Last full day was spent in the town we've been staying in. Rain was forecast again but never materialised and it was nice and sunny, so I carried the hotel brolly round all day again but never used it apart from pointing out things with it and smashing pigeons who got too close. We walked down through the old town and then the slightly newer but still old town is hundreds of feet below but there's a lift through the rocks to get down. We walked down along the old slave trader's route (I just made that up!) but came back up in the lift. There wasn't a lot to see but plenty of cafes.
For the evening meal I had my first taste of octopus. Have to say it's right up there with clams, rubbery and very chewy; won't bother again. The main course was either fish or beef in pepper sauce with mashed potato. Luckily mum chose the same so I had a double helping (did I mention my grandad was a prisoner of war?) but at least she had risotto starter and panacotta desert. As it was our last night the hotel gave us a glass of prosecco so I had 2 of those as well. I still think it's fizzy rubbish even now I'm a wine buff but if it's free I'm drinking it!
Had to pack then as we are commanded to be in the breakfast room at 7am having left our packed cases outside the room door ready for collection!
I sniffed George's present and it seemed ok, so if it survives the flight I'll whack it in the freezer when I get home, until his birthday.
Monday, 11 September 2017
Sunday, 10 September 2017
Siena
There was heavy rain and a thunderstorm during the night and everything was wet this morning and the forecast for today was diabolical. We still left the hotel at 8-45 though but we managed to skank an umbrella from reception at the hotel. We drove to Siena and when we arrived the rain had stopped and it gradually brightened up; by early afternoon the sun was shining so we were very lucky today as we never needed the brolly.
A lovely older lady called Nickoletta took us on a 2 hour walking tour of Siena. She was wonderfully politically incorrect and explained how the people of Siena absolutely hate the people of Florence and have done for many hundreds of years. Also Siena is quite a small place but is divided into 17 districts each named after an animal. All the street corners bear the symbol of the district, and they all hate one another as well! But the worst part, Faye is that you are stuck with belonging to the district you were born in, for your whole life, no matter who you marry or where you might move to. So you could be born in the street next to the giraffe but you can never be a giraffe; you will always be a caterpillar! How galling is that?
She also treated us to her views on Japanese tourists who, she says always get lost as they just run around in any direction and refuse to ask for help!
So Siena is a nice place but very hilly, and yet again it is supposed to be traffic free but you have to constantly jump out of the way of lunatics in cars racing round the narrow streets (they are not wide enough to have pavements!) But, no demonstrations or wine tastings today; in fact we both had a wine free day. We sat down in the massive central square and watched little ones chasing the pigeons and both realised we are missing the grandchildren!
Mum came a cropper at the evening meal though. The choice was pork or salmon! They give minimal other food with it. My salmon came with half a dozen green beans and her pork had 4 very small pieces of potato. And tomorrow is no better, it's beef or sea bass. I was spoiled for choice but mum had no choice. She chose beef so I'll get a double helping tomorrow, in exchange for whatever tiny vegetable offering comes with it!
A lovely older lady called Nickoletta took us on a 2 hour walking tour of Siena. She was wonderfully politically incorrect and explained how the people of Siena absolutely hate the people of Florence and have done for many hundreds of years. Also Siena is quite a small place but is divided into 17 districts each named after an animal. All the street corners bear the symbol of the district, and they all hate one another as well! But the worst part, Faye is that you are stuck with belonging to the district you were born in, for your whole life, no matter who you marry or where you might move to. So you could be born in the street next to the giraffe but you can never be a giraffe; you will always be a caterpillar! How galling is that?
She also treated us to her views on Japanese tourists who, she says always get lost as they just run around in any direction and refuse to ask for help!
So Siena is a nice place but very hilly, and yet again it is supposed to be traffic free but you have to constantly jump out of the way of lunatics in cars racing round the narrow streets (they are not wide enough to have pavements!) But, no demonstrations or wine tastings today; in fact we both had a wine free day. We sat down in the massive central square and watched little ones chasing the pigeons and both realised we are missing the grandchildren!
Mum came a cropper at the evening meal though. The choice was pork or salmon! They give minimal other food with it. My salmon came with half a dozen green beans and her pork had 4 very small pieces of potato. And tomorrow is no better, it's beef or sea bass. I was spoiled for choice but mum had no choice. She chose beef so I'll get a double helping tomorrow, in exchange for whatever tiny vegetable offering comes with it!
Saturday, 9 September 2017
Hilltop towns
Breakfast was self service so was much quicker which is a good job as we left the hotel at 8-40!
The coach seat rotation found us at the very front looking over the driver's shoulder. That's the first time (and probably last) we've ever sat there! We drove to Volterra which is high up in the hills. Our first activity was a tour round the alabaster workshop. It's a very soft rock which looks a lot like marble but is easy to work. They don't do health and safety though; working it creates loads of dust but the old craftsman who gave us a demonstration was oblivious to it, and seems to have adapted to breathing dust! We (mum) bought a couple of things. We had a coffee and wandered round, then came across an ancient house (the whole town is ancient so it was just a big house really) and it was very similar to the National Trust properties we've been to at home. You wander from room to room looking at old furniture. That was ok but the interesting part was that our ticket entitled us to a wine tasting in the cellar! National Trust never thought of that!
