Tying the Knot!

Four months ago I ended my last post summarizing the final days of my trip to Croatia, and mentally preparing to resume the 40+ hour work week. Now, nearly four months later, sitting on our porch on an unseasonably warm fall afternoon, I'm remembering the restorative power of scribbling my thoughts down to share with friends and family. Minus some early mornings, late nights and long hours put in at work, these past few months have honestly been some of the happiest moments of my life.  A developing career is definitely not my only excuse for straying from my writing though - a color coded, tabbed binder with notes on caterers, florists, decorators, cake bakers, etc. has been filling up a lot of my time, too! No, it's not just another event for work, this is the event that nearly every girl dreams of from childhood - our wedding! That's right, Mitch and I got engaged in July and I've been crossing things off the planning list ever since.  Oh, and how could I forget, a big thanks to Chelsey Maas Photography for capturing the perfect moment!

Besides filling up my wedding planning binder, the last few months have also been filled with lots of fun activities enjoyed alongside my fiancé (I love saying that word!), our families and friends. Summer wouldn't be complete without a few trips Up North of course! We spent the Fourth of July holiday with both of our families, on Pelican Lake and Lake Vermilion. We also spent the Labor Day Holiday on Lake Vermilion with my parents who were conveniently 'cabin-sitting' for a friend! Over Labor Day weekend, we stopped at the farm so Dad could show off their garden. Let's just say it put our little backyard city garden to shame! 

As impressive as their garden was, including the bountiful harvest we enjoyed, I'm still partial to our garden.  In Spring, as I kept a close eye on my seedlings basking in the warmth of the window sill, I was nervous that our garden may be a complete failure. On the contrary, our small plot produced two rounds of green beans, seemingly endless amounts of cherry and Roma tomatoes, enough cucumbers to share, and more. My herb pots didn't fail to impress either, yielding plenty of mint for fresh mojitos, chives for baked potatoes, basil for a little Caprese salad, and more to dry and preserve for winter.  I'm quite impressed with the success we had, and we've already compiled a list of garden notes for next year - including some expansion and new crop varieties. 

With the success of our garden, we decided to attempt another new project - canning! We didn't have quite enough produce to get the process underway, so we supplemented with some locally produced, farmers market veggies. In just a couple of Saturday afternoons, our basement shelves are now stocked up with dill pickles, pickled dilly beans, salsa, and tomato sauce!

We also participated in another type of harvest this year, joining the CReW at Cannon River Winery to help in their annual grape harvest.  We picked Edelweiss grapes which are used to create their Sparkling Edelweiss wine, which is their version of champagne. It was such a fun, unique, educational experience - plus, we got to taste wine in the Vineyard - what's not to love! I've had an interest in viticulture since I enrolled in a 'Vines & Wines' course at the University of Minnesota, and I've enjoyed putting that knowledge to use and sampling more and more varieties of MN Wines made from cold-hardy grapes. 

What's even more exciting is the fact that Cannon River Winery & Vineyard is where we are tying the knot next year! So when we're toasting our glasses to a life full of love, we'll be drinking the wine that we helped create - how neat is that?! We fell in love with the place on our first visit, and we're excited to be able to celebrate our marriage with the unique, beautiful backdrop of rolling, vine-filled hills looking over the Sogn Valley.  I'm particularly anxious to see all of my ideas and 'Pinspirations' become a reality! 

Though I'm partial to Cannon River wines, I've also had the opportunity to taste some other delicious MN wines at Parley Lake Winery and Schram Vineyard & Brewery in Waconia. My friends from college were in town for a weekend and we spent a lovely Saturday afternoon picking apples, sipping wine, and catching up on the latest in each of our lives. Mitch and I may cross a couple more wineries off the list this weekend, as we're planning to head up the St. Croix River to Taylor's Falls and Interstate Park in search of some falls colors! 

This post may have been more short and sweet than normal, but I've already got a few great things on the horizon, so the next post should be just around the corner. After all, fall is my favorite time of the year! Plus, I'm sure there will be plenty pre-wedding excitement, crafts and stories to share, too! 

Homeward Bound

This trip wouldn't be complete without some comical moments, again as Emily says "these are the moments that make the best stories!" Well, as you can guess, we had a very comical moment as we were preparing to depart Dubrovnik. No, we weren't laughing at the time, but we burst into hysterics shortly after! We picked up our rental car and went through the normal paperwork and what not, asked plenty of questions, and we were off, back to our apartment to pack up the car with our luggage. Well, Emily went to park the car, and realized that park wasn't even an option on the gear shaft. We both slightly panicked, especially since we were parked on a hill. After attempts to read the manual and call the rental car company, we decided to contact our host, Igor, to see if he could help us. Well with the combination of me researching the car and realizing the newer models of this car were 'smart park,' Igor pulling up even more on the parking brake, and Emily just turning the car off - we finally parked the car! We giggled for the remainder of our driving trip, as Emily had to pull so hard on the parking break to secure it, that I feared she may just pull the whole thing out! After a stop for a map and a refill on caffeine, we were off. We easily navigated out of Dubrovnik, it helped that we'd seen the same scenery on our way in, and through BiH (Bosnia & Herzegovina), but unfortunately no stamp in our passports for the short drive through.  We continued on for a couple of hours before stopping at a rest stop and enjoying a picnic lunch in the mountains. As we began getting closer to the Plitvice region, the change in economies became evident.  These mountain communities appeared to be much more poor and still showing signs of the war.  It was strange, and I felt like I was in a completely different place from our experiences on the coast, because the landscapes are so different.  We arrived to our room in the early evening, and I immediately had a strange feeling that this place was a little creepy. Perhaps it was the gloomy weather, but I decided if anything terrible was going to happen on this trip, it would be here. Thankfully, after dinner, we returned to our room to find a couple with a small baby also staying at the house, and I suddenly felt much safer! And Vjekoslav, our host, had left a small space heater by the door, so I wouldn't have to pull a 'Mom' and warm up the sheets with a hairdryer before bed!!

