<![CDATA[lifewithbackpacks

<![CDATA[lifewithbackpacks - Blog]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:51:02 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[A Blast from the Past - Holiday Park im Hassloch, Deutschland]]>Fri, 04 May 2012 11:59:47 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/a-blast-from-the-past-holiday-park-im-hassloch-deutschland

When I was 26, I worked for an American waterski team as a professional waterskier. The company owns waterski shows based all over the world, and I was lucky enough to be sent to an amusement park in Germany. However, it didn't turn out the way I had expected. Allegra wondered why I even wanted to come back to the park, since all she had heard were bad things about waterskiing but good things about my german friends. I was both excited and apprehensive.
1987 had been a pivotal year for me in my life - not all of it good. But that's another story.

In the parking lot, we could hear shrieks coming from an enormous ...

roller coaster. We made our way in that direction. The kids were really happy to have a break from museums and galleries. They had been looking forward to this for a while. It was a hot day but not a holiday for the germans, so there were no line-ups anywhere. Allegra got soaked on the first flume ride and went back with John to get changed, while Birch and I rode the loop-de-loop roller coaster. Once was enough for me. Between that and twice on the Hellavator, my voice was hoarse from screaming.

We went from ride to ride, and at 1:00 p.m., found our seats at the waterski show. All kinds of fun experiences came back to me. It is as if, up until today, I could only remember the bad parts. Now I was telling the kids and John better stories. I was having so much fun with the four of us. The waterski show was so close to the same show I had performed in 25 years ago, even some of the same music, that I was transported back to that time in a really good way.

Afterwards, we talked with the skiers in the show. They took us backstage to the old office and I looked for my name on the old waterskis nailed to the wall. None of the skiers had even been born when I worked here. One of them learned to ski near the same lake that I did back in Ontario, and we had seen him in a ski show two years previously at our cottage. They seemed as excited to talk to me as I was to them, and my bad feelings became history. It was very therapeutic!

As well, my kids started looking at me with new eyes. They really admired the skiers in the show, and perhaps for a few minutes, they could see that I had had an interesting life before they arrived on the planet. John and I sat in the sun with local brew for him and local wine for me - after all, we are on the Weinstrasse!

We finished the day in Neustadt, looking for the Elwetridchers from the forests - an old legend from that area. We drove again to Hassloch where I had lived to try and find the one good friend I had left behind. No luck. Too bad we didn't have Facebook in those days - maybe we wouldn't have lost touch. I had one more lead from the internet, and so we made plans to head to Mainz the next day on the off-chance that I would get to see my friend. Allegra and I tumbled into a pretty room with white duvets, while Birch and John roughed it in Hotel Diahatsu in the rain, everyone sleeping where they want to sleep, happy and content.

-Carolyn

]]><![CDATA[Crazy King Ludwig - Birch]]>Thu, 03 May 2012 12:18:27 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/crazy-king-ludwig-birch

Today we went to Neuschwanstein Castle. It's the castle from Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang and also inspired part of the Harry Potter Castle. It was built by King Ludwig II in eighteen sixty nine and construction stopped at his death in eighteen eighty six with only one third of the castle completed. When we arrived at the small town of Schwangau, we walked up the hill to the castle. King Ludwig built it to be beautiful rather than a stronghold. It's on a hilltop with cliffs, a waterfall, a lake and mountains on one side and fields and the town on the other side. We walked up a big spiral staircase to the throne room, which was absolutely beautiful. All the walls and the ceiling were painted with vibrant murals, but the most eye-catching thing for me was the chandelier in the middle of the room. I overheard from a guide that ...

it weighed one thousand kilograms.
Now, King Ludwig only lived in his castle for one hundred and seventy two days, but he had running water, electric lighting, and a phone. His bedroom had more murals of knights and princesses, he had a sink where the faucet was a life size brass swan, and it took fourteen wood carvers four years to make his bed. We went through another room, and a hallway that was an artificial cave, with stalagmites and stalactites. The next room was his private theatre, where singers came to perform for an audience of one. He was a patron of Wagner and had the privilege of private concerts.

Who knows if he was crazy? I don't think he was. When his father died, Ludwig was made king. He was the same age as I am now! Older men tried to influence him, and when they wanted to get rid of him, a doctor declared him insane. Ludwig said, "Hey, you never even examined me!" The doctor led him away for a health walk, asking that no one accompany them. They were both found drowned in the lake, which was only waist deep.

Beautiful castle though. Allegra and Mom took a horse-drawn carriage while Dad and I ran through the woods up the mountain to a breath-taking bridge. Many people hang-glide off the nearby cliffs. We beat them to the bottom and were waiting as they came off the carriage.

