As April springs forward, aren’t you missing Christmas?  Just a little?  Then, please feel free to thank me for giving you a little Christmas spirit with this next blog post.  Because it is absolutely, 100% intentional that you are just now reading Part 2 of our Christmas vacation.  In April.  It definitely has nothing to do with me being a poor manager of my own time.  It certainly has nothing to do with three kids and a mommy brain that matches.  I just had a sneaking suspicion that you needed a little taste of the Holidays to brighten your dreary, cloudy, most likely bluebonnet filled, flip flop wearing day.  You’re welcome.

When I last left you, we had just hopped in the car and left Zagreb, Croatia for Lake Bled, Slovenia.  I am often amazed that I get to see such spectacular places that until recently, I never knew existed.  But you know what?  There is a whole world out there.  A big one.  One beyond not just the great state of Texas (and it is great!).  Beyond the freedom loving USA.  Even beyond the usual international vacations of Cancun, Rome, Paris and London.  Lake Bled is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.

The day we walked around the lake was our one really tough day with the kids.  As parents who like to travel often do, we completely overestimated our kids ability to walk the perimeter of the lake and completely underestimated our patience in handling them.  But, despite the writhing and gnashing of teeth (and a unreal amount of annoying whining), it was worth it to see this amazing landscape.

By the time we made it around the lake, more than a few nerves were shot.  There was talk of mutiny among the children, and the parents weren’t totally against the idea of allowing it to happen.  We were spent.  And then, there it was… could it be?  No.  It can’t.  It’s not possible.  Yes, it is.  It’s…. wait for it… MEXICAN FOOD!  We have learned to not expect much from Mexican food outside of North America.  But, it seemed like this was all we needed to find the will to power through and let our children remain in the family.  I’d be lying if I said the food was “real Mexican.”  But, it was the closest thing any of us had had to it since we left the Motherland.

On the edge of the lake, built into a cliff is a castle like I’ve never seen before (and I’ve seen, like, two castles in my life, so I am a total expert).  Here’s what Bled Castle looked like lit up at night.

Since we like to torture our children, we had to check the castle out.  Thankfully, it isn’t too hard to talk a few elementary aged boys into seeing a medieval castle for themselves.

The highlight for Wyatt was the gold coin that was hammer-embossed (I have no idea if that is a real term, but it sounds better than a dude who whacked a coin that had a stamp on it) just for him.

The following day we went to see the Postojna Caves and Predjama Castle.  We all enjoyed the caves, the kids especially.  The train ride was the highlight for all except Lyla, who was absolutely done riding in the Ergobaby on my back!  She was ready to explore on her own!

As interesting as the caves were, the Predjama Castle took the cake for me.  Truly built into the side of a cliff, we were all wowed at this architectural marvel.

 

I have less to write about this trip than some others.  Maybe waiting four months to do a post wasn’t the wisest.  Or maybe sometimes, the pictures can do the talking for me.