So they sat us down and gave us a glass of wine each and a plate full of the by now familiar pecorino cheese, salami and bread dipped in garlic. All this for 5 Euros each, including looking round the house. Anyway, mum only had a bit of a nibble at the food, so I had to once again eat it all on account of my grandad having been a prisoner of war. But when I came to drink her wine, she really had necked it all herself this time! She claims she had to drink it in order to save me from becoming an alcofrolic but the reality could be that she becomes one in trying to save me! Oh the irony!
So then we drove to San Gimignano, which is very similar except there was no wine tasting! There are 2 competing shops across the road from each other, who both claim to be the World champion gelato makers. Our guide recommended the one on the left so virtually our whole bus joined that queue. It was very nice but in our opinion the best one was the one yesterday in Florence. The evening meal took all evening again and consisted of pretentious small portions with sauce smeared across the plate. Impressed I am not!
Checked George's present; it hasn't melted yet 🙂
The coach seat rotation found us at the very front looking over the driver's shoulder. That's the first time (and probably last) we've ever sat there! We drove to Volterra which is high up in the hills. Our first activity was a tour round the alabaster workshop. It's a very soft rock which looks a lot like marble but is easy to work. They don't do health and safety though; working it creates loads of dust but the old craftsman who gave us a demonstration was oblivious to it, and seems to have adapted to breathing dust! We (mum) bought a couple of things. We had a coffee and wandered round, then came across an ancient house (the whole town is ancient so it was just a big house really) and it was very similar to the National Trust properties we've been to at home. You wander from room to room looking at old furniture. That was ok but the interesting part was that our ticket entitled us to a wine tasting in the cellar! National Trust never thought of that!
So they sat us down and gave us a glass of wine each and a plate full of the by now familiar pecorino cheese, salami and bread dipped in garlic. All this for 5 Euros each, including looking round the house. Anyway, mum only had a bit of a nibble at the food, so I had to once again eat it all on account of my grandad having been a prisoner of war. But when I came to drink her wine, she really had necked it all herself this time! She claims she had to drink it in order to save me from becoming an alcofrolic but the reality could be that she becomes one in trying to save me! Oh the irony!
So then we drove to San Gimignano, which is very similar except there was no wine tasting! There are 2 competing shops across the road from each other, who both claim to be the World champion gelato makers. Our guide recommended the one on the left so virtually our whole bus joined that queue. It was very nice but in our opinion the best one was the one yesterday in Florence. The evening meal took all evening again and consisted of pretentious small portions with sauce smeared across the plate. Impressed I am not!
Checked George's present; it hasn't melted yet 🙂
Friday, 8 September 2017
The wine tasting
A bit later than usual but I may have been a little incoherent previously; I think the air is thinner up in the hills and one has to acclimatise.
After breakfast we had 4 hours for a last wander round Florence so we managed to find the famous (but very small and hidden away down a back street) Rivoli which is reputed to make the best gelato (ice cream) in town. It was gorgeous. Had lunch at a street cafe and bought a Pinocchio for the Christmas tree and something for George's birthday (I hope it doesn't melt by then). Then we got on the coach and set off for our new hotel somewhere I've never heard of and which I can't remember the name of. On the way we passed through Chianti wine country and visited a big vineyard where the owner gave us a guided tour and then sat us down and fed us meat, cheese and bread soaked in olive oil. But, more significantly there were 3 wine glasses in front of each person. He poured a different wine into each glass and explained what it was. I was expecting some of that pretentious twaddle about sniffing it and detecting hints of caramel and baby talc etc, before swilling a drop round your mouth and spitting it out. But no, he just said drink it and when I checked, mum had necked the lot!
Well, you may have spotted the deliberate mistake there; mum actually had a tiny sniff of each and left the rest. Well that's rude, so I drank it all so as not to offend the kind man.
Anyway, it's funny cos I don't like wine but I was getting the hang of it so I bought 2 bottles!
The new hotel is in a little village in the middle of nowhere but it's far posher than the last one. I've never had a hotel room with its own entrance hall before. But the evening meal was a formal affair in a posh dining room and we sat at tables of ten people. There were 4 courses and no choice. So the aperitif was exactly the same cheese, meat and bruschetta we'd had earlier! Then we had a piece of lasagne and some pasta tubes all on the same plate. But the main course was pork cutlets wrapped in some fancy pine nut stuffing mix. Mum couldn't eat that but to be fair me and the Man City fan from Blackburn who was sitting next to me were the only 2 who ate all of every course and most of our table left the pork! Pudding was some sort of ice cream with nuts and biscuits in it. The whole meal was well cooked and presented but it took 2 hours and 20 minutes which is 2 hours longer than it takes us when it's self service! Didn't have any alcohol with the meal but I'm having a beer now just to check my new bottle opener works, you understand.
After breakfast we had 4 hours for a last wander round Florence so we managed to find the famous (but very small and hidden away down a back street) Rivoli which is reputed to make the best gelato (ice cream) in town. It was gorgeous. Had lunch at a street cafe and bought a Pinocchio for the Christmas tree and something for George's birthday (I hope it doesn't melt by then). Then we got on the coach and set off for our new hotel somewhere I've never heard of and which I can't remember the name of. On the way we passed through Chianti wine country and visited a big vineyard where the owner gave us a guided tour and then sat us down and fed us meat, cheese and bread soaked in olive oil. But, more significantly there were 3 wine glasses in front of each person. He poured a different wine into each glass and explained what it was. I was expecting some of that pretentious twaddle about sniffing it and detecting hints of caramel and baby talc etc, before swilling a drop round your mouth and spitting it out. But no, he just said drink it and when I checked, mum had necked the lot!