We woke up early, packed up the car, and were on our way to the National Park by 7:00am.  Our place really wasn't that bad, but I was still happy to get out of there!  I'm starting to think Croatian meteorologists aren't very good at their jobs either, because once again the forecast was wrong, and the 90% chance of thunderstorms translated into a few sprinkles here and there.  No complaints here though, I was ecstatic to be able to use my camera and capture some beautiful photos of this unique landscape!

We were among some of the first visitors of the day, so we were able to enjoy a lot of the park without the presence of crowds.  We began at Entrance One, where we were immediately delighted with the sight of Veliki Slap, or the Big Waterfall. We snapped a few photos, and proceeded to reference the guidebook for our path, however, Rick's recommended route was closed for construction. We were a bit frustrated, as we were excited to get down to the boardwalks and see the waterfalls up close. So we continued on, and made our way to the dock, where we caught a boat across one of the lakes towards to the upper portion of the park. Annoyed by the tour groups, yes they are even at the national park, we diverted and took the path less traveled for a hike through the wilderness. After a small trek through the lush green trees, some of which reminded me of the Big Aspen trail system at home, we navigated our way back down to the boardwalks. I fell in love with all of the paths twisting around and over the rushing the water. At times, it was a little unnerving walking across the rickety logs with all that force right beneath your feet though! I also loved the incredibly clear blue-green water, which we learned is a cause of the magnesium carbonate combining with the mountain run off. This chemical reaction does enhance the clarity of the water, but it also prevents the development of most plant life, and it's a little eary seeing all the fish just below the surface, too. 

As the boardwalks and pathes began to get more crowded, we were relieved to have an agenda that forced us to arrive early and enjoy the park in a more unspoiled environment! We departed the Plitvice region in the early afternoon for our next journey to Zagreb. We made a quick stop in a town called Slunj and tried the Croatian favorite Čevipi, which is like a flatbread sandwich with delicious sausages and raw onions. We shared a čevipi and two cappuccinos, while doing our daily wifi checkin. Then, it was back on the road again, on our way to Zagreb. I once again awed at all of the little roadside stands selling produce, although instead of selling citrus like the Dalmation Coast, they were selling fresh, wild strawberries. The drive went by rather quickly, and we only had a little bit of stress after entering the city. We didn't really consider rush hour, and Zagreb was buzzing with afternoon traffic just in time for our arrival, and believe me they don't slow down for anyone! 

We checked into our final apartment, again we had spectacular hosts, and both were excited to sit down with us and give recommendations on what to see, do, eat and drink in Zagreb. We took some time to settle in, unpack, repack, etc. before heading into Downtown to begin exploring a bit. We walked through the squares, did some window shopping, and stumbled upon a dance competition in the main square. We stood and watched for a while before heading back towards our apartment, grabbing some dinner, and calling it a relatively early evening. 

On Wednesday morning we took the short walk past the National Gallery, and we were downtown. I really enjoyed the architecture, and it's noticeable Austrian influence, it reminded me very much of my first trip to Europe in 2007. We started with a walk through the market, which was really becoming routine for us. We also visited the cathedral and stopped for some crepes before working our way into the older part of town. We visited the Museum of Naive Art and as one of the volunteers began giving us an informal tour, I was surprised to recall having learned about some of the mediums used during my days in Design school! The museum was very unique, and a welcomed change of pace from most of the museums in Venice. There were a couple of pieces by Ivan Rabuzin that I absolutely adored, partially because his stippling technique reminded me of my pear drawings during Intro to Drawing. We also walked past St. Mark's Church and admired the patterned, tiled roof, but did not go in because the priest there is apparently not a fan of tourists, fair enough! 

We also visited the Museum of Broken Reltionships, an exhibit dedicated to mementos sent in from broken relationships around the world.  It was definitely one of the most interesting concepts I've ever seen, and most of the time the stories and mementos were quite comical, although a few were very sad.   All of the stories, sad and funny, made me feel extra grateful for all of the wonderful, healthy relationships I have in my life. Afterwards, we visited the botanical garden, which is right in the city  and maintained by the University.  It was fun to walk through, but it was very evident these programs don't get much funding.  A lot of stuff was overgrown and appeared to be lacking proper maintenance. After our walk through the garden and wandering through more streets and various green spaces, we sat down at B041 for an afternoon of blogging, journaling, and of course both essentials - cappucino and one final sladolad!  I cannot say enough about the ice cream in Croatia, and I especially enjoyed my farewell flavor of chocolate strawberry, it was the perfect combination of richness and flavor! 

We decided that we owed it to ourselves to have a nice, fancy farewell dinner, and at the recommendation of our hosts, we snagged one of the last tables at vinodol.  Before the meal even began, I was enchanted with the ambience, it felt like a five star restaurant. We began with a couple glasses of local red varietals and toasted to a phenomenal two weeks traveling together! For dinner, we each tried a local veal entree and shared some grilled vegetables.   After dinner, I'm not sure if it was the wine or the fact we had to wake up at 4am, we were both ready for bed.  The next morning was an early one, which was actually a benefit because there was no traffic! We made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare and after a quick flight from Zagreb to Amsterdam, we parted ways. I moved on, jumping through all of the security hoops implemented by Delta, and made it to my gate with only 20 minutes to spare. Then, as we were about to take off, there was a medical emergency on the plane that kept us on the ground for at least another two hours.  Needless to say, when I got out of that plane and felt the steamy, Minnesota heat, I was ecstatic to be home! Mitch picked me up and we headed home for a lovely dinner and an evening of catching up! 

It's been one week since I've been back, and it's most definitely bittersweet.  I surely miss the traveling, the excitement of new places and stunning scenery, but I'm also happy to be home and see the changes in my own world. Everything has popped up nicely in the garden, and we built a bean trellis over the weekend. Plus, we also got the lights hung up on the porch, and I absolutely love them! I think I could spend every night out there, it's so magical! It's definitely been an adjustment going back to work, and hopping back into the 40+ hour work week, but we've got a few events coming up, so I've got plenty to keep me busy. On the bright side, I only have 18 more work days before I'm once again on vacation, and I'm really looking forward to another fun trip to Pelican Lake with Mitch and his family, as well as some time at home with most of my family, too. 

