we need to talk about Corsica

Just after I waxed poetic about welcoming autumn, we did the exact opposite and jetted off to Corsica to catch the waning rays of sun and summer.  It was the perfect trip. The three of us, along with Félix's sister met up with Félix's cousin and his cousin's friend.  Can I just tell you that a ratio of 5 adults to 1 child is my kind of ratio? 

Our mornings would begin with the three of us sneaking out of the house for coffee and croissants in the harbor while the other housemates slept.  The citadel of Bonifacio loomed high above the small harbor below.  Sitting outside, sipping our coffee, Clover provided a constant narration of which boats went motoring by past the white limestone cliffs on their way out to sea. We'd head back to the house with croissants for the late sleepers and then we would all head off to the beach. It was a rhythm I could totally get on board with.

We stayed at Félix cousin's place in Spérone, at the southern most spot in Corsica. There was just so much to love about where we were.  It's rugged and gorgeous.

Hadri, Félix's cousin showed us a fun spot, a completely concealed beachside restaurant.  It was totally hidden behind the scrub oak until we were gazing at the sea.  We had a long, lingering lunch in front of that perfect view.  There are so many great hidden coves and secret beaches.

Clover didn't want to go near the water. Even so much as the tiniest drop would elicit squeals of distress. He would happily play in the sand and then all of a sudden on the second to last day he acted as if there was nothing he would rather do more than play in the surf. All fear forgotten. We could not get that boy out of the water. 

Which by the way, can we talk about the water? I've been to the mediterranean plenty but I have never seen it such a gorgeous turquoise, so clean and so clear.  Amazing. And I think another reason why I was so blown over by the place is that it is so close. By plane it's less than two hours but it felt a whole world away when we were there.

It was a fun, quick trip full  of lots of laughs, wonderful family and friends, great food, great champagne, and beautiful beaches, too.  Which really sums up my idea of a perfect trip in the sunshine before the cold autumn arrives.

I can't wait until we find our way back to the cobblestone streets, the golden sunsets and the silky, white-sand beaches of Corsica... Until then, I think it will feel like a dream that we were ever there. 

Do tell, do you have a favorite vacation spot? I find mine is changing all the time.

you can own the night

You can own the night, if you like. However, I'll keep the mornings.  I'm much more partial to them these days.  We caught this sunrise in Corsica the other week.  It was... well, magical. I have to say I am head over heels for the place. Corsica completely captured my heart.

chicken little

We left New York behind to go and see my parents in the Pacific Northwest. They took such good care of us. A major highlight for Clover was the beautiful garden that my mom keeps. Not to mention the 8 week old chickens she was taking care of. Clover wanted to visit them about fifteen times a day.   The big hit was to get to feed them.   As he held out grasses and leaves they like to eat, he'd say in his tiny voice, "nom nom nom."

Rain or shine he wanted to go out and say hello. And my parents were kind enough to oblige him.

the best time to visit the Statue of Liberty

Isn't Lady Liberty pretty? That picture is not mine, of course.

This picture is mine. I think the best time to visit the Statue of Liberty is when it is not pouring down rain.  In fact, I recommend this whole heartedly. Even though the memory of our soggy sight-seeing endeavor makes me smile. We made it only to Battery Park. 

When we decided to go and see Lady Liberty it was sprinkling ever so lightly uptown.  When we arrived at the metro station above ground we were greeted by a downpour. It was only at that point that Clover had enough of being in the stroller and did not under any circumstances want to get back in it.  It didn't look like the rain was going to let up any time soon. Clover was the only one with a rain jacket.  Félix and I were without an umbrella, without jackets of any kind. Félix was pushing the stroller and Clover was holding my hand.  Trying to hurry him along to get out of the rain, I didn't see that he had lost his right shoe about 5 meters back. He was SO mad I was making him walk in the rain. His sock was soaking wet the poor little guy.

 We decided to cross the street to try and wait things out at a Starbucks.  It was packed with people doing the same and Clover needed to get some serious wiggles out.  We took a door leading to a long entryway for an office building and let a now sockless Clover run up and down.  He kept waving to the security guards and smiling.  I was relieved that they just waved and smiled back and let us continue to hop around in the hall.  We decided we would make a run for it.  I mean we were so close already.

