After what felt like the umpteenth time, she asked timidly:

 

- ‘So tell me, Vanda, what’s the accommodation like? Because, you know, now that I’m over 50, I can’t sleep just anywhere! You’ll see for yourself!’ he grinned mischievously.

That’s when I realised he was right. I’d never mentioned the accommodation to him; I’d been so caught up in the other spells. I began to tell him:

- The children and I always slept at the Katica Porta. Just as cute as its name! In the middle of a tiny one-street village, imagine a sunny, renovated farmhouse with a roof! With your own garden, playground, firepit, lots of greenery. Kids can be free as a bird! The house sleeps 42 guests in 8 rooms with bunk beds. Funny, because each room is named after a flower. The bunk beds are comfortable, so you don't have to worry about falling off. You don't have to sleep upstairs. We'll have a separate room. I could see in his face that he was relieved to hear this news. There are toilets and showers downstairs and upstairs. There's a large lounge and a well-equipped kitchen. Although we always lived so well on the menu that we never needed the kitchen. The attic is very cosy, you'll see! The kids love to „gang up” there. I felt he was reassured and I scurried off to order accommodation.

A few days later, we read the booking confirmation together, full of excitement… and then came the shock. As there were two large groups We’re going with our class, we can’t fit in the Katica Portán. The Tourist House is the only place that can accommodate us. 

- "Ooooh, Vandi! Is that all right?" asked Csilla, worried.

- Oh, of course! (Although I hadn’t the faintest idea, as I’d never been there before and didn’t even know where it was. But I tried to insist that there was no need to panic, and that it would be much better than the Katica Porta.)

 

With doubts in my heart, I boarded the bus on the morning of the trip. What if it’s no good? What if it’s uncomfortable? What if I don’t like it? I steeled myself and cheerfully called out to the children: ‘The trip’s on!’ They cheered enthusiastically, and we set off for the unfamiliar tourist lodge.

At the edge of the village of Patca, our host was already waiting for us and showed us the right way. Turning off the tarmac road, the bus bumped along a narrow gravel track, with trees arching over the road in a welcoming canopy. Emerging from our natural tunnel, the sight of a vast green clearing with a snow-white stone house came into view. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. As soon as we got off the bus, our children immediately set about exploring the area. Their shouts filled the woods behind the Tourist House:

- Look over here! A playground! Come on, Blanka, let’s have a go on the swings!

- Aunt Vanda! There’s an oven too! Shall we bake something in it?

- Lili! This place is just like a stage! Let’s move the benches aside and come up with a little show!

 

We unloaded the bus and rushed through the front door, laden with our suitcases. We found ourselves in a huge lounge, in the centre of which a massive tiled stove stood, dominating the room. I imagined what it must be like in winter, with the fire crackling inside, the bench warm to the touch and a nice hot cup of tea in my hand, whilst I gazed out at the snow falling. My daydream was shattered by the sound of the children’s voices. They cheered enthusiastically, delighted by the rooms and the bunk beds. The more resourceful among them immediately set about organising who would sleep in the 12-, 9-, 8- and 6-person rooms. We teachers quickly came to our senses and settled the dispute: Class A up top, Class D downstairs! We still managed to fit in comfortably. We were „assigned” the 6-bed „Wise Owl” room, the location of which was strategically excellent. We could see into every room from there. None of the children even noticed the huge kitchen. It didn’t matter anyway, as we hadn’t come to cook. I knew that if we ate everything on our chosen menu, we’d be rolling home 3 kilos heavier. And that’s exactly what happened. After we’d struggled to make up the beds with the clean, fragrant bed linen, we discovered there were toilets both upstairs and downstairs, and my daughters squealed with delight: “You’ve brought us to such a lovely place!” And I got a hug. 

 

Almost two calendar years have passed since then, and the little green wooden huts on the edge of the forest next to the Tourist Lodge have „grown up”. They are cosy rooms sleeping eight, each equipped with a table, chairs and a small fridge. The six tiny cottages surround a shared open-air shelter with tables and benches, where you can wake up to the sound of birdsong in the morning. Guests can use the campsite’s toilet and shower block, accessed via a charming, well-lit cobbled path. Kitchen facilities are not currently available at this accommodation, but the hosts are working on a solution. But for those who order a set menu… well, we know they won’t need a kitchen anyway.

 

If I were to take a class on a school trip again, I’d definitely give the tree houses a go!