Mathieu came few days before starting his week of work in OHB Bremen in order to give a big push to the moving activities. Being alone facilitate to stay focus and not scared to left something on the floor that could hurt Zoe. Mathieu managed to make few boxes more on Saturday of the things that we need urgently in Greece. Like for example the home cinema 😀
On Saturday night Mathieu was invited at Dragos and Boyana for a delicious crouziflette. Good friends, good food and good wine was a good ground for laugh and discussion. We came to discuss our furniture. Dragos and Samy are interested by a couple of items and rendezvous is taken the next day in the morning to get on with it.
We all had a productive Sunday. The flat in Emmastrasse is getting empty quickly. Dragos house is progressing at big steps. We could really see all the work that was put in it.
Monday to Wednesday was dedicated to prepare 3 additional palettes. The 2 big trunks full of toys and balconny things are in. Big carton boxes filled to the edge. The palettes look good and Mathieu even managed to put his bike on it.
Wednesday night Katerina arrived in Bremen with again a bad adventure with a miss flight in Frankfurt (2 time in a row). As foreseen she has a shock entering the flat. She needs few seconds to realize the situation.
Thursday and Friday we had negotiation training in a hotel close to OHB. We both enjoyed it and find it really important for our new adventure. Both night we manage to see the Caudepon family with a cute Izaro and the Peggs family with the new baby Hazel and the first visit of their new house. Two days completely full just before the big trip accross Europe.
We decided to bring the car to Athens. We started this long trip on Saturday early in the morning. We filled up the car with a few remaining things. It is difficult to choose what to bring without over-stuffing the car.
Step1: Munich
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d5197707.425744976!2d6.028291018755163!3d50.498017137021414!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x47b127db9e597ded%3A0x7a269f0097a3be5a!2sEmmastra%C3%9Fe%2C+28213+Bremen!3m2!1d53.0916305!2d8.8440084!4m5!1s0x479de0dd882510f1%3A0xd7671e80173c466!2sOttobrunn!3m2!1d48.064054299999995!2d11.6652116!5e0!3m2!1sfr!2sde!4v1540369918838&w=600&h=450]We stopped in a town where an Abbey is at the centre. Very good inspiration from Katerina who wanted to try to get out of the motorway for the lunch break.
Mathieu dropped Katerina at the airport just as planned at 17:30. And will continue the trip alone.
Julie offered me the hospitality in Ottobrunn. We had a nice dinner together with her family. Julio and his family were also invited. It was good to hear the news from my friends from Bremen who moved to Ottobrunn. I saw everyone happy, integrated with a good life balance. Along the discussion, they gave me good tips for the road to Italy. I woke up from stress at 04:00 knowing that I needed more than 7 hours to reach Ancona. I did not know if I really needed to be 3 hours before at the port to take the ferry or not.
Step2: Ancona
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d2847937.6243945016!2d10.096949337352662!3d45.807471388978584!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x479de0dd882510f1%3A0xd7671e80173c466!2sOttobrunn!3m2!1d48.064054299999995!2d11.6652116!4m5!1s0x132d7fa536579b91%3A0xa3c2766c7a325b08!2sAncona+port%2C+Ancona%2C+Province+of+Ancona%2C+Italy!3m2!1d43.620716099999996!2d13.508789499999999!5e0!3m2!1sfr!2sde!4v1540370328558&w=600&h=450]I will keep in my memories the descent of the Alps from the Italian side at 07:00 on an empty motorway, brand new asphalt, with little light at the end of the valley, taking the turns down the mountain like a smooth dance from left to right and right to left. The countryside between Bologna and Ancona seems also nice with some little mountains close to the seashore.
Step3: Ferry to Patras
The Ferry was great. Big boat with all comfort: 10 decks! and I even had internet on board. Can be easily done with babies. First class restaurant, Casino, Lounge, Pool bar, really good. It felt like a selfish pleasure that I would be glad to do again with family and friends!
Step4: Athens
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d803597.5850003224!2d22.21325834212789!3d38.11569981967136!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x135e3599a524ed2d%3A0x400bd2ce2b98ca0!2zUGF0cmFzLCBHcsOoY2U!3m2!1d38.2466395!2d21.734574!4m5!1s0x14a19f1e81f6fd8b%3A0xe0d888ee03cb9796!2zS2lmaXNpYSwgR3LDqGNl!3m2!1d38.0767848!2d23.8146974!5e0!3m2!1sfr!2sde!4v1540370511553&w=600&h=450]I arrived in Athens without a problem. I am exhausted by the trip and the stress that came with it. It was a good experience.
Monday 22nd of October was our first night in our new home. The best moment was Zoe waking up from her new big girl bed with a big smile telling me “Papa, I like new house”.