Previously we visited beautiful Dubrovnik
and took a boat to the Island of Brač
famed for its marbled Dolomitic limestone which has built many landmark buildings around the world.
There were places that we did not have time to visit, and so we returned for an Autumn sojourn.
Villa Kastelet means 'little castle' and was built in 1766 as a summer residence for Abbot Grubišić - it was a place where he could entertain many famous and scholarly people. Now it is a charming small hotel with a stone barrel vaulted ceiling to the entrance lobby, an atrium/courtyard to sit and relax with a coffee, and a restaurant serving traditional Croatian food. The Adriatic sea laps the beach just 10 metres from the villas entrance.
We have returned home feeling fitter, following our long daily walks, refreshed, and relaxed - our faces and limbs kissed by the sun.
Thank you for your lovely comments and very kind wishes on the previous post.
Thank you for your lovely comments and very kind wishes on the previous post.
Dubrownik jest śliczny. Byłam tam już trzy razy i zawsze go podziwiam. Makarska też jet mi znana. W Tucepi byłam dwa razy na wakacjach. Ostatnie zdjęcie znad morza jest chyba z tej pieknej miejscowości. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
ReplyDeleteDubrovnik is beautiful. I have been there three times and have always admired him. Makarska jet also known to me. In Tucepi was twice on vacation. Latest photo from the sea is perhaps in this beautiful town. Yours sincerely.
Szanowny Giga - jak piękne, że wiecie, ten teren tak dobrze, i mają w rzeczywistości również zatrzymaliśmy się w Tucepi. Tak masz rację o zdjęcie morza, to widok z zewnątrz hotelu.
DeleteDear Giga - how lovely that you also know this area so well, and have in fact also stayed in Tucepi. Yes you are correct about the photo of the sea, it is a view from outside our hotel.
:)))))
DeleteOh that looks so lovely. I've often wondered about going to Croatia. I hope you will write more about the places you visited. I am feeling more relaxed just looking at those pictures!
ReplyDeleteDear Jessica - I would recommend a trip to Croatia. Whenever we have visited the weather has been perfect - whilst we were there we found it difficult to believe that we were heading towards November - apart from the ripening seeds and fruits it was just like the summer. We found the same when we visited in Spring.
DeleteBeing just across the Adriatic from Italy is shares many similarities. In fact if you visit the top end of Croatia - Istria - you can catch a ferry to Venice and spend the day there.
Wonderful pictures of Croatia and Dubrovnik, Rosemary. I had no idea it was so beautiful; lovely Island of Brac and the fruits and flowers. My only knowledge of this area comes from war-time TV news reports, and the awfulness of recent history. Thank you for showing this special holiday place.
ReplyDeleteDear Patricia - I am pleased that you enjoyed seeing beautiful Croatia.
DeleteThe Croatians have worked very hard to restore Dubrovnik to its former glory having suffered so much shelling and atrocities during its recent tragic history. It is now impossible to see any of the damage apart from one building which houses photographs and film of the damage sustained and the people killed.
It is a very interesting historical place. It was once part of Italy so there are lots of Roman remains and Italian influences in their architecture. At one time it was part of the Austro Hungarian Empire, and in recent years formed part of Yugoslavia, so there have been many interesting influences on it.
Amazing photographs, Rosemary! I am so glad you are enjoying your sojourn - please go ahead and have more relaxing and happy days! Christa
ReplyDeleteThank you Christa - relaxing days are over as we arrived home last night. Piles of washing to do, and the larder is empty - we are scrabbling around in the freezer looking for something to eat!!!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed seeing the photographs.
Beautiful pictures! I live your collages too. It seems like the perfect place to relax!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment Evi.
DeleteI'm so happy that your Autumn sojourn was spectacular with golden weather and colorful surroundings. It looks really splendid there. Having only been to Dubrovnik - which was a great place - I too would enjoy a return to view and explore the less citified areas of Croatia.........it's on the list!
ReplyDeleteWe've been home a week and, after the washer overflowed and the service man, bless his heart, repaired it making it run even better despite being in its teens, the laundry is washed, ironed and put away. The garden has received some TLC, homemade soup has been bubbling on the stove, and we even took the granddaughter out for a nice Italian dinner one evening to hand over the little bits and bobs from Central Europe. Lovely to adventure but wonderful to come home!
Happy weekend Rosemary - thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos. I would love to spend some time in that lovely hotel by the shore.
Hugs - Mary
Dear Mary - I am so pleased that you had a wonderful trip to Europe. I saw several of your posts before we left and your photos were beautiful.
DeleteI am at that stage when there are piles of washing scattered around the Utility room which I really should get on and deposit in the machine. Will do so shortly.
You are right about returning home - as the Scots say "east, west, hames best", but it doesn't take long before my feet get itchy again.
Thanks for your kind comment Mary.
