Summer in Europe - July
After a few days off school, and enjoying the strawberry festival in Whitchurch-Stouffville for Canada Day, where there were carnival games, booths and of course many strawberries. The fireworks settled, we packed up, arranged for Synthia to stay and house watch/cat sit. We headed to Barcelona where we started our summer in Europe. We started with a lovely stay in a cute little cottage just outside of Barcelona by the Mediterranean. The kids enjoyed the beach time where they could enjoy shell collecting, and beautiful sand and amazing waves to play in. Upon reflection, this was Hadley's favourite place.
We took the bus into Barcelona to enjoy the sights like the Sagrada Familia, a beautiful large church. Of course there was scaffolding all around but beauty nonetheless.
We walked to Casa Milla by Gaudi which was what I would think is crazy art turned into a building but I am but one opinion. We walked through La Rambla, which was full of life, with so many people. A little out of my comfort zone as we literally just walked off a plane with our masks on (we may have been the only ones with masks aside from the stewardesses), but with the hot temperatures this was hard to sustain. We knew the summer would be mostly outdoors so we didn't plan to mask, aside from the plane but it was still an adjustment. I will say that the Sangria was most enjoyable, probably the best I have ever had, while we people watched and Brian enjoyed Estrella Damm Beer at Placa Reial. The kids enjoyed the Market La Boqueria where chips were peeled potatoes, deep fried and served on a stick. We had a little of this and that, chicken, apricots, cheese, strawberries, frozen yogurt, smoothies and Brian had squid. We walked by the Columbus monument down by the water but I think our favourite was the Gothic Quarter. The streets were just so cool. I felt like I could have taken photos there all day!
We spent a day at Ti Bi Da Bo. The view was spectacular and high up. It is an ancient amusement park from the early 1900's overlooking Barcelona. All the rides were on the edge of the hill. We rode an actual plane from 1927 and the propeller is what moves you around. It was literally hanging over the edge. I was nervous.
There was a fantastic roller coaster called VR Russa that was quite exciting on the edge of the hill and the kids loved the swings over the edge. Did I mention that everything was over the edge? They had a crazy high ferris wheel that I had to be convinced to ride.
We took the kids to Palau de la Musica Catalana, it is a Unesco World Heritage Site with a beautiful night of music played by a guitar orchestra. It was music for my heart. I think the kids thought it was a bit long, but I loved it. Guitar is my heart instrument.
Easton learned about Picasso this year in school, so we thought it would be fitting to visit the Picasso Museum. It was a little tricky to find but we managed and wandered through seeing pieces that Easton recognized.
We spent some time meandering around the busy Barcelona beach but we're so thankful for the calm beach that we were staying at.
At our meal on said busy beach we toasted to my mom with a bottle of water with the Veri label on it. Small moments of my mom pop up in beautiful ways. I felt like so much of the trip I already wanted to share with her.
We went out on a boat for a city sailing sunset salty tunes night out with live music. It was a bit wavy so I had my eye on the horizon.
We tried a few different flavours of chips, including Lisa brand chips which were more like salt flavour, but we also had Paprika, and a few others throughout the trip. I think the kids missed their home flavours but it is fun to try new things in new places. We tried to encourage food from each country to try.
Easton had a crazy idea that we would eat at Mcdonald's in every country, and I think we probably did 7 of the 10 countries. He was in his happy place every time! Brian even enjoyed a McBeer.
Hadley requested that we visit the cork museum after learning about sustainable materials in school. So we walked around Museu del Suro, in Palafrugell, Spain. We were learning about cork, seeing a real cork tree, lifting light weight cork weights, and listening to cork headphones. It was nice to the kids find a place to incorporate into our trip based on things happening in their life.
From here we drove to the Medieval town of Castellfollit de la Roca which is a cute little fully functioning town on a cliffside. We didn't stay long but did walk around and marvel that people lived on the cliff.