]]><![CDATA[ Wakeboarding in Germany]]>Wed, 02 May 2012 11:40:37 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/wakeboarding-in-germany

One of the reasons we like having a car and taking our time to get to a destination is to go off the beaten track with no agenda. When you drive off the main highways, you never know what you will stumble upon. Touring through the Alps on a winding small motorway, we pulled off on the side of a lake for a picnic. We spied some wooden tables through the trees. As we plopped down on a bench, a wakeboarder flipped in the air and landed just metres from the shore. Birch was very excited: we had come across a very cool lake with a pulley system for wakeboarders, waterskiers and wakesurfing - with no boats! For the next two hours, in freezing mountain water, Birch had a blast! There were all kinds of jumps and rails to push his skill level.
- Carolyn

P.S. Do you call it wakeboarding when there is no wake?

]]><![CDATA[Lichtenstein - Scary ghosts in the castle?]]>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:27:56 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/lichtenstein-scary-ghosts-in-the-castle

On a gorgeous sunny day, coming out of the Italian alps, and travelling along valleys to Switzerland, we decided to have a picnic in Lichtenstein. It is quite beautiful: green, quiet, peaceful. Flowers everywhere. Whipping wind. As we climbed up the hill to the Gutenberg Castle, signage everywhere explained the multiple ghost stories that abound here. The more we read, the odder it felt. Then, Birch and Allegra . . .

in some roughhouse playing, starting screeching as if they were being attacked.

Was it the ghosts of the murdered townsfolk?

Hundreds of welts appeared on each of the kids, Birch more than Allegra. Extremely painful. We found out later it was the dreaded stinging nettles! No wonder old europeans feared nature!
Carolyn

]]><![CDATA[Beautiful Switzerland]]>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:40:52 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/beautiful-switzerland

After a rather uncomfortable but inexpensive sleep we set off from our pull out north of Balzano and head towards Zurich in the early morning hours the next day. Taking one of the alternative roads into Switerland requires that we drive through an overpass. The drive is spectacular and nail-biting. The steep, winding and twisting road reveals spectacular views at each switch back and as we climb it gets colder and colder and soon we driving through snow covered scenery. Down the mountain pass and soon we arrive at the Swiss border. There is a border entrance with the tiny border buildings but no one is inside. The Swiss are not part of the European Union and I am ready with all our passports in hand but the border is un-manned and we get on our way.
Driving in Switerland is candy for all the senses. Each small town is beautifully kept and you can see tiny villages nestled in the valleys surrounded by mountains. We decide to . . .

stop at a small town for to stretch our legs and enjoy a coffee and a treat. Sitting at our outdoor tables we see the locals going about their daily routines, cyclists of all ages travelling along to the local grocer, butcher and baker, children on their way to school and moms with new-borns getting out for a walk. We are in Switzerland and we are really enjoying it!
It's time to go so we pile into the car and set off. While purchasing our coffee, Carolyn inquires about getting to the next village and the owner informs us that the overpass is still closed due to snow and we need to take the tunnel throught the mountain rather than over it. We follow the directions given and arrive at a booth to the tunnel entrance. I am expecting to pay a toll and continue on my way. This is not the case: rather, this crossing is done by train where all the cars are loaded onto train cars and while parked the train carries its cargo through the tunnel. Quite organized and efficient. After a thirty minute wait (it's like waiting for the ferry for Bowen Island) we are all loaded and are transported through. Again we marvel at the beauty of Switerland with its towering mountains and green valleys.
Soon enough we are nearing Zurich and Carolyn proposes we make a small detour into Lichtenstein, which is a tiny country between Switzerland and Austra. We detour here and go for a walk and climb a small hill to the token castle (I think every major town in Europe has its token castle) where we take in beautiful views and then head back down for a picnic lunch by a pond.
John

]]><![CDATA[Visit with Franz]]>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:40:45 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/visit-with-franz

We arrive in Zurich and it is great to see our friend Franz. After warm embraces, we are shown to our own apartment. That's right - our own apartment! As luck would have it, Franz had a vacant apartment in which we could stay! We parked our new, new car and unloaded our gear and quickly got settled in. We open the door to the apartment and as we explore our new space, Birch and Allegra immediately find chocolate bunnies on the beds and are ecstatic. The bunnies were compliments of Franz's mom. We are then invited for a BBQ dinner at his parents' home just down the road. We had met his parents about seven years earlier while they were visiting in Canada. It is great seeing them again on their turf. We exchange stories and enjoy an excellent dinner together.
Our time in Zurich was a good mix of . . .

relaxing, exploring and spending time with Franz and his family. Franz, Birch and I went for a hike one afternoon while Carolyn and Allegra spent the day in downtown Zurich at the fabulous national art gallery. Another day Birch and I went for a great bike ride following a river valley and exploring the nearby parkland. Biking is a great way to get to know a new city. We thoroughly enjoyed our ride even though I got a flat tire about 5km from Franz's home.

