Albuquerque?!?!

We are moving down to Albuquerque; not anytime soon but soon enough to have to start thinking about it.... As we'll be there for a minimum of 2.5 years, it's a significant move, so there's much to contemplate...

Buying or renting with many neighborhoods to choose from... Less impressive mountains to hike but still surrounded by beautiful nature... Milder winter temperatures but hotter summers... More interesting employment opportunities. Lower cost of living... University environment... Plenty of bike paths... Less quaint than Santa Fe... Good restaurant choices... Nice grocery stores and Co-op but no Santa-Fe-Farmers-Market... Different life balance with Doug in full time graduate school...

The list is endless and grows weekly....

It's a different transition this time as Doug and I are making it together.... It's challenging making a change when what you're changing FROM is SO good, but I'm almost -not quite ;-)- starting to look forward to it....

Still riding!?!?!

I started this blog post about a week ago and never finished it... I was so proud that I managed to ride my bike to work each day last week! The temperatures were mild -everything is relative!-without any new snow.
Well, this week was a different story, 6 inches of fresh powder, sand and mud and remainders of sheets of ice on the road; not a smart idea for riding....

Here are some of the things I've learned about riding to work in SF in winter:
- Riding in temperatures below 20 degrees F is not worth it. There's something seriously out of balance if it takes longer to put on and take off layers of clothing than it does enjoying the ride.
- There are 2 kinds of (car) drivers out there on the roads; the ones who wish they were on a bike too and the ones who wish bikes were never invented.
- Most people would rather not get out of the house at all than get out on a bicycle. When parking my bike at the hospital entrance, I get plenty of reactions from staff and visitors. Most just look at me with pity, thinking my car must be in the shop for repairs,... or maybe I can't afford gas anymore,... or maybe I lost my license because of one too many DUI's... Some look shocked, convinced I should get admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit right there and than; only totally insane people would ride a bike in the cold..... Every now and than I meet a kindred spirit....

In the mean time, I go between wishing for weather warm enough to ride and for enough snow to make winters what they are supposed to be: beautiful, crisp and fun!!

I am SOOOOOO lucky .....

... to be living here in New Mexico (and for plenty of other things too)!!! Every time we go hiking (which is quite a bit as you all know ;-)!), I am still just amazed by the beauty and openness of the landscape, the endless skies, the far reaching horizons.... I have not been to any other place quite like it. Combined with so much sunshine, even with cold temperatures in winter, it really is the ideal place to live!!!!!

This is the trail head of today's hike:


We hiked from Tesuque up through Pacheco canyon: 2 hours just in hiking boots and than 2 hours in snow shoes, all uphill, REALLY!





We're leaving just footprints, a little bigger than some other living creatures....


Note the hat, my second knitting project.....


After 4 hours of great oxygen therapy (I'm convinced the hike cleared my sinuses!!!), we came to the SF ski area road and hitched a ride back into town. I haven't hitch hiked in almost 20 years and was a little sceptical at first but Doug was right; Getting a ride down the mountain on a Sunday late afternoon in the middle of ski-season is very easy. I don't think we had to wait more than 2 minutes before getting picked up!

No words needed....

For anybody that knows this ball-of-energy, these photos really are priceless....

Visiting with Belgian friends...

I love having friends who are great cooks!!! And who are keen to prepare Belgian foods..... Absolutely fabulous!!!

Little side trips (Dinant, Leuven)

Doug and I found some time for little getaways and went to Dinant and Leuven.







Yes, it is a beer, a rasberry beer, in Doug's hand... too sweet, he said.... I didn't realize there was such a thing!!!

Merry X-mas!!!

It was great being able to spent X-mas with family. Following a long tradition, the kids read their New Year's letters, wishes carefully prepared and written in their best hand writing, to the grandparents. It was followed by a delicious dinner and some gifts exchanges.




I don't think this was alcoholic.....


To a great X-mas, oma!


Don't they look angelic in their brand new PJ's!?!

Belgian vacation with hiking fun....

From Brussels airport, we went right into our -by now traditional- family 'Van Dijck' vacation. Despite the usual cold, rainy and this year even snowy weather, we still went on hikes most days, the kids loved whatever was left of the snow and ice.... I enjoyed the wood stove, the card games, the quiet time reading, the preparing of traditional-new-Mexican-style-breakfast-burritos-with green-chili-from-Garcia's, the abundance of chocolate,....

Unexpected Chicago trip...

On our way to Belgium, the New England snow storm re-routed us through Chicago for a 24 stay. No, we didn't have our luggage, no, we didn't really have any clothes to brave the cold and windy Chicago weather but decided against being bored in an airport hotel room anyway.
After a few phone calls to friends more familiar with Chicago, we took the light rail into downtown, brought some warm sweat shirts and got a great (and cheap!) room at the Hyatt Regency.... and the fun could begin: a little unexpected early X-mas experience!





We criss-crossed downtown by foot and taxi, visited Millennium Park, walked along the navy pier, had a wonderful fish dinner and seafood lunch and went to a comedy show at night. Not bad for an unexpected city trip!!!







Navy pier, deep in conversation ;-)!