Today is my last day in Venice. Tomorrow the long journey home begins. My flight leaves Venice at 10:00 a.m., and I will be home 9:00 p.m. Saturday.
It hit me this morning that it is Halloween. It is my third Halloween in Europe. I was in Munich last year, and I was in Vienna the year before that. This is the first time I saw kids trick or treating. As I was walking to the train station, they were everywhere. And I almost got mowed down a few times. Never stand in the way of kids and trick or treating. I am thinking of you Linus, hoping the Great Pumpkin will come.
Today started off lazy. I slept in and missed breakfast. I started to get a little organized, and I will finish tonight.
I left late, and I started off walking in this area, but there really is not much to see. I was called Rasta Man by some guy hanging with his friends. Hmm. Maybe that is is why Ivar mentioned weed. He may have just assumed.
Anyway, off to Venice I went.
Since I started late, I took the water bus to Saint Mark's instead of walking. I started off walking the long promenade next to St. Mark's.
I left my backpack today so I decided to go in. Yesterday, I would have had to check my bag in, which seemed like an extra step. This lady yesterday actually tried to put her bag under her sweater, but they were like no. It was not as bad as I remember. It was dark yes but less crowded so I could actually enjoy the church.
I happened upon a mass service so I joined it. I found out later it was a private mass. This group from the U.S. is on a pilgrimage going from church to church doing mass. I was in the back and some of the group beckoned me forward to do Sacrament so I was invited sort of. The family I talked to was from CT.
It did give me a flashback to taking the Sacrament at St. Peter's. That place is like Fort Knox. Anyway, the lady in front of me was returning to her seat without chewing. She was stopped and forced to chew and swallow.
I had dinner at a really nice place called Bacaroo Jazz. It had pictures of greats like Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. It was cute and hip.
I will edit when I get back. The post from Venice are especially suspect. Whole paragraphs get erased and the mouse keeps jumping to odd places, which ends up with words not complete.
My final thought is something I keep reminding myself, and it is this. I have nothing to complain about. My life is more than good. It is filled with love, joy, peace, and blessings. Counting and appreciating it is the focus. I have moments where I focus on what I think is missing. Or I want more of what I already have, if that makes sense. I certainly do not need anymore possessions. What I need more are of things that are not tangible and cannot be bought or sold. And it all starts with a spirit of gratitude.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Venezia X 2
Last night, when I turned on the television for some background noise, I was a little surprised to not hear a Slavic language. Then there was this duh moment, you are now in Italy.
The energy and pulse in Italy is certainly different. It is a shame to make a comparison, but I would describe it as an irregular heartbeat that is beating very fast. Less ordered and a little more chaotic and certainly more fast paced. It is neither good or bad, it just is this way for me. I like Italy for visiting, but it is not a place I think I would want to live.
I took the train into Venice this morning, and I was walking so fast. I had to ask myself why I was walking so fast. So I just slowed down.
So I spent the day walking, sitting, writing. Walking sitting, writing. Walking, sitting, writing, and eating.
After hours of writing, I would think I would have had some clear revelation of where and what, but alas, more questions. I think I am okay with that. I do not have to plan out the rest of my life this very moment. It would be nice to have a clue and a plan, but you know how that goes. The story of the best laid plans.
Today, I started at the train station, and I made my way to the Bridge of Sighs then sat in the square to people watch and listen to the music. On the way to the first stop, I would go down different paths. I would find a nice spot to sit and think. I walked in circles, and I hit some dead ends, but that is part of the journey and it kind of felt like life. There is no straight path. We sometimes end up walking in circles or hitting a dead end, and it is just part of the plan. You could be walking along and want to see what is down this street and then back track because it is not what you had in mind. I wanted to get away from the crowd, and that was sometimes not a good thing.
So this walking is the beginning of my marathon training. I need to start practicing the hills. I was starting to lose weight but the pasta, pizza, gelato, the three sodas I have allowed on this trip, and that Twix I was craving are starting to show.
I need to make it through Thanksgiving and Christmas without too much of a backslide! Resistance is futile so I need to step my game up.
The energy and pulse in Italy is certainly different. It is a shame to make a comparison, but I would describe it as an irregular heartbeat that is beating very fast. Less ordered and a little more chaotic and certainly more fast paced. It is neither good or bad, it just is this way for me. I like Italy for visiting, but it is not a place I think I would want to live.
I took the train into Venice this morning, and I was walking so fast. I had to ask myself why I was walking so fast. So I just slowed down.
So I spent the day walking, sitting, writing. Walking sitting, writing. Walking, sitting, writing, and eating.
After hours of writing, I would think I would have had some clear revelation of where and what, but alas, more questions. I think I am okay with that. I do not have to plan out the rest of my life this very moment. It would be nice to have a clue and a plan, but you know how that goes. The story of the best laid plans.
Today, I started at the train station, and I made my way to the Bridge of Sighs then sat in the square to people watch and listen to the music. On the way to the first stop, I would go down different paths. I would find a nice spot to sit and think. I walked in circles, and I hit some dead ends, but that is part of the journey and it kind of felt like life. There is no straight path. We sometimes end up walking in circles or hitting a dead end, and it is just part of the plan. You could be walking along and want to see what is down this street and then back track because it is not what you had in mind. I wanted to get away from the crowd, and that was sometimes not a good thing.
So this walking is the beginning of my marathon training. I need to start practicing the hills. I was starting to lose weight but the pasta, pizza, gelato, the three sodas I have allowed on this trip, and that Twix I was craving are starting to show.
I need to make it through Thanksgiving and Christmas without too much of a backslide! Resistance is futile so I need to step my game up.
Venice Day 1
I forgot how beautiful and magical Venice is! Wow. Talk about stunning. I love being around water, and I love all the many bridges. This city screams romance!
The hotel I am staying at is actually on the mainland. It is a short, one-stop, ten minute train ride to the city.
After getting here, Tammy and I went to the city by train. We then took a lovely water taxi to St. Mark's Square. We were looking for Rosanne and Angela, but alas we were not able to find them. Ladies, if you are reading this, we are sorry to have missed you! We were a little late in getting there.
We started off in the square and had a light snack, and we people and pigeon watched for a while. It was a nice day and the sun felt ultra nice. There was a lovely band playing in the background, and of course it would not have been complete without hearing Volare, which represents Italy for me from both trips now.
We then began to walk back toward the train station and made stops along the way to checkout some of the shops. When we got to the Rialto Bridge, I began to remember a little bit. I remember the markets, and I was able to find my old hotel eventually. I also saw the spot I spent time journaling in. It was nice to feel something familiar.
The city is such a maze of going down this street and that street and then using the signage to take you where you need to go. I am sure there are many streets still yet to be discovered.
Oh. I forgot to mention that one thing I loved about being at Lake Bled was the smell of the fireplaces. It just felt cozy, and I could visualize myself sitting next to a fire with some hot chocolate and a nice book.
Tammy and I also have begun planning our next trip. The plan is to meet in May to do Croatia and Albania. I cannot wait!
We had a nice dinner and was able to talk about life and relationships. I am glad to have taken the trip to meet some wonderful women who I hope to keep in touch with! It was sad to say goodbye, at least bye for right now. Tammy, if you are reading this, I appreciate the kindness and openness of your spirit. As Anne of Green Gables would say, you are a kindred spirit! I appreciate your advice and insight, and I know both of our paths in this life will be filled with love, peace, and joy!
I am very thankful for life and the chance to travel. I am thankful for everything happening in its own time. I am thankful for new opportunities and chances to try something new. I am thankful for this unknown future and its possibilities.
Today, I think I will head back to the city. I am also considering going to Verona for the day. We will see how I feel when I reach the train station. It is a 90 minute train ride to there from here.
I do need to find some time to get my thoughts together.
The hotel I am staying at is actually on the mainland. It is a short, one-stop, ten minute train ride to the city.
After getting here, Tammy and I went to the city by train. We then took a lovely water taxi to St. Mark's Square. We were looking for Rosanne and Angela, but alas we were not able to find them. Ladies, if you are reading this, we are sorry to have missed you! We were a little late in getting there.
