Tag Archives: petting zoo

Day 21 – Organic Vegan Fair-Trade Hipster Dad Log

Same card for warm showers, hot water in the kitchen and…electricity to cook?

I think this “three-week-holiday” thing is just not our style. Can you believe that I have to work again tomorrow morning? There was no midnight party terror, so we were able to have a pretty relaxed morning. To make it even more so, we did not hesitate long to use the “tent camper kitchen” in the service building to its fullest. Very unusual for German camp grounds, but more than welcome today. Keeps the packing to a minimum and no extra run for doing the dishes.

Very on-brand for Germany was the fact that both hot water and the stove were charged by the minute (at least using our smart-cards as a token). The power on our site was metered as well – so the full charge over night was not that cheap, but still on par with an expensive charge card and way more convenient.

Check out was at 9 am. With all that compfort and without much of a hurry, we managed to be ready early. That meant another round on the playground for the little ones and first-in-line spot for me at the checkout. We even had some extra time after to buy a pack of feed and spend a while with the goats and chicken at the petting zoo.

So proud that he finally dared to feed the little goats!

[Nina: Flo seems to have forgotten that the playground was a “sand-and-water” playground which was amazing for the kids…just not for their clothes. The Agent of Entropy had to have a super quick bath afterwards as she had sand EVERYWHERE.]

By the time we arrived at the place in Düsseldorf where we wanted to meet one of Nina’s oldest friends, it was raining cats and dogs. With no parking in sight anyways, I still decided to drop off the rest and push for the nearest free charger. Once again, after arriving at the cafe properly drenched, I cursed the fact that Nina and I had not upgraded our gear since 2015.

Have not seen these two in way too long. Ms L and I finally live in the same country again after 14 years…if only for a year XD

It was lovely seeing Lina and Michael again after almost two years (long time readers might remember them, check out Oman from Home to Home). They have just moved to Düsseldorf. We decided over vegan coffee and organic müsli that the next time can not wait another two years and spend a lovely extended lunch huddled up in the tiny cafe called Greentrees. After a stellar performance up to that point, both the Agent and Number 3 gave up at around half past one and it was time to head home. We walked to the car, just to get everyone equally wet (the rain had not let up).

We took the last two hours in one go, making the most of our two sleeping hobbits in the back. We even managed to get the car fully unloaded and restore a vague semblance of order in our flat before collapsing into our own beds for the first time in three weeks. We were a bit apprehensive how well the kids would take to sleeping in their own room again – but it seemed they were exhausted enough to not mind.

And that was that …

  • Setting the table for breakfast. Slightly hindered by an Agent hanging on to my legs
  • Same card for warm showers, hot water in the kitchen and…electricity to cook?
  • There is even a chocolate spread on the table!
  • Both kids needed a bit of a cuddle before we were done packing
  • The green monster in the background lets you buy appropriate food for the goats
  • “Who’s a cute goats?!?”
  • So proud that he finally dared to feed the little goats!
  • The little ones were so cute!
  • Have not seen these two in way too long. Ms L and I finally live in the same country again after 14 years…if only for a year XD

Day 25 – To the Donkey!

Good for us, Leonie is a champion of planning ahead. She had a few great options for us to avoid the “we should really not sit on our bums all day” trap ready last night, but we intentionally left the last choice between a fun park and a petting zoo-type place open until breakfast, so that Number 3 could give some input. Interestingly, he went for the “farm animals” option over the playground. 

Good morning from the rooftent window

After a very nice and leisurely breakfast we still had time left to sort the kids out and let them go through some of their morning routines. Of course as always, I ratcheted the stress level up a notch. Instead of going in the two cars of our dear hosts, I thought it a great idea to finally show off puru hiko to someone else. That meant breaking the tent down – something that did not sit entirely well with Nina for a little while …

We got over it, though – and I got to both show off how quick the tent can come down as well as the fun to be had with an EV. Peter and our kids were with me, while Nina went with Leonie and their two rascals. Off to the Kinderparadijs Malkenschoten. 

