Virtuo-Euro Trip 2020 - Day 8 - The World's Most Amazing Rest Stop

Hotel Pop, or System Hotel as it is currently called is on the outskirts of Krakow which makes leaving the city pretty easy.  We had a long day ahead of us while we made our drive to Budapest.  The drive was over 5 hours long and took us through the small nation of Slovakia.  

The kids dropping extra Zzzz's for Franzzzzzz!!!!

Knowing the drive would take a long time and that the kids would be asleep for a portion of the ride, we all decided to get up a little earlier and hit the road...why not sleep while we move and then enjoy Budapest a little bit more when we arrived.  It was a great idea, but I think some of the kids took it is a challenge to stay up later than expected.  They were quiet when I did room checks last night, but they were definitely dragging this morning.  

Our morning jaunt went without major delay.  After about 1.5 hours on the road, Franz pulled over for a quick rest stop.  We had just passed through the border in Slovakia and I thought it would mean kids could not use any of their Euros, Polish Zloty, or Czeck Koruna, but most of them had cards and the rest stop seemingly took all currency.  We supplied ourselves with junk for the next haul, but Franz told us that our lunch spot would be well worth the wait.  The kids have really taken to Franz.  They love holding onto the Z at the end of his name...so he is called Franzzzz.  (Ed note: One of the kids just informed me that it is Franzzzzzzz)  He has been super accommodating and personable.  He is one of the better bus drivers that I've had on one of these tours.  

The road was hilly.  I don't really like heights, so there were times where I was a little nervous, but it was not as bad as I remembered.  Additionally, the landscape was amazing.  Beautifully peaceful farmland with the broken remains of castles adorned the highway.  Every once in a while, a more intact castle came into and faded from view.  I feel like I heard the kids mention Dracula like 15 times even though we aren't even close, lol.  

The long drive to lunch was starting to get to me and I could feel me stomach rumble a bit.  Franzzzzzzz informed me that we were very close to the Koliba U sv. Kristofa.  This place was amazing.  It accepted all currency, including US Dollars, and the portions were huge.  The cost was remarkably low too.  A few kids did not have any cash on them, so I told them, "I will cover your meal."  I pulled $100 USD out of my pocket constitution and was prepared for a bill of about $75.  The total for five of us, with coke's, was only about $30.  I tipped the waiter heavily because I was so impressed.  I had the Specialties of St. Christopher.  It was like a potato pancake burrito filled with meat and cheese. Totally delicious!  The decor was themed as a hunting lodge, but they had table service for at least 200 people.  Franzzzzzzz knows what he is doing!

My meal (stock photo)

Traditional Dinner (Stock Photo)

With full bellies, we got back onto the bus and headed south.  We arrived in Hungary full from the road, but excited to see what this city had to offer.  Our full tour is tomorrow, but we were able to walk around a bit and grab desserts.

It is hard, in these town squares, to get all of the kids together, lol.  I did my best to capture the fun we were having after a long day on the road and our food comas.  I cannot wait to go back to Kristofs...hopefully it will be sooner than 13 years from now!

Mr. Lavoie, realizing that he has not had dinner yet after posting those food pictures.