 Ancient homes made with stone line the streets of Hvar, Croatia A Bucket List Dream Come TrueFor a long time, Croatia has been on my bucket list. Why? I'm not really sure. First of all, I've never set foot on the Balkan Peninsula. That in itself intrigues me. Then, many friends who have returned from this sunny clime sing its praises. Thirdly, I discovered through 23andMe that I am 5% Balkan. All three became the inspiration for our trip to Croatia and Montenegro (which translated means “black mountain” due to the evergreens that once graced the mountains surrounding the city of Kotor). After Dan finally renewed his passport (my only wish this past Christmas), we were able to travel again as a couple. It had been over six years—far too long. Perusing the website of our favorite travel agency, Adventure Life, I discovered a Clipper Ship Tour (think pirate ship) of Croatia and Montenegro, leaving from a Venetian port. I am hooked on cruises, but not the 9-story mall-in-the-middle kind. Small sailing ships, like scooners (sailboats) that hold 87 passengers, or a large clipper ship that serves around 237 people are more my style. It’s less overwhelming, and you can usually feel the motion of the waves when the sails are furled and the winds are strong. Unfortunately for us, the Star Clipper never raised its sails due to low winds.  Nonetheless, it was still an adventure. But first, we flew to Venice and stayed overnight, so as not to miss our embarkation time. Well, this beautiful city is an island, which poses many problems (unless you are willing to spend over $120 for water transport to your hotel, which most likely, at that price, is off one of the canals). We decided to take the Alilaguna, a public boat taxi specially suited to transport you from the Marco Polo airport to the Island, which cost us a mere €18 (around $21). Then, we walked to the Hotel Flora, which was a ten-minute walk without dragging luggage. Even though we had only carry-ons, we needed to cross two bridges with many steps. Tired and hot, we reached our destination, grateful for the air conditioning that refreshed us as we walked into the lobby.  One of the many canal bridges we crossed Hotel Flora in VeniceA lovely Italianate decor with a charming garden where we enjoyed breakfast the next morning. . . Venetian Bridges The Rialto Bridge— one of four spanning the Grand Canal. The Doge's PalaceThe lion is a symbol of the Republic of Venice, ruled by the Great Council, which had dominion for hundreds of years over the city and Islands in the Adriatic, including what is now known as Croatia and Montenegro (Balkan Coast). All artwork was related to law, truth, justice, and God’s Word. Rather overwhelming!  My favorite, the Lion’s Mouth: citizens would write down a crime they witnessed and place it in this slot leading to the Doge’s quarters. He would then decide how to act upon the information given. The Prison Quarters at the Doge’s Palace One of the most impressionable experiences of the tour was our visit to the prison complex. Down, down, down, to the depths of the earth we walked, feeling the damp coolness surround us. It was okay for us tourists, but I thought of real prisoners of the past who made their way to a cell that would hold them until their fate was decided. What were their thoughts? Remorse? Anger? Fear? As we arrive at the inside walkway of the Bridge of Sighs, we looked out (the last row of pics). This was the last view the captives would have of their beloved Venice and a life of freedom. Caffè Florian Even though the prices were high, and the cover fee €7 to enjoy the orchestra on the terrace, I had to indulge in a visit to the historic Caffe Florian, founded in 1720. Waitstaff in white shirts and bow ties brought our light lunch of simple sandwiches and Aperol Spritz which has been a trademark here in Venice for hundreds of years, so I had to try this liquid historic aperitif with its bittersweet flavor (orangey), aromatic herbs, and light alcohol content meant to whet one’s appetite for dinner. You see it above left. Below is a video giving you an idea of Caffè Florian's ambiance. Well, I will leave you hanging in suspense until my next blogpost, unless you are my friend on FB. There you will find many reels of our trip. Our clipper ship tour of Croatia and Montenegro is next. I hope it will be inspiring. What would you like to see in person as you perused my images? Let me know below!
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Good News!My MG Biblical fiction "The Heart Changer" debuted in 2019 with Ambassador International. Categories
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