The Dalmation Coast

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Editor's note

Ok, better late than never! It is now September, and I am just finishing my blog from my May trip to Europe. Out of sight, out of mind.

Follow along, as I depart for my 2 month fall trip to India, departing Oct 12, 2010.

... Enjoy, Mike

May 18, 2010 - Dubrovnik to Lubljana

We left Dubrovnik at 8:30. On the way out of town we stopped for a photo opp at the top of the hill. Dubrovnik really is a stunning place. Its hard to believe that just 15 short years ago it was attacked and was under shell attack by the Serbs. Who would want to destroy such a beautiful place, and why? Its hard for us to imagine, living in Canada where everything is so civilized. In my generation's lifetime, we have never been exposed to anything resembling war.

Our route today takes us up the beautiful Dalmation coast. We stopped for coffee at Mali Ston, a major salt producing town. The old town has a fortification wall 5.5km built in 1333, the longest fortification in Europe. Trying to get 15 people in and out of a coffee shop (we pay individually), combined with peope wanting to take photos can be a challenge. Consequently we arrived late for our ferry to Hvar and had to wait for the next one. After a half hour ferry ride, we rode 70 kms on a very narrow, twisty road the length of the island.

That night we had one of the most enjoyable dinners of the trip. A local boat picked us up at the pier near the hotel and took us on a half our ride to a very small village. We walked a few hundred kms to a very special place. A local fisherman, Hans, and his lovely wife Christina, had spent three years building their dream country Inn and restaurant. Everything was built by hand or grown on the property: the buildings, the outdoor grill, all of the furnure, the landscaping, as well as the spices, local wine, olive trees, and so on. For dinner, Hans prepared a spectacular seafood dinner including Sea Bass, Breem, Stone fish, Squid, scampi, griled vegetables. This was served with very good local wine. The setting was beautiful, and even included local music in the background. What a treat!!

The next day was a free day in HVAR. It was also probably one off the most beautiful days of the trip. Most people toured the city, diid some shopping, climbed to the top of the fortress.

The next morning we took another ferry to the mainland, and continued our ride up the coast. After lunch, we passed throughtwo towns, Islam Latinski and Islam Grcki that wer both destryed in the war between the Croats and the Serbs. Most building were destroyed, and there are still many land minds, making it very difficult for people to move back in to the area.

Our destination for this evening was the town of Pag still in Croatia. We stayed at was probably the nicest hotel of the trip. It was out in the country with vinyards and Olive orchards surrounding it. It reminded very much of the place we stayed in Tuscany a few years ago.

The next day, we rode to Rovinj, Croatia. It was once a fishing village, but is now mainly a tourist destination. We wandered through the old town, visited the cathedral, had a glass of wine by the sea, met a local bar owner.


You can probably tell by my blog that I am getting tired. I have been away from home for about a month and am getting homesick. I am looking forward to seeing my kids and grand kids. Hopefully the weather will be nice at home, as our polo season is just getting underway.

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