kinda likin it…

went up to the biggest church in opatija the other day. having spent a good part of the day practicing in this church, i’ve made an observation:  spirit beckons most to the sea.  or is it sunbathing, people watching and the obvious need to cool down from a hot summer day?

musical journaling

well…it seems i need to give myself a project to recover from the last 9 months of working on a ship…this is the way i’m gonna do IT.

LAND ART FESTIVAL- LUG, CROATIA

sorta like burning man made with straws. this festival is held in one of the first weeks of august in the northeastern region of Croatia .   no photos available to upload but check the side link for photos and details.

a note on bathrooms and litter in Croatia.

while my experience in croatia has been exceptional there are a few suggestions I would make.

1.  I would refrain from charging for use of toilets.   30 people waiting for one toilet  is ridiculous enough but making people pay is just adding insult to injury.  Unfortunately,  I found this to be the case throughout Croatia. We all need to release so let’s make it free!  I suppose this is something the government should work on given the 23% tax that’s  imposed on everything.

2.  For the most part, Croatia as I’ve seen it is quite pristine.  It is perhaps the cleanest of most countries I’ve visited.   As we approach tourist season i imagine it to be a bit challenging to keep up with aesthetics.  But as this nation’s economy is based largely on tourism let’s make it people/animal friendly and keep it clean.

VIS

it’s a hidden gem.  well maybe not so hidden but certainly more hidden than a lot of islands i know:

to my dismay there were no trace of donkeys here.   i was convinced i’d be riding a donkey on this island.  from what i learned,  donkeys and goats are winter  animals.  there are also 22 churches, 2 active theaters and 2 schools.  and two monks. note:  unless you have a car, staying in  komiza would be my first choice then vis.  taxis are about 140-200 kuna from vis to komiza.  there are apts for rent everywhere generally around 40-70Euros.  if you have a boat  sail around the little islands off vis.

CROATIA!

it’s been 10 days of travel through croatian islands, coasts and peninsulas and i’m impressed.  it’s been an educating experience.  learning of history, gender roles, generational differences, food and the faux paus we’ve made along the way.  witnessing my parents as tourists  has been both humbling and comical.  this morning after a nice long swim, an opatijan woman insisted i take her sun hat.  i tried to tell her that i didn’t need it but in the end:  

8 month review…

hard to sum up in a post but i’m in athens now reflecting back on this incredible journey cruising through the caribbean and finally the med.  there is a distorted sense of time and reality living on a cruise ship.   as i sip my greek coffee watching strollers pass by i am reminded of the simple pleasures of life on shore.

Austin Airport with Molly Venter

Sorry folks for the confusion. I thought anyone could show up to the airport.

You know you’re in austin when it’s still 90+ degrees in October.

I heart Austin, TX.

 

Mindful Medicine

Mindful Medicine seeks to provide sustainable integrative healthcare in Nepal and internationally.  I was so inspired by this organization that I am compelled to examine this further.

Satomi Tanaka peforms C.Debussy – L’isle joyeuse

Nothing like a childhood friend to stir up yummy memories of Kinnelon, NJ.