things i won’t miss
January 10, 2012
I’m trying really hard to think of reasons why I don’t like Europe so that I can lessen the blow of being back home.
Here’s what I won’t miss:
- Having to order bottled water at meal times. After 9 days and approximately $150, I am very much over the European bottled water monopoly. L.A.’s polluted tap water? Yes please.
We headed to an Indian restaurant in Madrid. Rice and dal are the perfect foods when you need a vacation detox. Which I did.
- Wearing all black ensembles. Did I ever mention my packing strategy? 99% of the stuff I pack is black – this means I don’t have a problem getting dressed in the morning and it maximizes coverage against Maya’s vomit. But after 9 days I’m very excited to have access to my entire closet again.
Shrimp, caviar, and mango salad at La Rotonda in Madrid. I will never acquire a taste for caviar.
- Having to ask Maya, “Are you going to throw up?” every five seconds. As you may be able to tell, my world revolves around Maya and her barf. Sad but true.
I had one bite of this lava cake and realized I might as well hook myself up to an IV of sugar - it was that sweet. Ali polished it off with no problem though.
- Eating at ridiculous times. Who eats dinner at 9:30 pm? I don’t get that about Spain. I need to eat by 7:30 pm otherwise I feel disgusting going to bed on a full stomach. Is it just me?
This was the calm before the storm because Maya threw up very shortly after I took this photo. And I had a feeling she would.
- The scarcity of butter. I love butter. I actually sometimes just eat it straight up – I know how gross that is but I can’t stop. So you can imagine my frustration in Europe where they grudgingly hand you a dainty sliver and get annoyed when you ask for more. My butter dish and I are reunited – and it feels so good.
Yes, I realize these reasons are stupid. Yes, I’m already counting down until my next flight to Europe. And yes, there are just 167 days left.
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While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
Shrimp, caviar, and mango salad! Yum!
It would have been better minus the caviar…I had no idea it was on there since the menu didn’t say anything about it!
Once you go black…
Home sweet home!!
Europe is crazy expensive and more so for water. That is why people there prefer alcohol over water.
Really? I had no idea water costs more than alcohol there! Crazy.
Love your photos, Maya is just adorable in her Uggs! I regularly remind myself about things I DON’T miss about living in England…one of my biggies is walking home, in the rain, carrying groceries, and balancing out an umbrella! Thank you Mumbai for giving me access to a car & driver without breaking the bank 🙂
A car and driver? What a dream….
That is a good idea, Ameena to pack mostly black. Everything goes together and no one is ever sure if they saw you in that outfit already! Welcome Home!!
Except that in all my pictures I look like I’m wearing the same thing. 🙂
Europe is amazing for all the wrong reasons, hence why its so dam good.
Agreed!
I felt the same way about the late dinner time in Argentina. Eating at a reasonable time/not right before bed was on my list of reasons it was good to be home from SA too…
So people in Argentina eat late too? Suddenly I don’t want to visit there as much as I thought I did…
I think I may tag along on your next trip, even if that means wearing all black! 😉 Glad y’all had a fun trip.
If you join us can Maya hang out with you? 🙂
Wait, scarcity of butter in Europe? Even in France? Strange. There’s hardly any a worry of that here!
It’s not really scare…they just don’t want to give it to you! It’s very odd.
I know Indians always eat dinner late, kids included. My mum was considered a crazy woman since she made us eat early and sleep early. Now I have to eat by 7:30 pm or I lose my appetite.
7:30 is exactly right…I’m probably considered a crazy person too!
Oh, you know you are preaching to the “things I won’t miss choir!” At the top of the list is dinner time!!! UGH! I refuse to eat so late.
Unless we are out with friends or out on a date I eat promptly by 7 PM at home. Sometimes earlier. I don’t get it. I never will. But at least I won’t be sick from my dinner coming back up as I am trying to sleep.
So glad you made it safely back to your butter dish and your colorful closet. 🙂
How do you eat out in Madrid Kristen? I don’t think I could live there for that reason alone.
We’ve resorted to eating out mainly for lunch. I hate that too though. Lunch is at noon – not 3 PM! But I do what I have to do. Not much longer though… 🙂
I think you should just hire me as like, the greatest nanny in the entire world/shopping buddy/dining buddy/BFF for your next trip to Europe. I totally think I’m available.
