Warning: There is a picture of an octopus at the end of this post.
Traveling with a toddler is indeed a different beast than travelling with an infant. Aside from the obvious changes in locomotion and language, it also becomes clearer that the wee one has some idea as to what is going on – we are not at home, airports are full of exciting and point-out-able airplanes, and both his parents are with him all the time. No need to constantly holler for the absent one. It’s pretty great. It is exciting to watch him delight in things that are different than our regular life – a moving walkway, a new place to stay – infants may be picking up on these things, but they are not telling you about them. It’s a nice thing to share with your kid.
Of course, he is grumpy in just the same way as back home. Plus he takes up way more space on the plane. And C happen to weigh a 1000 pounds, and has a lot of opinions about being in your arms, in the stroller, or walking. And now he has the use of language to repeat these opinions, ferociously, until shared. It’s not all rainbows.
C enjoying the view from our balcony, while I sat on the ground in a puddle of my own drool.
Lisbon so far has been lovely. We flew in on a night flight so as usual the first day was a messy collage of stumblings, naps and blurry decision making. At one point the sidewalk was too bright and neither R nor I could actually open our eyes while we walked. We looked – felt, nobody cared – ridiculous. We found delicious food (not hard here as far as I can tell), ate it, C played in some puddles that seemed to be exclusively made of nicotine, and we dragged our saggy bones back to bed by 4:30pm. We’ve still got it ladies.
We spent about twenty minutes while C inspected the water as it ran over these rocks.
I’m not so sure about this.
Today we went to Lisbon’s quite spectacular aquarium. Although crowded, it is well organized with lots to see and great for a toddler obsessed with fish. Despite the fact that he took a nap in the middle of it (it was just too much), and that he consistently got fascinated with things like the floor or a rivulet of water that had no fish in it at all, I would call it a resounding success for both kid-friendliness and general cool things to do. Maybe I just think fish are cool. I like the way rays move.
My impressions of Lisbon are obviously limited right now, but from what we have seen, the interwoven European Capital with tumble-down decrepit is quite pleasing. I was surprised by how much derelict we drove past, as it mingles with ancient grandeur, cobblestone sidewalks, painted blue tiles, a history of conquest. It also feels like a city that does not take intensity very seriously. It doesn’t seem to have the flash and dance of a place like Rome whilst still holding onto the style and history. Maybe that is because we were told that everyone in Lisbon takes their kids to the beach in August. Maybe that is because I don’t know what I’m talking about after a day and a half. Maybe I never know what I’m talking about.
Here’s lookin’ at you kid.
It sure is good to be on the road again. It already feels like we never left.
Warning: Promised Octopus Below
Lisbon Large Warning: There is a picture of an octopus at the end of this post. Traveling with a toddler is indeed a different beast than travelling with an infant.
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