I don't have any kids, so I'm probably unqualified to opine on this topic. But every time I'm in Europe, I notice that children seem to have a different relationship with cities and that parents seem to socialize them a little differently. Here's an example of what I mean by that. Last month, when Neat B and I were in Biarritz, we had a wonderful evening hanging out at this restaurant/bar:

We had just finished our first surf lesson, we were on an endorphin high, and we wanted to be outside to see the sunset. So we sat on the above steps, and we had some food and drink off of a small wooden stool. It was simple and unglamorous; it was perfect.
The place also stayed busy all night and, looking around, there were lots of young kids out. The parents were socializing and doing their thing -- including across the street next to the water -- and the kids were just playing quietly on their own. It's as if the city was their own backyard and everyone was just doing what they felt like.
It is something that always strikes me as being different compared to North America. Here, we've, in many cases, convinced ourselves that you need a garage and a backyard to properly raise a child. But maybe all that is needed is a concrete step, a small wooden stool, and a more laid-back approach to enjoying what cities have to offer.
I just turned on my out of office. Neat B and I leave this evening for our honeymoon. Our first stop is Mallorca. Neither of us have been before and it has been on our list.
One of our goals for this trip is to be active. So among lots of other things, the plan is to get on some bikes at some point. We hear that Mallorca is a pretty good island for that.
As always, I'll be continuing to write. I love writing when I'm on vacation and experiencing new things. The laser distance meter is also in my bag, so expect some of this and this.

It is Neat B's birthday this weekend and we are hanging out in Utah. Today, we hiked up to Cecret Lake, which is accessible from the Alta Ski Area in Albion Basin. Alta is a ski-only resort, so hiking is the only way that my kind -- snowboarders -- gets to see this area. The basin is known for its beautiful wildflowers and it didn't disappoint. Cecret Lake is also a watershed area for Salt Lake City. So as you hike up, there are signs telling you not to swim in the lake or do things like bath your dog. Because what goes into the watershed will end up in the faucets of Salt Lake City within 24 hours (according to the signs). If you haven't done this hike, I would highly recommend it. It's easy/moderate, and a great way to work up an appetite for In-N-Out Burger, which is a real treat for us Torontonians.





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