So we ran out in the rain as quickly as we could to spot the Statue of Liberty and then headed back to our place to get warm and have some lunch, slices of pie from Bleecker Street Pizza. Once warm and dry at home, Clovis promptly fell asleep for an afternoon nap. We all did.

top photo via

in New York

I'm not really sure where to start. This trip was so much fun. The only thing is I took so few photos. I wish I had taken more but sometimes it is just so nice to partake in the moments instead of observe them behind a lens. So a majority of phone pics and a few rare snapshots by our regular camera will have to do. 

We had a great little apartment in Greenwich Village just off Bleecker. It was such fun little neighborhood to hang out it in. So many good spots to eat and cute shops to browse.  Not to mention all the great playgrounds, Clover loved it. We did too. I want to go back.

Our first morning, in town we headed up towards the Natural History Museum and then wandered over to Central Park. 

We took a break on the benches and enjoyed the people watching. 

We had so much fun walking all over the city. We strolled all along Fifth Avenue and stopped in to see a place I have always wanted to go, The New York Public Library. Clover snoozed in his stroller the whole while.  The reading rooms are so beautiful.

And would you believe that Félix got to meet President Obama? Okay, not really, but he did get a wave from the President going by in his motorcade.  That counts, don't you think? We randomly happened upon the route that had been road blocked as he was departing the city.

On a rainy afternoon we got to meet up with my cousin M and her sweet little girl, S. She suggested that we hit up the children's museum on the Upper Westside. It was perfect and so fun to catch up. I can't wait to see them again. Hopefully this summer. Right, M?


So tell me, what do you think of New York? Have you been? What are your favorite spots and things to do in the city? 

back in the swing of things

We are back home in France. Vacation was wonderful. We are battling fierce jet lag but I have high hopes for a more traditional sleep schedule sometime soon. In the meantime,  family naps with the sound of tennis rallies and the muffled cheers of the crowd at Roland Garros feel so indulgent and entirely relaxing.  The shortcoming of sleep is a small price to pay for such a wonderful trip. It was just the best! Expect an abundance of highlights in the coming days.

my fear of flying

We are getting ready for a big vacation.  We'll be flying to New York to spend four days before taking a flight cross country to spend three weeks in Seattle.  Needless to say that I am beyond excited. I can't wait to visit NYC, spend time with  family and friends in the wonderful PNW, discover some fun new places with Félix, and visit old favorites. I am happy to get to show off Clover, a lot of  my family hasn't seen him since he was six months old. But...

But, I am fearful for the flights. Not for me mind you, I've flown all over the world for work, for vacations. I love settling in for a long haul, watching the in-flight movies, flipping through magazines or plowing through a novel. I've even flown solo with Clover but it was when he was a little baby. He did great. He was happy checking everyone out, smiling at the ladies around us. He didn't sleep during the 11-hour flight save for a 20 minute nap so we were both toast by the time we got to our destination but we made it with relatively minimal crying...for either one of us. The flight attendants were so helpful and everyone wants to hold a sweet, cooing baby.

But not many people want to hold a wriggling 20-month old toddler, and not many 20 month old toddlers want to be held. My sweet cooing baby has become a running, jumping, climbing, kicking, wonderful little boy. Which is great, of course I wouldn't have it any other way. He's the best.  Of course, this time Félix is with us. And we have new toys, old favorites, snacks, stickers, iphone apps.  But, the closer we get to this flight the greater my fear grows.  I know parents and kids fly all the time, sometimes to the chagrin of the other passengers sometimes not but my fear still remains.  Any good tips? War stories? Tales of happy babies and happy passengers?

sweet vita

We had a great time traipsing all around Tuscany. The Mediterranean was bluer than I remembered possible. Pisa was great fun and lived up to the hype. Florence was great as ever. We stayed in an apartment that was part of an old renovated brick factory. The grounds were lovely and I understand why so many people dream of a villa in the tuscan countryside.  It has been hard to get back into the swing of things at home, but I suppose that's the sign of good vacation, right?

Packing Up

We're getting ready to go on holiday in Tuscany for a week. There is so much that I am looking forward to, some of those things include: 

+ spending good, solid, family time together

+ enjoying lots of good gelato and enjoying walking off all that gelato,

+ going to the Uffizzi Gallery to see my beloved Botticelli paintings,

+ discovering some new spots with my boys,

+ introducing the little guy to the seaside (again).

Time to get packing!