We’ve tended towards AirBnB properties the past two months. We like that it feels like a “home” and that we can do normal “home” things like cook dinner, do laundry and have breakfast at home. We have a heightened appreciation for little bits of routine & normalcy like these amidst the excitement & churn of being on the road.
Sea Pearl
Our AirBnB homebase on Brač island was the penthouse unit of Sea Pearl apartments in Bol. We settled into the 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment with ease. It was largely outfitted with Ikea stuff in bright white and teal hues, and it immediately felt inviting. Side note: We’re finding Ikea furnishings to be the norm in AirBnB properties; makes sense: affordable & relatively sturdy, looks nice & modern enough.
Making the Pearl Their Own
There’s always an excitement about walking into a new place and checking it out. The girls whizzed around the place, picked their bedroom and immediately started unpacking. Three nights in one place meant they could actually unpack their packing cubes! :)
Paige was especially into it. She took every single item of her clothing out and found a spot for each. She hung some things in the closet; others were placed meticulously on the lower shelves. She then moved onto organizing all the girls' jewelry and knick knacks into the vanity table. I hadn't even realized it had the little storage compartment & mirror, but she found it right away and loved it! She even added a few things that she called "part of her morning routine", including a glass of water, couple of cherry tomatoes and a handful of peanuts (salted & spicy varieties) - pictured far left below.
It's hard to describe why exactly, but it was so much fun to see Paige organize everything and make a room her own. She really seems to be growing up these past months. She desperately wants to be a teenager in many ways, but is completely still an 8-year old in most. It's fun to see her assert her individual style, sass and opinions with a blank canvas, even if it is only an AirBnB bedroom :)
Sadie soon followed suite and created her own little space adjacent to the bed. Paige had taken over the wardrobe, so Sadie needed to get creative. Lucky for Sadie, she's a stellar creative gal. She pulled over a chair from another room, positioned it "just so" and before you knew it, she had her own mini storage area. Completely different styles, but equally as cool and fun to see.
That one hour of seeing them really get creative & organized within the AirBnB space was super special. Both girls still talk about how the Bol apartment was their very favorite place we've stayed so far! I think alot of it has to do with being able to "make it there own" in a way they hadn't so far in other places. It also made me excited for the day (goodness knows WHERE that will be!!) they get to have their own rooms & continue to express themselves uniquely.
We all immensely enjoyed our time in the Sea Pearl. Our terrace treated us to beautiful views of Bol harbor and the Adriatic Sea. We loved coming "home" for family dinners. And we were grateful to get a few loads of laundry done :) Our host, Roni (pictured here) was awesomely helpful. Highly recommend & hope to return some day!
P.S. Colorful Artwork
I can't talk about Brač without quickly mentioning an abandoned apartment complex down the road from town. I wish I knew more of its back story, but today it sits along a beautiful part of the sea abandoned, with broken windows and doors. In contrast to its derelict nature, it's exterior has been completely transformed into a colorful mix of paintings and graffiti. I made Doug pull over so I could snap a few pictures with the girls. Check 'em out:
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