May Adventures

 The past two months have been filled to the brim with activity. April was a blur as baseball and track commenced fully and our flooded house was put back together again. The final piece, the restoration of our wood floors in the kitchen, happened the week John was out of town. The kids and I spent our nights in the basement and ordered out food (which the kids didn't complain about!) I was so grateful that  our house was back to normal just in time to host my aunts and mom for a few days at the beginning of May. 

We had an amazing girls time of hiking around. I took them to Mt. Hood National Forest and to Silver Falls. 

Hiking in Tamanawas Falls

This hike wasn't an easy one.
We ended up taking a different turn and climbed over boulders on the way down. 

We even encountered some snow!

Our adventures also took us to Trillium Lake

And a hike around Mirror Lake. 

And ended with a much deserved dinner at Thunder Island Brewing!
The weather was perfect for some outdoor dining. 

We were all able to attend Evelyn's musical performance at school too. She did a great job in portraying the Old Lady in Madagascar Jr., and also a monkey. 

 

The day before the performance she injured her arm and had to perform with a sling. It actually added to her character. 

 

On Mother's Day we all went hiking in Tryon Park. 

Caleb was our certified "Nature Boy" guide. 

It was a great Mother's Day, spent with the ones who made me a Mother, and my Mother! 

I just love the special relationship that Evelyn has with her Aunts.

Afterwards we enjoyed ice cream at Salt and Straw....(the only reason James came on the hike)

On their final day, we hiked the 10 waterfalls at Silver Falls State park. We marveled at the massive old growth forest. 

And all the waterfalls! It was a magical day in the green! 

Finally, we ended our visit with a birthday breakfast for me before they drove to the airport. 

John and I celebrated 20 years of marriage on April 9, 2025. It's hard to believe, but not hard to believe. A lot of life has taken place in the past two decades. A year ago when this milestone was on the horizon, John brought up the idea of  taking a trip together. This sounded exciting...yet completely overwhelming. There is so much going on at home that I couldn't fathom simply "checking out" for a week or two. John kept insisting, finally declaring that he was going to plan it all; I just had to show up. 

How could I say "no" to that?! 

I told my mom about the trip and she said she'd watch the kids. 

And Lucy. 

Done. 

So, the Aunts left and that same day my Dad flew in to be with my Mom.

There is never a good time to leave town, but mid-May seems particularly hectic. I typed out a detailed schedule of the week for my parents, and then I had to turn my back, grab my backpack and get on a plane. 

Actually, by the end of the trip we were on 10 planes. John planned the whole trip beautifully. In our layover in Chicago, my grandma drove to O'Hare to give me a hug. 

Finally, the I held the ticket in my hand: we were off to Madrid! 

Madrid was a perfect combination of old Europe and Spanish fun.  The streets were lined with people dining and sipping wine, talking and enjoying life late into the night. 

We spent our day doing a walking tour of the city, while stopping to sample some of the local foods in the markets. The olives were our new obsession.... 

And octopus, a delicacy we sought out every chance we got. 

Meanwhile, back at home.......
 

Our next stop had us believing that we stepped into a scene in Disneyland. Seville, Spain welcomed us with warmer weather, palm trees and flocks of wild parakeets. 

We spent the days wandering around the downtown area, exploring narrow alleyways and intimate plazas nestled next to the grand 'Cathedral de Seville.'

   

 

Graffati was apparently still a thing in the 1700s. This cathedral was vandalized after a university graduation; the words in animal blood still remain 300 years later. 

 

John did not hold back when it came to our room!
We had the most beautiful view from our balcony. 

 

 

A definite highlight was touring the magnificent cathedral and seeing the burial place of Christopher Columbus. 

 

Another highlight of Seville was visiting the Plaza de Espana in the Marque de Maria Luisa. It reminded me of Venice with its arched bridges and romantic architecture. 

 

Apparently, this is a spot where a scene in Star Wars was filmed. 

Eating outside each night was magical. There is no better way to end the day than with a glass of sangria while watching street life in Seville. 

We spent the second day in Seville touring Real Alcazar, the oldest royal palace in use in Europe. 

The baths in Alcazar

We spent our final night in Seville climbing a more recent attraction, the "setas de Seville." This terrace is a recent development in La Encarnation square in the old quarter of Seville. The rooftop terrace allows for beautiful panoramic views of the city. 

Meanwhile, back at home......

Our final stop in Spain was Barcelona. I have to admit that Barcelona did not make a good first impression. It was definitely big city, with tons of people and loud, crazy traffic. 

However, after doing a Rick Steves audio tour, we saw the other side of Barcelona, the rich cultural heritage and the architectural works of Antoni Gaudi. 

The Main Street, called Las Ramblas, was once a river. 

The locals grocery shop at fresh markets. 

 

I enjoyed some fantastic fresh squeezed juice. 

One of the main attractions is Sagrada Familia, the massive church started by Gaudi 100 years ago.  

It is still under construction. It probably will be for years to come. 

A walk in the Park Guell showcased more works by Gaudi. 

A beautiful view of the cathedral from Park Guell. 

 

Spain is sure proud of their Christopher Columbus! 

The view from on top of the Barcelona Cathedral

The Pablo Picasso museum was a very interesting lesson on a well known painter! I learned a lot about his life and philosophy!

We took a lot of coffee breaks during the day. 

Meanwhile, back at home...

Our final European stop was Rome! Rome is special to us because we went there when I was pregnant with Evelyn. Nauseous  and unable to drink the wine, I've said many times that I would love to go back. 

And drink the wine I did!

The past 13 years have been rough for Rome. Unfortunately there was a lot more graffiti than when we were there before. Like a lot of major cities, Covid was a tumultuous time. 

 

We still enjoyed walking the streets. We also visited a museum we didn't go to last time, the Galleria Borghese. This elegant palace showcased incredible scultures done by Bernini. He seemingly transformed 

stone into fabric and muscle. 

And of course, there were plenty of coffee breaks in Rome too. 

One of the fascinating parts about Rome are all the old fountains that are still running and providing water to the population. 

We didn't go into the Colosseum this time, but walked through the ruins of the Roman city.
 

One place we visited this time around was the Maritime museum. This is a prison where Paul was said to be kept during his time in Rome. This supposedly is the column he was tied to. 

Legend has it that Peter's head was smashed against this will. 

There is nowhere else like wandering the streets in Europe. 

We also revisited the amazing ancient Pantheon, showcasing its high domed ceiling and incredible columns. 

Gelato Break!!! Best I ever had. 

Quick stop to the Vatican. 

And finally some "night seeing" at the Trevi Fountain 
and the Spanish Steps. 

The trip felt delightfully long; and before we flew home, we stayed one final night in NYC. We were able to get last minute tickets to the Broadway show "The Great Gatsby" starring Sarah Hyland as Daisy. We had great seats and it was a fun show. 

Coming home, I actually didn't feel exhausted or jet lagged. I was so glad to see my family. Travel adventures are so great, and time with John is wonderful. However, my heart longs to be at home; I love the life we have in Tualatin, Oregon. 

Our Memorial Day dinner; I made Paella. ;)