Viva Croatia!

And we thought transportation in Croatia could not get any worse than the overnight bus from Rovinj to Split, well we may have passed judgement too soon. The rain may have intensified our annoyance, but Croatia Bus clearly does not track the correlation of ticket sales and bus capacities. As all of our previous trips, I think we were both assuming we'd be boarding an empty bus, with our choice of seats, instead, it was a crowded, hot stinky bus that forced us to separate & grab what must have been the last two seats. That's not it, at the next stop, more people still got on, redefining the saying "packed like sardines," I began to feel a bit claustrophobic - definitely the less glamorous angle of travel! Thankfully, Croatia Bus had free wifi, so I was set for the ride, and most of the local passengers cleared out within an hour.  Plus, the scenery was yet again stunning (I'm running out of adjectives) especially when we hit the sea again. The country count is up to five for this trip, since the road to Dubrovnik goes right through Bosnia & Herzogovina, unfortunately no passport stamp, but perhaps on our way out since we will be driving ourselves.  We arrived into Dubrovnik in the midst of a downpour, Emily and I simultaneously looked at each other and at the taxis and made one of our best decisions yet - the equivalent $10 taxi was well worth not having to attempt to navigate the bus system in the rain, with our luggage. We arrived at the apartment, ate dinner at a nearby pizzeria and watched the clouds part for a view of a vibrant orange, burning sun beginning to set behind the islands.

We awoke on Saturday morning to sunshine and a complete change of forecast - no more rain! The weather gods are obviously on our side.  After breakfast, we began our descent into Old Town, which was nearly a 30 minute walk from our apartment up on the hill.  We had determined our three major goals for the day were to visit Lokrum, a nearby island, walk the city walls and take the cable car up to Mount Srd. We bought our tickets for the ferry, then walked to the outdoor market to pick up food for another lovely picnic lunch on the sea.  We were on the first ferry over to Lokrum, which was a short ten minute ride, and arrived just after 10am. Getting off the boat, we felt as if we were in a crowd of tourists, but before long we were off the beaten path hiking up to the fortress at the top of the island, clearly not a path chosen by most visitors. On our way up, we also stopped at the botanical garden, where I was a complete horticultural nerd with a big, giddy smile on my face. I was also pretty excited about the peacocks roaming around, I must have snapped at least 20 photos of them, trying to capture to perfect shot. We finally reached the highest point of the island, after a bit of a strenuous trek up uneven, rocky slopes.  Yet again, the hike was worth it for the unbeatable views and the lack of other visitors crowded around snapping photos on their selfie sticks!

After a break, we walked back down and around the island, stopping for our picnic lunch on the rocks at the other end of the island, which is normally a nudist beach, but was empty this time.  After our lunch, we visited Mrtvo More, "The Dead Sea," which is a 'lake,' that's fed by an underwater canal from the sea. We knew we wanted to take advantage of another dip in the Adriatic, but after seeing the pounding surf hitting the jagged rocks where the swimming ladders were located, I was relieved to see this much more calm version of a swimming hole.  We did as most Europeans, found a spot behind a tree to slip into our bathing suits, and then positioned ourselves on the rocks in the sun before diving in for a refreshing swim.  It may only be a couple of degrees, but I have definitely noticed the water temperature has gotten warmer as we've moved South down the coast.  We laid out a bit longer, until a group of obnoxious college-aged Americans arrived at the lake and began to cause a scene with their boisterous conversations.  I know I was that age once, and traveled abroad in a group, but I'd like to think we weren't that terrible, then again we did steal an empty "Das Boot," from a bar, so perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to judge. Slightly annoyed and embarrassed, we changed back into our clothes, strapped our wet gear to our backpacks and caught the ferry back to the old port of Dubrovnik.  

Onto the next activity, walking the walls of Old Town Dubrovnik.  We entered the walls at the Ploče Gate and began our stroll along the one-way path around the fortified edges.  Lots of stairs up and down, and ascending heights had my feet a little tingly, but I clung to the railing and managed to make it all the way around without any episodes of acrophobia. I found myself snapping multiple photos of the Old Town, it's port, and nearby Lokrum from every turn and new angle. One week from now, as I sort through pictures, I'm most definitely going to realize just how many photos of the same sight I actually have! It was a beautiful stroll, but my legs were definitely aching by the end, most likely because I had my toes clenched the entire time.  So, as we took the big stone steps back down into Old Town, we easily made a mutual decision that it was time for an ice cream and caffeine break. 

Our final task for day one in Dubrovnik was riding the cable car up to the top of Mount Srd for incredible panoramic views and also visiting the Museum of Croatian War Indepence, which is housed in Fort Imperial.  The cable cars aren't the only way of reaching Mount Srd, there are also hiking trails that Emily probably would have preferred, but my tired body was happy to shell out the kunas for a quick ride up and back down again! We snapped the obligatory panormic photos, capturing the beauty of Old Town and the shades of the Adriatic and quickly split from the crowd towards the museum.  Before this trip, most often when I told people where I was going, they replied, "why Croatia? Is it safe?" and so on. I had just assumed it's because it wasn't the most common U.S. tourist destination, but it never occurred to me until I was actually here, that the war amongst the former Yugoslavia was a very real experience for most people I spoke with.  Since I was only just turning one year old when the siege of Dubrovnik began in October 1991, I was obviously not old enough to remember hearing or seeing anything about it on the news.  Well it didn't take long before realizing that really was not that long ago, and most of these people here now lived through it.  I was fascinated to eavesdrop on on private tour group, where the guide was discussing how her and her family survived through the war - it was a sombering experience.  After our walk through the museum, and learning much more about Croatia's independence, we rode the cable car down and attempted to catch the bus back to our apartment.  Our attempts failed, as we'd missed the street and decided it would be less of a hassle to just walk.  With a quick stop at the supermarket, we had a lovely dinner of salad, salami, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, accompanied by copious amounts of water since we were both feeling a little loopy and dehydrated. 

