Life is good: Poland trip

Back in October we went to Poland to visit our good friend Joanna and for Quinn to see one of her besties, Mia. The drive is about 9 hours so we decided to split it up and stop about half way in Vienna. Our kids were troopers and we made it to Vienna without an issue and our hotel was very nice. The most challenging part of most of our trips so far is parking our large car in these little bitty garages and then getting our kids, the stroller and all of our bags out of the car and into our room. The hotel had a bunk bed and a crib so we were set! Nobody slept in the bunk bed but we had it so we were able to stay in one hotel room. Europe is different with how their hotels are and we have to be in a family suite or get an apartment because you can't have 5 people in a room even if 3 of them are kids. We got up early and had a really great breakfast at the hotel and hit the road. We didn't have plans on the way back from our trip and we loved our hotel so much that we called and booked again for the trip home in a few days.

On our drive to Poland we ended up getting a very scenic route through small towns in Austria and the Czech Republic because the highway we were supposed to take just STOPPED. I tried to get a good picture but it was hard because we were driving. We were driving down this perfectly great highway and then all of a sudden were re-routed off the highway because it ended. As far as the eye could see, the highway was not there. I don't know if they were still building it or re-doing it? It was the strangest thing and really made our drive take longer but it was beautiful.

But we did get to drive in some really great towns and it was so neat.

We were so excited when we got to Poland and to see our friend! We had a great apartment with a lot of room for the kids to run around and play. I had to run to H&M when we first got there because we forgot Leo's coat in Italy. As soon as we had a coat and Minion hat for Leo we were off to dinner at this amazing Polish restaurant! It was seriously amazing and so very cheap. We loved it so much that we ate it the next time for dinner too. Just to give you an idea of how cheap it was, the second night we got it to go (so no drinks) and for four adult meals and 2 beers (while Joanna and I waited on the food) it was about $25.

After dinner we walked down to check out the main square in Krakow. I was amazed at how beautiful it was. I don't know why but I really didn't have much expectations for Poland and I absolutely loved it! I can not wait to go back. It is up there with my favorite place we have been so far. We loved walking around and looking at the beautiful churches and the castle.

We have so many pictures from this trip and it is going to take me forever to completely organize them so they might be a little out of order but if I try to organize them I will never get the blog done!

We took a ride around the city one evening and loved it. It was one of the highlights of the trip.

The castle in Krakow is huge. The day we went to see it, the tours were sold out for the day so we just enjoyed walking around and looking at the areas you can see without a tour. We will have to go back so we can see more of the inside. It was very pretty and really huge! The kids loved getting ice cream in the castle and we got a really beautiful sunset as we were leaving.

It was nice having somebody else with us because Dave and I actually got pictures together.

My first time eating kebabs.... I have been missing out!!! Those things are AMAZING.

The square in Krakow was great, really beautiful.

There was another little structure outside of the walls of the city center (I love that there are so many cities in Europe where the walls still stand around parts of the city), I'm not 100% sure what it was, a castle of some kind but it was fun to check out.

The kids had the best time together, it was fun to see them back together and playing, screaming and dancing like crazy.

On Saturday, Joanna watched the big kids and Dave, Finley and I did the hour drive out to see Auschwitz concentration camp. By time we got there the tours were sold out for the day (a trend for us..) so we were not able to go to the main part of the camp but were able to go to the Auschwitz II camp. It was a very moving experience to walk those grounds and read about what took place there. It just doesn't seem real, that something like that could take place. It was a very somber trip but I am glad we went and learned about it and saw it.

We were in Poland Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday. We loved exploring the city and enjoying time with friends. We at amazing food, did a little shopping and made incredible memories. Krakow will be a city we return to, I fell in love with it.

Leo was maxed out.

Drinking our beers and waiting for our delicious food.

Drinking a little Italian wine in Poland. The second night the kids were so tired that we opted to do take out and eat at the apartment so the kids could go to bed and we could enjoy ourselves without having to keep yelling at Leo to get off the floor (he loves to crawl on the floor when he is tired....).

Eating ice cream in the castle.

We had the BEST time in Poland and had a great tour guide!

Of course in Poland we must take shots of Polish vodka. Finley wanted to get in on the fun too.

Dave still struggles with the smell of changing #2 diapers... even after 3 kids.

Our family picture...Leo is in the bottom of the stroller.

Playing with the bubbles in the square.

I love this picture of the girls playing together, it is so sweet.

The girls having fun and Leo making trouble in the background.

Until next time Krakow!

We headed back to Vienna on Sunday afternoon and stopped to get gas. While at the gas station we got these hotdog things that were in a bun but the bun was wrapped all the way around the hotdog. It tasted amazing and was perfect for eating in the car. I don't know why they don't have them in the states!

Every gas station we stopped at we had to pay Euro to use the bathroom.

When we got back to Vienna we checked into our hotel and then took the subway into downtown to have dinner. I really was unimpressed with Vienna. I don't know if it was because I loved Krakow so much or that the kids were cranky or that the few people we came in contact with were so rude but I just didn't love it. I didn't feel any charm about the city and really just wanted to go back to the hotel and go to bed. Dave insisted we find somewhere to eat downtown and we ended up at a modern Austrian restaurant and got the largest beer they had. After eating and drinking we all felt a little better.

Finley trying to climb the bunk beds in the hotel room.

Quinn and Leo loved the subway, I am not a fan of public transportation.

The next day we got up, had the amazing hotel breakfast again and then went to check out the Vienna zoo. It was very cute and the kids loved it. They even have baby panda bears and you can watch them grow up on a time lapse video screen, it was really cute.

Leo getting us to the zoo.

I thought this sign of showing what was acceptable parking and what was unacceptable parking was hilarious.

More of those amazing hot dog things.

As we were talking about this picture, a man walks up and sticks his selfie stick over the wall and close to the penguins. Quinn proceeds to yell at him that the sign says not to do that! He just walked away, I hope he didn't speak English.

After the Zoo we walked over to the Schonbrunn palace. It was huge and very pretty. I bet in the summer/spring it is even better because the gardens look incredible.

I guess we didn't really take any pictures at the palace. Leo slept through the entire tour and Quinn was so cute and listened to the audio like a big kid. It is fun getting to take her to all of these historical places and learning with her. She loves all the "castles" and the "princesses." She was very interested in this tour of how everybody died. The family does have some tragic experiences in their life which they talked about in the tour. :)

After the palace we hit the road for the 5 hour drive home. It was a bit challenging and everybody was ready for the drive to be over. We finally made it after giving the kids whatever they wanted so they wouldn't scream which included a ridiculous amount of PEZ candy.