CROATIA RECAP:
SEPT 25-OCT 5, 2019
We began our trip in the city of Dubrovnik for two nights. Our hotel was situated close to the water and our first sunset was incredible. We had a nice dinner than collapsed from exhaustion from long flights. The following morning we departed for Montenegro, at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor, which is Europe’s youngest nation, to explore the deepest fjord in Southern Europe. We enjoyed a boat ride to visit the Isle of Our Lady of the Rocks Church and museum. We also walked inside the walls of Kotor with its 65 foot high walls. You would not have believed what the border agents put people through. I guess the reason is that only 30 years ago there was a war between the countries and people still have little trust.
That evening we were back in Dubrovnik to find a place to eat and walk along the water. We found outdoor cafes and good music. Fireworks were part of our evening as we strolled back to our hotel. It was a beautiful night with a fun, friendly atmosphere.
The next morning we did a city tour of Dubrovnik and the Old Town. What a beautiful place with its high walls, which some of our people climbed to enjoy the views. It was quite crowded, but we enjoyed walking around and talking to anyone that would listen. Nice experience.
That evening we boarded the MS Karizma, a yacht just for our group. We had such a wonderful time as the weather was perfect for most of the trip and all our stops were wonderful as well. Our ship had a hot tub and sundeck that we all enjoyed. The views throughout the trip were some of the most spectacular scenery that I have ever seen. The Adriatic Sea was crystal clear and we had several swim stops off the swim deck. Out of our group of 34, we had 25 take to the water even though it was 76 degrees. The sun was out and we are a hearty bunch.
There were just too many great sites and stops to tell all. One place was in the town of Pucisca where we watched a demonstration of stone masonry. It just so happened that a festival was in town that evening and we watched eight tuxedo clad men sing acapella and enjoyed watching the kids and families enjoy the evening. A sheep was roasted on a spit in the center of town and on our way back to the ship, we had another fireworks display. I believe it was for us only.
We had great meals every night on board. Choice of fish or meat – all deliciously prepared. After dinner, we could explore the town where we were docked or just listen to music and dance.
One of the best trips I have ever experienced. Having the ski club members share this experience only makes it that much better. I wish everyone could have been with us as it was a trip of a lifetime.