This is the first time we have had to use an epi-pen on the trip. Apparently it had been very cold before we arrived, but then the temperature shot up. All the flowers and trees bloomed at once. The pollen was so thick that Carolyn's breathing became very laboured. She had a very bad reaction, but all was okay with the magic adrenalin. Hurray for science!
In Lucerne, there is a Museum of Transportation: planes, trains and automobiles. Birch and I were mesmerized by the exhibits. Carolyn and I rode Segways, drove the latest electric cars and had fun on electric bikes. Allegra hated the entire day. She was much more interested in our visit to the Swiss chocolate Lindt store - filled with dozens of variations on the golden bunny with the red collar and tinkle bell.
Carolyn did find a new "favorite artist", 93-year-old Hans Erni. She is quite fickle that way...
We had an excellent visit and Franz and his parents were great hosts. We reluctantly said our goodbyes as we headed back on the road again.
John

]]><![CDATA[Off to Switzerland]]>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:29:38 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/off-to-switzerland

Our next stop after visiting family in Slovenia is to visit a friend who was our neighbour in Steveston and has now moved back to Zurich. While in Slovenia we manage to connect with Franz via email and we arrange to visit at the end of April. After saying our good-byes to Zio Flavio and Mary along with many Slovenian and Italian relatives we head off toward Switzerland armed with print offs of our route from Google Maps and in our New New car. Driving through Europe is rather easy, the road signs are clearly marked and as long as you know which major city you are heading towards and other large cities on route it is fairly easy to get around, especially if you stay on the major freeways. We decide to . . .

take the secondary roads because it makes for a more interesting drive and we are not in any hurry. With Carolyn's superior navigational skills we manage to make our way through the Italian Alps. The drive is beautiful and soon enough we arrive at Caltzano and inquire about a place to stay for the night. We discover that most of the hotels are closed since the ski season is over and only a hand full are still open for business. After checking a couple of hotels we decide to keep driving and get closer to the Swiss border. Soon it gets dark and by 10:00pm we decide to pull over and sleep in the hotel Daihatsu. I find a place to park the car and we pull out the Hotel Daiatshu blankets, after adjusting the car seats and settling in we all slowly doze off. Our first official driving day in Europe has ended and we are within a few hours of Switzerland.
John

]]><![CDATA[Destination: Dubrovnik]]>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:01:17 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/destination-dubrovnik

This is the fourth visit I have made to visit family in Slovenia. The last visit, seven years ago, was to see my grandmother before she passed on. Thankfully Birch and Allegra got a chance to meet her then: even though they were young at the time they do have a few memories of her. On the trip this year, I wanted to make sure that we all got down to Dubrovnik. I have always heard a lot about the walled city but never made the time to go. Well this time we did! We drove along the Croatian coast in our new, new car. We packed the car with all of our belongings and we are on our way. It is a little nerve racking in the beginning knowing the recent history with our new, new car. As we drive off . . .

a little voice in the back of my head is saying, "Will the car make it, will the car make it?" After about an hour of driving that voice stopped and the car ran like a gem. Again, I am grateful the car broke down when it did!!

The drive along the coast is absolutely spectacular. It is very similar to the sea to sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler, only longer. The road winds along, hugging the coastline presenting us with endless views of the brilliant blue Adriatic Ocean on one side and the bare scrubby mountains on the other. As we wind and twist along we are constantly taking in the panoramas before us. We slowly make our way to Dubrovnik with a few stops on the way down.
The first stop was at a campsite just south of Rijeka. This is our first attempt with all of us sleeping in the car which I will refer to as Hotel Daihatsu. Allegra and I slept in the back, while Birch and Carolyn slept in the front seats. We got ourselves comfortable and cozy with our blankets. I hardly slept in the back and Carolyn said she was cold and uncomfortable. I asked the kids how they slept and they were a little more enthusiastic but the general concensus was that Hotel Daihatsu is only a good last resort Hotel.

What I enjoy most about travelling in our own vehicle is the freedom we have, deciding on the fly where we want to go and how we will get there. Before arriving in Dubrovnik we stop at a small town called Karlobad, a beach side stop and finally we get to our destination.

We arrived at the outskirts of Dubrovnik in the early afternoon which allowed us to stop at a number of Bread and Breakfasts along the way to inquire about accomodation and price. Luckily it is not the busy time of year and most places are available at reasonable prices and we choose a wonderful B & B six kilometres out of Dubrovnik proper in a small inlet by the sea. We settle in and enjoy beautiful views while sipping an afternoon tea on the back balcony overlooking the water below. The owner wisely suggests that we drive into Dubrovnik late in the afternoon because two large cruise ships have arrived that morning and the walled city is overflowing with the cruise ship crowds that leave late in the afternoon to board their respective ships and continue on their way.

