Guest Blogger, Blake Solomon: A Treatise on Family Travel

While in Ireland, I asked Blake and Beth if they'd like to do a guest blog post.  Blake has since taken me up on my offer after seeing my recent post about his exceptional attitude on the trip.  So here are, everyone: Blake Solomon.

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I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t understand what people want to read on blogs. In my everyday life, you learn the name of a person’s blog before you learn their actual name. Which is fine. Most names are boring and most blog names are puns. I love puns. So while it’s taken me a shockingly short amount of time to get off topic, I should note that this is sort of my disclaimer: I’m just going to write about our trip in a way that I find interesting. Hope that’s ok.

While I don’t even remember the dates of our trip or all of the girls I made out with at various pubs, I do remember having a great time. My family isn’t necessarily the weirdest bunch, despite that being one of those things everybody says. “Oh we’re weird and loud and so fun!” I’m not saying we aren’t those things, but they aren’t the things I think of first. What I mostly think is that we’re comfortable with each other. I know that my mother and father have to read every sign they see and that my sister will take 4 hours to finish a glass of white wine. And I’m ok with it. It makes the trips easier and less stressful. But it also means we get right to the fun parts.

There are these little, fun things that can’t help but be revealed when you’re spending all day with people you usually only see a few times a year. It’s fun! Especially when you’re in a 9-passenger square-shaped van driving through perhaps the most winding road in the history of roads. You learn stuff when you’re walking to a weird restaurant with no waiters that is not 5 minutes away like the Bed and Breakfast Lady said but actually like 30 minutes away that goes through a scary, run-down coastal town where everyone looks at you like you have leprosy. 

These are moments of pure bonding. And when we send you our perfectly posed Christmas card this year, standing in front of the beautiful Northern Irish coastline, I hope you think about the absurd conversations we had before that picture. Think about how we forced another American family to take our picture and then insisted on taking their picture even though they didn’t ask us to. I hope you consider that shortly after our perfectly posed picture was taken, I did something so disgusting (which I won’t repeat) on a medieval wall surrounding Londonderry that Lauren almost threw up on a German tourist couple. 

It was just a good time. On those terribly awkward tours you take around distilleries and other distilleries and, since it’s Ireland, a third distillery, you see these other families moseying around, just praying they get their money’s worth. But I never really worry about that when we go around those smelly places with those poor tour guides who answer the same questions a million times, because we probably weren’t listening anyway. 

So it was a nice trip and we had fun and I do still thoroughly enjoy watching my parents watch their children interact with each other. (They smile and wink at each other like we can’t see them, but I’m very observant!) There were quite a few touch and go years in our fam (mostly Beth’s fault), but a trip like this just reiterates that somehow we all turned out pretty well and morphed into a solid familial unit. Trips to foreign places are very isolationist, mostly because everything feels weird when the culture shifts. You hang on to what you know, which is usually only represented by your travel partners. I feel lucky to be tethered to these 5 other people, and to be able to experience museums and beautiful landmasses with them. Duh, that’s the easy stuff. But most importantly, it’s always super reassuring and heartwarming to feel like no matter where you go, there’s always someone who will go there with you.

Blake is very active on the Internet and never in real life. He has a blog, in which he creates a new mini-blog every single day, that can be found here.  His instagram doesn't make any sense and can be found here.  

The British Open

This past weekend, we got to check a big one off our bucket list when we went to Edinburgh for the British Open at Muirfield!  Drew's an avid golfer and had never been to a Major so we figured...let's do this.  It's right across the water!

Our pals Tom and Missy were there too, and we met our friends John and Natalie in Amsterdam there too with their new cutie baby.  We all went to the tournament together on Friday and ate a big delicious Mexican food dinner on Friday (I know, weird but delish), and then Natalie and I had a much needed girl's day (and baby day) together on Saturday while the guys went back to Muirfield.  

