Five sleeps till Papacino and Nanny Rita!

Happy Birthday at the Grander Schupf

 

And it went so quick that finally we were on our way to meet our first set of visiting family members from the airport!  If you’re wondering who Papacino is, it’s my Dad!  A nickname given to him before Amelia was born as he thought Grandad sounded too old so we suggested Papa as we already had a Poppy and as he loves going out to café’s for a morning cuppa, so Papacino came about and just stuck!  And Nanny Rita is self explanatory!  It’s a bit of a mouthful though.  Papacino and Nanny Rita.  Thought about combining them in the way that Tom and Katie became TomKat and Brad and Angelina became Brangelina!  So how does PapaNana sound?  Or The Cino’s?  Sorry Dad, had to give a bit of an explanation as it’s a unique name for a GRANDAD! But we couldn’t imagine you with any other!

Gorge Walk

Anyway, he hired a great little car, and all my anxiety about him driving on the wrong side of the road was a waste of energy as he handled it no problems, apart from very nearly sideswiping a few posts and kerbs which had me ducking for cover.  Amelia and Noah were so excited to see them and equally excited to open the bag of presents, which included a fairy that flies on her own (magic!) and lego for Noah.  They were straight to bed though as it was late and school next morning.



The weather was great while they were here, a couple of quite hot days, around 30 degrees, when they took the opportunity to visit the swimming pools and get some exercise and bath in the sun.  Rita’s birthday on the Thursday we took a drive into Kitzbuhel, a ritzy expensive little town with oldy worldy charm and really expensive clothes and jewellery but averagely priced coffee and cake in which we indulged.  In my excitement of having a long awaited day off without the kiddlies I overdid things by ordering a Café Grande, not expecting it to be served in a soup bowl.  Three coffees in one left me with a bit of a frown clutching my stomach and keeping a close eye on the whereabouts of the public loos.  That evening for Rita’s birthday we had dinner at the Grander Schupf restaurant, the very same in which we spent our Christmas, the one with the slide going down to the toilets.  I realized at this visit as my German has since improved that the slide is for people with ski boots on, as it’s pretty impossible to walk down steps, and you are supposed to sit sideways with your legs dangling over the side.  Now it all makes sense.  Bit disappointed in Nanny Rita though as she can speak German but still rode down 4 or 5 times, feet first, squealing all the way!  But her German did help us out with ordering, and she actually got something that wasn’t even on the menu and we were all delighted with our dishes even though it was an hour long wait! 



Rescuing Noah from the Kneipp

Knocked out after Dads Thai Red Curry

Poured of rain on Saturday but Sunday we took a drive out with the intention of spending a relaxing day at the second largest lake in the south of Germany, Chiemsee.  In the madness of preparing for the trip with two children Maciek had said to anyone listening, “It should be good, it’s got the longest beach on the second largest lake in the south of Germany.” which I later relayed as (remember I was running about like a chook without a head and hadn’t given this statement a second of thought) “It’ll be great there, it’s got the longest beach in the world!” and only as the words escaped did I realize that once again I’d been tricked by my husband into saying something completely stupid and nonsensical!  So back to the point, we had forgotten our Sat Nav, so failed to find ‘the longest beach in the world’ and failed to impress The Cino’s who were happy to sit in the warmth of a café with a cup of tea (just kidding!) and an apple strudel!  So after an hour of driving we changed our plans and headed to Innsbruck (“Is it old?” asks Dad, “No, course not, we’re smack in the middle of Europe and everything is completely brand new and modern.”  I replied.  He he he!) only to realize that Munich was half the distance so headed there instead.  And after all the kerfuffle of the morning, we ended up having a brilliant day in Munich, the sun came out, we wandered around, HAD A COFFEE, and finished the day in the Hofbrauhaus for steins of beer and giant pretzels and more apfel strudel and big brass band oompa loompa music!



Munich

We forced them on a short hike, you have to do it while you’re here!  Not far, just down that path and round a bit and up that hill!  Very nice, along the river and into a gorge.  And after we ended up in the village hotel/restaurant/café for a … can you guess?....Wrong!....Icecream!  Again a long wait but worth it in the end as it was absolutely massive.  Imagine the biggest icecream fruit sundae you’ve ever had and triple it!  After that we walked to the Kneipp.  A kneipp is a shallow pool fed by water running down from the mountain, and words can’t describe how cold it is!  The purpose is to go hiking and then do a lap in the Kniepp, great for circulation and general health.  Apparently.  It really hurts!  Half way round if feels like your legs are going to drop off!  Well impressed though with PapaNana, then both did it without complaints, even twice if I remember correctly! 



Munich

It was all over too quickly.  Only five days.  But lovely to see family again, it’s been a whole year since we left home!  And it was a lucky escape too with their suitcase packed for Phuket and one jacket just incase, as the next day it snowed!  Great bit fat fluffy flakes of it!  From 30 degrees to snow in the space of four days!  So Dad and Rita, you’re almost home sweet home now.  Hope you had a fantastic trip and we look forward to seeing  you again sometime soon! xxxx

Hooray Shoulders!!




K