mom had suggested the idea, and it was surprisingly easy to do so. The cheese shop helped us to select a few different cheese for raclette, and then vacuum-sealed them right in the store for us to travel with.

Next, we then decided to take an Uber to another market across town Andi had read about online. Uber was another easy way to get around in Amsterdam, specifically traveling outside the canal areas. We hopped in an Uber car and drove about 15 minutes from the city center. Outside the tourist area, Amsterdam looked different: bigger, more everyday life. It was Sunday, so people were walking their dogs and riding bicycles with groceries in a basket. The car arrived to the designated address but there wasn't a market going on after all, so we asked the Uber driver to take us back to the city center again. He did, and we enjoyed the ride back as we observed a part of Amsterdam we likely wouldn't have seen otherwise.

Back in the canal districts, Andi and I walked to the well-known Vondelpark in Amsterdam. This large city park would be the perfect place to lay out a blanket under the sunshine or have a picnic in the warmer months. A beautiful creek ran though the center with ducks floating along. Given the time of year we visited, Andi and I just walked along the park paths and talked. It was still a really nice place to see, even if the weather was colder.

Continuing on our walk, Andi and I came across the Sunday Market we'd been looking for earlier. This market happens every Sunday, and features various handmade items including jewelry, fashion, art, and food. This place was so neat! Andi and I had a fabulous time wandering through the different buildings looking at all the items for sale. I bought Tory a pair of white lamb earmuffs from one vendor, as she'd been asking for some to match her little friend at school. There were so many things I would've loved to buy there actually. The Sunday Market was the perfect way to spend our afternoon.

Andi and I realized we hadn't eaten lunch yet, so we set off to find a place. It was around 4:00pm, so we decided to eat something small to tide us over for a nicer dinner later that evening. I can't remember the name of the place we stopped; probably because it's wasn't much to remember. Our waitress was busy setting up for their dinner service, so she half-forgot about us as Andi and I shared a plate of roasted veggie bruschetta with wine. We ate, and left shortly afterwards.

We headed back to our rented airbnb apartment to hang out for a bit before our scheduled tour of Amsterdam's famous Red Light District. Andi and I both wanted to see the Red Light District and learn more about its history without subjecting ourselves to the experience with a big tour group, so he hired a private tour guide to show us around. Our tour guide met us in Dam Square at 8:00pm, and led us through the various streets to tell us more about this iconic part of Amsterdam.

The Red Light District walking tour was interesting. Our tour guide was very familiar with the industry and shared many stories about sex workers he's come to know. He also told us about legislation and regulation on the industry, and how it's changed over the years. As professional as the tour was, it was hard to escape the fact that Andi and I were walking along (and talking about!) sex workers standing before us in floor-length windows. It felt awkward, no matter how much I reminded myself this was a chosen profession by these women.

Unfortunately, most restaurants were closed by the time our tour of the Red Light District ended around 10:00pm. Andi and I were both hungry since we'd hardly eaten anything during the day, so we opted for Belgium waffles from one of the neon-lit stores on our Vegas-like street in Dam Square. I think Andi got a few fried foods selections from FEBO as well.

We ended our first full day in Amsterdam having a better understanding of this great city we were visiting. One final day of exploration in Amsterdam tomorrow!

Antwerp, Belgium + Amsterdam, Netherlands: Day 4

Andi and I started our final morning in Antwerp, Belgium with a sweat session in the hotel gym. We had big intentions of exercising every day during our Europe trip, but that didn't happen. Though, we kept pretty active, walking 25,000+ steps every day of our trip! Not surprisingly, we were the only people in the hotel gym that morning. I don't think Europeans place much emphasis on exercise, at least it didn't seem that way. Very rarely during our trip did I see workout studios, supplements or any mention of healthy eating.

We showered, packed up our things, and headed down to the breakfast buffet in our Radisson Blu hotel. This all sounds terrible, doesn't it? We traveled to a new-to-us city in a foreign country, yet we ate hotel breakfast food! The simple answer is that it was easy for time's sake. To the hotel's credit, the breakfast buffet spread was very nice. Andi and I enjoyed a cup of coffee with hard boiled eggs, croissants, yogurt, granola and fruit.

After breakfast, we left our bags with the hotel concierge and walked across the street to meet a private tour guide we'd hired to show us around the city. Andi and I planned to stay in Antwerp for only 24 hours, so we wanted to see as much of the city as we could during that short time. Andi found this particular guide on Trip Advisor and he was the kindest gentleman. His name was Jamil and his company, Voyage Locale, was only a few months old. He told us he specialized in showing tourists sights in the outer ring of the city where most wouldn't have access without a car, and that being a tour guide had always been a dream - now he's living it! 

