A Mediterranean Cruise ~ Dubrovnik, Croatia

And now...on to the cruise ship bound for Croatia.

After two wonderful days in Venice, we hailed a water taxi to take us to the cruise ship terminal.

We checked into our stateroom...had the first of many delicious meals on board...and made our way to the upper deck as we left the harbour.  Or is it a lagoon?

Farewell to to the city of waterways and  islands...

...where boats rule

...and colourful buildings abound.

We passed by beautiful beaches as we sailed out and away.

After a good night's sleep...we awoke in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was nice to have a cabin with a deck and be able to check out our surroundings anytime. 

We found a cab driver with a van who was more than willing to take ous for a tour.   Our first stop was the Franjo Tudman Bridge...which was finally completed in 2002. Construction began in 1989 and then ground to a halt during the Croatian War of Independence in the early 90's.  There are great views from the bridge.

Our next stop was a lovely tranquil spot on the spring-fed Ombla River...it has its beginnings under ground somewhere!

It is a source of drinking water for the city...

...and we also observed a few folks taking a refreshing dip.

Our trusty driver/tour guide took us to a viewpoint at the top of a hill ...

...overlooking the city.

We saw the wall around the 'old city' and decided we would walk that wall the next day.

We visited Kuparoi beach...a beautiful beach right next to the remains of bombed out buildings from the Croatian War of Independence in the 90's. Kupari was once an exclusive holiday resort frequented by thousands of Yugoslavia’s military elite and their families in its heyday...during the time of  President Tito.

Its five extravagant hotels had enough room for some 2000 guests at a time and a nearby campsite could hold over 4000 more. The People's Army destroyed the historic city in 1991. The skeletons of the hotels still stand as a reminder of their historic past.

Though some of our group opted to take a dip in the sea that day...I am so glad we walked the wall.

It is the best preserved city wall in Europe...and a UNESCO World Heritage site, which offers fantastic views of both the old city and the sea.

Parts of the wall date back to medieval times with the entire city being encircled by the 14th century. Dubrovnik was at one time a rival to Venice for dominance on the Adriatic Sea and the wall served to keep the enemy at bay.

It was a great day for kayakers on the crystal clear water!

Can you tell why Dubrovnik is called 'the pearl of the Adriatic'?

It  takes a few hours to walk the wall ( several kilometers in length)...but we stopped for refreshments at a cafe with a view part of the way around.

Life goes on in the old city...with laundry hanging out to dry and folks heading out their back doors.

Once we were off the wall...we joined the masses of tourists milling about below.

Dubrovnik was a pleasant surprise.  If you ever have a chance to visit...don't pass it up.

A Mediterranean Cruise ~ Venice

What better way to visit Italy and the Greek Islands than on a cruise with friends?  It's been more than a week since we returned home, and high time I unpacked my photos.  It seems one always hits the ground running after a vacation.  Let me start with a few highlights of Venice...the beginning of a most memorable time in the Mediterranean.

 We flew to Venice via Amsterdam (on KLM)...arriving there almost a full day after we left home.

How strange to leave the airport on a water taxi and be delivered directly to our hotel!

And so began our two week adventure that we had looked forward to for the past year...with Lovella, Anneliese and our husbands.

Venice...the grand city built on water!  

“To build a city where it is impossible to build a city is madness in itself, but to build there one of the most elegant and grandest of cities is the madness of genius.”  

It has its beginnings in 402 AD, when settlers arrived and began building canals and putting up buildings. Many of the buildings in Venice today are still standing on 1000 year old piles of wood!

We walked the narrow alleyways between buildings...

...and over Venice's famous Rialto bridge.

San Marco Square or Piazza San Marco has been the centre of life in Venice for eons. St. Mark's Basilica at one end is Venice's prime attraction...as we could tell by the line-ups waiting to enter.  We decided to be content with viewing it from the exterior!

Did you know that there are more than 100 islands on the lagoon of Venice?  We visited two of those islands while we were there.

My favorite was Burano...with its colorful buildings.

Famous for Burano lace...we saw first hand how it is produced.  By hand.  One stitch at a time!

Italy is known for its leaning towers...one of which is located on Burano Island. St. Martin's church was built in the 18th century and the 53 meter tower started sinking almost immediately. But several hundred years later...it is still standing.

We also visited the island of Murano...renowned for its hand-crafted glass.   We watched a demo at the glass museum...and I picked up hand-crafted glass necklaces for my granddaughters.

On our final night in Venice...we dined on pasta and all things Italian beneath the Rialto bridge and then rode through the canals on a gondola.

It was the best end to a wonderful time in Venice!

Next stop...Dubrovnyk, Croatia.

August ~ gone but not forgotten

Early August seems like a distant memory already...

...but let me share just a few memories from this past month.

We had patio weather from beginning to end...

and enjoyed sharing good times with family and friends around the table.

One Sunday morning...

we had breakfast on the patio with some of our care group friends.  

It had been a particularly hard week for one couple and it was good to get together and show our support.

Our road got new coat of asphalt...

which made coming and going a little tricky.  

The flag people knew us quite well by the time the job was done!  

I'm sure they were a little skeptical when we said we needed to get out to attend a funeral yet again...

three times in one week.

Summer freeway traffic through our neighbourhood was often a nightmare!

We had the family over for watermelon and rollkuchen one Sunday night...

and celebrated Kris's birthday as well.  

A watermelon 'birthday cake' was fitting for one who does not care for cake.  

Can he really be 45? 

Where have the years gone?

Emme and Spencer showed up on their own in their little red car.  

When they left, they had a few cousins in the back seat...

pleased as punch to be along for the ride!

After the deadly wildfire season of 2017...

we had hoped to breathe clean air this summer.  

But, once again we had horrific  fires in our province and the valley was often choking in smoke.  Thankfully, the skies have cleared and we are seeing the mountains again.

We have been away the past few weeks...

enjoying a Mediterranean cruise with friends.

We spent a few days in Venice...

visited Dubrovnik, Croatia...

sailed among the islands of Greece...

...and ended our time away in Rome.  

It was a wonderful trip...and so nice to be able to share the experience with good friends!  

I'll share a travel post or two once my photos are 'unpacked'. 

We just arrived home last night and it feels like 'fall is in the air'.  

Tomorrow it is back to school for all my grands. 

Wishing you all a wonderful September!