Life of MALA: Road Trip to Croatia

When we weren't sipping an Aperol spritz, or napping between meals, Dad and I were driving. We drove a lot. A lot. After leaving the rally we had to drive our friends the four hours back to Munich to the airport, and then turn back around and head south to Croatia. The drive from Munich to Croatia took roughly two days. Naturally we had to stop numerous times so Dad could nap and I could refill on Milka bars and Fantas. I justified the disgusting amount of soda I consumed with the fact that they do not use high fructose corn syrup (poison) in European soda.

I learned a lot during those hours of being in a confined space with my father.

1. The radio stations really don't offer much when you are in a car for that many hours straight. Except for the Macklemore song, "And We Danced." I really enjoyed that song, even though it shockingly only played twice in the two full days we spent driving down to Croatia. Every other song on the radio played about 156 times.

2. I get all of my singing talents from my father. I noticed this when I would attempt to fall asleep and a song he liked would come on. He never knew the lyrics, maybe just one or two lines, but he would sing the entire song. Actual words would be replaced with 'boop beep bop da doo's' and pitch would be replaced with squeals or low octaves. It was like listening to myself sing a song.

3a. If you attempt to eat Milka bars in the car when you are tired and then fall asleep you will wake up with melted chocolate all over your black jeans. It will not look good.

3b. If you think this will not happen when wearing floral leggings the next day, you are still wrong. It appears that it doesn't matter what color pants you wear, you will look like you soiled yourself if you try eating candy when falling asleep.

At the end of the first full day of driving we pulled into a sweet little town in Slovenia, just north of Croatia. We went into the first few places we found to stay and had no luck finding a room. Finally after another 20 minutes of driving we found an amazing little hotel on the top of a mountain a few miles out of town. The place was adorable and after putting our bags in our room we had an amazing dinner. The next morning we woke up and I walked around the vineyards taking photos before we got back into the car for Day Two of driving. We arrived into Croatia pretty late that evening just as it was getting dark. I had looked up apartment rentals before we left the U.S. and thought I had come across a real gem. However, it was not. I spent about a half hour searching for the place alone in the dark because Dad had to stay in the car as their were no parking spots. I finally found a few people who attempted to help me. The sweetest nun came over to help me but I quickly realized she spoke no English. I could tell she was trying to help as much as she could but we didn't get too far. Once I finally found the location I realized quickly why it was so cheap and Dad and I checked into a hotel instead. I felt pretty defeated, but the rest of the time spent in Croatia definitely made up for it.

Luckily for me they have entertainment at some of the rest stops in Europe. (Dad liked to stop at almost every one for a nap.) This had me occupied for a good 15 minutes. For the record this is not easy to do this in sneaker heels.