27 Years…27 years since I graduated high school and I still remain close to my high school friends. Being that I stayed in Vienna, I have been fortunate through the years to be able to visit with my friends when they have been back in Vienna visiting their families. We have stayed in great touch through these years; though the last time we all vacationed together was Beach Week 1997….
…Until this past weekend when we were Nashville bound!
We ate some yummy food:
12 South Tap Room
Frothy Monkey
The Food Assembly Hall
The Hampton Social
Epice
One Kitchen Nashville
We explored Broadway:
We visited Ryman Auditorium:
We had mani/pedis:
We took a bus tour of Nashville:
We went to The Listening Room:
We explored, we reminisced, we laughed, we shared stories, and we continued investing in a long-lasting beautiful friendship.
A year ago, I sat in my sister’s four story rented home and decided then and there our family of five would visit for Spring Break 2024. I monitored flight prices for what seemed like close to a year, sadly never getting the great deal I was in search of. Nonetheless, tickets were purchased and we took off Sunday evening March 24th and spent eight full days in London…visiting family and being tourists.
Departing Sunday evening made for a relatively stress-free time getting ready and packed. Taking the 11:00 p.m. flight left Justin and Emerson a little tired on Monday; Avery, Harper, and I caught a few z’s on the plane…enough so that we were able to push through the day.
Monday, March 25
We arrived in London at my sister’s by 11:30 am. We unpacked, went for a late lunch, and picked Noah up from school….he was so excited to see his cousins! We took the boys to the nearby park, popped in a few of the local stores for some breakfast food, took some power naps before dinner, and ate a delicious homecooked dinner of Thai peanut chicken made by Gabriel before an earlier bedtime.
Tuesday, March 26
We woke up relatively early to get a decent start on the day. The boys stayed home from school so they could spend the day with us. We took the train and the Tube for the first of many times during out trip. First stop was Burrough Market where we met up with Mila, who we hadn’t seen as a family in 4.5 years! We explored the market buying some cheese, salami, spices, cookies, bread and a brownie. We sampled cheeses and chocolate covered strawberries. As I was buying cheese, I got pooped on by a pigeon! While the food from the vendors looked delicious and smelled amazing, coordinating what 9 people want at those types of places was a challenge; thus, we opted to go to a Mexican restaurant right across from Borough Market. Food was okay but the fact that they could seat a table of nine of us so quickly was a win.
Light rain started after lunch, the first of much precipitation over the course of our trip. We walked leisurely to Tower of London and Tower Bridge. With the rain and needing to buy time before our 4:45 entry into Sky Garden, we hung out in Joe-the-Juice and explored Leadenhall Market, which was a beautiful open air market dating back to the 14th century. Sky Garden was busier than normal….that actually seemed to be the theme for all the tourist things we did as Friday and Monday were Bank Holidays in London.
The heavy rain closed the outdoor area of Sky Garden. Though closed, walking around the inside, we were still able to get a feel of the amazing views from every angle. The boys were being silly.
After Sky Garden, we said goodbye to Mila for the day and then headed back to Lauren’s home. The four adults went out for dinner to one of their local pubs, The Brown Dog Café. The food was good, ambience nice, and adult conversation even nicer. Meanwhile, Jen (the boy’s babysitter) stayed home with the kids, giving them dinner and putting the boys to bed.
Wednesday, March 27
This was day two of our tourist adventures, which we got to experience with our old friends Stacey and Cooper and their two girls Lindley and Brynn. The last time we saw them was for a whopping 24 hours, 7 years ago and before that, 3 years prior. They just so happened to be vacationing in London at the same time so we booked a tour together for Westminster Palace and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. We followed Lauren’s transit directions and arrived via the train and Tube on time at our Westminster Castle meeting spot at 8:45 a.m.
The castle was beautiful and the history amazing. It absolutely amazes me to see the architecture and ornate details and intricacies of the design dating back to 1050, long before modern technology.
Lindley just turned 12 and is 5 ft 9 in. Brynn turns 10 this month and was the same height as Avery and Emerson. Tallies! Is that even a word….I say shorties all the time, I’ve never had to say the word “tallies” before!
After our tour we found a local pub. Food was fine, service kind of odd as you ordered at the bar. Service was also slow, but with it raining out, it was actually a perfect spot as it gave us more time to catch up. The four adults sat together and the kids sat at their own table, which was less awkward for them as the minutes went on.
