Having a car, living in an area where there is plenty to explore, and it is accessible is a total game changer. Recently Bryce asked me if I remembered making the bubbles in Jakarta. It got me thinking about doing all of those little projects, many of which are captured on this blog. I wondered, why aren't we doing them as frequently or even at all? At first I thought it was something lost in transition, but then I realized that it is because we don't have to be home all the time. We are not confined to our neighborhood because of the daunting traffic. We do not choose to stay home because the thought of going to an indoor playground at a mall just doesn't appeal any longer. No, we don't live that reality anymore because we have parks, museums and theaters. We have historic sites and cities in a close proximity to explore. We live in such a great location and it also helps that the kids are just a little bit older, too.
Because we had an extra long weekend, we were able to explore a little further...this time to Belgrade, Serbia. It was a fantastic weekend of exploring, let's let the photos tell the story.
Amelia and Bryce didn't mind the drive at all. (Here they are at a pit stop, having a play in the front seat.) It took about six hours, which included a border crossing and stops for gas and snacks. It was a pleasant drive with lots to see - tons of trains, a very cool series of tunnels, and so many signs of spring. Amelia pretty much colored for the entire trip and Bryce played with his toys. Believe it or not, we didn't use a screen the entire time, which was shocking to us. The kids didn't even think to ask to watch something.
The highlight of Belgrade was the Kalemegdan fortress and park. We went several times because it was just so massive and interesting, over looking the Danube and Sava rivers. The first time we took scooters and found a playground to enjoy. Taking scooters is a must, we discovered, because we can explore so much more and don't have to carry tired kids.
Another highlight was visiting the museum of aviation. The collection was incredible, telling the history of flight. They also had some very interesting pieces from the NATO bombings in the 90s. I love this photo because it just screams: Nurturing Curiosities. They even had a plane you could play inside and move the controls, which as you can imagine is where we spent most of our time.
Bryce got to meet one of his true loves: Dusty Crophopper.
With was such an unexpected surprise.
If this photo could only capture his excitement and absolute joy.
When we drove away, he said in his little sweet voice, "Bye-bye Dusty."
Signs of Spring were popping up everywhere - again it is the first time for the kids to cycle through the seasons.
We also took a day trip to Novi Sad and the kids had a blast riding their scooters through the pedestrian area. It was especially cold this day, but that didn't stop these two little explorers.
Another morning spent at the fortress was dedicated to visiting the military museum. Outside there was an excellent display of tanks, but the kids were not the least bit interested in them.
Instead they were focused on the flowers. Perhaps they value peace:) The museum was excellent. The kids loved seeing models of fortresses and had some interest in old swords and costumes. Bryce had to go to the bathroom, so we had to do a quick view through WWI, WWII and beyond, which was a good thing because there were some graphic things.
Amelia insisted on taking this photo with her eyes closed. I think she was trying to be extra lovely, not that she has to try very hard as it just comes naturally!
On our last visit to the fortress, we found another great playground. Bryce was a dinosaur on the slide. "Roar!" Look in the background and you can see part of the fortress and a flag - very picturesque.
All in all, it was an excellent weekend and we are so glad we made the trip. Belgrade is definitely worth a visit! Jim will be putting together a movie and posting it very soon.