We started off in the square and had a light snack, and we people and pigeon watched for a while. It was a nice day and the sun felt ultra nice. There was a lovely band playing in the background, and of course it would not have been complete without hearing Volare, which represents Italy for me from both trips now.
We then began to walk back toward the train station and made stops along the way to checkout some of the shops. When we got to the Rialto Bridge, I began to remember a little bit. I remember the markets, and I was able to find my old hotel eventually. I also saw the spot I spent time journaling in. It was nice to feel something familiar.
The city is such a maze of going down this street and that street and then using the signage to take you where you need to go. I am sure there are many streets still yet to be discovered.
Oh. I forgot to mention that one thing I loved about being at Lake Bled was the smell of the fireplaces. It just felt cozy, and I could visualize myself sitting next to a fire with some hot chocolate and a nice book.
Tammy and I also have begun planning our next trip. The plan is to meet in May to do Croatia and Albania. I cannot wait!
We had a nice dinner and was able to talk about life and relationships. I am glad to have taken the trip to meet some wonderful women who I hope to keep in touch with! It was sad to say goodbye, at least bye for right now. Tammy, if you are reading this, I appreciate the kindness and openness of your spirit. As Anne of Green Gables would say, you are a kindred spirit! I appreciate your advice and insight, and I know both of our paths in this life will be filled with love, peace, and joy!
I am very thankful for life and the chance to travel. I am thankful for everything happening in its own time. I am thankful for new opportunities and chances to try something new. I am thankful for this unknown future and its possibilities.
Today, I think I will head back to the city. I am also considering going to Verona for the day. We will see how I feel when I reach the train station. It is a 90 minute train ride to there from here.
I do need to find some time to get my thoughts together.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Ljubljana
Started the day at the Bled Castle. It had a very good view of the city. There was also a nice museum that had some artifacts. The real reason to be up there were the views.
Spent most of the day in Ljubljana, and please do not ask me to say it! It was a nice city. After the city walking tour, which covered quite a bit of my Rick Steves walk, I mainly walked around the river and took in the many bridges. There is a cool one that has dragons on it. There are dragons throughout the city. The town has 27 bridges, which is three more than Paris. It had a feel like Amsterdam. There were some pretty cool antique shops there too.
I thought about walking up to the castle, but I had a flashback to another trip. I did enjoy people watching in the main square. Their market there was also very nice. People were buying the fruits and vegetables that looked quite good. Whenever I travel, I think I should start using the Market more at home.
There are a lot of German tourist here. Last night, some people were asking me questions in German. The German I learned in high school is gone!
Came back to Bled and walked around the lake again. Very nice. I also went to St. Martin church, and I realized I still have no idea what I want to do with my life. But that is a whole different story.
I am a little pressed for time so this one is short.
Tomorrow, I am off to Venice for three nights.
Spent most of the day in Ljubljana, and please do not ask me to say it! It was a nice city. After the city walking tour, which covered quite a bit of my Rick Steves walk, I mainly walked around the river and took in the many bridges. There is a cool one that has dragons on it. There are dragons throughout the city. The town has 27 bridges, which is three more than Paris. It had a feel like Amsterdam. There were some pretty cool antique shops there too.
I thought about walking up to the castle, but I had a flashback to another trip. I did enjoy people watching in the main square. Their market there was also very nice. People were buying the fruits and vegetables that looked quite good. Whenever I travel, I think I should start using the Market more at home.
There are a lot of German tourist here. Last night, some people were asking me questions in German. The German I learned in high school is gone!
Came back to Bled and walked around the lake again. Very nice. I also went to St. Martin church, and I realized I still have no idea what I want to do with my life. But that is a whole different story.
I am a little pressed for time so this one is short.
Tomorrow, I am off to Venice for three nights.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Lake Bled
I am currently in Slovenia, to be exact Bled.
Slovenia is not a place that was on the list or radar, but here I am.
First of all, this place is very quiet and peaceful. A complete 180 from the busy city life of Zagreb. I have slowed way down.
Sonia and I walked around the lake, which is 3.5 miles. It was a nice walk. The weather up here is much cooler so we are certainly feeling the fall air up here.
My room for the next two nights has a nice view of the lake.
There is a castle on the cliff that I will see tomorrow. And the lake is surrounded by mountains, including the Julian Alps.
After the hike, Sonia and I had dinner at this place that has Indian food along with local fair. The cook was Indian, and we talked a few minutes with him. Sonia is actually from Pakistan, but they were able to communicate together in Punjabi. He seemed happy to see her. I think he was happy to see someone who looked somewhat like him and maybe more importantly someone he could speak his language with.
I understand because I get excited when I see other black women traveling. I always make a point to say or give a nod.
Slovenia is not a place that was on the list or radar, but here I am.
First of all, this place is very quiet and peaceful. A complete 180 from the busy city life of Zagreb. I have slowed way down.
Sonia and I walked around the lake, which is 3.5 miles. It was a nice walk. The weather up here is much cooler so we are certainly feeling the fall air up here.
My room for the next two nights has a nice view of the lake.
There is a castle on the cliff that I will see tomorrow. And the lake is surrounded by mountains, including the Julian Alps.
After the hike, Sonia and I had dinner at this place that has Indian food along with local fair. The cook was Indian, and we talked a few minutes with him. Sonia is actually from Pakistan, but they were able to communicate together in Punjabi. He seemed happy to see her. I think he was happy to see someone who looked somewhat like him and maybe more importantly someone he could speak his language with.
I understand because I get excited when I see other black women traveling. I always make a point to say or give a nod.
Zagreb
Zagreb is such an amazing city. What I would love to do is come back and split time between here and Dubrovnik, but they are ten hours apart, so I would lose a day or two in travel. But it would be worth it.
I would love to come back to Zagreb to just look at all the wonderful buildings that are so much like Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. That in itself it a history lesson about the different empires that have ruled or heavily influenced the area. I would also like to spend some time in the museums here, included the Museum of Broken Relationships, and spend another few nights hanging in the city center people watching.
I got up an hour and a half earlier to go for a walk with Sonia. We walked back to the city center to take in the wonderful buildings we saw last night. I especially loved the buildings that had a clear Austrian empire look, like the ballet and the museum in Tito Square. Pictures will not do them justice but will at least jog a memory.
The hotel was in a really great location. It was less than ten minutes from the city center and downtown promenade. I had a really nice view of the top of the cathedral from my room.
Their government buildings are not very secure. You could walk right up to the door and there was not a guard insight. I just can not imagine getting that close to the White House.
Everyday in the city a cannon goes off at noon and has for hundreds of years. Originally, it indicated to workers it was time to return to work. I was down below using the public toilet so I did not hear it.
There is a church called St. Catherine's that I was curious about. It is called the Barbie Church because it is all pink inside. It is the church a lot of the local women want to get married in. It has been closed the last year and a half outside of mass and weddings. The bishop of the church wants to charge an entrance fee, and the city thinks all churches should be free. So the bishop is keeping the church closed. Not sure how long the stalemate will continue.
There is a really nice chapel in the Stone Gate. Our guide said that is where locals go to prayer. There is a painting of Mary that survived a a fire in 1731 and a makeshift chapel was made. When I went back, there were a lot of people coming and going. From older women to men in business suits.
The Market was buzzing and a lot of people were buying flowers to put on the graves for All Saints Day.
For lunch, I grabbed a sandwich from a local bakery. I was heading to the same area as a local guy so we ended up chatting and having lunch together. His name was Ivar, and he had or was going to have an interview for a second job as a waiter. He was cute and young, and he shared his dessert with me. He then said, he was going to get some weed. And I was like did you say weed. And he smiled and was like yes. You can get it for ten Kuna which is like $2. All I could do was shake my head and laugh. The most ironic thing is that the place he pointed to was right across from the cathedral.
But yes, and amazing city! After spending time in smaller places it was a little jarring to run into people asking for money. I had not seen it in the other places, which were smaller.
I would love to come back to Zagreb to just look at all the wonderful buildings that are so much like Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. That in itself it a history lesson about the different empires that have ruled or heavily influenced the area. I would also like to spend some time in the museums here, included the Museum of Broken Relationships, and spend another few nights hanging in the city center people watching.
