Avignon, home of the Popes in the early 1300's. Highlight: Jumping on the hotel beds
Pont du Gard, the Roman aqueduct. Highlights: skipping rocks and catching frogs in the river
Arles, with a Roman arena that is still used for bull fights, birthplace of Constatine II, and home of Vincent van Gogh (until he was institutionalized). Highlights: Charming buildings, muffins from the hotel restaurant
Les Baux, site of a fortress since 200 BC, and the place where aluminum ore was first discovered (hence the name bauxite). Highlights: Seeing "real" knights sword fight and launch the catapult, climbing on rocks
Candyshop in Les Baux. Highlight: everything
Catalunya, Spain:
Barceloneta Beach. Highlights: "It really is a beach!", Surfing, building a swimming pool
La Rambla and the Mercat de Sant Josep. Highlight: delicious fruit, leaving La Rambla and wandering the side streets
Barcelona. Highlights: speaking Spanish (and actually understanding what people say again), crepes, tapas, guitar man, running around the Picasso museum
The Gaudi masterpiece, El Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia. Highlight: witnessing the work in progress. We plan to return in 20 years when it is finished.Rhone-Alps, France:
Annecy, a cute little town that made a nice stopover on our way home. Highlights: hotel swimming pool, pastries
Annecy, a cute little town that made a nice stopover on our way home. Highlights: hotel swimming pool, pastriesAppendix 1: Travel with 3.5 kids:
Multi-child feeding system, double stroller converted to triple stroller (quadruple stroller/wheelchair when Ashley gets in), Matthew in the Beco (baby carrier) with Andrew on shoulders, Andrew in the "Backpack Beco" with Matthew on shoulders (because Ashley has Brooke in the real Beco in addition to one in the tummy Beco). These all make for a lot of dirty looks in Switzerland and France, and a lot of laughs in Spain.
Multi-child feeding system, double stroller converted to triple stroller (quadruple stroller/wheelchair when Ashley gets in), Matthew in the Beco (baby carrier) with Andrew on shoulders, Andrew in the "Backpack Beco" with Matthew on shoulders (because Ashley has Brooke in the real Beco in addition to one in the tummy Beco). These all make for a lot of dirty looks in Switzerland and France, and a lot of laughs in Spain. 
Candids taken by Brooke and Andrew. Some of them are better than the pictures we take.
All in all it was a great week-long vacation. The kids fell right back into "seasoned traveller" mode and switched between "Gruetzi," "Bonjour," and "Hola" with surprisingly little confusion. I'm always amazed when I pack every single DVD and we end up only watching one the entire trip, when I stash ziplocs in every available nook and then no one gets sick or has accidents (a big one now that Andrew and Brooke are recently potty-trained). 28 hours in the car, three countries, four hotels, and one very happy family. One of our last family trips as 5 people. Just when you think you've got it under control...
8 comments:
You make everywhere you go look so beautiful and enticing! Looking forward to seeing you next week!
Looks like such a great vacation!
(1) I am so glad Andrew has long hair again. NEVER cut those beautiful locks!
(2) All of your children look like Woodburys. . .and they are all the same size! Too cute.
(3) You look amazing for 3rd pregnancy (& 4th baby).
(4) Who cares aout the diry looks. . .big families are the best! :)
Just when I think I have need to see one place, you guys go somewhere else and I think boy I need to go there too. They are just jealous because you have such a beautiful family.
WOW! It looks like you guys have been busy! I especially love seeing your cute belly Ashley. I can't believe how much you're doing pregnant. You are one amazing girl. I am in need of some Ashley time, so please call me soon. I want to hear how the London plans are coming and how my favorite kids are doing. I miss you!
You are amazing!! I love all of the pictures, fun captions, beautiful prego belly, and darling, darling kiddos. I am so impressed with Anthony's child-wearing abilities... :)
And I have to say - the BOB is indestructible! Amazing that it can hold 3.5 kids and a mom :)
Now YOU are an amazing family! Seriously, that is just so cool. I think with my three kids and a prego belly I would just opt to stay home at all times. You're unbelievable! Such beautiful photos and amazing experiences.
Loved the photos and highlights notations. If the Segrada Familia is finished in 20 years it will be a big shock....25 years ago they told US it would be finished in 20 years...... um....that's Spanish construction for you....everything is slow except the drivers. But we loved living there!
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