The sun came out for a short time just as we were finishing up lunch. The girls found a local bakery in Soho area that we walked to for some treats. We then continued walking together through Soho to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square and then finally Big Ben before saying our goodbyes. While the weather was crazy, the lighting at Trafalgar Square was amazing.
Wednesday evening Lauren and I went grocery shopping and picked up store made pizzas for the kids and grown-ups ordered pizzas from Base Face Pizza. The pizza was good, but since it was the same type as Puppatella, we knew the girls wouldn’t enjoy it.
Thursday, March 28
Thursday was our full day excursion visiting Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath. Our tour guide made it clear over and over that it was going to be a very rushed and long day; she really knew how to sell it! Similar to how Sky Gardens was packed, Windsor Castle was just as packed. We arrived at 9:00 and waited in the queue for over one hour before we finally got in about 10:15. That gave us less than 1.5 hours to explore not only Windsor Castle but also the town of Windsor. We opted not to get the audio as time was already ticking. The rooms, the décor, simply extradinary…I absolutely can not fathom being a part of or even associated with the royal family. The day started out nice and sunny and when we came out of Windsor Castle, it was raining so hard that umbrellas inverted as soon as they were opened and feet were drenched from walking in puddles. We took cover in St. George’s Chapel for a little bit as we strolled the perimeter; St. George’s Chapel was the place where Megan and Harry got married.
We then darted through the streets in the pouring rain through puddles to head back to town to grab a quick bite to bring on the bus. The food took so long that Justin almost left before it was ready so that we didn’t miss our bus. Meanwhile, I ran into a souvenir shop to buy two more umbrellas and a new pair of socks for Harper as her boot and socks were soaking wet.
Our next stop Stonehenge was an hour drive away, though we got stuck in traffic leaving Windsor Castle, making the drive about 1 hour 40 minutes. Upon arriving in Stonehenge, the rain had slowed down to more of a trickle, but the wind gusts were so intense that they literally could blow us away. We had to again wait for a shuttle bus to take us to the monument and it seemed way busier that the average day. We had basically five minutes to explore and take pictures before having to head back on the shuttle bus to get on our charter bus. It was so windy and cold and rushed that it was comical. It would have been nice to stay longer and enjoy the audio tour and a grab a few more pictures from some different vantage points, but we still got to go and experience Stonehenge and we can all say we have been there. Again, crazy to think that those monuments were there over 5000 years ago.
We had another hour drive in torrential downpour and flooded streets before arriving in Bath. We had less than an hour to explore the Roman Baths and grab a bite in town before having to head back for the three-hour drive back to London. We moved through the baths quicker than I would have liked, but again, we got to do it. The town of Bath was absolutely extraordinary as we drove in…we are keeping Bath on our list of places that we would like to go visit again, this time for a few days at a time.
Arriving home at 9:00, Gabriel had made pasta and meat sauce, which was awaiting our arrival!
Friday, March 28
After getting up early three days in a row, we all needed a slower day. We had originally planned on going to Brighton, a town on the coast, but changed our plans after seeing the weather forecast was somewhat rainy and very windy. The girls especially enjoyed a leisurely morning eating breakfast and hanging out with the boys. Gabriel and Lauren took the kids to the local cinema, where they saw a movie without talking. Justin and I took the time and went for a nice 90-minute walk followed by some local shopping for fruit, yogurt, waffles, wine, and a Gail’s salad for lunch.
Lauren and I took the girls and Noah for afternoon tea at Orange Peko, a local café in Barnes. While we aren’t huge tea drinkers or sandwich fans, the idea of high tea was still very exciting. We were given more pastries and sandwiches than one should eat in a week! The scones with clotted cream were by far the favorite! Doing high tea locally in Barnes versus going into the city where the price per person for a high tea was significantly more was definitely the right choice. I am glad we did high tea, though I think the full high tea experience is probably a one and done adventure.
Meanwhile, Gabriel, Justin, and Elias were at Whitehart, another local pub. The ladies and Noah joined them for a drink after tea as the weather turned out to be beautiful, especially in the sun.
We spent Friday evening at home…kiddos munched on some leftovers and what was around the house, while grownups ordered some Thai food.
Saturday, March 28
Saturday was a beautiful day, by far the best weather day we had in London. We spent the morning in Barnes first watching Noah play soccer, where he scored five goals. Watching him play is so much fun…he is eager and aggressive and knows how to celebrate a goal. After his match, we walked through Barnes and the local market buying some cheese, bread, and some subpar sausage rolls.