I like golf alright.  I prefer to watch it horizontally on a Sunday so I can doze, just like my dad taught me.  I've come to appreciate it more over the years, once I understood it, and once I learned the golfers names and figured out their stories.  But really...I care more about the celebrity aspect of it all.  I care more about the fact that Tiger's a jerk face and that people have a love/hate relationship with Phil and that Sergio is a cute spaniard but a bit of a whiney baby and that Rory is a cutie Irishman who's down on his luck this year and that Adam Scott is a hotty.  So while I too wanted to watch good golf like my husband, I mostly just wanted to be in the presence of celebs.  So sue me!

I tried to get Drew to write this blog post but it's 11:20pm and he's still at work and showed no interest in doing so.  So you're stuck with my amateur golf blogging.  Here are some pics!

Crazies on a plane.

We got in at 11:30pm on Thursday night and woke up bright and early to take the train and the shuttle out to Muirfield.  We wandered around a bit and then went over to the first tee to watch the big timers tee off, and to hear the announcer with the funny voice.  (Shout out to Peter B. who Drew kept trying to take a video for.  They love this guy.)

Sergio!  My main man!  But he needs a 'tude check, I'm not gonna lie.  And he needs to start WINNING, damnit!

Sergio and Lee Westwood shootin the shit before they hit. 

Adam Scott, being sexy as hell.

Great form, Adam.  And I mean that literally.

Here he comes.  That son of a bitch.

Side note: Drew hoped and I kinda thought that seeing Tiger would get me excited and I'd be super impressed and forget that he disrespects women and children and ruins lives, but...I DIDN'T.  He looked like even more of a son-of-a-bitch than ever.  Smug bastard.  You may be fooling the rest of these clowns but NOT ME.

Lining up his shot.

And away we go.
(I refused to clap for him throughout the day.  You don't DESERVE MY APPLAUSE!)

This is just a picture of the links overlooking the sea.  On television, the course looked brown and gross and unkempt.  And while it's brown and relatively unkempt, it was still rugged and beautiful in person.  Lots of hay-like grass and LOTS of dust, but still lovely.

We wandered over to some other holes and watched from the stands and followed some other big names around, and then went and got a couple of frosty brews and watched the tournament on the big screen.  And Drew and I got some baby time.  Yay!

Cutie bebe sweetie.

He looks a little too natural.  Uh oh.

Another one!  Help!  My uterus!
We came back from the bathroom and he was just standing there holding him and playing with him by himself.  Sigh.

These are some oldies but goodies: Freddie Couples (Lolly's favorite), Tom Watson, and Nick Faldo.
Nick Faldo is a large man.

Just a picture to capture how dirty me and Nat's feet were.  Literally covered in black dust.  But everyone else's were too so there was no judgement, except from you reading this right now.

You can't really see but the sun was reflecting off the water making it look gold.  So I tried to capture it, and then this large fellow in orange walked into my shot.  Oh well.

Drew and Tom outside the entrance tent.

Dustin Johnson!  He might be my new golf crush.   He's tall and cute.

Bubba!  Family man!  Love him.

More of Freddie "Boom Boom" Couples.  That's what Drew calls him.  Does everyone call him that?

Rory about to take a swing.

Rory walking on down the green, after having made a terrible shot that no one clapped for.  Yikes.  The Brits/Scots don't sugarcoat it for you.  

Phil and Bones.
Some girl right behind me yelled "I love you, Phil!" as he was about 5 feet in front of me and he looked right at me and nodded and smiled.  So that was awesome.  And I didn't even have to embarrass myself!

Douche bag on the prowl.

Me and my boo!

Natalie and I went to Afternoon Tea at the Balmoral, went shopping for hats, and sat outside on the Royal Mile and had a (couple) bottle(s) of wine.  It was really...refreshing to talk to someone so sweet and positive and caring, and someone who's doing exactly what you're doing, but with a new baby, and can still encourage you!  I had a truly great day with her.

