Along the Adriatic


Sabbatical: a period of leave granted to a worker for study or travel.
A more archaic form of the word: of or appropriate to the sabbath...a day of religious observance.



Many years ago, a friend in London said that he had traveled the Yugoslovian coast along the Adriatic Sea. I remembered his enthusiasm for the coast and now I finally have the opportunity to see it for myself.


The plan is to begin at Zagreb, Croatia in the north and take a train to the coast (practically the only train in the country). On the coast, I'll start in the ancient city of Split, palace home to Roman Emperor Diocletian.

                              

Take a ferry to Dubrovnik and head back North from there along the coast.

                            

I've been along the Adriatic Sea before, when I went to Piran, Slovenia a few years ago.

          

This does not appear to be a journey which is isolated and far from crowds. Croatia has been "discovered" by tourists in the past 15 years. That is good for the economy but does not lend itself to "going off the beaten path." But the summer has past and people have returned to their home countries and their work. I'll have room in September.

                   

For certain, Split and Dubrovnik and a few other places receive the bulk of the tourists. I'll go there but also plan to see some of the outer islands, visit as many ancient structures, churches and cathedrals as possible.

              

Like London and Paris with its tourists, one needs to walk around the corner and find the neighborhoods that are less traveled, besides enjoying the main atractions.

                          
   

                             Dubrovnik

I've been waiting since the early 1970's to see this part of Europe.


The train, ferries, buses and a rental car will get me where I want to go. Daughter Makaila will accompany me for part of the journey. I'm not blazing any new trails but it is new for me and you are welcome to come along and see what I experience.

                  

I'll conclude my time in the Istrian Peninsula of Croatia with a few smaller cities and one of the oldest Roman amphitheaters still standing. If I can find a ferry or bus, I'll go to Venice which at one time, controlled much of this coast during the Venetian Empire.

                                   

It seems fitting to end on the western side of the Adriatic. I begin in late August.


Peace,  Bob



    

      



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wrap Up for Croatia 2017

Image
Time to wrap up everything and though I may not have the most comprehensive list of remembrances....here is what I've learned. Best Wall That's an easy one. Everyone whom I know who has visited Croatia has gone to Dubrovnik. I guess the Cruise Ships stop there and so it's popular ... And everyone said that I must walk the Ancient City Wall. They were right. It takes in a mile or more and is straight out of a Hollywood adventure movie. Is that really the color of the Adriatic?   Yes it is...at least it is in Sobra on the Island of Mljet. Every morning we would see this very old couple get in this boat and go out to sea or some other island and return in the evening with fish.....and several bags of cut tree branches and logs. The bags would then set on the stairs near our house...and then disappear. It may have been mysterious or it may have been kindling for the wood fired ovens of the restaurants.         The above view from our Air BnB room in Sobra. Best view...
Read more

Around Every Corner and Canal - Venice

Image
I've had many people comment that Venice is on their wish list; their bucket list; and being an expert on the city after 48 hours I can say that Venice definitely is not what people say or wish for....it is more; much more. The first two photos on today's blog illustrate my point. Top Photo:  notice the small things like the brass door handle on some random door in some random backstreet. Second Photo: notice the grander than grand moments like the sun rising on the Grand Canal with the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute beside it. I stood on the stairs of the big bridge Ponte dell'Accademia.....competing with about 10 photographers who had huge cameras and tripods all set to capture the sun coming over the canal and Basilica (and a cruise ship that cruised into the picture). I had a backpack and an IPhone ........and you get what you see above. I keep seeing much of Venice through the lens of a pastor who has a calling to a church and that church continually (and wonderf...
Read more

The Brothers Valeri (From the Roman Period) Istrian Peninsula

Image
I have no idea who the Brothers Valeri were but they were perched on the all of building next to a church in Buje, Croatia where I went today. They are depicted in their senatorial robes from the Roman Empire days around here. It's things like this that keep you guessing when wandering around a town. In America we'll get a monument to a war 50 or 150 years ago. In Croatia, you get artwork from the period of say, 300 AD just strewn around the towns I planned to rent a car and go to some of the inland small fortress towns. Unfortunately, this being a Sunday and this being a very rainy Sunday....I had the same idea as everyone south of the Swiss Alps. Plus, there was a cross country bike race and when the bikes descend from a mountain road and onto the "main" highway.....everything stops. Everything.                     I've enjoyed the smaller towns. Yesterday I was in Poreč, just north of Rovinj where I am staying for a few days. After th...
Read more