Bonne Année

After scouring through numerous Airbnb listings within a 5-hour drive from Biarritz, Bryan finally stumbled upon and secured a spacious house in Lloret de Mar, a village north of Barcelona. With four families on board—eight adults, two dogs, and seven kids—the stage was set for our New Year's celebration! To kick off our adventure, we decided to rendezvous with the Sivaks in Toulouse, the midway point, for lunch. Indian cuisine won the popular vote. Although, cassoulet is the dish one should eat when visiting Toulouse.

The house. The house was not just large but more of a labyrinth. With a plethora of bedrooms at our disposal, a few were left unclaimed. Luke, Charlie, Lexie, and Evie decided to bunk together in the bunk room. However, when bedtime arrived, Charlie discovered that the kids' chatter showed no signs of slowing down. He made a strategic retreat to one of the available bedrooms.

The house came fully loaded with a covered pool (not heated), a hot tub, a ping pong table, foosball, tennis courts, a basketball court, and, to top it off, a room with a large screen for projecting movies – Hail to the amenities! The kids had a smorgasbord of fun things to keep them occupied and happy – it was practically a kiddo wonderland!

The kitchen, oddly enough, was the size of a small bathroom. Considering our grand plan was centered around cooking meals, this could have been a slight setback. However, there was an outdoor kitchen equipped with a barbecue. Our culinary focus then shifted to pondering, "What can we cook on the barbecue?" Stacey brought along the essentials for whipping up some delicious pancakes, and Luis and Ashley took charge as our resident baristas, armed with their trusty camping espresso contraption. Sam took the crown as the fresh-squeezed orange juice king, wielding a not-so-fancy juicer. A shopping spree in Girona led by the guys resulted in an impressive haul of steaks, sausages, and fresh vegetables. They even bought a whole leg of Iberico ham! While the guys were on their mission to gather our New Year's Eve feast ingredients, the ladies led the kiddos on an adventure to Lloret de Mar. We strolled for a good 20 minutes along the cliff line, soaking in the narrow pathways, the cobalt blue of the Mediterranean, a super steep staircase down to the beach, and capping it all off with a snack and drinks session – because nothing says bonding like four mamas, two dogs, and seven kids on a coastal exploration. That afternoon, Stacey’s Crystal Spa was in full swing right in the heart of our living room. Manicures, shoulder massages (by Frankie and Wyatt), and conversations flowed. Who needs to step out when the spa sensation strolls into your living room – Stacey's Crystal Spa for the win!

Our daily routine involved a leisurely five-minute stroll from the house to the Mediterranean, where we could opt to head north or south along the cliffside to discover breathtaking views. Luck was on our side with the weather – on the first day, our whole crew headed down to the sea, and it was Luke and Evie who decided to take the plunge. Luke was doing his aquatic thing when he suddenly noticed some movement in the water. Casually emerging from the water, he coolly announced the presence of a rather sizable octopus. Well, you can imagine the kids' excitement! It seemed like the octopus was just as intrigued by us, making several appearances on the sand and then gracefully slipping back into the water. In a wildlife moment that felt straight out of a documentary, Luke went ahead and lightly touched one of its tentacles. The octopus responded by wrapping its tentacle around Luke's hand. Turns out, Uncle Octi was our impromptu sea companion.

New Year's countdown time. Gabe sauntered in, cranking up Phish's 2001 Space Odyssey – Gabe and I were probably the only ones in full groove mode since not everyone is a Phish head. 🤷‍♂️ We all shuffled out to the patio, did the classic countdown, raised our glasses, and took a crack at the 12-grape challenge, a Spanish tradition for a year of good luck. Because, you know, nothing says "Cheers to the New Year" like a grape-eating frenzy! Before going inside, we caught a glimpse of the fireworks from Lloret de Mar. The combination of great food, scenic walks, and the company of good friends and family made our New Year's memorable.

We drove away from Lloret de Mar, heading to Cadaqués for a two-day escape. Once we parked our car, we didn't lay eyes on it again until we were ready to leave. Cadaqués is one of those charming walking villages, where the streets are made for strolling and getting lost in the narrow alleys. Arriving in the winter felt like we had the village to ourselves. The usual hustle and bustle of tourists were replaced with a serene calmness. The weather was mild, with a refreshing crispness in the air. The whitewashed buildings and cobbled streets looked like something out of a postcard, and we could truly take our time exploring. While some businesses closed for the off-season, we still discovered local shops, cafes, and restaurants open. Winter in Cadaqués felt like a hidden gem, allowing us to unwind, disconnect, and embrace the beauty of this coastal village.

We stumbled upon Millasson – a secret pastry with a legacy spanning six generations. Initially, we mistook it for canelé. This treat is exclusive to Cadaques. Its exterior and size, akin to canelé, masks a surprise within – a blend of crepe and flan. We found ourselves hooked, returning daily to that little window, where a fresh tray of Millasson awaited us.

To wrap up our holiday, we headed to Jenn Buck's place in Douzens, near Carcassonne. Originally, the plan was to grab lunch and head home for Charlie's basketball appointment, but that didn’t happen. Charlie needed a doctor's approval to officially join the JAB basketball team, and Jenn, being the resourceful friend she is, suggested we see Damien, the local doctor of Douzens where everyone's on a first-name basis. Jenn calls the office, where it's like a family affair - the doctor, his mom, and his father all in the mix. The receptionist (Damien’s mother) initially said, "We're fully booked", but Jenn did her thing and convinced her we were a quick 5-minute appointment. After a bit of back-and-forth, they squeezed us in at 5:15!

We walked the five minutes from Jenn's place, taking a route through the vineyard and hopping over a couple of trenches. When we entered the waiting room, Jenn knew everyone. Finally, the young doc, masked up for some reason we later find out is Covid, waved us in. Charlie got the full checkup treatment - heart, lungs, and touching his toes to check the spine. All good, and with a signature and stamp, we were out. Small-town life, gotta love it. Now, we did have an appointment lined up the next day in Biarritz with a pediatrician. The only doc available specialized in kids with bed-wetting issues. We figured upon arrival we would say Charlie doesn't have any bed-wetting drama; he just needed the doc's signature to shoot some hoops. Thanks to Jenn's suggestion, we cancelled that appointment, and decided to soak in the charm of Douzens, making it a night stay. Jenn and Didier were thrilled about our extended stay. We shared not only meals but also memorable moments – a stroll through their vineyards, meeting their daughters, playing Ligretto, and enjoying the tranquility of the French countryside. It turned out to be the perfect finale to our holiday.