The glorious weather continued through the afternoon; we made our way to Whitehart again for the big Cambridge/Oxford boat race. It reminded me of Foxfields….tons of people, lots of drinking, and very little boat watching. The only difference between this and Foxfields was that this event featured kids!
We left the boat race after the women’s race, missing the men’s portion, and headed to Hyde Park to explore the park and meet Mila one last time. The weather was still gorgeous as we walked the park taking pictures along the way including at The Albert Memorial, The Serpentine Lake, and the front of Kensington Gardens. Mila brought us her famous chocolate balls and a few other of her local favorite treats.
Mila lives in Notting Hill, which is where exited Hyde Park. Last year when I visited Mila, Karolin, Mila, and I went to a pub The Prince Albert for lunch that had the best fish and chips. Since last year, I wanted to take Justin there for the fish and chips. We showed up at dinner time on a Saturday…we hovered around a few tables and luckily didn’t’t have to wait for more than 15 minutes before we snagged a table. Justin, Mila, Emerson, and Harper ordered the fish and chips. Three fish and chips came out; Justin is the one who decided to wait for the other; the other never came. By the time Justin asked about it, they had NO fish and chips left. Silence. Silent explicatives had never been louder. Speechless.
Justin was hungry hours before we went to the pub; he was so hangry. We cut our time with Mila a little shorter than we probably would have to get home; a juicy burger and brewski awaited him.
Sunday, March 28
Easter Sunday and another day in Barnes! The UK Easter Bunny left some Easter “bags” filled with chocolates for the kids.
Noah had an Easter Egg hunt at the nearby park with some of his school friends; the girls set up the hunt and Avery was in charge of giving the instructions to the kids, the last of which was to “have fun”.
We enjoyed a lazy afternoon hanging out with the boys. Late afternoon Lauren and Gabriel’s American friends Christine and Bryan and their kids Analyse and Julian came over and we enjoyed another Easter Egg hunt, a delicious lamb dinner, and several bottles of wine.
Monday, March 28
Our last full day. I always get a little sad on our last full day of vacation. Vacations always go by too quickly and this one was no exception. Monday was a Bank Holiday so we all got to spend the day together. Our destination was Richmond Park, a huge park with a playground and deer, who we mistakenly got very close to! While there were many signs indicating to stay away from the deer, we missed those until after we got up close and personal with them!
After strolling the park and letting the kids play on the playground for a while (while me and Justin snuck away for a walk), we had a very nice lunch at Petersham Nurseries, and while a beautiful atmosphere and good food, we almost had to remortgage our house just to pay for the meal!
Tuesday, March 28
Departure day….never any fun to leave, but always nice to get home and back into the normal routine. We had a 12:30 flight so thankfully did not have to get up at the crack of down or rush to get ready. Noah especially was very sad about his cousins leaving and since we have gotten home, he has sent the girls some very sweet messages about how much he enjoyed his time with each of his cousins.
This trip had been a long time coming. I’m so glad we were able to finally make it happen. And so blessed to have spent eight full days with Lauren, Gabriel, Noah, and Elias.
The Maddy tradition carries on…..this year Harper won not only first place in two categories (yes, two) at OES, but also won 3rd Place, Award of Merit in the Visual Arts category for her artwork “Wonder of the Water”.
“Wonder of the Water” and her Language Arts submission “Rise Against Hunger” both placed in first at OES.
Wonder of the Water
Rise AGAINST hunger
The parking lot was full at 9:00, there were multiple stations and most were full (even though we were early), but we finely found our station.
I arrived at my church for an event called “Rise AGAINST Hunger” ; my mom, my sister Avery, and I signed up. Avery and I have done this in the past and it was very fun and helpful to people who don’t have access to food, so we did it again!
We looked around said hi to a bunch of people, then we heard a loud voice that started to greet everyone and introduced himself too. He told us that he worked for “rise AGAINST hunger” and he demonstrated all of the stations that made bags of food that were going to be shipped to kids in countries who don’t have access to food and might not have three meals a day. Each of the bags included: vitamins, vegetables, soy and rice. (There we’re instructions how to cook it on the back).
This event made me hopeful:
So many adults and kids showed up on a Saturday morning to give their time and fit it into their schedule.
I felt happy doing this because me and a lot of other people felt good about helping kids and adults without access to food.