His celeste blue-colored Renault Estafette van definitely attracted attention from pedestrians. More than once, people stopped to photograph the van or point to it as we drove by which felt a little like we were animals on display at the local zoo.

Jamil took us through various neighborhoods and districts in Antwerp, and told us about the history of each. Next he drove us to the pier and docks and once around town again. He was so eager to please and asked about a dozen times if we were enjoying ourselves.

Andi asked Jamil to drop us off at the FOMU Foto Museum at the conclusion of our tour. This was one of those times while traveling where I gave Andi a raised eyebrow look and silently wondered why on Earth we'd go there when we could go to the adorable Christmas Market in the old town square? Alas, we said good-bye to Jamil and wandered into the FOTO Museum for a look around.

This was also one of those times where Andi and I kicked ourselves for not wearing more layers of clothing. My one reservation about traveling to Europe in December was that I didn't want to be cold (I hate being cold!) so we both brought warm coats, hats, gloves and long underwear to protect against the weather. On this day, since we thought we'd be riding around in a van all morning, we left our heavier coats at the hotel with concierge. Bad idea! It was a long, chilly walk back to the center of town following our time at the museum.

Antwerp's Christmas Market officially opened that evening, but unfortunately we were leaving town. The entire old market square was filled with vendors setting up their stands to sell merchandise, foods and beverages. A lighting crew practiced their display on the side of the cathedral and a Zamboni prepared an ice rink in the city center. Local families and tourists milled around the cobblestone streets as a chorus of singers serenaded us with Christmas carols - it was all so lovely!

 

I wanted to stop and buy one of the warm Belgian waffles so many of the stands were selling, but Andi wanted to sit down somewhere for lunch. He consulted Yelp! on our iPhone and found a restaurant close-by with great reviews. The restaurant was cozy and warm (and we were still freezing!) and packed with people. We snagged one of the only open tables and sat down for lunch. Though, upon further glance, the menu didn't look like food Andi and I were very interested in...

It was all casseroles and comfort foods - super heavy and not healthy at all. Just like Grandma's cooking (hence, the photos on the wall)!

We considered leaving to find another restaurant, but we were cold and hungry and didn't have much time before our train to Amsterdam. "How bad can it be?" we said to one another, and agreed to split a pot pie casserole with cauliflower and potatoes.

This concludes the story of the worst meal we ate in Europe. Blech!

I wanted to erase the taste of cream of mushroom soup from my tongue so I begged Andi to stop at one of the waffles stands in the market square, but we had to catch our train to Amsterdam. We grabbed our bags from the hotel and walked over to the Antwerp train station.

Our train ride from Antwerp to Amsterdam, Netherlands took about an hour. Once again, we were pleased with the smoothness of train travel and our accommodations. By the time we arrived in Amsterdam, it was evening. The sky was dark and it was pouring rain, which made it challenging to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings.

Got my waffle! Turns out, they sell them in Amsterdam too. Each waffle stand offered lots of topping choices (whipped cream, chocolate, fruit, sprinkles, etc). I ordered mine plain and it was still plenty sweet and delicious.

The airbnb apartment Andi rented for us in Amsterdam was within walking distance of the central train station in Dam Square. Thankful for our warm (and waterproof!) winter gear, we pulled up our hoods and navigated our way to our new home for a few days.

Ten minutes later, Andi and I found ourselves standing in a neon-lit cobblestone alley as we waited for the airbnb host to let us into the apartment building. I think our exact words were, "WTF! Where are we?" as people completely stoned out of their minds stumbled past us. A couple of thugs hung around the outside of a marijuana supply shop inviting people into their store.

I could tell Andi was nervous as he messaged the airbnb host repeatedly to see where she was. The address was right, but this couldn't be the location of the beautiful apartment we'd rented. Ten or fifteen minutes had passed by when a well-dressed Dutch woman rushed up to us. She apologized for being late and ushered us through the locked apartment building door. We followed her up four flights of stairs to find a breathtaking apartment in the city. Andi and I both looked at each other in amazement -- we couldn't believe this place was located mere steps away from that craziness on the street below. 

Andi had some great restaurant recommendations from friends back home, so we dropped our bags and set off for dinner. We were both pretty overwhelmed with all the craziness in Dam Square as we navigated our way to the restaurant. Eventually we entered a neighborhood by the canals that wasn't so much of a party scene. Now, this is more like the Amsterdam we were expecting!

We found the restaurant and were wet and cold from our walk in the rain. (Our upper bodies weren't wet since we had waterproof coats on, but our pants were wet since we weren't wearing full body rain gear - who knew we'd need that?) Unfortunately, we didn't have a reservation and there were no openings that evening. The hostess recommended another restaurant around the corner, so we decided to give it a try. Pianeta Terra warmly welcomed us inside and sat us at cozy table in their upper balcony. Our servers were both super friendly and suggested a bottle of wine and the chef's surprise tasting menu - yes, please! Bring us all the wine and delicious food.