Following this advice we arrive into Dubrovnik in the late afternoon, it is a little windier and it looks like a storm is brewing but the crowds are definitely diminished and we begin to explore this ancient town. Dubrovnik is a world class city. It is surrounded by a huge wall that runs about two kilometres around its perimeter and you have to enter through one of the few large gates to gain access into its centre. There is a main cobblestoned avenue that runs from the east gate to the west gate surrounded by old buildings and cathedrals with red tiled roofs. Spectacular.
We spent three days exploring a few museums, churches and walking along the perimeter atop the wall. We really enjoyed our time here and on the final afternoon Birch and I climb the neighbouring hillside to a large fort above Dubrovnik which gave us more spectacular views of the city and sea below.
We met a fellow whose family has lived in the same house for 750 years! He was quite upset that his 20-something son wanted to move. I can see both points of view.
John

]]><![CDATA[A Day In Venice]]>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:13:42 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/a-day-in-venice

Although we had visited Venice in 2004, Allegra remembered nothing, being 3 at the time. I have very fond memories, especially of our accommodation, Palazzo dei Tre Archi. At the time, my italian was very limited, and we all thought we were checking into a palace. Very exciting! Allegra had asked for the Princess's room. We walked into a hotel lobby with a throne (actually a gilded wooden chair with red velvet upholstery), handblown chandelier and wall sconces - crystal and gold leaf completely overdone - Allegra loved it! Our room (in 2004) had two story high french doors with a balcony overlooking the garden. Actually, we were in quite an inexpensive hotel, decked out in rococo style, right on the canals. It turns out that "palazzo" in italian simply means "building", not an actual palace at all.
When I tried to book in this year, things had changed: it was 500 Euros a night. So we decided to just go for coffee. When we arrived . . .

this time, the rooms were tired, cramped and no longer beautiful, special, fit-for-a-fairy-princess. They had a utilitarian breakfast room, no coffee, and I wished we had never gone back!

You can't step into the same river twice... or canal.

However, our day in Venice was as magical as ever!

We went to numerous churches - our favourite was La Chiesa della Santa Lucia - She is famous because, as a young girl, she made a promise to God that if he cured her mother, she would give away everything she had. Her betrothed really didn't like the idea of marrying a girl without a dowry, so he had her arrested and tortured. She gouged out her own eyeballs and gave them to her fiance before she was carried up to heaven. So now Santa Lucia is the patron saint of the blind. We think she has chutzpah.
Saw 7 cathedrals, all very old, peaceful and awe-inspiring: shining gold mosaics,beautiful sumptuous paintings on walls and ceilings, ornate marble-tiled floors. I went to a Klimt exhibit (my new favourite artist) in a museum built by Napoleon while John went up a tower (campanile) overlooking St.Mark's Square, where the kids played with pigeons and had a great time.

Cappuccinos in the sunshine, pizza and gelato on the steps of the train station on the Grand Canal watching the gondoliers. Walked through the tiny alleyways for 8 hours - Allegra and I both had aching legs on the train home to Slovenia - Birch and John had no problem! Allegra slept for thirteen hours!
A great day!
Carolyn

]]><![CDATA[Bled, Slovenia: Birch]]>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:54:14 GMThttp://www.lifewithbackpacks.com/blog/bled-slovenia-birch

During breakfast, Mom found a wallet with quite a lot of money in it. She turned it in and it turned out to belong to a Polish guy. In gratitude, they gave her a bottle of pear liqueur, apparently a Polish treat, and some beautiful glasses. Allegra, Iris, Tadej and I ran up a steep hill to Castle Bled. It's built right into a cliff above a lake and the view is spectacular! I could see little rowers on the bright blue water, the snow capped mountains surrounding the lake, and a little church on a tiny island. Eventually we
met up with our parents, and we all went to the museum. There was this one room with a really old printing press, so we got a card printed as a reminder of this beautiful place. After that we . . .

went to get a creme schnitta, recommended by Ingrid as it was a local dessert. They displayed the ingredients as cream, sugar, butter, flour. In that order. And it wasn't small either, it was seven centimetres by seven centimetres, which is actually pretty big. Kind of like a mille feuille, but with way more custard.

After we were done eating, we bought a picnic and looked for a place to eat. After walking along the beach for an hour and a half, we settled down on the shore and made ourselves some salami sandwiches. Our two families rented rowboats and rowed to the little island. I loved rowing around, and just being on the water was fun. It felt really good to move my arms and breathe the fresh mountain air. When we got to the island, we went inside the little church. I rung the bell three times: supposedly, if you ring the bell three times your wish will come true. After our visit to the church we rowed back to the shore and then I rowed Iris, Allegra and Tedej around the little island. I was so happy. Today was really great!
Birch

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