Bro & Otis in SF

Otis sent me this photo from her San Francisco trip in March. She was out for a teachers' conference.  (She's now a Vice Principal in a Burlington school).  My brother, John, picked her up and took her on a tour of the city and over to Tiburon for dinner. This photo was taken in Tiburon with SF in the distant background.

They too were roommates at Western. When I moved out of our townhouse after graduating, John moved in. Then, when Carolyn moved out after she graduated, she moved in to an apartment with me in Mississauga.

It's great that they were able to get together and talk about old times!

Bryan turned 21 recently

Every birthday, anniversary, reunion, Christmas is an opportunity to step back from daily routine and to reflect on your memories of past birthdays, anniversaries, etc. The ultimate birthday to recall is the very birth day - the 0 years old birthday of your own children. Every birthday is a gift to celebrate. We are so proud of our 21 year old, not only because he has accomplished much, learned from his ups and downs, and isn't afraid of new challenges, but because he is a person people like to be around. And that's all I'll say. I'll keep the sappy stuff to myself!  

The weekend before Bryan's birthday we were at PSU for his fraternity's parent's day. It was a fun time, seeing Bryan and his friends again, playing games and enjoying a gourmet meal prepared by one of the boys! We surprised Bryan with a birthday cake. Here he is about to make a wish!  

March travel - Spain & France

I joined Don in the UK a few weeks ago for a little March traveling. He was there for a conference. I spent a day in London on my own, then we flew to Barcelona for a few days. What a great city! Lots to see and do. Lots of northerners there for the weekend - we met people from London, Liverpool and Finland. Took in the Gaudi architectural sites, the beach, Las Ramblas area (where our hotel was) and even some impromptu events. 

Two beach views in Barcelona

 Then we took a train up to Collioure, France, on the Mediterrean, that is one of the most beautiful towns I've seen - up there with Honfleur, France. We walked all over that town, including hiking up to a castle overlooking the area. There is a military training facility there so while we were soaking up the scenery, young men were doing drills along the little beach and in the water. 

Two views of Collioure - old town & new town

Next we took the train to Carcassonne - a town dominated by a huge medieval castle. We stayed just outside the castle walls but ate in the delicious restaurants each night. 

While in Carcassonne we rented a car. We drove south one day to hike up to the Chateau Peyrepertuse, a Cathar castle that is perched way too high on the edge of cliffs for a acrophobic like me!  Then we drove through and along the deepest gorge I've ever seen, stopping part way for a typical French picnic (cheese, bread, wine, chocolate!).  The next day we drove north to Albi - in the "red brick" region of France. Also stunningly beautiful.

Artwise we toured the Picasso Museum in Barcelona and the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi. Plus, the town of Collioure was filled with framed posters of famous artists randomly placed on the streets throughout the town ... including lots of Matisse:

A Matisse hanging in the street in Collioure

We flew home from Toulouse. It was a interesting trip to a beautiful part of Europe. (Isn't it all beautiful over there?!)