We enjoyed our week in Valencia, staying in a nice apartment in the old part of town.  Being closer to the downtown action was a nice change from our last suburban location in Barcelona.  Mixed up our stay with a couple biking adventures, museums (free on Sundays), sampling paella, discovering a ton of playgrounds and a good amount of walking.  A great, family-friendly vibe in every part of town we visited with kids most everywhere especially in the early evening.  The only downside was that the town did have a detracting and overly consistent urine odor.

Hard to tell if Charlie has climatized to the time change, as he’s consistently up till 2am and waking up around noon.  Seems late even for the culture in Spain..

Fresh horchata at the downtown market

Easy to spend a couple hours strolling around the market

Some tasty snacks for a lunch picnic

Found a museum which is always free and air conditioned, a perfect location for the mid-day heat

Cool fountains in most of the plazas around town

Snack time at the plaza

Taco Bell should bring their happy hour special to the USA (3 beers and a nachos for $4)

So many streets to explore, but watch out for crazy moped drivers doing 30mph

PAELLA!

Great town for biking with paths most everywhere

Tons of sights see along the way from downtown to the beach

Beach day with what seemed like the entire town plus every tourist in the area. Very disappointing amount of plastic trash in the water.

Playgrounds make perfect pit stops while walking or biking around town

A great day of biking to the beach and back downtown

I believe Charlie tried every slide in the city of Valencia and may start his own blog for slide reviews soon

Outdoor playground at 2pm is too hot, but the mall has a solution!

I would have to believe this is every variety of canned seafood that is available worldwide.

Mama loves playgrounds too!

Another beautiful, sunny day exploring the Jardines del Turia

More slides!

Tons of graffiti on every building, some would be considered art, but most is not

Charlie’s name translation at the Pre-Historic museum

Some interactive displays at the prehistoric museum

Modern art at our second stop on museum day!

The sign of a good day with the family

Machines liks grandpa’s in Chicago

Bike adventure #2 down to the beach town of El Saler, but passing through the port area

An intersting method of tying up boats, but these don’t appear to have moved much lately

Should have come to this beach earlier in the week instead of the crowded one north of town

Great picnic spot with an afternoon breeze, but watch out for the nudes further south

Playground pit stop in El Saler before the bike ride back to Valencia

Upgraded our accommodations for the train ride back to Barcelona

An extra $15 for first class seat, meal, drinks and 2 hours quicker than the train last week. What was I thinking last time??

Lot of back and forth on how we were going to get to Valencia from Barcelona on 8/15.  We bought rail passes to use while in Europe, but they are only good for 10 days over 2 months, plus the fast trains require an additional reservation fee for seats.  Probably spent too much time analyzing the options, but ended up choosing the slower regional train to hopefully see more scenery along the coast and avoid using our rail passes to save them for a bit later in the month so they will last to the end of our trip in late October.

We had two trains to catch en-route to Valencia, and the first one was “eventful”.  Started with the mass rush of people pushing into each doorway to grab a seat, but somehow we managed to get a pair while the rest of the folks had to stand or sit on the floor for a couple hours.  The temperature gauge in the car kept rising as we went along, ending up around 100 degrees by the time we got off at our station to change trains.

Charlie did great in handling the crowd and heat on the first train.

So many friendly people we have met. This gentleman offered to hold Charlie by the window so he could watch the scenery.

Luckily the second train was much less crowded with room to spread out and enjoy the ride and scenery along the coast.  Cindy bought a ring from a guy who makes jewelry and was looking to make a bit of cash for the train ticket.  We made it safely to Valencia and look forward to exploring a new area from an Airbnb that’s located more centrally than the one we had in Barcelona.

Two seats to spread out!

Glimpses of the sea along the way on this second train

Some kids got on board along the way and really enjoyed the iPad and fishing pictures from Smooth C’s

Couple lessons learned today:

Train tickets are cheapest when purchased online rather than the ticket window.

Queueing (standing in line) appears to be an American thing.

Really enjoyed ourselves for a couple of days that we spent exploring a bit of downtown Barcelona and a day at the zoo.

Pintxos extravaganza, so don’t ask too many questions on what it is, just go with what looks tasty!

Plazas make perfect areas for run challenges, like “Charlie, run to that red door then run back as fast you can!”

Another sunny and warm day in Barcelona

Great day exploring the zoo until closing time

Passing through the Arc de Triomf after the zoo

Due to the events today in Barcelona I thought it prudent to post something sooner than I had expected.  We are saddened to hear the news this afternoon of the attack on La Ramblas.  We just walked that area last week..