Well, you may have spotted the deliberate mistake there; mum actually had a tiny sniff of each and left the rest. Well that's rude, so I drank it all so as not to offend the kind man.
Anyway, it's funny cos I don't like wine but I was getting the hang of it so I bought 2 bottles!
The new hotel is in a little village in the middle of nowhere but it's far posher than the last one. I've never had a hotel room with its own entrance hall before. But the evening meal was a formal affair in a posh dining room and we sat at tables of ten people. There were 4 courses and no choice. So the aperitif was exactly the same cheese, meat and bruschetta we'd had earlier! Then we had a piece of lasagne and some pasta tubes all on the same plate. But the main course was pork cutlets wrapped in some fancy pine nut stuffing mix. Mum couldn't eat that but to be fair me and the Man City fan from Blackburn who was sitting next to me were the only 2 who ate all of every course and most of our table left the pork! Pudding was some sort of ice cream with nuts and biscuits in it. The whole meal was well cooked and presented but it took 2 hours and 20 minutes which is 2 hours longer than it takes us when it's self service! Didn't have any alcohol with the meal but I'm having a beer now just to check my new bottle opener works, you understand.
Thursday, 7 September 2017
Pisa
We went on the coach today. Seat rotation was in place but all you needed to do was find a seat with your name on it; clever stuff.
We went to a little, walled town called Lucca which is really nice. Lots of little alley ways with cobbled streets and loads of cafes with outside tables and lots of little gift and nick nack shops. All the shops had wooden Pinocchio figures and there were even a couple of workshops where they make them. It turns out that the man who wrote the Pinocchio story lived nearby. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we just wandered round. Had elevenses coffee and cake at one cafe and lunch at another, although here my experiments with items on menus came a cropper! I ordered a panini type sandwich but it was called something slightly different such as panioni and the filing I chose was grilled vegetables. When it came it was in fact an omelette, folded up and placed in the bread and it was tied up with string!
There were some pigeons hanging around looking for scraps and I was tempted but I actually ate it all. That's another one that I won't be ordering again though! Then we drove to Pisa and ran the gauntlet of Africans trying to sell watches and umbrellas. We'd bought a timed ticket to go up the tower, on the internet last week and amazingly only 4 of us out of 50 on the trip, went up! That's what happens when you go on holiday with old people! Mum was very nervous about the climb and, half way up it seemed like she may expire before reaching the summit but, after a couple of rest stops she got 90% of the way up. She drew the line at the last bit because it was a very tight spiral staircase which she hates. So it was left to me to claim the summit on behalf of England and Saint George but fear not fellow countrymen, I did it with style and panache.
Returned to same restaurant as last night as I'd liked their food and wanted a pizza today. We sat inside tonight as a thunderstorm was forecast and they sat us at a table next to a couple from our holiday, from Wetherby. We had a really good time talking to them and the food was good again. I had a red beer (that's what it called it on the menu!) and it was gorgeous. It was on draft and I think it was called Horst or possibly Forst. I'll be looking for that again! Oh and I bought a bottle opener today in the hope of not damaging any more hotel furniture, opening bottles. So then find myself with no bottle of beer to drink tonight! 😕
We went to a little, walled town called Lucca which is really nice. Lots of little alley ways with cobbled streets and loads of cafes with outside tables and lots of little gift and nick nack shops. All the shops had wooden Pinocchio figures and there were even a couple of workshops where they make them. It turns out that the man who wrote the Pinocchio story lived nearby. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we just wandered round. Had elevenses coffee and cake at one cafe and lunch at another, although here my experiments with items on menus came a cropper! I ordered a panini type sandwich but it was called something slightly different such as panioni and the filing I chose was grilled vegetables. When it came it was in fact an omelette, folded up and placed in the bread and it was tied up with string!
There were some pigeons hanging around looking for scraps and I was tempted but I actually ate it all. That's another one that I won't be ordering again though! Then we drove to Pisa and ran the gauntlet of Africans trying to sell watches and umbrellas. We'd bought a timed ticket to go up the tower, on the internet last week and amazingly only 4 of us out of 50 on the trip, went up! That's what happens when you go on holiday with old people! Mum was very nervous about the climb and, half way up it seemed like she may expire before reaching the summit but, after a couple of rest stops she got 90% of the way up. She drew the line at the last bit because it was a very tight spiral staircase which she hates. So it was left to me to claim the summit on behalf of England and Saint George but fear not fellow countrymen, I did it with style and panache.