Dear Rosemary, Oh how wonderful to see these lovely photographs of Dubrovnik. We visited during Tito's time. We stayed at a lovely old hotel where we were served a memorable steak tartare. and danced under the old trees to a lively orchestra. We went back several years later and everything had changed. It was after the devastating earthquake. We were not welcome, even were refused lodging. We were perplexed. Finally, a young man told us hat his government had warned their people that all Americans had Aids. We took the boat to Italy that very evening.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that things have changed, especially for the people of Croatia. Your photographs have helped erase some of the not so pleasant memories.
Dear Gina - I am so sad that you received a disappointing, and in fact hurtful response on your last visit to Croatia.
DeleteWe also visited during Tito's time when our sons were very young, and had some wonderful times. In fact it did not appear to be like other Communist countries at that stage.
Croatia seems to be a popular place to visit as many of my friends have been there this year and some return often. I'm so glad that the area around Dubrovnik is getting back to normal after the troubles. I know my parents enjoyed a holiday there which was before that time. Your collage of flowers and fruit illustrates a lovely aspect of your trip.
ReplyDeleteDear Linda - Croatia was reasonably priced but like everywhere else it is becoming more expensive - we noticed a big difference since our visit 3 years ago - may be it is because they joined the EU this year.
DeleteWe visited twice, years ago, when our boys were young and it was still Yugoslavia. This was our second visit since it became independent.
Wow, looks like you had a nice time there.
ReplyDeleteFrom: Bea Cupcake
Dear Bea - you are right - lots of lovely hot sunshine too. Did you get our postcard♥?
DeleteNowadays Croatia is rather popular, many people from our country are spending their holidays there too. I have been there a very long time ago, in 1974 in Yugoslavia, I remember that it was rather hot and I was impressed of Dubrovnik and all the small islands in the Adriatic Sea.
ReplyDeleteWe also visited many years ago during the time of Tito. Whenever we have been the weather has always been lovely. I don't think that I could cope with the mid-summer temperatures, but Spring and Autumn we have always found to be just right.
DeleteBeautiful views and pictures of Croatia. Thank you for sharing, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Satu for your kind comment, and glad you enjoyed seeing the pictures of Croatia.
DeleteDear Rosemary, It looks as though you and H were in a beautiful spot — your trip postings have given me many ideas for future adventures, though I would want to begin by visiting Britain! Tomorrow I'm off too, for four days in what we call the "Panhandle" of Florida . . .
ReplyDeleteDear Mark - wishing you very happy travels. I shall really look forward to seeing the results of your visit to the "Panhandle" of Florida.
DeleteI didn't know Croatie is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe photo's you share with us are verry nice.
Thank you for sharing.
Have a fine Sunday Rosemary.
Greetings,
Inge, my choice
Dear Inge - so pleased that you enjoyed seeing Croatia and discovering its beauty through my photos. We found it all very peaceful for our visit and had the beach and the mountains, not quite, but almost to ourselves.
DeleteSo THAT'S where you've been, Rosemary. What absolutely glorious scenery and it looks like you had weather to match. I'm so pleased for you. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhenever we have visited Croatia - Spring or Autumn, the weather has always been beautiful. Apart from the ripening berries and fruits it was as if Autumn was still a long way off.
DeleteTruly beautiful photographs Rosemary. The opening image is nothing short of gobsmacking!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Brac and stay at Villa Kastelet, the position is just gorgeous. The colour of the azure waters and to hearing them lapping against the shore from your rooms, no wonder you feel so refreshed and energised. Welcome back to blighty!
Dear Paul - it is actually always good to return to your own homeland refreshed from a break, there is no place like home, and all of my lovely blog friends are here.
DeleteThank you for your kind comment about the photo - I actually had a bit of a disaster with some of my best photos which I lost when transferring them from the camera. I was doing them late at night, not sure what I did, must have been a mistake through tiredness. So your comment has made me feel better,
Rosemary your autumn break looks wonderful in this beautiful country.We visited there two years ago and feel in love with it too, especially the islands we have vowed to return again too. Dubrovnik was lovely once all the cruise ships had left.Your hotel looks so lovely and your photos as always are superb!
ReplyDeleteSarah x
Dear Sarah - we have never actually stayed in Dubrovnik - just visited for a day. We were fortunate that no cruise ships were in when we went because it is a lovely place. I admire the way the Croatian people have picked themselves up and restored it back to its original state.
DeleteI'm glad you had a lovely autumn break. Croatia looks beautiful. Wild flowers and walks in the spring - and warm sunshine (and more walks) in the autumn - it sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteDear Wendy - such lovely walks in the sunshine have invigorated us. We always see some really interesting wild flowers in Croatia. The blue one in the collage was growing in the forest and stood about 5 feet tall with clusters of the flowers nearly all the way up the stem rather like delphiniums. I have never seen it before so must check on the internet to see if I can find it.
DeleteFantastic article, you had better weather than us in Dubrovnik.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Sorry that you did not get good weather. We have always been very fortunate in Croatia - the weather was just like the summertime.