If you are interested in cleaning up vomit you may just have a job!
That salad looks beautiful; seriously! And I absolutely feel you in regard to the European bottled water- SO EXPENSIVE; when I’m in Scandinavia though I normally just drink the tap water because it’s so pristine anyhow.
Funny, that picture of Maya reminds me of my sister and I when we were kids
I want to go to Scandinavia! It sounds so posh and classy….
When traveling (especially when I fly), I usually pick either blacks or browns for the trip. That way, I save myself from dragging along 8 pairs of shoes. The footwear is always my biggest issue…
I took 3 pairs of shoes – black boots, black flats, and my running shoes. All black makes it so easy!
Home sweet home! It’s always a good feeling to be back home and especially when you’ll be back to Europe for the Spring again!
I have to have rice every day, no matter what. If I don’t, then I will always feel like I miss on something and that my life is meaningless.. I’m sure it has something to do about being an Indonesian.. 😉
I love rice…lately I’ve been eating it for breakfast. It’s like the perfect food. Really, it is.
haha i did a similar post after Europe. the closet is a really nice thing to come back to, living out of a suitcase is challenging! but, vomit aside, it sounds like you had quite the amazing trip!
We did…vomit aside of course!
The eating dinner late drove me up the wall! We once walked into a restaurant in Barcelona at 730pm and they had spread out all the produce they were planning to use in tonights meal…all across the main dining area! Suffice it to say that they were not open for dinner yet!
I can’t imagine!
I found restaurants in Barcelona were open much earlier than Madrid – which was great!
I am with you on the eating late. I am such a grandma I like to have dinner no later than 6. That way an hour or two later I can have frozen yogurt and still be fine by bedtime. Eating and then going straight to bed is the worst.
6 is really early! I don’t think you can visit Spain because people are still finishing up lunch at that time. 🙂
Oh yes water is most expensive, many of my colleagues used to tell they preferred beer instead of water, i used to laugh now i understand! butter scarcity? my mum is butter lover like you, she really enjoy just them with small piece of bread specially when she is Finland with me, she wouldn’t mind for every morning BF! oh that salad looks so YUM!
Beer instead of water? I can’t say the same here!!
haha I’m enjoying your attempt to not miss Europe so much.
The late dinners would make me crazy. I get annoyed when I have to wait until 7:00. Thats when mean Leah starts to show up, and no one wants that. 🙂
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has to eat early. For a while I thought I was the crazy one…
All black for traveling is a really good idea. Coordinating outfits when I pack stresses me out. I betcha I would have devoured that sweet lava cake. Yum. My all time fav. It’s always good to be back home after a trip and then you always have the next vacation to look forward to.
Yes, my mom always said to have another vacation to look forward to, so you can lessen the blow of being home!
I cannot go to bed with any feeling of food in my stomach, I must feel slightly hungry. It’s just gross.
Slightly hungry – I agree!
Sounds like you had a great trip even with a bit of vomiting thrown in. I love Europe and even got to live for 3 months in Vienna and the thing I am always happiest about coming home is having ice in my drink and not being served room temperature Diet Coke. I can only speak German but can ask for ice in a multitude of languages.
Vienna was so pretty but the food? Not so good! Or maybe we just didn’t know where to go?
Love that picture of Maya! Glad you’re now relieved of your barf monitoring duties – hope your holiday was fabulous 🙂
Thanks Nada…it was great!
Going back home after being abroad is wonderful. I’m curious as to why Maya vomits so much! Health reasons? Allergy? Seriously, there is nothing worse than wearing vomit. Ew!!
She gets motion sickness in planes, cars, trains…poor kid. I sort of feel sorrier for myself though…
Asking for Ice!
No fountain sodas!
Getting lost … a lot….
I love your packing strategy with wearing black. I am skiing for the second time this season (and3rd in my life!) and will pack all black. Thanks!
Luckily I don’t need ice or sodas but getting lost? I am an expert on that!
I think maya has a sensitive stomach like you Ameena…have you taken her to a doctor?
smart thinking with the all black for puke camouflage..brillant! btw that first pic of you looks awesome
The doctor insists Maya will grow out of her motion sickness but I don’t know…it’s not getting too much better and she’s already 6!
