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.

Comments

#120 - SURPRISE....ONE LAST READ WITH YOUR MORNING COFFEE

Did you think we wouldn't do a wrap up - the woulda, shoulda, coulda list along with our very salient observations of the current state of fashion, food, and fun in France and Spain? Well, we got a bit sidetracked. So here is the last of Paris and the rest of the Euro 2019 blog. Our last night in Paris, Laurent returned and we had a dinner at Eels as planned. About a thirty minute walk (perfect, since once we are home I can't get Steve walking at all) but it was raining, so we hopped in an Uber and headed over to the 10th arrondissement in heavy traffic. Rather than describe the great five course chef tasting menu we did- here it is in photos. Everything was excellent, especially the bottle of Pinot Noir- too bad it was their last one and we had to switch wines for the next bottle - but that is the only criticism. The next morning we were packed, said our goodbyes, and were off to the airport for our non-stop to Dulles...

#34 - Sometimes travel is just everyday life with better scenery and a few more meals out

....And I've been doing it wrong the whole trip??? Now you finally tell me?? Travel always sounds so exotic, especially when you take a long plane ride to get there. And a two or three week vacation is usually packed so full, long days, lots of activities and moving from place to place. In other words, every day is a day of nothing but highlights...the major museums, the thrill activities and a fancy dinner out. But a two month vacation is quite different. It is closer to regular life with one or two good surprises each day. Like our drive to Blenheim, a sleepover, and a ferry ride from Picton to Wellington on Tuesday to Wednesday . It was really nice and I could describe what we did, the drive, the vineyards we visited, the dinner, etc. But this blog is meant to be more than just a travelogue. It's about observing and learning, looking at things with distance and perspective. And traveling to a very far away place that is not so different than where y...

#25 - From Melbourne's Upper West Side to its Soho to its Edgy

Really?? ….come on now, could it really be any good??? Saturday morning, nine am, and our hostess had offered to drop us in South Melbourne, just a ten minute car ride from South Yarra. When we are in cities, we love the museums and the great food but, we are also all about seeing the neighborhoods - the established ones where people live and the up and coming ones being gentrified. J suggested South Melbourne for a bite and boutiques and its Market, so, of course, we did it all. Let's have a bit if a primer on brekky here. They have very different combinations of what comes on toast for breakfast. Steve had a pot of baked beans and chorizo and creamy feta with his toast, while I had smashed avocado, tomato, basil and yes, delicious crispy Aussie bacon, which is somewhere between what we have back home and Canadian bacon. The brekky menus do have eggs but lean heavily in the direction of either interesting muesli/ fruit/ yoghurt combos ...

Marci and Steve Go Back to Europe

Search This Blog