Our photos are terrible quality because of the dimly-lit room, but Andi and I enjoyed a wonderful meal there. Our four-course chef-picked menu included squid, ravioli, steak and tiramisu. 

Now with full bellies and a little buzz from wine, Andi and I felt ready to take in the city. We walked back to our Amsterdam apartment and talked about our adventures thus far. As we walked, we were both surprised to see a sex worker advertising her services in a ground floor full-length window right beside us. We hadn't realized we were walking right through the city's famous Red Light District!

Tomorrow, a full day of exploring in Amsterdam...

Antwerp, Belgium: Day 3

Andi and I woke up in our rented Paris apartment on Day 3 of our European vacation. We'd slept in until 10:00am again after staying up late the evening before which is so unlike us! I guess our internal clocks hadn't adjusted to the 8 hour time change.

We had a train to catch to Antwerp, Belgium that morning so there wasn't time for a proper Parisian breakfast. I kicked myself for not waking up earlier since it's not everyday you're in Paris with fresh croissants and baguettes at the ready. Andi called Uber for a ride to the train station. We could've taken the Metro, but thought it'd be easier to navigate by car.

We arrived to the train station around Noon and quickly determined which train was ours. We had about 20 minutes until it departed, so we enjoyed a quick breakfast of chocolate croissants in a nearby cafe. Andi ordered a fresh-squeezed orange juice which seem to be popular around Paris. I had an Americano.

The European rail system is so easy, I wish we had something similar in the United States. Within minutes, we boarded the train and found our assigned seats -- two comfortable lounge chairs facing one another with a small table in between. The entire process was simple and painless. Soon, we were on our way to Antwerp, Belgium.

Shortly after the train departed, a train attendant served drinks and lunch to passengers. She gave two options: a chicken dish or something else (?) which I think was vegetarian. Andi chose "chicken" so I picked the other, just so we'd have a sampling of both plates. Whatever mine was, was really tasty!
 

I love the way Europeans eat dessert with every meal. Our lunches were served with cute individual apple pies. Speaking of desserts, every cup of coffee or espresso came with a piece of chocolate. Andi and I called it "pocket chocolate" because we'd stash it away to eat later (which burned me in the end when I washed our travel clothing and accidentally dried one of those pocket chocolates).

Antwerp is half-way between Paris and Amsterdam by train, and it's also a place Andi's sister and her husband traveled to and recommended, so Andi and I decided to spend 24 hours there during our travels. Antwerp is a bit smaller, about 500,000 people, and claims fame as the diamond capitol of the world. Our biggest plans for our 24-hours in Antwerp were dinner reservations at inVINcible.

The train station in Antwerp was truly magnificent. We walked around there a bit, then wandered across the street to our hotel for the evening. Andi booked us a room at the Radisson Blu since it was in close proximity to the train station and we'd only be in town one night. No pictures, because the hotel and our room were exactly as you'd expect. Very nice! American-style. We typically like to stay in bed + breakfasts or rented apartments but for simplicity sake, this seemed easier. I have to admit, it was a bit of a relief to read signs in the English language since the people of Belgium speak Dutch.

Andi and I chilled in our hotel room for a bit, and then hit the town. It was about 3:30 - 4:00pm, so we walked through a pedestrian mall area just as the sun began to set. Twinkling Christmas lights all around made it feel truly magical. We continued to wander the streets of the old quarter and eventually stopped into a pub for a beer. Neither Andi or I are big fans of beer, but when in Rome Belgium, right?

One more stop at a cozy cocktail bar while we waited for our dinner reservation.

  
We arrived early for our dinner reservations, anxious to start. Andi and I were both hungry since we hadn't eaten much since the train and were now feeling warm and fuzzy since we'd been drinking to kill time.

Lindsay and Kyle recommended we have dinner at this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The restaurant was small with a bar of seats fashioned around the open kitchen. We sat and watched as the chefs prepped food for dinner. Andi ordered mussels for his first course and blood sausage as the second; I ordered the pasta (tossed in a wheel of cheese!) and the halibut. We shared our plates and enjoyed every bite. The food and the experience was wonderful.

For dessert, I ordered cheesecake and Andi ordered an boozy eggnog with a dollup of ice cream in the center. I can't remember the exact name of this dish, but it was delicious. We called it "boozy ice cream."

Tipsy and full, we wandered back to our hotel room and called it an evening. Antwerp is a beautiful, old city and I'm glad we took time to visit here. Tomorrow - Amsterdam!