Returned to same restaurant as last night as I'd liked their food and wanted a pizza today. We sat inside tonight as a thunderstorm was forecast and they sat us at a table next to a couple from our holiday, from Wetherby. We had a really good time talking to them and the food was good again. I had a red beer (that's what it called it on the menu!) and it was gorgeous. It was on draft and I think it was called Horst or possibly Forst. I'll be looking for that again! Oh and I bought a bottle opener today in the hope of not damaging any more hotel furniture, opening bottles. So then find myself with no bottle of beer to drink tonight! 😕
Wednesday, 6 September 2017
Florence
We got up at 4am and arrived at the airport in time. Bit disappointed as they wouldn't let us check in or book seats online so we could only get seats across the aisle to one another. But we both made friends with ladies sitting next to us. Mum swapped notes about holidays with hers and I shared my neighbour's sweets. When we got on the plane at Yeadon it was chucking it down but when we got off it was that beautiful continental experience of stepping into hot sun☺️
Quite a long drive from Pisa airport to Florence but we arrived mid afternoon. The guide was handing out all the room keys with a map showing where the hotel was. Mum volunteered to help by unfolding all the maps so they could mark the hotel. Her reward was that every last key was handed out and there wasn't one for us! They were still cleaning one room and it had been pre-allocated to us! So we had to wait in reception although it wasn't for very long. I was disappointed there is no balcony but the hotel is on the river bank and they have trouble with mosquitoes so need to keep windows closed. The air conditioning is good though.
Just walked round exploring in the evening then ate in the hotel restaurant.
Up at 7 today (another relaxing holiday!) and walked into the town centre as a group. Had several roads to cross and safety first involved due to mad Italian drivers. Apparently the guide has nightmares when she has American teenagers as they dash across roads in traffic gaps. I'm with them; can't abide standing there like a lemon when there's a gap in the traffic just because the green man isn't lit😡
We went round some posh art gallery but it wasn't for me; full of religious paintings of very bored looking people! We had a guided walking tour after lunch which the local guide made very interesting and entertaining. The largest church in the world is in Rome, the second is in London and the third is in Florence. Bizarrely the only one I haven't been to, now is the one in my country!
Having walked 242 miles today we both had a little sleep before going out to a local restaurant for a very nice 42nd wedding anniversary meal, finished off with Tiramisu so mum is happy and I have to say I enjoyed it as well😍
Quite a long drive from Pisa airport to Florence but we arrived mid afternoon. The guide was handing out all the room keys with a map showing where the hotel was. Mum volunteered to help by unfolding all the maps so they could mark the hotel. Her reward was that every last key was handed out and there wasn't one for us! They were still cleaning one room and it had been pre-allocated to us! So we had to wait in reception although it wasn't for very long. I was disappointed there is no balcony but the hotel is on the river bank and they have trouble with mosquitoes so need to keep windows closed. The air conditioning is good though.
Just walked round exploring in the evening then ate in the hotel restaurant.
Up at 7 today (another relaxing holiday!) and walked into the town centre as a group. Had several roads to cross and safety first involved due to mad Italian drivers. Apparently the guide has nightmares when she has American teenagers as they dash across roads in traffic gaps. I'm with them; can't abide standing there like a lemon when there's a gap in the traffic just because the green man isn't lit😡
We went round some posh art gallery but it wasn't for me; full of religious paintings of very bored looking people! We had a guided walking tour after lunch which the local guide made very interesting and entertaining. The largest church in the world is in Rome, the second is in London and the third is in Florence. Bizarrely the only one I haven't been to, now is the one in my country!
Having walked 242 miles today we both had a little sleep before going out to a local restaurant for a very nice 42nd wedding anniversary meal, finished off with Tiramisu so mum is happy and I have to say I enjoyed it as well😍
Saturday, 27 May 2017
Last day in Croatia
Could have had a lie in as it was a free day but as they had forecast a thunderstorm at 2pm we wanted to get out and do things before then. So down for breakfast just after 7 and I filled my bowl with semolina and porridge; it's gorgeous!
We got the service bus at 8-30 and it was packed with locals going to work. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we were up on the castle walls at 9. I had accepted George's challenge to have my photo taken in the same spot as him. It must be a couple of miles round the entire walls and involves climbing 2 million steps but I found what I thought was the spot, then had to place the lovely Janet where I thought Callie must have taken G's photo. It was only later that we got the chance to compare the 2 and the brick pattern proved I got it exactly right, so that's 50 kunas G owes me.
It was so hot we had to find a shaded cafe for a sit down and a beer (at 10-15am!).
Then we got on a boat and sailed down the coast to Cavtat which is a lovely little seaside resort, and it was fairly quiet too. Had lunch at a cafe on the seafront. I had a large beer which cost less than Mum's lemonade! They had swordfish steak on the menu but I had to remember I get a big dinner so just had a ham and cheese sandwichy type of thing, which was delicious.
After we sailed back to Dubrovnik the thunderstorm should have occurred but it never did. It stayed hot and sunny, so we had a wander round the old town and had a last ice cream and got the bus back to the hotel. I had another beer and a siesta.
For tea I had steak (yes just the one main item but with all the trimmings) and managed to fit 4 different types of cake (they're not massive pieces, honest) under my ice cream.
The only thing left to mention is that your mother has become a floosy! Every time I turn my back on her some old bloke jumps in and chats her up. My only solace is beer.
We got the service bus at 8-30 and it was packed with locals going to work. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we were up on the castle walls at 9. I had accepted George's challenge to have my photo taken in the same spot as him. It must be a couple of miles round the entire walls and involves climbing 2 million steps but I found what I thought was the spot, then had to place the lovely Janet where I thought Callie must have taken G's photo. It was only later that we got the chance to compare the 2 and the brick pattern proved I got it exactly right, so that's 50 kunas G owes me.
