August 24/25 Croatia, worth the wait

First Impressions, it was worth the wait

Ten years ago I wanted to go to Croatia, after the war but before the resorts. Five years ago, I wanted to vacation in Croatia, when tourism had arrived for the Europeans, especially the just across the Adriatic Italians. And three years ago, and two and finally we are here.

The EasyJet flight was roomier than any 'full size' carrier, the airport in Dubrovnik neat as a pin and painted sunny yellow with no lines for immigration, ten ATMs to get Kuna, and a quick and easy ticket window to buy your shuttle bus ticket to Gruz Harbor.

Hopping on the bus for the forty minute ride was a tour in and of itself. Already the coastline is spectacular and it makes me realize, shockingly, that I have been traveling for eleven weeks and been close to the ocean but not really at the beach. I immediately realize what I have been missing as we wind around very rugged cliff side coastlines and catch our first sight of sails and coves and beaches and then in the distance the perfect walls of old Dubrovnik.

The sky is blue but the water near the shore is that perfect clear turquoise, with a bit of rock peeking out from the sea bottom. Every house is painted, every street sparkling so no mistaking it for Italy!

Speaking of our last night in Italy, we spent it at the Rome Airport Hilton to catch a very early flight this am. FCO makes PHL look like LAS VEGAS! It has to be not only the trashiest, filthiest airport but wins the prize for the furthest walk in the gloomiest, crappiest hallways with walkways that don't work and, like all of Italy, the slowest elevators in the world.

Anyway, back to beautiful. If first impressions are anything, this is going to be a wonderful worth waiting for 19 nights in paradise. We are just finishing our breakfast by the harbor, looking out at three huge huge huge cruise ships,

In port, but not for us.....

in for the day, glad we will be boarding a 54 meter sailboat in a few days and not these monsters.

Our new Home, in 3 Days.....the 'Panorama,, a 54 meter sailing yacht....

Steve has happily consumed a breakfast of, are you ready, fried egg, baked white beans, five strips of bacon, two sausages, mushrooms and thick fresh bread. But starting now, we'll be switching to fresh grilled fish at every beach or coast we travel.

First Impression.....Croatia, the Coast of a Lifetime, on the trip of our life. Unless of course, in a few weeks, Turkey is even more spectacular.

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