korcula up next

we left for an evening sail to Korcula town on Korcula island in Croatia.  it wasn't too many hours before we arrived because we were pulling into the harbor when as we finished dinner.  we left for an evening stroll through the completely deserted old town and hunted for a wi-fi signal.  the next morning we were out right after breakfast because our small ship had pulled right up to the dock along the side of the old walled city.

Korcula is famous as the birthplace of Marco Polo.  the city is laid out in the fish bone pattern used by many of the oldest cities along the Dalmatian Coast.  this layout kept things cool in the summer heat and warmer in the winter winds.  during our tour we saw two small local museums and the main church. 

we found a wonderful cookie shop (upon guide Petra's recommendation.) we hooked up to the Internet to clear emails and keep in touch and enjoyed a leisurely drink with one of our fellow travelers (Larry from Victoria BC) whose wife was off shopping.  I took some time out for photographs - especially of the turquoise waters, but mostly just walked - exploring areas of the town I hadn't seen in 2005 when I last visited. below you can see the fish bone pattern in the narrow curving streets of town.

and then some photos of the beautiful water of the Adriatic

we had dinner on board and left for our next destination around 3AM.  I awoke just as we were pulling away from the dock and watched the ship quite silently slip out of port.  next stop is Montenegro and our departure is timed for us to enter the Boca Kotorska Bay just after breakfast so we all can enjoy the magnificent scenery on the way through the three successive fjord-like bays.

meanwhile here is my favorite photo from Korcula on this trip-

ADRIATIC TRIP Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

so now you know what I have been doing since we got back- soon I will catch up on the blog entries for the trip but meanwhile - here is the photo book of the trip!

finally

home again and getting readjusted to the current time zone-

so I will start with the beginning of the trip - in Zagreb.  we arrived on Saturday mid day and took a cab to the hotel.  we were in luck because even though it was only noon we had a room ready for us.  it was a nice space in a quiet corner of the top floor of the Palace Hotel (#428)

we dumped all our stuff and after getting organized for later in the day took a brief nap to get us past the hump of no sleep and the hour transfer walk in Frankfort.  We called for an early dinner reservation at a place called Vinodol. 

later in the afternoon we went out for a walk and got the layout of the city scoped out for tomorrow on our own.  when we arrived at the city center square we found a festival going on with wine and wine and wine and some cheese and proscut (dried ham) all to celebrate St Martin's day which is 11/11.  This is the patron saint of the wine harvest and he is honor with great respect here.  Apparently everyone makes wine and smokes hams at home! Who knew?

above- all photos from the festival- and below the Vinodol restaurant where we had dinner our first night in Croatia.

Needless to say with no sleep the night before and only a short nap we were ready to sack out quite early - so we went back to the hotel and to bed by a bit after ten PM.  Tomorrow is a full day on our own and we have a map to do help us find our way to the things I remember as worth seeing form the last time I was here.

get crackin and get packin

I have only a few days left in the month to finish my work- I did mention I am not completely retired didn't I?  I am doing a bit of consulting and have two assignments that need to be done before I leave- November 1st for one and November 3rd for the other--- so I do really need to "get crackin"...

AND-  time is drawing near for packing for our trip to the Balkans - so this seemed a good time to post a few photos from my last trip there- first two from Zagreb- St. Mark's cathedral in the old section of town and a peaceful bench on the way up to the upper town.

heading toward the coast- a scene from the amazingly beautiful Plitvice Lakes-

on the Dalmatian Coast - the town of Sibenik- which is home to Diocletian's Palace- it was so large they have built the entire center of town inside the palace- it is a place for the living - not a ruin of the past- vibrant home to many - and the home of the invention of the neck tie (cravat)

harbor boats in Sibenik:

we headed south stopping at islands along the way- this was a sign for a road side BBQ place up in the hills above Stari Grad on Hvar Island and below it the lamb on the spit -

locals at a cafe in Hvar Town- Hvar Island-

local wares for sale- above

below- boys setting up a "shop" in Korcula on the old town steps

a rainy night in Dubrovnik and in the sunshine - the lovely Barbara Bedenk - among the WORLD'S BEST GUIDES - but certainly THE BEST in all of Croatia/Slovenia!



a better/sunnier day the following day and then a view from the walls surrounding Dubrovnik-

looking forward to returning and hoping to see Barbara again in Slovenia---

did I say it is time to think about packing- at least time to make a list.... will keep you posted!