Tres Dignified

Goulash, gondolas, kids area. It's a dream vacation in South Tyrol. But back home the mood shifts when Nova falls ill.

We’ve arrived in the Dolomites and this episode teases our family’s ski-week adventure in a kid-friendly hotel, after a travel slog of flights, trains, and a strike. We recap recent moments at home — vacation camp, kids’ activities, and two healthcare visits: Porter’s eye appointment leading to new glasses, and a dental check-up in France. Expect more stories from Italy in the next episode.

A standout soft-opening dinner with friends at Le 21—hay-smoked trout preparations, a decadent lobster Thermidor, roasted cabbage, and a wildflower cake—paired with natural wines. Then we explore the sprawling Saint-Ouen flea market. What happened the week before? Who knows.

Over a hectic fortnight we share a charity tennis tournament, a uniquely European baby concert, food mishaps and sickness, a painful foot injury, and a memorable steak dinner—balancing what went right and what went wrong as they look ahead to new adventures.

Small victories in potty training progress and canelé baking. Food highlights from tacos to a standout sushi dinner. The heartbreaking chaos of missing remotes and unplowed roads.

We spent the holiday staycation in France navigating potty training, sick kids, and a visit from family while exploring local parks, a family circus, and neighborhood markets.
Food and drink steal the show — tartiflette, wine, chocolate mousse and festive breakfasts. These bottles were the highlights:
Montaigne from Domaine Belmont 
Bourgogne, Hautes Cotes de Beaune from Ludovic Pierrot
Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru from Pierre Paillard

A cliffhanger resolved. A lively pig roast. A magical trip to Strasbourg’s Christmas markets. Milk of the chicken. 

For some, it may be Thanksgiving. For us, we're getting ready for Christmas at a decorated Chateau with roaring fireplaces, animatronic polar bears and scented kitchens, plus marshmallow roasting, ice skating and velour capes. We also welcome Ellie's parents, who seem pretty confident that nothing will go wrong...

Pandas at ZooParc de Beauval, charming châteaux, a Gallo‑Roman museum, a sturgeon farm with caviar and vodka tastings, the stunning Padirac underground river, the Lascaux replica caves, walnut mills, medieval Sarlat, and a warm Halloween farm evening with local community spirit. So, yeah. It's the Dordogne episode.

We welcome Ellie's brother and sister-in-law just as we're catching our breath from one trip to the next. But catching breath does not mean sleeping in. It's up and at 'em, as we get in our steps, patronize the restaurants, conquer the local school, and play some tennis. What else? Find out!