Lake Bled, Slovenia / Ljubljana, Slovenia

A blurb from my instagram post closer to the date of travel pretty much sums up this trip: " Easter in Slovenia. The sour of the trip was dropping my cell phone in the toilet and zapping it for good. Omg who has done this??! Please take my advice and do not place a cell phone in your back pocket, it's probably the worst place for it. The sweets of the trip were riding bicycles through the farmlands and getting caught in the rain, reading scriptures about the resurrection with Alex, hiding easter eggs for Brecken, watching him totally crush easter candy, annnnd listening to hours of awesome podcasts on our road trip home." 

I am just now revisiting Easter weekend past, when spring was starting to peek out and we were finally thawing from a long European winter. Chatting with a few local friends about our holiday weekend plans, they were surprisingly curious as to why we would even be slightly interested in traveling to Slovenia. Our good friends are German natives who have traveled many parts of the world. They turned up their noses when we said our destination country for Easter would be Slovenia. "Why on earth would you waste your time going there?" one exclaimed. I responded, "Have you traveled there and had a bad experience, please tell!" Ya'll.. She had never been there. Just assumed it was a poor Eastern European country not worth visiting. 

Here's the first hand scoop from our personal experience in this country. We spent six hours in the car from Germany to Slovenia. Anyone who has driven through Austria knows that the jaw dropping scenic views will keep boredom at bay. If that doesn't keep you entertained, get your learn on by listening to podcasts. Slovenia's scenery seemed like an extension of Austria to tell you the truth. It had emerald green lakes, caves, mountains, castles, and beautiful green forests. Slovenia was much more inexpensive and less crowded with tourists. I rented us a modern studio apartment in a rural setting directly in-between Lake Bled and Ljublijana. To give you an idea of how inexpensive Slovenia was, our apartment for the weekend only cost 50 dollars per night. Activities for the weekend included row boating on Lake Bled, walking around Lake Bohinj, hiking through the Skocjan caves, touring the city of Ljublijana, setting up an Easter egg hunt for our little dude, and riding bikes through farm fields to have Sunday lunch at the BRDO estate. While we had a nice vacation, I remember us feeling a bit bored on this one. A heavy rainstorm came into the valley and was forecasted to stay for a few days. With all items on our itinerary crossed off, we decided to forgo one more night in our apartment and head back home to Germany a day early.

Travel Notes

Accommodations
Visoko Apartment
Situated between Lake Bled and Ljublijana, this apartment was perfect for the three of us and made for easy access to many sights. A large grassy area and a river can be found behind the apartment; any child would love this outdoor space. The owners have a small management office within walking distance from the apartment and are available for questions, concerns, and concierge services. They couldn't have been nicer and even allowed us to use their bikes for a few hours!

Restaurants
Pop's Place
I love to search Tripadvisor for top restaurant reviews in the given city we are touring. Pop's Place had a high ranking and I loved the industrial hipster interior style + the thought of a good craft beer and a deluxe burger sounded like the taste of America we were craving. It was a nice lunch but sorry Pop's.. I can't write on here and say that it was the best burger we've ever had. 

Attractions
Skocjan Caves
Read all about the caves prior to walking through them + find a map to help you reach them!

BRDO Estate
Home to a congress center, hotel, castle, and a park area that also has a horse stable, ponds, and walking paths. 

Transportation
We drove from Germany as mentioned above but if this is not an option for you, the best option would be to fly into Ljublijana and rent a car to drive around the region. 

Itinerary- 3 days and 2 nights

• Day 1
• Depart Stuttgart in the am and arrive in Lake Bled early afternoon
• Lunch at Lake Bled
• Boat rental
• Walk around the town
• Drive to Lake Bohinj / walk around the lake
• Apartment check-in 
• Grocery shop
• Dinner at apartment
• Day 2
• Breakfast at apartment
• Drive to Skocjan Caves and tour 
• Drive to capital city
• Lunch and walking around Ljubljana 
• Dinner at apartment 
• Day 3 
• Breakfast at apartment
• Family time near apartment 
• Bike ride to BRDO estate
• Lunch at BRDO estate 
• Check-out and return to Germany

Porto, Portugal

My first glimpse of Porto was through the window of a cab as we made our way from the airport to our apartment in the historical center known as Ribeira. Colored paint, graffiti, or patterned ceramic tiles embellished the facades of many of the buildings. Clothes hung out of windows or were strung on clothes lines across alleys, drying in the warmth of the sun. Our apartment sat along the Cais de Ribeira with a waterfront view of the Douro River and the port houses in Vila Nova de Gaia. Street artists played music, hoping for a few euros to be thrown in their instrument cases as their melodies filled the ears of tourists. We walked and walked this city: Grandma, Alex, Brecken, and myself; seeking out the best food, wine, playgrounds, ceramic souvenirs, and photo-ops!