There are good people in this world who are willing to help.
This event inspired me to participate in more things like a “Rise Against Hunger”.
Gives me hope thinking of the four talented chefs that put in time to do a competition to see which meal would be sent around the world to kids and adults who need food.
I feel good knowing that people are constantly donating to Rise Against Hunger.
The people that work at “Rise Against Hunger”make sure they are feeding people healthy and nutritious meals, which is so important because if you do not have healthy meals you don’t have as much energy.
That’s how long Avery and I spent at her Platinum Dance Convention and Competition this past weekend.
The first seven hours Saturday were spent at the Convention where Avery took ballet, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, and improv classes. I popped in the ballet session for a few minutes and man was Ms. Georgia scary!
The competition started at 3:30 and during the course of the next three hours, Avery and her dance team performed One Girl Warrior, and She’s in Love. All three received Platinum scores and Warrior received 1stplace award and was asked to dance in Sunday’s closing show.
The first four hours Sunday were spent at the Convention where Avery took Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and an Audition class. I popped in the Audition class for less than two minutes and in those two minutes, I saw her up front asking a question!
While she didn’t receive any individual awards, she received more than a handful of pins for the entire weekend and on Sunday, Warrior won the award for best choreography; Avery took it upon herself to go on stage to accept the award where she proudly stated her name, her dance company and thanked Ms. Natalie for being such an “awesome dance teacher and choreographer”. Girl loves the stage and spotlight!!
She has drive and determination and I love watching her play. Each week of the season, she focused on something different, from calling for the ball, to making herself open, to working on her shots. By mid-season, she was handling the ball quite often and taking the ball up court in search of the shot.
She received the Dreamweaver award and this award is a pretty spot on description of Harper’s 2024 basketball season.
Harper was selected for the All-Star Team, although she is not able to play as a result of being in a boot for a month.
We made it though January sick free…no COVID, no flu! Congrats were in order for only so long as it was February 7 before the first of patient zero’s symptoms began. Avery was complaining of her stomach hurting, that turned into a bad cough and sore throat. A visit to the pediatrician the following day confirmed negative for strep so we chalked it up to a bad cold. Later that night Justin’s cough, which had been bad, took a turn for the worse along with aches and pains. A visit the following morning to the doc confirmed the flu. When Emerson arrived home from school that afternoon not feeling well and her temperature quickly spiked, I knew she too had the flu. By Sunday, Avery still wasn’t feeling good and I had a few aches and pains in addition to a worsening cough. I wanted to know if Avery and Harper were well enough to attend school and me to go to Nashville on Tuesday for a work trip. The swabs indicated positive for flu for Avery and me. February is apparently our new January!
This girl signed up for the National Scripts Spelling Bee at Thoreau, an in-person Spelling Bee none-the-less. For weeks she studied a list of over 300 words. Her commitment to studying and bravery to get on that stage were admirable. I couldn’t be prouder of her effort and her willingness to take a risk.
She spelled “Vultures” correct to move on to the second round. “Innards” tripped her up in round two. But, again this time it was pure recognition of the effort, the results didn’t matter.
I can’t wait to see this girl up on stage again next year in the 8th grade Spelling Bee!
Love letters from Justin and Avery, respectively, to me for Christmas. They speak for themselves.
Reflections of 2023
At home, our days with the girls were a whirl,
logistics and carpooling kept us in a swirl.
Emerson on the field, her bag full of gear a colossal tow,
assistant coaching with Firebirds, her skills continue to grow.
Harper made the VYS travel team, training and playing so much,
as she learned the game, her defensive skills became clutch
Avery, radiant in costumes with CDC’s team,
on stage and parade, making our hearts beam.
Lessons with Ian at 643, basketball practice and Girl Scouts in the mix,
Avery’s strength rising, physical therapy’s fix.
Pure Barre got you hooked, morning and night,
Middle school early wake-ups, a routine so tight.
In NYC, Statue of Liberty stood tall,
Dining with Friedman crew at The Smith, laughter through it all.
On Top of the Rock, selfies galore,
Central Park’s carriage man, a con you couldn’t ignore.
Chasing waterfalls in Brasil, and attending Lari’s wedding
Our travel experience and countries are spreading.
A Flight to Nashville’s music and bars on Broadway
And trying on all those cowboy boots and hats along the way
Invisalign and Braces on all three,
No invoices yet, perhaps they’re free.
A year’s worth of expenses saved for emergencies set,
Monthly reminders for cash, a detail not to forget.
