Merry Christmas!

(photo Colliers)

From a warm 14 degrees to a chilly minus 5!  Landed in Gatwick ok and headed up to Yorkshire.  Would be nice if we lived in Buckingham Palace as pictured above (photo Andy Hooper, Daily Mail), alas, ours is a smaller place.  To see such snow in London is quite a sight.   Delayed posting as lots going on.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I look forward to posting more Croatian delights in 2011. Cheers!

Multi-coloured Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik had an outdoor showing of the film Invictus this summer, with a visit by Morgan Freeman who brushed past me after making a speech. To watch the film in the open air with the Old Town as the backdrop was amazing. This year's spotlights on the ancient stones was very colourful and ingenious.

Memories of Dubrovnik in the summer

Good to see these photos with the swarms of tourists around the Old Town ... before the autumn truly sets in and less people are around. The cruise ships are still arriving, though less in numbers. I believe MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co.) will be having a ship visiting the town every week on its way from Venice over the winter, which will be good for tourism.

Cunard Queen Elizabeth

The naming ceremony of Cunard's new ship "Queen Elizabeth"
Captain Chris Well showing the Queen around the interior of the ship

I felt very proud last week when my friend and former QE2 colleague Chris Wells became Captain of the newly launched ship "Queen Elizabeth". The naming ceremony in Southampton was attended by the Queen herself. It was here (click) just a year ago when Chris was appointed as Master of the ship and we met for lunch in the Old Town as he visited Dubrovnik as Captain then of the Oriana. The Queen Elizabeth arrives in Dubrovnik for the day on 9th November, so unless the ship is at anchor, I will do my best to get a pass to go onboard!

No electricity!

Tuesday evening 7.30pm ... clack ... no electricity! There had been a big fire at the electricity station, and the whole of the Dubrovnik region was in darkness. Fortunately I had candles and torches, but it was getting mighty chilly! Early to bed. We don't have gas pipes in Dubrovnik so rely heavily on electricity. For my area the electricity came on late last night, so over 24 hours (spanning 2 evenings) of cold. Strange to see Dubrovnik in complete darkness. They are predicting more cuts too before the week is out.

Dubrovnik today

"Let me just pull over, I'm driving in snow ..." No, not me, the client I had called in Sweden today. I had just taken this photo from the viewpoint at 1030am, a picture postcard December day with the islands in the background, blue sky and sunshine. Temp about 13c/55f but the sun made it warmer. Anyone holidaying in Dubrovnik now will be very happy indeed!

Hotel Dubrovnik, England

Back in the early 1980's my parents sold the family home (I come from a large family of 7 and numbers were dwindling as we began leaving the nest). A few years later on the house was bought by a Croatian family as their primary residence. My parents moved back to the Drive and bought the house next door. The Croatian family's business was a few miles down the road; a hotel called Dubrovnik Hotel. My sister even had her wedding reception at the hotel in '91. Today the privately owned Dubrovnik Hotel continues to flourish and promotes itself as Bradford's Premier Boutique Hotel. So, is it fate that I should be now living in Dubrovnik? All those years ago I never thought that I would be living in the country of origin of my neighbours.

Moving to Croatia, 2003

'Twas a cold and frosty morning, way back in November 2003. Moving from Mallorca to Croatia this photo was taken somewhere in Italy along the way. Can you believe we came here with our "life" jam packed into the car. Now when customs at the Slovenian border wanted us to remove everything .... I had a British hizzy fit and the customs waved us through!

6 years ago today .... Dubrovnik!

I was reminded that today's the day SIX years ago when we arrived in Dubrovnik. Coming by jeep from Mallorca to set up home. Since leaving England in 1987, Croatia is the longest time for me to ever live in one place. Must be the views, people, wine, food, coastline, clear seas, climate, safety, friends .... which are keeping me here. I have some photos from the early days on another computer which I will dig out soon.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

We met our good friend yesterday who used to work at the Villa Dubrovnik before it closed two years ago to undergo a complete renovation. Relaunching in mid 2010 as one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the new Villa Dubrovnik will be a marvellous contemporary hotel with 56 luxury residence units. Located on the edge of Adriatic with world class views of Dubrovnik Old Town the exclusive hotel will be one to watch for sure.

Modern glamour, traditional setting

I was asked to visit a renovated Dubrovnik villa today to write a description in english for future rental. Wow, I was not prepared for this! Immaculate villa throughout, with top quality handcrafted work re-creating the traditional property as it once was, exuding modern glamour! Absolute gorgeousness everywhere. Words are tumbling out of me to write "a suitable" description, so I will sit quietly with a glass of wine, and begin ... 4 bedroom villa with pool ...

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!

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!