DC: And Planning our trip to...Sweden

The countdown is officially on.....

We're going to Sweden for the kids' spring break and I am more excited as the departure date nears.  Of course, I love planning such adventures and have been in delight finding amazing hotels, like the Nobis in Stockholm.  Or a country manor house half way between Gothenburg and Stockholm, where we are stopping for one night.

What I am most excited about is the Swedish design "candy" that awaits.  Fabrics. Clothing. Lighting.  I'm practically giddy with excitement after reading about a few such places in this Conde Nast Traveler article.

DC: And thoughts of...Paris

On a particularly frustrating dat at work last February, I went on the Delta Airlines website.  I quickly discovered that I could fly to Paris. For only 30,00 miles.  A phone call to my husband and a click later, our April trip to Paris was hatched.

What a trip it was.

Abby and I took off late on a Friday evening from Dulles.  The next morning, we were in Paris and enchanted by our tiny fifth floor walk up apartment in the the heart of Le Marais.  We proceeded to eat, drink and walk our way across Paris that week, giggling like two old girlfriends when it literally poured on our heads late one evening gazing up at the Le Tour Eiffel.  Chatting like two old friends over a late night dinner and an amazing prune dessert.  Delighting in sleeping in and opening our tall windows to gaze upon the city slowly waking up far below. 

Looking back on that special experience, I marvel at the fun we had. 

But also at the Paris that my daughter captured in some 300 images. Here are just a few that I thought I'd share with you. 

DC: Calling all Foodies

Oh, it was all it was cracked up to be. All that was written about it.  All I had been told.

I finally made it to Union Market today, described by Food and Wine as a step above Eastern Market and that it certainly was.  A fine blue sky over the imposing white lettered sign seemed to say welcome.

Wine and cheese flights at a sleek bar? A butcher devoted to fine cuts of lamb from Virginia? An oyster bar, Rappahanock, serving up what appeared to be oysters and much more?

The space is sleek and modern and teeming with 20 and 30 somethings. (Note: I didn't see a kid in sight, other than my 9 year old).

Several yummy cheeses, a baguette and 3 pounds of lamb chops later, I emerged.  Today, I'm still smiling thinking about this little food jewel in my city.

DC: And Thoughts of Spring

Today, was the kind of day that put a spring in your step.  Looking out the window, I saw daffodils coming up in our backyard. And on the way to the gym, it was so sunny we had to squint as Stefan dashed off on his scooter to rock climb.  I had to think of whether I had put sunscreen on; something I hadn't worried about for months.

There is almost no city better than D.C. in the spring when streets are crowded with tourists anticipating the cherry blossoms. When people come out to Eastern Market to buy organic vegetables and so much more.  When the sunlight hits the row houses on Capitol Hill making them all even more majestic than usual.

Spring brings out the colorful in all of us.  Doesn't it?

DC: And Still Thinking About

I couldn't stop writing. I wrote for days. I wrote when I got home from work late into the night in my hotel. Words swirled in my head during meetings.  They were crowding into that space in my brain that hadn't been nurtured for a long time.

So, now the article on change in Serbia -- which I wrote after a five-year hiatus from visiting -- has been polished off. It's been sent to the Huffington Post. My fingers are crossed and we'll see.

I wrote about how things had changed.  The vibrancy of the city. The l'air du temps after lifting so much oppression and political malice. The spirit in the air. The streets and cafes. The art and the design.

Belgrade is a city that is part of me, you see.  The better part of 5 years spent focused on Balkan politics, the ills of the Milosevic regime and the fight for democracy.

DC: And my Secret Life

I snuck away today.  Away from the kids and my husband and into the crowd. It was a perfect sunny day to indulge.

And so I dug in.  Into several places to satisfy my fix on 14th Street. Muleh and Room and Board. And then Cork Market for a few bottles of wine and some chocolate mousse to take away.

It was enough of a fix for me for today.  

And now plenty to think about for our house in Vermont.  Yummy yellow velvet.  Cow hide stools. A fabulous yellow bookshelf/desk for Abby's room.  

Europe: Some Recent Stops

It's been a month. Oh so much has happened since then. Miles logged. Reconnecations with old friends.  Work, work, work.  Most significantly? A trip back to Serbia, my former hometown. Right now, I'm working on a small article and hoping to get it published but I'll give you some small highlights from my fabulous, inspiring, bittersweet week in Belgrade.

Like the Serbian design scene.  Designers like Aleksandra Lalic and Dragana O. are breaking new ground.  Women in NYC would die for these designs -- edgy, modern, oh so cool.

I came home with just a few new dresses and jackets. Oh, and a skirt and a blouse.  It was very hard to decide which of these unique designs to bring home.

I could not have imagined 15 years ago when I was promoting democracy there that such a scene would emerge. But I am so thrilled that it did.