I got up an hour and a half earlier to go for a walk with Sonia. We walked back to the city center to take in the wonderful buildings we saw last night. I especially loved the buildings that had a clear Austrian empire look, like the ballet and the museum in Tito Square. Pictures will not do them justice but will at least jog a memory.
The hotel was in a really great location. It was less than ten minutes from the city center and downtown promenade. I had a really nice view of the top of the cathedral from my room.
Their government buildings are not very secure. You could walk right up to the door and there was not a guard insight. I just can not imagine getting that close to the White House.
Everyday in the city a cannon goes off at noon and has for hundreds of years. Originally, it indicated to workers it was time to return to work. I was down below using the public toilet so I did not hear it.
There is a church called St. Catherine's that I was curious about. It is called the Barbie Church because it is all pink inside. It is the church a lot of the local women want to get married in. It has been closed the last year and a half outside of mass and weddings. The bishop of the church wants to charge an entrance fee, and the city thinks all churches should be free. So the bishop is keeping the church closed. Not sure how long the stalemate will continue.
There is a really nice chapel in the Stone Gate. Our guide said that is where locals go to prayer. There is a painting of Mary that survived a a fire in 1731 and a makeshift chapel was made. When I went back, there were a lot of people coming and going. From older women to men in business suits.
The Market was buzzing and a lot of people were buying flowers to put on the graves for All Saints Day.
For lunch, I grabbed a sandwich from a local bakery. I was heading to the same area as a local guy so we ended up chatting and having lunch together. His name was Ivar, and he had or was going to have an interview for a second job as a waiter. He was cute and young, and he shared his dessert with me. He then said, he was going to get some weed. And I was like did you say weed. And he smiled and was like yes. You can get it for ten Kuna which is like $2. All I could do was shake my head and laugh. The most ironic thing is that the place he pointed to was right across from the cathedral.
But yes, and amazing city! After spending time in smaller places it was a little jarring to run into people asking for money. I had not seen it in the other places, which were smaller.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Zagreb and the Journey There
Zagreb is a great city! I only have one night here, which is unfortunate because I think it would be fun to spend a few nights!
It is such a vibrant city and the pulse of the city is very strong and positive. The architecture is amazing. Very grand and stately. It reminds me of the the beautiful buildings in Vienna. I could go around snapping pictures of beautiful buildings all day.
We arrived in the evening, and I went out with Tammy, Sonia, Angela, and Rosanne. Rosanne and Angela are from Seattle and are mother and daughter. They are good people too. I think we are all kindred spirits. We walked to the city center and found a place to have drinks. The weather here is colder so a cup of hot chocolate hit the spot. We had a great time talking about life. It was such a great conversation and great to be in the company of intelligent women and have great conversations about this journey we call life. It is like we took the trip to have this wonderful meeting of the minds, and I also think very timely.
On the way to, Zagreb we stopped by this village. I think it was called Ethnoland, but basically the family-owned business explained how life used to be in the days gone by and then we had a traditional meal from that area. It was so good. It was basically meat and potatoes but the meat had such a great flavor and was tender.
So I was talking to Tammy about the Pink Floyd song I mentioned yesterday. Now I understand why the song grips me so much. It was written about/for a band member who committed suicide. So yes, this longing for someone, but in this case, someone who is not coming back.
We also drove back through Bosnia. So again, my feet have trodden there, so it will count. I was talking to another woman who has traveled quite a bit, I think she said this trip will make 54 counties. She has also been to the Arctic Circle and all seven continents. She is counting Bosnia in her count, because she has the same philosophy. Your feet have tread there. And the Bosnia coast is amazing. Now mind you it is not that long but it is pretty.
We passed by an area that grows Mandarin Oranges. We were told the day before they had a roadblock and were giving the oranges away. Because of all the Russian embargoes, the farmers have lost that market so they have excess. Having written a brief about the impact of the embargo to Seattle and Washington state (and there is only a small impact) it felt close to home. As Russia searches for new markets, traditional markets have to search for markets to sale to. But they are competing with other markets who also searching for new markets. For the consumer, it is good because supply is high.
I spoke with a tour member today who worked for the foreign services for around 20 years. The places he has lived sounds so amazing, and yes I found myself using that word a lot!
Another couple I met have been married for 58 years. He is a Presbyterian pastor.
Tonight is my last night in Croatia, followed by two quick nights in Slovenia to end with three nights in Venice. I am ready to just relax on the waterfront and do nothing but get my thoughts together in one of the most beautiful places I have been!
It is such a vibrant city and the pulse of the city is very strong and positive. The architecture is amazing. Very grand and stately. It reminds me of the the beautiful buildings in Vienna. I could go around snapping pictures of beautiful buildings all day.
We arrived in the evening, and I went out with Tammy, Sonia, Angela, and Rosanne. Rosanne and Angela are from Seattle and are mother and daughter. They are good people too. I think we are all kindred spirits. We walked to the city center and found a place to have drinks. The weather here is colder so a cup of hot chocolate hit the spot. We had a great time talking about life. It was such a great conversation and great to be in the company of intelligent women and have great conversations about this journey we call life. It is like we took the trip to have this wonderful meeting of the minds, and I also think very timely.
On the way to, Zagreb we stopped by this village. I think it was called Ethnoland, but basically the family-owned business explained how life used to be in the days gone by and then we had a traditional meal from that area. It was so good. It was basically meat and potatoes but the meat had such a great flavor and was tender.
So I was talking to Tammy about the Pink Floyd song I mentioned yesterday. Now I understand why the song grips me so much. It was written about/for a band member who committed suicide. So yes, this longing for someone, but in this case, someone who is not coming back.
We also drove back through Bosnia. So again, my feet have trodden there, so it will count. I was talking to another woman who has traveled quite a bit, I think she said this trip will make 54 counties. She has also been to the Arctic Circle and all seven continents. She is counting Bosnia in her count, because she has the same philosophy. Your feet have tread there. And the Bosnia coast is amazing. Now mind you it is not that long but it is pretty.
We passed by an area that grows Mandarin Oranges. We were told the day before they had a roadblock and were giving the oranges away. Because of all the Russian embargoes, the farmers have lost that market so they have excess. Having written a brief about the impact of the embargo to Seattle and Washington state (and there is only a small impact) it felt close to home. As Russia searches for new markets, traditional markets have to search for markets to sale to. But they are competing with other markets who also searching for new markets. For the consumer, it is good because supply is high.
I spoke with a tour member today who worked for the foreign services for around 20 years. The places he has lived sounds so amazing, and yes I found myself using that word a lot!
Another couple I met have been married for 58 years. He is a Presbyterian pastor.
Tonight is my last night in Croatia, followed by two quick nights in Slovenia to end with three nights in Venice. I am ready to just relax on the waterfront and do nothing but get my thoughts together in one of the most beautiful places I have been!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Montenegro...I am Indifferent
I opted to go to Montenegro for the day. As a person who analyzes data all day, I figured the odds of my returning to Croatia are a lot higher than the odds of my ever making a trip to Montenegro so off I went.
After the splendor of the Croatian cities, especially Dubrovnik, I was a little underwhelmed at Montenegro. Rick Steves calls this country the next Croatia, but I was not exactly blown away by it. Yes. It is pretty but it just lacked that sparkle I felt when sitting in cities like Dubrovnik, Zadar, Pula, and Opatija. The four cities just mentioned could have me sitting on their shores for hours and days mesmerized by the sparkle.
We took a boat ride to this church, which I think was called Lady of the Rocks. Interesting history. Throughout its history people have left gifts to the Virgin Mary for things like a loved one returning from the sea or fishermen bring gifts after surviving a storm. Brides who get married at the church will also leave a gift. So a couple, who I think were Russian, came to the church to pray to the Virgin Mary because they were having a hard time conceiving. Long story short, they had triplets so they gave a gift there.
There is also a history in that area where only the children of the son are considered grandchildren. So if you have a daughter, her kids belong to the other grandparents.
Went to the city of Kotor. I went to an Orthodox church to pray and light a candle. I was in there, and I could tell something was about to happen but could not figure out what. I had heard loud singing earlier, but had no idea what was going on. Anyway, my instinct was telling me to exit stage left so I did. There was a wedding procession! The groom and his family were outside waiting as the men in the bride's family led her around the town, I think three times. I think she was flanked by her brothers and there were other male relatives behind her as her dad led the procession with the flag of the country. She was so beautiful in her lovely dress. I could not get a clear picture, but I think I may have ended up in some of the pictures of the groom because of the angle the camera was. I was like oh yeah, it is Saturday.
