After a very hot and sticky night, we woke to the youngest child having reverted back to her usual self. “Who is your favourite person?” she asked us all this morning. Before any of us could respond, she informed us all that SHE was her favourite person. No great surprise there then.
We packed the car and set off to find breakfast. I was sure I could eat something healthy, perhaps some fruit or something protein laden. We stopped at a service station and found croissants, pain au chocolat and breadsticks dipped in Nutella. Healthy breakfast fail. After also failing to get coffee from a machine due to some complicated ticket system that I didn’t understand, we finally got our caffeine fix at the next services and set off for the Czech Republic.
Again the journey was fairly uneventful, other than a van engulfed in flames on the other side of the motorway in Germany! We played our usual games…holding our breath through tunnels (to the point that I always worry the driver might pass out) and M’s choice, ‘the link game’. The link game is basically word association but is quite stressful with our smallest girl, especially as she always seems to follow my hubby, who makes fairly obscure links. I spend most of my time with 4 and 5 year olds, so know how to play with children in mind. We tried to change the direction of play to help M, but an argument ensued as to who was starting the game. Eventually M lost the plot and then screamed at her sister, “Mummy says not to talk to me when I’m angry.” I did indeed say this but it’s kind of backfired on me, as most of my strategies with this child do.
The other challenge with service stations on this journey, is my eldest child’s absolute fear of a) getting locked in a toilet b) a self-flushing toilet flushing on her. To be fair, both of these things have happened to her in the past so the trauma is real. It just makes every toilet stop complicated and drawn out.
Anyway, after driving most of the day through Germany, we eventually entered the Czech Republic. The road to Karlstejn was small and windy and I could see the dubious looks from my hubby out of the corner of my eye. We drove through beautiful forest and I was uncharacteristically optimistic. I was right to be so, as this place is gorgeous. It’s a small town on the river, surrounded by tree covered hills. A railway runs through it but Karlstejn is remarkably quiet. We went and paddled in the river before watching a hot air balloon take off from the field next us.
This evening we ate dinner outside at our hotel and tried to tell the children how lucky they are to be able to travel. We sat in the dark and talked about how important these trips are to us. I feel relaxed. This is rare. 
Day 2 – another success.