Pretty tea accoutrements.  

Fascinators!  (Neither of us bought one because we couldn't figure out where to wear it.  Shoot!)

If Drew had written this blog, he'd be telling you all about the cool shots we saw, how NO ONE could sink a put on hole 7, how cool it was to see his golf idols in person, etc.  But instead you got the play by play of insignificant details that no one cares about.  C'est la vie.

Bottom line: we had a great time and I'm glad we got to experience something that will probably be once in a lifetime for us.  And something really important to Drew.  Our hipster hotel was very cute, we had great food, really awesome time with friends, and a cool weekend overall.

I think I'm finally caught up with the blog now!  Hopefully I'll write another post before our BIG vacation coming up this weekend.  Goodnight!

The Solomon Wrap-up

To know Drew's brother Blake is to love Blake.  And take everything he says with a grain of salt, a roll of the eyes, and a chuckle.  Blake's main goal in life is not to get too enthused about anything or lead anyone to believe that he's actually happy or having a good time.  It's his schtick and we've grown to...tolerate it.  :)

A few funny cases in point:

Commenting on the amazing weather we were blessed with:

This would all be great except for global warming.

Driving along a gorgeous, mountainous road:

Me: Oh my gosh!  It's so pretty!  The green, I can't get over it!!

Blake:  I mean...it's pretty monochromatic.

At the Irish music and dance show that Drew planned, where we were hoping dancers would come out after a long music set, and they finally did:

All of us: This dancing is awesome!  Can you believe how they move like that?  This is incredible!

Blake:  Yeah, I guess Drew got pretty lucky.

Heading into Northern Ireland:

Someone: Well yeah, we have to get Pounds Sterling though because Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

Blake:  POUNDS!?  What a pain in the butt!  Now everything's officially ruined.

Crossing the rickety rope bridge with stunning views:

That was terrible.  I don't need that type of thrill in my life.

Hiking up a large hill surrounded by mountains away from the Giant's Causeway:

I was told there'd be an escalator.

Finishing our drinks at the Bushmills Distillery:

Ok great, what do we have to do now?

Great times.

We spent the next day at the Bushmill's Distillery and then in Derry (or Londonderry to you UK folk) exploring the city.  

Drew in his happy place at the Bushmill's Distillery - sipping a drink after the tour.

The Bushmill's Distillery is a pretty cool and informative tour, and we liked it cause they actually still make whiskey there.  Usually a lot of these places are gimmicky and touristy and nothing's actually made, but they take you right into the vats of booze and show you the bottling conveyor belt.  It was pretty nifty to watch.  And the smell of that fermenting stuff...woah baby.  It's strong.    I dug the tour though, it was neat.

Brothers!  Laughing for once!

Me and my pal.

He's having a great time!

We got to Derry, ate some lunch, and then decided to walk around the city walls built in the 17th century and see some sights in the rain.

Drew pretending to shoot Blake.

Hook 'em.  Again.  Everywhere we go.  It never gets old.  (Yes it does.)

Blake having some fun with a statue.

Huh?

We stayed at a pretty B&B outside of Derry, the Beech Hill Country House Estate, where you could walk around the trails through the woods on the grounds and then pop inside and sit by a fireplace with a bottle of wine afterwards.  We got there around 3pm and never left because it was so idyllic and lovely.  And they had good drinks and food too.  Yes please.

This place was also famous cause it's had a lot of cool guests.  The Kennedy boys, the Clintons, the Reagans, and lots of other ballas.  There used to also be a Marine base here, so now the hotel has lots of displays with declassified information from WWII laying around.  My dad woulda loved it.

A picture and note from Jack and the boys.

We got back Friday afternoon, ate some Indian food that night, and said our goodbyes bright and (too) early the next morning.  We hate it when fun guests leave.  We had a great time with Blake (obvi, above) and loved being with our chill, laid back funny Bethie too!  And big thanks to Suz and David for making this whole trip happen and for spoiling all of the children and for loving all of us as much as you.  Aw.  We really did have an amazing week together.  Happiness!

