But since my boy is so much into castles, fortresses and other old buildings, I thought I just had to go there this year.
So I told him the ONE thing I knew it would stay in his mind "We are going to see the fortress that's never been conquered before."
And we arrived at noon in a dazzling light (and I said to myself once again that you can't have them both: happy children AND beautiful pictures taken by the rules of art), hungry and thirsty. But the view behind our car was amazing.
We followed the trail inside the ramparts and started pouring history bits into the little ones' minds and ears. They started building it in stone somewhere in the middle of the 13th century and they didn't finish it until the middle of the 18th century. Needless to tell you how that sounds when you are 5...
But you can climb the walls and count the swans.
And tell your mom that this work of art looks like Don Quixote. (where and when did they hear about that?!)
And run around the yard playing with your own shadow...
Then tell the very same mom while entering the dungeon that "it fells so nice" and when the horrified mom tries to make sure that you understand what that place was last used for you tell her "I know all that, but it's too hot outside"...
And when you're out again you pop one more question: how come they restored the whole place, make it look so beautiful and they left out that balcony?!
And you stare at the roof insisting that it's staring back at you .
And you exit the yard while your older brother is chatting with the dear aunt you share, shacking off any horrifying detail that could cast a shadow over this treasure. After all, words like "dungeon", "torture", "military garrison", "invasion", "Iron Maiden" are just words when you are five.
But the shape of the walls and the towers make you turn your head even as we leave.
And now it's my turn, as a mom and as a route planner to ask myself: what else can still be appealing in a road trip after you see this on your first day?