On Sunday morning, we attended a Serbian Orthodox Church service, a truly unique experience, and something I haven't really done before in any of my travels. Obviously, I didn't understand anything, although I think I was able to make out when the Lord's Prayer was being recited.  An interesting thing about the service is that all participants stand throughout the hour and the women stand to the left of the church, while men are on the right.  I'm very glad we did this, even if we were obviously still outsiders, at least we weren't part of the Asian tour group that walked in during the middle of the service and started loudly snapping photos, which weren't even allowed, on their iPhones. After the service, we wandered Old Town for a bit before deciding we were 'museumed-out' and opted to hit the beach and take advantage of our last full day on the Adriatic. 

We went to Banje beach, one of the semi-sandy, pebbly beaches right past Old Town. It definitely was not the same experience as my favorite spot in Rovinj or our swim on the island of Lokrum, but it was conveniently located and allowed us one last swim in the sea before we head inland. After a couple of hours, the sun began to dip behind the clouds and we grew a bit chilled. So, we opted to catch the bus back to apartment for an afternoon siesta before returning to Old Town for a farewell dinner.  

Our attempts at an afternoon snooze were interrupted by the neighbor children building a little tree fort and hammering away.  That's ok, I probably wouldn't have slept anyway because I was enjoying a chat with Mitch too.  We began to pack up our things and clean up the apartment a bit since we have an early departure planned for Monday's drive to Plitvička jezera, Plitivce National Park. We then caught the bus back to Old Town, which to no surprise had a 20 minute break in the middle of its route causing us to the walk the remainder of the way.  No complaints though, the walk was beautiful and we got some fantastic views of the sun beginning to sink behind Old Town. Emily had done a little pre-dinner research, to avoid a similar meal catastrophe as Burano, and found Lokanda Peskarija, a delicious, affordable seafood restaurant right on the edge of the Old Port. We each had a glass of Malvazija wine and shared the octopus salad, mussels, and cuttlefish risotto. The mussels were my favorite, and the cuttlefish risotto was most interesting with its inky, black color. The meal was delicious and the perfect way to end our time in Dubrovnik. We then strolled the streets, as dusk set in, making one last stop for sladolad, the delicious ice cream that in my opinion surpasses gelato! 

Now, we begin our next adventure.  No more bus transportation, instead we are picking up the rental car and heading north with a stop at Plitvice before ending our trip together in Zagreb.  So, say a little prayer that we survive the roads of Croatia and can easily navigate our way to the next two apartments! I'm excited for our next few days, although the weather forecast is once again against us, but I'm also getting anxious to board the plane westward and be home again.  Mitch sent me a photo of the garden, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how much our yard has even changed over the last couple of weeks, too! So, until my next post, which will most likely be composed during my layover in Amsterdam, I hope everyone at home has a happy, safe Memorial Day!

Falling in Love with The Sea

Perhaps it's the vibrant blue color gradient, or maybe the insanely clear water, but whatever it is, I've fallen in love with the Adriatic Sea.  It's only been a few days, but ever since my first glance at the shimmering blue water in Trieste, on our bus ride from Venice to Rovinj, I've loved every glimpse at this incredibly sublime landscape.  The Istrian Peninsula has such a diverse landscape, I don't see what's not to love. From the hill towns with rolling hills of vineyards, to the deep valleys and rising mountains, and finally to the rocky seaside beaches, it's got something for everyone.  Unfortunately, Emily and I only really had a day to enjoy Istria, and the town of Rovinj, but I already know if I come back, I want to spend more time here.  

From the moment we arrived in Rovinj, I was enamored with the city's charm and beauty.  After getting off the bus from Venice (a picturesque ride, I must add), we quickly settled into our little apartment and walked back in to Old Town for some tapas and wine at Piazze Grande. It was an ideal evening, sitting on the cobblestone streets, sipping on malvazija & snacking on Caprese salad, olive tapenade bruschetta, and polenta with fish.  Malvazija is the local white wine variety created in Istria, it was incredibly crisp and refreshing.  I had no doubts whether or not it would be good, as I had been admiring the terroir of these vines on our drive in.  After a walk around the harbor, lit up by moonlight, we made our way back to our little apartment.  We met the couple staying next to us, who were also from the states.  In fact, they were from California, had recently packed up their house, and decided to travel for a month or so - I was so shocked, they were exactly like the couple in the book, Home Sweet Anywhere, that inspired me to take this opportunity in the first place! 

Although we only had a day in Rovinj, we made the most of every second.  The morning began with cappuccino at a cafe along the harbor, followed by a visit to the market.  We were treated to some truffle tastings and sampled both white and black truffle oil, truffles, and pate.  All were delicious! After a bit of wandering through Old Town, we trekked up to the hill to visit the Cathedral of St. Eufemija, at the peak of the city.  It was a beautiful cathedral, and I enjoyed this visit more than the visit to St. Mark's, it was a much more personal experience to observe without hundreds of tourists right beside you.  Next, we went back to the market, where we picked up some provisions for a picnic lunch at the beach.  We then rented some bikes for the day, which were only 5 kuna/hr. or $0.75/hr., for an accurate conversion, some of the best money I spent on the trip!  We spent the afternoon biking through Punta Corrente, the first protected park forest in Istria, and sun bathing on its beautiful rocky beaches.  We spent hours in the sun, and even took a dip in the sea, which felt incredible.  I'd forgotten the powers of sea salt on my skin and in my beachy waves hair! I don't even know what else to say about this day, besides the fact that I found myself, many times, remembering to take it all in and be grateful for my experiences and the ability to behold this wonderful work of our Creator. 

