Hot, hot, hot!!

Well we have arrived in beautiful Croatia. Soooo hot. Average mid 30's temp. We are staying in Brist, which is coastal beach village. Beautiful views of the sea and a very pretty village. Lots of tourists come to stay at Brist. Scott's side of the family are from here and his parents have done up the old family home. My family are from Komin, which is a 20 minute drive inland. It's a village that runs along the Neretve river. Both sets of parents are here at the moment too so very helpful with communicating with family. Can understand and speak some but certainly not fluent!! We have been going back and forth to visit family and friends which has been lovely. Kids are loving it. Especially Brist as every morning when they wake up they just walk down the path to the beach for their first swim of the day. 

 View from the balcony in Brist

Sitting at the one of the local Brist restaurants having a "drink" while watching the kids swim!

Kids enjoy jumping of the wharf

View of the house when walking in front door. 

Kids standing along side river in Komin

Met up with fellow Wellington friends in Komin too

Setting off flares in Komin while watching the Komin boat rowers row by in the annual race through many towns. Around 40 teams from around Croatia and also other countries. They row for 22.5km. They usually win but alas second this year. 

Lined up along river to watch the boats

Some of the boats racing

View of Komin church on the hill from mum and dads house window. 

Visiting the grave of my grandparents in Komin

Sunset in Komin yesterday

Niko

My time in LA has been very very cool and so much fun. We went to Disneyland and my favourite ride was splash mountain. You hop into a log boat and you ride along a river and there are sudden drops with one big huge drop at the end where you get soaked! The next we went to California Adventureland. My favourite ride there was the Grizzly water rapid ride. It had fast currents and big drops. We also got soaked right through. Luka went on a big fast scary rollercoster called California Screamin. He was crazy! We also went in the Mickey Mouse Fun wheel. Mum got scared and said some words we are not allowed to repeat! LA is a very big, fun place. Today we are flying to Munich for 11 hours. Then onto Croatia. 

Mia

Yay! Disneyland is so fun,first we went on the Indiana Jones ride you couldn't look into the skeletons eyes. Next my brothers  and dad went on the Pirates of the caribeins me and mum didn't. On Sunday we went to Disneyland again but we went into California Adventure the first ride Luka Niko dad and I went on was the grizzly river raft it wasn't a baby ride because we got soaked,and there were high drops too. When we got to the double tree Hotel we got straight into the pool,me and Niko were trying to balance on these blue things we had so much Fun!!

Luka

I have had a great time in L.A so far. First we went to Disney land my favourite ride was splash mountain. I also went on the California Screamin in California adventure and also the cars race ride. Yesterday I went on a tour around Beverly Hills and Hollywood and after went down the Santa Monica pier and I went on another rollercoster which was so beast.  L.A was so beast!

LA Tour

Today we went on an amazing 5 hour tour of LA. Went to places like Rodeo Drive, drove through Beverley Hills and other affluent places. Went to the Farmers market and Hollywood touristy places too. Was a lot of fun and very informative. Could easily of done some other tours if we had time. After we got back we went to the Santa Monica Pier which was cool and had a few rides there. Spent our last night on Third Street Pronenade doing some more shopping, where once again kids seemed to come away happier than me. Leaving tomorrow afternoon to head to Munich and then Split. Loved Los Angeles!

Disney

We had a change of plans and went outlet shopping on the day we were going to go to Disneyland (Saturday). Mainly because we got up a bit too late to get there right when it opened (8am). So off we went to Citadel Outlet shopping (opened 10am!). Let's just say it was harder to shop for yourself when you have 3 kids with you! Was a great experience though.  

Sunday was Disneyland day. An awesome place. Of course Scott and I went on no roller coasters. Luka was keen but didn't want to go on by himself. So he lucked out! Went on other rides that were fun though. Stayed till about 1pm and then went back to our hotel for a swim to cool down. Kids were well ready to go back by then. Had a few cocktails at the bar (non alcoholic piña coladas for the kids!) to refuel. We decided to have an early dinner at a yummy Vietnamese restaurant and then headed back to Disneyland around 8pm to watch the parade and fireworks. Fireworks show was truely amazing and worth coming back for despite the huge crowds. Managed to fit in a ride on Its a small world (tame) and the spinning teacups while waiting. Of course Luka and Niko had to spin it faster so Scott was just about hurling! A magical place. 

Monday was California Adventure Park day. Right next to Disneyland. Really cool park. We all went on the popular Radiator Springs ride (from the Cars movie) which was so much fun. A little bit fast and roller coasterish for me so screamed the loudest but would of gone on it again if the queue wasn't hours long! We had grabbed a fast pass which lets you get a ticket and come back at a dedicated time so you don't have to queue and wait as long. So we grabbed that just as the park opened at 8am and then came back for the ride at 10am. By the time we came off, the fast pass time was not till 9pm! Luka finally went on a scary roller coaster (by himself!) called California Screamin'. Madness. Truely think I would of had heart failure if I went on it. He loved it of course. River rapid ride was cool and wet too. Left the park at 12 and are now off to Santa Monica to stay there for 3 days. Nice to get away from theme parks now. Kids seem to have done their dash with it too. Such sore feet!