DeleteBeautiful photos that tell the story ! I have never been in Croatia , but it is very popular and I think an absolute must to visit. Thanks for the 'reportage' . Have a nice sunday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane - I think that you would like it.
Deletecahrming would love to go
ReplyDeleteIt is a place with something for everyone - beautiful scenery and lots of historical sites.
DeleteSounds as if you had a great time, you and your husband.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, and is that pebbles or sand near the water there?
The beaches are pebbly and you definitely need rubber shoes to venture into the water.
DeleteOh Rosemary, I can't imagine having to wear rubber shoes into the water :) never done that in my life because we don't have many beaches like that, and if we do we go to another.
DeleteDear Rosemary,Croatia is on of the places i would love to visit!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures!!!As i can see,you had a great time!!!
On Lefkada island,i wear rubber shoes,too !!!
Have a nice day!!!
Dimi...
Lovely relaxing time Dimi - it was nice to extend the summer season for a bit longer.
DeleteHello Rosemary, Everything looks so clean and fresh there, both in the nature scenes and in the city. Interesting how the local stone is used everywhere. I come from northern Ohio, which has lots of stone quarries, but the stone is rarely used for houses or other small buildings.
ReplyDeleteDear Jim - it is strange that the stone is not used locally in Ohio. May be it is not suitable for building? Where I live all the buildings use the Cotswold limestone rather like Croatia. However our limestone is oolitic and theirs is dolomitic.
DeleteWhat a lovely destination for a break, I have heard very good things about Croatia, which is on a long list of places yet to explore. I 'm glad you had a lovely time x
ReplyDeleteThank you Penny - we especially enjoyed some lovely sunshine. Are you back in Australia again - I think that I last caught up with you in Iceland.
DeleteI have been there but so many years ago, I think I don't remember great things but I certainly recognize the Meditterenean plants, trees, flowers, landscape, sky...You were so lucky with the weather which can be "everything" in autumn...So glad to hear that it was a refreshing and relaxing break! Wish you always be lucky to travel,It's so precious...
ReplyDeleteDear Olympia - we also visited Croatia many years ago - getting on for 40 years ago, when it was still Yugoslavia and our sons were very young.
DeleteWe were blessed with the weather which makes such a difference when you are hoping to have lots of lovely walks and explore ancient sites.
The air must be clear and fresh there. The colours in your lovely photos are so intense. What a beautiful place to relax, or to hike in those wonderful mountains.
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to return home, but somehow, there always lingers the desire to go again and seek out more beautiful destinations in this amazing world.
Dear Betty - I love returning home, but it is pouring with rain today, and the desire to visit somewhere warmer is with me again already. Must fit in one more trip before the winter sets in.
DeleteI think that you must be right about the air being clear and fresh as the photos do all have a bright clarity about them.
Hello Dear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see you back again.
Such stunning photos of Croatia. Your little hotel "villa Kastalet" looks so lovely. Reminds me of some of the old homes here in Portugal.
You must have seen a difference from last time you were there!
A destination I would love to see. Especially on the sea.
Your photos are beautiful, exotic and your presentation super.
most enjoyable...
val x
Dear Val - thank you for your very kind comments. We could see that now they have joined the EU things are moving along for them with a major new road being built, but the little places along the coast remain just the same.
DeleteApart from the ripening fruits and berries it could have been the summer as regards the weather.
What a beautiful post for me to enjoy first thing this chilly morning, Rosemary. The photos transported me to the warmth of summer, just past, and their clarity and colour combined seemed to add the sense of smell to my experience!!
ReplyDeleteLovely to return from a break utterly refreshed.
Axxx
I don't know what the temperature was Annie, but it was certainly the equivalent to a lovely English summers day.
DeleteWe have returned to rain, rain and more rain. I am ready now for some more warmth.
Hi Rosemary, I see you totally found summer and sun and nature and beauty.You must have had a wonderful time and now ... ready for wintertime? .... Or do you have more traveling planned...????
ReplyDeleteMarian
The weather was wonderful, we were so fortunate. Ready for the wintertime??? not quite yet.
DeleteYour photos are absolutely stunning, Rosemary!! Very beautiful. I look forward to visiting Croatia one day. Maybe next spring?
ReplyDeleteCroatia is a lovely place to visit especially in the Spring when the wild flowers are in abundance. It once formed part of Italy - you can recognise the similarities in the architecture.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful, I really enjoyed my virtual visit, thanks for sharing. Many years ago we visited the northern part of the country when it was Yugoslavia, but somewhere I would love to explore more of.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda - we also visited when it was Yugoslavia and our sons were just small. We went to Istria and visited the amphitheatre at Pula just across the border from Italy.
DeleteBeautiful city and photographs Rosemary. It must be a great and historical place to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely visit Pamela, and made even better by the wonderful warm sunny weather.
Delete