Fall Foliage Camping in Vermont in 2017

This year's fall foliage camping trip took us to Lake Bomoseen in Vermont.	Mateo and Alexi love camping in a tent and spending time outdoors.
Alexi enjoyed riding his green bicycle through the campgrounds.  Alexi is an excellent cyclist.	Mateo enjoyed collecting leaves.  We had to go far up north to see some actual foliage on our fall foliage camping trip.
Whenever we go family camping we stay at KOA - Kampgrounds of America.  They have wonderful activities for children.  We found out about KOA from our Washington Heights listserve, the year that Mateo was born.	And this chair is just right!  Mateo' shirt says exactly how he feels about his mami.
Our first morning at our campsite we took a walk around to see the sights, including this pond.	Alexi loves helping David set up camp.  Here he is rolling over the fire pit.
The best feature of Lake Bomoseen KOA is their *indoor* mini golf course....located on the second level.	The mini golf course was colorful and artistic, and we had the entire course to ourselves.
Alexi carefully sets up his shot so as not to get stuck in the paddle wheel.	David and Mateo both scored a hole in one on the hole with the traffic light.
Vermont seemed like the perfect place to finally buy the kids a set of Lincoln Logs.  Sharon had these as a little girl, and Mateo used his imagination while playing with them.	Mateo created a "camping cabin" with the Lincoln Logs.  This was one of our rare camping trips when it did not rain - normally that cabin would be needed for shelter.
Mateo loves being picked up and held by mami.	Mateo's favorite activity in the world is playing with Alexi.
Sharon spent a lot of time as a little girl with her mom and her mom's friend Kathy, who is a wonderful human being who has kept in touch via cards and letters over the years.	Kathy married Wayne and they moved up to Brandon, Vermont many years ago to renovate and live in this beautiful 18th century home.  Every year in their holiday newsletter they invite family and friends up for a visit, and this year we took them up on their offer.
Kathy and Wayne took us into downtown Brandon and treated us to a pizza dinner.	Pizza is Mateo, Alexi and David's FAVORITE FOOD!
We made it back to the campsite in time for s'mores.	Mateo enjoys eating his s'more by the campfire.
This KOA had a really beautiful playground for children.	Alexi gives it a go on the monkey bars.
Alexi pretended to be the captain of the ship.	Watch out - there appears to have been a stowaway!
One of the absolute best places to visit in Vermont is Mom & Pop's...they have the most delicious Maple Syrup we have ever tasted.	Sharon and David first experienced Mom & Pop's at a roadside stand during a Vermont bike race David's brother Daniel rode in.  This was our first time at their store.
The inside of Mom & Pop's is a feast for the eyes...so many fabulous maple products to choose from within these walls.	Alexi and Mateo hold up their fingers to show their ages.
It was unseasonably warm the weekend we visited Vermont, at the end of September.  We made a day trip to Crystal Beach and spent countless hours there since the weather was so beautiful.	We usually go swimming in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean.  Swimming in Lake Bomoseen was a unique treat.
Sharon carried Mateo far out into Lake Bomoseen to take him swimming.	Alexi posing on Crystal Beach.
Alexi and Mateo rode the swings to dry off after lots of time in Lake Bomoseen.	Mateo and Alexi had lots of fun playing in the sand of Crystal Beach with some new friends and their toys.
This emoji perfectly describes our camping trip.	Mateo is the king of emoji...on mami's phone(!)
We LOVE camping in Vermont!	This fall foliage trip camping in Vermont was a highlight of this year.

London 2017

We visited England as a side trip this year; a quick, easy flight on Ryan Air from Girona to London.  Sharon, David and Alexi were last in London in 2012 - this was Mateo's first time there!  We were so happy we got to hear Big Ben chime before repair work began later in August that will silence this iconic landmark.












Visiting Kidzania was one of the main purposes of our trip.  We first went to Kidzania in Portugal back in 2013, and we have wanted to check out the London version for several years.













At Kidzania Portugal Alexi got to try out the different jobs and activities, though Mateo was too young.  This year, Alexi and Mateo both got to learn the intricacies of different careers, work at several different jobs and earn a paycheck, and pay Kidzos (kid money) in real stores and for actual food.












Mateo and Alexi both enjoyed making chocolate, tacos and fruit smoothies, and got to enjoy and sample the fruits of their labors.











Alexi's favorite job at Kidzania Portugal was being a supermarket checkout clerk.  He reprised his role in London, with Mateo this time as the shopper and his #1 customer.

Of course their favorite careers were being futbol stars, playing soccer in a simulated stadium.  

After Kidzania it was off to 222 Vegan, one of the best vegan restaurants we have ever been to on either side of the Atlantic.

All the appetizers and entrees were scrumptious, and David said the seitan stroganoff was one of the best meals he has ever tasted in his life!

The following day we went on a tour of Buckingham Palace, visiting the State Rooms and the Gardens.  Buckingham Palace is one of the few working palaces in the world, and is only open during the end of the summer when Queen Elizabeth II is at her summer residence in Scotland.













Mateo was excited to take his first ever ride on one of London's iconic double decker buses.












We checked out vegetarian brunch at The Gate Seymour Place - huevos rancheros and vegan pancakes with assorted fruit.

Last stop in London was King's Cross Station, for all the Harry Potter fans in the family.  We got to see Platform 9 3/4, which leads to the train that takes you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

We had a wonderful 30 hours in London and then flew back to Spain in time for the Fiesta Mayor.