Day three, Prvic.

What an amazing day, some quick highlights.

We had a great breakfast followed by a trip in a kayak around the island. Close to five miles in total, my arms may never be the same. We got back just in time for lunch and then off to the Faust exhibit. We finished the afternoon at Ante Zanze’s home with more Rakkia, homemade doughnuts, Proseco, dried figs, and some laughs. We finished in time to watch the locals play balote, the Croatian version of bocce ball. Here is an exchange from that.

Cousin Greg: So what was the score of the game?
Local guy: We won, 16 points.
Cousin Greg: How many points did they have?
Local guy: 14 points.
Cousin Greg: So you kicked their ass, high five!

It is with a heavy heart that we leave Prvic, we have had such a wonderful time. For anyone looking to relax, to completely unwind, Prvic is the place for you. The Hotel Maestral is like nothing else. For $60 Euros a day you get a wonderful room, three meals of your choosing whenever you want them, and they even launder your clothes for you. All this with the most majestic atmosphere you can imagine.

The room, messy but you get the idea -

The owner Filip, thank you so much for everything -

Our cook Tomislav, some of the most amazing food I have ever had. This is coming from someone who lives to eat.

Mirjana, my new favorite cousin, she dropped the "we are French" bomb on me -

Cheers Filip and friends, we will be back.

This old house.

Second day in Prvic, a couple of thoughts and then I will begin my rant.

Started my day with a call to our daughter at 5:30 our time, she is doing well and we are so thankful for Ro-Ro and Julie’s care of her. My breakfast consisted of some of the most amazing bread, salami, and cheese that I have ever slammed down my cake gate. God bless Croatia. We all violated the 12:00 rule by partaking in some grass liquor chased with a Turkish style coffee. I didn’t know whether to pass our or run around the island. Later I chose “a”, a three hour nap.

Onto the story…. There has been a tale in our family for some time around the house that my grandmother was born in on Prvic. When we arrived yesterday we were asked why the Zanze’s from America never visit and what was the deal with the house? Turns out the house in question is directly behind our hotel and it is two steps away from collapsing onto itself. Sometime over breakfast we got the idea that we were going to buy this thing and restore it to glory, the ultimate fixer upper

Here is the house in question -

Collapsed roof, someone locked the doors and left 2 years ago and it has had not a visitor since -

So of course we climbed the gates to better assess the damage -

The view from the front porch is magnificent -

So after all this we find this is not the house at all, this house is owned by Zanze's but not our family. So close... actually Aunt Cindy may know who owns a share of the home. It obviously is not a cherished treasure, perhaps there is some way to make this dream come true.

Day two, Prvic.

After a restless night Tree and I woke at 4 am, by 6 we were walking down the pier in Split. Around noon we caught what may have been the worst bus ride in history. No AC + body odor + tight confines X curvy roads = near puke in my shoes. Somehow we persevered and caught the ferry from Sibenik to Prvic Luka via Vlaren. Once we arrived all the nausea from the bus ride just melted away. Take a look...

De-boating, is that a word, in Prvic Luka.

After unloading our bags we were served lunch, I could get used to this...

... And the main drag during rush hour.

More to come soon, Lako Noche.

Greetings, two posts for the price of one today. We arrived in Split yesterday, jetlagged and hungry. After a quick bus ride we arrived at our hotel. What made the hotel special was that it is part of what was once Diocletian’s palace. What I am told, Diocletian built the palace as his private residence, this palace is the backbone of Split today.

View out of our window –


My new friend for the next 11 days, it is pronounced O-shusk-ko, Pivo means beer.


Part of the palace around the corner from the hotel –


Brother Nick and I checking out the architecture –


… And this is what we are gawking at. The palace is huge and absolutely beautiful!

Ah Split!

We have been travelling for close to 24 hours and have arrived in Split. Nothing more than a few pictures out the airplane window this far but more will be coming soon. A couple of impressions:

• If you are flying to Europe out of Portland I highly suggest the direct to Frankfurt on Lufthansa. Outside of some hard seats they feed you well and take very good care of you. The free booze helps, I am not talking mini bottles here. An hour in and I could have flown myself, amazing I did not sleep.
• The Croatians are a pushy people, no wonder I am so intolerable. In fact compared to what I have seen I have the patience of a saint.
• The weather is lovely, 72 and no humidity to speak of. After the winter we have had I will take this all day.

I am going to eat and sleep in a bit. Will post pictures soon.

The Roster...

True to the title of the blog there is a large group of us descending on Croatia, dear god I am so sorry. By request here is a list of the clan:

Myself and my lovely wife, Theresa
My brother Nick, and his wife Jamie
My father, Rich
Jamie's mom, Lynn
Aunt Cindy and Unlce Jim
Cousin Katie (1650) and her fiancee Rich
Cousin Ben and his wife Julie
Cousin Greg and his wife Tina
Unlce Matt

That is 15 by my account, I am sorry if I missed anyone.

See you all in less than a week.

5 Days Until Blast Off!

We are inching closer to our departure. Since we booked our travel so long ago it seemed like May would never come. Now the response to "when are you leaving" is in days and not weeks, months, or longer.

Our agenda is pretty well set and looks something like this:

• One night in Split (10th)
• Three nights in Privic (11th-13th)
• Three nights in Zadar (14th-16th)
• Four nights in Dubrovnik (17th-20th)

In between there will be several ferrys, bus rides, and taxi trips to get us where we want to go. My goal is to post daily updates so you can see what we are seeing. For those of you who couldn't make the trip you can see it through our eyes. For those that are just curious I hope you see just how beautiful Croatia is. Talk to you in a few.

Cheers, Aaron.

Prvic Luka: