Julia Pagano Photography

Published on 27th of September 2022       The final weeks of school holidays we spent in Scotland - summer break is very long in Sicily, kids go back to school around mid-September. It was great to escape from the heat and mosquitoes, see our friends in St Andrews and visit all our favourite places. West Sands, East Sands, Tentsmuir, Botanic Gardens, Coastal path, Lade Braes, and of course Carnie fruit farm!  We came with quite a bucket list of things we wanted to do during our time in St Andrews, and we planned some of our walks and outings so that we were back by the time school is over and they could see their friends at Canongate. This was one of the downsides, different school schedules and limited time they could be with their school friends, so we tried to squeeze in as many play dates as possible. I think being back showed just how much has changed for us in this year - new country, big city, new language, new schools for everyone, different climate, differe...

Bright and sunny, with blue sky and blue sea and puffy white clouds. It's like they were specially made for the beach, splashing around and digging in the sand. We love our under the rain walks, but we also love our beach adventures on sunny days, even if they result in someone walking back home wrapped in my sweater instead of his own clothes. Some days we hop on the bicycles and go to West Sands. It's always windy, perfect for flying kites. Maya loves the soft sand there, she's content to dig around or just roll in it and watch how it flows through her fingers. Then there are football games, with shoes often serving as impromptu gates. Or hide and seek in the dunes, if we manage it to the very end of the beach. For swimming it's East Sands for us - we live quite close, so it's easier to carry all the towels, clothes, snacks, picnic lunch, water, toys, goggles, sun cream, book for myself... The list of things they want to take and do can be quite long, so it certai...