Drew trying to wrangle his peeps on the walk home from din.

One last sibling pic.

Thanks for a great trip!  Many more amazing ones to come.  Cheers!

The Solomons Take Northern Ireland

I don't even know where I've been but I've been busy and frazzled, as per usual.  My life is SO HARD and no one understands.    Just kidding.  I know that's what I sound like and I don't mean to.  I just really don't know where the time goes....during the day, or in life.  Particularly with this blog.  Anyways, back to the Solomon's visit!

We decided to take a little 2 day trip up to Northern Ireland, because Drew and I hadn't been there, we'd heard amazing things, and we wanted to show the troops some authentic Irish countryside and scenery.  We rented a van and Drew drove us up to the Giant's Causeway and to see the iconic Rope Bridge, on one of the most glorious days on record.  We were so super fortunate with the weather.  

And I'm telling you...this scenery was magnificent.  It's some of the coolest, most beautiful stuff I'd ever seen and it's all right here in our backyard.  I'm not sure if anyone else thought it was as amazing as I did but I don't care.  I was in awe!!  It was only a 2.5 hour drive from Dublin so I'd put it on the list if you're coming to Ireland.  It can't be missed.

We first went to Carrick-a-Rede, a famous rickety rope bridge that connects a rocky little island to the mainland, that people like to cross for the views and the thrill of almost falling into the water.  The bridge itself seems solid, but there's a thin strip of...material that you walk on, with big empty gaps on either side of it.  And it's scary.  But fun.

Bethie and I shared the front seat so we wouldn't vom.  Lovely.

You park and pay a small fee and then walk along the cliff tops to get to the bridge and the island. 

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

And you wouldn't believe how green and crystal clear the water is!  It looks like the kind you'd find in the Caribbean.  

Big green fields right on the edge of the cliff.

Oh hey!

The five Solomons.

A look back.

A look ahead.

Climbing down the super steep "staircase" (if you can even call it that) to get to the bridge.

The siblings Solomon.

Deep thoughts on the island.

Mother and son.
(And we also heard that the land over there was Scotland, though I remain unconvinced.  Maybe it was the land BEHIND that island thing?  No clue.)

Sistas.

I smell a Christmas card photo!

All smiles here!  We both had a death grip though.

An angsty teen in the parking lot.  (Blake.)

Next, we drove 30 minutes up the road to the Giant's Causeway.  The Causeway is a big group of interlocking basalt rock formations from a volcano, and they're all hexagonally shaped kind of...step-like.  The legend says that a giant, Finn MacCool, built this causeway when he was challenged by the Scottish giant Benandonner.  There are naturally two endings, an Irish one where Finn wins and Benandonner flees because Finn is too big and the causeway is destroyed, and another where Benandonner wins because Finn's a big scaredy baby.  (And there are similar rock formations on the Scottish coast, making this story TRUE!!!)  You can't argue with geology, people.

Anyways, again, you park, pay a fee, and walk down a large hill with the blue water on your left and some gigantic mountainous cliffs on your right, and you feel small and insignificant and blessed to even be there.  Ahh.  And then you get to explore and play around on the "steps".  It's great fun.

The long and winding cliff road thingy.

That's what you saw when you looked up on your right.  Stunning.

The cool rocks!  Can you believe they naturally formed like this?  #nerdalert

Hook 'em.  Naturally.

There was also one part that formed a "wall" of "columns" - or stones stacked on top of each other.  This is cookoo.

Lots of gorgeous sites and good times with the family.  We drove over to Portrush and stayed at a cute B&B that overlooked Royal Portrush (a famous golf course that Drew dreams of playing at), ate a delish din on the water, and got ready to taste whiskey in the morning.

A breathtaking day was had by all!