We drove to Andorra where we stayed in our rented Westfalia camper van at Naturlandia where we watched the sunset and a game of frisbee was had with others also staying overnight as we had anticipation for the tobotronc ride the next day. The Tobotronc is a toboggan ride down the mountain descending through the trees on the mountain from 2000 metres above sea level to 1600 metres above sea level. A 25 minute ride where you control your own speed. The only thing you can't do is stop until you get to the bottom. We all loved it! We rode in twos. Hadley and I together and Easton and Brian together. While my arm length is shorter than Brian's that meant that our top speed was slower. I think this suited us just fine. Smiles all around at the bottom.
The kids also enjoyed archery, slide rides, and Easton climbed up a 2 metre stair climb where you jump on to a movie stunt mat for you to take fun photos of with mountains in the background. I thought I would be brave enough... I wasn't. But I did walk around the ropes through the trees.
We walked around Andorra, we saw the Salvador Dali art in the centre of town. This reminded me of highschool art class. I quite enjoyed the connection of learning this in school and seeing it in real life. The walkways around town had many hills, but it was such a beautiful place and everything in town seemed so well kept! The stone on every building - stunning!
Two weeks in, we took the kids up the most magnificent chair lift. I will say I was slightly terrified, but the view was superb!
At the top we took turns taking photos with the sign for the Andorra, France border. We also couldn't believe how large the Mirado Solar de Tristaina was. A GIANT sundial!
Brian and Easton walked the entire circle over the edge, while Hadley and I enjoyed the safer side.
We followed a crazy trail on a mountain trek in the Pyrenees. Easton built an inukshuk while waiting for Hadley and I to catch up. I think he is part mountain goat. We found some snow on the mountain and of course there was a snowball toss! We trekked all the way around the mountain ridge between 2400 and 2700 metres. This is probably one of the hardest treks ever! Truth be told...I would never recommend this trek as the danger factor was beyond my comfort level and was not what was advertised. However, we all persevered and got off the mountain safely after a FULL day of hiking. We were exhausted but I couldn't have been more proud of us as this was HARD and a very LONG DAY!
The next day we enjoyed a well earned spa day! We liked the warmed marble seats, and the ice to play with followed by swimming, saunas and hot tubs.
Carcassonne was next up. We only walked around a little because a day of rest was required. We spent the day doing laundry, enjoying some internet time and then a night of fireworks for Bastille Day. It looked like the Citadelle was on fire! This was of course intentional fireworks.
We had the unfortunate experience of having our vehicle towed from the space that the Airbnb assured us would be safe. So that was an adventure, but after French translation, a trip to the police station, an Uber ride to pick up at the place they towed it to, and then a small fee. All good, but an inconvenience and life lessons for the kids on how to handle a stressful situation. Oddly, Brian and I felt calm about the entire experience and hope that our kids learned that things can happen that are out of your control but they can be handled.
From here it was time to actually explore the Medieval city that is Carcassonne. We walked around but mostly it was tourist shops, but the old walls still were something to marvel at. Before coming on the trip we played the board game Carcassone, so that was fun to talk about while there.
Driving on we came to the Tunnel de Malpas. It is the first ever canal tunnel. The Canal du Midi stretches from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
This was followed by a walk around Pont du Gard. This Roman aqueduct that was built between 40-50 AD. The highest known aqueduct in the Roman world.
We travelled to Orange, France to the Theatre of Orange built in the first century AD. The best preserved Roman theatre, seating 10,000 people. It is still in use today for regular shows. The kids played games and made jewellery.
On our travels we came across the small town of Saint-Rameze. We saw signs for a lavender festival that was happening that day. We decided to stay and enjoy the lovely music, talk with some of the locals, one of which (Nick) was a married-in Canadian from Vancouver, who took us under his wing and got us some amazing French pastries to enjoy. They were so good! The scent of lavender was oh so wonderful. I think the kids thought we were a bit crazy for crashing this party until we started talking to locals. Afterwards they talked about how it was so fun once we were talking to people.