It was so hot we had to find a shaded cafe for a sit down and a beer (at 10-15am!).
Then we got on a boat and sailed down the coast to Cavtat which is a lovely little seaside resort, and it was fairly quiet too. Had lunch at a cafe on the seafront. I had a large beer which cost less than Mum's lemonade! They had swordfish steak on the menu but I had to remember I get a big dinner so just had a ham and cheese sandwichy type of thing, which was delicious.
After we sailed back to Dubrovnik the thunderstorm should have occurred but it never did. It stayed hot and sunny, so we had a wander round the old town and had a last ice cream and got the bus back to the hotel. I had another beer and a siesta.
For tea I had steak (yes just the one main item but with all the trimmings) and managed to fit 4 different types of cake (they're not massive pieces, honest) under my ice cream.
The only thing left to mention is that your mother has become a floosy! Every time I turn my back on her some old bloke jumps in and chats her up. My only solace is beer.
Friday, 26 May 2017
A day in Montenegro
Today set the record for earliest get-up. Alarm set for 6 and down for breakfast at 6-45. Still felt delicate but discovered a wonderful breakfast combo; boiled semolina in milk, with porridge. It was excellent. The reason for setting off at such a ridiculous time was to try get through Customs before the rush, as we headed for yet another new country, Montenegro. This was a coincidence as the news was full of Donald Trump elbowing Montenegro's prime minister out of the way at the G7 conference! Sure enough the border crossing was a bind and I guess this will become the norm once we leave the EU.
So here we have Croatia which is in the EU, but doesn't use the euro. Montenegro is not in the EU but does use the euro. Crazy! First stop was a little coastal village called Perast. There are no public loos there but there is a tiny little island about 300 metres off the coast which has a very small church, a gift shop and free toilets. So we paid 5 euros for a boat ride to the island so we could have a wee, then sailed back!
We then drove around the edge of the bay to a walled town at the foot of very steep, rocky cliffs, called Kotor. It was a nice place and we bought a decoration for the Christmas tree, as you do in mid summer. By the way, the moron with the bells keeps following us. He rang them in Dubrovnik yesterday morning and tried again at noon today in Kotor. But I don't care how loud his tune is, I'm not buying one of his ice creams. Then, to save endless miles driving round the bay we got a ferry across it. It's only a small drive on drive off ferry but there were 2 coaches and a few cars on it. It only takes 15 minutes but I still stood on deck like we used to when crossing the Channel all those years ago. So, 2 boat rides in one day; I must be on holiday!
Return border crossing was slightly less of a pain as we got to watch a sniffer dog checking out the cars and it barked like mad by an Italian car. Don't think they found anything as they let him go but, they were so excited about that they lost interest in the red tape of our passports and waved us on!
So here we have Croatia which is in the EU, but doesn't use the euro. Montenegro is not in the EU but does use the euro. Crazy! First stop was a little coastal village called Perast. There are no public loos there but there is a tiny little island about 300 metres off the coast which has a very small church, a gift shop and free toilets. So we paid 5 euros for a boat ride to the island so we could have a wee, then sailed back!
We then drove around the edge of the bay to a walled town at the foot of very steep, rocky cliffs, called Kotor. It was a nice place and we bought a decoration for the Christmas tree, as you do in mid summer. By the way, the moron with the bells keeps following us. He rang them in Dubrovnik yesterday morning and tried again at noon today in Kotor. But I don't care how loud his tune is, I'm not buying one of his ice creams. Then, to save endless miles driving round the bay we got a ferry across it. It's only a small drive on drive off ferry but there were 2 coaches and a few cars on it. It only takes 15 minutes but I still stood on deck like we used to when crossing the Channel all those years ago. So, 2 boat rides in one day; I must be on holiday!
Return border crossing was slightly less of a pain as we got to watch a sniffer dog checking out the cars and it barked like mad by an Italian car. Don't think they found anything as they let him go but, they were so excited about that they lost interest in the red tape of our passports and waved us on!
Thursday, 25 May 2017
Wet and miserable
I woke in the night with cramp; apart from being painful it's usually a bad omen. I then laid awake feeling a bit ill. As ever they wanted us up early and we had to rush breakfast. I just had a bowl of porridge!
The coach drove us into Dubrovnik and left us there for the day. But, as the UK is apparently having a heatwave it literally chucked it down all day here! We don't go on holidays for the weather but it is always nicer when it's warm and dry. We had a guided tour of the old town but there were several cruise ships in the harbour so there must have been 20 or 30 other similar guided tours on at the same time. As most people were carrying umbrellas it was hard to see things and we spent most of our time trying to avoid getting our eyes poked out! To make matters worse I felt less well as the tour progressed til it reached the point that I needed the toilet, so I asked our tour manager and she took me to a nearby restaurant to use theirs. It was very tiny, one gents and one ladies but a guy went in the gents just as I got there, so I went in the ladies.
Sure enough when I came out there was a woman waiting and she gave me a look and tutted, so I gave her my best Mr Bean shrug and said sorry.