Probably one of my favorite parts of visiting Porto was touring the port houses to learn about the history and production of port wine! At the Calum house, our tour ended with a port sampling and Fado show (traditional folk music popular in Lisbon and Porto that can be traced back to the 1800's). We sat in a dark room as the spot light fell on our entertainment for the night, a man and woman with the loveliest voices, singing in Portuguese and strumming along on a viola. The songs were so beautiful and full of emotion. Brecken stood on the bench to get a better view, stomping his feet to the beat and excitedly clapping and laughing after each song, yelling "yay! do it again!" He was the youngest audience member and maybe one of the most entertained. 

A funny story from the trip just came to mind and I thought I would share / document for a future laugh. We were so hungry after we arrived in the city and were excited to try out the local cuisine. I ordered a dish called Tripas a moda, the english translation being rice, sausage, and beans in sauce. When the waiter brought me the dish, there were large pieces of bone floating in the sauce along with what appeared to be fatty puckered chicken skin, or so I thought. It seemed quite odd to me and although the taste of the sauce wasn't so bad, I couldn't get past what was floating in it. My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to do a google search, before taking another bite. TRIPE. Yes, that was what I thought looked like chicken skin. It's actually the lining of a cows stomach. Nope, done. I was so grossed out I couldn't even finish it. The remaining meals in Porto were amazing, I will praise a good tapas bar over and over. 

Travel Notes

Accommodations
Ribeira Negra Apartment
This apartment was in the PERFECT location. We could sit on the rooftop balcony and watch everything that was happening on the promenade with a stone's throw away from the Dom Luis Bridge. The interior was very modern and the property manager was so sweet and great to work with. 

Restaurants
Tasca Caseira
This was a small establishment with a few tables nestled in close to one another. The service, hospitality, and food were all top-notch. Brecken was treated so well, although at first glance it wouldn't have been a place I would have thought was kid-friendly. 

The Wine Box
We fell in love with this small Wine and Tapas Bar around the corner from our apartment. Their tapas menu was extensive and the wine was even more so. This establishment ships wines internationally so we purchased from them and had the wine delivered to our doorstep in Germany a day after arriving home. 

Tempero D'Maria
Our last meal in Portugal and it didn't disappoint. This restaurant is located in the Vila Nova de Gaia area. The food was full of flavor and fresh!

Attractions
Wine Cellars
This is a great website that lists the wine cellars in Porto along with a brief description about them, their opening times, and address.

Livraria Lello
A bookstore that has been the inspiration for many known authors. JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, frequented this bookstore while she lived in Portugal and taught English. 

Transportation
Airline: We found cheap tickets from Germany to Porto via EasyJet. 

Taxi was arranged through the property management staff of our airbnb for transportation to and from the airport. 

Itinerary- 4 days and 3 nights

• Day 1
• Depart Stuttgart in the am and arrive in Porto early afternoon (flight time 2 hours)
• Transfer taxi to apartment
• Apartment check-in 
• Walk the Ribeira are to eat lunch
• Livraria Lello
• Touring around city
• Grocery shop for apartment
• Wine and tapas at apartment for dinner
• Day 2
• Breakfast at apartment
• Aerial Sightseeing (Teleferico) Vila Nova de Gaia
• Lunch at a cafe
• Ferreira Wine Tour
• Apartment for nap
• Dinner at Tasca Caseira
• Day 3 
• Breakfast at apartment
• Shopping / Touring
• The Wine Box for Tapas lunch
• Nap at the apartment 
• Callum Wine Tour / Fado Show 
• Dinner at Tempero D'Maria 
• Pack for early morning departure 
• Day 4 
• Check-out and travel day

Budapest, Hungary

2017 is sadly our last full year living in Europe so the pressure is on to see and do as much as possible. Since January is the off-season around here, it's typically a great month to score cheap flights and save money on reduced hotel rates. I didn't have my heart set on a specific destination for this month and my decision was going to be driven solely by price. Direct flights and a great rate on a five star hotel brought us to Budapest! What made the trip even better was the fact that we recruited our best friends living here to join us for the weekend. I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids or the adults, and here's the best part... we returned home as happy as we left, friendship still intact and talk of a future trip in the works. 

