A bit of biking

We had left the windows open to enjoy the fine weather - a few Mosquitos came in to enjoy our sweet blood.  I went to bed at midnight and was up at 4am from the durn bugs!!  At 6 I gave up and showered and then read a while.  I got the idea of crumpling up receipts and cramming them in my ears - let them drink my blood just STOP buzzing in my ears!!!

I made eggs and walked to meet Goran at 7:30am.  I was a bit apprehensive.  As I mentioned Goran is very strong.  A few years ago a little kayak ride turned into a 20 mile open sea trek (no water, no food, no clue what was happening or where we were going!). But it happens that I LIKE not knowing exactly what is happening and adventure.  So we took off and rode up a mountain.  I was quite tired and had to stop and walk twice and rest once.  Turns out (as I was told by my stomach) eggs (just eggs) wasn't the best plan.  But I am cutting carbs and sometimes u gotta suffer.

I survived :)

Coming down the mountain was thrilling to say the least - the view nothing short of spectacular!

We went home. Had coffee (and a gallon of "sok" (water with a tiny bit of concentrate flavoring - essentially syrup).  Then I walked the boys to the best for windsurfing.  Goran teaches all the kids and all three boys went and did great.  The wind died and it got very very hot quickly so we went to Maya's for ice cream and to email a few people.

Then back to the beach for my turn at windsurfing. I failed - too strong wind by then (it gets stronger and stronger from 11-5 and then is ok for beginners) and then home for a lunch of kale and potatoes and chicken!

Took a nap and chilled out till 5ish.

I had a coffee and talked with Tajci till it was time to get ready to walk to catch the boat to Korčula. No big plans - just wandered the city, took a pic of the sunset for my Mom and had dinner. Perfect weather - warm sea breeze.

Wind & Kite surfing!

I set my alarm for 7:30 with the best of intentions of heading to Maya's and working for a couple of hours.  Alas, no luck.  Got up at 8:30 - had coffee and went to the beach.  The wind was VERY strong all day and tons of windsurfers and kite surfers were flying (literally) over the water.  It was awesome!  

I eventually went and worked at Maya's for a couple of hours but hardly made a dent in my tasks.  

Nice lunch of stuffed peppers made by Baka - great to have her here and she is happy to be here and help :) 

(cooking and, worse yet, planning the meals, is extremely difficult for Tajci and I - particularly here.

Made plans to go biking early in the morning with Goran.  He stayed late telling stories about his time in the Yugoslav army - mostly funny stories.

Pelješac

Next morning Tajci got up early and she and Ivanica went to pick up Stefica who had taken the over night bus from Zagreb.  They went shopping and had coffee while the boys and I sat around and wondered where they were and what we could eat!!

Off to the beach (five minute walk) after they came back.  Ivanica (nickname - means little Ivanna) is Tajci's best friend from childhood.

Her husband Goran is an awesome guy and a sportsman.  He has all the gear we all need to windsurf and is very generous in teaching us all (kids and Tajci learned last year while I was on the road with Scythian).

We hung out and then put Blais on a board for his first lesson.  Super cute!  I took a short turn at the end of the day.

I walked down and found "Anthony Boy Campground" and walked in and said hello to Maya.  I hadn't been here in approx six years (when we first met Maya).  After her initial shock she said "would you like a Nescafé?" (she says the same every time she arrive in MY office in Cincinnati).

She is great :)

Everyone retreats from the sun (and to eat and rest) from approx 2-4pm.  Stefica made tortellini and we feasted.   At Tajci's request we sat and talked after we ate and I didn't clear the table or quickly wash dishes ... Hard for me to sit still but she said SIT and so I SAT!  We chatted and chilled.  It is strange for me now because I can understand a little of the language.  Before I just sat with my thoughts.  But honestly I mostly just daydream and try to pick up the thread of conversation.

Back to the beach.  I got my turn to try to windsurf.  I tried for an hour or so last time I was here.  I didn't do terrible (Goran is a VERY positive "energy" person and a joy to learn from.)

