Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Trogir and Zadar

Hi All,

We added two more old cities to our trip as we drove north to the Istrian Peninsula.

First stop was Trogir. The whole town is a World Heritage Site!

The centerpiece is the Cathedral of St Lawrence.


The main entrance is Radovan's Portal built in 1240 and restored in 2006.

The carved pews look both somber and uncomfortable.

Across the plaza is a chapel built in the 15th century to celebrate the town's deliverance from the plague.

This ancient fortress guards the sea approach to Trogir.

Our second stop was Zadar. It offered a mix of 4th century Roman ruins and 14th century church bell towers.

The "steps" seen here are a series of chambers where the incoming waves create "music" through vents in the walkway. An acquired taste.

One of the biggest churches is that of St Anastasia, named after our favorite Florida State Park in St Augustine ;-).
A long day but we want to make the most of our time here.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta & Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Monday, May 9, 2016

Relax and Pack Up

Hi All,

That's what our plan was for the day, "Relax and Pack Up". After 11 nights in the rented house on the central Dalmatian coast, tomorrow we move on.

We packed up then had lunch in nearby Gradac. A little further down the coast we stopped to shop at and photograph the roadside vendors selling oranges, wine and olive oil.


At a nearby roadside picnic area we stopped to enjoy the view.
Tomorrow we move north to explore the Istrian Peninsula of northwest Croatia.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta & Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Sunday, May 8, 2016

Ston and Korcula

Hi All,

First stop today was the small town of Ston. There's not much to the town but a huge 14th century wall surrounds the town and extends all the way to the adjacent town of Mali Ston. At 3.5 miles long, it is the longest wall in Europe.


It is amazing how the wall climbs the hillside. Another section of wall was being repaired and had lots of yellow scaffolding which Carl declared reduced its photogenicity!

After Ston, we drove to the village of Oribec to catch a ferry to the island of Korcula. We got these nice views of Oribec and the marina as the ferry pulled away.

The old town of Korcula is on a fortified peninsula with St Mark's Cathedral at the high point. 

The old gate through the city walls is still pretty impressive.

In several towns we have seen these stone fittings around windows. Wooden poles were put through the holes and used to winch heavy chests and furniture up from the street into the windows. Pretty clever for the 15th century!

We got back to the dock early so we were first in line to be swallowed up by the ferry.

In case anyone wondered where Ginger was spending her time, fear not. She is being well cared for by Roberta & Elliot's granddaughter Erica and her family.
Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta &Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Saturday, May 7, 2016

Krka National Park

Hi All,

Today we visited another Croatian national park with fantastic terraced waterfalls.

We drove to the village of Skradin 

where we took a 20 minute boat ride up the Krka River into the park. This multilevel cascade is known as Skradinski Buk.


A series of staircases allowed us to walk up alongside the falls.

The terraces are travertine, formed when limestone dissolved in the water deposits on the rocks.

We climbed more steps as the cascades continued to lead us upwards.

Even small patches of waterfall were stunning.

After lunch we took a small boat across to Visovac Island, home of a 15th century Franciscan monastery.

Back at the house, we enjoyed yet another beautiful sunset.
Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta & Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Friday, May 6, 2016

A Day Off-Taking it Easy

Hi All,

We all slept in and had a late breakfast. We then explored the path along the beach near the house.


A paved path continues beyond the beach along the Rocky shore for about half a mile.

Looking back at the cluster of houses clinging to the hillside in our village of Podaca, the green dot is the place we are renting.

Along the path we came to a rustic basketball court. Carl challenged Elliot to some one-on-one but we could not find a ball.

Early afternoon we took a short drive to the nearby village of Gradac for lunch. The view from our seaside table was not too shabby!

A quiet afternoon included some reading, napping and Words-With-Friends.

In the evening we were treated to a magnificent sunset.
Tomorrow we are back on the road  to Krka National Park.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta & Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Thursday, May 5, 2016

Island of Vis

Hi All,

Today we drove back to Split to catch the ferry to Vis. From high on the ferry we had a great view of Split.

Vis is about 35 miles from Split, a two hour and 20 minute ride but the day was gorgeous as we cruised past the lighthouse on Solta Island

then past Hvar and on to Vis.

Is Split our ship was just one of many big ferries but in Vis harbor it dominated the waterfront.

We wandered the old streets of Vis town.

and marveled at the ornate chimneys.

There were lots of sailboats in the harbor.

As we sailed out of the harbor we passed this neat old church and bell tower.

As our ferry returned to Split a cruise ship was departing under the shafts of sunlight.
It was a laid back day with the long ferry rides and short time in Vis but we enjoyed it a lot.

We have nothing but a rest day scheduled for tomorrow. Wait and see how the four of us fill that vacuum!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta & Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Blagaj and Pocitelj

Hi All,

We made a couple of stops on the way home from Mostar. At Blagaj we visited a 15th century Muslim site that had been occupied by Turkish Dervishes.

The building is nestled against the rock face where the Buna River exits a cave.


It is still a holy site so we all removed our shoes and Sandy and Roberta got scarves to cover their heads.

The Dervishes could study while watching the river

or pray in the chapel with multicolor skylight stars.

Once past the house, the river roars down the valley.

Last stop was the hillside town of Pocitelj. The architecture spans seven centuries of mosques, fortresses and elaborate private homes.

Back to the house in time for another awesome sunset.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Roberta & Elliot
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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