Sigh. Summer Is Over.

So we're back! Actually, we've been back a week and a half now, much to Riley's annoyance since she was having so much fun at her over night camp. As an aside, I think she lost weight while we were gone, so I suppose I should say she quite enjoyed her time at the health spa. As an aside to the aside, she gained back the weight in about three days, so either she was too sad to eat (doubtful) or I just overfeed and over-treat her (likely). Our trip was great, and I will write about it soon enough, just hold your horses, sheesh. First I have to write about trips to a) Helsinki and Estonia, b) Copenhagen, c) Provence and d) THEN I'll get to our most recent trip.

Now that the weather has turned - HA! as if we had a summer here in London - and summer is officially over, our season of traveling has ended as well. We booked an upcoming weekend to Milan but aside from that I think we're appreciating being home, with our lovely dog of course, and not having to pack/unpack, rush to the airport, fly somewhere, run around for two days straight trying to see everything, fly back, get home late, lather, rinse, repeat. But as soon as I typed that I was already thinking about places to go.... But overall we had a very fun summer and managed to see some great places, some new and some old. To recap:

We visited 9 countries over the summer, if you include the US, which I guess we should since we technically don't live there anymore: Germany, France (twice), Italy, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, and yes, the US.

We went to 4 new cities (5 new ones to Dave): Bordeaux, Paradou, etc (in Provence), Helsinki and Tallinn. Dave also went to Berlin for the first time, but I had been there already.

We managed to survive our around-the-world journey, however for the first time we were both physically ill from jet lag. And unfortunately it happened in California, where we were expecting to eat all of our favorite foods. We did eat, trust me, we ate, but it just wasn't as enjoyable as eating when you feel nifty. If we go 'round the globe again maybe we'll go the other direction to compare. OK, Dave?

Riley spent quite a few nights away from home this summer, poor doggie. But she survived and she seems stronger for it! And she doesn't hold it against us, so all is well.

Now that we are home I am trying to sort out a few things (renter's insurance, anyone?), and also trying to do some London things that I have had on my list ever since I moved here. I have been here over two years, but I still haven't "seen" a lot, meaning I haven't done the touristy sites. So maybe this fall I'll get around to it. Like Windsor, some of the other big ole houses (Hampton Court Palace perhaps), maybe take some day trips (Cambridge, Bath, I want to go to Brighton but Dave says no) and maybe, just maybe, we'll take Riley on the train. She has been on the tube and the buses, but never the trains. So if she's lucky we'll do that too.

So now that I have given you the recap I can get down to the nitty gritty and start posting about more interesting things, like what we ate in France!