We are safe and sound in Valencia since this past Tuesday when we rode a train from Barcelona.  Plan on spending about a week exploring Valencia before we move onto our next destination.

Alternating days of sightseeing and relaxation has worked out well for the group, so we stuck with that plan into the weekend.  Made the most of a half-day adventure to explore Montserrat on Saturday and then slowed it down on Sunday to explore new playgrounds in Sant Cugat.  Finding it a fun challenge to schedule our day trips across the various trains.  Maria had given us some insight on Friday about playground options, so we chose one to discover and it was fun but deserted in the mid-afternoon.  Also confirmed her statement that Sundays are generally slow and most places are closed, even more so with over half of the stores closed for August vacation.  We also discovered that places to eat on a Sunday afternoon between 4-7 are basically non-existent, but luckily stumbled across the Tic Tac burger joint which had good food and cold beer.  Dining outdoors has been a real benefit with a 3-year old, so that running around is no problem.

Our time in Barcelona is quickly coming to an and, so researching housing options at our next destination has consumed some hours lately.  Initially thought about Madrid or Sevilla, but the 90-100 degrees temps don’t seem enjoyable, so we’ll keep it near the coast.  Reserved an Airbnb apartment for a week at our next destination, so off to Valencia on Tuesday!  Only thing left is to figure out which train we’ll take from Barcelona, with considerations such as the 3-hour fast train or 5-hour slow train, $ or $$ and whether to start using our eurail pass.

Departing on the cable car up to the monastery

Enjoying the scenic ride, but Charlie requested that it go faster.

Great views after a short hike up around the bend to an outlook

Clear enough to see the Mediterranean to the east and the Pyrenees mountains the northwest

Couldn’t ask for better weather or scenery

Made it back to our train station before dark!

Ordering gelato without understanding Catalan, otherwise known as good use of body language and finger pointing.

Cool park, but no other people!?

Charlie barking orders to keep us in shape

Yes, I’m fancy and enjoy my burger and fries with the world’s most petite fork

Quite a journey to make it across to Spain!  Delayed flight with a missed connection in Dulles, impromptu hotel stay, indoor pool swim, unsuccessful search for an Uber with a car seat, enjoying United’s stellar customer service and an 8-hour flight for a 3-year old but then an astonishingly easy commute and transition into our cozy apartment in the suburbs of Barcelona.

We arrived on Wednesday morning and primarily spent the day recovering from a lack of sleep on the flight, doing a bit of grocery shopping and exploring just a bit of the local area.

Everyone caught up on sleep on Thursday and we headed out to downtown Barcelona around mid-day.  Met a woman and her son on the way to catch the train, then scheduled a play date on Friday morning at the park.  Enjoyed strolling around some sights of downtown; Ramblas, La Boqueria Market, Plaza Catalunya, Ciutadella Park and Magic Fountain.  Good amount of walking led us to stop at an outdoor cafe for a couple cold beers and slice of cake.  Climbed all the way up to the top of the hill for the magic fountain for a beautiful sunset view, but a lackluster view for the fountain show after dark.  Definitely a different vibe in this touristy section of town.

Sleep schedules are normalizing on Friday and waking at 9 to grab some breakfast and then off to the park to meet new friends while Chris went to Sant Cugat for some more groceries (1 bottle of wine being quite insufficient form Wednesday).  Lunch consisted of sandwiches with canned tuna, tomatoes and cheese plus hummus and crackers and a bottle of wine (hard not to drink a lot of wine when it’s so good and $2-$4 for a bottle).  Siesta ensued thereafter for the entire family.  Up around 5 for showers, then dressed to catch the train to Sant Cugat for strolling and dinner.  Came upon a great square with families enjoying the beautiful evening and a small playground for kids to play while the parents chatted over drinks.

One way car rental from Cape Coral to Orlando.  Charlie really enjoyed facing forward for the first time.

Cindy and Charlie’s packing for 3 months, woohoo!

Playing some pool at the hotel in Orlando before our flight the next day

Charlie really enjoyed the screens on the seats for watching all sorts of kids shows

Just missed our United flight at Dulles (no offense Virgin Airlines, just bad timing with your plane in the background)

Had to make room in the bag for Puzzles!

Making the best of an unplanned stopover near Dulles at the indoor pool

Loaded up and headed to Barcelona!

A quick nap just after take-off

Across the pond in about 8 hours

Charlie snoozed for a few hours until we landed in Barcelona, but not so much for Mom and Dad

Patio view from our AirBnB apartment in La Floresta

Excuse me sir, do you have any vegetarian choices?

