TBT: KORÇULA, the LITTLE DUBROVNIK

Our next stop was the beautiful medieval island of Korçula less populated than Dubrovnik and Hvar,

 with its famous  Cathedral  ...

        

      as well as its stone alleys...

See the fishbone layout of its streets?

                                                          

AND  its fishbone street layout to block the wind from the sea on both sides. 

 Locals also claim it is Marco Polo's birthplace and  that's  why we met the very popular Lady Francesca, his mistress, who told us stories of his travels, her heartbreak (with a great deal of sarcasm)

No wonder we play that water game 'Marko Polo' as he really got around.

and he returned to spend his later years in Korçula. Lady Francesca brought the 13th century to life.

We were told to always respond, "Yes Mistress!" and our group did as asked with vigor.

She shared so much, including making each of us a sachet of herbs.. Here's one of my journal pages showing these sachets. (left corner) You know, baths were not plentiful in those days nor were ways to ward off diseases.

She pointed out architectural pieces indicating the rule of the Romans-

Lions were symbols of power  and we saw them everywhere except one of our island stops. 

Maybe one of my Wisconsinites remembers for sure which one...

Mistress Francesca explained her modest long dress and bell-shaped sleeves and covered feet. And how trampy those were who had flesh showing. She shamed those of us in the group donning shorts ... 

Dang, those slutty Americans. LOL.

Fingers crossed they won't sink our yacht! 

 

     Many stone carvings,              whether for games /    historical art were along our  walk.

A charming city indeed... 

Do visit Korçula and ask for a Mistress Francesca walking tour. 

MONDAY MUSINGS: MLJET

MONDAY MUSINGS has me thinking about the importance of parks and their preservation for future generations to enjoy Nature.

My Croatian adventure included visiting a couple of their National parks off the Dalmatian coast. The first park was MLET  (Muhl-yet)  the largest of the southernmost and easternmost islands with two saltwater lakes - Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero, surrounded by limestone, a true global phenomenon connecting them to the sea by artificial shallow canals when the Ice Age submerged the once valley. 

A dense pine forest surrounded our hiking path to be ferried to the middle of the big lake to tiny St. Mary Islet, replete with a 12th century Benedictine stone monastery and a lovely chapel ( see below)

Boat ferry to the island...  The monastery  btw is now a café.

the floor

inside the  chapel

Lovely arches, right?

 

Amidst all the islet's stone work, 

plantings abounded some added by humans, and Mother Nature also  did her part...

Obviously, they love that sea air and climate.

Half of our group returned with the next boat back to get their steps in on different trails for different overviews. The rest of us enjoyed a coffee/ cold drink and a snack, rejoining our group later. 

Aw, fresh air and stretching our sea legs... 

Another excellent adventure with nature, history and exercise.

Another gorgeous day in Croatia...   

 

tUESDAY tUNES: I'M BEGGIN'...

 tUESDAY tUNES this week is Army Sargent Isaac Adkins with a voice one can't forget so I don't have to beg you to take a listen... He won a goldenbuzzer on the 21st season of AGT.

I'M BEGGIN' ... and he's easy on the eyes too.

MONDAY MUSINGS REPEAT : TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

This is my second Father's Day without my Dad. I visited the cemetery yesterday. 

Below's an entry I wrote when Dad was still alive...  

MONDAY MUSINGS this week is a result of a conversation with my almost 97-year-old Dad. He wanted to know what I felt were life lessons I had learned from him.  I replied they were manifold, but I mentioned a couple that seemed to satisfy his request.

*Everyone is important and to treat everyone with respect. 

My father has never met a stranger. He knew everyone by name where he worked from his colleagues, secretaries, to the person who cleaned his lab. He knew about their lives and visa versa. We could not go anywhere where he wouldn't stop to talk to others whether it was in a park/a restaurant. In fact, he disappeared frequently and when we would find him he would be engaged meeting somebody new.

*The importance of travel for broadening our view of the world, culture- different languages, customs/ food and ourselves. 

Each sabbatical he took us to different continents. And we camped through Europe in '65 and visited the entire island of Taiwan in '73.

*Nothing replaces education.

He didn't care what we chose to study but to love learning and enjoy doing our chosen professions and that learning is neverending.  

* Spending time with our children.

He made private dates with each of us of what we wanted to go/do. He made sure to make time no matter how busy his schedule was... 

I wish I had taped the joy he had in listening to my comments and his responses...

I can only hope I have passed these and the many other lessons on to my children as well.

Leaving you with one of my favorites:

 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

FOTO FRIDAY: BUTTERFLY FUN

FOTO FRIDAY : Butterfly fun. 

Remember to include plants in your yards to attract butterflies.

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY

MIDWEEK MUSINGS & TBT : REENACTING THE PAST

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS &TBT this week was a no-brainer as our mini family reunion had us visiting Chicago, a place my daughter was born and where we have visited on many an occasion but this time it was with her kids... 

The Museum of Science and Industry was one such revisit where one spring break that same child complained of itching, only to discover she had broken out with chicken pox! Can you imagine how many buttons had been pushed that day? OY. 

 This visit had her 2 kids oohing over some of the same attractions and button pushing to learn about the submarine, real trains, huge doll house and science presentation. 

In fact, her eldest, volunteered to help with the liquid nitrogen program. Her scientist Pappa (my Dad) would have been so proud.

What mesmerized the grands longest time was the hatching of the baby chicks, not climbing on the huge tractor... so they created new memories too...

The next day after Navy Pier's speed boat ride where we cooled off with Lake Michigan's spray, we needed lunch and within walking distance was an old fave the grands had never experienced lunch at the infamous :

  

an old type diner with counter barstools where we waited for our table and served typical Chicago fare like the Big Bad Dog...

with the crankiest, rudest servers who also sit down with you/ in our case threw all their hats pictured above at my daughter. It made all of us a little goofy  including the kids' Dad....

Our last day we went to search for beach glass along Lake Michigan just as my kids had...

They were determined to not go home empty-handed and I think they would still be digging there now if we hadn't pulled them away.

What treasures...

Reliving old memories and creating new ones for the next generation...

Maybe one day they will return with their children and relive this past visit...

tUESDAY tUNES: LES TEMPS DE' L'AMOUR

 tUESDAY tUNES; Is summertime really the time for love? I thought this song could convince most of us. Take a listen by Rez de Chausée. I don't think we need to go to St. Tropez, do you?

Les temps de l'amour