I like to play Monopoly at 6 AM--Kevin's Review of the Family Holiday

[Note: comments in brackets are editorial. Not Kevin's opinion.]

Lured by low, low prices, I booked our tickets for a 6.40 AM flight to Dublin from Frankfurt Hahn. But this meant we would have to catch the 2 AM bus for the airport from Heidelberg. We put Red to bed the night before dressed in her traveling clothes and stayed up to watch a movie...in hindsight, I think we should have just gone to bed, because we were TIRED by the time we finally arrived in Belfast!

At airport security, I was asked if I had any liquids or glass jars with baby food in my bag. "Nope," I said. But when my bag came out of the x-ray machine the same way it went in, I knew something was wrong. They had found the mustard. "For the baby?" the guard asked. "What can I say," I said. "She loves it." He rolled his eyes and let us through.

We arrived in Ireland safe and sound and caught the next bus to Belfast. We took a cab to Megan and Scott's house and shortly after our arrival were greeted by Megan and Octavia! Here is a short list of things you don't need to bother bringing to Ireland: flip flops, sunscreen, and swimming trunks. Here are things you should bring: long johns, gloves and a fleece. I had no fleece so Scott graciously lent one to me--I think I wore it every day. [The umbrella. Don't forget the umbrella!]

A few minutes after the pregnant lady [Megan], the two toddlers, Isabelle and I had just settled down for a long winter's nap, there came a gentle rapping at the door. Selflessly allowing the ladies to sleep, I opened the door and found Maria there! I invited her into someone else's house for a cup of tea, and we had a nice chat. Later that day, Noah and Scott showed up and it was great to see them, too. Scott because it is a rare experience for me to hug a man taller than myself and Noah because I like to play monopoly at 6 AM--two things I get nowhere else than Belfast.

The next day started with a diaper [nappy] hunt. I mistook pounds for kilos and ended up buying diapers that were about 14 months too small for Red. Luckily, Octavia shared.

The whole trip what a tightrope walk between community time and family time. Here are just 2 of the highlights: the look on Noah's face when I gave him an entire handful of catsup packets when he asked for some at Maggie May's, and the pleasant discovery that, like her dad, Red likes gravy rings [donut-esque bun] from Ian's Home Bakery. From the W5 to the Parador and the Olive Tree and Sainsbury's, it was nice to see that some things never change. (To wit, the cheddar cheese at Sainsbury's was NOT in the same place as the last time I was there.)

Our stay coincided with vacation [holidays] for the Emberites, so while we only had a few short days together, we enjoyed Gosia's cooking and hospitality--we even had banana bread for dessert. [Aha! It wasn't a brownie in the photo posted to the blog!] Red, who was unaware of L'Arche traditions, asked for more and scored a second round of banana bread for everyone! Thomas, gentleman that he is, showed Red the fish, and Larry treated me to a private tour of his bike.

We were lucky enough to meet Susan Hughes one evening but sadly I showed up 15 minutes too late to see Matthew at work at the veg shop. Come visit Germany, Matthew! We enjoyed a wonderful Ulster Fry at Thomas's Cafe, and we had the pleasure of Octavia's company for that adventure. Noah and I had a good time playing baseball in the park. Noah's Opa [Noah's Grandpa]: If you are reading this, the boy could use a 10-year old sized baseball mitt and a new ball for Christmas!

All in all, it was a great trip and I found myself wishing that we could have stayed longer. Octavia, Noah, Megan and Scott are WONDERFUL hosts [and only make you earn your keep by cooking, cleaning, and smuggling mustard]. In many ways our trip felt like we were coming home. Can't wait for the next trip. Our doors here in Germany are always open.