PHOTOS PENDING! I still have to upload/sort/add tonight.
Time to play some catch up of what is going on in our lives, and finally, another family vacation to write about!
We have been busy to say the least. My mom came from Mid August to Mid Sept and took care of Lily full time, and Cooper half days for us the entire time. Life was easier during this time for sure, while she helped with laundry, meals, kids, and so much more. I was able to learn to sew, and we finished quite a few fun crafts together I posted on our new blog
www.wethreemothers.blogspot.com . It was a great month. Lily learned to sit up on her own when mom came, developed some stranger anxiety, and really has become this adorable independant/knows what she wants when she wants it kind of gal. She is still quite chubby and giggles when I eat her chub rolls. Her giggles are more of a cough noise, but you can see her laughing mostly in her face. She lights up as soon as she sees anyone she knows smile at her. Lovable, precious girl.
Cooper has become a little boy. His behavior has turned 180 as well and he truly has been such a good boy. He loves school while there, but hates to go in the morning. First thing he asks each morning is, "do you have to go to work, and do I have to go to school today"? When the answer is yes, he wails "NOOOOOOO!". Once he is over the fact, he usually cooperates and is happy the rest of the day. When I pick him up from school he is always laughing and enjoying himself and it is hard to get him to come home with me! His imagination is so incredible right now, and he loves to play imaginary games that keep him occupied for hours. Most precious is how he treats Lillian. He loves her/cuddles her/and comforts her all the time. And he is still the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. Huge eyes, curly hair, and chubby rosy cheeks and lips. I am a bit biased though I suppose.
As soon as my mom left, we hosted a baby shower for our friends Mike and Kumi and had almost 40 people at the house. The next day, the Byron's arrived for their visit and a few short days later, we took our fall family vacation. We saved up our leave as best we could and decided to take a climbing/beach trip with the family somewhere new on our "to visit list". It came down this time to Kalymnos, Greece or Sicily, Italy. We decided on Sicily because the tickets were quite cheaper flying on Ryan Air, and because we thought it might be less busy. I think it was a good choice.
The Villa we stayed at was located about 2 miles up the hill from San Vito Lo Capo, a small beach resort town located on the north western tip of Sicily. We picked the place, as always, based on its proximity to climbing. Good choice. I think I'll go ahead and highlight the Top Ten from the trip since otherwise I might be to verbose.
1. The Beach. Pretty much as nice as any beach in Florida, with soft white sand and shallow water, perfect for kids. The water could have been warmer, but it wasn't bad. We found hermit crabs, regular crabs, a jelly fish, tuna, and all kinds of other fish while snorkeling/hunting the beach. Cooper was entertained for hours/days on end. I love the beach. I think we'll have to do a beach vacation every year. Brought back memories for me as a child in Hawaii and how much I loved to just dig holes for my cars, jump over waves, and watch crabs.
2. The Climbing. We visited 3 crags while in San Vito. All with amazing routes, high quality limestone, and none of the crowds you run into in Mallorca and Sardinia. For now at least. I am sure once Petzl does a Roc Trip there and the word spreads more, that won't be the same. The hikes are all short, the views spectacular, and the bolting was done well. I didn't lead though, all but one climb, so I can't really do the talking. I top roped everything Frank put up though and really enjoyed the climbing. We bought a map of the climbing areas in town (the book was sold out), and it worked well enough.
3. The City of Erice and other Sights. We visited this beautiful Greek city located at the top of a small mountain 750 meters up. Really awesome. Spectacular views, winding medieval roads, castles, churches, and lots of great shops/ceramic stores. One crazy story I have to share is the Temple of Erice. They turned it into a castle later, but this Temple was well known throughout the Mediterranean area in the ancient times (I think it said 5BC but I can't remember now). People would travel there from Africa even to worship the Goddess Venice. Now the crazy part. Families would drop off their unwanted daughters at the temple who would then be raised in the ancient art of love making. They would be fed well, on milk and honey, and at age 12, men would come from all over to worship/be with the women. They would bring them really fancy gifts as payment, and then the women would retire at age 20, very rich, and very sought after by men. Nutso.
4. Segesta. Segesta was one of the most important Siceliot (Sicilian-Greek) cities of antiquity. We visited a site at the top of a hill that was inhabited into the Middle Ages, and boasts the crumbling ruins of a Norman castle, a small church and a mosque, along with a classical amphitheatre. Built before 430 BC, the Doric temple is the focal point of Segesta. We walked around it for a little bit, and then took a bus ride up the hill to the amphitheatre where you could see views for miles around.
5. San Vito. San Vito is a small resort town, with little traffic, and the best beach around. There are quite a few shops where you can find shirts, ceramic tiles/bowls, beach gear, etc. No climbing shop in town though. There are plenty of restaurants and patisseries, but finding groceries is another story.
6. The Food. There are several small markets to choose from, but they carry just a little of this and a little of that. We never could find chicken, so Frank asked, and they ordered us one! They said come back at 1 to pick it up. We were a little frightened at what would arrive. A live chicken, or a whole chicken that we'd need to cook? It ended up being a yummy roasted chicken. Wish we had known that the first week of the trip. We ate lots of pizza and pasta as expected, and sampled the local olive oil, pesto, tomato sauces, olives, and wines.
7. The Views/Scenery. Beautiful. Much like all the Mediterranean islands, with all kinds of fruit trees, cactus, palm trees, yuccas, but this time we even had a almond tree in our yard at the villa, a pomegranate tree, and some other interesting plants. Very rustic and rural feel. Cows, goats, and sheep roam quite freely, so you really have to watch it while driving, and make sure you close your fences to your yards or they'll get in and eat up the yards.
8. Accommodations. We stayed at a really nice villa located a mile or so up the hill from town. The best part was the view. We could see the ocean all around us, the climbing cliffs, and had a wonderful yard that Cooper enjoyed exploring day after day. Outside we had a full kitchen with sink and stove and grill. We bathed the kids in it each night and they loved it! Plus we had an outdoor shower. Awesome. The house had 3 bedrooms, a large living room, kitchen, and 2 baths and was made of stone. None of the luxuries that come with villas in the US, (no phone or WiFi was painful, we couldn't drink the water, and hot water was sporadic), but charming none the less and had what we needed. Just wish it had been cheaper.
9. The flight. We flew from Memmingen, Germany via Ryan Air to Trapani. Both teeny tiny airports. The flight was over the alps, then northern Italy and it was beautiful! Snow capped mountains and gorgeous Lake Como and Lake Garda. Only 1.5 hours long each way. What was not so great was trying to take the train from Weiden to Memmingen with 2 babies, strollers, 5 suitcases, and 4 adults. One late train in the beginning messed up the entire plan, resulting in a stressed out family helped out by some Police in Augsburg, where we then hitched a taxi to our hotel before flying to Sicily the next morning. What is a trip without a little mishaps to look back and laugh about though right?
10. Cheers to Family Vacations. Nothing better than having time with our kids and our parents. Frank and Brenda watched the kids many mornings while Frank and I went climbing alone together. That was awesome. Haven't been able to do that in such a long time and we really enjoyed it. Felt good to get out and climb again and have time together again. We ate dinners together, chatted together, and played and played and played.
Can't wait for another trip next spring or summer!