Indian food for detox? How fun! You’re right about Europe being addictive. I cannot wait to go back either; but I have no idea when. And I can’t eat after 8 pm. I end up tossing and turning in grief until 2 am or even later. Or i drink a gallon of decaf green tea.
Decaf green tea is the best…have you tried Trader’s version?
At least you were able to come up with reasons 😉 167 days will fly by !
I hope so!
maya sure looks comfy in first class and that salad looks amazing!
Maya makes herself comfy everywhere…sometimes I fear she’s a tad bit too used to things….
i’m headed to vienna & prague on the 30th. thanks for the heads up on the butter 😉
Vienna is very pretty! I can’t remember if the butter is rationed out there or not…I hope not. 🙂
Happy New Year, sweetie! I wish you, Ali, and Maya a wondrous year full of adventure (and Ali’s learning to make a sandwich with only one knife!).
You didn’t rent a car there? The price of gas/ petrol is dizzyingly high imho. But the everything is exorbitant as well, even if the dollar is strong. One more reason to appreciate life here in SoCal, as if 75 degree Januarys weren’t enough.
Big hug!
Happy New Year Leslie!
No, we didn’t rent a car…Ali driving in the USA is bad enough. 🙂
Maya is a lucky girl for traveling so extensively at such a young age! Hopefully she learns not to puke so much in the future 😉
She is super lucky! I want her to be very used to traveling though so she’ll be more cultured than me. 🙂
Ahhhhhh, what a glorious trip you had! Honey, I don’t know how you can handle so much vomit…I would die. I hate it and this is one strong reason I question having children. EEEKKK!
I hear ya with the bottled water, but I hate icky tap water as well, it makes me feel gross and heavy. I’m a filtered water gal, and I’m nervous about spending endless amounts of water when away in Miami this week. BLAH!
xxoo
I thought I would die if I had to clean up vomit. Thus why God gave me a child who gets motion sickness at every opportunity!
Butter is scarce but not in this part of europe – UK. I can understand the irritation with the cost of mineral water. We drink it at home all the time but it’s alot cheaper in the supermarket. The food looks delicious though. GG
I don’t understand why people in Europe don’t use filters like we do…like the Brita? It would be so much cheaper…
sigh- your reasons are good but not good enough. 🙂 its hard being back from vacation. I say buy a couple of bistro chairs, sit out in a quaint patio, put on any of verdi’s operas and consume cappuccinos and nutella.
I want to do all those things. But in Europe. 😦
Welcome back! I know, it is such a sad feeling. The only reason I don’t like Europe is because i don’t think their standard matches the US standard, you know what I mean? Like, staying in a 4 star (for me) isn’t the same as a 4 star in the US. On top of that, they charge you more. My husband would love you – he was up my a$$ about going to an indian restaurant the entire trip – but I caved in after 6 days, I couldn’t take it, I wanted subzi, dal, roti so bad!!! I needed spice. I haven’t ever tried caviar, it just looks so eheww. And omg, you eat butter straight up? Really? That’s crazy and you are in amazing shape.
When’s your next trip?
I always have to find an Indian restaurant wherever we go…it’s so needed to detox!
We are going to the UK again in June. I can’t wait!
growing up outside of the united states, i’m just so used to ordering bottled water everywhere, that i can’t get myself to drink tap even though i know it’s perfectly clean & safe!! it’s all in my mind and i can’t help it. it drives my husband nuts 😛
We usually drink Brita water around here…so much cheaper!
Yeah, those are some pretty big stretches. Except for the throwing up thing. I’d still be heading to Europe but would be looking for a sitter here in the States. Don’t tell Maya I said that. Or Dudette for that matter.
Glad you’re home….for 5 months, that is. 🙂
I’m hoping to fit another trip in between…lets see if I can pull it off.
I dont think I will ever acquire a taste for caviar either. The consistency grosses me out!!
Everything about it grosses me out…the smell, the consistency, the taste…
My having dinner at 6:30 -7 PM is a topic at most parties. I dont know why. I’ve been called old, asked to ‘loosen up’ and many more things (not just for the dinner habit, but if a loose button is supposed to be in a ziploc in the 3rd drawer on the right, that’s where it should be, right? Right!). I’ve also been asked if my dad worked for the army?! People are weird, I have to just accept it. I’m normal. You agree right? 🙂
I could have written this! People think I’m uptight because when I have a party I want people to get here before it’s time for me to go to bed. I think 6:30 and 7 are very reasonable hours! Me and you should have dinner together at 6:30 and commiserate….
