To Vigo

Human Highlighter Suit Tally: 10

We have way too much stuff with us for a four day trip.  But it’s Christmas and, even though most of the gifts we are bringing are for our kids—which means they will come right back with us—we wanted them to be able to open them on Christmas Day.  We are planning a six week summer trip without a car, and I am already concerned about it because it seems impossible for us to travel light.

We are en route to Vigo, the city in Galicia where Alec’s Dad, Myron, and stepmother, Raquel, spend several months a year.  Alec’s brother Nick will be there, too, and at least some of Raquel’s many sisters.  Galicia is in the northwest of Spain, a beautiful part of the country that is famous for its amazing seafood.  Raquel grew up in nearby Santiago, a gorgeous city that is the third most visited city by Christian pilgrims.  Jerusalem and Rome are the first two.  It was summer last time we were there, and the streets were full of people with backpacks and walking sticks who had travelled great distances.

I feel fortunate to have family so close by, and to be able to spend the holiday with them.  Raquel is a fantastic cook, so we are sure to eat well.

This morning, I took the kids to say Happy Holidays and goodbye to Manuel, who spends the spring semester in Los Angeles.  We met earlier this week and made a minor breakthrough in my own work.  I have been reading and reading and reading, and holding myself back from cooking up a project prematurely.   But I think I’m on to something now, and I am excited to move in a new direction when I get back from our travels. 

On the way to my office we mailed the kids’ letter to Santa Claus.  They made a very long list—C.C. writing her own piece and Milo dictating his part to me.  I told them they couldn’t just send a list without convincing Santa that they had been good, so C.C. asked if I could help them write “a persuasive paragraph.”  I like that they still believe in Santa Claus.  We’ve watched the Grinch and The Year Without a Santa Claus this week.  I bought them on iTunes because I couldn’t imagine them growing up without knowing who the Heat Miser is.

When Myron picked us up at the airport he said, “Wow—you guys don’t have too much stuff this time!”  Which tells you something about our reputation.  Raquel’s sister, Mila, was there, along with her son Bolivar and his son Jorge, who is 5.  The kids started playing together immediately like kids do.  We ate salad, delicious jamon, cheeses and foie gras that Mila had brought from Paris, where she lives.  And turron, of course.  At some point in the evening, Myron left for awhile and returned with a box of gorgeous scallops (see photo below).  I’m not sure where he got them, but I’m looking forward to eating them.  We will not starve here.