Then we had a little party for Evan's birthday! 

There are six or eight couples and their kids in this group of friends.  The kids played and we sat and drank wine and travarica.  On TINY bottle lasted the entire evening.  Much singing and laughing ensued.  Big moon. Sea in the distance.  Mountain in the background - life is good.  Much love and good fellowship.

View from Maya's desk (no kidding)

The city across the sea is Korčula. Marco Polo's home town.

ADULTS play the water game Marco Polo and are very serious about it.

(not really)

Water Polo & Kučišće

The morning was very beautiful.  The kids (five) had found hermit crabs (many) named them and made them homes, swimming pools, retirement homes and racing tracks!!  Tajci and I swam to a restaurant (maybe 2,000 meters) and had a nice coffee and swam back!! 

After much swimming and resting we drove to Korchula (the island not the city).  We ate pasta and then Čićo's brother and family joined us.  

Čićo and his brother played in a water polo match.  Outside, in the bay... Imagine (and look at the photos) how beautiful!!

Naturally it turned out that Čićo was a professional water polo player years ago (no kidding) and he was awesome.  Their team won 5-3.  I think Čićo had three goals (might have been two) and his brother 2 assists.

After the game more cousins and relations showed up till we had a full boat (maybe 20 in all).  We slowly sailed across the channel to Kučišće on the peninsula of Pelješac.

Pelješac is my office manager Maya's home "turf".

We were met at Kučišće by Zoran.  We were tied up about ten feet from the dock while we drank a few toasts and Tajci played guitar and sang.

It was an amazing experience!  The world was rocking (rather than the boat) for close to 24 hours after we got off!!

Next we drove to pick up the van and then to our apartment and quickly to bed.

Lovište, Pelješac

Today we sailed to Lovište, Pelješac. We sailed easily with the jib - very smooth and peaceful (and quiet).  We anchored, swam, relaxed, swam and then took the tiny skiff to a restaurant.  Lovely meal :) kids playing between courses in the sea.   The air was dry and I asked Čićo why.  He said it meant that a big wind might come from the east - strong and dry. 

Lovište (the bay), Ščedro (the island)

Today was really sailing.  We got out into the channel and Čićo got us all situated and then the boat tipped WAY up (sideways away from the wind) we took off.  I got a bit nauseas after an hour or so... Didn't eat enough or ...?  Anyway, didn't puke just felt green and had to eat pretzels and lay on my stomach on the deck.

We got to Lovište, island Ščedro and swam, ate risotto, swam, rested, swam and rested....  Astonishingly beautiful.

Zagreb to Split and sailing

got up at 7:30am to leave at 8am.

All was well (and quick) on the drive to Split.  One mistake took us to old town (Diocletians Palace) and we couldnt get to the Marina where we were to meet Čićo and his family.  We made it (after an hour of struggle).  Parked the van and made a new plan for Čićo's brother to DRIVE the van to Pelješac and meet us. Great (awesome) plan that gave us an extra day and night and ZERO drive time!

Spent the first night on the island Šolta (well... Not really ON but in an inlet called Lieka (funnel).

The boat was cleverly designed by Čićo's father to fit a table that fit all nine of us perfectly!  We ate fried chicken and a salad.  All was perfect till Dante fell right on a sea urchin__. I was in the boat and had just finished a lovely cold Stella... But he was really hurt and I quickly swam to him and helped him back into the water.  We worked on getting the spines out for a little while but has no luck.  He was very scared and I felt helpless.  We gave it up thinking we'd try again later but again had no luck.  Long story that is still not solved... Still spines in hand after four days.  People say they will eventually go away.  I have a feeling we will be digging for them soon (they are mostly under the skin - 48 of them at last count).

RIBA

Zagreb

Amazing lunch with Ksenia & Fra Tomislav in prep (and brain storming) about Mladifest (a Croatian version of World Youth Day) for Croatians in North America.