I’m worse than you in that I’m ready for dinner by 5pm :P!
The black ensemble thing is a pretty good idea though! Who wants to worry about what they’re going to wear on vacation?
Maya eats at 5pm. 🙂 She can’t wait a minute past! But on vacation she had to learn….we all did.
Spanish dinner timer are totally not representative for the rest of Europe! I’m used to having dinner around 7 or 7:30 pm. 8 pm at latest.
I just found article on the internet saying that you can buy whole peeled garlic cloves in bulk at US supermarkets. I want something like that over here as well. I always have to peel the garlic myself.
I’d also love to have almond milk and almond butter at the supermarkets. Here I have to go to an organic food store and pay a hilarious amount of money. And some things you don’t get here at all. Boo. 😦
Trader Joe’s has a great little package of whole, peeled garlic cloves. I buy them…not sure I know what to really do with them! But they make life easy. 🙂
I could eat dinner at 11:00 pm! I love eating a late dinner!
Really? But then how do you go to sleep on a full stomach?
You just can’t skimp on the butter. I’d be packing my sticks in the suitcase! It sounds like it was a fun trip despite all that. So sorry about the barf. That’s never, ever fun.
The barf was terrible but I kept telling myself that at least I was cleaning up barf in Spain and not in LA! 🙂
Ameena! Thanks for the comment on my blog, very nice of you.
On Europe, I’ve been there once and it may be my last time since it was paid for by my inlaws for two weeks! My favorite country was Switzerland hands down. I loved it so much we got to take a horse and carriage into the country and stay with a family that made their own cheese. They served us their authentic food and visited with us on their quaint little farm-so fun. Also, not sure if you’re into tennis but Roger Federer is also born and raised there so…..I love him. My kids love Nadal more. If you don’t follow tennis this means nothing to you!
The water! Yes, I could not believe Europe and their stinkin water, they don’t want to give it to you in a glass, it’s like the butter if you ask they’re annoyed and- if you ask for ice? I don’t know if there is ice in Europe?
My kids eat the butter straight all the time. I catch my four year old under the table sometimes-maybe I won’t get on her so much if you’re doing it!!! Hahahaha
Another great post-
Shauna
Thanks for the comment and the compliment Shauna!
I can’t wait to visit Switzerland…it sounds so classy and pretty and conservative. I love places like that! I’m sure I won’t get to a farm but I’ll take the city over nothing. 🙂
And tennis is Ali’s racket (haha) I know nothing about sports!
What is with dinner at 9:30? There are a lot of things the Europeans do well, but late dinner does not top my list. Probably because I prefer to be asleep by 9:30.
I guess not many Europeans wake up a 5 am like I do? There is no other explanation for the late dinner!!
I’m lucky if I get to dinner as EARLY as 9:30! I’d say I was meant to be European but I would be pretty mad if denied butter.
Bread and butter is one of my favorite things-I’m the annoying customer at Italian places who doesn’t want to use the olive oil(something about dunking my food in grease doesn’t work for me)and requests butter.
I don’t want olive oil either…my bread needs butter or I usually don’t bother! Glad to know I’m not the only one here…
I was thinking of you on our flight home from Maui… The kid behind us puked 4 times and the grandparents didn’t have a change of clothes for anyone!
I call that a good-mom-point for you for planning ahead. 😉
Oh no. Poor grandparents! And poor you…it couldn’t have been fun sitting in front of vomit for such a long flight.
I fainted at the ”9 days at 150$” information.
Then I facepalmed at the fact Maya threw up again.
I love how educational your blog is:
-Never go to Europe
-Never have kids
-Never go to Europe with kids
I love that I can teach people things! Like not to go to Europe with kids. These are important lessons my friend….
–I love Europe.
The food, wine, culture, history, pastry, food (oh, I already said that)…& the clothes!
Love London. It Kicks Butt. xx
London is still one of my favorite cities…the food there really makes it SO fabulous.
Well all in all the pluses of any vacation are way more then the minuses 🙂 🙂
Absolutely! I was just trying to justify having to come home, to real-life!
