Iceland!

Last stop on our European Adventure - Iceland!

This was a bonus stop-we had to cancel our trip to London and Paris in April when I was hospitalized for blood clots. We ended up having more time this summer and added in Iceland. It was worth the wait!

The Blue Lagoon - we all voted this the highlight of our trip.

We went straight from the airport to the Blue Lagoon - so beautiful and relaxing

This was taken at 11:30pm - doesn’t get very in the summer. Hallgrimskirkja Church. We went to mass today and it was in Icelandic but it was peaceful to know the rhythms of the prayers and we felt so welcomed.

We spent a full day driving Iceland's Golden Circle. Here the kids are pictured where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

Iyer Five in Iceland

Icelandic horses

Geysir

Gullfoss waterfall

Kerid crater lake

Black sand beach in Oseyrartangi

Fresh, delicious seafood

Downtown Reykjavík

We watched the World Cup from the airport before our trip home. Thank you London, Paris and Iceland - what an amazing trip!

Paris!

Iyer Family European Adventure Stop 2: Paris

We arrived in Paris late at night and France had just won a spot in the World Cup finals - it was chaos!

A view of the Eiffel Tower from our hotel room window

Our hotel

Fun boutique hotel

breakfast at a cafe in St. Germain, near our hotel

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

The Louvre

When you give an 8 year-old an old cell phone to take pictures and take him to the Louvre, this is what you get! 

More photos from the Louvre - we did a family tour including a scavenger hunt - was a neat way to explore the museum with kids.

Palais-Royal

 Sacre Coeur Basilica

Sights on the Paris streets - we have walked 8 to 12 miles every day on this trip.

Top of the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower at night

Fountaine Saint Michel

Notre Dame

Notre Dame - lighting candles for loved ones

Palace of Versailles

The boys tried and loved escargot last night (I would not try it). We all had crepes tonight for our last meal in Paris - we even found a place with gluten free crepes for us girls with celiac.

London!

The Iyer Family European Adventure Stop 1: London

After arriving at 1am and getting some sleep we saw a lot on our first day in London: Changing of the guards, Buckingham Palace, lunch and watching the World Cup at a pub, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye, St. James Park and Platform 9 3/4. I may have had my dress on backwards half the day (thank you jet lag!) but we had a great time!

Buckingham Palace

We are tourists.

Westminster Abbey

Watching soccer in an English pub

The London Eye

Big Ben and Little Ben

Our hotel lobby

Taking the Tube. (Finally noticed my dress was on backwards so I tucked in my arms and turned it around while walking on the street just before this pic-lol!)

St. James Park

London Day 2: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Trifalgar Square, Harrods and dinner with the Reeds in Covent Garden.

Tower of London and the Crown Jewels

Tower Bridge

Trifalgar Square

Shopping at Harrods

Dinner w/ the Reeds - Nate and Ryan were in a mom/baby group together.

Covent Garden

Day 3 of London featured 3 brilliant gents: Harry Potter, Winston Churchill and Justin Timberlake!

Harry Potter Studio Tour - we loved it!!!

The kids chose to go to the Churchill War Rooms instead of Kensington Palace because their great grandfather (my Nonno) fought in WW II. Great exhibit!

Ben reading the newspaper on the Tube.

While this was the boys’ first concert, I’m not going to lie - going to the Justin Timberlake concert was a treat for me! 


July 10, 2018

We were supposed to spend our 14 year anniversary visiting the Eiffel Tower. Due to canceled trains we are instead in the train station in London but luckily rebooked a train late tonight. While it’s not what we planned, neither is marriage. Sure some days will be magical but most you will be telling your kids to stop fighting while you stand in long lines. Happy 14th Mesh - it’s always an adventure!