Cousins Tanya, Patrick and Dijon visit the States!

In the first week of October, our cousin Tanya, her husband Patrick, and their adorable son Dijon visited the States. We had last seen their family when we visited them in Jamaica in March; they had showed us such a good time, we couldn't wait to return the favor!

On Saturday, October 9th, we hit Manhattan. You can't come to the east coast without seeing the biggest and best city in the world!

Steph came with us, and we decided the best and easiest way to see the city was to book a double-decker bus tour!

It was a beautiful October day, so perfect for a ride! The bus took us all around the city, and hit all the best highlights.

Eventually we got hungry, so we got off in Chinatown for an authentic Chinese dinner. And then we needed a coffee, so we stopped at Starbucks. And after that, instead of re-boarding the bus, we decided a subway ride was in order!

Dijon loved riding!


The next day on Sunday, on the way up north to Connecticut, we stopped in the Bronx at my all-time favorite, the Bronx Zoo!

Ro and I hadn't been in a few years, but it was still as I remembered. My favorite two things are the monorail around "Asia"....

and the petting zoo! (Even though goats abound in Jamaica, I guess they're more for eating over there than petting. But Dijon and I loved it!)

We then made it home. Monday (Columbus Day) was another beautiful day. After breakfast on the patio, we fed the fish in mom's pond.

Then we headed to the most "New England-ish" local place I could think of: Lyman's Orchards.

When we first arrived, Dijon was still mid-nap, but the wagon ride didn't seem to bother him.

And just as it ended, he woke up in time to see the beautiful horses, "Samuel" and "Adams."

We then headed up the hillside to pick some apples.

Even though there are tons of native fruits in Jamaica, I guess they don't have apple orchards!

And if you're in New England in October, you have to pick a pumpkin!

Some of them were bigger than Dijon, so instead of picking, he sat!

And when we got home, we had to have a photo op with the American Flag!

The next day Ro and I had to work, so Tanya, Patrick and Dijon ventured downtown....

Dijon loved Amato's toystore!

But we got home from work just in time to head to Wallingford to see the sun set at Geovia Vineyards, one of the prettiest sceneries around.

Cheers!

Then later that night, we went to Amici's for dinner. (Patrick had really wanted the "breaded boneless chicken with sauce and cheese" that he remembered fondly from his time in Europe while in the Jamaican army: aka Chicken Parmesean!)

A toast to their family, and a wish for a safe journey home.

We were so glad to have you! Next time in Jamaica....