Feels great to be back home, isnt it?, inspite of having a great vacation…Maya looks gorgeous in the first snap and you too..:)…I envy that you have only 167 days left…:)
and even if u list down a 100 factors for not missing Europe, you will want to go there again…or may I am just prejudiced..:)
Thank you for the compliment and yes…I want to go there again. ASAP! No matter how much the bottled water costs…
The nutritionist in me wonders if you’ve ever tried remedies to prevent the barfing, you seem the last person in the world to deal with barf. As great as travel is there’s something to be said to your (home) food and in this case water. Love the packing strategy. I need a strategy.
The doctor claims Maya will grow out of her motion sickness but so far I think he’s just lying. I don’t even give her Tylenol so I don’t give her Dramamine…I’ve tried everything holistic but nothing works…
actually re: rationed butter. the entire country of norway ran out of butter. fascinating story for nerds like me. 😛 but it doesn’t seem like it’s a problem in the rest of europe.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/12/13/143632326/a-rich-country-runs-out-of-butter
How crazy! So this is possible? I’m not being my usual dramatic self?
Thanks for sharing Nicole!
My mom always said the one thing she doesn’t miss about me when I was under the age of ten was all the barf. I had tummy troubles even as a kid.
Also, don’t be ashamed of the butter love. Every time I use it, I shave off a little piece for extras as well.
Uggs and business (first?) class! That girl is set!
What’s up with the butter? I thought it was pretty generous in France – no?
How about having your bed magically made each morning while on vacation? What a pain that is!
Dude I live in Canada…and there is a tub of butter with my name on it…however my gallbladder is still an asshole.
Therefore I can only dream about the day when we can make out together…
I think when you said 167 days until your next flight to Europe, you meant 167 days until you dress Maya in all black for the flight in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the vomit. It’s always easier to go to war when it’s not going to take you by surprise.
Yes…I figure I’ll have to make a list like this too when I go to Paris in May. And I agree about late dinners. It drove me CRAZY when we were in Madrid. I get hungry way too early.
I never got to taste caviar but I have this assumption that I won’t like it. Shrimps are good to go though.
we tend to have dinners even at 11:00 PM but I can understand your need to have one at 7:30 …. so I would count myself in the guilty ones .*raises his hand*
Lava cake ..wouldn’t mind polishing that off . With Ali on this one :p
Jeez thats an expensive water bottle :O….
and maya looks adorable in the picture
its been ages since I commented on your blog but just busy like hell with work stuff. Ah life of a solution architect. Hope you had a great and safe trip of Europe.
Ameena, you have a life I can only dream about. Your trip looked amazing. Aside of course, from the lack of butter and 30 dollar water bottles! Rish and I may be taking a trip to Europe over the summer, so I may hit you up for some ideas if you don’t mind. And had to mention that you look so gorgeous in that pic with Maya.
My goodness, what’s a girl to do without her butter? I feel you on that one – and on the bottled water madness. I always just drank wine instead of water. Made for a very fun time…
😀
But aren’t you going to miss not having to cook? Maid service in the hotel room? You know someone else cleaning up husbands mess. High speed train travel. Oh and your lava cake, that looked one bite size anyway.
I love that picture of you and Maya! PS I love that you’re brave enough to say you eat butter straight up. Respect. 🙂
I will not lie about my love for butter!! 🙂
Hm I’ve never had caviar before…how does it actually taste? Wow you can eat butter straight up? Good for you..I think I haven’t tried that before but I love ghee though 🙂
That totally surprised me how Europeans don’t serve that much butter..
After reading this post, I really want to make my Europe trip dream comes true!
Eating dinner at 9:30 pm? I don’t think I could get used to that…the food looks amazing though, and sounds like you had a wonderful trip 🙂 Say hello to your butter dish for me, I would have a hard time leaving butter behind as well 😉
It’s funny how you miss home when you’re away, but feel the need to get out of town when you’re home, huh? Us humans will never be satisfied. Haha. Sometimes I wonder why we couldn’t have wings like birds and just fly everywhere. And that is my cue to end this comment before it starts sounding any dumber. But before I go, that salad sounds yumms!
Funny you write this…Maya said something the other day about how cool it would be if we could fly around like birds! Not dumb at all. 🙂