Grandma Adele and Aunt Rita, fond farewells,
Emerson’s graduation speech, in our hearts it dwells.
The Tooth Fairy retired, a chapter closed,
Through joys and tears, our family story steadily grows.
I Love you! – Avery
I know this probably isn’t what you’re expecting as a gift but just hear me out! You are the best mom ever and I would be lost without you. We have had an amazing year together and I am excited for more! You are my world and I love you more than words can say. I hope you enjoy reflecting on our special memories!
Some of my favorite memories with you this past year are always something I will keep close to my heart and cherish.
In January, we had lots of Karolin time!
In February, we celebrated my half birthday.
In March, I had my first dance competition and I got to hang out with you all day! We both enjoyed a delicious lunch and I had a corn beef sandwich with crimped fries! It was delicious!
In April, I took part in our neighborhood’s annual baking challenge. I had a great time there eating desserts but I had an even better time at home making the dessert with you!
In May I had my spring Ballet. We definitely had fun hanging out and doing makeup! On the performance day we went to Celebrity Deli for an early dinner with Papa and Grandma.
In June, “He’s the penis!” Haha! I had my first dance recital in years and got to spend lots of time with you! Although we did have to do a bunch of running around! We even enjoyed some yummy Cava. I graduated in June so to prepare, I tried on a bunch of dresses with you taking pictures of each one.We worked hard together for my FFB bake sale, which is always a hit!
In July, we did a whole bunch! We started the month with Fourth of July fireworks. Since Emerson was at sleep away camp and I was still recovering from the ice cold water, we watched them in the car. The end of July was a little different from past years. We attended the American Nystagmus Network Conference. We went all country! Nashville, what a dream. Well dreams become reality at some point right?
In August, we celebrated my birthday and for the second time in a row we went to WaterMine! We also had our annual beach trip! I loved our little ten minute walks on the beach where we would talk and find shells!
Well, September had a mind of its own but even though I said I didn’t like it, I loved the huge hug you gave me when you picked me in the office at school the day you got back from Brazil!
In October, we had our special time together! We definitely got pampered! I love just being with you, it makes me so happy! We got our nails done, we got a massage, and we got donuts!
In November, we spent a lot of time preparing for my first dance convention! Also as Emerson, Harper, and Dad were in Richmond during their tournaments we spent lots of time together doing simple activities!
In December we did a lot but I am not going to say anything about it because all of these memories are important to me.
We have a unique bond that will never end! You and me FOREVER!
Last year at Deep Creek Lake, Justin and I decided we would go back to the surprise “Pack Your Bags, We Are Leaving Tomorrow” Christmas Gift to the girls. The primary parameter is that the location has to be in driving distance. Pretty quickly, Pittsburgh came to my mind…none of us had ever been, it was only four hours away, and it was packed with restaurants and things to do.
Our surprise gift was met with significant disappointment from Emerson who wanted nothing more than to veg at home during vacation. Harper was excited about the adventure, as was Avery, though Avery was very a little more cautiously inquisitive about it.
We spent three full days eating our way through the city, walking, and touring museums and shops. We also got to visit with my friend Stephanie from college, who lives in Pittsburg. She was headed to her family in Virginia our first full day; so we were excited that we were able to meet up for dinner the night we arrived. Her daughter Piper, age 6, joined her too.
FOOD
Church Brew Works:
We ate here with Stephanie. It was an old cathedral turned brewery. The beer was somewhat lacking in terms of drafts especially with IPA’s, which surprised me based on the reviews. Justin and I both got the one IPA on draft…it was not hazy and just ok. The food was pretty good for bar food. Stephanie and Piper stopped by to check out our place; while I don’t talk to or see Stephanie often, when I do, it’s always like no time has passed and we pick back up right where we left off.
Condado Tacos:
We stopped at the location in the Strip for a quick lunch on a rainy day after the Heinz Museum. Food was served quickly and overall everyone enjoyed their tacos and/or bowl; though Harper’s rice and beans bowl was definitely lacking with the beans.
Driftwood Oven:
After debating between a few places where to order in pizza our second night in town, we settled on Driftwood Oven, pizza made from sourdough. We got three pizzas: a white, pesto, and half cheese/pep, and a mixed greens salad with pickled vegetables. It was delicious and I was glad we ordered enough for leftovers the next day. They also let Emerson pick out some cookies since the pizza wasn’t ready when she and Justin went to pick it up. The chocolate chunk cookie was fantastic. We ended up ordering pizza again from here our last night since it was so yummy and we felt like staying in.
