We are saying goodbye to Italy today and heading to Croatia. We are all a bit sad because we’ve loved Italy and don’t feel like we spent much time here. Okay, it was 24 days, but it doesn’t feel like much compared to the 44 days in France. We could definitely stay longer.

We are supposed to check out at 11. The host wanted us out by 10, and I told him there was no chance of it. I even blamed it on the kids, but we all know it’s not their fault. We don’t have as much stuff here, so packing up should be a lot easier. We get everything put together and almost done, then we walk down to the water for a coffee and breakfast. We have no food left in the apartment, so we really had to go get something. We also decided to let the kids play on the playground for a bit. I contacted the Airbnb host to let him know we’d be running late (so I could let the kids play longer), and he said no problem. Stefan ran back to meet him and pay the tourist tax (pretty sketchy but whatever) before the host had to run to another apartment by 11:30.

The kids and I walk back to the apartment around 11:20, thinking we’ll pack up the remainder and leave within 15 minutes. I ring the buzzer, but Stefan opens the door himself rather than using the buzzer. Apparently it’s not working. Then he tells me the wind blew the door closed behind him upstairs and we are locked out. What?!

We call the host, and he says he can meet us back at the apartment at 3pm, at the earliest. 3 and a half hours from now. Stefan doesn’t have his shoes on. We have no money. And … well does there need to be anything else?! Luckily we don’t need to catch a flight, but we’d like to get on the road so we don’t arrive too late in Pula, Croatia, our next destination.

We hem and haw for awhile. I’d left the window open this morning that faces the backyard, above a woman’s patio. All Stefan would have to do is climb out the window (two extremely tall stories up), hang down until he can stand on the grate below (covering the window below), then step (a very big reaching step) to the window ledge of our apartment. It takes awhile, like an hour, but when he finally agrees my ridiculous plan is the best course of action, he’s out the window so fast I can hardly snap a photo.

Thankfully, the window ledge is closer than we’d estimated, and the whole thing works like a charm. We are in! And our adrenaline is pumping. Wow what a day.

//Stefan Note: I did it for the snap.  It wasn’t that bad papa.

//Stefan notes: once you figure out schedules and routes the water buses are a really easy fun/way to get around

//Stefan Note: the best traveler ever.  That’s not even papa talking, she just walks for miles carrying bags like it ain’t a thing.

We pack up and walk down to the boat. This time we will take a boat all the way to the parking garage instead of changing to the train. It’s much easier for us, and Oly is tired and wants to snuggle anyway. The boat ride is very pretty as we head up the Grand Canal, but it takes about an hour. We reach the car with big relief. Nothing was broken or stolen! Hip hip hooray!

Oly falls asleep immediately, and the ride to Trieste is simple. About 2 hours into our 3 hour trip to Pula, it’s a good place to stop. Plus, I’m intrigued by its interesting history and would like to see it a little. It’s Italy, but it has been part of many different countries, just in the past century. We walk around a couple walking streets, then we start climbing stairs. Stefan has a way of finding must-see sights at the top of high hills. So we are climbing steps to the very top to see a church. The view from up here is incredible. And the church, while small, is beautiful, with Roman ruins abutting the sanctuary. I feel like there’s a lot to learn from the right person here. But we get what we can from it and head back down the steps.

The kids are particularly cranky today. Maybe it’s the stress from the locked out predicament earlier, but something is off. We are dragging them along the whole time. We finally get to a cute little bakery recommended by Lonely Planet. We choose a couple treats and order spritzes. The patio is very cute, and we try to enjoy it despite the mood swings.

//Stefan Note: saved 15 euros filling up in Slovenia.  

Back in the car, we soon pass into Slovenia. I had no specific expectations of Slovenia, but it exceeds them somehow. It’s hilly land covered in grapevines. We go up and down a large hill. Then we are driving along the coast. It’s exceptional, and I wish we had the opportunity to stop and learn more about this country.

It’s dark when we get into Pula. Our Airbnb host messages that she’s holding a free parking spot for us outside. We pull up to the address, and …this is clearly not it. I call her, and we drove 20 minutes past it. Our drive through town is slow, as people are out enjoying the evening. This feels a bit like a party town from this first impression.

We pull off right next to the Roman Ampitheatre and find our host still waiting for us outside. She directs us to the parking spot she’s held. She’s amazing.

This Airbnb is beautiful. We are unbelievably central, and the space is still large and well-decorated. Our host points us to a nearby cafe for a late-night dinner. It’s after 9pm!

There’s a narrow park with a playground directly across the street, and this cafe sits on the other side of that park, facing the water. It’s a beautiful view. We order a pizza and chicken salad. The kids eat a ton. The food is barely average. And we order a bottle of red wine, just something local. The guy brings us a bottle that Stefan points out is from Spain, as the server is uncorking it. Oh well. We’ve had the best culinary experiences on this trip; perhaps it was time for a mediocre one. The kids and the location are perfect, though.