We also went to Budva but by that time I had already not felt connected to Montenegro so I hung out on the shore before taking a stroll around the Old Town. The thing about making connections with cities is that it is never the city. So the old adage, it's not you, it's me is true.
On a side note, a lot of Russian millionaires vacation in Montenegro.
As I was sitting in the church, I saw a lot of locals greet. They would shake hands and do the kiss cheek three times.
So there were a lot of priest there for the wedding. And one of them was young and well attractive. I kind of chuckled because my mind flashed to that Sex and the City episode where Samantha met a priest she liked. I will not call my priest what she called her's. I will just use Carrie's term and say he was a ˝hot priest.˝ Does anyone know if Orthodox priest are allowed to marry. Joking!
I spoke to our guide Irene, and she has been a guide for 35 years. She said she only works for half the year now. And of course when she is home, she does not want to travel. It has to be hard with a family. I met one guide whose wife was also a guide. He said during the travel season, one is coming as the other is going. Then when they are both home during the off season, it is weird. Like who are you again. He was also a guide for decades so even when his kids were young.
One thing I did mean to mention about Dubrovnik is how different it feels in the day vs. the night. Like Venice, the city can be a crowded mess of cruise people and tour groups during the day. But having spent the last three nights there, I can say its absolutely amazing to walk through at night with just the locals and travelers who are staying over for a few nights.
I had dinner with Tammy from the tour. She is from Denver. She is also good people. She is the person I borrowed the book I mentioned yesterday from. Before dinner, we stopped to listen to some music from a group playing in front of the cathedral. We had dinner and, we talked about life. Great conversation. Tammy, if you are reading this, I think you are wonderful and hope our paths are able to cross again sometime in this life.
While we were eating the band we saw earlier came to the restaurant we were eating out. So before we left, I went to use bathroom, which is unisex. Yes. You know where this story is going. So I closed the door, and then I closed the door to my stall and did my business. Now that I think about, before I flushed and left, I though I heard some noise. Anyway, I come out of the stall to see some guy using the urinal. Luckily I did not see anything, but it was enough to know. I have never washed my hands that fast. When I turned to leave, he was waiting for me to finish. He did not seem sheepish so I tried not to be. I never! I am single, no kids. Using the potty is private time - always!
After dinner, Tammy went back home but I stayed in the city and wrote near the water. I was about to leave, but I heard a group singing songs from the '80s so I sat and listed for a while. They went on a break, and I tried to to stick around. I gave up because I was not sure how long they would be on break. This reminds me,a lot of 80's music being played in Croatia.
There were families out and about in the main square, which is another reason I like Old Cities and their squares. All the activity at night. The parents were eating and the kids, who I assume are local, were playing games. It looked like Hide and Go Seek. With all the alleys and side streets, that would be a fun place to run around as a kid to play.
Anyway, when I happened upon the band, they were playing Pink Floyd's ˝How I Wish You Were Here.˝ This song has always made me a little sad because it gives me a longing feeling, but I am not quite sure what I am longing for or where He is.
˝How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here."
In the same way ˝Stairway to Heaven˝ gets me.
˝There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving.˝
I had a hard time tearing myself away from the city. Three nights were not long enough. I am about to head to bed but first I will organize since we are leaving tomorrow. We fall back tonight so one hour extra sleep! Hooray. I get it two weekends in a row as time will fall back the night I return!
After the splendor of the Croatian cities, especially Dubrovnik, I was a little underwhelmed at Montenegro. Rick Steves calls this country the next Croatia, but I was not exactly blown away by it. Yes. It is pretty but it just lacked that sparkle I felt when sitting in cities like Dubrovnik, Zadar, Pula, and Opatija. The four cities just mentioned could have me sitting on their shores for hours and days mesmerized by the sparkle.
We took a boat ride to this church, which I think was called Lady of the Rocks. Interesting history. Throughout its history people have left gifts to the Virgin Mary for things like a loved one returning from the sea or fishermen bring gifts after surviving a storm. Brides who get married at the church will also leave a gift. So a couple, who I think were Russian, came to the church to pray to the Virgin Mary because they were having a hard time conceiving. Long story short, they had triplets so they gave a gift there.
There is also a history in that area where only the children of the son are considered grandchildren. So if you have a daughter, her kids belong to the other grandparents.
Went to the city of Kotor. I went to an Orthodox church to pray and light a candle. I was in there, and I could tell something was about to happen but could not figure out what. I had heard loud singing earlier, but had no idea what was going on. Anyway, my instinct was telling me to exit stage left so I did. There was a wedding procession! The groom and his family were outside waiting as the men in the bride's family led her around the town, I think three times. I think she was flanked by her brothers and there were other male relatives behind her as her dad led the procession with the flag of the country. She was so beautiful in her lovely dress. I could not get a clear picture, but I think I may have ended up in some of the pictures of the groom because of the angle the camera was. I was like oh yeah, it is Saturday.
We also went to Budva but by that time I had already not felt connected to Montenegro so I hung out on the shore before taking a stroll around the Old Town. The thing about making connections with cities is that it is never the city. So the old adage, it's not you, it's me is true.
On a side note, a lot of Russian millionaires vacation in Montenegro.
As I was sitting in the church, I saw a lot of locals greet. They would shake hands and do the kiss cheek three times.
So there were a lot of priest there for the wedding. And one of them was young and well attractive. I kind of chuckled because my mind flashed to that Sex and the City episode where Samantha met a priest she liked. I will not call my priest what she called her's. I will just use Carrie's term and say he was a ˝hot priest.˝ Does anyone know if Orthodox priest are allowed to marry. Joking!
I spoke to our guide Irene, and she has been a guide for 35 years. She said she only works for half the year now. And of course when she is home, she does not want to travel. It has to be hard with a family. I met one guide whose wife was also a guide. He said during the travel season, one is coming as the other is going. Then when they are both home during the off season, it is weird. Like who are you again. He was also a guide for decades so even when his kids were young.
One thing I did mean to mention about Dubrovnik is how different it feels in the day vs. the night. Like Venice, the city can be a crowded mess of cruise people and tour groups during the day. But having spent the last three nights there, I can say its absolutely amazing to walk through at night with just the locals and travelers who are staying over for a few nights.
I had dinner with Tammy from the tour. She is from Denver. She is also good people. She is the person I borrowed the book I mentioned yesterday from. Before dinner, we stopped to listen to some music from a group playing in front of the cathedral. We had dinner and, we talked about life. Great conversation. Tammy, if you are reading this, I think you are wonderful and hope our paths are able to cross again sometime in this life.
While we were eating the band we saw earlier came to the restaurant we were eating out. So before we left, I went to use bathroom, which is unisex. Yes. You know where this story is going. So I closed the door, and then I closed the door to my stall and did my business. Now that I think about, before I flushed and left, I though I heard some noise. Anyway, I come out of the stall to see some guy using the urinal. Luckily I did not see anything, but it was enough to know. I have never washed my hands that fast. When I turned to leave, he was waiting for me to finish. He did not seem sheepish so I tried not to be. I never! I am single, no kids. Using the potty is private time - always!
After dinner, Tammy went back home but I stayed in the city and wrote near the water. I was about to leave, but I heard a group singing songs from the '80s so I sat and listed for a while. They went on a break, and I tried to to stick around. I gave up because I was not sure how long they would be on break. This reminds me,a lot of 80's music being played in Croatia.
There were families out and about in the main square, which is another reason I like Old Cities and their squares. All the activity at night. The parents were eating and the kids, who I assume are local, were playing games. It looked like Hide and Go Seek. With all the alleys and side streets, that would be a fun place to run around as a kid to play.
Anyway, when I happened upon the band, they were playing Pink Floyd's ˝How I Wish You Were Here.˝ This song has always made me a little sad because it gives me a longing feeling, but I am not quite sure what I am longing for or where He is.
˝How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here."
In the same way ˝Stairway to Heaven˝ gets me.
