This is starting to turn into a travel blog.... I am not really digging that because we do so much more. I am totally going to be better about adding other things here.
But in the meantime, we did travel for 2 weeks in July to Croatia and Slovenia. Our goals were to go someplace warm and to do a whole lot of nothing. Typically we are very busy on vacation, but this time we did a lot of laying around in the sun, reading, visiting with each other and new friends. We also wanted to visit a location that we may not necessarily visit if we were coming all the way from the States. You don't hear of too many people who are planning a European vacation saying they are going to Slovenia.
Keith planned the whole event so he gets all the kudos! I am very particular about our hotels as that will make or break a vacation for me and he outdid himself this time.
So, we drove! It was a long drive but we decided that had to have a car. We left at 6am and arrived to our destination at approx 5pm. We left Germany fairly quickly, drove thru Austria, Slovenia into Croatia. We stayed just south of Split which is right on the Adriatic. We were definitely surprised once we got into Croatia by their road systems only because it wasn't too long ago that they had a civil war. They were far superior and less crowded than Germany's roads. So it really made for a nice drive.
Upon coming into Croatia and leaving (they have closed borders) we were questioned more than I care for. I assume it is because we have American passports, driving a german licensed car. The wait time to enter the country was also over the top. I think it took us almost 2 hours to get in. But once we were in, I could easily see myself staying there for a long time!
Here is our hotel for the first week. We enjoyed the balcony view we had of the ocean every night. And every morning (except 3) we claimed one of those umbrellas to lay under when we weren't swimming.
I promised Keith peace on this vacation so we left this place very few times. First it was extremely hot with temperatures hovering about 100 degrees, so staying close to water was smart. And this place had pretty much everything we needed to include a restaurant so leaving was unnecessary.
One of the days we did take off- we went to Split to visit Diocletian's Palace which is a UNESCO Heritage site.
It was definitely a cute touristy spot but we didn't stay long because it was HOT and second, we have seen so many ruins/castles/colosseums that they start to look alike. Is that bad to say?
The next place we left the hotel to go and see was awesome! So much so that we did it for 2 days in a row. Krka National Park! I had seen a picture of it in the Oprah magazine and tore it out. It was how the idea of visiting Croatia even started in the first place.
Isn't it beautiful? There are several lakes that cascade into each other. This just happens to be at the bottom where you can swim. And swimming is exactly what we did.
But it is always the little things that excite me. I was thrilled with the Croatian grocery stores. They were large, well lit, and plenty of room for me to push my cart down the aisle even if other people were in it. I just don't get that here in Germany. And after so many restaurant meals, it was just time to go get some fresh food and do a couple of meals my way.
This is a family favorite and requires no cooking. Bread with olive oil to dip it in is a must. Olives, salami and cheese is also necessary. After that, it is pretty much anything that is in season goes. So we scored cucumber, avocados, red currents, blueberries, kumquats, plums and a tomato. And this meal ensures that the kids are getting enough fruits and vegetables even on vacation.
After 8 days at Villa Mario we took off and went to Slovenia. Keith found this place in the middle of nowhere via the internet. But since it had such great reviews online, he was willing to go to the middle of nowhere. Or perhaps he thought I wouldn't be able to live up to my part of the bargain this vacation by doing nothing, so this was his insurance policy to make sure NOTHING happened. But we got more than we bargained for.
Upon pulling up I noticed that the building was surrounded by wine barrels full of corks. Right then I knew we would like it here. When we got out of the car, we were greeted with song. Apparently some of the guests where having a great time out back and were letting all the surrounding village know about it.
Boris and Mariam Novak greeted us, had us sit down to rest and they popped open a couple bottles of wine and cut us up some salami and cheese. They told us to unwind and then they would show us to our rooms. When I saw the rooms, I was so happy!! They were beautiful, cozy and perfect for us!
The first night there, the Novak's took us to a local fest with a few of the other guests. It was interesting in the fact that Bridger won a window and a tree. I am not quite sure how it happened but entertaining to say the least. We didn't stay long as the other guests said they would rather hang out at the Novak's then the festival so we went back. I retired to bed, but Keith and Brittlyn stayed up late to go hang out in the wine cellar. I heard it was a great time.
Every night all the guests gathered out on the patio under the grapes to have dinner. It was always delightful and so much fun. Mariam is an outstanding cook.
In the evenings, several locals came to hang out here, and Keith made friends with pretty much all of them. The two men on the end were guests from Switzerland who come here very year to go fly fishing. Apparently Keith has started an email relationship with his one.
Peter, he one who lost the bet! His buddy caught a fish over 50 centimeter, 53 to be exact so the deal was he has to shave off his beard. Alish, one of the locals who also happens to a Slovenian soldier, shaved off Peter's beard. We were dying laughing.
Some other things we did while here was go bike riding, the kids went to the local river to zip line into it. While they were at the river, Keith and I went to the spa to swim and get a massage. The kids slept in a hayloft which they thought was fun. And they played a lot of night games with the Novak's children.
It was a super great over the top 2 weeks!