After one last glimpse of Rovinj's harbor, we stocked up on snacks and boarded the overnight bus to Split.  While the sun began to set, we gazed at the Istrian hill town landscape, and before long we were in the mountains turning hairpin curves down through the valley and back up again.  Just as the darkness grew, and we started to grow tired, we hit the sea once again, only this time, atop high, jagged bluffs.  It was absolutely stunning, and I wish I'd have been able to see better. After that, we started to grow more tired, uncomfortable and annoyed. The bus was full, it made more stops than we were anticipating, and an eleven hour overnight ride is simply uncomfortable no matter what.  The sun began to rise just shortly before our arrival in Split.  We got off the bus, easily navigated our way to the apartment, and after a short rundown of the place from our extremely efficient host, Marko, we collapsed into the extremely comfortable bed and cuddled up under the down comforter.  We slept until late morning, and although it was a gorgeous day, we didn't feel too guilty because we were both exhausted and had a bit too much sun in Rovinj the day before.

Once we finally forced ourselves out of the Oasis, not only the name of the apartment but a perfectly accurate description, we made our way to the market, bought a quick lunch, and ate on a bench on the Riva. We were there for all of ten minutes before deciding to turn around, go back to our apartment, and change into our swimsuits.  Then, after a couple iced espresso beverages that snapped us out of our zombie-like state, we were off to explore Old Town Split.  We wandered through the cobblestone streets along a path of the remains of Diocletian's Palace.  Diocletian's Palace, a collection of ruins from the former Roman emporer, collectively form the center of Split today.  Unlike anything I've seen before, similar to this, it was unique to see how portions were preserved and actually built upon to form the city. 

After our stroll through the Palace and Old Town, we walked along the Riva to Ježinac, a pebbly beach just 3km from the city center.  Our toasty skin wasn't quite prepared for an afternoon of sun bathing, so instead we enjoyed a quick dip in the Adriatic (I say this casually, as if it's something I do everyday!) and sat out just long enough to semi dry off.  We walked back to the Riva and decided to catch a last minute boat cruise, since unfortunately the weather would hold us back from a day trip out to the islands as we'd originally planned.  It may not have been as glamorous as we'd hoped, but it was still enjoyable to get out on the sea and feel the wind in our hair! Afterwards, it was back to the Oasis for a dinner prepared from our market purchases and a night in to catch up on writing and planning. 

Unfortunately, our second day in Split was a little less bright, as our perfect weather streak came to a halt.  We woke up and it was just cloudy and sprinkling, so we decided to take a morning hike to the Marjan Peninsula.  My caffeine still hadn't kicked in and I was slightly dreading it, but despite the seemingly endless amount of stairs, the climb to the top and panoramic view was most definitely worth the hike.  The view was absolutely breathtaking, unfortunately the rain began to come down even harder so I quickly packed up my camera and we began our descent.  We returned to the apartment, and I relaxed for a bit while Emily went for a run before we headed back to Old Town for a tour through the Cathedral, Crypt, and Baptistery of Dioceltian's Palace. I've enjoyed these cathedral visits with Emily and all the facts she tells me about each one, I'm sure her mother would be proud! The afternoon was less glamorous with the gloomy weather and finding myself feeling a bit homesick, which hasn't happened to me since my first trip abroad in 2007, but I guess it isn't so terrible having someone in your life that you care so much for & miss that terribly! Sorry Mom, Dad and Ally, I miss you all too, but a little chat with Mitch was all I needed to put a smile back on my face! After dinner, the adventurous traveler in me was back and ready for our last night in Split.  We walked back into Old Town and grabbed a table at one of the many bar/cafes tucked into the stone walls of the city.  We reminisced old times over a couple glasses of wine while simultaneously letting the reality of being in Croatia start to finally sink in.

We took advantage of the last few hours we had in Split with a walk through the basement rooms of Diocletian's Palace this morning.  Another stunning display of architecture with a noticeable Roman influence.  We were joined by a multitude of locals who were setting up for a gourmet food and wine festival - we suddenly wished we had more time to stay in Split. Hopefully the weather has a change of course for the remainder of the trip, but if not, I'm glad I have Emily here to remind me that we still need to make the most of it!  Next stop, Dubrovnik for the weekend!

Buon Giorno Venezia!

In the grand scheme of things, it's really only been a short time since my last European adventure, but for me, and my deep rooted travel lust, it feels like it's been an eternity since I was last greeted with kisses on the cheek and an enthusiastic Buon Giorgno! Unfortunately, Venice did not greet me with the same warmth  as Paolo at Banditella, where we last stayed in Tuscany, but instead, Emily and I were welcomed by a public transportation strike and the notion that our intended buses may or may not actually show up.  We managed to easily catch the airport connection to Mestre station, but our next bus, to our final destination was a bit more shady.  First off, we struggled to find the stop, secondly, the cashier at the bar refused to sell us tickets because of the strike.  With a defeated feeling we stepped back outside and to our great surprise, the bus we needed was just pulling up (a small miracle for us), and we hopped on.  Knowingly not possessing the proper tickets, we acted as if we were following the validation process with our initial airport connection ticket until an older, Italian woman made it very noticeable we were in the wrong.  We proceeded to nervously ride, ticketless and slightly unsure we were even going in the right direction, until Emily finally spotted a recognizable stop from our host Andrea's directions.  We snuck off the bus without being noticed and thankfully avoided any fees.  A short walk from the Lidl grocery store, down a muddy gravel road, and through a lush oasis of green and we arrived at Via Gaetta 10, the Stocco House. Exhausted from jet lag and the inevitable travel woes, as Emily mentioned, "these are what the best stories come from," we grabbed some baguettes, pesto, prosciutto and veggies for a quick dinner in and an early bedtime. 

Our first full morning began with a heavy breakfast of some sort of traditional Italian cake, toast, and of course, caffe!  We chatted with Andrea's mom and his grandfather who also ate breakfast with us.  Andrea's grandfather had a stunning resemblance to Paulo, even down his comments on how bella we were!  Andrea's mother gave us a quick run down on our buses to and from Venice and we were off.  We arrived at Piazzele de Roma after a short, crowded bus ride, printed our pre-purchased transportation passes, and boarded our first vaporetto, Venice's waterbus system, to the Rialto Mercato.  Bustling with locals and tourists alike, the market was a hub for fresh produce and the catches of the day.  We grabbed some apricots and cucumbers for snacks throughout the day and began wandering through the city towards Frari Church.  

