I Want That House!

There is a British TV programme called "I Want That House" - well this is it! Just what I want! I returned back to the Peljesac Peninsula today, 1 and a half hours drive from Dubrovnik to show this house. Great restoration of a countryside house with orchard, barn and lots of land. A lovely couple, he is a 'famous' food writer from Poland (equivalent to our Rick Stein?). A great day for showing properties with the weather on our side. I can just imagine him there writing about food sat amongst all this glorious nature. Best news too he wants to buy! ... so not for me.

Wonderful Wisteria in Cavtat

This afternoon I was on business in the charming historical town of Cavtat. Walking through the old part I came across a wonderful canopy of wisteria across the pathway. Cavtat is 15 km south of Dubrovnik close to the airport, and has a wonderful atmosphere which all the tourists love. The main promenade is a haven for yachts during the season so I'll make sure I have my camera next time I visit in May.

Garden style v beach style

This Bank Holiday Monday has been a quiet one. The weather has been bright yet windy with noisy seas. I found a company in Country Life called Marston & Langinger which sells fabulous items for gardens and countryside living. If my balconies were not so windswept I would love to grow more plants and flowers. For now I can dream of my mother's garden.

Sarajevo Shopping

I was fortunate to be in Sarajevo the week the new shopping centre opened. Having little choice in Dubrovnik this was a treat. I was all window-shopped out until I reached the top floor and came across Coincasa Home Store. This Italian chain was so fabulous with beach-style interiors, it warranted 2 visits on two days. The shop is actually a franchise so would be great to see one open in Dubrovnik.

The Source of the River Bosna

Early Saturday morning we went to the source of the River Bosna, on the outskirts of Sarajevo. The Balkan river gave its name to the region of Bosnia. Lovely and peaceful as we walked around the many pools surrounded by beautiful green nature. Some of the pools were mirror-like calm and others were raging rivers emerging directly from the mountain. Pure crystal clear water. Some pools had islands in the middle with wooden houses for ducks and swans.

Visit to Sarajevo

Friday to Sunday we spent in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, just 4 hours drive from Dubrovnik. A great time there seeing the mix between the old and new buildings standing side by side. State of the art business centres next to bombed out hotels. The first evening we saw these men playing giant chess, not bad for a mobile phone photo. The visit was timely as the BBI shopping centre (5 floors) had just opened last week, so good to wander around (buy some homeware) and see people enjoying themselves.

Visit to Mostar

Have just returned from 2 nights away - Fri to Sun. Two hours drive from Dubrovnik brings you to Mostar in Bosnia. We stopped here for lunch just next to the river with the famous 'newly built' old bridge (destroyed in the war). A very turkish feel to the centre of Mostar with the mosques and the narrow streets of shops.

Fabulous Day out Today!

Have just returned from a FULL day out on the Peljesac Peninsula, viewing 4 houses for our portfolio. A Fabulous day out not only because the houses were great, but because the long drive was beautiful all the way. Look at the clear sea, the wild flowers everywhere and the nature. No wonder I took 206 photos - too many to choose from so above are a sample. Happy day!

Eggs for Easter

As it is Easter weekend I have dug out the painted blown eggs which were given to me a couple of years ago. A talented local lady creates them and they are beautiful. My favourite is the duck egg blue and pink egg ...typical that is the one I dropped and now has a crack in it - out of view.

4pm this afternoon

I drove to the bay of Slano this afternoon on business. They were not affected by our 'fog' at all. Slano is about 30km north of Dubrovnik on a lovely coastal road, and means salty. Apparently centuries ago a Bosnian princess tasted the water for the first time and said 'Slano' so the name has stuck. Returning to Dubrovnik at 4pm I stopped the car on the roadside to photograph this beautiful sight - lightly rippling water and the islands varying shades of grey. Beautiful!

Hello? Where's the View?

