Germany, part 1A

I forgot to mention a couple things in yesterday's post:

This sign just made us feel extremely welcome and safe when we checked into the hotel yesterday. I'm not sure what they are worried about though. I don't see how anyone could drive up the goat trail that they call a road during the winter anyway.















Here's an actual GERMAN German Shepherd we saw at the gas station today. Of course, they just call them Shepherds over here.










Here's a picture of our hotel (look up in the trees on the mountainside):

We had a great time today touring some Castles. I'll write and post pictures about it tomorrow or Tuesday. Just too tired from walking a million miles today (up hill, both ways).

Germany, part 1

May 1st is some Hungarian holiday (?Labor Day?). Whatever. The important part is that Katie and Anna both have Monday & Tuesday off. Since VJ & I were likewise free, we decided to go to Germany for the long weekend.

Munich was the original destination but when you plan things at the last minute, you take what hotel openings that you get. So we are staying in the Renaissance Riessersee Hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is about 95 km south of Munich.

We left Budapest at 8:00am this morning and arrived at the hotel just before 6:00pm. This includes the 1 hour that we stopped for lunch and, in typical Salvaggio fashion, the 45+ min we took when we got lost with only 10 km(6 miles) left to get to the hotel. I don't feel that the directions Anna got off the internet were the clearest (Anna blames my navigation...whatever...she's just touchy because she drove the whole way).

The kids were EXCELLENT the ENTIRE drive. They read books, we played a game where we tracked which countries the license plates we saw were from, we watched 2 movies (the portable DVD player is Heaven sent), listened to music (the kid's love "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles) and had snacks (Rice Krispie treats made by yours truly from some REALLY expensive Rice Krispies purchased at an ex-pat grocery store).

The scenery on the drive was BEAUTIFUL. Especially once we got to Salzburg and got to see the mountains. More power to the Van Trapps if they made it over those monstrosities.

First thing we did after checking in was ...say it with me now...go to the hotel pool! You can see a new side bar on the blog where Katie will be ranking the hotel pools of Europe.

Tomorrow we hope to visit a couple of castles in the area and Monday we plan to stop in Salzburg on our way back to Budapest.

Here's the view from our hotel balcony:

Odds & Ends

VJ had his 3yr old check up on Wednesday. He is perfectly healthy but what is of note is that his behavior can only be described as EXCELLENT. He listened to the Dr., answered her questions, followed instructions...he just was not the same little boy that went to his Dr. in Houston...until it was time for his vaccination...which is why they do that last. He SCREAMED at the top of his lungs and carried on sad. He did not even want the cool Tiger band-aid that they gave him.

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We had delayed potty training until we got over here and after one aborted attempt in which VJ was just not interested we are off to a great start. We use the "bribe" method of potty training where every success earns a toy. VJ has gotten several new hot wheels cars, plastic dinosaurs and plastic animals this week. The dinosaurs were actually a big hit and strong motivator.

Now, I told you all that so I could tell you this story: Anna also bought a glider plane and I earmarked this as a "special prize" for when he ever poops in the potty. Katie was there when I showed it to him and explained the conditions attached to receiving it. Her comment was:
Katie: "I sure hopes he poops in the potty soon."

Now everyday when we pick her up from school she asks if he pooped in the potty yet.

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Some Many of the streets are pretty narrow over here. That can lead to some tense moments when meeting oncoming traffic. Once I was going up a hill with a curve in the middle. As I approached the cure, an oncoming car appeared from around the curve and was partially in my lane. She steered back into her own lane but not until I hit the curb. With the kids in the car I held back what I really wanted to say but I did "tell her" to "Stay in your own lane, lady." From the back seat I hear:
Katie (dead pan): "I don't think she can hear you Daddy."

Then she and Anna had a nice laugh.

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One night after her shower, Katie had dried off and was putting on her pajamas but was taking forever. So I decided to give her some "encouragement."
Me: "Come on Kate. Get dressed. Get going, Come on!

Katie looked up and opened her mouth to defend herself but saw my smile and realized I was joking. So she just shook her head and continued and said:
Katie: "Sometimes it takes me a while to get dressed."

I fell for it.

Me: "Why?"
Katie:"I don't know. May be because you keep BUGGING me."

You're a Fat-Ass, Daddy

So last night at dinner Katie basically told me that I was fat.

She didn't say it in so many words, but the message came across anyway. Here's how it went down:

We had just finished dinner and the kids were waiting patiently (for a change) for dessert while I cleared the table. Katie was looking at the various pictures we have hanging on the wall and she pointed to a picture of Anna and me taken on our Wedding day.

Katie: "Daddy, your face looks weird in that picture."
Me: "Oh really, how so?"

Now I fully expected that her answer would involve me not having a goatee then or how my hair was "poofier" but then I got blindsided:

Katie: "You are a little bit thinner in the picture."

Wonderful. At least Anna got a good laugh.

OK, may be I have gained a LITTLE bit of weight since then, although I don't really know how I thought as I sat down to my ice cream with chocolate sauce.