Summer Travel, 2019

As a mother, I hate to admit that I dread summers.  Not that I do not enjoy the weather or what nature has to offer, but it is more like trying to get everything done while "herding cats."  My boys always protested summer camps as if I was going to send them to a concentration camp.  Besides working on my business, I have decided to sign the boys up for swimming and golf lessons just to make sure they get slightly active.  

The week before the summer break, I realized that the daycare provider for my two yeared old would be taking a week off right in the middle of summer.  I went into a panic mode!  I didn't want this summer to be like every past summer, in which I had felt very much trapped with kids.  So what I did out of panic was amazing.  I made a snap decision that I would go to PEI without discussion or permission from anyone.  Next, I went online and booked all the arrangements for that week.  It felt great and it gave everyone something to look forward to.   

When the time came, the amount of packing was crazy, but it was all worth it.  After 6.5 hours of driving, we got to stop at Rivere du Loup for a night at the traditional Bed & Breakfast, owned by a retired chef.  His home had a very 18th-century theme (see picture with piano above), which was full of characters and charm, all the while facing the river.  It was too bad the tide was low, but it was quite peaceful. 

The next day, we pressed on to PEI with the most brutal long drive with the kids.  It was no joke!!  I was so done by the end of it, but we were very fortunate to have booked a lovely bungalow for the next couple days in Charlottetown.  The first thing I noticed about PEI was that there were no mosquitoes or black flies.  Why? Is it pure luck?  I thought it has to be the saltwater or something, but after some research, I think we were just lucky.

The highlight of the trip was the beach.  It was quite lovely even though I had high expectations.  The red sand was soft and the water was still warm from the day before.  I wish I could spend all day there, but traveling with kids, I learned to lower my expectations.  There would be no spontaneous exploration because everyone was tired.  You'd be lucky if they get any fruit or veggies in their systems.  There was no point bringing my camera as I would be too busy keeping my kids from getting themselves hurt or killed.   All of the images above were taken with my cell phone.

Someday, I would love to travel around the world and exploring every corner and hike every trail for as long as my health allows.  This trip was an eye-opener in the sense that I need to get back into shape so I could enjoy traveling for as long as I could.  My biggest dream in life is to go on a spiritual journey with my kids and walk the Camino de Santiago.  It would be like a rite of passage for my kids before they go off to see the world, and I would like that to be a momentous journey for all of us.