Today we are being tendered into Kotor, Montenegro. Waters were very calm so no issues there. Anikea began to tell us about a very old culture with too many changes in their history to list. The bus ride to our first stop… well that’s what you needed the gravol for…. We were to go to visit a small village for a snack after traveling over the mountain. Enough switchbacks that they have the numbered. 29 is at the top. AND they only count the true switchbacks not just a bend or a tight curve. I loved the views. Absolutely spectacular. I checked all 4 corners on the bus, not a mark – before or after. Imagine getting half way through the switch back and having to back up because the bus couldn’t turn tight enough. OK ... read more

Day 6 – Split Croatia. Dalmatian coast line and village life. Back on the bus and off to Trogir to visit a Roman town. Then to the small village of Bruni to visit a small family farm that produces their own wines, cheeses and smoked meat. Evo, our guide presented an overwhelming amount of information about every aspect of life in the area over the last 2500 years. There are magical courtyards and alley ways in every direction with shops of all types. Back onto the bus and off to a country farm that is hundreds of years old. While they served us wine and water we had traditional music played. The lunch that was soon presented started with smoked prosciutto, homemade cheese & home made bread. Followed by grilled pork with boiled potatoes dressed in ... read more

We arrived this morning in Slovenia at 7:00 am. Our tour today is a Hop and Taste bus tour of 4 towns around the Koper area. We received coupons for various eateries at each stop, anything from gelato to sardines. We then had about 1 hour at each stop before the bus came by to pick us up……or if we wanted to extend our visit in a particular town we could wait for the next bus 1 hr. later. In a town called Izola (??) we stopped for lunch, Elke had the local fried sardines and I had cevapcici, a dish consisting of ground meat in the shape of small sausages alongside some fabulous fries, agvar, and local mustard. In Porta Rosa we got some gelato and sat under an umbrella with our feet up enjoying ... read more

Today is transfer day. Move all of our stuff to the Celebrity Constellation. We just walked to San Marco square. This where the Doge’s Palace (the center of the political and legal systems) and St. Marks Basilica. (housing the relics of St. Mark one of the writers of the gospels). We asked at the ticket booth and were told we could walk thru the palace (without the audio guide) in about 1 ½ hours. Originally built in 810 (not a typo) it was destroyed by fire in the 10thcentury and was rebuilt in the basic layout seen today. We crossed the Bridge of Sighs into the prison area which is more picturesque from the outside. OK back to the hotel and load up the water taxi. They have a bus system called vaparetto which is very ... read more

Only 7 more sleeps! just testing to make sure all emails work. (if you didn't get this message let me know and I will get it fixed) Carb overload coming!!!... read more