Once upon a time there was a holiday called summer. It was all things typically associated with its name - warm, vibrant, full, scrumptious, carefree. It was a time of savored moments with friends, new experiences, and reunions around the globe. Now, halfway between then and the winter holiday, I am not sure we have even comprehended all that we saw and did during the summer two months.
From point to point, we traveled 56,302km/34,984.4 miles. Zach added 2606km/1619.2 miles on a solo venture.
We set foot in eight airports.
We were in five train stations.
I flew with five different airlines, Zach flew with six.
One of us was either in the air or on a train every Tuesday in the month of July.
Zach revisited one country, added two new ones, whereas I added three new countries to my passport.
We taste tested frites, baguettes, and chocolates.
We watched four Women World Cup matches.
We did not live two days in July.
I lost one fingernail.
We tackled one Harry Potter puzzle.
As per tradition, here is a glimpse into our whirlwind summer life.
Altarpiece at Ghent
As a historical story junkie as well as an art lover, the Ghent Altarpiece is one that has been on my to do list for a long time. It was the main reason why I wanted to visit Belgium, so since we were in the area, we went.
Sadly, the joy of seeing this piece was diminished for several reasons. First, the keepers of the piece stuck it in a broom closet-sized room in an annex of the church. Obviously it is for the collection of money, not for the flow management of people. Secondly, the ambiance to admire and appreciate is killed due to the hordes of tourists hugging obnoxiously loud media devices to their ears in an effort to glean a fact or two in their respective language, all while a guy yells "be quiet", and an illegal tour guide shoves her way through the masses with her group. Third, in an effort to refurbish, the keepers remove panels and replace with printouts. I felt that was a gaudy practice, a great way to cheapen the actual value of the artwork. In my mind, I heard the pitch: "a priceless work of art that can be printed so well that we do not even need to tell people that it is a fake." It actually made me think that perhaps what was on display was probably completely fabricated from a factory in the wilds of China.
Yet, as with most things, I embraced the moment and savored the fact that I was standing in front of an amazing piece of art, one which has survived wars and is notoriously famous for being part of a great (unsolved) art heist. Upon exiting the church, Josiah used his stomach compass to remind us what is truly important and that was devouring a Belgian waffle.
Bridge Pedal
Every year our summer bucket list looks different thanks to the morphing interests of the kids in our life. To great surprise and delight, Kaden wanted to participate in Bridge Pedal. It is an event Zach and I have done a handful of times and absolutely love. Thus, early on a Sunday morning, Kaden and I joined the sea of cyclist and pedaled our way over, under, and around the majestic bridges of downtown Portland. The goal was to go as far as Kaden wanted, which turned out to be the entirety of the route.
His bragging right for the day was beating me to the top of the Fremont Bridge; mine was being able to say that he was an absolute fantastic biking partner. I was so proud that he faced an unknown and turned on his bravery, thus allowing us to forge a great memory together.
Champoeg Camping
For the second year, we joined the annual Missio camping extravaganza. Instead of a quick overnight like last year, we went a day early to enjoy some solitude before the masses arrived. It was a couple of days spent reading, playing games, walking, laughing, chatting, and biking (for Kaden and I were in Bridge Pedal training mode.)
Disney
We could not pass up the opportunity to mark off Euro Disney from our (accidental quest to) visit all Disney locations. It is home to the prettiest of castles, the least amount of public water fountains, and wonderfully classic rides (hello, Pirates of the Caribbean). Four adults running amok in a kids fantasy world is just a great way to spend a day.
Elephant Ears
Kaden wanted to taste an elephant ear. No one complained as we stuffed sugary goodness into our mouths beside the Elephant Lands at the Oregon Zoo.
Farm Life
My time in Kentucky is usually spent piddling about the farm with a few trips to the True Value store. I love having things to do, so I was really excited to have two large to-do items: build culverts and stain the back deck. According to Dad, by the end of the task, we had moved six and a half tons of rock with a lot of muscle and some tractor scooping. The lone casualty was my right middle fingernail thanks to a good smashing (even as I type this, it is still regrowing!). Staining something has become an annual undertaking for Dad and I, alternating between the front porch and back deck. This year, we spent a day tackling the back deck and all of its wooden nooks and crannies.