Prestogeorge Coffee & Tea:
We stopped here while shopping on the Strip on our second day, a gorgeous mild sunny day. Emerson and Harper enjoyed a strawberry banana smoothie, Justin a large coffee, and myself a large latte all for only $14; we would have paid double for the same order at home. The place was packed. The girls and I enjoyed our drinks; Justin was not a fan of his coffee…something that doesn’t happen with him often.
Peace, Love, and Little Donuts:
After seeing this place our first day, we popped in the second day. They gave us four mini cinnamon sugar donuts just for coming in. We tasted them and were wowed. We ordered six more with toppings and devoured them. I don’t even like donuts, but these were incredible…so incredible that we stopped by for a few more the next day while we were waiting for our table at Pamela’s Diner on The Strip. Seriously, these were the best donuts I have ever had. They gave us free ones again the second time we were in!
Cinderlands:
A microbrewery along the strip that we stopped at on our way walking home one day. I tasted two hazy IPAS and Justin one. Beer was pretty hazy. We also ordered a pretzel and kale salad to share…kale salad was fresh, tasty, and had a kick to it somehow.
Gaucho Parilla Argentina:
This was an excellent Argentina restaurant where everything is cooked on a wood grill; meats, vegetables, and bread included. It was delicious though this is the type of restaurant that would have been more enjoyable with the Goldman, who are more willing than our kids to try a variety of foods that we could share!
Pamela’s Diner:
I heard great thing about this breakfast spot so after a slow Friday morning, we walked to the Strip for breakfast. There was a long wait, but they turned tables quickly and we only had to wait about 25 minutes. Emerson and Harper had sweet crepes as part of their meals that were massive and looked amazing. I took a bite…it was yummy, but personally I am not a crepe person. Since they specialize in crepes, they didn’t have regular pancakes to Avery’s disappointment. She settled on the French toast made from Italian bread, and her and I agreed that mine was better….it was a little too “eggy” and not enough cinnamon. My omelet was good, but I think the Virginian’s was better. It was a cool spot though and I’m glad we went.
STAY
We stayed at 183 35th Street in Lawrenceville area. We were originally supposed to stay in Downtown area, but a few days before our trip, I realized that the location wasn’t great since we weren’t attending a baseball or football game. Airbnb had a cool house in Lawrenceville area with great reviews and priced the same was available. Since we had no cancellation fee on the other house, we booked it. The host Jeremey is a local artist and the house is filled with his artwork. The house had 3 bedrooms, two kitchens, was spacious, and a great spot for our family.
SIGHTS
Heinz Museum:
The first full day was rainy, especially in the morning, so we decided to go the Heinz Museum first. I thought it was a fantastic museum full of history and cool things. I honestly hadn’t realized the historical significance of Pittsburg or John Heinz and as I get older, I really enjoy learning about history more.
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens:
We visited the afternoon of our first full day here. It stopped raining in the afternoon, though the majority of the experience was in covered atriums. It was decorated for the holidays and we were able to catch the outside lights just as it was getting dark. We were able to see the Oakland area, University of Pittsburg (some of it) and The Cathedral of Learning on our drive there.
The Strip District:
We were able to walk to the Strip District from our Airbnb. Our house was on 35th Street and the Strip District is two streets between 33rd and 11 with the majority of them being between 25th and 16th. It was a beautiful day and we weaved in and out of shops, meat markets, spice shops, kitchen shops, pasta and cheese shops, and candy shops. We purchased a few things to make the trip linger.
Duquesne Incline:
We took the incline both ways to the top of Mt. Washington. We would have walked down; however, we were later getting to the incline than I wanted and time wasn’t on our side for walking down. Fear filled Avery and Emerson especially as we waited on the overpass to purchase tickets and ride the incline up the mountain. I don’t think either of them thought it was as scary as they thought it would be. Along the way we were able to see PNC Park, where the Pirates play, and see the stadium where the Steelers play.
Andy Warhol Museum:
Justin is a huge fan of Andy Warhol so we visited the museum. The girls enjoyed some aspects of it. While I am not a huge fan of modern art, I have come to appreciate the historical and societal significance of it.
Similar to other trips of ours, we ate and walked our way through the city making the most of our few days. What will the winter of 2024 bring?
