After checking in at Enterprise rental car in Jlubljiana, we drove towards Bled in the afternoon after stopping by a little restaurant called Slovanian House in old town where we had many locally sourced and traditionally produced tasters.
On our second day, we as a family started getting into the rythm of a happy and health promoting routine.
Sleep:
Everyone is sleeping on time wanting to start the morning fresh and early to be able to explore what the day has to offer.
Social media and use of devices:
As a mom, I’m pleasantly surprise how willing and cooperative the kids are in self limiting the use of their phones. Especially considering they don’t get unlimited data.
Food
It takes too long to find and get to a restaurant for breakfast especially considering some places we are staying we need to check out by 10 am and/or it is quite a walk to get our \240breakfast. We bought locally sourced and traditionally processed meats and cheese to consume as breakfast in the morning.
We are using TripAdvisor app to find highly rated local cuisines. I’ll be seeing if there a SlowFood \240app to help us locate not only local cuisine but one uses locally sourced foods and traditionally processed methods of preparing foods.
The boys especially are looking how to pace their meals and be patient in finding the right eatery.
We are satisfying our deer tooth with local desserts. From experience we know which gelato shops have locally produced using the freshest and cleanest ingredients. We look for gelato shops where the ice cream is kept in stainless steel containers w kids.
Accounting
Because quality food and experience takes presecence and we have to meet a budget, the kids are learning the value of choosing wisely.
Armand is our accountant extraordinaire. He is able to look at a menu and choose:
- Foods that meet our dietary standards ( locally, traditional,
- That dishes that are satisfying
- Delicious
- In combination meet our budget
The process of accounting for all this didn’t just happen. It came organically and it wasn’t forced upon him. In fact, Armand stepped into this role naturally to meet a simple need: to satisfy his hungry belly while meeting our dietary standards and budget. It was to meet a necessity.
The process was fairly quick. It requires being steadfast with boundaries.
We were at the airport after checking through security. We had time before \240heading over to our gate of departure. We were hungry and knew that airplane food (albeit choosing from the menu ahead of time) was not going to be satisfying. The only descent option at that moment for us was PF Chang restaurant. The kids were shocked that I was happy to find them as an option. At first they wanted to order was their hungry belly was calling for. I told them that they can order whatever they want from the menu. I want them to exercise their independence (plus I never care to nor liked to police anyone. The want has to come from within). I offered them a fair choice:
- They are older, have money and can pay for their choices that were not meeting the dietary standard that supported their health.
- Or they could be my guests and I would pay for their meals with caveat that it had to be health promoting choices.
They of course complained and as a united front. I didn’t budge. They knew there was no wiggle room for negotiating.
Once confronted with this dilemma and complaining that “you are going to starve us”, Armand kicked into high gear and quickly found dishes that were clean, satisfying to the belly, \240taste buds and our budget. they were pleasantly surprised to walk away happy.
Hence Armand stepping into the role of being the best procurer of food items from the menu. He is able to spot the dishes in no time.
Now I hope they believe when I say \240“We ALWAYS have options: even if we find fast food restaurant as the only option”
Always a business man
Armand figures what a great business opportunity this was for the boating company. Each time they transport passengers and if they fill up a small boat with 20 people, \240they generate over $200 on average. If they operate from 9-6 and they have 6-8 boats on demand, you can do the math.
Accommodation
We are spending one night at this ok air B&B. It’s cute in that it is above a local baker. It is not “cute” as it is facing the Main Street leading the Bled. The shower didn’t offer hot water, we had to step outside of the room to get WiFi. \240We are learning what to look for in AirB&Bs. Location is key. Being further away is costing us time and money. Having WiFi connection is important as that is one of the only times we can check in with our worlds.
As a family we are choosing to forgo visiting either Postojna cave or Scottiana cave. The kids prefer to have the budget be spent on cave snorkeling and cliff jumping in Dubrovnik.
Appreciation mom being picture happy
I got A LOT of grief initially from boys about stopping every 5 seconds for a photo Opp. They stopped complaining when they noticed all the materials for posting on their social media.
Not sure if they get how journalizing through photos is a passion of mine.
I AM able to be in the present moment and do it better through the lense of a camera.
Today we explored Bled.
Took a boat trip to the island with the church on it. It was a bit pricy (about 59 euros for all 4 of us).
Enchanting setting.
Church of Assumption
Maybe experience slovania’s largest glacier lake, ascending Mt. Vogel by cable car.
Ljubljana day 2
Our lunch before heading towards Bled