˝There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving.˝
I had a hard time tearing myself away from the city. Three nights were not long enough. I am about to head to bed but first I will organize since we are leaving tomorrow. We fall back tonight so one hour extra sleep! Hooray. I get it two weekends in a row as time will fall back the night I return!
Friday, October 24, 2014
Dubrovnik...I am in Love
Dubrovnik will go down as one of my favorite cities ever!
Going up to Mount Srd sounded very tempting for a great view, but luckily we were taken to a lookout spot to get some great pictures. So it saved me around 100 krona. Plus there is a cable car to get up to the top. I am not really a fan of cable cars. Des if you are reading this, remember that crazy cable car ride in Singapore? Between that and Santorini, I have had enough.
Most of the day was just roaming around the Old Town. In the show Game of Thrones, the city is used as King's Landing, well a photo-shopped version. It goes down as one of the best Old Town's I have seen. I was able to see the Cathedral, which reminds me last night Sonia and I came across what appeared to be an Orthodox church while some sort of service was going on. I was also able to see the Synagogue and Museum, which were located on ˝Jewish Street.˝ Just like in Split, Jewish people migrated there during the Inquisition. Dubrovnik has the second-oldest continuously functioning synagogue after Prague. I am trying to remember if I went there or not when I was in Prague. The museum had some nice pieces among them a 14th-century Torah roll that came from Spain.
One goal I had was to walk the City Walls. There were some amazing views of the water and the city. It was a nice, sunny day. I would hate to attempt to walk it when it was raining because I imagine it would be pretty slick.
I saw some pictures of the soldiers who died while defending the city from Serbian and Montenegrin attackers in the early 90's. It made my heart ache. The men were so young. Some the age I am now. Others born in the same year as I and killed in 91. It is like we were the same age, and I was in my senior year of high school dreaming of getting out of Moses Lake, and they were defending their homeland and killed in duty. And they would have been 40 this year. During the walking tour of the city, our guide was saying how his parents harbor some deep feelings against Serbians and that they would never go to Serbia, while he had no problems going there.
Sonia and I parted for a short while as she shopped, and I went to sit by the water and think about some things. While I was walking to these rocks, I rounded a corner in time to see an older, overweight, European guy in a Speedo do a cannon ball into the sea. He then created a major splash that hit the guy who was innocently sitting there trying to enjoy the sun. My eyes are still traumatized by what I saw. I just do not think men and Speedos mix together very well. I saw a person who may or may not have been the same person later walking around with no shame with his shirt pulled over his belly and in offending Speedos, searching for a place to dry off. Have you no decency man!
Anyway I settled on the rocks by the water for 90 minutes or so thinking and writing and reading. I plan on doing this a lot in Venice. I normally have a State of LTB reflection time during my trip so this is a good start. There were some local guys behind me. One of them came up and asked me where I was from and wanted to take a picture with me. Then another of them came up and told me if I needed help finding anyplace he could help me. Keep this in mind for later in my post.
I went to a cafe to get some water and use the toilet and the guy working there asked me where I was from. When I said Seattle, he got super excited. He was like I know Seattle. Super Sonics! He then went on for a few minutes how much he liked Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. He asked me if I had ever seen them in the city so I told him about the time I saw Shawn Kemp at a party. This was actually a scary moment in my life because he was standing in the shadows so I did not see him right away. I kind of felt someone behind me and almost screamed when I saw a big guy coming out of shadows. But I digress.
One of my travel mates loaned me a book called the Best American Travel Writing. One of the stories was called A Moving Experience. It talked about making connections with people. As people share their travel adventures, they are sharing a highlight reel. They sell their trip on what was good about it. Unless they are going for another angle, which is saying how horrible it was. So for me for example. I have traveled with friends, on my own, and on my own with a tour group. When on my own, I may not mention the times of loneliness I may feel while being on my own for two weeks with limited contact. With tours, I can sometimes hangout with other tour mates. So this is why making those connections are so important. So for example, when I was in Santorini, I went into this store to buy some water. Since I tend to be more open and friendly when traveling, I gave the guy a big smile and and said hi to him. He then refused to take my money and was like with a smile like that, you do not pay. A small connection.
So after I met back up with Sonia, we were walking back into the Old City to try to find a restaurant. This guy stopped me and was like where you sitting by the rocks earlier. I was like, uh...yeah. Then he was like and there were all these guys behind you. I was like yeah. He was like I saw you. I was on the wall, and I was jealous of those guys. He then asked me if I would go on a date with him. I was kind of like huh. The rest of the conversation was a blur. I ended up saying no, which I think was the right thing to do, but now I am starting to think why not.
My more practical side says he is a local who probably hangs out picking up women traveling through the city because some people travel and have a good time. The other part of me is like why not have gone out to coffee with the guy and just accepted it for what it was at that moment. Because to be honest, I am not sure what I would have been signing up for or what he was expecting or what his agenda was. And maybe there was no agenda just an interest in someone he found attractive. So what do you think? Should I have said yes? He was cute. Probably late 40's. Meanwhile in Seattle, I cannot get a date to save my life.
To quote Molly Ringwald as Samantha in Sixteen Candles, ˝Unbelievable. Donger's here for five hours, and he's got somebody. I live here my whole life, and I'm like a disease.˝
Oh. Sonia and I ended up going to the New Harbor again and walking some more. Then we had dinner.
Going up to Mount Srd sounded very tempting for a great view, but luckily we were taken to a lookout spot to get some great pictures. So it saved me around 100 krona. Plus there is a cable car to get up to the top. I am not really a fan of cable cars. Des if you are reading this, remember that crazy cable car ride in Singapore? Between that and Santorini, I have had enough.
Most of the day was just roaming around the Old Town. In the show Game of Thrones, the city is used as King's Landing, well a photo-shopped version. It goes down as one of the best Old Town's I have seen. I was able to see the Cathedral, which reminds me last night Sonia and I came across what appeared to be an Orthodox church while some sort of service was going on. I was also able to see the Synagogue and Museum, which were located on ˝Jewish Street.˝ Just like in Split, Jewish people migrated there during the Inquisition. Dubrovnik has the second-oldest continuously functioning synagogue after Prague. I am trying to remember if I went there or not when I was in Prague. The museum had some nice pieces among them a 14th-century Torah roll that came from Spain.
One goal I had was to walk the City Walls. There were some amazing views of the water and the city. It was a nice, sunny day. I would hate to attempt to walk it when it was raining because I imagine it would be pretty slick.
I saw some pictures of the soldiers who died while defending the city from Serbian and Montenegrin attackers in the early 90's. It made my heart ache. The men were so young. Some the age I am now. Others born in the same year as I and killed in 91. It is like we were the same age, and I was in my senior year of high school dreaming of getting out of Moses Lake, and they were defending their homeland and killed in duty. And they would have been 40 this year. During the walking tour of the city, our guide was saying how his parents harbor some deep feelings against Serbians and that they would never go to Serbia, while he had no problems going there.
Sonia and I parted for a short while as she shopped, and I went to sit by the water and think about some things. While I was walking to these rocks, I rounded a corner in time to see an older, overweight, European guy in a Speedo do a cannon ball into the sea. He then created a major splash that hit the guy who was innocently sitting there trying to enjoy the sun. My eyes are still traumatized by what I saw. I just do not think men and Speedos mix together very well. I saw a person who may or may not have been the same person later walking around with no shame with his shirt pulled over his belly and in offending Speedos, searching for a place to dry off. Have you no decency man!
Anyway I settled on the rocks by the water for 90 minutes or so thinking and writing and reading. I plan on doing this a lot in Venice. I normally have a State of LTB reflection time during my trip so this is a good start. There were some local guys behind me. One of them came up and asked me where I was from and wanted to take a picture with me. Then another of them came up and told me if I needed help finding anyplace he could help me. Keep this in mind for later in my post.
I went to a cafe to get some water and use the toilet and the guy working there asked me where I was from. When I said Seattle, he got super excited. He was like I know Seattle. Super Sonics! He then went on for a few minutes how much he liked Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. He asked me if I had ever seen them in the city so I told him about the time I saw Shawn Kemp at a party. This was actually a scary moment in my life because he was standing in the shadows so I did not see him right away. I kind of felt someone behind me and almost screamed when I saw a big guy coming out of shadows. But I digress.
