Now that Julia is nearly 4 y/o and Luke is 4 months, I want to write a little about what it's like to tote them along as we see this great continent. It's tough to put into words but I guess the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities is appropriate: "It was the best of times and it was the worst of times."
On one hand, the kids are great so long as we hit up places they would enjoy. So in other words, parks and gelato are in while museums and nice dinners are out. Case in point: Last week we tried to celebrate Fathers Day at a nice Italian Restaurant in Niedermohr called il Pirata. The place was gorgeous and the food was phenomenal. The kids—well—that’s a different story. We made it about five minutes before Luke started to get restless. Then Julia started to squirm. Mind you by this time the waiter hadn’t even taken our order. I knew it was going to be a difficult one. After a few more minutes of this stuff, Jen and I took turns taking the kids for walks outside so the other could eat. Wasn’t pretty. Looks like we’ll be eating al fresco for the next few Fathers Days.
On the other hand, the kids enrich our travel experience. For example, when Luke was getting crabby at the restaurant mentioned above, we took a walk around to calm him down. As we did the Italians who ran the place took turns passing him around and playing with him. Before the night was through, Luke was helping out behind the bar, taking orders, and seating customers. It was too cute. The same thing happened during our trip to Cinque Terre. Europeans (especially Italians), love the Bello Bambinos. In a way, the kids are a great cultural icebreaker. When we were in Paris, Julia played with a cute little French Homme while in a park just off of the Champs Elysees. When I take Luke around our neighborhood here in Bann, the otherwise reserved Germans beam a huge smile when they see him. It’s fantastic.
Obviously we would have a much different experience if we were here without kids. Romantic dinners at sunset, afternoons looking at Rembrants and Matisses, etc… These will have to wait. If anything, this just means we are going to have to come back here when the kids are grown up and off to college (Julia at ASU and Luke at ND of course). Until then, you can find us at the park, at the zoo, and at playground eating gelato…and having a blast doing it.
On the other hand, the kids enrich our travel experience. For example, when Luke was getting crabby at the restaurant mentioned above, we took a walk around to calm him down. As we did the Italians who ran the place took turns passing him around and playing with him. Before the night was through, Luke was helping out behind the bar, taking orders, and seating customers. It was too cute. The same thing happened during our trip to Cinque Terre. Europeans (especially Italians), love the Bello Bambinos. In a way, the kids are a great cultural icebreaker. When we were in Paris, Julia played with a cute little French Homme while in a park just off of the Champs Elysees. When I take Luke around our neighborhood here in Bann, the otherwise reserved Germans beam a huge smile when they see him. It’s fantastic.
Obviously we would have a much different experience if we were here without kids. Romantic dinners at sunset, afternoons looking at Rembrants and Matisses, etc… These will have to wait. If anything, this just means we are going to have to come back here when the kids are grown up and off to college (Julia at ASU and Luke at ND of course). Until then, you can find us at the park, at the zoo, and at playground eating gelato…and having a blast doing it.
Now for some more pix. First, here is a pix of Jen and the kids at the entrance to a gem mine in Idar Oberstein...
And the best part of traveling with kids...
1 comment:
I love the last picture. We're in the same boat as you guys when it comes to eating out. Unless it the food court forget about it!
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