Back in the US (not SR)……

I keep thinking we are going to do posts about the uniqueness of where we are living here in Mexico. Somehow we keep managing to take a trip to some terrific place. It is wonderful to be able to do both. We spent a couple of weeks on the East Coast this time. Just 5.5 hours after take off, we were walking through customs which literally took only 5 minutes. Of course after that is the 6 mile hike to the cab line. Seriously I always feel like I’m walking to Manhattan in JFK.

Our first stop was Brooklyn, New York, where we visited our daughter. She has created a beautiful life there. She stays busy as an editor and having fun with a terrific group of friends. She kept us busy too though bit of a shock to go from Los Barriles to New York City. It is good to see the city opening up again. It seemed odd that masks were on in most little shops and stores but once you were in a crowded bar the masks came off! She came up with some great places to visit…new spots we would not have found on our own.

We reached 20,000 steps most days. Which was good because it allowed us to eat and drink freely! Wait, it was most definitely not free, but it was very tasty. We enjoyed going to Governor’s Island. Terrific place to walk and talk while enjoying the views. Only a few minutes of a ferry ride to a quiet island with hammocks and forts which seems like a strange combo to me. It is a 172 acre island that was used as a military post by the continental army in 1776. Now it has a James Beard Foundation award nominated oyster bar! Those soldiers could never have imagined….

While we were sad to leave, it was time to celebrate Brant’s moms birthday and Mothers Day in Charlotte. (Brant got very good with that Uber app). We also got to meet our very adorable niece’s son on Mother’s Day. It would have been a perfect day if it weren’t for realizing something I don’t miss….SPRING ALLERGIES! We enjoyed the retirement community, then spent a couple days in downtown Charlotte then off to the Appalachians where it was even greener. They had booked a quaint pine paneled cabin with beautiful views. I could have easily spent a week there curled up in a chair with knitting (oops that sounds old). I’ve always felt so very fortunate to have easy going in laws who love to travel and just love getting out and exploring. We have had many special trips with them and we will add this one to the list.

After getting some quick shopping done, requiring a gifted suitcase from the in-laws, we were back to LB. Such an early departure gave us time to stock up at Sorianna’s (kind of like Target). It was our first trip back to the states in about 8 months. It did not seem strange to be doing it and it did not seem strange to come back——instead we just felt fortunate we could do it.