Split, Croatia

Part of the wall surrounding the city

1. Split, Croatia

   Split is the second-largest city of Croatia and the largest city of the region of Dalmatia. It lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, at one point in history the Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian. 

   
   

   

   The "gate" we entered the city through to our hotel. The wall to  the right in this picture you get a glimpse of the red door to our hotel.
   
   
   
    The St. Francis's Monastery Grounds The courtyard was surrounded with standing tombs of prominent citizens of Split as early as 1400.  As we walked and realized many of these people were buried before America was discovered!

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   Some of the standing tombs.  

   It was the first I have ever seen where the tombs were standing and built into the wall.

   
   

   
   

   Sitting on some of the carved stone that were in the foundation of the ruins of a church.  The foundation was built using the ruins from the roman buildings from the 400's  The church was empty so it was just the structure but still amazing to visit if you love the history of Christianity. 

   

   
   

   

   Check out the round pillars at the foundation!

   

   
   

   Staircase and view down from the balcony Inside the ruins

   
   

   
   

   Some shots around town

   

   Love the blue sky in this picture of the outside of the  Byzantine church  built in the 800's AD

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   Sunset on the Adriatic Sea Isn't the yellow beautiful!

   Linking with

   Mellow Yellow Monday
   

   Blue Monday
   Our World Tuesday
   Outdoor Wednesday

   
   

   
   

   
   

Perfect Shadow

It's not often that we see the chance to snap a picture of that "perfect" shadow shot.  

This week took us to Miami, Florida.  It wasn't a trip for pleasure, but one to visit a life long friend Mike.  We met Mike when we were stationed in Germany in the 1970's.  So many amazing memories.  How scared he looked when I handed him our new born daughter, well she was tiny at 6 pounds and only 18 inches long, and he was a 19 year old army guy.  Many evenings sitting around with his guitar and singing the "newest" praise songs, mostly scripture put to music.  
Hosting his brides parents when he and Kathy got married.  Making their wedding cake.  

Then through the tough times...which is the proof of a true friend, staying by their side when they make mistakes, which we all do.

This trip will proabably be the last time we get to see him this side of eternity.  He is coming to the end of a battle with cancer.  

We sat in his hospital room and visited when he was awake, which was often because of the amount of pain he is suffering with.  Talked through great times and favorite memories and regrets.  All the things we wish we had done or had not done.  Talking through options, do I keep fighting or just go home.

Our life is like a shadow.  Solid and then things change, and then it's gone...

Knowing we have a hope of eternity, because of grace, we celebrate the time we have know him on this earth.  

Sometimes when we believe in 

Christ and eternity

we are ridiculed for our beliefs.

It's just a crutch some say.

OK, even if it is

It is my belief,

it is my hope

of something better to come.

No more pain.

No more hearing of children being shot that night.

No broken relationships.

I am not perfect, 

NO one on this earth is;

BUT there is one

who IS.

He laid down his life 

for me,

for you,

if we just believe.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Psalm 62:5

Blessings, Debbie

Linking today with Shadow Shot
Spiritual Sunday

Chapel at castle above Blet, Slovenia

Pink Saturday

Going through pictures from our trip to Slovinia I came across the pictures of the inside of one of the Chapel at the castle on top of the mountain.  I love the frescos in this beautiful place of worship.

ocean shadow

Shadow Shot Sunday

Loved visiting the Oregon Coast with our son and granddaughter last week.  We had a beautiful day for getting our feet wet in the Pacific Ocean

Gma and Ena at Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach

Daddy and E enjoying the water.  She said "I could live here forever"

Santorini

There isn't a more beautiful sight in the Mediterranean 

than the blue roofs of Santorini

It's hard to believe we have been blessed with health and finances to be able to visit such amazing parts of this world.

Loved this beautiful church and the priest sitting in the lower left corner of the picture

Blue Monday   World Tuesday  Outdoor Wednesday

Oct 11, 2014

Breakfast.   Departure to National Park Plitvice lakes - about 2,5 hours ride. Upon arrival accommodation in pansion Winnetou. Day at leisure for sightseeing of the most beautiful Croatian National park. 

We had been told how amazing this National Park would be.  It lives up to it's reputation and a definite stop if you are in Croatia.   Rick Steves says it better than I ever could!  

"There’s nothing like this lush valley of 16 terraced lakes, laced together 

by waterfalls and miles of pleasant plank walks." 

 https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/croatias-stunning-plitvice-lakes. 

 It was cool with rain off and on throughout the day.  We did not go with a group so we could walk at our pace and take in the beauty of the fall colors.  

Our Hotel Winnetou
http://www.pansion-winnetou.com/en/index.php/about-winnetou

This was a strange find in Croatia, it had been built by Americans and was full of Indian artifacts. Not the cosy 1500's most of our hotels were.  

The start of our day at the park.  So glad we had our umbrellas

And the day got longer, cooler and darker...Bob even changed coats with me because his was warmer.  We knew the last bus back to the cars was at 6 pm...at 6:30 we finally found a parking lot that was for employes...so tankful to find a way out.

I guess our wandering got a bit out of hand. 

we never did figure out where we took a wrong turn.

Yes I really was that tired and afraid we would be spending the night on a park bench.

Linking with

Our World Tuesday
Outdoor Wednesday

Croatia 2014

It has been months since I posted my last post.  During that time, we sold our lake home and built a home in a retirement community.  Selling the lake home was a difficult decision but we found that we would need to choose to travel or be on the lake.  We both LOVE to travel and we decided we can always make time for a week at a lake with family somewhere between their homes and ours.

Our travels have been amazing so far.

After a cruise on the Mediterranean we stayed in Europe and rented a car.  We drove from Italy to Croatia  and Slovenia.

Excited when we saw this bright blue sign!

Here are a few pictures of our fist day's drive and hotel in Rovinj.

Bob and I having dinner at an outdoor cafe

Who would not love having this beautiful vintage cart in your yard?

I Love vintage cobblestone  streets, except when pulling luggage!

Wouldn't you love to have this as your door to your quiet space?

Hum, is supposed to be the smallest town in the world.  Hum...it must be, we drove , and drove and never found it.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hum,_Croatia#mediaviewer/File:Hum_–_najmanji_grad_na_svijetu.jpg

This photo just looks mystical to me.

http://casa-garzotto.com
The typical historical architecture of Rovinj, dating back to the old Rovinj houses of the 1500’s, is an example of medieval architecture of the Mediterranean. 

Loved this room It would be perfect in any vintage home.

Blessings, Debbie

linking this week with
Outdoor Wednesday
Blue Monday
Mellow Yellow Monday