Goats who stare at Men

A bit of sunscreen and we were starting with some sheep and then straight for the petting zoo full of goats. Number 3 has a love-hate relation with them, this time apprehension won out for the most part. It has been over a year, to be fair to him. 

So we made our way, leisurely, from enclosure to enclosure gazing at sheep, ponies and the odd chicken. All the while, we took the time to stop in between to give the kids time to explore the playgrounds and equipment along the way. 

Unfortunately, around lunch time, we had to adapt a bit more. One of us felt quite unwell, and we hustled to get food into all the kids and get them moving towards the exit. The magic phrase was “go look at the donkeys” – since we knew they were near the entrance of the site. There was a bit of severe discomfort, to which I could thoroughly relate after having joined the 10% of people with this particular chronic ailment about two years ago. 

The kids played so well together <3

Given the need for rest and the excitement for our little team of adventurers this morning, we all retired to an extended nap-time into the early afternoon. I took the tent setup as another challenge and had it up and ready for bedding before our hosts had their front door unlocked 😀

The rest of the day was pretty much perfect for what we expected out of a visit like that – the kids were mostly good, playing well together. Everyone felt much better after naptime and there was plenty of time to catch up and feel comfortable around each other. Even though we all communicated in our second or third language, there is a closeness we feel to Peter and Leonie, based on shared similar experiences, that is quite unique. It turned out it only incresed in the last few years, with all of us going through the experience of having two kids still sort of in the aftermath of our “big trips”. 

Evening talks with good friends

The day closed out with lovely cold (non-alcoholic) beers and way too much Indonesian food. We were delighted and might have gotten carried away with the order, but it is really hard to come by Indonesian food in Germany (even though this batch was Chinese-cooked). We have fallen in love with the Indonesian cuisine on our “Home to Home” trip and tucked in until there was not room for a single extra bite.

We sat outside, enjoying the mild summer evening until the last light had set behind our tent. Thank you Peter, Leonie – what an excellent way to end another (little) adventure.

  • Good morning from the rooftent window
  • Making the most of their time with the tractor
  • Morning playtime
  • Number 3 playing construction site with real sand (!!!)
  • Right behind the entrance at Kinderparadijs Malkenschoten
  • That glow in her eyes – enjoying that gives us back the 10 years we lost over lost sleep with them 😉
  • Goats who stare at Men
  • Momy, are you seeing this!
  • Ok – you first. If they don’t bite your hand off …
  • … maybe it is safe enough. But only the little one!
  • They had humongous chicken and also tiny ones …
  • two and a half little engineers … we could have left them here for the next hour, I think …
  • bit rusty, needs some help
  • Proud engineer, proud dad 😀
  • this photo is misleading – I lived in new zealand, I am not afraid of sheep … 😀
  • big enough to serve as a compfortable mount, if she tried
  • therese were quite magificent – and pretty tall for ponies
  • just a backup, he did not need any intervention
  • he dared the mighty creek – legs crossed and go! mighty proud of him
  • Childlike Flo on a zipline with the Agent in the carrier on his back
  • Trying to feed the Agent
  • The Agent of Entropy munching on a cheese bread roll
  • Number 3 had to have ice cream before we could leave
  • All of the kids loved watching the turtles
  • Turtles in a pond
  • Both big boys on a tunnel adventure
  • There was a tiny calf in the cows’ enclosure
  • Of course, Number 3 also gave it a go
  • Flo on the tree stumps balancing and the Agent is almost in the midst of things
  • Look, the donkeys also had a baby!
  • The donkey enjoyed some pats
  • Number 3 looking at and patting tiny lambs
  • On the way out
  • The food arrived. O.O Indonesian rice table for two persons
  • Preparing for dinner. The kids had to be fed first
  • The Agent in the dool’s pram
  • The kids played so well together <3
  • Masterly inactivity
  • Evening talks with good friends