I just spent an amazing four days with my nephew Jay, his partner, Veronique, and their son Theo (Tay -oh, Fr. pronunciation), and am now in an old dormitory, now hotel overlooking downtown Montreal. I rented a terrific road bike, then road to the market with all sorts of recommendations from Jay and Veronique on fromageries, boulangeries, and restaurants.
Since my dorm room has a refrigerator and stove, I got bread, cheese, milk, yogurt, blueberry jam and olives -- the essentials.
I am ecstatic to know and be known by my grandnephew, Theo. We really bonded, and I now have what I have wanted for as long as he's been alive - a real relationship. I brought him a cool bike, which he liked, we read a lot, and went on a walk around a pond near where they live.
Neither Vero or Jay could remember the last time they'd had a date, so I felt great about saying: Go! Have a lovely evening together! Jay is working on his thesis (modeling of environments suitable for a certain salamander using lots of variables). He's under pressure to meet a deadline, and my caring some for Theo gave him more time, that is, when he wasn't fixing a faucet which suddenly started gushing water.
They have a beautiful home near a big pond which has no road access. It's very peaceful and beautiful. Jay and I biked to take Theo to daycare on Monday. For most of the way there, no one car passed us on the road. It's just gorgeous countryside.
And now I'm in the city they called home until one year ago. They moved one hour east to be closer to Veronique's teaching job, and they very much like where they are living. They are able to afford so much more space than they ever could in Montreal. The owner has a job in Belgium. They know they won't have a place like this very long, but they are enjoying it while they have it.
That's all for now.
Janet
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
An amazing birthday at Zion National Park
What a day I had today! It was beyond anything a photograph could capture, but that didn't stop me from taking 100 photos each day. There was snow and ice on the trail, and it was an uphill 25-30 % grade. I was careful to step on snow and dry areas rather than the ice.
Towards the top, I was holding onto a chain with both hands and pulling myself up. When I couldn't find any good place to step, that was it. I didn't try to go any further.
The views were spectacular, and I thought about my friends all over the world, all of whom would love this place.
I got many birthday wishes -- thank you! My mother and I share this birthday. Had she lived, she would have been 86 today. I still miss her.
I wish so many of my friends and family were here!
I think THE best birthday present is to be healthy and have the means to take such a birthday trip. Tomorrow I return to Seattle.
Towards the top, I was holding onto a chain with both hands and pulling myself up. When I couldn't find any good place to step, that was it. I didn't try to go any further.
The views were spectacular, and I thought about my friends all over the world, all of whom would love this place.
I got many birthday wishes -- thank you! My mother and I share this birthday. Had she lived, she would have been 86 today. I still miss her.
I wish so many of my friends and family were here!
I think THE best birthday present is to be healthy and have the means to take such a birthday trip. Tomorrow I return to Seattle.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Zion National Park
I am inspired to start a blog by a walker named Sylvia of Durban, South Africa. Sylvia is dedicated to helping people who choose to do the Camino de Santiago in Spain. She has made over 3,000 post to a Camino Forum, and her AMAWALKER blog won an award for best travel blog. The spirit she has of helping others and sharing her enthusiasm for the Camino is something that has moved and inspired me.
Besides, there's just not enough room to write on Facebook, and not everyone I want to share my experiences with is on Facebook.
Today in Zion National Park, I was overcome with tears at the spectacular beauty of the enormous rock formations with a sprinkling of snow with bright blue sky behind.
I went on three different hikes, walking a total of 18,237 steps, according to my pedometer.
This is a birthday trip for me: tomorrow I'll be 58. I can hardly believe that.
I found a fabulous restaurant, and then the hot tub at the place I'm staying. Life is so very good.
I thought about bringing my grandnephew, Adriano here, envisioning a meeting of him, his parents, Halcyon and Roberto and myself here. But there are many steep cliffs here, and he's still at the age were he likes to run around out of control. Maybe when he's 4, which my other grandnephew, Theo will be in a week.
Besides, there's just not enough room to write on Facebook, and not everyone I want to share my experiences with is on Facebook.
Today in Zion National Park, I was overcome with tears at the spectacular beauty of the enormous rock formations with a sprinkling of snow with bright blue sky behind.
I went on three different hikes, walking a total of 18,237 steps, according to my pedometer.
This is a birthday trip for me: tomorrow I'll be 58. I can hardly believe that.
I found a fabulous restaurant, and then the hot tub at the place I'm staying. Life is so very good.
I thought about bringing my grandnephew, Adriano here, envisioning a meeting of him, his parents, Halcyon and Roberto and myself here. But there are many steep cliffs here, and he's still at the age were he likes to run around out of control. Maybe when he's 4, which my other grandnephew, Theo will be in a week.
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