Raising Tiny Nomad: Inspiring a Love for Travel and Culture

This time a few words about a much closer trip. Pia, along with her parents ;) was invited to her Uncle Ark's anniversary celebration. The party was organized at the charming Rybakówka agrotourism farm located directly by the reservoir, surrounded by impressive forest areas. Initially, we were not sure if we should stay overnight (the farm is located about 80 km from Toruń), but the wonderful air, the rustle of trees, and the gentle splashing of water encouraged us to take a moment to relax. Unfortunately, due to Robert's work obligations, we couldn't stay until Monday. Pia had a large space at her disposal, providing ample opportunities for her to explore her wildest ideas. As it turned out, among the invited guests was also 4-year-old Emilia. The girls played hide-and-seek, tag, and even tried spinning tops. They also had a chance to ride pony horses. Once dusk fell, the party moved to the dance and billiards area. Pia definitely took ownership of the pool table, testing...

In the case of previous trips, I have never encountered such a polarized issue. On one hand, both Malta and Gozo have a well-developed network of bus connections, but on the other hand, traveling with a toddler by public transportation can be quite an adventurous undertaking. Among the undeniable advantages of traveling by bus is the price. An adult pays 1.5 Euro for a day pass, while children under 3 or 4 travel for free. The buses are modern, well-equipped, and perfectly maintained. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver. Another advantage of this mode of transportation is its coverage. By bus, we can reach virtually any place in Malta (and Gozo) 24 hours a day. Each driver speaks excellent British English and generally exhibits a high level of personal courtesy. After these considerations, it may seem that everything speaks in favor of using the bus. However, there are serious drawbacks. The first and most significant issue is safety. Only one stroller can be accommodated...

Przed wyjazdem, jak i na miejscu przeglądałam informacje na temat atrakcji dla dzieci. Cóż gdybyśmy mieli na nich bazować to chyba wychodzenie z Pią poza hotel pozbawione byłoby większego sensu. Jednak rzeczywistość jest zdecydowanie bardziej pozytywna niż wizerunek wyspy wykreowany w Sieci. Podczas naszego pobytu nie zdążyliśmy wybrać się do Playmobile Park czy też wioski Papaja (najbardziej polecane w mediach społecznościowych) ponieważ nasze Maleństwo cudownie bawiło się na licznych, doskonale wyposażonych placach zabaw.  Co ciekawe w zdecydowanej większości tego typu miejsc dostępne są darmowe, publiczne toalety oraz WiFi, co było wielką zaletą w trakcie przebywania na placu zabaw mojego Kochanego MĘŻA. Place są ogrodzone i wyłożone bezpiecznymi, amortyzującymi ewentualne upadki płytami. Sporo miejsc jest zacienionych, liczne ławeczki dają możliwość złapania oddechu w pozycji siedzącej. Naszemu Łobuziakowi najbardziej przypadł do gustu plac zabaw zlokalizowany w Sliema...

Traditionally, everything started very innocently. Robert avidly follows the "super deals" of the travel market, so when I noticed a promotion by Wizz Air for flights from Gdańsk to Malta, I simply asked if he had seen the current offers from this carrier as well. I received a curt "no" as a response, but a few hours later, my Wonderful Husband returned to the conversation, informing me that indeed the offer was interesting, which is why he had bought us tickets at an incredibly low price. Robert studied in Malta a long, long time ago and often mentioned that it is an extraordinary, magical place that has been a crossroads of many cultures for centuries. Well, for me, the most important thing was that we would be able to bask in the rays of the Mediterranean sun with Pia. After painstakingly researching hotel offers, we managed to find a good promotion at the Westin Dragonara Resort. A few days later, I quickly packed my suitcase, Robert returned at 12:30 from his c...

Już 9 dni w Toruniu…. troszkę korci aby się gdzieś wybrać. Robert skończył troszkę wcześniej zajęcia na  Uniwersytecie   a my dziewczyny postanowiłyśmy przemieścić się bliżej morza ;-) Pia stwierdziła, że chce pojechać na plażę więc wiele się nie zastanawiając spakowałam ekipę i ruszyliśmy do Sopotu. Po drodze mój Mąż przy pomocy Tripadvisor zrobił mały rekonesans po trójmiejskich „jadłodajniach” i padła propozycja skosztowania wyrafinowanej kuchni francuskiej. W planach mieliśmy długi spacer po molo i zabawy na plaży, a następnie podładowanie baterii. Na szczęście nasze małe Szczęście ostatnimi czasy powróciło do drzemek w ciągu dnia i nasza podróż przebiegła wręcz fantastycznie. Piunia ukołysana jazdą samochodem pospał troszkę dłużej dając możliwość rozprostowania nóg rodzicom w pobliskich sklepach i po udanych zakupach przebudziła się okrutnie głodna…   Mój szanowny mąż Robert, któremu zdążyła wyładować się w między czasie komórka- skarbnica wiedzy, pewien swego...

After a week in the mountains, it was time to return home. Robert arranged for a bus transfer to the airport, which turned out to be a perfect choice. After less than two hours, we arrived at Valeria Cetullo Airport, where we enjoyed a delicious octopus salad and sardines with onions and raisins after a smooth check-in process. A glass of Amarone Masi 2008 complemented the array of flavors. Pia devoured her potatoes and a substantial portion of seafood. In good spirits, we boarded the plane. In the row ahead of us sat three heavily sedated skiers who, inspired by our little one, began discussing the essence of parenthood. The most cheerful passenger, named Wacek, after drinking another diluted bottle of whiskey with Coca-Cola, made a rather interesting statement, which I will quote in its original form... In our daughter's mouth, "Mother" is love, it's a feeling, but the word "Father" is fking powerful, it's such a fking force. "Daddy...

Contemplating the choice of accommodation, aside from the classic aspects related to ski infrastructure, we had slightly different perceptions. On one hand, a private apartment provides more freedom, the possibility of preparing meals independently, and usually more space. On the other hand, a hotel offers primarily the opportunity to interact with other guests and access amenities such as a pool, kids club, and, for the lazy ones, relief from cleaning and cooking. Taking into account all the pros and cons in the context of our daughter's expectations, we opted for a hotel. Two-year-old Pia is definitely too young (in terms of age and height, she easily qualifies) for her first skiing experiences, but she possesses immense energy resources that need to be discharged in a controlled manner. The most helpful instruments guaranteeing the safety of the "chain reaction" process are the pool, spacious lobby, and kids club. The hotel we chose ensured all these amenities. The onl...