Last check in from Slovenia!
June 27, 2024
For the final stretch of the trip, it was finally time to say our goodbyes to Slovenia, a country filled with beautiful views and people, and make our way to Croatia. Our drive included a couple of stops along the way. First, we enjoyed wandering around the quaint village of Smartlo, in the region of Brda, right across from the Italian border. Here, we walked the narrow streets and watched a video that showed us a glimpse of what traditional life was like. Next, it was time to put our cooking skills to the test. By dividing and conquering, we created a gourmet dining experience.
Our first course was an exquisite vegetable minestrone soup, with earthy flavors and veggies straight from the garden. Next up was fresh pasta with a creamy meat sauce, a collaboration between Adriana, Caroline Castellaw, Katelyn, and Sara. Adriana was the sauce queen, crafting the perfect balance of cream, sausage, and seasoning to make everyone’s taste buds dance in delight. Sara and Katelyn’s pasta looked tenuous at the start, with egg yolk flinging everywhere as they began making the dough, but it came together soon enough. Caroline C. popped around in various roles, dabbling with each step of the process. The finished product was three trays of perfectly manicured fettuccine pasta, ready to be boiled. Luke put his chopping skills on display, expertly fileting the chicken breasts that were to be paired with creamy mashed potatoes for the next course. Head pastry chef Addison put on a masterclass for the final course of the feast. While none of the kids had phones or watches to check the time, everyone knew without a shred of doubt that it was Sweet Treat O’clock. Hailing from the Peach State, Addison presented us with a delectable peach pie, using the peaches Will and Caroline Rivers had painstakingly peeled. With bellies full, we soon fell asleep in the vans and woke up in Croatia.
That evening, we explored the thriving metropolis of Pula, where the energy was buzzing in anticipation of the Croatia vs. Italy soccer match. Our post-dinner gelato turned into an impromptu dance party as the kids busted out their best moves with the store owner. We wandered the cobblestone streets and ended up in the town square, where we briefly watched some of the game with the crowd. The tour ended with a walk past the old Roman colosseum, and we closed out the amazing day with a Moonup next to the Adriatic Sea.
The good times just kept on rolling. We started off the second day in Croatia with a heated ping pong tournament post-breakfast as we waited for the winds to die down before heading to a day on the coast. Sea kayaking was first on the agenda, where we all built up our biceps, gliding deeper into the rich, blue water. Caroline Rivers once again impressed all of us with her strength. Our kayaking guide then led us to the most beautiful cove, where we swam among the fish and played mermaids. We even honed in on our new rock climbing skills to peer out over the vast Adriatic Sea just outside the cove. Cliff jumping soon followed, with Caroline Castellaw capturing our spider monkey moves mid-air. The water activities concluded with a bit of channeling our inner child on a floating bouncy castle/ninja warrior set up. Sara took flight after Luke and Eli used their combined weight to jump onto the blob simultaneously, sending her flying into the water. A delicious lunch of pastas and steak followed to refuel after a day in the Croatian sun. The late afternoon and evening were jammed with even more ping pong. The competitiveness within this group is quite admirable. The tournament finally ended with our guide Miha as the champion. Sweet Treat O’Clock called once again, and more ice cream was absolutely essential. Our day concluded with a Moonup on a dock nestled by the sea, anticipating the quickly approaching trip finale.
Our last full day was filled with reflection, a lingering bittersweet feeling, and a whole lot of love. Music and the open road carried us back to Slovenia, where we spent our last hours together exploring the city of Ljubljana. We wandered around for a while, popping into random stores, shared an amazing lunch of pasta and pizza, and relaxed at the hostel. The evening was capped off with our banquet at the one and only McDonald’s, more ice cream, a long and heartfelt Moonup, and one last group dance party. While tears were shed at the airport during our goodbyes, it was an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the last two weeks that everyone left with. This group has been nothing short of incredible, and we can’t believe how close everyone got in 12 short days. We will certainly miss all members of SLO 1A, and we can’t wait until our paths cross again! Onwards and upwards.
Love and gratitude,MGK and Eli
Trekking in Triglav!
June 23, 2024
Dober Dan!
