greek for a day

We were a little reluctant to do the day trip to Greece after reading many reviews about the crowds. But we are so glad we went because we are quickly realizing that this is the time to visit Greece and Turkey. While it is still hot, there is no one here! After boarding our barely 30% full ferry we were off for a short ride across the water. We entered Greece with no problems. They even move families with children through the line up first. Girl is very popular with her blonde hair in these parts. She hates people looking at her or touching her hair, but she doesn't make a big deal of it. Some of the travel blogs we follow have blond children that are having a really hard time in Asia being photographed constantly and touched. (We haven't mentioned this to her yet, although I am thinking her old look of two braids and a hat may be back for that leg!).

walking the walk

We arrived in London on one of the hottest days of the year jet-lagged and laden with heavy bags. As we wove our way from Heathrow to Herne Hill I was painfully aware of the lack of enthusiasm my rural, car-driven children were exhibiting towards walking...
But after ten days of London the children's strength has improved. While they thoroughly enjoyed all modes of London transport from overland train to tube to black cab to double-decker bus today they didn't even notice as we walked and walked and walked.

the long goodbye

We have had an amazing six weeks getting ready for our trip without having a home base. It gave the children time to adjust to not going home while still being surrounded by friends and familiar houses and places. You'd think with six weeks to get organized we would have had time to test out the backpack situation to make sure this one-bag-per-person thing would work. Instead we were enjoying time with friends and family right up to the last second of departure. So the first leg of our journey to Seattle led us to the local REI (like MEC for our Canadian friends) to purchase a better bag for Buddy. We've re-purposed his bag as a carry-on for all of our electronics. And we made sure to tell him that this cool backpack is his early birthday present - we're slick like that!
The morning we were leaving was very hectic and I had to downsize the items we were bringing twice in the last thirty minutes before departure, plus leave another bag of downsized items with family to be stored somewhere for a year.
We managed to squeeze in a few more goodbyes with friends right up to departure. We feel very thankful for the love and support that have been given to us and are looking forward to whatever comes our way...

canada geese

We have been loving watching the Olympics, especially since our first stop is London. We are ready to go, not on the organizational sense but in the birds-needing-to-fly-sense. Thankfully we aren't quite due for departure since we are still trying to figure out how to cram our entire lives into four backpacks. As well as dealing with the paperwork-of-life (which is not my passion)... wills, insurance, bank accounts etc.
Yet the Canadian athletes continue to inspire us as we are treated to nightly gymnastic events and high dives in the lake. Soon we will be flying!

land of everchanging fog

We are in Tofino, a four or five hour drive from Victoria BC, on the westcoast of Vancouver Island. Out here on the Pacific coast the weather changes by the moment, it will go from dense intense fog to sunny and warm in the same hour.

We stay on Chesterman Beach and recommend this trip to any one visiting Canada! The beach is virtually empty and children can run for miles, collect shells and play in the surf. Wetsuits will be needed for long stays in the ocean and can be rented easily once you are here. Tofino, the town itself, is cute with lots of local food, beer and gelato. A foodie haven. Definitely bring your groceries with you because you are paying more to have them driven out here if you buy them at the grocery store.

oh lesotho

One year ago I was in Lesotho. My first long trip away from my children. It was on this solo journey that I really started to visualize this for my family. Going to Africa took the mystery out of "going to Africa" and I decided that actually traveling with children would end that mystery too.

london calling

We have decided our direction and our first stop will be London! A chance to visit with a dear friend (and sleep for free!) and do things from a kid perspective. I was in London a year ago and all my photos show that I was already thinking of things that are kid-friendly and free - like bridges. The one thing on our list is Stonehenge.