One of my travel mates loaned me a book called the Best American Travel Writing. One of the stories was called A Moving Experience. It talked about making connections with people. As people share their travel adventures, they are sharing a highlight reel. They sell their trip on what was good about it. Unless they are going for another angle, which is saying how horrible it was. So for me for example. I have traveled with friends, on my own, and on my own with a tour group. When on my own, I may not mention the times of loneliness I may feel while being on my own for two weeks with limited contact. With tours, I can sometimes hangout with other tour mates. So this is why making those connections are so important. So for example, when I was in Santorini, I went into this store to buy some water. Since I tend to be more open and friendly when traveling, I gave the guy a big smile and and said hi to him. He then refused to take my money and was like with a smile like that, you do not pay. A small connection.
So after I met back up with Sonia, we were walking back into the Old City to try to find a restaurant. This guy stopped me and was like where you sitting by the rocks earlier. I was like, uh...yeah. Then he was like and there were all these guys behind you. I was like yeah. He was like I saw you. I was on the wall, and I was jealous of those guys. He then asked me if I would go on a date with him. I was kind of like huh. The rest of the conversation was a blur. I ended up saying no, which I think was the right thing to do, but now I am starting to think why not.
My more practical side says he is a local who probably hangs out picking up women traveling through the city because some people travel and have a good time. The other part of me is like why not have gone out to coffee with the guy and just accepted it for what it was at that moment. Because to be honest, I am not sure what I would have been signing up for or what he was expecting or what his agenda was. And maybe there was no agenda just an interest in someone he found attractive. So what do you think? Should I have said yes? He was cute. Probably late 40's. Meanwhile in Seattle, I cannot get a date to save my life.
To quote Molly Ringwald as Samantha in Sixteen Candles, ˝Unbelievable. Donger's here for five hours, and he's got somebody. I live here my whole life, and I'm like a disease.˝
Oh. Sonia and I ended up going to the New Harbor again and walking some more. Then we had dinner.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
The Journey to Dubrovnik
The journey to Dubrovnik was very scenic. The coast is so very amazing, and yes I keep using that word. Amazing. Stunning. Beautiful. Unreal.
The thing I found most interesting was that there is a portion of the coast that is actually part of Bosnia so we had to cross the border into Bosnia and then what felt like a five-minute drive later, cross the border back into Croatia.We also made a stop, so technically I have been to Bosnia! LOL. Part of the rule is that your feet have to touch the ground and you have to leave the airport or train station to count.
Once we got to the hotel, Sonia and I met and took a bus to the New Harbor to go in search of a camera. We walked along the New Harbor for a second then took the bus to the Old City. OMG. I am in love! I cannot wait to explore more. I can see why Rick Steves likes this place so much. It kind of reminded me of Lucerne in that it does not appear to be real.
My big decision is whether to use Saturday as a free day or join the trip to Montenegro. When I feel I could see a lot tomorrow, I know I could see more in two days and not be so rushed. I could also just chill out. The other side is will I ever plan to take a trip to Montenegro outside of this? Big question mark. I need to decide tomorrow. We will see. I would not mind just walking down to the sea and just being for a few minutes.
The thing I found most interesting was that there is a portion of the coast that is actually part of Bosnia so we had to cross the border into Bosnia and then what felt like a five-minute drive later, cross the border back into Croatia.We also made a stop, so technically I have been to Bosnia! LOL. Part of the rule is that your feet have to touch the ground and you have to leave the airport or train station to count.
Once we got to the hotel, Sonia and I met and took a bus to the New Harbor to go in search of a camera. We walked along the New Harbor for a second then took the bus to the Old City. OMG. I am in love! I cannot wait to explore more. I can see why Rick Steves likes this place so much. It kind of reminded me of Lucerne in that it does not appear to be real.
My big decision is whether to use Saturday as a free day or join the trip to Montenegro. When I feel I could see a lot tomorrow, I know I could see more in two days and not be so rushed. I could also just chill out. The other side is will I ever plan to take a trip to Montenegro outside of this? Big question mark. I need to decide tomorrow. We will see. I would not mind just walking down to the sea and just being for a few minutes.
Split
The North Winds blow at odd places, but our local guide said they bring good luck so to make a wish. I am learning to be careful what I wish for, because I might just get it!
So the highlight of Split was certainly Diocletian´s Palace! Diocletian was a Roman emperor who was born near Split. He joined the Roman military and made his way up the ranks. He assassinated his predecessor, so there you go. Diocletian was the first Roman emperor to retire, and he had his palace built to be both a luxury palace and military fortress. He was the emperor who the one who divided the empire among for emperors, which may or may not have been the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. His palace was quite amazing.
He was not very popular. For example, he wanted a bust made of himself so he offered gold to the artist who made the best bust. What he did not say was that he was going to chop off the hands of the artists who made busts he did not like. So about 100 artists last their hands before he found one he liked.
He also hated Christians, and he had them killed in masses. It is very ironic that Constantine, his successor, legalized Christianity and made it the official religion of the empire.
Diocletian´s wife and daughter converted to Christianity, and he had them killed, which made people hate him even more. So, when he died, things did not go as he planned.
Looters came and built homes on the top floor of his palace. The descendents of those people still live in those homes today though many of them are falling apart. Keep in mind the palace is 1700 years old. They also took his body from the mausoleum he had built for himself and throw his body in the sea. They also turned his mausoleum into the Cathedral of St. Dominus. His Jupiter Temple was turned into St. John´s Baptistery.
Parts of seasons four and five of Game of Thrones were filmed in the city. I was in the room of the scene of Game of Thrones were Daenerys locked her dragons. It was cool! I enjoyed the palace as well as the Cathedral, which has some really cool doors, the Baptistery, and the Crypt. The Crypt has a statue of Saint Lucia. There are papers with prayers and letters of thanks, so I added a letter of thanks. There was also a note written in a foreign language that had a pink pin, one that would be used for a cloth diaper. It made me wonder about the person who left that letter. Was the letter a letter of thanks for the safe arrival of a little girl after years of trying? Was it a letter asking for a child? Whatever, a special prayer for whoever wrote the letter.
Our local guide said that some of the older people are having a hard time adjusting to capitalism and miss communism. I suppose because things were more guaranteed. I must say I find the communist architecture I have seen here and in Poland very depressing and without character.
I also went to their tiny Jewish Ghetto. The synagogue, which is the third-oldest practicing synagogue in Europe, was closed. I tend to try to find the Jewish Ghettos when I travel. I remember in Venice and Ostia Antica how far I had to walk to get to them. The Jewish population in Split came from Portugal and Spain during the reigns of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon and the Spanish Inquisition.
I also really enjoyed their market. It was very alive and bustling. Probably the most bustling and lively I have seen. Their seaside pedestrian promenade was also nice as well as a couple of squares I came across.
Oh, and there is a statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin whose toe you rub and make a wish. One person called it rubbish, I called it fun.
So the highlight of Split was certainly Diocletian´s Palace! Diocletian was a Roman emperor who was born near Split. He joined the Roman military and made his way up the ranks. He assassinated his predecessor, so there you go. Diocletian was the first Roman emperor to retire, and he had his palace built to be both a luxury palace and military fortress. He was the emperor who the one who divided the empire among for emperors, which may or may not have been the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. His palace was quite amazing.
He was not very popular. For example, he wanted a bust made of himself so he offered gold to the artist who made the best bust. What he did not say was that he was going to chop off the hands of the artists who made busts he did not like. So about 100 artists last their hands before he found one he liked.
He also hated Christians, and he had them killed in masses. It is very ironic that Constantine, his successor, legalized Christianity and made it the official religion of the empire.
Diocletian´s wife and daughter converted to Christianity, and he had them killed, which made people hate him even more. So, when he died, things did not go as he planned.
Looters came and built homes on the top floor of his palace. The descendents of those people still live in those homes today though many of them are falling apart. Keep in mind the palace is 1700 years old. They also took his body from the mausoleum he had built for himself and throw his body in the sea. They also turned his mausoleum into the Cathedral of St. Dominus. His Jupiter Temple was turned into St. John´s Baptistery.