There were so many breathtaking views along the way, I continuously found myself snapping photos down each little branch of the canal.  After our walk from Rialto Mercato to Frari Church, we hopped back on the vaporetto for a ride down to Piazza San Marco.  As we entered St. Mark's Square, in awe, we were welcomed "by the songs of angels," as Emily stated, who were singing the procession before mass. I'm assuming this was a special mass in the square for the Festa all Sensa, to celebrate Ascension. We started our tour of the Square with a walk through the Correr Museum and the National Archaelogical Museum viewing a showcase of Ventetican history and art.  Afterwards, we crossed the Square intending to get in line for St. Mark's Basilica, but after one quick glance at the line snaking nearly all the way out of the square, we opted to visit the much less crowded Doge's Palace.  

Formerly, Doge's Palace housed the various rulers of Venice.  As we walked through, we saw various works of art and history, mostly focused around the different councils of Venetician government.  The Bridge of Sighs also connects Doge's Palace to the prison, hence its symbolic title.  During our tour, I nearly missed the fact we were crossing the bridge, if it weren't for the crowds of tourists snapping selfies (selfie sticks are the latest tourist trap sales pitch, by the way) outside, I would have thought it was just another structure. The exterior of Doge's Palace featuring its Venetian Gothic architecture was especially fascinating.  Growing up in an era of technology, it's hard to fathom the amount of time and manpower it must have taken not only to construct these great structures, but also to develop the intricate details throughout, too. 

Following Doge's Palace, we once again tried to queue up for St. Mark's Basilica, but one final glance at the line and we simultaneously decided it could wait until the next day.  So, we found ourselves a quiet spot along the canal to rest our tired feet and sip a cappacino.  If you know me well, you know this I one of my favorite things to do, but let's be honest, it's exponentially better when enjoyed in Venice. Following our cappacino and a stop for gelato, we boarded the vaporetto for a nice, slow ride back to Piazzale Roma.  We snagged some perfect seats at the front, so I could capture some beautiful shots as the sun began to set on the city.  Unfortunately, the Rialto bridge was under construction so I was never able to capture a decent shot of it.  My disappointment stems from the fact that my dad created a mock Rialto bridge for my Bella Carnivale themed junior prom, and I wanted to get him a photo of the real thing! We then caught our bus, well more accurately, a bus,and headed off the island back towards Mestre.  Unfortunately, we ran into some further transportation issues when we started to realize this bus wasn't taking the same route as the one we rode earlier that day. Confused and hungry, we decided to stop in Mestre's city center for a quick dinner and hopefully a Wifi connection. Well, "quick dinner" is an oxymoron, not only in Venice, but all of Italy. We never found a wifi connection that actually worked either, but we thankfully somehow managed to find our way back to the Stocco house by 10:30pm or so.  I giggled as we collapsed on our bed in exhaustion and I glanced up at the Madonna and baby artwork above our bed - I said a little prayer and expressed my gratitude for safety and being back in a warm bed.

Day two began with a trip to the islands of Murano and Burano to tour the glass & lace museums.  Franco, our vaporetto driver was very charming and gave us a nice overview of both islands.  Our first stop was Murano, a smaller island about five minutes from Venice, that's mostly famous for its hand-blown glass products.  We were some of the first to arrive, as this sleepy little town was just starting its day. Shopkeepers, who mostly thrive off tourism, we're just cracking open the shutters and welcoming us with exuberant smiles. We first visited the glass museum, which was small,  but I was quite intrigued to learn more about the process and the science behind glass making. I actually have a growing collection of green depression glass of my own at home, so I'm glad I was able to visit Murano and learn more.  Next stop, Burano, which is further out and even smaller than Murano.  Burano is a small fishing village which is famous for its vibrantly colored houses and lacemaking. We walked around the majority of the island in just a short time, stopped in at the small lace museum, and sat down for a nice lunch.  

Again, lunch took way longer than we had anticipated and we found ourselves rushing back and navigating the twists and turns of cobblestone streets and canals to San Marco for our prearranged visit to St. Mark's Basilica.  After seeing the line yesterday, we decided it was well worth the 2€ to be able to preselect a time and just walk right in.  Like all cathedrals I've seen in Europe, St. Mark's possessed the same level of fascination, detailed art and architecture, and the ability to slightly take your breath away. It was a quick tour, just a somber walk through the sanctuary.  St. Mark's is built on the grave of St. Mark, whose sign is the winged lion.  The lion is seen throughout the cathedral in great detail, throughout the Square, and throughout the entire city itself, too. 

We then moved on to Ca'Pescaro, the museum of modern art.  It was definitely different to see some modern works of art after seeing so many works from the Renaissance.  My favorite was the Picasso piece,  mostly because it reminded me of the trip to Paris I took with my sister a few years ago.  There was also a few landscapes that I found note-worthy. Afterwards, we were both ready for an afternoon cappacino break.  Emily had a cappacino, and I tried a Spritz, the local beverage.  It's a white wine mixed with some sort of orange liqueur and served with an orange slice and an olive.  I'm glad I tried it, but I can't say I'll ever be ordering another.  After a little refresher, we stopped at the Coop grocery store and picked up the essentials (bread, porchetta, some veggies and wine), said one last farewell to Venezia, and boarded our bus, the correct one this time, back to Mestre.

We spent the evening on the terrace of our room having an Italian picnic and preparing for the next leg of our journey.  Venice was the perfect warm up, as we now start to take on a new culture and different language than I am accustomed to in any of my prior European travels.  I'm definitely anxious for what's to come and looking forward to a less tourist-laden landscape that's more wild and awaiting adventure seekers like us. 

So until then, ciao! 

