Beautiful Slovenia

Predjama Castle

Our favorite thing about living in Germany is all of the amazing friends we have made here.  Since our kids attend an International School, we have met people and made friends from all around the world.

Swimming in the Adriatic Sea

We were so excited when our good friends from Slovenia invited us to come visit them at their house outside Ljubljana.  We  visited in the beginning of June, when the kids had a few days off from school, and it took us about six hours to get there from Ulm.

Heaven can be found under a beach umbrella!

To be honest, when I first met this family last year, I had to look on a map to find out where Slovenia is located!  For those who also don't know, it is at the top of the Adriatic Sea, nestled between Italy, Austria, and Croatia.

View from the dock in Piran

What was especially great about this trip, is that it was stress-free since we had locals showing us around.  We didn't have to worry about pulling out the map every two minutes to make sure we weren't lost or spending an hour on TripAdvisor just to find a good restaurant.  In between activities we could hang out at their house while the kids played.

Postojna Cave

Slovenia may be a small country, but there is quite a lot to see and do there.  We spent a great day touring the impressive Postojna Cave, followed by some swimming in the Adriatic, and a seafood dinner in the coastal town of Piran.  I was quite warm while we were there, so swimming and laying on the beach was perfect.

Sunset over Piran

We also enjoyed a day in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and a trip up to Lake Bled, which I will make separate posts about so I can share more photos.

We loved Ljubljana!

I was so impressed at how friendly the people were in Slovenia, and it seemed that almost everyone spoke English.  The kids were really sad to leave on Sunday, and we all agreed that we would love to go back and visit Slovenia if we have another opportunity.

  

Back to Paris

Notre Dame

Lucky for us that we live so 'close' to Paris!  Shortly after moving to Germany, we made our first trip to Paris, and at the time we promised the kids that we would go back again soon.  Well, it took us a year and a half, but we finally made it back!

The Louvre

On our last trip we were able to go with my Mom, and so we decided that it would be great to have my husband's mother, Theresa, join us this time.  Hopefully taking our mothers to Paris will make up for all the naughty things we did as children.

The kids getting crepes from a crepe cart.

Unfortunately, the weather was not what we were hoping for considering it was the middle of May, and we had to make do with cold drizzly days.  I never seem to pack appropriately for anything, and we had to stop into Zara and buy the kids sweatshirts.  At least a rainy day in Paris is better than a rainy day anywhere else.

Arc de Triomphe

In order to see as much as we could in the two days we had, we decided to use the hop-on-hop-off bus.  Despite shivering on the open-top bus, it was really a great way to see all the sights.

We were freezing in May!!

Of course, our favorite thing to do in Paris is eat!  We had so much delicious food, and I am starting to drool just thinking about it again.

Everyone loves the Eiffel Tower!

When we were in Paris the first time, we were unable to go all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower due to windy conditions.  I had learned my lesson and also bought the tickets online this time.  Amazingly, as we headed up the tower, the sun finally came out for the first time in two days and gave us great views of the city.  We were all pretty ecstatic to be able to get to the top.

Happy Birthday to me!

 Our trip was in between Mother's Day and my birthday, so we made a stop into the Louis Vuitton store on the Champs Elysees and I picked out a bag that I have had my eye on for awhile.  Needless to say, my bag and I have been inseparable ever since.

Yummy macarons by the Seine River

Parisians have such a bad reputation for being snooty and obnoxious, but we found the exact opposite.  Everywhere we went we found a welcoming reception, even with having our kids along.  The kids love Paris and French food, and they are already asking when we can go back.  Hopefully it won't be another 18 months!

Spring in Sevilla

Sevilla!!

Sorry for the big glaring typo in my last post title!  Clearly we were on 'Spring Break' and not 'Sprink Break'!  Needless to say, I was completely embarrassed and fixed it ASAP.  Forgive my horrible grammar and lazy proofreading, dear friends!

Gorgeous patios are all over the city

Sevilla is in the south of Spain, and is such a romantic city.  Our hotel was in the old part of the city, with crazy winding streets, hidden patio gardens, and orange trees everywhere.  We were lucky enough to be there while the orange trees were blossoming, and the scent throughout the city was divine. 

Me and my favorite girl at the Alcazar 

I can still smell the orange blossoms! 

We took the high-speed train from Barcelona on the Saturday before Easter, and I had read in the travel guides that Sevilla would be really crowded due to the Holy Week festivities.  We headed out of our hotel in time to watch some of the parade, and were amazed by the thousands of people lining the streets. 

Semana Santa parade float

The floats tell the story of Jesus's death and resurrection, followed by marching bands playing somber music, and hooded and robed penitents carrying candles.  It was such a treat to see this special tradition of the Easter celebration in Seville.  It occurred to me that such a religious parade would probably not happen in the USA, where parades are very secular events.

