Where do I begin? I have never written a post-vacation reflection--it's usually been in the moment, the night of when the details are fresh in my mind.
I guess the way to only attack this is a fluid, meandering stream-of-consciousness rather than chronological order, or maybe in the form of a picture book. I like pictures.
Once upon a time not so long ago in the parliamentary republic of Slovenia, a brave man decided to travel with his wife and his mother-in-law. The first day of travel was long and exhausting, but ended nicely in a beautiful five-course meal with a lot of beer and wine making for
OK, I tried, but I think I am going to sit this one out. Not because this trip wasn't one for the books--oh it was, mind you, but I just don't think I could do it justice after the fact (plus I posted a bazillion photos with captions that pretty much sum it all up).
This, however, is my favorite photo from the trip:
Look at those two smiling people! (Yes, I do think this was after a LOT of wine, but still...) We, surprisingly, had fun together. I don't know that we'll travel (all of three of us) again, but together we:
- biked in the alps through a RAINSTORM and loved it
- swam in beautiful turquoise waters in the Mediterranean
- shared long, monotonous train rides
- drank a LOT of really delicious, never-to-be-found-again wines
- went mountain-biking on city bikes on the way, way, way back trail in Bled
- shared fantastic seafood meals
- met many interesting and wonderful people
- sneaked into a world-renowned natural wonder (in the rain) to explore a 70+ meter waterfall with no one else around
I loved it all! Yes, there were tense moments as there only can be when travelling with family (or really good friends for that matter). Travelling is stressful. You are thrown into the unknown constantly and while I do love the challenge, it is tiring, and one will break down every once in a while and have a good cry in the bathroom, or demand ice cream, or make a run for the toilet (that is all in finger quotes). It happens to everyone. The point is that we survived each other's company 24-7 in a very foreign land (I have decided that I will never, ever be fluent in a Slavic language), and we had a good time surviving!
More photo favs:
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| Our first bike ride outside of Lake Bled |
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| The view from Klavze 8...Oh so idyllic there |
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| Our mad dash through Tomalinska Korita...in the rain |
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| Me praying to the trail-side chapel in Tomalinska Korita to please let us not be struck by lightning |
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| A well-earned beer after the 30km bike ride IN THE RAIN |
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| The view from breakfast in Motovun, Croatia |
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| Our secret hike through Plitvice park IN THE RAIN |
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| The crazy-packed boat on the lake in Plitvice |
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| The stark beauty of Vis...this is the stuff legends are made of. I kept looking for Odysseus. |
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| Our view from our balcony in Komiza, Vis. When I get old, I am moving here to rent out rooms to tourists and live out my days sipping wine, rajika, and limonada. |
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| I got a kick out of the nutrias in the Zoo. Nutrias! |
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| Apparently, you could canoe with meerkats, but they were all sleeping |
yes, it was a fantastic trip and I think we did mightily well with all the flexibility we had to employ every day PLUS dealing with a language we did not know. But what pleases me most is that YOU thought it was a good time as well. I really hope we can do this again sometime. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Nath, he was such a good sport and is fun to be with as are you dearest daughter. I had a super good time with you and I think you were very good in keeping us on track and dispensing slaps when needed and most of all recognizing that all our experiences is what travel is all about! I love you.
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