We had a long long lunch with champagne, wine, port then and espresso!  To eat we had what looked like quesadillas with tiny pieces of seafood, then a lovely octopus salad and then a whole sea bass that was packed (encased) in sea salt and baked... WOW. A local (from dubrovnik) dessert "rožata" with a scoop of tutti frutti Italian I've cream was served with spiked sorbet that we drank to finish off the fiest. 

Later we visited Tajci's cousin Duda and Zvonko.  They are very fun and lively.  Tajci ate knedli with apricots (covered with breadcrumbs fried in butter) and I had a beer/lemonaide (no kidding).  It was very light and refreshing.  It was quite big and I was driving their van back but they said "never mind it is only 4.4% alcohol...

We looked at the wedding book of the Hrvoje and Nikolina (their eldest son).  They were married in a church built in the 3rd century - quite old and beautiful. Where Tajci sang ave Maria and then at the reception got everyone singing with her old hits. 

After that we went to see Mimi and Tonka!  Had a coffee and relaxed a bit.

Kids couldnt sleep (time change and wired because we were heading for coast in the morning).  Tajci and I had to repack the clothes/stuff.  One bag stayed in Zagreb. One to be shipped to Zadar (concert).  One for the boat (4 days) and one for the two weeks on Pelješac.  Huge pain in the keester.  Good thing Tajci is the BEST packer in the world.  Regardless we were up till 3am 

No insurance = awesome

Parks in countries without insurance - who would have thought how much better "stuff" they'd have to play with.

The boys LOVE this contraption.

It was, to be honest, the first time I've told them to be careful in years (I try, as a rule, to let kids be kids).

In my defense the top - and they ALL went all the way to the top - was at least 30' off the ground!

I'll take more pics of cool playground gear as we adventure.

More to come!

Matthew
Bundich Park
Zagreb Croatia


Note to LinMarie: Stefica worked with Dante and Evan and got them to count to 20 (after that it repeats) AND the alphabet.

Travarica

= brandy made from grass and herbs.

Nice beginning to a traditional Bosnian meal of chavapi!
(I know, I know... It's not 'normal' to eat Bosnian food in Croatia. But why not?)

Eggs (yes I mean eggs)

This is the color of eggs when chickens eat BUGS.

And they taste like ... Hmmmm... Hard to explain: like all the eggs you ever ate where mere shadows of eggs.

Probably like when we meet God... The joys of life will be like a shadow of the love that was to come.

And THAT is the most philosophical and theological explanation of an egg you are likely to hear on this fine morning.

tmblwd
Zagreb, Croatia

Overnight flight & Sherlock Holmes

Easy overnight flight. We had a long delay in Washington DC but it did give us time to relax (all the packing is long over and the trip well begin).

The other advantage is the flight left at 10pm. The boys (and Tajci) were out cold by 11pm! I (oddly enough) don't sleep well cramped up sitting on a plane. However I did sleep about three hours or so and feel pretty good.

I watched the "new" (2nd one directed by Guy Richie) Sherlock Holmes and enjoyed it. Goofy, popcorn movie but perfect for a plane.

Tajci wandered off about an hour ago (probably relishing being in Europe) to get expresso's. She's been "off coffee" for a couple of months and has been looking forward to having an expresso right about now... But where on earth is MINE :)

Another wait.
Another flight.

Enjoy the moments :)

Dayton Airport

Heading for Croatia!

What a year this has been... God is good. My parents dropped us off in Dayton for our flight. It is such a joy having them living close!

We will be back October 1st but depart for California on Oct 7th returning home for Thanksgiving!!

It'll be a VERY long trip but much needed. Tajci will have plenty of time to visit family and work on her Croatian projects. The boys and I will work on our Croatian as well. We are spending the first few days on a boat in the Adriatic ... Then two weeks on Peljesac! (Maya, our famously talented office manager spends summers there working at a camping ground literally 100 meters from where we are staying!!)

The road is only long if you forget to stay in the NOW.

Remember to be where you are.
You'll never be lost again!

tmblwd
Dayton OH