Holiday Time

I am packing for a journey/voyage/adventure for the following week so will not be posting til after next weekend ... which will bring us into October, the months are flying.

Dalmatians in Dalmatia

The Dalmatian dog is widely associated with the region of Dalmatia here in Croatia (where Dubrovnik is located) although the exact origin remains unknown. An interesting fact is that Dalmatian puppies, normally 8 in a litter, are born white, and the spots appear over the first few weeks of the puppies lives.

Residence named after me

I came across a beautiful frontline residence on the internet called Villa Mandy. As it's one I have for sale, I was shocked, surprised and intrigued to learn of this new name so asked the seller. Yes, he had changed the name from his son to Mandy - perhaps appeals more to foreigners! As it's marketed for more than half a million euros ... I can't complain, and am flattered. Good karma! Must sell.

Late afternoon sunshine

Autumn seems to be closing in now with dusk being earlier every night. The legendary tall ship Sea Cloud came sailing past at 5.30pm and into a fabulous sunset on her way to Venice. By 7.30pm we had darkness! Daily temps are still 28c/82f, blue skies and sunshine with tourists continuing to enjoy the beaches.

Ligne Roset

One company I love is Ligne Roset. Their newsletter arrived in my inbox today promoting their new 2010 collection. Although the photo above is a little stark, the azure blue colour for their "Confluences" sofas I love, and I think all the blue combinations would look great together in my beach house. I have admired their products for many years and one day will succumb to buying something! The capital, Zagreb, sells Ligne Roset too (called Proning, no website).

Dubrovnik's newest resort hotel

I have returned this afternoon from the 5 star Radisson Blu resort and spa hotel 15 minutes drive north of Dubrovnik showing my American friends around the resort. Pure gorgeousness everywhere! We discovered the Indian restaurant (one to try for sure) and asked to see an apartment interior. Very well planned throughout. Just as we were leaving at sunset, candles were just being lit on the terraces. Delightful. More photos here and here.

Lunch with the Captain ...

I was thrilled today to meet up with an old "ship matey" from nearly 10 years ago. Even more so as just 2 weeks ago Cunard announced that Chris was appointed as the Master of the new Queen Elizabeth, due Nov 2010. Since I left Cunard in 2000 Chris has been Captain on many of the ships with Cunard and P&O, and currently with P&O Oriana (see photo), but to hear the news is excellent. Any Captain's time ashore is limited, so to have 2 1/2 hours to show Chris Dubrovnik and have lunch was a challenge, but I managed. Congratulations!

Colourful entrance

I love this photo from the Baotic Yachting website. First of all I love bourgainvillea growing anywhere, looks very welcoming and cheery - then the delicate light blue painted door and window. The renovated stone cottage could be anywhere in Croatia, but especially coastal and probably the photo is taken on one of the islands.

Small ship cruising with country house style

click photos to enlarge

I must be the resident "ship/yacht spotter" of Dubrovnik! Everytime I set foot onto the balcony a vessel of some kind cruises past. Yesterday MV Minerva of Swan Hellenic came by. A lovely looking ship (with Cunard colours ha ha, navy hull and red waterline stripe). 350 passengers and 160 crew. A British cruise line going back 50 years but reading the history seems to have been bought up by the big conglomorates, only to be returned to Swan Hellenic in 2008. Cute ship.

If I had a yacht ...

Photos in a Croatian yachting magazine yesterday caught my eye for the interior. Superb! Not the usual interior boating colours, but look great and certainly ones to remember, when I get my yacht ... ha ha! This boat is a Sealine SC47 Luxury Sports Cruiser. Sealine is a British company founded over 30 years ago. Of course Edin would prefer a yacht with a mast .... men! See more here.

Before & after. From wreck to wow!

My client/friend from Vancouver who bought a tiny 28m2 one room studio apartment here, had the vision to do something special. It also helped for her to collaborate with an Aussie renovator who does the best reno's in town. By opening up the roof space, and losing the balcony, the apartment is now 40m2 and features the best materials throughout. Sydney style loft in Dubrovnik!

Island Hopping

Here's a fabulous aerial photo of Sipanska Luka, the bay favoured by the yachting fraternity, on the island of Sipan. This Elaphiti island is just off Dubrovnik and has approx 50 cars, which is a lot, compared to Lopud and Kolocep which have none! Yachts can anchor or tie up in this gorgeous bay and hop ashore for luncheon at one of the fabulous fish restaurants which line the promenade. Octopus burgers are a dream! Honest! See more.

Can I live here please?

I visited a waterfront villa yesterday which is in the perfect position; with steps leading down to the sea, island and sunset views, peace and quiet .... I can just imagine morning dips here on my "private" beach. The house itself is not too large, with 3 bedrooms, and 3 guest/staff quarters, but location is everything and frontline in Dubrovnik is prime real estate! I can dream.

Art on the walls

Not normally wanting to post photos of myself, this one is to show the size of the art on the wall of my friend's apartment, where we dined last night. Fabulous abstract done in oils. Who'd painted it? A friend of a friend's father in Bosnia, commissioned for a very reasonable price. Though the photo doesn't do it justice, I am thinking of asking for a painting myself of our beautiful azure seas.

Dinner with harbour view

I was invited to my Turkish friend's apartment last night for dinner. With a view to die for looking out at the harbour and the distant islands, sunset at 7.30pm came quickly. Lovely to see the twinkling lights, cruise ships and yachts moored in the harbour. The turkish food was delicious, my favourite (along with Thai cuisine) and the company of 5 girls was talkative all evening! Daytime view here.

Great Feel about the Apartment

I had a friend round for dinner on Monday, thankfully the weather stayed calm to sit out on the balcony, in September. Sunset is now about 7.30pm so it was good my friend saw the apartment at dusk. She said it had a very good feel about it, which I was pleased about. Today I found some photos of the apartment when we moved in Nov 2003, yikes, very cold and unwelcoming! I had to stop looking at them. I am pleased at how the apartment has worked out now. (BTW Erin this is Eric in the corner, as in Eric Clapton, see here).

Cunard's Queen Victoria

I was so excited to see the Queen Victoria in Dubrovnik today. She was at anchor and a long way off from the Old Town by Lokrum Island, but I drove to see her anchorage. Although I didn't work on this ship I know many of the management onboard, but anchorage is difficult to gain passes. She returns to Dubrovnik in November again, so hopefully will be moored alongside. To see a magnificent Cunard ship does send tingles up your spine and proud to think I worked on one of her ancestors. (yikes I feel old!)