time : forever and never *
Time has always struck me as strange – one can do so much, or so little, in any span of time.
Sometimes time feels like forever and never. This concept struck me deepest when I had my children and they were one day, one week old, .. my mind could not differentiate if they had always been or if they were just newly with us. So, I concluded that it could be both forever and never all at the same time.
(day 1 to 4 of our 110 day Euro trip) In the past 3.5 days, time has been as surreal. In brief: senses attuned, sleep differences, time changes, finding ourself and where we are going, driving on the opposite side of the road, trying to not miss a thing… I guess it started in Toronto really. (Many things start it Toronto;) After a perfect couple of days, Roxanne chauffeured us to the Airport and kissed us all goodbye.
London – we walked (and walked) to take in the usual sites, strolled through the park, and rode the Underground.
Stonehenge (I am still in awe). Elmir has always dreamed of being there and I had never felt the draw (until we got our first glance). I am forever changed by this experience. We spent summer solstice in wonder and awe. There was something sacred about being there that I can’t explain. Even the children were completely focused and calm as we listened to the audio tour and circled this ancient structure (twice). To date the most incredible place we have ever picniced.
We continued in this southern countryside, through single lane roads, to explore some English Heritage sites. We played in castle ruins, explored a gratto, saw our first true moat, and imagined life as it once was. (I am now a GPS convert).
Driving through Wales was as green as green could be & then there were the village topped cliffs hidden in fog. We spent hours waiting for the ferry to Ireland (which completely surprised us in price). We spent 4.5 hours on the ferry (Thank goodness for children’s play area and the Curious George movie they had on repeat!) Sweetness : While preparing for this trip Zion mentioned that we would take planes, busses, and ferries – This put Eamon to worry “no, no, no! Ferries are too small!”
We arrived in Ireland around 6pm. The lighting was incredible and within the first 20 minutes we had seen 3 ruins, 2 horse drawn buggies, and a scenery so exciting to the senses. Unfortunately, no photos were taken – I was prepping food for the hungry passengers on board our Teepee 🙂 I also just took it for granted that all of Ireland must be like this & by the time I pulled out our camera the ruins were no more. This not to say that the scenery was less then incredible, sheep sprinkled the hills everywhere, homes looked like sweet little villas, a perfect country to go for a drive. 2 hours North brought us into Dublin where we are now staying with a friend of Elmir’s childhood and his family. The children are getting along beautifully. We got to shower and do a wash, relax, and take a stroll through the best designed park I have ever visited (It really has thought of everyone with it’s trails, rose garden, trout lake, crazy wonderful playground, petting farm..).
Travel with us..