Countdown to Croatia

I know I said I wouldn't be writing another post until my trip, but I guess the springtime air has given me a renewed sense of energy.  Well, that or, I've been pushing myself so hard over the last few weeks, that I can't help but continue on the momentum - until I crash! At least, when I do crash, it will be into an airplane seat taking me across the Atlantic, followed by numerous lazy days on the beach, meandering around Old Towns, and hiking the wild landscapes of Croatia.  Seriously though, it's currently 4:45am on Sunday, and I'm awake, not to mention I worked nearly 60 hours last week. Yes, I do have a purpose for being awake this early, Natalie's taxi service has an airport pickup scheduled for dear old Dad, but that doesn't require me to be awake for at least another half an hour. Am I becoming a morning person?!  

Let's not get our hopes up - I'm sure when Monday morning rolls around, the snooze will be hit at least three times.  Now, the real reason I am able to squeeze in another blog, which lately have taken me a few weeks to compose, is because Mitch and I have been busy with so many different projects that I just want to share.  Not to toot my own horn too much, but I'm feeling pretty accomplished, especially after my favorite DIY project thus far turned out so sharp!  

I must say, Mitch and I are quite the handy home dwellers, and he gets most of the credit for this project because it was his idea in the first place, or he's just been checking out my Pinterest boards lately!  At first, it seemed a bit daunting to me, because I clearly did not inherit my Mom's patience for crafting.  I like the idea of being crafty, but quickly become overwhelmed when I begin to realize the amount of time some projects actually take!  The headboard was surprisingly simple though, we just followed a Pinterest tutorial and actually finished under-budget, too! We make a great team and I'm excited to see what projects we will tackle in the future.  

Meanwhile, I attempted another Pinterest idea on my own of making no sew decorative pillows.  This project definitely falls in the "Pinterest fail" category. I tried to redeem myself from my lack of sewing skills (I haven't even attempted a sewing project since my eighth grade family & consumer science class) but I now realize some things are probably best done with a needle and thread. I ended up tying on some string to hold the fabric tight and attempted to cover the string with a button, as if it already wasn't failed enough, I managed to make it worse. On the bright side, if I flip the pillows over, they are relatively ok and actually fit in with the other pillows on the sofa, so I'm going to chalk this one up as a partial win for now, until I find better replacements or learn to sew.

 

Besides indoor projects, we've also been tackling the outdoor project list, too.  Or, more accurately, Mitch has been tackling the outdoor tasks.  As I said in the winter, one of the only things I miss about apartment living is the maintenance crew, and summer is no exception! Thankfully, Mitch handles the mowing, because let's be honest, as a kid I would find every possible excuse (legitimate or not) to avoid mowing the lawn.  Most often my excuses were legitimate, since there was always only about a 50% chance of even getting the mower started! I can't help but chuckling to myself writing this as I recall the various steps necessary, the copious amounts of Seafoam required, and the innumerable amount frustrations had by my Dad just to get the darn thing fired up! 

My current backyard duties include the garden and I'm anxiously awaiting planting time. I've got some seedlings inside that are thriving and ready to be transplanted. The weather has been cooperating nicely, so now it's just finding a time to commit to get everything in the ground.  In the meantime, I've been crafting some supports for my innocent looking tomato plugs, as I know it won't be long before they begin attempting a garden takeover. I'm making my tomato cages out of branches from our old maple tree too - recycling at its best! 

Our spring has had no shortage projects, but all of our accomplishments aid in taking away any guilt I may have for taking two whole weeks of vacation!  I was especially feeling guilty about my job, but my hard work and long hours over the past few weeks have made me feel much more deserving of a refreshing break! Of course, I've already begun packing, because in my opinion it's never too early to start! I'm beyond ecstatic at how fast the time has flown by since I booked this trip - I already leave in less than two weeks!  As per usual, there is still plenty to be done before then though, so until next time, ciao! 

Postpone Nothing

I've just finished a fantastic book, Home Sweet Anywhere, and rather than subduing my travel bug as I'd hoped, it's actually grown even more.  Not to worry, I simply opened my Yelp app, typed in French bakery, and suddenly I found myself at Patisserie 46 enjoying a crepe alongside an artistically presented cappuccino. The rows of crunchy baguettes along the wall and the cases of perfectly delicate pastries, fresh macaroons, and flaky croissants had me pretending I was at a patisserie on Rue de whatever in the heart of Paris.  My infatuation with a European holiday has taken a particularly intense interest in France lately, especially Paris.  Perhaps it's the fact I'm finishing up thr decor in our bedroom which prominently features a Paris city map surrounded by iconic scenes from the City of Lights.  It was a struggle to commit to the perfect exhibit of photos, but I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

After my first semester of college, I spent a few days in Paris celebrating the New Year with my sister. Ever since then, I've dreamed of going back, especially when the weather is warmer, as I imagine the City of Love grows even more vibrant and idyllic as the temperatures rise.  So, at the advice of Lynne Martin, author of the aforementioned book, and her resonating quote, "postpone nothing," I've decided it's never to early to start planning! At this point, my planning only consists of a secret Parisian Pinterest board, but it's better than nothing. 

As I finally sit back down to my computer, nearly a month after I actually began this post (life happens), I nearly cleared my entire screen and started from scratch.  But, I loved the language of my travel hungry mind too much to hit the delete button. Why start over, you may ask? Well, I can no longer complain about my unsatisfied bug, my yearning to see a new place, my desire to hop on a plane, so on and so forth, because either the stars have aligned or one of my blog readers has taken advantage of my words! That's right, my dear friend Emily, a regular follower of my blog, took advantage of my yearning to get away and asked me to be her travel companion on a European adventure in May! It was no doubt I was interested and within a week I had found every possible sign reinforcing I should take advantage of this opportunity, and booked my ticket. 

As I mentioned, we are going in May, so this is by far the most spontaneous of my Europe trips and it hasn't even really begun yet, so I can't wait to see what's in store for us!  We've set the dates and decided we're going to spend a few days in Venice before moving onto Croatia.  Obviously, still a lot of tedious research to be done to fill in the gaps in our itinerary, so perhaps I should be googling rather than blogging! Needless to say, I am beyond excited to get back to a place like this!