The tour ended and we had the rest of the day to ourselves but we were getting wetter all the time and it was pretty uncomfortable. We had a coffee at an outside cafe table with a big parasol but, eventually the weight of water overwhelmed the parasol and it tipped over a German lady! We'd had enough and got the bus back to the hotel. I was feeling really quite ill by then and slept all afternoon.
Didn't feel up to eating til 8-30 which is very late for us and I suddenly got my appetite back. Had sea trout, squid, steak with potatoes, zucchini and broccoli. Hope I don't regret it later and that I sleep tonight as we have to be up at 6 !!! to go to Montenegro tomorrow
The coach drove us into Dubrovnik and left us there for the day. But, as the UK is apparently having a heatwave it literally chucked it down all day here! We don't go on holidays for the weather but it is always nicer when it's warm and dry. We had a guided tour of the old town but there were several cruise ships in the harbour so there must have been 20 or 30 other similar guided tours on at the same time. As most people were carrying umbrellas it was hard to see things and we spent most of our time trying to avoid getting our eyes poked out! To make matters worse I felt less well as the tour progressed til it reached the point that I needed the toilet, so I asked our tour manager and she took me to a nearby restaurant to use theirs. It was very tiny, one gents and one ladies but a guy went in the gents just as I got there, so I went in the ladies.
Sure enough when I came out there was a woman waiting and she gave me a look and tutted, so I gave her my best Mr Bean shrug and said sorry.
The tour ended and we had the rest of the day to ourselves but we were getting wetter all the time and it was pretty uncomfortable. We had a coffee at an outside cafe table with a big parasol but, eventually the weight of water overwhelmed the parasol and it tipped over a German lady! We'd had enough and got the bus back to the hotel. I was feeling really quite ill by then and slept all afternoon.
Didn't feel up to eating til 8-30 which is very late for us and I suddenly got my appetite back. Had sea trout, squid, steak with potatoes, zucchini and broccoli. Hope I don't regret it later and that I sleep tonight as we have to be up at 6 !!! to go to Montenegro tomorrow
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Five countries in one day!
So, Rasputin the mad monk did his trick at 5-30am again. I must have slept through it on Monday morning! But it wasn't as if it woke me too early as we had to get breakfast at 7 as soon as the dining room opened as they wanted our cases in reception and ready to leave at 7-45! Not really sure why we have to set off so early every day! The bus seat rotation plan was applied again but some of them had ignored it and others were just totally confused by it, so we just sat in an empty seat. A couple of old women were most put out that others (not us) were, allegedly in their seats but as nobody offered to move they were stuck with it, although it was clear they were not happy! We've decided we'll just sit where there's a space in future and let them argue among themselves!
Now it gets complicated. We started off this morning in Croatia (when we left our hotel in Omit) and ended the day also in Croatia (in our new hotel in Dubrovnik) but we crossed into Bosnia Hertzagovina twice! They used to be part of the same country when it was Yugoslavia but now Croatia is in the EU (but doesn't use the Euro) and Bosnia wants to be in the EU but they won't let them join. So, when you leave Croatia the bus has to stop and a customs officer takes all the passports and scans them through their system. This takes around 20 minutes. You then drive 50 metres and the Bosnian customs take the passports to scan. That's another 20 minutes. This was so we could go to Mostar for lunch, which was excellent as per what's app photos already seen.
But then it gets worse. You reach the border and have to go through the same 2 procedures again! But 20 miles down the coast you reach the border again. This is because Bosnia would be landlocked so they gave them a 5 mile stretch of coast.
So driving along the same little coastal road that entails getting through another 4 customs posts. Tedious! In total then we've been in Croatia 3 times and Bosnia twice today!
New hotel is different but very nice and although the food is still self service if you want something like steak the chef cooks it in front of you. The only thing was that, at lunchtime I decided I was definitely going to a particular riverside bar/grill just to enjoy the view. The waiter suggested we try a mixed grill platter and a vegetable platter to share and it was fabulous ( I might even say luscious Faye!) but I was so full, we didn't eat til 8-30 tonight and I took it easy. Just had roast beef and roast potatoes etc. Mum worries that I'm becoming an alcofrolic just because I got 3 lots of beer in to stock up the room so I don't get tempted by the mini bar!
Now it gets complicated. We started off this morning in Croatia (when we left our hotel in Omit) and ended the day also in Croatia (in our new hotel in Dubrovnik) but we crossed into Bosnia Hertzagovina twice! They used to be part of the same country when it was Yugoslavia but now Croatia is in the EU (but doesn't use the Euro) and Bosnia wants to be in the EU but they won't let them join. So, when you leave Croatia the bus has to stop and a customs officer takes all the passports and scans them through their system. This takes around 20 minutes. You then drive 50 metres and the Bosnian customs take the passports to scan. That's another 20 minutes. This was so we could go to Mostar for lunch, which was excellent as per what's app photos already seen.
But then it gets worse. You reach the border and have to go through the same 2 procedures again! But 20 miles down the coast you reach the border again. This is because Bosnia would be landlocked so they gave them a 5 mile stretch of coast.
So driving along the same little coastal road that entails getting through another 4 customs posts. Tedious! In total then we've been in Croatia 3 times and Bosnia twice today!