The capital city of Hungary once known as two distinct cities, Buda and Pest, united in 1873 to become what we now know today as Budapest. Connected by The Chain Bridge which spans the Danube River, is a marvel of engineering and its size alone is monumental. Two recognizable landmarks, Buda Castle and Parliament, sit across from each other, divided by the Danube river, and dazzle with lights upon nightfall. Given the physical separation of the city, how does one decide where to stay? Well, Buda and Pest are unique in their own right but for those interested in a bustling atmosphere, Pest would be my pick. Buda is the hillier side of the city and gives a quieter feel, with castle hill, monuments, residential areas and narrow winding streets. Pest is the flat and urban center of the city home to the parliament, synagogue, heroes square, St. Stephen's Cathedral, the opera, zoo, and the popular Szechenyi Spa, just to name a few.

The weekend forecast was divided by wintry mixes and sun, granting us the beauty of seeing the city in two different lights. There was something magical and alluring once nighttime rolled around; the city lit up, snow fell, and the reflections of the iconic buildings could be seen on the icy river. Our children chased each other, jumped through puddles, ate snow, tried new foods, and gleefully shouted as we arrived back to their "castle" in the evenings. They were in awe of this city as much as we were. The people of Budapest were friendly and welcoming, the landmarks were jaw dropping, our money went a long way here, and the food was some of the best we've had throughout Europe. When asked the popular question, "which city traveled to is your favorite?" Budapest will pop into our minds as a top contender amongst the many.

Travel Notes

Accommodations
Sofitel Budapest This hotel's location is prime if you want to be within walking distance to many sites. It sits near the Chain Bridge giving an easy path to the Buda side. The hotel staff were wonderful and greeted our children with teddy bears upon arrival. The hotel offers a spa, pool, and great breakfast buffet- although a bit pricey! Oh, and let's talk about how comfortable the beds were.  I can't remember the last time I stayed in a hotel and checked-out so well rested. My husband and I joked that we would love to own that mattress and linens, and sure enough, they can be purchased online through Luxury Collection Store.

Restaurants
Zeller Bistro A farm to table bistro with a cozy ambiance and delicious dishes. It's off the beaten path from more tourist sites and a reservation is a must. I wouldn't label this place a kid-friendly restaurant as it seemed more guests were there as couples. The staff were sweet with our children but I probably wouldn't recommend coming here with a big group of families and small children. 

Vak Varju This is named after a flatbread loaded with various toppings and is hands down, so tasty! Their menu is comprised of a large variety of Hungarian dishes. After sampling each other's appetizers and entrees, we didn't taste anything we didn't like. The thing we loved about this restaurant, other than the awesome food, was the kids play corner. Our kids had a blast playing in the gated area before and after their meals. As for us adults, we were stoked about the setup!

Iguana We were all craving Mexican food since we haven't found any great restaurants with this specialty in Germany. Iguana restaurant hit the spot! If you love margaritas, salty chips, and burritos, then make this a stop on your trip to Budapest.

Transportation
Airline: We found cheap tickets from Germany to Hungary via Eurowings 

Airport Shuttle to Hotel: Once at baggage claim, we purchased a transfer to our hotel with the company Minibud. Since we were a group of 7, we were given our own passenger van. Typically, if traveling with a smaller group, you would share a passenger van with other people staying either in your hotel or in neighboring accommodations. 

Tours: We opted to do the City Tour Hop-on Hop-off Bus for one of the days in the city because of the cold weather and precipitation. It was our first time using one of these tour services and it was a really great way to view the city, listen to an audio guide with historical information, all while having the flexibility to jump on or off at different sites. The kids loved riding the bus and here's a parent perk, a large BOB stroller fits on the bus without having to fold it up!

Itinerary- 4 days and 3 nights

• Day 1
• Depart Stuttgart in the am and arrive in Budapest early afternoon (flight time 1 hour and 10 minutes)
• Transfer shuttle to hotel
• Hotel check-in 
• Walk to Central Market Hall 
• Window browsing on Vaci Street
• Lunch and drinks at a pub
• Hotel for kid's nap time 
• Dinner at Bistro 
• Day 2
• Breakfast at Hotel Buffet
• Catch the Hop-on Hop-off tour bus
• Heroes Square
• Vajdahunyad Castle 
• City Park
• Jewish Quarter and the Great Synagogue
• Duck into a cafe for coffee and hot chocolate
• Ride the bus around the city listening to more history
• Gellert Hill 
• Spa treatment and pool time at the hotel / kid nap time
• Dinner at local restaurant
• Day 3 
• Breakfast in hotel room (purchased bread, jam, and fruit from local store) 
• Walk to Buda Castle
• Fisherman's Bastion 
• Matthias Church
• Lunch on the go
• Wine bar to purchase wine
• Shoes on the Danube Memorial (click the link to read about this emotional memorial)
• Hotel for kid's nap time
• Dinner at a local restaurant 
• Walk to the parliament for night pictures
• Day 4 
• Check-out and travel day

*We didn't get a chance to do the Thermal Baths or Margaret Island but they would be places to fit into your itinerary if time permits.