All sorts of sea creatures to choose from at the market

The choices continue..

A day of sightseeing downtown

View from above the magic fountain looking northwest over downtown Barcelona

Late night train back to the suburbs and Charlie going strong at 11pm

Park buddies

Patio lunch before a family siesta

We took the opportunity to take a trip up to Chicago to see friends and family the last weekend in July.  It was a great trip with fantastic weather and a seemingly normal flight cancellation from O’hare which caused us to stay an extra day.

Enroute from Fort Myers to Chicago. Little did we know that the iPad would only last 20 minutes..

Luckily a Barcelona travel book kept Charlie interested for a bit

Aunt and niece hanging out at the Watermark Brewery on a Saturday afternoon

Cousins started a brewery last year named Watermark Brewing Company in Stevensville, MI. Made it for their one year anniversary celebration.

Swinging down by the St. Joseph River in Benton Harbor, MI

Climbed a huge sand dune in Warren Dunes State Park

How do people swim in 62 degree water?? The Floridians said no way!

Let’s pick some blueberries!

A successful haul of blueberries to bring back to Chicago

Charlie enjoyed playing with his younger cousin and her friend

Pool day in Palatine, IL with auntie L and cousin L

Puzzles you ask? Why yes, I thoroughly enjoy all sorts of puzzles

Dinner with two kids, aged 9 months and 3 years. Yes sir, we have a table in the very back in a separate room from everyone else.

Hard to beat a mid-west summer day with family

Impressive dunes on this side of Lake Michigan

Charlie reminiscing about his baby toys and showing his cousin how to jump

Couple of tired tikes after an afternoon at the pool

Let’s turn those blueberries into something really tasty

Hanging out by Lake Zurich before our originally scheduled flight back to Florida

Let’s go move some dirt before the flight!

Couldn’t wipe the smile off Charlie’s face while riding around on the machines with grandpa

Back in the heat and humidity of Florida

Ma’am, please clean up this mop on my head

Perfecto, vamos al Barcelona!

Wrapping up the final preparations for Europe with a few more tweaks to the itinerary.  Please comment or send us a message if you have any thoughts on the destinations.

A quick turnaround returning from Key West on a Friday night, then packing up Saturday morning and on the road to Cocoa Beach.  Drove up two cars so we could meet up with friends to deliver the Durango to them, since worked out a deal to lease our vehicle for a year instead of keeping it in storage.  Thoroughly enjoyed a long weekend with family in Cocoa Beach before heading back south in the truck to Cape Coral.

Charlie has been quickly accomplishing new swimming skills from all the pool time this month.   Fascinating to watch him learn so quickly and try new things each day.   He’s fully approved now to use the diving board at the yacht club pool and seems like the youngest one we’ve seen so far.

Days are going by quickly with visiting family, preparations for Europe such as a bit of shopping, figuring out what to pack and wrapping up a few things here in the states.  Getting a bunch of info about Europe from books, videos and conversations which has led to modifying our itinerary, booking train passes and signing. up for overseas health insurance.  It’s been a much needed respite lately after the hectic month of June where we wrapped up our jobs, packed up and moved out of the house in Jacksonville Beach.

Cindy’s brother has been living in Key West for the past year, so we took the opportunity to visit him for a few days and we all had a great time!

We always wanted to take the ferry to Key West and decided to pull the trigger on a few tickets instead of the 6-hour drive.

Early morning departure from Fort Myers

Adios Fort Myers Beach

Grabbing some shade and breeze while moving at 34 knots

Beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico

Hola Key West

Key West nap time after the early departure

Cindy and Michael doing some sightseeing

Sightseeing pit-stop

Welcome to Uncle Mike’s sailboat

Plenty of room to stay aboard for our next visit

Cheese Charlie-style

Home sweet home in Key West

Perfect combination for a lunch spot – playground and cold beer

Charlie + Playground = Happiness

Happy Hour before locating a dinner spot on Duval Street

Anyone else sleeping on Duval Street?

Comfy spot in the hotel lobby after dinner

Searching for creatures at the Eco-Discovery Center (free admission which never occurs in Key West)

Enroute to Fort Zachary Taylor

Great views from the fort wall

Cool down at the beach near the fort

Lunch spot name “Charlie Mac’s”, let’s go check it out!

Quality pool time before walking to the ferry terminal

Leisurely ride back to Fort Myers on the ferry

Calm conditions for a beautiful sunset aboard the ferry