New hotel is different but very nice and although the food is still self service if you want something like steak the chef cooks it in front of you. The only thing was that, at lunchtime I decided I was definitely going to a particular riverside bar/grill just to enjoy the view. The waiter suggested we try a mixed grill platter and a vegetable platter to share and it was fabulous ( I might even say luscious Faye!) but I was so full, we didn't eat til 8-30 tonight and I took it easy. Just had roast beef and roast potatoes etc. Mum worries that I'm becoming an alcofrolic just because I got 3 lots of beer in to stock up the room so I don't get tempted by the mini bar!
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
I've Split my Trogir
I was woken at 5-30 this morning by some mad monk who thought it would be a good idea to ring all the church bells as loud as he could for 10 minutes! I hope he got his cassock caught in the ropes.
We left at 8 anyway and the tour guide asked people to move 3 seats forward and switch sides on the coach so everyone got a fair turn. How to confuse old people in one move! It was chaos but we just waited til they'd all sat down and sat in an empty one.
We went to Split (damn, I've already done that joke) which apart from being the home of Hajduk Split who we once played in the UEFA cup in the 60's, is also where the first Roman Emperor built a palace to retire to. It's still standing and people have apartments in it! We had a guided tour and then spent 2 hours wandering round. It's a very nice seaside resort. I had a very large slice of spinach, onion and garlic pizza type of pasty. It's a Croatian delicacy apparently.
Back on the bus and drove to Trogir which was a smaller version of Split. There was a castle and even though our English Heritage membership didn't seem valid, we went in. There was literally nothing in but you could climb right up to the top for a brilliant view of the town and harbour. They don't do Health and safety in Croatia. Wear a seatbelt or crash helmet if you want. Climb up 200 feet with no safety barriers or railings, who cares! We then had a luscious piece of cake in a cafe.
When we got back to Omis we went straight out for an optional boat ride, inland up the river. It's a very beautiful country and the height of the mountains is amazing.
Spoilt for choice at tea. I had fish (hake), lasagne and stroganoff with potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and little trees as Dylan calls broccoli. I wanted to try a veal cutlet but thought I was pushing my luck. Had a Karlovacko beer which is the official beer of Hajduk Split!
We left at 8 anyway and the tour guide asked people to move 3 seats forward and switch sides on the coach so everyone got a fair turn. How to confuse old people in one move! It was chaos but we just waited til they'd all sat down and sat in an empty one.
We went to Split (damn, I've already done that joke) which apart from being the home of Hajduk Split who we once played in the UEFA cup in the 60's, is also where the first Roman Emperor built a palace to retire to. It's still standing and people have apartments in it! We had a guided tour and then spent 2 hours wandering round. It's a very nice seaside resort. I had a very large slice of spinach, onion and garlic pizza type of pasty. It's a Croatian delicacy apparently.
Back on the bus and drove to Trogir which was a smaller version of Split. There was a castle and even though our English Heritage membership didn't seem valid, we went in. There was literally nothing in but you could climb right up to the top for a brilliant view of the town and harbour. They don't do Health and safety in Croatia. Wear a seatbelt or crash helmet if you want. Climb up 200 feet with no safety barriers or railings, who cares! We then had a luscious piece of cake in a cafe.
When we got back to Omis we went straight out for an optional boat ride, inland up the river. It's a very beautiful country and the height of the mountains is amazing.
Spoilt for choice at tea. I had fish (hake), lasagne and stroganoff with potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and little trees as Dylan calls broccoli. I wanted to try a veal cutlet but thought I was pushing my luck. Had a Karlovacko beer which is the official beer of Hajduk Split!
Monday, 22 May 2017
A whole day spent in one country
So here we are on holiday and the alarm goes off at 7am. And it gets worse later in the week! The shower is odd. You have to climb in the bath and the little glass screen doesn't cover the area where the water goes, so the bathroom floor was awash when I stepped out!
Had a big breakfast to last us through the day, and on the coach; we were told to go down for it at 8-15 but when I looked down from the balcony at five past all the old dears are moving their fastest all day, to get the seats at the front! We quite happily sat at the back.
We drove along the coast from Omish to Split, then split (see what I did there?) to go inland. There is a brand new motorway goes through the middle of Croatia. When the Balkans war ended 25 years ago this had been a war zone but they need to attract tourists with roads like they are used to at home (excluding brexit Britain of course as they have all lanes open, no road works and very little traffic, plus their service areas are civilised). The idea is that eventually you will be able to drive right across the Balkans and this part of Europe but, sadly I will be too old to drive it by the time it's finished!
Anyway we arrived at the National Park at Krka near Sibenik. It's a magnificent place and you walk across the many little streams that feed the main lake, on boardwalks. Had a second ice cream in 2 days, then got on a boat which took us down river to Skradin. Mum sat down with all the landlubbers but I did my best captain impression, standing at the stern, looking out for pirates.
Skradin is a nice little seaside place and the idea was to have lunch there, but we didn't need any so walked a bit then sat in the shade, like the locals do.
Long coach trip back, then change for dinner (even me!). They had mackerel tonight which I like but there was just a tourine full of complete, dead fish. Call me squeamish but I can't eat something that is looking at me and still has it's hat and coat on! There was also fish stew but there were all kinds of furry bits sticking out, so I just had some of everything else. Had 2 beers today as it's been so hot.
Had a big breakfast to last us through the day, and on the coach; we were told to go down for it at 8-15 but when I looked down from the balcony at five past all the old dears are moving their fastest all day, to get the seats at the front! We quite happily sat at the back.
