2024 Crossroads of the Adriatic - Day #I - Letter from Ana

The Overseas Adventure Travel Crossroads of the Adriatic was a unique trip for Sharon and I. It was a small group, only 16 people, with a tour leader. The tour leader, Ana, was very good. We got a letter and some group photos from her today.

Dear all,

fall has come officially, it is raining in Zagreb and it is beautiful!

It feels we have the four seasons again and it makes me happy:)

You know already what I'm about to write:

This was a terrific trip and you have been an amazing group and it was absolute pleasure to take you around my region!

Hope you are all well, getting some well deserved sleep and eating less:)

On Sunday in Tivoli park in Ljubljana my dog who dislikes water and has never wanted to swim took a plunge into the pond trying to chase down some swans! I was ready to dive right in and save her, but of course, she swam!! And now we know she is one skill richer and good on her, otherwise, it would have been a wet day in Ljubljana for me, and not for the rain...

I want to share with you a few of the group photos (I love them, we look like a high school class) and a short recap of our experiences, maybe some of you will appreciate it, if you are journaling or naming photos and such.

I am glad you explored this little hidden corner of the world and I hope that you feel that you now know it and understand it a little bit better than before:)

We walked the Wall of Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, where we met Iva. We went into the farthest corner of the Bay of Kotor and met the lovely Rajan. In Dubrovnik we talked with Vera and heard her incredible stories of life under the siege of Dubrovnik and we learned so much about olive oil and orange candied peel at Dario's farm in Konavle:) And dubbed Sophie the Belle of the Ball!

We visited Mostar with the Old Bridge, an architectural wonder of Ottoman construction and had our first delicious Bosnian meal.

We went to the Jerusalem of Europe, Sarajevo, and we saw the Latin bridge where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, the copper alley with coffee sets, had lovely pita (pastry with different fillings coveted by pigeons nearby!) and we celebrated Maureen's birthday, once in her absence at the homey Nana's kitchen and the day after with some almond cake at the hotel, long live Maureen! We met Vuk and we learned from his stories living as a Serb under the siege and we saw the war tunnel and the Srebrenica gallery. You had the incredible opportunity to get to know real Bosnian families with Semka, Senada and Sanela. And we will never never forget Enes!

We had a great photo op near Bosna river in Maglaj, stepped into Republika Srpska for lunch in Čarda and then sailed all the way to Denis and Goca in Karanac.

So many of you cooked, baked bread and served me breakfast, as it rightly should be, thanks! You met two lovely families in the village, you ate spicy sausage Kulen and its sister Kulenova seka and you made cheese and beans soup, thank you Baranja! And Stephen made artists of all of you!

We had some delightful times in the central European capital Zagreb, meeting with the lady in pink, Anamarija, walking on the Horseshoe, the botanical garden, and considering divorce in Broken relationships museum, or not;)

We met the lovely Nermina in Plitvice lakes and admired some of the most beautiful scenery in the world!

We went on top of Trsat fortress with Tina and had a nice lunch in Rijeka, went then to Opatija, the Old lady of tourism. Most of us had a great time over in Istra with Alessandra, learning everything about truffels and eating them too, and some had a beautiful downtime in Opatija, enjoying walks and taking in the sea air.

We went chasing dragons in the beautifully lit Postojna cave on a chuchu ride where we were dazzled by stalactites and stalagmites and saw the small dragon, the olm!

Finally we landed in Ljubljana, where we met Irena, a city that is the gem of gems at the end of our adventure, a place so sweet, delightful and snug, we could just stay there forever, no matter the rain. And Bled! Bled cake, castle on a rock, naked people getting the sun cure, the Carniolan bee, Pletna boat, the Church of Mary where we tolled the bell so many times, something good must come out of it!

I am especially happy about some extra pleasures some of you have enjoyed, for some fine dining, for some a ring or two, a bag, a blouse, souvenirs and keepsakes that will remind your of our trip together, and especially I am glad of the two classical concerts, Jose Carreras in Zagreb and the Philharmonic in Ljubljana, those are precious jewels of experiences that I am sure you will never forget.

And last but not least, two helpers, Pogi star, our expert s(L/W)eeper, we would have lost our way without you and Carol - the weather queen who has graced us with amazing weather all the way through, thank you, you are our stars!

I have enjoyed all our talks and all the great times we had together.

Don't be strangers, drop a line here or there and also, maybe some of you will end up meeting on some future trips, OAT works in mysterious ways, I hope you do!

Many warm greetings,
Ana

All in all, delightful times on the Crossroads of the Adriatic!