Autobahn, 30.09.2012 Autumn adventure
We enjoyed last years autumn holiday so much, and since we did not go on any trip this summer (Tobi spent almost the entire season in China) we decided that it is time again to show our kids another beautiful part of Europe. Tobi went to Yugoslavia a couple of times when he was still small, and I always wanted to fill this white spot on my personal map. So on a beautiful Sunday morning I went to the airport to fetch my husband after seven long weeks of absence, we packed our stuff and started our journey southeast. The start was rough: we got stuck in a huge traffic jam and spent hours waiting on the Autobahn, but we were lucky enough to spontaneously spend one night in a great place in Regensburg - the Hotel Orphˇe which was a perfect setting for Mia to wake up turning six. We stopped in Linz for lunch to catch up with a good friend from Shanghai and still made in on time to Trenta, a small town in Slovenia.
Trenta, 02.10.2012 Soca river
First time happening: we walked long beautiful hours along the river Soca with its origin as our destination, when I heard Tobi shout: STOP RIGHT THERE! The slippery path went steeper and steeper and it felt more like clinging along steel ropes than hiking. Still though, it was a fascinating landscape and we almost did not mind the way back in pouring rain without protection - neighbours staying at the same ecologic farm saved us from the last three to six kilometers... it was even better to arrive back at a warm and cosy place afterwards!
Ljubljana, 04.10.2012 Heart of Slovenia
Plitvice, 06.10.2012 Plitvice lakes
Astonishing. Just gorgeous!
Split, 07.10.2012 Dalmatia here we come!
Having spent a couple of days hiking in various mountainous regions, we decided spontaneously to take a ferry to an island to enjoy the beach and the ocean, too.
Korcula, 07.10.2012 Croatia island style
Mostar, 10.10.2012 Post-war confusion
Staying in a beautiful 18th century hotel, Mostar left the impression of a bustling city coming back to life after a long and obviously dreadful war. But also here, violence left its mark and despite the old bridge being fully restored, a lot of inner-city structure was still in ruins. Driving through Bosnia on our way back, the landscape felt scarred, robbed of its regional identity and touristical little developed in contrast to Croatia.
Zagreb, 12.10.2012 Metropolis
Having searched for the bosnian-croatian border for quite a while, we made it to Zagreb, which was very cold in the first place!
Karlsbad, 13.10.2012 Russian fairy tale
The final highlight of our tour was one night in Karlovy vary, where we bought tons of Karsbad oplates, and enjoyed an atmosphere of posh Russians. We drove 3500 km in 14 days, crossed five countries and returned home full of various impressions and a huge appetite for other explorations in the near future!
Berlin, 20.10.2012 Botanical Garden
Berlin, 21.10.2012 Birthday party, golden day
Berlin, 31.10.2012 Spooky
It felt strange to celebrate Halloween in Shanghai, it feels even stranger here. Just days away from St. Martins, my most precious childhood memory - children walking around in small groups carrying lanterns, singing Christian songs kindly asking for sweets in exchange - it`s the most contradictionary 'celebration' imagineable. I still prefer kind music to trick-or-treating, but still though: it was fun to dress up and come home with lots of candy!
