Last days in Croatia

Life has been a little hectic & lack of wifi has meant no blog! We caught a ferry from Hvar to Korchula after battling up the gang way with a Japanese group! Korchula was much quieter & quainter. We had a tour around the island & did some wine tasting.

Another ferry took us to the mainland & from there a 2 hour bus trip to Dubrovnik. Visited the old walled city - very interesting. We then went on to a Montenegro - a small country next to Croatia. It was very interesting with a lot of history. Little narrow streets lead on to small plazas. Typically it was in the high 30C"s & when we went to sit down all the power in the town went off!!

Yesterday we went to Mostar, Bosnia, the early morning start was well worth the trip. Buildings still show the signs of the war - shrapnel and bomb holes everywhere. Very Turkish area too. The 44C temperature took it's toll but a few cold beers really helped!

Today we fly to Rome, tomorrow Dubai & then Friday night Sydney.

It's been a great trip & I have a few more stamps in my passport!

Dubrovnik

Montenegro

Hello Croatia

Sunday 1st July
Walked up the hill again, but earlier in the day, to visit the church containing the remains of St Clare. Another interesting church. Going back to the hotel stopped at the local deli, amazing array of goods. Bought a small bottle of truffle oil to take back for when I get excited about making something Italian!

Headed towards Rome but 3kms from Assisi we stopped at a church which had a small church inside it. The frescos were stunning & the little church was one that St Francis had used and was bought down from the hills & built again then the large church was built around it.

Caught flight to Split. We knew the plane was small when we were taken out to the runway on a bus! There she was a little propeller number. If my seat was any further back I would have been on the tail! We arrived on time so that was ok.

Had a mad drive - think the driver wanted to get back to watch Italy v Spain. We couldn’t be dropped right at our hotel because it’s in the old city & it’s a pedestrian area only. After a few false turns we finally found where we were staying. You notice the change in the weather not quite as hot as Italy but very humid.

Monday 2nd July

Spent morning on a walking tour of the old city. It was very interesting to see how the city once was although so much has gone now. We are right opposite the water & there are ferries leaving all the time. There was also a large cruise ship which meant a lot of people were doing the walking tours.

Had a wonderful lunch & watched the people go by in the main Piaza then off for a nanny nap - the heat & humidity take it out of you.

Tuesday 3rd July

Kerry arrived in Split & that afternoon we caught the ferry to Hvar - a one hour crossing. Picked up at the port and driven to the hotel. Beautiful spot with pools overlooking the sea. It’s very hot & I’m now covered in a heat rash.

Thursday 5th July

The last 2 days have been spent laying at the pool trying to stay in the shade. We went down to the sea - no beach just pebbles and difficult to get into. Kerry & I landed in the sea none too gracefully when trying to get in in flip flops! We have since bought bought funny little shoes to not only get us across the pebbles but because there are many sea urchins & if you step on one you are in trouble.

The sea is crystal clear in the morning & a bit mucky in the afternoon. It’s so saltly that you can just lay there & as we are in the Med there are no waves to contend with. 

We walked into the town for dinner & the harbour is a bustling place of boats - we are looking at millions of dollars bobbing around! Some are small yachts & others are massive motor cruisers!

Fish is on the menu everywhere & we finally gor our taste of sardines - delicious.

It’s very hot & I had to go to the chemist for cream for my rash - the chemist, female, told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to have my arms covered so I went straight out & bought a long sleeved top! 

Last days in Italy

Friday 29th June
An early morning start (7:30) saw us in Siena by 8am to see the Palio - a horse race but not in the modern sense. We had to reach the Piazza il Campo first & that was 5 long escalators from where we’d parked the car. It is a Sienese tradition & is where the different Contradas (local area of the city) fight for the honour of their area. Sounds complicated & it was for us to understand but basically there were 5 races around the Piazza ( earth is bought in to cover the cobblestones & 7 horses at a time race three times around. There were a number of spills as the jockeys were riding bareback. A few hours after the races - which are basically the trials - one person from each Contrada captain dresses in medieval costume to find out which horse their jockey will be riding. There are a few more trials before the main race in a few days time. It was terrific to be here to see quite a historic event.

We visited the Duomo and a church where the head and finger of Catherine of Siena was displayed - the rest of her remains appear to be in Rome! Altogether an interesting morning.

Saturday 30th June

We had to leave San Sano today & head to Assisi. The day started okay - I was in a car with Bill & Helen & driving on the right is just not their cup of tea. After white knuckles I was glad I’d taken my blood pressure tables especially when Bill started to drive the wrong way onto a freeway - even I yelled - then a truck came towards us but luckily we were able to get back onto the correct side of the road! I was so nervous I started calling Bill Bob - don’t know where that came from. These driving mishaps didn’t stop us from admiring the scenery - golden hay in rolled bales, seas of sunflowers, the green of the pencil pines& terracotta pots filled with red geraniums.

We arrived in Assisi in the early afternoon & braved the heat, 39C, to walk to the Basilica. It’s very beautiful with brilliant frescos & is on two levels. Went down to St Francis’s tomb.

A walk up the hill after our pre dinner drinks was rather taxing but worthwhile when we reached the restaurant. Thankfully our room had airconditioning.