Triluke Bay......

Where?... a tranquil bay off the coast of Croatia and as it is -3 here this morning it is good to remember the warmth.  I had never heard of Triluke Bay but I was looking forward to it because it was my birthday.   This is early morning as we glided among the many islands in the bay.

When we left the Odyssey the marina was already out behind for the enerjetic people but we took the tender to the island.

There was a road leading away from the harbour so intrepid explorers that we are we took this past the little church

and the house with the bird curtains

until we caught a glimpse of the other side.

A path lead down to the waters edge and then we followed it all the way back to the harbour. It was one of the loveliest stolls I have ever taken. Past glorious tangles of rocks

rock gardens

rocks with eyes

and rocks with lips

lovely views

and sparkling clear water

we strolled on

and in the bay the Odyssey waited

the tender ran back and forth

You can't live near the sea without rust, we found this little tractor

and I think this was a hydrant but it could have been some king of alien!

  Eeventually our walk returned us to the harbour and to this tiny memorial chapel to a son lost at sea.

The tender waited and returned us to the ship where very important decisions had to be made as to what flavour of ice cream today?

This was the sunset on my birthday

and here is my dessert and my birthday cake,

but it wasn't fininished yet, in our cabin this gentleman waited with a bottle of wine and a birthday card.

Thank you Diana.

Would you believe.....

this sheep is made from car parts?  By James Corbett, his website is here.  There are owls and dogs and horses and insects and .  Amazing. And while you are at it have a look at the post-it note art of Don Kenn, who has a blog here. Thanks to Damn Cool Pics.

Dubrovnik....

This was the day the sun deserted us.  Not anything unusual for our holidays but it was quite a shock on this one. Apart from Venice, I don't think I have ever seen so many tourists in one place.

War torn only a few years ago it was easy to see the new roofs among the old.

but very little other evidence of the damage remains.

and good use is made of every space. I think you would call this a multi-purpose court.

The walls still stand as a defence against the sea.

and this gives a whole new meaning to sea side cafe! Click to get a closer view.

Every narrow street seemed to be lined with cafes

and there were some interesting windows

This iron wooden ship sailed passed us. I lovel the building behind.

This one was getting underway with the washing already done.

and as we left I couldn't resist a swoosh

Kotor.... Still here...

   I having been having very weird blogger troubles, still on going but I am going to try and put the rest of the holiday on while it is working .  This is the entrance to Kotor Montenegro.

At 6in the morning the indefatigable Odyssey staff had a table of pastries and hot coffee as we started the fascinating journey into Kotor.  How anyone found it in the first place is a mystery. Bear in mind that I was right on the pointy bit at the front.  For about an hour or so we just kept sailing towards these walls and thinking this must be it and then suddenly a gap would appear and we would sail towards another "wall" I lost count of just how mant wists and turs there were.

Finally we arrived and parked!

There are a lot of steps in Kotor

 and we climbed hundreds to reach half way.  We were told there was another 500 to reach the ruined castle at the top 

   so we settled for the view from this point.

Going down

In the church there was a little museum with some lovely embroideries and lace

and this door reminded me of one of a journal page.

 

 Back on board a spot of afternoon tea!

 

Dessert was pretty that night too.

and late at night we slipped away trying not to wonder how the Captain was going to manoeuvre all those twists and turns in the dark!