Time is flying by - and we almost did today

We last left off in Zagreb on Sunday evening. That night we slept fast and awoke early Monday morning. We left the hotel about 630A and got to the airport in plenty of time. It was kind of fascinating to see the combination of business and pleasure travelers on Monday morning. We flew to Vienna where we had some time to kill. We went to the Austrian airlines lounge and relaxed, checked email and had a snack. Our flight to Nice was right on time and we got to our hotel around 4P. 

We are right along the beach which is beautiful. A steady stream of yachts pull in and out which is fun to watch. We grabbed a light snack outside and got our bearings. Brandon was itching to dip his feet in the sea so we sat out for a bit on the beach. An easy place to sit and relax for sure. It doesn't get dark until quite late which makes for a nice evening stroll and of course an ice cream. 

Tuesday we slept in super late. It was really the first night we had to catch up on our sleep. So we did. Once we woke up we hit the beach for some more quality time laying around. Brandon met a little friend, Rachel, from New York. Her parents are originally from Romania. We had a nice time chatting with them while the kids made a day of searching for and collecting hermit crabs. They became fast friends and it was so cute to watch them dip their heads in to search for more. 

We showered and hopped a train to Monaco. It was a quick trip but enough for a quick bite outside the grande casino and some fun people and car watching. We tried to teach Brandon how to be James Bond but he kept saying I'm James. James Bond. He will get it one day. 

This morning we woke up and took the train to Nice. We stopped at a small cafe for croissants and coffee for the train. The owner was lovely and we now have our favorite breakfast spot. We plan to see her again tomorrow. 

We walked around Old Town Nice and climbed up Castle Hill. The view from the top was amazing. The water in Nice is truly the bluest I have ever seen. We wandered around Old Town and stopped for lunch within the open air market. While we were at lunch the wind kicked in beyond belief. The rest of the day we felt like we were being blown down the road. We walked along the promenade then back to the train station. We had dinner near the hotel. Sadly it was too windy to sit outside. We are hopeful it will die down a bit so we can do our planned boat ride tomorrow afternoon. 

We had an email from Cameron last night. It looked like he wrote it in a rush which leads us to believe he is doing quite fine and writing to his family was kind of slowing him down. It is fun to see his pictures on the camp Facebook page. He was doing a lip sync contest tonight with his cabin. Can only imagine. He is also on the newspaper staff for the week. One of the activities he was hoping for. Can't wait to hear more first hand from him. 

The week is going quickly...

Hermit crab collection with Rachel

Dinner in Monaco 

Old Town Nice market

View from our walk around Nice

Someone strap the kid down before he blows away. 

Off to a great start

We are getting ready for bed on night 2. What a great time already. 

Highlights:

Flights all went according to plan. We arrived in Munich on time and then had a short flight to Zagreb. The boys did great. We slept a touch on the planes and the crashed the whole 3 hour car ride to Murter. 

We are driving a cute 4 door white Fiat. Very Euro. 

It was fun driving from Zagreb to Murter and remembering some of the sites from last year. One of the most memorable is passing through the last mountain tunnel prior to reaching the region near the sea. It literally is like passing into another world. Gone are the green trees and hello rugged rocky jagged mountains. 

We arrived in. Murter and checked into the quaint Hotel Tismo. Only 9 rooms and about 3 employees. They couldn't have been nicer and a welcome sight after our 18 hour journey. 

We quickly put on our swim suits and hit the pool. Ana, the hotel owner, brought us 4 lovely glasses of orange juice as a welcome drink. We enjoyed them and a couple more cocktails while the boys swam. Jim brought me 2 kinds of white wine to sample by the pool. Superb service all around. 

After a quick swim we changed and drove into town to enjoy pizza at a restaurant we had been to last year. It was fun to see a familiar place and also to have Cameron with us as he missed this spot last year while at camp. It was also nice because the boys could venture out a bit together while Jim and I enjoyed sitting at the table a bit longer. The explored the area around the marina and scouted out the best spot for ice cream. All the local places have TVs and projectors set up to watch the World Cup games. Fun to be in Europe again during this time. 

We grabbed a quick ice cream and headed back to the hotel before we all fell asleep standing up or driving. Zzzzzzzz. Lllooooonnnnngggg day but a great day. 

We all slept like rocks and probably didn't move until the town of Murter awoke to the beautiful church bells that filled the town. Apparently the ring all day and often. So much that at about 715A Jim said he thinks their album had a scratch. I loved it. What a great way to wake up-windows open, fresh airs and beautiful bells. Like a dream. 

We had breakfast outside at the hotel. Boys enjoyed a couple hard boiled eggs made to order. They loved the little dish they were served in and cracking the shells with the tiny spoon. 

