We've been in Europe over a month now. Our international shipment has arrived and is unpacked. We live in a furnished apartment complete with toys from home and Miele-acceptable cookware (had to buy that all new at Ikea since nothing from home worked). I've figured out that groceries do cost more than in the US, but if you plan ahead and shop at bigger stores, its not that bad. Everyone still loves the bread.
Lara came to visit. Tia Henteleff (Cole's teacher from Concord Hill) and her family stayed at our home while they visited Brussels, Mom was here for 3 weeks and Dad came for the last week and a half.
With my parents, we drove to Normandy, France and back again. Lessons learned: small kids need a bigger rental house, outdoor space, and toys. French people do not like kids in restaurants. Caroline did not like restaurants. Eating out was not pleasant but the scenery was beautiful. I saw my white cliffs and rocky beaches, the kids played in the patches of sand exposed by the tide, we visited Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery and ran through the rain drops at Ponte du Hoc. We stayed in St. Valery-en-Caux, visited Veules-les-Roses, Etretat, Rouen (Joan of Arc) and a handful of tiny seaside villages that served ice cream.
Jesse left France and went to the US for work, my parents stayed for a few days after France to explore Bruges and Brussels before returning to the US and I had the kids on my own for a few days so I took them to Ghent, which was, while rainy, a lot of fun.
Jesse left France and went to the US for work, my parents stayed for a few days after France to explore Bruges and Brussels before returning to the US and I had the kids on my own for a few days so I took them to Ghent, which was, while rainy, a lot of fun.
When Jesse's return flight was derailed I packed up the car, the kids and drove to London to try to keep our family vacation on track. This should have taken about 5 hours, but due to some unforeseen, unexplained traffic nightmare, it took 9 hours to reach the French departure point for the Eurotunnel Train to England. The kids were amazing troopers, given their lack of comprehension of why we were in a car for so long going nowhere fast. Jesse finally made it to London and met us at our hotel and we prepared to see our friends for the first time in over a month in Scotland.
Tyson, Renee, Helena & Thatcher Redpath all flew to Europe for our Scottish adventure and we met them in a tiny village in Perthshire called Aberfeldy. We found a pub and enjoyed a loud, fun evening. Shocking difference from Normandy - the Scots loved our children! A welcome surprise which totally set the tone for a fantastic week scouring the Highlands and Lowlands.
We stayed in a beautiful valley in the town of Kenmore at a resort called the Mains of Taymouth, by Loch Tay. Every other day we drove someplace different. First was Loch Ness by Inverness. Then St. Andrews, which was so wonderful we went back again before we drove home. Our last road trip within Scotland was Edinburgh which was majestic with its hilltop castle, but the best part was always cresting the peak into the valley and seeing the midsummer's light reflecting on Loch Tay. We were blessed with great friends, great weather and safe traveling.
The Redpaths flew on to Paris and Jesse and I drove the kids back home, by way of Stratford-upon-Avon and Stonehenge. The former a worthwhile literary diversion, the latter an impressive pile of rocks in a field. The Eurotunnel worked perfectly in reverse and we both sighed with relief upon driving on the right side of the road again.
It felt great to be "home".
Tyson, Renee, Helena & Thatcher Redpath all flew to Europe for our Scottish adventure and we met them in a tiny village in Perthshire called Aberfeldy. We found a pub and enjoyed a loud, fun evening. Shocking difference from Normandy - the Scots loved our children! A welcome surprise which totally set the tone for a fantastic week scouring the Highlands and Lowlands.
We stayed in a beautiful valley in the town of Kenmore at a resort called the Mains of Taymouth, by Loch Tay. Every other day we drove someplace different. First was Loch Ness by Inverness. Then St. Andrews, which was so wonderful we went back again before we drove home. Our last road trip within Scotland was Edinburgh which was majestic with its hilltop castle, but the best part was always cresting the peak into the valley and seeing the midsummer's light reflecting on Loch Tay. We were blessed with great friends, great weather and safe traveling.
The Redpaths flew on to Paris and Jesse and I drove the kids back home, by way of Stratford-upon-Avon and Stonehenge. The former a worthwhile literary diversion, the latter an impressive pile of rocks in a field. The Eurotunnel worked perfectly in reverse and we both sighed with relief upon driving on the right side of the road again.
It felt great to be "home".
The Atomium, Brussels
St. Valery-en-Caux, France
St. Valery-en-Caux, France
Brussels Park
Loch Tay, Scotland
Aberfeldy Playground, Scotland
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