We traveled over to the Mid West for an Ippolite family reunion over a long weekend.

Page continued her love affair with German sports cars.

If you think about Wisconsin, you think about cheese. And if you think about Wisconsin and cheese, you think about cheese curds. And the best cheese curds are at the Mars Cheese Castle! Squeak Squeak!

The reunion itself was over two days at cousin Kim’s house in Winnetka on Chicago’s North Shore.

For our enjoyment they had basketball, hockey, baseball, and a Bocce court in the backyard. Alex, of course, is a future pro Bocce player, as once again she killed all-comers in a sport that she had never played before.

To give us the energy for all those sports, on Sunday we were all treated to hand-rolled Porchetta as well as tonnes of other yummies from the kitchen. All washed down with plenty of craft beer, wine and aperitifs.

Kim’s house is not far from the beaches of Lake Michigan. At the beach, the California girl forgot her place, got naked and offended the sensibilities of Amerika’s moral heartland.

Thanks Grandma Sam for inviting us, and once again, Happy Birthday!

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Aldo Caldo, our barman/waiter/concierge at the house organised a boat trip down the coast to a few beaches that are not accessible by road with his cousin, Chato. Chato was a bit busy on the day, so he lent his boat to his friend Pedro. Pedro gave us a great fun guided tour all the way to Yalapa (and back!)

My wife’s smile is beautiful in the morning sun (and all other suns).

Page practicing to be a Patagonia model.

Pedro first took us to the Los Arcos, just north of Mismaloya for some snorkeling. The girls and I jumped in. It was a bit cold for the younger girls, so they got out, but not before seeing some of the hundreds of purple and orange Angel Fish that we attracted. Alex and I relived our Barrier Reef adventure and saw even more fish on the reefs and against the rocky islands.

It was fancy dress on the boat, and I came as a Gringo!

When we arrived at Yalapa, the girls posed with the resident iguana. Page tried to poke its eyes out, but the other two girls were sweet to the poor reptile.

Pedro joined us for lunch on the beach at Yalapa.

There was a vicious beach break that Annie and I got the better of, and which filled us with sand.

I rented a Jeep and drove the girls down the coast to the Zoológico de Vallarta.

From memory, we saw Antelopes, Zebras, Ostriches, Emus, Snakes, Pumas, Mountain Lions, Shetland Ponies, Rabbits, Spider Monkeys, Baboons, Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Giraffes, Toucans, Eagles, Flamingos, Hippopotamuses, Tejónes, Capybaras, Aligators, Llamas, Jaguarundi, Ducks, Geese, Swans, Sheep, Leopards, Raccoons, Pigs, Bears, Goats, Parrots, and Camels.

Page’s favourites? The Shetland Ponies and the Jaguarundi. I think the girls were craziest about the Monkeys and the Tigers.

This last Gaga is a Tejón. That’s what all the screaming was about …