Parts of seasons four and five of Game of Thrones were filmed in the city. I was in the room of the scene of Game of Thrones were Daenerys locked her dragons. It was cool! I enjoyed the palace as well as the Cathedral, which has some really cool doors, the Baptistery, and the Crypt. The Crypt has a statue of Saint Lucia. There are papers with prayers and letters of thanks, so I added a letter of thanks. There was also a note written in a foreign language that had a pink pin, one that would be used for a cloth diaper. It made me wonder about the person who left that letter. Was the letter a letter of thanks for the safe arrival of a little girl after years of trying? Was it a letter asking for a child? Whatever, a special prayer for whoever wrote the letter.
Our local guide said that some of the older people are having a hard time adjusting to capitalism and miss communism. I suppose because things were more guaranteed. I must say I find the communist architecture I have seen here and in Poland very depressing and without character.
I also went to their tiny Jewish Ghetto. The synagogue, which is the third-oldest practicing synagogue in Europe, was closed. I tend to try to find the Jewish Ghettos when I travel. I remember in Venice and Ostia Antica how far I had to walk to get to them. The Jewish population in Split came from Portugal and Spain during the reigns of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon and the Spanish Inquisition.
I also really enjoyed their market. It was very alive and bustling. Probably the most bustling and lively I have seen. Their seaside pedestrian promenade was also nice as well as a couple of squares I came across.
Oh, and there is a statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin whose toe you rub and make a wish. One person called it rubbish, I called it fun.
The Journey to Split: Rain/Wind, Sleet/Snow, Sun
When I was sitting on the waterfront in Opitija, I was looking at the water thinking that it looked like a storm was coming in. After a while, I began to wonder why I was just sitting there waiting knowing something was coming. As I was walking home, it started to sprinkle. By the time I blogged and got ready to go to bed, the sky opened up. It was a windy, rainy night that was kind of peaceful in a weird way.
The journey to Split was quite the whirlwind of weather.
To start out, it was raining very hard, and it was windy. The bus was shaking. We stopped in Sjern for a quick break, and I realized that it did not matter where I was on the Croatian coast. The Adriatic Sea is just so amazing. No matter the city, all you have to do is just sit and enjoy the water. What a peaceful way to spend a few days! I almost got blown away trying to capture the place.
We passed through some mountains on the way to Split. At first, it was kind of cool to see traces of snow along the road. Then I noticed that it was snowing. By the time we hit our next stop, it was snowing! It was pretty and unexpected! And whenever I drive through mountains, I think of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings!
Anyway when we got out of the mountains it was sunny and warm! So it was quite the confusing weather day, which ended beautifully with me taking layers off and being hot.
One of the couples on the trip is celebrating the 50th anniversary of meeting. They said they celebrate that anniversary more than their wedding. They will be married 50 years in August (they got married fast they said). The advice they give young couples is the first 49 years are the hardest.
We stopped in Zadar on the way. I hung out with Sonia, and we had enough time to visit the ruins of the Roman forum and grab some gelato. I may need a gelato intervention when I return. I now remember that Italy is the one vacation I did not lose weight during despite walking for hours each day. The seafront in Zadar was so very amazing. Absolutely beautiful. I could sit for hours with a book or notebook/pen. Stunning! There was also some beautiful buildings with a definite Austria-Hungary empire influence.
We had a group dinner, and there was a local group who performed for us. For the first time ever, I did the chicken dance. I have seen it on TV, but I never had a chance to do it live. It was actually quite fun. The band also played songs like Yesterday and Proud Mary, and it was fun to sing along.
The journey to Split was quite the whirlwind of weather.
To start out, it was raining very hard, and it was windy. The bus was shaking. We stopped in Sjern for a quick break, and I realized that it did not matter where I was on the Croatian coast. The Adriatic Sea is just so amazing. No matter the city, all you have to do is just sit and enjoy the water. What a peaceful way to spend a few days! I almost got blown away trying to capture the place.
We passed through some mountains on the way to Split. At first, it was kind of cool to see traces of snow along the road. Then I noticed that it was snowing. By the time we hit our next stop, it was snowing! It was pretty and unexpected! And whenever I drive through mountains, I think of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings!
Anyway when we got out of the mountains it was sunny and warm! So it was quite the confusing weather day, which ended beautifully with me taking layers off and being hot.
One of the couples on the trip is celebrating the 50th anniversary of meeting. They said they celebrate that anniversary more than their wedding. They will be married 50 years in August (they got married fast they said). The advice they give young couples is the first 49 years are the hardest.
We stopped in Zadar on the way. I hung out with Sonia, and we had enough time to visit the ruins of the Roman forum and grab some gelato. I may need a gelato intervention when I return. I now remember that Italy is the one vacation I did not lose weight during despite walking for hours each day. The seafront in Zadar was so very amazing. Absolutely beautiful. I could sit for hours with a book or notebook/pen. Stunning! There was also some beautiful buildings with a definite Austria-Hungary empire influence.
We had a group dinner, and there was a local group who performed for us. For the first time ever, I did the chicken dance. I have seen it on TV, but I never had a chance to do it live. It was actually quite fun. The band also played songs like Yesterday and Proud Mary, and it was fun to sing along.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Opatija and Beyond
Today was quite the day. I was originally going to hangout in Opatija all day on my own. After really looking at my trusty Rick Steves´ guidebook, I realized I could do all I wanted here in a few hours plus get some time to just soak it up. So I decided to do the Istria Peninsula trip. I am very glad I did because I had a great time and enjoyed some fabulous spots. I also spent time with another tour mate named Sonia who is from Toronto. She´s good people.
So the first stop was Pula. My buddy Rick recommends giving Pula two to three hours to see the sights. I agree, though I liked the place enough to want to spend some chill time there. The first stop was the Amphitheater. It was pretty impression and is the sixth largest Roman amphitheater. It´s supposed to be one of the best preserved. There is a small part it took workers five years to clean. The local guide joked that it was because her culture takes two to three, two hour breaks everyday.
On a side note, I really love meeting local guides. They have so much interesting history outside of the history books. For example, Nada mentioned things from her early years at certain locations, which brings the area more to life. As a kid, of course the amphitheater would be a big playground. She also mentioned that her grandfather, father, herself, and her kids were all born in Pula. But her grandfather was born when it was part of Austria. Her dad was born when it was part of Italy. She was born when it was part of Yugoslavia, and her kids were born as it is now, Croatia. A lot of change for one region over the last decades.
I will actually be going to a history lecture series about the Great War as part of the UW Alumni History Lecture Series. My mind is drawing a blank of the names of the leaders who divided ˝Eastern Europe˝ after WWI, but whoever they were, they did a bad job, but I digress.
Anyway, the amphitheater did not disappoint. Pictures will not do it justice. After that, Sonia and went for a walk, which I discovered ended up being the self-guided tour laid out by Rick Steves. The parts I liked the most were the Forum, which included the Temple of Augustus. There was also the Arch of Sergius, which Michelangelo loved. All in all I enjoyed strolling in the alleys and back alleys of the Old Town. It is probably bad, but I really only have an interest in the old part of cities. There was also a nice market with a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Oh, I did not learn until on the way here how much olive growing is done here.
We stopped for lunch in Rovinj. I had a pretty heavy breakfast so I skipped lunch all together and opted to walk around. I like their Old Town. I took some pictures that I believe capture the essence. I wanted to walk up to the Church of St. Euphemia, which is believed to contain the relics of St. Euphemia. There is also a bell tower, which I decided to walk up the 192 stairs to. I was a little hesitant after seeing the somewhat narrow wood steps, but I made it without incident and was rewarded with some beautiful views of the city and the sea. After that, I wandered around the Old Town some more. There was a nice market.
Rovinj and Pula are both places with good vibes. It was also pretty easy to capture the history there in a short time.
We also stopped in Porec, which was just okay. I was able to see the Euphrasian Basilica, which also had a museum and a bell tower that I walked up with Sonia. Good views. I figure this is good training as I need to get in shape for when I walk the Seattle Half Marathon in November. The basilica was cool and had some nice Byzantine mosaics. The Old Town there was okay. I think Rick Steves´ may have had some influence because he was not impressed.
