Halloween Fun

Halloween was fun this year in Bratislava. Liam and Scarlett really got into digging out the pumpkin seeds with their hands.  We had a party at our apartment with lots of kids.

Our 7th Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated our 7th anniversary! Due to it being a weeknight and planning on taking a trip later to really celebrate in Venice it was low key. So I decided to try to make a nice dinner/evening of it by starting off with drinking Sekt and celebrating with caviar on crackers. Together, we made one of our favorite curry dishes for dinner.  After dinner we walked to our new favorite cafe where they have an indoor children's play area.  Although it was a bit chilly, we sat outside under the balconies of flowers and white lights with fleece blankets on our laps.  We sat sipping liquors and eating a huge tiramisu.  The children had eis and played in the play area, though they were content to sit outside with us under their cozy blankets too (to our surprise)! Fun was had by all.  Cheers to 7 years!

Probably One of our Favorite Places

Baska, Croatia

View of Baska from hike

Beautiful but windy and cold Baska

Quaint Baska

We will have the seafood platter for two!

OH MY! Baska, Croatia was everything we didn't expect it to be and everything we expected it to be.  We thought we were heading to the beach for one last time to soak up the rays and relax with the kids on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Instead, we arrived to rain, chilling wind, and one quite wild ocean.  We drove through Austria and Slovenia to get there, over one of the largest cement bridges in the world leading us from mainland Croatia to the island of Krk (try pronouncing that!). An island full of charm, ruggedness and intrigue, instead of lying on the beach we found ourselves weaving and wandering in and out of the numerous allies, winding little streets and breathtaking views. And oh the art of masonry in the many man made walls we discovered up on the hilltops! We fell in love with the people, cafe culture historical town, and its bakery. Yes. One.  On the day we left, I don't think we were ready.  Liam wanted an ice cream from one of the many ice cream places (it was just tooo cold for ice cream) I wanted once more to wind in and out of the many little ally ways and take pictures of old windows and doors.  Scarlett wanted to run up and down the little streets with Liam.  And, I think Christopher would have wanted to eat the seafood platter together again at our favorite restaurant. We had such a great time.  Thank you Baska!

At the foothills of the Small Carpathians

Yesterday, we rented a car for the first time (a Scoda--ever heard of it?) and drove to Trencin which is just an hour or so from Bratislava.  Our drive was lovely since we weren't on any sort of timeline.  We drove off the beaten path and actually found a back road lined with wild apple trees (Bonnie!!) which I kept saying, "we have just got to pick some" but, didn't.  We foundour way to Trencin which is known for its amazing castle which towers over the city (and I am sure for many other things too.)  But as tourists, we cozied our way up to the castle through winding cobblestone streets.  Up, up, up.  And when we didn't think there was any more up to go, we went up once more.  The view from atop Trencin castle is amazing.  After winding down at a cafe at the top with a Zlaty (our new favorite beer) and some Zmerzlina (ice cream), we ended our blue sky day adventure in Taravna--a short drive on the way back to Bratislava.  Shockingly, this sleepy little town reminded us of our journeys in Latin America and we just can't place why.  We enjoyed our favorite dinner of some pizza (yes, it is true...and it is just so tasty you would be jealous all of you Charlie pizza eaters!) Taravna's claim to fame is that it is one of Slovakia's oldest cities and it has the most old churches. We just enjoyed the drive there and the fact that the restaurant on the main square had a kiddo play area that the kids enjoyed while we enjoyed ordering our food and waiting for it.  Got to love it.  Now, why hasn't someone thought of that in the States? 

bratislava reality

Bratislava Main Square fountain, street scenes...Liam's first ride on a tram...the blue church in our neighborhood...beautiful window in our neighborhood

Above, the Belvedere, Vienna Austria and the cathedral in the main square...

yesterday we discovered what bratislava is not.  it took riding on a train to vienna, austria to find out.  why, no, its not vienna. and, no its not paris. nor, is it venice or rome.  at this point we can only be fairly sure that bratislava is somewhat like a scaled down luxembourg, budapest, avignon or prague--of course, give or take some things. right now vienna and bratislava are working on a twin city marketing campaign.  we wonder what are they talking about?  vienna is on a very grand scale...and, that means everything.  vienna offers just about every designer storefront that you could dream of and many that you wish you had.  vienna's views are filled with grandiose buildings that would take up the entire downtown of bratislava.  when we arrived in bratislava last night at 9 pm, children in tow, we felt like we were home again. things once again slowed down to our pace where the quiet walk home was greeted with whispers from street cafes. our footsteps chattered through the old town air. familiar tables greeted our walk --open air cafes with candles---huge planters filled with flowers smiled at us.  we are happy to call bratislava our home if just for a short while.  what an amazing little city and what an amazing simple reality.

Home Sweet Home in Bratislava

Hey Austrian Air rocks!

After a short stay in a pension near the castle in

 Bratislava, 

We checked into our short term apartment on Monday.  Wow!  What a gorgeous place. Very old on the outside and incredibly modern on the inside.  See? It is spacious, fun and close to everything. Yesterday I explored the local larger grocery store...more on that later I am sure.  We took a stroll after dinner tonight into town. There is a large playground nearby.

I cooked our first meal tonight tasting fresh corn and aubergine from the market. Delicious. We found a small market set up by the playground and park.  Here Liam and Scarlett are enjoying running around naked with some other children at the park and exploring the many fun sand play things...