In the meantime, as I not only plan transportation and accommodations for my vacation, I'm also filling in my planting calendar. I am so happy to finally reside in a space that allows me to plant a garden that's not just on the windowsill! While I sow seeds indoors, Mitch has been busy outside cutting up firewood from the former maple gargantuan that used to take up a majority of our backyard.  It's amazing how much larger the yard feels sans giant shade monster! He's also set up a fire pit and a lovely fence around our garden. I'm quite appreciative for his initiative as a homeowner and getting the yard into tip top shape - it's like we're adults or something!?

By my lack of posts, it's clearly been an extremely busy couple of months for me.  And I'm sure the next six weeks, before I board a plane to Venice, will be no shortage of endless to do lists, sleepless nights filled with anxious dreams, and a few bottles of Sangoviese to calm me down! So, as I end this short blog and move on to spend some quality time with Rick Steves and his tips on driving in Croatia, I'll leave you all with this compelling reminder - "Postpone nothing."

I've Got the Bug...

The frigid temperatures, negative windchills, and no longer having a landlord to shovel the driveway and sidewalks have taken a toll on me.  The dreadful weather isn't the only thing that's got me down either, I've caught a serious bug.  Well, yes, I did suffer for more than two full weeks with the current trending plague, but I've got a far more serious issue on my hands - the travel bug.  In fact, on my routine trip to Target, I found myself buying the shampoo I usually pack when traveling to Europe, just so I could smell its scent and relish in the memories that particular aroma tends to evoke.  I'm blaming my family and friends for infecting me with the bug, as they all seem to be jetting off to various tropical regions lately!  White sand beaches and 80 degree days filled with warm sunshine does sound appealing right now, but my interest is still more intensely sparked by the richness of 'across the pond.'

I realize there are so many wonders in our great nation, but my soul will always long for more satisfying days wandering the ancient, cobblestone streets and sun-soaked piazzas of Florence; more chiming of cowbells in the distance on an elevated hike through the Swiss Alps; and more romance and grandeur of a champagne-filled evening taking in the sight of a glittering Eiffel Tower at midnight in Paris.  My list is never-ending and as satisfying as seeing one picturesque scene is, I know my heart will always want more. But, enough of my complaining - there are still plenty of other things to see and do during winter in Minnesota to keep me occupied. 

In fact, would you rather bathe in the Caribbean or bundle up in all of your winter gear to stand outside for a few hours sampling craft brews from 120+ local and national breweries?  Well, I chose to dig out the Cuddl Duds and wool socks for just that, and did I mention it's highly encouraged to create your own pretzel necklace to accessorize, too?!  It was our second year attending the St. Paul Winter Carnival's Beer Dabbler at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  Thankfully, temperatures remained around 40 degrees, at least a full 50 degree swing from last year!  Among the copious amounts of beer we tasted, there was one that stood out from the rest and left the most lasting impression - Horny Goat's Choclate Peanut Butter Porter.  The complexity and flavors were absolutely incredible, like an orgasm for your taste buds!  I apologize, but I just couldn't resist the opportunity to take advantage of the brewery's creative title! Coming in at a close second, and winner for most unique sip, was the Black Fang from B Nektar Meadery.  Its brilliant red tint intrigued me, while its sweet combination of blackberry, honey and clove mead left me wanting a refill.

With all of the beer we consumed, I felt some physical activity was necessary to tip the scale back, quite literally, as all of the porters and stouts are rather heavy libations.  So, I'm adding another "must do" winter activity to the list - ice skating at Centennial Lakes Park!  Or in my particular case, clenching my feet for at least the first 5 minutes until my legs were able to recollect how to balance themselves on two, thin blades atop a frozen pond. It actually wasn't so bad, I was gliding along with a giddy, child-like grin in no time at all.  My heart even skipped a beat as I watched Mitch anxiously cruising along ahead of me and realized how incredibly valuable moments like that, the ones which bring an honest smile to our faces, actually are.  

It's a perfect reminder to be thankful for a fortunate life.  So, even though I spent at least the first two minutes complaining about my lack of travel lately, I really don't have it so bad after all. Plus, we opted to host a sophisticated Super Bowl gathering with an Italian theme this year.  So, I was at least treated to an afternoon of perusing the aisles at Cossetta's authentic Italian market in St. Paul, planning the perfect menu of charcuterie and delicious spaghetti and meatballs.  

Our gathering was rather impromptu and our guest list was limited to my Mom and Dad, as they were in town for the "airport parking and taxi service" that Mitch and I now seem to offer post migration to the suburbs!  We served up the essentials: prosciutto, capicola, and porchetta, along with an array of craft cheese including, fresh Mozzarella, goat's milk Brie, pesto Gouda, and Fontina.  Our cheese board was accented with honey-glazed walnuts and blue cheese stuffed olives.   And is any Italian themed fete complete without good wine?!  I didn't have any Italian varietals, so instead we had a 2011 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvingnon out of Napa Valley.  The woody aroma was overpowering but the wine itself was smooth and more subtle than expected. We barely saved enough room for spaghetti and meatballs after devouring the meats and cheeses, but we certainly left room for dessert!  Mom had her usual lobster tail, the Italian pastry, while Dad had a Frutti di Bosco, fruit tart, and Mitch and I shared a chocolate peanut butter tart.  My dessert was reminiscent of that chocolate peanut butter porter from the Beer Dabbler that's still on my mind! 

All in all, I do still yearn for a trip, a getaway from the day to day life.  However, through writing this, I'm feeling slightly less anxious and more at ease.  And it's been at least a week since I've filled my Pinterest board with all of my dream destinations!  Plus, the days are getting longer, which means summer is just around the corner.  And we have a fantastic backyard that I'm excited to fill with vegetable gardens, flower pots, and hopefully lots of late nights gathered around the fire with friends!