Such timing for us. . .

Prettier now that it ain't coming down on top of us and blowing at 45 mph!

He may not like the snow, but everyone likes a COLD DRINK!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 It's a BLIZZARD!   We woke up to a thunderstorm this morning, which turned into a snowstorm by this afternoon!  And it's blowing and snowing and hasn't stopped.   It's insane.   And highly unusual.   And to blame?  Another Stout vacation. . .   We've been pretty much holed up all day, praying the power doesn't go out.  The only mode of heat we have is a large space heater.  Electric. Let it snow (on my lemons outside the front door) Let it snow! (on the orange tile rooftops and the moutain behind town) Let it SNOW!!! (All over our back terrace, which is as far as I''m going tonight!) Saturday, February 14, 2009 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!   Even if you don't have a "sweetie", make sure you tell the people you love you love them today!  Hopefully everyone will have lots of love coming their way today and everyday!   We've been subject to some sunshine with the BORA winds (I think that's how you spell it), which basically means really strong winds that include a wind chill.  Basically, it was freezing yesterday.   And the day before.   But here's some random shots around Dubrovnik from Wednesday (I think). I was taking this picture while Mike was finding us a new sandwich shop An ugly pigeon trying to make a pretty picture. . . This newspaper sheet was under the water in the harbor and looked pretty cool Above a garage door on the way to our house along the water ANOTHER picture of our gate into the city This is a cool mirror at our bus stop. . . we are facing the sea, the mountains are behind us. . .             And, yesterday (on Friday the 13th, no less) Daniel took us on a trip up the coast to a little bitty town called Cavat, which was basically desolute of tourists this time of year, but in the summer ROCKS.  It was adorable.    And cold.    First we stopped on top of the mountain above Dubrovnik and took a couple "aerial" shots of the town.  It looks like a little toy. I CANNOT tell you how cold and windy it was up here. . . OMG! I guess this is what the rest of the country looks like once you get off the coast. . . whatever. . SOOOOO cold, need a coffee, but we will be colder. . . Add your content here This is seriously a cutie-patootie town! But breathtaking. . . . in more than one way. . . I can hardly feel my toes! Uh, yea, still very cold, but GORGEOUS! This kitty stole my heart. . . when I come back as a cat I'm hanging at the wine store. . . Can hardly stand the contrast. . . . Taking an unbelievably freezing walk around the point. . .         Some night last week we met a dude at the Irish Pub who manages a restaurant called Pupo.  So, last night we went there for dinner.  And, guess what?  It's famous from this show.  They had the episode on DVD, so we sat and watched it (and drank, and ate) while we were sitting in the very spot!  Too cool.  Thanks to Ivan for the discount on the upgraded wine, as well! Tuesday, February 10, 2009 I'm an Idiot.  Just ask Mike.   After one week (well, probably more like after three days) we officially have a favorite bar in Dubrovnik, a fave bartender and a fave bar owner.  In order they are Katie O'Connor's Irish Pub, Daniel, and Bradley.    And today, Daniel offered to drive us up the coast to a city called Ston, where the second largest ancient wall in the world exists.  It's five kilometers long, was for protection from the Turk invaders and was built in the 14th century.   Daniel met us at the bus station at 10 AM, and we were there with umbrellas (the weather looked iffy, but it didn't rain) and the camera.   We drive for about 50 minutes, pull into the lovely town of Ston, look up at the mountain with the meandering wall, I grab my camera to snap a photo. . .   and the memory card is NOT IN IT.  It's in my computer back in Dubrovnik.  You see, my new computer has a slot for the memory card, and I forgot to take it out yesterday.    Apparently, there's no way to take pictures on my Nikon D40 and save them to the camera, either.   But, I learned my lesson and that WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.   I hope.   After the walk on the wall (doing a lot of wall walking in the past twelve months), we had a coffee at a small cafe and then a lovely lunch in a very nice restaurant.  Mike had shrimp and risotto, I had octopus salad, and Daniel had chicken.  Yes, chicken.  Lots of red wine, cheese, and bread, too.  In fact, I'm still stuffed 5 hours later.    Was a great day.  Thanks Daniel!  What a guy.  I swear I will pick up some tourist in Michigan who doesn't have a car and drive them to Saugatuck, Michigan.    Not that this scenario seems very likely. . .   Monday, February 9, 2009   Today was our first day of full sun, and boy. . . I thought this place was beautiful last week!  The sky?  Is. so. blue.  The air?  Is. so. clean.  The colors?  They are so crisp.    We walked and walked, had a coffee, had some lunch, did some grocery shopping (I COOKED dinner tonight), and basically enjoyed the day.  I'm just going to let the pics tell the story (although not all of them were taken today).   And, if you think the pictures are starting to look all the same, NEVER ask to see my photos from here. . . LOL.   Sidenote:  Two nights ago in the bar Mike and I took about 45 minutes to write down as many of the 190 recognized sovereign states (countries) in the world.  We got 178.  Try it.  It's fun!   Anyhoodle, enjoy the pics. Bell Towers. . . they ring everyday at noon Kick butt old church. . . who's bells ALSO ring at noon. . . Looking out over the city from the "high" gate. .. not sure what direction it is, really. . . City from outside the Ploce Gate, looking at Marina (you just walked around the city!) How Coke gets to the market in Dubrovnik. . . where's the BEER TRUCK!?!?! Down from the wall at a little church. . . there's a lot of churches here. . . and very few BARS. . I'm in love with this corner of the wall for some reason. . . so more pics of it to come, I'm sure. This is the "high" gate entrance, which is now my favorite Looking down at the marina. . . is this getting redundant? It's not a very big town. . . And more alleys. . . and laundry and some nuns to go with the churches Yep. That's my fave tower again. . . I like this dude. . . not much here I don't like, obviously. . .

Awesome!

Front northwest corner of the city wall (and guard post, I believe) Horribly set up picture of us on the wall. . . but proof we were there. . .

Looking up the wall on the north side One of the hundreds of alleys off the Stradum. . . quaint as HECK! This cat was having fun stalking pigeons today IN THE SUNSHINE! Street lined with churches. . . sans bells. . . The city and the sea from a little private cove (with a restaurant) near our house Beautiful view down the coast today. . . towards Albania. . . Not an alley. . . just a curved street. . . that I like Although sunshiney today, this dude obviously thinks it's much warmer than it is. . . silly Croat. . It ain't Rome, but it's a cute little fountain next to the grocery store. . . I've become obsessed with laundry. . . well, other people's laundry. . . Probably the only thing that changes here is the sky. . . and I like this one! King Mike with his realm in the backdrop and more walls. . . That's Saint Blaise or something like that, the patron saint of Dubrovnik Looking down at that same street with the churches (and the nuns, for that matter) Lovely, just lovely. . .