Summer Flowers on the Island

Found these photos from our sailing week when visiting the island of Mljet. As it was 3 years ago I don't want to take the credit for them as can't remember, but think they're from my talented artist friend Michelle. Ancient Greeks called the island "Melita" or "honey" which over the centuries evolved to become the Slavic name, Mljet (pronounced "mill-YET").

Superyacht "A", part II

7pm tonight I circled the old town and saw that the superyacht with the ungoogleable name "A" is still anchored in front of Dubrovnik. You can see the size (118m) in comparison to the neighbouring yachts. Think the interior will be terribly minimalistic. Kind of yacht which you either love or hate, but whichever way - it IS intriguing.

Superyacht "A"

An hour ago I nearly drove off the cliff ... because anchored in front of the Old Town was the yacht above. I had seen this in magazines, but always thought it was a proto-type, but no, this is superyacht called "A" - formerly Project Sigma. Designed by Phillipe Starck, this massive 118m Blohm & Voss yacht came out in 2008 and the owner is Russian Andrei Melnichenko. Photos courtesy of Monaco Eye. I intend to get up early tomorrow to photo this wierd but strangely intriguing specimen!

Looking for my beach ...

I was in contact with my German friend Christine yesterday who has been living in the south of Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands, for 20 years, since I met her in 1989. I miss my endless sandy beaches, as Croatia has pebbles and stones - lovely for keeping the sea clean/clear but not good for walking on. I returned to Fuerteventura 18 months ago - great to see the 19 miles/28km of golden sands. The photos here show the beach of La Pared of Jandia, blissfully deserted yet warm - and this was December!

German Billionaire in Dubrovnik

M/Y Vibrant Curiosity has been cruising around Dubrovnik this week. A huge luxury 85metre motor yacht owned by German Billionaire Reinhold Wuerth who is 93rd on the Forbes Rich List 2009. This purchase was made earlier in the year for a cool $100 million. The recession has hit him rather differently than the rest of us. More here.

Full moon tonight

Full moon tonight. I've just taken this photo from the front door at 9pm - full moon rising. Several large superyachts are anchored in front of the old town with the masts lit up tonight. The seas will be silver later on.

P&O Ventura

P&O's Ventura cruise ship came to Dubrovnik today - with my brother onboard for the day. Great to see him and his girlfriend and to show him the town. The ship - wowee very large at 113000 GT, carrying 3,000 pax and 1,500 crew: a monster, but my brother says its doesn't feel crowded inside and many times there are areas of the ship 'empty'. Her draft must be shallow to be able to dock alongside. Ventura is heading for Venice now.

Empress

The "Empress" has cruised by today at 7pm - she is one of the Pullmantur cruise ships, adapted for the Spanish market. Inaugural voyage 1990 and carries 2,000 pax. A feeble drone on the ship's horn as she came past our apartment. I checked and all the neighbours were watching as the ship was close to land. Reminded me of the time when we left Fort Lauderdale and the residents of Fisher Island condos waved sheets with the Cunard crest from their balconies. Today just cameras and binoculars ...

Thai in Dubrovnik

Bank Holiday today, so to relieve myself of stress and strain I had booked a Thai massage at the neighbouring 5 star hotel. 10am I found myself back in pyjamas. The masseuse called Sari originates from Bali. Well, I was walked all over, had my neck crunched, fingers cracked, limbs stretched, back arched, no end of 'torture'. Crikey, I thought I was going to snap. I had forgotten the roughness of this massage from when I worked in Phuket circa 1992. The Thai massage works on prinicples of acupressure on the energy lines - releasing blockages. With Sari's 10 years of experience, my knotted shoulders have been well and truly released.

Dinner then Breakfast

8pm last night

9am this morning

I was just setting the table for dinner last night waiting for friend Azra to come around. The heavens closed in ..... big time thunderstorm. We ate inside with shutters and windows firmly shut - lots of wind! So much for a summer's supper al fresco. At least we could venture out for coffee later hearing water dripping everywhere. This morning? Perfect!

As seen in The New York Times

Today's New York Times features ... a superb house I am selling ... and me! Two-page article with a slideshow of photos. This villa has great karma as I have sold it twice already and was my first house sale with Azure back in 2004, and now on the market for a 3rd time. Let's hope the NYT with a million hits online proves successful. See article.

VAT increase

The cost of blue skies and clear azure seas is getting more expensive. As from August 1st, the Croatian govt decided to help the economy by increasing the VAT, known as PDV. Up from 22% to 23%, must be one of the highest in Europe. Hey ho, will have to spend more time on the balcony then, to stop spending.

Luxurious Villa Agave

The luxurious Villa Agave is the 270 sqm summer house of the 5 star Hotel Excelsior. Offering sumptuous accom- modation at the highest level for visiting Hollywood stars (the first to reside was Kevin Spacey), politicans, sheiks ... and anyone with a cool 7,000 euros per day to spend. This magnificent cliff side abode faces Dubrovnik Old Town and Lokrum island. Read more here. Mickey Rouke is attending the Dubrovnik film festival 22nd August and will be staying in the villa. Read more here.

... What I'd like to do ...

... What I'd like to do is .... get my hands on the terrace of my neighbour's villa. It is just aching to have a cocktail party, drinks, friends, candles, oil lamps, music .... but no, it stays idle. I would make cushions for the stone seating .... anything to stop it being bland. The Croatians live in Germany and just use the house for 6 weeks a year, and the terrace is used for .... drying towels and swimsuits. Criminal.

Have a great weekend!

Am off to find my peace and quiet on a sandy beach .... somewhere .... have a great weekend! Temperatures are baking here in Dubrovnik 32 degrees/well into the 90's. (photo "Azure on Newell Beach", North Queensland, Australia)

Contemporary Art - Your Black Horizon

On Lopud island last Saturday I visited the Your Black Horizon art pavillion, free entry. The unusual modern art was created by Danish-Icelandic Olafur Eliasson and London based artist David Adjaye. See here. The art was commissioned by the "Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contem-porary" headed by Francesca von Habsburg, Austrian royalty, who is an avid art collector herself and active with land/property on Lopud.

Memories of QE2 in Dubrovnik

click photo to enlarge

My brother has boarded a ship in Southampton today and is heading to Dubrovnik! Not with Cunard's QE2 of course (she is decommissioned now and lying in state in Dubai), but with a new P & O massive vessel. However, this reminds me of the time my former ship came to Dubrovnik 7th July 2004. Here's the view through the stone wall.

Magical photo

Alas not Croatia. My good friend Jaki in Mallorca sent me this marvellous photo today. I believe it to an actual photo (so many fake ones out there) as I have had the experience to go 720 nautical miles south of the North Pole on Spitsbergen island. This shows the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest point last week. You will also see the sun below the moon. An amazing photo and not one easily duplicated.

The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this: 'When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others!'

Nearby view

I checked on my friends' apartment today just a couple of minutes walk from home. The coastal pathway shows the rear of the Old Town, island of Lokrum and a (blurry) cruise ship in the distance. Strong sunshine is my excuse for poor photography!

Seven Seas Navigator

Regent Cruises' "Seven Seas Navigator" cruised sedately past the apartment this afternoon heading northwards into the setting sun. A luxurious ship for her 490 passengers. She is on her Mediterranean voyage Istanbul to Venice - with the Italian port being her stop tomorrow.