Antwerpen AutoVrij Weekend

We have spent the past week or so getting our bikes set up with kid seats and having minor repairs worked on. I now have 2 child seats on my bike - 1 on the front and 1 on the back - and have been riding Colin to and from school everyday.

Friday, Craig was waiting for me in the garage when I walked my bike in after school with a flat tire. We were looking at it trying to figure out what to do when 2 middle aged men asked us if we needed help. They are both from the Netherlands but the one gentleman had his weekend home in the building next to ours. They were on their way out, but promised to call when they got back to help.

My phone rang around 6pm and when I answered it, I was told it was the Bike Repair Team calling. Craig met up with them and they patched my tire. My friend put it perfectly when he said that if you have a bike emergency, you couldn't ask for any better than to have someone Dutch come to your rescue.

Saturday, many of the main shopping streets were closed to cars. We were riding near the art museum when who did we run into, but our Bike Repair Team. Paul noticed that one of Craig's tires looked low and pulled out a full sized bike pump from his bag. We thought it was so funny.

Sunday Antwerp was auto free. It was great. We are continually amazed at the events and activites Antwerp has. There were different activities all over the city and the majority of the people were riding their bikes to get around. In 2 locations, they laid sod down on the cement and created a small oasis with chairs, hammocks and toy lawn mowers for the kids. One area had a small petting zoo. We met up with our friend Robert who is here finishing his PhD in Art History. His wife and son went back to the US in August, so he spent the day with us.

Sunday was also a day when the city allows the residents to sell things in front of their homes. We picked up so many things including a bike trailer for the kids to ride in.

I am still surprised by some of the things I see on bikes or how they are rigged up. Yesterday we saw a bike that was parked with a bird in a birdcage strapped to the back. The bike next to it had a box with live chickens on the back. Saturday I saw a woman riding her bike with an infant in a sling around her chest. To top it off, the infant was nursing at the time.

It was an awesome weekend and hopefully our Dutch Bike Repair Team will find us again in a time of need.

First Day of School

Wednesday was Colin's first day at his new school. We put him in Da Vinci International School. All classe are taught in English. Many of the staff and teachers are from the UK because it follows a British curriculum. Colin is enrolled in the pre-school and does not have to wear a uniform, but the rest of the school, K-12, does. We did have to buy and outfit for him to wear to PE on Thursday - I will post a picture when I have one.

Yesterday, Colin's teacher spoke to me about an problem she had with Colin not listening. She told be that he burped during snack time and would not say excuse me. Something tells me that is not the last conversation we will be having like that.