Geneva, Switzerland
Fully expecting a slew of briefcase-toting, suit clad individuals briskly walking to and fro in Geneva, the laid back vibe was a pleasant surprise. Suits were minimal, brisk walking was more sauntering in the sun, and banks were identified by very small plaques beside doors. Geneva was a town that quickly won our adoration due to its fantastic tourist infrastructure and stunning sites. We tasted the chocolate, gazed into the heights of its cathedrals, and saw where so many of the world's policies are implemented. We hope to return to see more of this beautiful country.
Harry Potter World
Zach went to the Florida Harry Potter World. I am jealous. He loved it.
IKEA
We keep winning the Noon Tunes IKEA gift card, thus we spent an evening playing in one of our favorite stores and eating ice cream.
Jaunt Through the Roses
No summer in Portland is complete unless we can stroll among the roses. This year's jaunt involved a great deal of silly shenanigans and a bit of wrestling in the Shakespeare Garden. Our quest to find the top roses of the year was sidetracked by some silly kids, yet their adults were completely satisfied to sit in the shade and chat.
Kentucky Lake
The first weekend of our Kentucky visit was spent with all family members lounging beside Kentucky Lake. Boating, eating, tanning, laughing - it was a beautiful reunion.
Louisville Slugger Museum
I owe a lot of my travel mojo to my parents, for they were instrumental in my formative years of learning of the art of travel where one may be. Though money may be tight, one can still find interesting and engaging things to do in an area that may be free or involve a minimal charge. Over the years, Zach and I have honed skills in just exploring - whether it be strolling one area of town or undertaking the quest to visit a different festival every weekend. Luckily, my parents still enjoy finding something to do when I am in town, so this year we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum (with a side jaunt to Schmipff's Confectionary.)
Home to a million bats and one very large bat leaning against the building's entrance, the Louisville Slugger Museum was informative and interesting. Mom and I had never been, Dad had been many years ago when the bats were still made by hand. Obviously, automation has taken over most of the process, but it was fascinating to see how a machine can so precisely carve a bat in a mere five seconds. Being able to walk the actual manufacturing process (between the yellow lines) was fantastic - I am a sucker for a good manufacturing tour and this one did not disappoint.
Music on Main - Noon Tunes
We continue to seek out and revel in the free music of summer. Living in a country devoid of artistic expression, our souls crave it when out and about in the world. A summer staple is Music on Main and Noon Tunes - it was another year of great bands and fun with friends who joined us.
Neverending Books
It was a summer of great book finds - especially for Zach. Our packs were extra full with a year of reads for him. We have a lot of readers in our sphere, so it is never a surprise when a day involves a book store.
On the Water
Gerty and her crew were eager for summer paddles. We explored some new territory, as well as spent many hours on our favorite stretch of the Willamette. Bald eagles were in full force this year, providing ample viewing and photography opportunities.
Gerty's crew is morphing a bit as well. This year, Kaden learned how to solo paddle, which meant Addysen and I were stranded on shore a few times or endured a few zig zag paths as he learned to power with two other people in the boat. Addysen was not to be outdone, so she practiced her paddling closer to shore and with ample lookouts.
A sad aspect our paddling fun was that our absolute favorite skipper, Robert, was unable to join the fleet this year. His annual swapping of boats involved selling but forgetting to obtain another one, plus he was wrangling a cantankerous knee. We contemplated rolling him onto a raft and pulling him behind Gerty, but wet exiting did not sound fun to him though it sounded like a really exciting adventure to Kaden and Addysen. We so hope he will join next summer.
Paris, France
The hype of Paris is grand, which is why I was completely amazed that I fell so in love with it. I think it is because there is something for everyone in this city. From majestic architecture to the endearing way a woman studied sheet music on the metro, I was hoodwinked into the cozy culture in which it provides for all who want to immerse themselves. Art, music, baguettes - it was overwhelmingly wonderful. Zach says the moment when Tony and I walked into the Louvre courtyard is his favorite moment - we could not contain our absolute delight of seeing it with our own eyes.
