Impressions of Venice - Italy

Two days in Venice - together with about 100'000 others.......

Getting lost amongst the small lanes - walking on cobble stones - eating ice creams.......

finding romance...

catching public transport on the water...

.....and of course squeezing through thousands of people on the Piazzo San Marco, everyone trying to glimpse the Basilica and any of the other amazing buildings.

shopping....

or remembering Casanova at the Bridge of Sighs!

Did you know what Venice has in common with Coober Pedy? 

Both towns sell enormously over-prized drinks......

Dalmatien - The South of Croatia

Senj, in Dalmatia with very wild weather and a rough sea

Senj gegenueber der Insel Rab, der einzige wilde Regentag!

We are renting an Apartment in Karlobag just opposite the Island of Pag

Wir bleiben in Karlobag fuer ein paar Tage. Wie mieten ein Appartment mit Meeresblick!

We are able to visit the Island of Pag by ferry, a landscape just how I imagine the surface of the moon!


Mit einer Autofaehre gelangen wir auf die Insel Pag, eine Landschaft die mich an Bilder von Mondlandschaften erinnert!

It's not the Caribbean - it is a beach on the Island of Pag.


Ein wunderbarer Sandstrand auf der Insel Pag, endlich wieder ins Wasser! 

We can see the fishes swimming around in the clear water, but they are probably not very hungry!?


Ein weiterer Versuch im Fischen, leider sind die Fische nicht sehr hungrig.

Further South via Split to Brela, another wonderful stretch of beach (100km North of Dubrovnik).

Wir reisen weiter Richtung Sueden, via Split nach Brela. Die Temperaturen laden wieder zum Baden ein.

Croatians wildlife!

The trip back up North leads us through the mountainous area close to the Bosnian Border, we visit the Plitvice Lakes, Croatias best known National Park. 

Auf unserer Rueckreise erkunden wir das Landesinnere, das Grenzgebiet zu Bosnien und die Plitvizer Seen, Kroatiens bekanntester Nationalpark.

The contrast between the coast and anything inland couldn't be greater. It is hard to find a town that does not bear the marks of the recent war. Whole villages still are deserted, in other instances people build new houses next to bombed out ruins. How hard would it be to live with those daily reminders of past human tragedies! 

Der Kontrast zwischen der Kueste und dem Landesinneren koennte groesser nicht sein. Jedes Dorf zeigt Spuren des Krieges. Ganze Doerfer sind immer noch verlassen, die Haeuser sind zerbombte Ruinen. Ich kann mir ein Leben inmitten dieser Zerstoerung nur schwer vorstellen. Die taegliche Erinnerung an das Leid und die menschliche Tragoedie!

Sport and leisure is part of our travel itinery. We swim, rent bikes and walk a fair bit. (Finn on a  trampoline catapulted up into the air). 

Kulturelle Ausfluege werden immer wieder durch sportliche Aktivitaeten unterbrochen. Wir schwimmen, fahren Rad und wandern viel. (Finn auf einem Trampoline mit Gummiseilen).

"Old fashioned graffiti" at the Chapel in Beram - "The dance of the dead" 1474.

Die freskengeschmueckte Friedhofskapelle in Beram. (Totentanz, 1474)

Istria (partly Slovenia partly Croatia)

Piran in Slovenia

Grosnjan in Croatia

Travelling through Croatia proves to be a journey through a holidaymakers paradise full of stunning landscapes, old villages, historic sites and breathtaking beach-scapes. A rental car gives us the freedom to explore and move around as we please. Equipped with a tent, we have resisted campgrounds so far (the nights are still a bit cool) and opted for "wellness" hotels or self catering accommodation. Seeing how everyone is gearing up for the big season (July/August) I am grateful to be here now!

Fazana

The clocktower in Porec

Euphrasian Basilica in Porec

.. and occasionally some "environmental" artwork

The colosseum in Pula

..including gladiators.......