Last year Jim, Brandon and I rented a little boat. Cameron thought he'd like to experience that this year. So while we didn't have a lot of time we had enough to rent a little boat and hit the sea for a couple hours. We all loved it. We made our way out a bit, found a place to drop anchor and we all jumped off the boat. One of those moments I wish I could bottle and keep forever. It was beautiful and we all were so happy. A touch cold, but so much fun. We hated that we had to head back but Camp California was calling. 

We got cleaned up and out of our hotel about 1215P. Camp drop off wasn't until 3P so we drove to Vodice where we stayed last year. We walked along the water and into town for lunch. Gotta love observing the Euro culture and a few topless sunbathers. Life experience # who knows how many for our boys. 

The four of us shared a jumbo pizza which was just that then headed back to the car. I could tell Cameron was getting closer to camp drop off. All of the sudden he looked so,grown up to us. We had about a 25 min car ride to camp and used the time for a few last reminders. Please brush your teeth and try to keep your clothes in some sort of order. Likely he didn't hear any of it. The one thing he said that melted my heart was, "Last year I was nervous for camp but this year I'm just excited."  And there you have. It, the difference of a year. Love that boy. 

Meanwhile Brandon fell obviously silent. The reality of a week without his brother was upon him. 

We got to camp check in and immediately counselors started recognizing Cameron. You'd never know we were 4,000 miles from home. We got Cameron checked in and dropped off in his cabin and he was ready for us to be on our way. One boy in his cabin was a friend from last year. It felt good leaving him to go have his fun. 

We walked back to the car with a quiet little brother and settled in for our 3 hour drive back to Zagreb. We stopped for gas and a Fanta to ease the pain a touch. About 2/3 through the trip,Brandon said, "I wonder what Cameron is doing."  Cutest thing ever. 

We arrived back in Zagreb about 630P and after checking in hit the pool for a quick swim. Not a lot in this area so we enjoyed dinner outside at the hotel. Brandon then bellied up to the bar to watch some soccer and a Shirley Temple on the house. 

Tine to sleep as we are up and out early tomorrow for our flight to Antibes. More from France. Night night after 2 wonderful days. 

Boys sitting by the water after a long long journey

Lovely hotel

View of Murter

Sunset over the marina

Now that's a pizza

Our camper. Ready for year 2. 

Renovated Hollywood Bowl with flags representing all the camper and counselor home countries. 

Boy on his own. 

Brandon, 2 Asians and a couple grumpy Croatians. 

On my own at the bar. Shirley Temple on the house. 

Getting Ready - Getting Set

Tomorrow evening we are off.  Still scrambling to pack the last few items but no different than any other trip.  Part of the thrill I suppose.

We are all excited and ready for our adventure.  Cameron is looking forward to hopefully seeing old friends and meeting new at camp.  The rest of us are excited to explore Southern France and see the familiar sites in Croatia again.

For those following along, here is our itinerary:

FRI JUN 20

Chicago - Munich
UAL #952
Depart:  605P
Arrive:  950A

SAT JUN 21

Munich - Zagreb
Lufthansa #1712
Depart:  1135A
Arrive:  1240P

Drive to Pakostane, Croatia

Hotel:  Hotel Tisno
Tijesno, Croatia

http://www.hoteltisno.com/hoteltisno/eng/index.html

SUN JUN 22

Cameron to Camp California!

Hotel:  DoubleTree
Zagreb, Croatia

http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/croatia/doubletree-by-hilton

MON JUN 23

Zagreb - Vienna
Croatia Airlines #440
Depart: 810A
Arrive 905A

Vienna - Nice
Tyrolean Airlines #425
Depart: 1240P
Arrive:  225P

Hotel:  Garden Beach Hotel
Antibes, France

http://www.hotel-gardenbeach.com

FRI JUN 27

Nice - Munich
Lufthansa #2277
Depart: 620A
Arrive: 745A

Munich - Zagreb
Croatia Airlines #4437
Depart: 855A
Arrive: 1005A

Hotel:  Hotel Tisno
Tijesno, Croatia

http://www.hoteltisno.com/hoteltisno/eng/index.html

SAT JUN 28

Retrieve Cameron from Camp California

Zagreb - Munich
Lufthansa #1715
Depart: 450P
Arrive: 555P

Hotel:  Courtyard Munich City Center
Munich, Germany

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/muccy-courtyard-munich-city-center/

SUN JUN 29

Munich - Chicago
UAL #953
Depart: 1220P
Arrive:  245P

Camp Prep Underway

Cameron is gearing up for his second year at Camp California in Croatia.  We have printed the check list and he has made his selections for the activities he will do at camp.  As a veteran, he was much more deliberate in his selections.  He picked 10 activities and will be assigned to 6.  He promises he will be happy with any of them.  So far we are off to a great start.

www.campcalifornia.com

The link above provides a little more detail about camp.  In 4 weeks he will be well into camp and the rest of us will be hanging out by the sea in Antibes, France.  We are affectionately calling it "France Camp" for the youngest member of our group who cannot attend camp yet.  

Follow along here to track our adventure.