So here we are

We have finally arrived in Zurich (well, to be honest, we have been here since Thursday morning). But first, let's recap last week. We were given the choice of where to have the visa appointment for the Americans amongst us - I think it was Atlanta, LA, Chicago or New York, so obviously we chose the world's greatest city. We then decided to use this as an opportunity to spend a bit more time in NYC. Initially we were all going to go for ~4 days, but then owing to a delay in getting the visa appointment I wound up with 5 nights in New York by myself before Emily and the kids arrived - and they were happy too, because it was an extra 5 nights for them in Missouri. Whilst in New York on my own I walked about a lot, went to the baseball game, did some record shopping and caught up with friends.

For my birthday, I was one of the few people at a Mets game

Then when Bluet, Ilona and Emily arrived, we had a couple more days of fun. I took Bluet to FAO Schwarz, the giant toy store of 'Big' fame, where Bluet played on (and loved) the giant piano. But even more than that she was fascinated by the life size lego models of Emmet and Stylewild from the lego movie, especially as they had been glued together so she couldn't take them apart. Apologies for the chronological messiness of all this.

For two nights we stayed in a hotel on Times Square (the worst part of Manhattan - I think this was the first time we ever took Bluet there) where Bluet was fascinated by the telephone, and permitted to jump on the bed.

And Ilona got to swing for the first time - and liked it as much as Bluet ever did

Bluet found some bubbles

And then we hung out with our friends who have twin girls a little younger than Bluet (the next day Bluet went to their third birthday party at a dance studio, which she loved. Bluet was delighted to discover they were also fans of Peppa pig. 

New York is tiring for babies

Bluet at the dance studio

Bluet post visa interview

Bluet pre visa interview

Lunch at PQ

Also, Ilona is getting very good at sitting up, and her first tooth has broken through

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Hotels

I don't know whether you have ever entertained a 1 year old in a hotel for a whole day by yourself. To be honest, I haven't either as it is only 15:13 and Bluet is on her afternoon nap. We are in Houston for 3 days - they (probably) say that you haven't lived until you've visited Houston. But we've done it now. Emily has a job interview at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre, which she is tending to right now. To make her time in Texas (where everything is bigger except the hotel rooms, apparently) more enjoyable, she wanted us to come too. So here we are. There is a limited amount one can do in a small hotel room, even if you are an inquisitive baby. So today we have already been swimming twice (which she really enjoys, especially when I disappear then reappear from under water), run around the lobby (Hotels have escalators, which are like stairs, but better because they are oh so dangerous; Bluet loves escalators; fortunately she found some Bluet safe stairs in the lobby which entertained her for a few minutes), had a nap (Bluet only, I am also trying to write a paper whilst she is out here during her naps, as you can see right now) and eaten a Chipotle burrito.

Asleep on the Plane

In Swimming Cossie

Being European, I thought it would be nice to go for a walk and see a bit of the city. There is a University nearby (Rice University), and the land around Universities is always nice and well appointed with entertaining facilites. The guide book that comes with the hotel room (they also have a Gideon's bible and a copy of the book of Mormon, which I intend to read before we leave) suggests that nearby there is "Rice Village", a popular destination for locals and visitors; that has got to be nice. They also suggest that you drive, but seeing as 1) It isn't very far (maybe 1 mile) and 2) I can't drive we walk. We get there. It is rubbish. We come back. If you lived in Houston it would be great as you could do your shopping, but why visitors from outside would go there is beyond me. Still, it was nice to go for a walk even if we were the only people on the pavement. Later I looked at the map and see that there might be a park in the opposite direction.


Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo.