Michelle and Austyn stopped to visit us in Newcastle for a weekend this month, as a part of a larger tour around Europe. To make the most of our short time together (and because Michelle and I are so similar) we had a full itinerary of plans prepared! The first thing we did, of course, was run out and get a fish and chips dinner.

​The next day, we took a drizzly walk around town to explore Grey street and the Quayside, before meeting up with some friends for an afternoon tea. 

That night, we came back home and got glammed up for a night in town. We made sure to stop at the Old George (Newcastle's oldest pub), followed by dancing at Revolution and Cosy Joes! And of course, the night wouldn't have been complete without some kebabs... 

The next morning, we caught a train to nearby Durham to visit the famous Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. We took tours at both, learning about the significance of the Durham Cathedral in England's religious history, and about how the 11th-century Castle came to be a University. After our tours, we enjoyed peaceful lunch on a beautiful patio at the Riverside Kitchen, overlooking the River Wear and its little baby ducklings!

Saturday night, Ron was asked to go and give a chiropractic adjustment to one of the band members for 30 Seconds to Mars, and he scored a set of free tickets! We met up with Ron's coworkers, and our friends Lee, April and Paolo to go and enjoy the show. Ron, Michelle and I all crowd surfed that night! No big deal :) 

Early Sunday morning, after an English Breakfast, we all said goodbye. Michelle and Austyn were off to explore Edinburgh next, followed by Amsterdam and Nice. But of course, I'm sure Newcastle was their favorite :) 

When Ron's parents found out that they had to take a trip to Poland for work in early May, they decided to come and stay with us the weekend before and after their working week abroad. So, they stopped to see us on the way out to and back home from Gdańsk. On the first weekend, Mom & Dad Pierce arrived on Friday night and we all went to George's for a traditional British dinner of fish and chips. 

On Saturday, we had breakfast at home, then walked through town, stopped for lunch at Redhouse on the Quayside and then watching the swans in Leazes Park. We had some ice cream and cakes at Creams, then finished off the long day with a pizza dinner and cocktails at Laundrette. 

Sunday morning, we visited the Quayside market and enjoyed some Bloody Mary's at Pitcher and Piano before hopping on a riverboat for an afternoon cruise. We rode under the Millennium suspension bridge, out to Tynemouth and back, enjoying some tea and cakes along the way. When we docked that afternoon, we stopped into Broad Chare for some traditional Sunday Roast. Then, it was time for them to get packed up and head off to Poland. Our first weekend together had come to an end. 

The following Friday, after a long work week, they landed late at night in Newcastle again. Despite my best efforts to stay awake, I was out cold by the time they arrived! But as always, we were up bright and early the next morning sharing breakfast and talking about their trip. They brought Ron a bottle of Polish hazelnut vodka and myself some authentic Polish amber earrings as souvenirs! Ron had to work a chiropractic event that Saturday, so I took the future in-laws on a Newcastle city centre walking tour. We had abnormally warm and sunny weather that weekend, so it was absolutely beautiful! We learned about the history of the famous Grey street, the Central Arcade, Grainger Market, their THREE cathedrals (locals consider their football stadium to be one of these cathedrals, as it's a holy place of worship as well haha!), the castle and keep, the Quayside and lastly the many bridges along the Tyne (we have seven!)

After the tour, we stopped for ice cream and (more) cocktails on a sunny patio on the Quayside, all three of us getting pretty red in the process! Because Ron was away, we went back home and I spent some time talking to them about our upcoming wedding plans, and showing Teresa my dress. Then we got ready for dinner, as we had plans to meet Ron at Harry's in town. After some pasta and wine, we ended the night with a walk down High Bridge street and a last round of drinks at Pleased to Meet You, on a beautiful patio where we could enjoy the warm summer night.  

Sunday was our trip to Beamish, and the weather could not have been more perfect! We explored the 1900s living air museum, riding along a cute trolley! The sections of the museum featured a farm, schoolyard, coal mine, confectionary's, old pub, bakery, bank, period homes, dentist office, fairground and more. 

That afternoon brought our second weekend visit to an end, but left us with so many fun memories together (not to mention a good tan)!