A lot of amazing things have happened since the last trip update just a few days ago. The group crushed their 4 days of trekking through the Julian Alps, as we climbed up and down peaks and valleys in Triglav National Park on its 100 year anniversary. For some members, like Luke, Katelyn, Adriana, and Caroline Castellaw, it was the first time ever backpacking, but they looked like seasoned veterans, marching up and down the mountain with ease. The weather throughout our time in the mountains couldn’t have been more perfect, a lovely sunny and 75 every day, and not a drop of rain. The steep climbs we took on during the first day of hiking were the most strenuous part of the journey. Still, with positive attitudes, some pauses to devour Fruitabella power bars (a crowd favorite), Adriana’s hilarious accents, and an endless amount of great conversation, we reached the summit. Next, we had a technically challenging descent down into the valley where our first mountain hut was. Our superstar local guides Miha and Luka helped us navigate down the vertical face, and everyone bravely got through the section. Even with a fear of heights, Sara absolutely crushed the section and was filled with a sense of pride and gratitude for facing her fear head-on. All we had to do after that was soak in the incredible view on the rest of the descent down to the hut, which was located right next to a stunning blue alpine lake. At long last, it was finally time… for STEW! Stew and sausage were the staple of our diet throughout our time in the mountains, and the kids couldn’t get enough, well maybe up to a certain point. The combination of food and altitude seemed to make everyone a little gassy, and a new favorite group activity was the post-meal fart walk. We closed out the day with a Moonup beside the lake, where everyone took things to a deeper level and was brave enough to be vulnerable with each other.
On our second day, we started with an early morning and a lighter load as we left our packs at the mountain hut to head out to a nearby lake. We set off in whispers to not scare off the wildlife. The mindful moments paid off and we were able to spot mountain goats and marmots roaming in the distance. The hushed voices didn’t last long after stumbling upon a pile of snow where a snowball fight quickly erupted. We continued on in conversation, feeling small among the vast mountains surrounding us. More stew was needed to fuel up for the second half of the day. We loaded up and headed out for a few more hours of hiking, pausing for a snack among the wildflowers in the greenest meadow we had ever seen. Will played us his new song along the way, which has become an anthem within the group. Celebratory ice cream was in order after arriving at the second hut, followed by endless rounds of the card game pres. Caroline Castellaw whipped out her string for bracelets, which are now an addiction within the group. We closed out the day with a cozy Moonup all huddled behind the hut before breaking out into a dance party under the fast-approaching full moon. With tired eyes and sore feet, we drifted off to sleep to gear up for the last full day of trekking. The third day of hiking included a history lesson from our guides when we got to explore an old bunker made after WWI. We also saw some ammonites and fossilized shells along the route. When we reached our hut, the other Slovenia Moondance group was there and the kids got to catch up. Our Moonup that night was at another amazing alpine lake where we saw a deer, an ibex, and did a meditation. Everyone was really leaning into mindfulness, taking in the moment. Will even introduced us to sit spots, a moment of sitting alone in stillness to take in the vast beauty that surrounds us.
On our final day in the mountains, we were treated to a tour of the small cheese-making operation run by a young woman in a nearby mountain hut. It was truly all downhill from there as everyone rallied and was rewarded with Nutella crepes and cokes at the bottom. After 4 days without showers, everyone felt grateful to jump in an icy river on the way to the new campsite in the Soca Valley. With cozy tents and lots of fun activities, our new accommodation seems to be a consensus favorite. Katelyn even organized a ping pong tournament, channeling her inner announcer voice, and Addison has taught us how to find the North Star above the most special campsite.
The last couple of days have been packed with thrill-seeking activities. Canyoneering was quite a hit within the group, as we rappelled, jumped, and slid down waterfalls deep within the mountains. Luke was exceptionally stoked about the canyoneering, using his cat-like reflexes to navigate the tricky terrain. Today, we jumped right back into the crystal clear water that is the Soca River to white water raft down some class three rapids. Caroline Rivers lived up to her name, showing us all her impressive strokes through the rapids. The whole group locked in and found their rhythm as we glided down the river between the towering mountains above. The group has even honed in on their kitchen skills, cleaning all of their dishes and helping to prepare meals. Katelyn took control of the salad dressing, while Addison and Sara apprenticed head chef Miha and became crepe masters. Watching the kids experience the bountiful beauty that Slovenia provides has been the most gratifying experience, and we feel a deep sense of appreciation for the chance to grow alongside this wonderful group. Stay tuned for more, as we head to Croatia bright and early tomorrow morning.