Plaza de Easpana

We did all the typical tourist things, such as visit the Cathedral, wander around the Alcazar (which was a royal palace) and Plaza de Espana (where parts of Star Wars II was filmed), tour the bullfight ring and museum, and go to a flamenco show.  I really loved the flamenco show, and the kids agreed it was great, but after ten minutes into the hour-long show, they started to ask when it would be over.

Just because we are smiling doesn't mean we endorse
animal cruelty. 

We were grateful that the city was a lot less crowded after the Easter holiday, and we had a chance to relax and wander at our leisure through the city.  The waiters in the restaurants were also a bit friendlier after the crowds left.

View from the Cathedral tower

We such a fantastic trip to Spain, and it was a good balance of activities and relaxation.  I really laughed when I read my son's school essay about his spring break where he wrote that he did all these fun activities, but had to go on really boring tours of the bull-ring and church!  I suppose that it is normal that he was a bit bored, after all, I do get bored sitting at playgrounds all the time.    

Spring Break in Spain!

Barceloneta beach

 

We just got back from a ten day trip to Spain, where we enjoyed the sights, sunshine, sand-and let's be honest- I drank a lot of sangria!

 

 

My husband gets to travel to northern Spain a couple of times a year for work, but it had been 15 years since I had last visited!  My sister studied for a year in Madrid, and I knew after visiting her back then that a vacation in Spain would definitely be in our travel plans while we get to live in Europe.  My husband was also looking forward to seeing Spain from a tourist's perspective instead of as a business traveler (he usually only gets to see airports and factories when he travels for work).

in the Gothic Quarter

We decided to spend half our time in Barcelona, and the other half in Sevilla.  Of course, these two cities are quite far from each other, so we took the high-speed train to get back and forth.  Since moving to Germany, we have been a little intimidated by the train system, but it is something we would like to take advantage of since we don't have the opportunity in the USA.  Taking the train was great, and a much better experience than flying in an airplane.  It gave us the opportunity to see a lot of the countryside, which we would have missed if we had travelled by plane.

Bike tour

Bike tour stop at an old bull fighting ring

On our first day we took a bike tour with Fat Tire Bike Tours, which was a great way to see all the main sights and get some information about the city.  For some reason, we don't often go on tours when we travel, but whenever we do, we always have a great time.  

While in Barcelona, we also visited the amazing La Sagrada Familia church, Parc Guell, wandered around the gothic quarter, played at the beach, went to the Picasso Museum, and ate a lot of tapas.  Luckily, the weather was wonderful while we were in Spain, with highs between 60-70F, and barely a drop of rain to be seen.

Checking out Gaudi architecture

I think we all agreed that our favorite thing we did was sit on the beach a couple of times.  The kids did so great on this trip, with all the walking and sightseeing, and it was great when we could let them run around and just play.  It wasn't quite warm enough to be perfect beach weather, but that didn't slow them down a bit.   

Parc Guell

I was really nervous about this trip, and I can't believe how much research I did to prepare. 
I took three years of Spanish in high school, but 20 years later I have seemingly retained none of it!  Luckily, almost everyone in Barcelona spoke English, but we struggled much more in Sevilla, where hardly anyone spoke English.  I actually realized how much German I have learned in the last 18 months, because every time I tried to say something in Spanish, it came out in German.

Since this post is running long, I will share more photos from Sevilla in the next post... 

German Food

Considering that I am obsessed with food (aren't we all?), I can't believe that I have neglected to share anything about German food!

Schnitzel and spätzle 

German restaurants are on every street corner, and we have eaten our fair share of good and bad German food in the last year and half.  In warm months, almost every restaurant puts the tables outside, which is so relaxing and great when eating out with kids.  The biergartens are also great for families, since most of them have a play area for kids.  

Pork with knödel, red cabbage, and gravy

German food is very hearty, and includes a lot of pork, sausages, potatoes, cabbage, and wheat.  Of course we all love bratwurst and schnitzel, and my son can eat an adult-size portion and ask for more.  Knödel (in the photo above) is a giant dumpling made out of bread or potato flour (my kids will sometimes eat them, but my husband and I think they are awful).

 

Maultaschen

Maultaschen is the German equivalent to ravioli, and can have meat or veggie filling.  In the above picture it is served with a mushroom gravy, but it is also often served in soups.

Ryan's favorite-Weißwurst and pretzel

A traditional Bavarian breakfast food is white sausage (weißwurst), eaten with a pretzel, sweet mustard, and a beer (beer at breakfast?!).  They are served in a large bowl with hot water, and the sausage casing is removed before eating.  The sausages are mild and tender, and made with veal and pork meat.

Käsespätzle

Cheesy spätzle is my favorite indulgence when we eat out, and reminds me of homemade macaroni and cheese.  It is more of a regional specialty for southern Germany and Austria, and it is often served with fried onions on top.   

Flammkuchen

Flammkuchen is another regional specialty of southwestern Germany, and the Alsace region of France (where it is called tarte flambée).  It has a very thin crispy crust, and topped with crème fraîche, chopped bacon, and red onion.

