Downtime in Downtown Buffalo

One of the harder parts about being an expat is being so far away from family.  Living here at the bottom of the world makes it even harder because flights home are few and they are very expensive.  So our trips to the U.S. are usually long and multi-locational so that we can make sure to see as many people as we can. Home leave this summer was no exception.  You already know we spent a good four weeks in Texas with my parents, some visitors and my family (and if you don't, you can catch up here, here and here).  Next it was time to head north to visit with B's side of the family. Starting with a trip to Buffalo, NY for his cousins wedding.

The girls and I left a day early because you all know our luck with flying and getting somewhere on time.  This time we were in luck though so we had an entire free day to wander around Buffalo before B's flight arrived in late afternoon.  Luckily we were downtown and there were a lot of little nooks and crannies we could explore on foot as we had no other mode of transportation.  And lucky for us there were a few old churches nearby because MadHatter is obsessed with churches.  The older, the better.  So we toured as many as I could get Stinkerbell to go along with.

Stinkerbell had been about as patient, and as quiet, as she could be.  Churches just aren't her thing.  Probably because you have to be quiet while inside and there is no running allowed.  To her four year old body (and voice) this is just too hard to do for very long.

We headed out into the daylight again, this time in search of some lunch.  Somehow we ran into a piano.  Yep, a piano.  Right off the sidewalk.  Sitting there and begging the girls to play.  So we did.

Turns out it is part of the Pianos in Public, a one man way of getting music out to the people for free.  A pretty cool idea if you ask me.  I know it brought my girls a few giggles and a way to get out some of the wiggles.  But we still needed lunch and we were no closer to finding a spot, so off we went again.  This time, we found a bunch of these...

And we dutifully took our picture with as many of the animals as we could.  Buffalo really takes its Buffalo seriously.  At this point, Stinkerbell had had enough.  She assumed her usual pose not even waiting to eat lunch.  MadHatter and I goofed around a bit and had a light lunch.

Finally it was time.  Papa and the cousins were arriving and we were heading out for some real Buffalo wings (of course we did) at a place called Bada Bings (of course that was its name).  All in all a great day in Buffalo - and we had to rest up because tomorrow was the big day.  We were off to Niagara Falls and then the wedding!

So happy to see Papa after 4 weeks!