Days 24 and 25

Croatia/Italy 2010

Days 24 and 25

Traveling from Florence to Croatia was an all day affair. We left Florence by train to Rome in the morning to catch a flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia. One highlight of the trip was the lunch we had Rome. If you get a chance to have a sauce called matriciana on pasta, try it. It was a new one for us, and all four of us gave it a big thumbs-up. It includes a little pancetta (bacon) that rarely has a downside. We were so attached to Italy we were homesick for it as we flew across the Adriatic Sea.

The flight in a twin prop airplane was pleasant, especially the view of the rugged Croatian coastline. Their planes have some interesting markings including the lions of the country flag. Our photographer missed this minor subject.

The next morning we had a wonderful breakfast overlooking the sea. The small city of Dubrovnik includes a walled town that is right next to our new home. The wall is about 3 miles long and used to protect the city from invaders. The narrow walkway on top is so wonderful with so many views that it’s easy to just keep shooting pictures.

There are lots of islands along the coast, including this one not far from the walled city.

There was a war here in 1991-1992 between the Croatians and Serbians but you can barely notice it other than some minor shrapnel damage in some of the walls.

The Croatians are big on basketball, with several players in the NBA, so finding 3 courts wasn’t a total surprise except for the real estate they used. The local landscape committee made sure the surface was the proper color.

There were several lookout posts on the wall, and we found one for Dan.

As we entered the city, there was an interesting statute with a sword. The sword was nice, but the interesting thing was that there was an official measuring line for all carpenters to use for measuring at the base of the statute that defined the ‘elbow’ (from the tip of the fingers to the elbow) instead of the foot. There is some fine carpentry and stone work in this city and outside, so the elbow works.

Also, the top step is the location one stands for public announcements. We see who wants to be the public speaker. It was Dan and Jan’s anniversary, so we yielded the top step to them.

We had an excellent lunch after our hike of what are called small fried fish. You eat the whole fish, which are only about 3 inches long. Three of us devoured the mess of fish, but one of us was a little squeamish (not Shari, Roberto, or Jan, of course).

Dan and Jan topped off their anniversary day by going on a sea kayak adventure for several hours. We found ways to relax at our little villa by the sea.

We have a great place here, inside and out, and a great hostess Jadranka!