Unfortunately, since German food is so hearty, it is definitely not food that can be eaten very often.  I must admit that I did gain weight after moving here, and I have German food and beer to blame!  

My Experience Travelling with Kids

We have now been living in Germany for 18 months, and we have done quite a lot of travelling with our kids.  When my husband was offered a job here, the main reason we accepted was that we were ready for a big family adventure.  We wanted to push out of our comfort zone, and show our kids that a great big world exists and is just waiting to be explored.  I want my kids to learn about culture and humanity not only through books and Dora the Explorer.  And you know what?  My kids are so happy living here, and every time we travel, they have a blast!

Germany has tons of hiking trails!

My daughter is 5 years old, and my son is 8.  In the last 18 months we have visited Italy three times (Rome, Venice, Lake Como, and Tuscany), and gone to Innsbruck, Krakow, Salzburg, Berlin, Munich, Paris, and Strasbourg, just to name a few.  Every single one of these places was child-friendly, and we have never had a problem finding a balance between kid activities (playgrounds), and adult activities (museums).  Is is great all the time?  No!  They have meltdowns, I have meltdowns, and then we take a break and move on.  The only one who never has a meltdown in my husband.

Meltdown on the ferry in Lake Como

All smiles ten minutes later!

So, I was REALLY irritated when I was reading through an article on Yahoo! Travel called We Heard You! Yahoo Readers on the Worst Trips for Kids, and this was printed about taking your kids to Europe...

Please don't take your children to Europe. European people teach their children manners and how to behave in public. Americans are too stupid to teach their kids respect for others and the property of others. —Alan

I am so furious with this comment because it is complete nonsense that American kids are any worse behaved than kids from other countries.  I have seen absolutely no difference in the behavior of kids in any of the countries we have visited, and I have seen tons of German kids running around in restaurants.  Kids are kids, regardless of location.  I should also mention that I have also seen plenty of adults misbehaving in restaurants and other public places.

Ryan loved eating escargot in France!

I actually find that European cities and restaurants are more family friendly than in the USA.  European cities seem to be designed with families in mind, and there are play spots everywhere, as well as small parks and pedestrian only zones.  In the warm months all the restaurants put the tables outside, and it is family dining heaven!

Enjoying an AMAZING meal in Tuscany!

My kids have been into plenty of museums, and my son has asked me to take him to the Picasso Museum when we visit Barcelona in April.  Are they always angels in museums? Absolutely not, but I know how long their attention span is, and we plan accordingly.  

Imaginations fly when visiting castle ruins!

The purpose of family travel is spending quality time as a family, not to see every monument and museum in a city within 48 hours.  I don't even care if my kids remember all of these trips, because I will remember.  We have definitely found adventure through living in Europe, and I also see my kids growing and thriving through the travel experiences we share as a family.  I would encourage all parents to not think twice about taking their kids to Europe, or anywhere else for that matter.  

Ski School

View from the top at Jungholz, in Austria

Last winter the kids were extremely excited at the beginning of winter, and extremely disappointed when we hardly got any snow.  Needless to say, my husband and I were elated that we didn't have to do much shoveling.  Well, this year, we seem to be having a 'typical' winter here in Bavaria, with lots of snow, shoveling, snowman building, snow forts, etc, etc.

First lesson at Riedberger Horn, in Germany

In an effort to make the best of snow, we are hitting the slopes!  The city that we came from in North Carolina was more than six hours from the closest mountain, and anything resembling a ski slope, but here we can get to a ski slope in about an hour.    Last year we tried a couple of times to take the kids skiing, but I can't say that it was very successful.

Enjoying a beer while we waited for the kids
to finish  their lesson

Ski clubs are very popular around here, and a colleague of my husband is a member of a club that offers ski lesson for kids at the beginning of each ski season.  We signed the kids up for the series of three lessons, which ran on Saturdays in January.

Meredith and her instructor using the T-lift

The kids (and us) were really nervous about the experience.  Of course, the instructors and other children would be speaking German, and the kids didn't think that sounded like much fun.  In my over-worrisome mind, I would be dropping my kids of with German-speaking strangers,  who would be hurdling my sweet darlings down the mountain and probably breaking their legs in the process.

Lucky for us, this of course, is not what happened!!  The instructors translated to English when needed, and my son realized that after 18 months of daily lessons in German, he could understand a lot of the instructions anyway.

After the first day, Ryan gave enthusiastic thumbs up, and Meredith gave an exhausted smile.  By the end of the last lesson, three weeks later, the kids were all smiles as the swished down the easy slopes and hopped right back on the chair lift.

Me!

The best part for my husband and I, of course, was a chance to ski by ourselves for the first time in six years.  We both grew up in northern states and had skied growing up, but I must admit that my skills are really rusty and I whined worse than the kids about sore leg muscles!

It was fantastic to actually see the sun!

We plan to do a bunch more day trips before the season is out.  The snow has been great, and way better than anywhere I have been on the east coast of the USA.  As with all of our family adventures, the times when we are the most nervous to try something new is when we have the most fun.