Same position for photo, but no view! Yes I woke up to a strange phenomenom today with thick fog! So thick I could not see Hotel Libertas next to me or as above the back of the Old Town - taken from the front door. Hot temperature, but a fast moving cloud of droplets. The islands were shrouded in mist with their tops sticking out. Very weird. The sun burnt off the fog by lunchtime. A case of the coast hotting up quicker than than the land.

First cruise ship of 2009 anchored in front of Old Town

Whilst the Costa Fortuna cannot today claim to be the first cruise ship to visit Dubrovnik in 2009 I certainly believe it is the first ship of the year to anchor in front of the Old Town. Other ships tend to moor in Gruz Harbour which is out of view for me, but summer viewing from home is great. Time to dust down the binoculars! She left her anchorage at about 2pm as you can see above. I checked out the pax capacity of this ship - 2,716 with 1,027 crew. Goodness, QE2 had a mere 1,791 pax and 1,019 crew (and 40 nationalities)

Island of Mustique

I recently enjoyed reading in The Times an article by Zoe Dare Hall, who is a journalist I am in contact with weekly for promoting my properties in the paper. The article was about the eccentric Lord Glenconner and the island of Mustique in the Caribbean. I have been to many of the islands (Cunard Countess did 11 islands in 14 days) but never to Mustique. This reminded me that 4 years ago I came across a very talented artist named Lotty Bunbury who designs luxury silk sarongs, kaftans, dresses, scarves etc and sells through her co. LottyB on the island of Mustique. We have emailed over the years many times and I have sent my sailing friends to her Pink House shop. Her 2005 collection was amazing and tempted me to buy a gorgeous silk blouse - blue of course!

Verandahs

In blogland they call this 'Fabulous Friday' and today this is the chance for me to dig out some of my favourite images of verandahs. I crave to own a verandah. I may have a balcony but a verandah with a swinging chair leading down to a sandy beach would be heaven! So here are images from Bahamas, Jamaica and the last one above is Uruguay - one of the few countries I haven't been to but would love to visit!

Yachts for Dubrovnik

To cheer myself up today, as our weather continues to be dismal, I dug out some photos I took of the various superyachts which have graced our shores passed our apartment in the last year. April is now the time for the yachts to commence again!

Top photo is The Maltese Falcon a magnificent 88m (290ft) sailing clipper owned by US venture capitalist Tom Perkins. Second from the top is the massive Rising Sun 138m (453 ft) owned by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and is the 5th largest yacht in the world. The last 2 photos, one is a tres elegant french sailing yacht and the final one is I think Sea Cloud II - with about 30 sails.

Makes for interesting viewing with the binoculars from the balcony!

Dreaming of Yorkshire

How can a picture of Yorkshire crop up in a blog of Croatia? Well I am so excited that I have booked my flight today for a week in May, the very first direct flight Dubrovnik to Leeds/Bradford airport. I have written twice to the chairman of the airline over the last 5 years and NOW we have a direct flight! This photo I actually took as a snapshot in 1997 of a place called Six Days Only just a walk away from where I grew up. I entered it casually in a photo competition with the Heaton Woods Trust and came first! (why Six Days Only? well many years ago an elderly woman sold homemade nettle beer from her front room ... on six days ... only)

April Fool's Day

Have you been April Fooled? In the UK the joke lasts until 12 noon otherwise the joke is on the joker, however here in Croatia April Fool's lasts all day. The Croatian news reported that David Beckham was transferring to Zagreb Dinamo, and many believed that! In our office the MD reported that one of our elderly Irish sellers was seen on Irish TV handcuffed and led away to jail for fraud and embezzlement! Poor guy, he is the sweetest 70 year old you could meet. Genuine laughter all round when we realised the April Fool.

The 11th Split Boat Show

Spring is definitely here when the Boat Show in Split commences. Just 3 hours drive (thanks to new motorway!) from Dubrovnik the 11th Boat Show is showcasing 470 fabulous boats. Last year the attendance was 50,000 people. I was there last April with the property exhibition alongside the boat show - a long 9 days. This year March 28th - April 5th 2009. Our glamorous Azure friend Tomo is the sales manager for Sunseeker should anyone out there be willing to part with millions!