L'aventure américaine

Has it only been a night? Travel really skews one’s sense of time. You leave one day and get home at some point later, but the details are hazy.  Our trip home is due to a glitchy website and the fear that we were going to lose a really good deal on flights to Ireland. Hence a 7 hour layover in Copenhagen and a 10 hour layover in Stockholm.  We are currently through the second and longer layover and here is what I have learned: Always book the airline lounge when you have a long layover. The food is free and they HAVE WINE ON TAP.   My mom is a rockstar. She might of turned 70, but she travels better than a 19 year old taking a gap year backpacking in Europe.  I am tired.  So, I’ll close with photos of our last night in Ireland. What a spectacular time.  The last photo is Stockholm at 2am!

We are back in Ireland after a wonderful visit to Wales. More pictures to come, but these were a few gems from my phone.  We enjoyed great meals and very little rain. We had a beautiful walk to see an imported California redwood and several games of cards. The kids get along famously- Daniel and Josephine are so nice to milo- and while Marian has been sleeping terribly, it’s hard to be mad at her when looking at that cute face.  Back in Ireland and I hate that it’s our last day. These Irish jochims are too much fun. 

We are happily in Wales and celebrated Mom’s 70th birthday today. It was great. The Welsh are wonderful and accommodating and seem genuinely pleased when a noisy party of 8 wanders in to eat. We have had some delicious meals and good laughs and are staying in a charming cottage. It is great.  I haven’t downloaded my pictures, but here is one from our hike today. Charles and I went to the top of Tabletop Mountain. It was stunning.  So grateful for my mom and her youthful 70 years. And the whole noisy gang here this week.  Well, mom just sent me some of her pictures... so here are some treasures from today:

I am fortunate to share such a great relationship with my mom and brother (and that we all have supportive spouses). We have enjoyed amazing experiences and adventures together.  But, I wanted to ring in their next decades with something special. To celebrate mom’s 70th and Charles’s 40th, we decided to go to a Michelin Star restaurant. After some research, we decided upon Chapter One with its contemporary Irish cuisine.  It was decadent and fancy and beautiful and fun. The food was gorgeous and the wait staff were phenomenal. But mostly, the company was wonderful. What a night.  And it wouldn’t have been complete without Elisabetta who watched the kids- including Marian who refused (and is still refusing) bedtime.  Happy birthday Mom and Charles!

It was my first experience driving on the left side of the road today. I think I staved off some dementia with this new way of thinking, but mom says that I aged her as the passenger.  Mom, the kids, and I headed to Malahide Castle this afternoon - a 30 minute drive away. The weather was perfect and it was wonderful to be outside in the crisp, fall air. We got a tour of the castle and learned that the last male heir was named Milo. How apt. This 800 year old castle was beautiful and we loved our tours as well as the garden.  Games and delicious dinners by Elisabetta abound back in Tyrrelstown. A great day. 

I hear Milo’s voice in the kitchen, so I think it might be time to get up and join the family. The Ireland family- it’s good to be back with those Irish Jochims.  To sum up the trip so far: The flight went well.  Milo didn’t sleep.  You can fit two car seats and three adults in a Micra, but it is tight.  Charles looks (and acts) the same at 40 years. Except for all of that gray hair and a bum ankle.  Elisabetta has been a great hostess.  We are happy to be here.