Raising Tiny Nomad: Inspiring a Love for Travel and Culture

Cóż wyspa, na której się zatrzymaliśmy stanowi odzwierciedlenie raju. Turkusowa woda pełna kolorowych ryb, cudowna piaszczysta plaża, niewiarygodnie, soczysto zielona roślinność, temperatura oscylująca całą dobę w okolicach 30-35 st. a do tego wszelkie udogodnienia dobrego ośrodka wypoczynkowego. Czyste przestronne, klimatyzowane bungalowy, ładny basen, doskonała restauracja, doskonale wyposażony ośrodek dla płetwonurków… Można by stronicami wymieniać kolejne zalety… Ale jak się okazuje raj dla zwykłych śmiertelników z 2 letnim Maluszkiem może stanowić problem. Problem ten jednak związany był ze swoistą mentalną barierą rodziców wychowanych w mieście, którzy obawiają się, że Maleństwo przerazi się bardzo „bliskiego” kontaktu z naturą.  Czy przesuwające się setki muszelek (krabów) nie wystraszą Pii? Czy podpływające metrowe (i większe) ryby w tym małe rekiny nie będą problemem w morskich kąpielach?  Czy 10 cm karaluchy i 15 cm jaszczurki w łazience nie zniechęcą Małej Po...

Nasze Maleństwo uwielbia latać samolotami, nie mam problemów ze zmianą ciśnień, nie reaguje na turbulencje. Niemniej jednak dość poważnie obawialiśmy się jak zniesie lot hydroplanem.  Nasze doświadczenia z lotów tego typu samolotami w Kanadzie były jednoznacznie pozytywne. Jednak utkwił nam w pamięci dotkliwy hałas panujący w kabinie oraz dość gwałtowne lądowanie. Niestety nie mieliśmy wyboru, alternatywą dla 45 minutowego lotu z Male do Filtheyo była dwudniowa podróż łodzią. Po dotarciu do Male bez trudu trafiliśmy do punktu transferowego linii Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA). Uprzejmi pracownicy sprawnie odebrali nasze bagaże, a my zostaliśmy zaproszeni do kilkunastoosobowego busa, którym zostaliśmy przetransportowani do mieszczącego się na tej samej wyspie co port międzynarodowy - terminalu hydroplanów.  Infrastruktura tego największego na świecie portu wodnosamolotów wywarła na nas olbrzymie wrażenie. Wszystko zorganizowane dokładnie tak jak na tradycyjnym lotnisk...

The renovated airport in Qatar has received numerous awards and is considered one of the best in this part of the world. Our feelings about it are, to put it mildly, mixed. If you happen to arrive at the airport during peak hours, you must be prepared for very unpleasant experiences. Twice we found ourselves in a situation where we were shuttled to the plane/terminal by bus. What's so terrible about that? Well, nothing really, except for the scorching 50-degree heat. In such conditions, descending/ascending stairs with a little one and then waiting in the bus for several minutes (with the doors open) for the remaining passengers turns into a nightmare. The next surprise is the security check, mandatory for all passengers arriving in Qatar, regardless of whether their destination is this country or just a transfer. During peak hours, you can wait for the security check for up to an hour. Since security procedures are mainly overseen by Indians, it's hard to expect special condit...

After the unpleasant experiences in January with Tegel Airport, we decided never to fly from Berlin again. As is usually the case in life, when you make a decision, fate always plays a trick on you. So, four months later, we found ourselves in the German capital again to fly to Doha. Once again, Tegel Airport did not surprise us with anything positive. Widespread dirt, terrible organization, generally unfavorable conditions, especially after spending 5 hours on the road in the car for a long journey ahead. For example, Robert had to take the wrapped stroller, the so-called "green" one, to a special check-in point located several hundred meters away, one floor below. It wasn't a big problem for my husband, but I can't imagine the situation if I had to do it alone, with 16 kg Pia in one hand and a 15 kg stroller in the other, burdened with additional hand luggage that could only be carried in my teeth, running around this "super organized" (hopeless, in oth...

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...