on the road, again

Dobra Jutro! ("dough-bra you-trow" - good morning!) Well, I'm getting ready to set sail in less than 12 hours... Bari, Italy, watch out! Cathy and I are excited to visit the country, if anything to at least say we've been to Italy and eaten pasta. What an experience!

Today Zoran, our student guide at the college, gave us another lesson (albeit abbreviated) on Croatia. The country is bordered by Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro, with Hungary, Austria and Serbia nearby. There are over 2000km of coastal areas, counting all the little islands along the Dalmatian Coast. Croatia has 4.5 million people with 90% of the population being Croats, 5% being Serbians (although there were more before the war) and the balance being Muslims, Germans... etc.


Zoran's sense of humor is wonderful; he informed us that Slovenia, at the northern end of Croatia, is the butt of many jokes. Most Croats don't like Slovenians... they say that every night they sweep the whole country (it's a small piece of land) and that when they have a party in Slovenia the Austrians call the police to complain about the noise... plus you can travel the entire Slovenia coastline in 3 minutes (no respect, I tell you (she said giving her best Rodney Dangerfield impression :))


Thursday when we return from Italy, we'll schlep to the apartment for a shower then head back out on a boat for a tour of three nearby islands, one of which is the island we can see directly outside our apartment windows. Professor Bagoje will guide us through the islands, pointing out architecture and artwork.


Friday we board vans for a four-hour road trip to Split, north of Dubrovnik. A long trip, but Split is the second largest city in Croatia, with more sights to see and admire. We are so fortunate to have this opportunity; to have personal guides lead us through these cities and landmarks and educate us from a native perspective.


I expect to have more pictures to post in a few days, so while I'm gone, talk amongst yourselves, keep cool, and keep me in your thoughts for safe passage.


Dobra Dan ("dough-bra dahn - good afternoon) for now... and mir... annette