Then we arrived back in Opatija. I took the time to walk along the water, which was very peaceful. I also sat and cleared my head for a while. The water makes a very beautiful lapping sound as it hits the rocks. I wanted to see a statue called Greetings to the Sea, which is of a woman surrounded by seagulls. I was able to see it, but it was dark so my attempts at pictures were no good. I basically hit up the waterfront beach called Slatina and the promenade called Lungamore. I caught a small part of the Angialina Park. It was very nice. This city is beautiful and peaceful. I will add it to Lucerne, Venice, and Santorini as possible honeymoons spots. I also have the ring, dress, and bridesmaids' dresses picked out - smile.
Oh, and we passed by a fjord, which was amazing. I think my first time seeing an area that was actually referred to as a fjord.
And Opatija has some pretty amazing architecture. There are some really nice villas. Anyway the place is just amazing. Somewhere worth coming back to. I did want to see the Abbey of St. James but it was closed when I got there.
That is all for now. I will edit later!
So the first stop was Pula. My buddy Rick recommends giving Pula two to three hours to see the sights. I agree, though I liked the place enough to want to spend some chill time there. The first stop was the Amphitheater. It was pretty impression and is the sixth largest Roman amphitheater. It´s supposed to be one of the best preserved. There is a small part it took workers five years to clean. The local guide joked that it was because her culture takes two to three, two hour breaks everyday.
On a side note, I really love meeting local guides. They have so much interesting history outside of the history books. For example, Nada mentioned things from her early years at certain locations, which brings the area more to life. As a kid, of course the amphitheater would be a big playground. She also mentioned that her grandfather, father, herself, and her kids were all born in Pula. But her grandfather was born when it was part of Austria. Her dad was born when it was part of Italy. She was born when it was part of Yugoslavia, and her kids were born as it is now, Croatia. A lot of change for one region over the last decades.
I will actually be going to a history lecture series about the Great War as part of the UW Alumni History Lecture Series. My mind is drawing a blank of the names of the leaders who divided ˝Eastern Europe˝ after WWI, but whoever they were, they did a bad job, but I digress.
Anyway, the amphitheater did not disappoint. Pictures will not do it justice. After that, Sonia and went for a walk, which I discovered ended up being the self-guided tour laid out by Rick Steves. The parts I liked the most were the Forum, which included the Temple of Augustus. There was also the Arch of Sergius, which Michelangelo loved. All in all I enjoyed strolling in the alleys and back alleys of the Old Town. It is probably bad, but I really only have an interest in the old part of cities. There was also a nice market with a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Oh, I did not learn until on the way here how much olive growing is done here.
We stopped for lunch in Rovinj. I had a pretty heavy breakfast so I skipped lunch all together and opted to walk around. I like their Old Town. I took some pictures that I believe capture the essence. I wanted to walk up to the Church of St. Euphemia, which is believed to contain the relics of St. Euphemia. There is also a bell tower, which I decided to walk up the 192 stairs to. I was a little hesitant after seeing the somewhat narrow wood steps, but I made it without incident and was rewarded with some beautiful views of the city and the sea. After that, I wandered around the Old Town some more. There was a nice market.
Rovinj and Pula are both places with good vibes. It was also pretty easy to capture the history there in a short time.
We also stopped in Porec, which was just okay. I was able to see the Euphrasian Basilica, which also had a museum and a bell tower that I walked up with Sonia. Good views. I figure this is good training as I need to get in shape for when I walk the Seattle Half Marathon in November. The basilica was cool and had some nice Byzantine mosaics. The Old Town there was okay. I think Rick Steves´ may have had some influence because he was not impressed.
Then we arrived back in Opatija. I took the time to walk along the water, which was very peaceful. I also sat and cleared my head for a while. The water makes a very beautiful lapping sound as it hits the rocks. I wanted to see a statue called Greetings to the Sea, which is of a woman surrounded by seagulls. I was able to see it, but it was dark so my attempts at pictures were no good. I basically hit up the waterfront beach called Slatina and the promenade called Lungamore. I caught a small part of the Angialina Park. It was very nice. This city is beautiful and peaceful. I will add it to Lucerne, Venice, and Santorini as possible honeymoons spots. I also have the ring, dress, and bridesmaids' dresses picked out - smile.
Oh, and we passed by a fjord, which was amazing. I think my first time seeing an area that was actually referred to as a fjord.
And Opatija has some pretty amazing architecture. There are some really nice villas. Anyway the place is just amazing. Somewhere worth coming back to. I did want to see the Abbey of St. James but it was closed when I got there.
That is all for now. I will edit later!
Monday, October 20, 2014
All in a Day´s Journey
Saturday night I was up because my mind was buzzing with anticipation.
I got up with the intent of catching the 10:07 number 11. That turned into the 10:19 number 8, which ended up actually being the 10:37 number 11. Which is exactly how it should have been. I met some really kind people along my journey from my house to the airport.
I met a couple whose interaction was so inspirational, and I had to tell them how much I loved their interaction. He said he met her when he was 48, and they have been together for 24 years. He said he had many bad relationships before he met her. It gave me hope. I have had this romantic notion of wanting to spend most of my life with one person, but quality over quantity any day.
The flight down was okay. I think I slept. It´s hard to remember what actually happened. It was a score that the middle seat was empty both legs of the trip. I always enjoy airports like London Heathrow because you truly get a diverse group of travelers. Cultures are so diverse from the way we dress, talk, etc. I am convinced we can put together a random list of features and find a person who looks just like that somewhere in this big world.
I got into Venice around 12:10 and had to wait forever for my luggage. I got a 1:15 bus to Opatiji. Checked in, got organized, and went for a short walk with this couple I met named Kathy and Norm. OMG. This place is so beautiful. There is nothing to see in terms of touristy stuff, but the town in itself is beautiful. Got to love being near the water.
I will be on a Gate 1 tour for Croatia and Slovenia then on my own in Venice. I have gotten so lazy with trip planning. One of these days I will get back on the wagon and plan. It is nice having someone else do all the leg work and not have to worry about transportation, but half the fun is the planning and anticipation! Oh and three of my tour mates are from Seattle. Small world! I am so used to a very fluid border once I hit Europe. It was out of the ordinary to have to show our passports as we entered Croatia. It seems like most of the borders just wave you through nowadays even if they are not an E.U. member.
It´s currently 8:45 p.m., and I need to convince my tired body to go to bed!
As always, my disclaimer is I will edit when I get home. Some of the keys are in the wrong place!
I got up with the intent of catching the 10:07 number 11. That turned into the 10:19 number 8, which ended up actually being the 10:37 number 11. Which is exactly how it should have been. I met some really kind people along my journey from my house to the airport.
I met a couple whose interaction was so inspirational, and I had to tell them how much I loved their interaction. He said he met her when he was 48, and they have been together for 24 years. He said he had many bad relationships before he met her. It gave me hope. I have had this romantic notion of wanting to spend most of my life with one person, but quality over quantity any day.
The flight down was okay. I think I slept. It´s hard to remember what actually happened. It was a score that the middle seat was empty both legs of the trip. I always enjoy airports like London Heathrow because you truly get a diverse group of travelers. Cultures are so diverse from the way we dress, talk, etc. I am convinced we can put together a random list of features and find a person who looks just like that somewhere in this big world.
I got into Venice around 12:10 and had to wait forever for my luggage. I got a 1:15 bus to Opatiji. Checked in, got organized, and went for a short walk with this couple I met named Kathy and Norm. OMG. This place is so beautiful. There is nothing to see in terms of touristy stuff, but the town in itself is beautiful. Got to love being near the water.
I will be on a Gate 1 tour for Croatia and Slovenia then on my own in Venice. I have gotten so lazy with trip planning. One of these days I will get back on the wagon and plan. It is nice having someone else do all the leg work and not have to worry about transportation, but half the fun is the planning and anticipation! Oh and three of my tour mates are from Seattle. Small world! I am so used to a very fluid border once I hit Europe. It was out of the ordinary to have to show our passports as we entered Croatia. It seems like most of the borders just wave you through nowadays even if they are not an E.U. member.
It´s currently 8:45 p.m., and I need to convince my tired body to go to bed!
As always, my disclaimer is I will edit when I get home. Some of the keys are in the wrong place!
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