We drove along the coast from Omish to Split, then split (see what I did there?) to go inland. There is a brand new motorway goes through the middle of Croatia. When the Balkans war ended 25 years ago this had been a war zone but they need to attract tourists with roads like they are used to at home (excluding brexit Britain of course as they have all lanes open, no road works and very little traffic, plus their service areas are civilised). The idea is that eventually you will be able to drive right across the Balkans and this part of Europe but, sadly I will be too old to drive it by the time it's finished!
Anyway we arrived at the National Park at Krka near Sibenik. It's a magnificent place and you walk across the many little streams that feed the main lake, on boardwalks. Had a second ice cream in 2 days, then got on a boat which took us down river to Skradin. Mum sat down with all the landlubbers but I did my best captain impression, standing at the stern, looking out for pirates.
Skradin is a nice little seaside place and the idea was to have lunch there, but we didn't need any so walked a bit then sat in the shade, like the locals do.
Long coach trip back, then change for dinner (even me!). They had mackerel tonight which I like but there was just a tourine full of complete, dead fish. Call me squeamish but I can't eat something that is looking at me and still has it's hat and coat on! There was also fish stew but there were all kinds of furry bits sticking out, so I just had some of everything else. Had 2 beers today as it's been so hot.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
From Wilsden to Omit
Another year, another adventure. Up at 4am, one of us was bright eyed and bushy tailed; the other thought she'd (clue there!) been shot. Away by 5 and over the hills to Yeadon (did you know Murgatroyds don't do early breakfast specials; a gap in the market?). Everything went according to plan and we took off just after 7-15, but then the bushy tail sagged and one of us dozed three quarters of the flight!
Dubrovnik airport isn't massive but it's fine. We found the travel guide and got on the right bus, but then the nightmare started. Omit is apparently approximately 1400 miles from Dubrovnik by road; as the crow flies it's about 50 miles but this part of the world is just mountains and bays, so you drive 30 miles on winding roads just to get to a point half a mile across some water!
We started in Croatia then crossed the border into Bosnia. 20 miles later we crossed back into Croatia. One country is nearly in the EU and the other isn't so we were warned that the Bosnia customs might be a bit sniffy and insist on examining everyone's passport. But when our driver told them we were just a bunch of brexit brits he said we could enter.
But then, on re-entering Croatia they decided to be awkward and wanted to see all passports. But then our driver said something (in Croat) along the lines of they've just had their passports scanned at our airport so why do you want to do it again you divvy? He then waved us on.
We had stopped for a delicious Bosnian ice cream while we were in their country. They have their own currency but happily took Croatian money, but not Euros.
Happily upon finally reaching Omit it's a lovely little seaside place and our hotel is literally next to the beach. Nice room with a balcony on the third floor and our neighbour is Geoff from Halifax; I like meeting people from all over the world while on holiday!
So to the evening meal and it's a serve yourself buffet, so I had chicken with tagliatelle, beef stew and baked red snapper all on the same plate (mum had chips and a sausage). The snapper was nice but contains multiple lethal bones!
For pudding and hear this Mr and Mrs Saunders, I had garlic pasty! Very thin pastry the thickness of a pancake, full of garlicky green stuff ( or might it be cannabis?). Good job I also had dough balls (you can tell by the way I walk) to sweeten it. Also had a nice panacotta. I can't understand why I keep putting on weight!
Finished off with some Ozujsko beer (wonder if they sell that in my Polish shop?)
Dubrovnik airport isn't massive but it's fine. We found the travel guide and got on the right bus, but then the nightmare started. Omit is apparently approximately 1400 miles from Dubrovnik by road; as the crow flies it's about 50 miles but this part of the world is just mountains and bays, so you drive 30 miles on winding roads just to get to a point half a mile across some water!
We started in Croatia then crossed the border into Bosnia. 20 miles later we crossed back into Croatia. One country is nearly in the EU and the other isn't so we were warned that the Bosnia customs might be a bit sniffy and insist on examining everyone's passport. But when our driver told them we were just a bunch of brexit brits he said we could enter.
But then, on re-entering Croatia they decided to be awkward and wanted to see all passports. But then our driver said something (in Croat) along the lines of they've just had their passports scanned at our airport so why do you want to do it again you divvy? He then waved us on.
We had stopped for a delicious Bosnian ice cream while we were in their country. They have their own currency but happily took Croatian money, but not Euros.
Happily upon finally reaching Omit it's a lovely little seaside place and our hotel is literally next to the beach. Nice room with a balcony on the third floor and our neighbour is Geoff from Halifax; I like meeting people from all over the world while on holiday!
So to the evening meal and it's a serve yourself buffet, so I had chicken with tagliatelle, beef stew and baked red snapper all on the same plate (mum had chips and a sausage). The snapper was nice but contains multiple lethal bones!
For pudding and hear this Mr and Mrs Saunders, I had garlic pasty! Very thin pastry the thickness of a pancake, full of garlicky green stuff ( or might it be cannabis?). Good job I also had dough balls (you can tell by the way I walk) to sweeten it. Also had a nice panacotta. I can't understand why I keep putting on weight!
Finished off with some Ozujsko beer (wonder if they sell that in my Polish shop?)
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