Cheers,
Mary Grace and Eli
Greetings from Slovenia
June 18, 2024
We greeted the group at the Venice airport dawning blue wigs, a symbol that would become an integral part of our group culture. Although everyone was tired from the long flight over, morale was high as we piled into the vans with our amazing local guides Miha and Luka driving us the few hours from Venice to Slovenia. At our first stop for lunch we enjoyed the first of many unbelievable meals, in a picturesque spot right next to a lake with a mountain view. The yummy food continued with some crepes apres lunch, and not only were our taste buds satisfied, but so were our ears, as Will busted out the guitar and serenaded the group with Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers tunes. His guitar playing has added so much entertainment and connection to the group. We settled into our first hostel, right next to beautiful Lake Bohinj (the j is silent), where Caroline Rivers, Will, and Luke were the first to jump in the lake for an icy dip. That night we had our first Moonup of the trip next to the water, where everyone was eager to participate and share their reason for coming on this adventure, and our first leaders of the day (LOD’s) were Will and Sara.
On our first full day in Slovenia the group was gelling quickly, and it already felt like we’d known each other for weeks. A warmup hike in preparation for the upcoming 4 day trek was the main activity for the day. The group conquered the steep slope with ease, soaking up their first glimpses of the Julian Alps, getting excited for what is to come. Caroline Castellaw and Addison were capturing the moment with their unique perspectives on the cameras they brought. We all learned so much more about the history of Slovenia and WWI from our guides, and Caroline Rivers kept the conversation going by asking great questions and sharing her endless knowledge that seems to encompass things from just about any subject imaginable. We got a well earned lunch after the hike, and laughed a lot, playing a new group game, huddled around the table (ask your kids to teach you when they get home). Next we took an excursion to Lake Bled, where we saw the captivating view of Slovenia’s only island (which is the top image that pops up if you Google Slovenia). Katelyn, Addison, Luke and the Caroline’s were beasts in the row boat, jetting us across the lake in no time. On the island, we explored the old church and saw the inside of the bell tower, then washed it all down with the most scrumptious gelato. A swim in the lake closed out the afternoon, and all ankles survived. Adriana’s positivity throughout the day had a massive impact on the group’s dynamic, and she made everyone smile. We ended the day with another mouth watering meal of pizzas, salads, and burgers, and then had Moonup at a secret spot our guides took us to, at the edge of a remote, crystal blue lake. Our new LODs were Luke and Addison. Back at the hostel before bed we had ourselves a little ping pong tournament, where Katelyn remains undefeated.
Today, we had absolutely beautiful weather from start to finish. In the morning we went rock climbing outdoors, and everyone was fired up by Sara conquering her fear of heights and making it up the wall easily. All 8 members of the group cheered each other on and got to the top. Katelyn provided some fun for everyone as she taught us the card game President, which is sure to be a staple on the rest of the trip. After working up an appetite while climbing, we got to try some traditional Slovenian dishes, and everyone loved the sausages. Luke continued his streak of being our top eater, always making sure to sample multiple menu items. The afternoon activity was paddle boarding under the hot sun. Caroline Castellaw took flight and did her very first rope swing into the lake, over a dog nonetheless. After a nice float, everyone hung out by the lake and enjoyed some more guitar from our troubadour Will, and Katelyn even played us a tune, Hayes surprised the group with a nice drop in, and all the kids got to chop it up with him about their Moondance experiences, and what it means to them. Burgers for dinner made everyone full and happy, and gave us the energy we needed to pack our bags for the upcoming trek! Luke and Addison led our Moonup. Luke’s wit keeps everyone giggling, and Addison spurred on an impromptu dance party to the infamous Cotton Eye Joe. We can’t wait for the next leg of the adventure, in the meantime we’ll be having a ball up in the mountains!!!
Mary Grace and I are having so much fun getting to know your kids. They’ve created an amazing group already, and we’re excited to keep watching them grow and get closer throughout the rest of the journey.
Until next time,
Eli and Mary Grace 🙂
PS, a bonus message from the kids for Father’s Day:
Will – guitar’s a hit love ya
Luke- happy Father’s Day dad love you
Adriana- thanks for everything you all do for me love yall so big (thank you for being you gweggers)
Caroline Castellaw- happy Father’s Day thank you for everything love you
Katelyn: Hey y’all having so much fun!!! Happy belated father’s day and tell grandma happy birthday!! ⛰️
Sara- Happy father’s day dad thank you for everything. I am having a lot of fun and I love and miss you so much.
Caroline Rivers: thank you for all you do dad! I love you so much and happy fathers day! couldn’t have picked a better dad if I tried! miss you but having so much fun! see you soon!
Addison: happy belated fathers day dad! I love you so much and thank you for all you do. I am having a blast and Slovenia is the coolest place ever!
Safe Arrival in Slovenia!
June 15, 2024
Hello Slovenia Families!
All students have landed safely in Slovenia and the group is excited for hiking tomorrow! The trip is off to a great start and we can’t wait to share more updates from their adventure.
-Moondance HQ