Quaint Bookstore
Tucked within a side street of Annamasse, France, we stumbled across a gem of a bookstore. First editions of classics, quirky French art, cartoons of a bygone era - this was a haven that needed hours of exploration that we sadly could not give it.
Reunions
People are very much a part of why we travel and our summer was filled with reunions, expected and unexpected.
The power of Facebook is discovering friends from afar just happen to be in the same town at the same time. This was the case with Gabe and Megan, who were on a trip with their two boys through Europe. Our first full day in Paris, we had lunch with them. It was a great lunch and a great way to start the journey. Plus, the boys gave us the lowdown on the good and bad of Euro Disney.
In Brussels, we caught up with Sara and her daughter over drinks. We actually caught Sara in her final weeks as an expat in Belgium, which was a lot of conversation for us - how does one adjust to the US?
As we were finishing our visit, Sara was buying frites for her daughter, when we heard a very loud, very southern-accented "Zach Banker" being yelled. Wide eyed and bewildered, we watched a high school classmate of Zach's walk up and give him a hug. Worlds collide on a Belgium sidewalk.
In Lyon, we met with another high school friend of Zach's - Daniel. Our time with Daniel and his family was fantastic, a highlight for us on the trip. I have heard many stories involving Daniel, so it was really fun to meet the one who was involved in many of Zach's high school shenanigans. Our time in Lyon was so rich with conversations, sight seeing, and yummy food since Daniel and his family are expats in the city.
Also, in Lyon, we met up with Colin and Nicole. We knew this reunion would happen far in advance when Nicole messaged us that she had bought the tickets as a surprise for Colin's birthday.
I must also mention, though while not technically a reunion, traveling with Tony and Josiah was delightful. It was Tony's first jaunt outside of China which made for a lot of interesting conversations. Josiah was on the end of a month long Europe trek and his stomach never steered us wrong - until he caught a nasty cough/cold. Then we ate delicious food without him and told him that it was horrid stuff.
Splish Splash
Wilson Pool and summer go hand in hand - though we were all sad for the loss of the water slide this year due to vandalism.
Over the past couple of years, we have incorporated taste testing something into the summer activites. This year, we chose cheese, yet added mochi ice cream because we could. As for the cheese taste test, we took it to the Shriners Hospital dining room one afternoon so Lisa and a co-worker could join the fun. We definitely learned that Addysen is a cheddar loving girl.
Unsanctioned Bridge Pedal
With the actual Bridge Pedal completed, Addysen decided she wanted to begin training for next year's ride. One beautiful afternoon, we traversed the Tillikum and Hawthorne (one that Kaden and I actually did not get to ride over due to congestion during the actual event.) Zach tried one of the rent-a-bikes, with both of us gasping over the cost. His journey was one way by wheels, the return by foot.
Visitor - Clark
Earlier this year, cousin Clark moved to Bend and has settled into the Oregonian way of life. She spent a weekend with us, which involved Multnomah Days and a football game. It was awesome to spend a lengthy amount of time with her - laughing, eating, and chatting about life and all the family memories between she and Zach.
Women's World Cup
Four years ago, after the final whistle and the confetti had flown, the announcer declared, "See you in France!" Zach and I turned to each other and said, "We are going." It was a travel dream - that came true. Our summer adventures were scheduled around the Women's World Cup and it was epic. The game between France and USA was electric - the best game of the tournament. The finale was surreal - we never thought we would see a back to back win. There were multiple times where Zach and I would look to each other and say, "Are we actually here!?!"
Xploding Kittens and Other Games
The joy of games invaded the summer hutong - which meant we learned a lot of new games and played a lot of classics. From Sleeping Queens to Sushi Go, it was not uncommon to stumble across a game in play.
Yelling for Timbers and Thorns
The schedule was greatly in our favor this year thanks to the late opening of the newly renovated stadium. Practically every weekend (with a few week days), we were yelling ourselves hoarse for our beloved Timbers and Thorns.
Zoo Day
For months I had been receiving messages from our Portland peeps about the newest addition at the Oregon Zoo: Mei Mei, the red panda. Therefore, it was a must to spend a day at the zoo with the best crew so that a Mei Mei could meet another Mei Mei face to furry face.