We drove by Le Pont D'Arc. An archway of beauty where the sun shone through the rocks and was picture perfect.
We made a stop at Grotte Chauvet 2. We were fortunate enough to wander through a palaeolithic decorated replica cave to show charcoal images and engravings from 37,000 years ago. Some of the oldest paintings in the world. They were only discovered in 1994.
Sometimes driving requires breaks and one such break was just sitting on the grass in Albertville, France. The site of the Winter Olympics in 1992. We tossed a ball around, and just enjoyed some out of the vehicle time.
After the long drive at the top of Col de Maraillet we prepared to watch the Tour de France. We rented a room but they only had a room with two single beds. So, now with a parking spot at the top of the mountain and the perfect view for the race, we had Brian and Hadley stay in the hotel room and Easton and I in the camper van. The view behind the hotel was truly something that was breathtaking. Blue green water was just amazing to enjoy during our meals at the local restaurant. I am also so glad the weather was favourable.
The parade before the bikers arrived was such fun with all the swag being handed out, from pencils, soap, shirts, hats, candy and more as well as the music and energy. We let some family back home know where to look for us on TV and we were lucky to have Brian's uncle Tom tape it and send us a photo and video of us on TV.
The actual time watching the riders was only a few minutes. It went by so fast! All that driving for a few minutes of bikers going by, but the experience of being around the people watching the race was part of the fun!
Driving through the mountains the shepherds watching the flocks of sheep was something that you don't see every day and took my breath away.
At Alpe d'Huez we found a restaurant that I think Brian wanted to write home about. Hadley enjoyed an Orangina with her meal, like Fanta but with less fizz she loved it!
We walked around and saw some clay pigeon shooting and planes flying. It looked like they were flying off the edge.
We then drove on to Briancon where we walked around the fort, but it was becoming clear that we needed to mix up the hiking a little so we went for a canoe ride at Gorges du Verdon. The water was blue green, so calm in the early morning and the mountains a perfect backdrop. I shared a boat with Easton and Brian shared a boat with Hadley.
I am so glad we went early because as we were coming back it was really starting to get busy. Calm canoeing is more my style.
Walking around Cannes, a resort town famous for the annual film festival, we thought it just seemed right to go see a movie. Barbie was the only movie playing in English and happened to be the biggest movie of the summer!
We only spent one day wandering around Monaco seeing the palace, boats, and the city. It is a small country but nice to be able to add it to our list of countries visited.
A kid's day was requested so the next day we woke up late, used the internet, read, and then went mini golfing. A refreshing day. Lots of days we had a plan and we had to keep moving and some days were more flexible to allow for choice. This helped throughout the trip with changes in weather to work around.
We drove through Nice, and spent a little time near the water. I think it is a little run down to be honest and it was fine to keep moving on.
After days of 36C, we left France and arrived in Italy. It was only 27C and the forecast said thunder, so... we went to the water park. No rain at all, no thunder, and no line ups! Also, I think Easton is part fish!
In Genoa we found the best focaccia possibly in the world, we went back for seconds. By now the kids were a little more comfortable asking to buy things even if the seller didn't speak English. This was fun to watch. We walked around the municipal buildings, we walked the famous Strada Nuova ("New Street", built in 1500-1700's), and enjoyed our first gelato. Lemon is our favourite flavour.
We drove a little out of the way but I wanted to show the kids Pisa. We had fun playing around leaning against and holding up the tower.
Cinque Terre, Italy was next up. The 5 cities. Beautiful sunsets, stair walks where you can hear an accordian playing the chicken dance. Hadley requested lemon slushies that we were oh so thankful for, they may have been the best ever, perhaps because of the stair climb to the top! The busiest train rides need to be noted between these cities but the cities are worth a visit!
For dinner Easton ordered a meal that allowed him to totally embrace the local cuisine. He even tried octopus, inspiring me to try it as well.
Italy is one of my favourite countries and while this brings us to the end of July, more to come in August...