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We had a great 3-week trip! We got back a week ago today but are still pretty jet-lagged somehow. I say “trip” because I realized that you don’t really have a vacation once you’re a parent But it was great fun anyhow. Liam was incredibly good on the plane, both ways. He played, slept, ate, slept some more and watched tv. Our fellow passengers complimented him on his good behavior, and one even said she had no idea there was even a toddler on the plane!

We stayed with my Dad in London for a week, but only saw my Dad the first few days. Josh actually worked from the London office for 2 days, which was cool. So Liam and I were on our own in the city, which was enlightening! I realized London is not a child friendly place (no elevators, crowds of hurrying businesspeople, unfriendly shop-owners, etc etc), so I did not enjoy it as often as I did in my early 20’s. I quickly learned that taking the subway with a stroller was not fun, since there are NO elevators (hello, wheelchairs??) and ridiculous amounts of stairs up and down. Imagine this plus backpack on Mommy plus stroller in one arm plus 32 pound toddler in the other arm. I had to pick up Liam because he was too slow o the stairs and people were mowing him down! So we figured out that the buses were much easier since I could leave him in the stroller and throw it on the bus! We were much happier after this revelation…

After London, we headed up north on the train to Manchester. Liam was so thrilled to be going on trains and buses and taxis every day! We stayed with Uncle and his family for several wonderfully relaxing, quiet days. We took a day-trip to York and visited a working farm where Liam got to see lots of animals and ride a donkey! Then we drove up even farther north to the Lake District and stayed above a pub for a night. We hung out with one of my old friends, James, and did lots of eating and drinking, walking and driving. We had incredible weather, beautiful and sunny but cold. We drove around the little country lanes near Kirkby Lonsdale, Dent and Ingleton, and when we drove back from James’s house in the dark on narrow, one lane, blind cornered lanes, Josh had a heart attack! This is a short video you have to see…

We headed back to London and took the Eurostar to Paris for the day. Walked around, then got on an overnight train to Madrid. That was actually really fun! We sat in our cabin for a few minutes, then went to a fancy, long dinner, where Liam played with two little Spanish boys behind us. When we got back to our cabin to go to bed, the beds were already turned down for us. We read a little and fell right to sleep. It was a little bumpier than I expected so I woke up alot, but Liam slept soundly. We woke up, had breakfast and we were already there! It was the quickest 14 hours ever.

Madrid was fun and relaxing too. It’s a small but elegant city, we walked almost everywhere. They have great fountains! Went to the Plaza Mayor every day so Liam could chase pigeons and watch the street performers. We stayed with my Dad (he’s working there now, so has an apartment) in a great part of town, and he showed us around. Liam was so happy to see Grandad again! We had to get up early on the last day to make it into the Prado Museum because it was extra crowded that weekend. We got back on the overnight train again back to Paris, but it wasn’t as fun as the first trip, as the customer service was greatly lacking, and the dining car filled up so we had to eat in the hot and crowded bar car.

Our second and last day in Paris was fantastic, we walked, sat, drank beer and hot chocolate, and ate crepes! Liam chased pigeons at the park behind Notre Dame, and at the park by the Eiffel Tower. He’s chased pigeons in four countries now! Oh and he was in a photo shoot for a local politician in Paris. We were walking along the Seine and her staff asked if they could borrow my kid for a quick photo shoot, I said sure, we signed a release and she posed with him! Hopefully they’ll email the photos as promised… We got back on the Eurostar and just relaxed back in London. Didn’t even try to do anything Guy Fawkes Day related- too tired. The next day we went into the city for a few hours, had lunch at Ye Old Cheshire Cheese pub and headed back home. My old friend Amy came all the way down from up north to see us, she had been out of town on the days we were in her neighborhood. It was great to see her again, and we had fun reminiscing. We left the next day!

I just can’t believe how good Liam was the entire time. He had to put up with a lot- he napped in his stroller every day, slept in different places every few nights and was so patient with our albeit minimal sightseeing. Luckily we stayed at homes every night, versus hotels, so that made it more comfortable for him- and for me! It meant I could cook every night, instead of eating out, so I was able to eat what I needed to for the whole avoiding wheat thing. Plus I found some great gluten-free products at the grocery store (bread was even better!). But I also got to eat chips (minus the fish) almost every day for lunch, although Londoners just don’t know how to make good chips. You have to go to a northern chippie to get a good batch. Aye luv, with gravy!