Ljubljana

With my time in Croatia quickly coming to an end, I was determined to squeeze in every last excursion.  While researching places to visit online, I stumbled on Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.  Not realizing it was just across the border, the beautiful photos captured my attention.  My project is to write about Croatia, not Slovenia.  But since both were part of the former Yugoslavia, share a border and speak practically the same language I justified the trip. 

I have become quite skilled at finding good accommodation online.  Websites that provide photos, maps and reviews offer a comprehensive way to choose the perfect place.  I zeroed in on a room for rent that claimed to be in the heart of town, recently renovated and very reasonably priced.  The icing on the cake was that they gave me explicit instructions on how to get there by train from Zagreb. So, on a Sunday I made reservations for arrival the very next day!  Last minute travel plans are always the most exciting!

From my apartment, I walked to the train station in Bjelovar for travel to Zagreb.  From there I  take the  nonstop train to Ljubjlana.  The train is coming from Belgrade, Serbia and is already 10 minutes late. Several passengers are standing on the platform looking around and checking their watches.  I decide to stop a passing conductor and ask him what the problem is.  He looks up at one of the monitors and says that our train will be seven hours late.  My mouth drops open.  Really?? Seven hours?? Trains running late is fairly normal but seven hours late is not.  All sorts of ideas fly through my head.  I could visit my friend Mark who lives close by or I could do some sight seeing in Zagreb to pass the time.   I go into the terminal and ask someone at the information desk if she knows exactly when the train is going to be here and she says it should arrive in the next 5 minutes.  Glad I double checked!! What was that conductor thinking??


Thin Theo enjoying
the train ride
http://lifedigs.blogspot.com/2014/01/meet-thin-theodore.html

Sure enough, the train arrives 5 minutes later.  I am pleasantly surprised to see that my train has individual compartments and is not very crowded.  So I have a whole compartment to myself.  The windows open so I spend most of the trip with them rolled down taking photographs.  I make sure to keep the camera strap around my neck so I don't drop it out of the window!  Even when I am holding my IPhone taking video I am holding it with both hands.  I could practically see the image of my lime green phone in the Slovenian Hills as the train pulls away.

Less than an hour into the trip we reach the Slovenian border.  Both Croatian and Slovenian border guards board the train and check our passports.  The landscape changes almost instantly as we enter Slovenia.  The green landscape gets greener and the hills get hillier.  We follow the River Sava through the mountains into what can be best described as a scene from a Hans Christian Andersen fable.  It was fantastic! Adding to the dramatic effect,  I notice that all of the homes have very steep roofs.  Later it was explained to me that this is to keep the weight of the snow off of the homes.  Makes sense.

When we arrive to Ljubjlana I am starving.  I practically race off of the train and make a beeline in the direction of Old Town.  According to my instructions I am to turn right at the Dragon Bridge.  Sure enough, I am greeted by 2 large dragon statues at the Ljubljanica River. One of the legends of the dragons is from Greek mythology where Jason and his Argonauts killed a dragon in Ljubljana.   The other legend involves St. George,  the patron saint of the Ljubljana Castle Chapel built in the 15th century.  He is commonly depicted killing a dragon in paintings. Others believe the dragon was just added as decoration to the Ljubjlana coat of arms.

Just a few steps down from the Dragon Bridge I find my apartment...right on the river!  It's a fabulous location and I can't believe how lucky I am.  The inside is completely renovated and it is like staying in a brand new and modern hotel.  I spend exactly 60 seconds freshening up and hit the pavement to find a restaurant. 

The first outdoor restaurant I come to looks nice enough so I plop down and take in my view of the Ljubljanica River which travels into Old Town.  I order a smoked salmon salad and the waiter brings

me fresh rolls.  I get out my camera and start shooting photos from my seat.  Out of the corner of my eye I notice the napkin of my bread basket moving.  When I look down a sparrow pops out from under the napkin, clearly helping himself to my dinner rolls. He looks at me and then sticks his head back under the napkin for some more bread.  He continues this popping in and out for quite some time which gives me an opportunity to catch it on film.  If it wasn't so hilarious I would be annoyed because it's really good bread and I don't  want to share.  A little while later I am holding a small piece of bread between my fingers when a very aggressive sparrow swoops down and snatches it out of my hand.  The waiter tells me not to feed the birds. Ha!

With only 48 hours to spend in Ljubjlana I make this quick itinerary of things to see and do. 

River boat cruise
Train to castle
Outdoor Market
Tivoli Park

The river boat cruise, which costs 10 euros, is relaxing and a good way to see some of the city.  I admit I am more interested in the 4 different conversations going on around me in 4 different languages: Italian, Spanish, German and Slovenian.  The way each culture interacts with each other is similar but with subtle differences.  It's probably not a surprise that the Italians talk the loudest.

View from the river boat.

I look up and see the imposing castle up on the hill and know that's my next stop.

Ljubljana Castle

The tourist train to the Ljubjlana Castle originates at the city centre and departs every hour on the hour. It's really more like a tram you would find at an amusement park.  The price of the roundtrip ticket is only 4 Euros and it sure beats the walk straight up into the hills.  When you get to the top there is a wonderful view of the city.  I think most people would be satisfied if that were the only attraction.  But look to your left and you are standing in front of a 15th century castle!  Originally built by the Habsburgs (and it seems like everything is) for protection from Turkish invasions, the castle has served many purposes over the centuries. It's been a hospital, and arsenal, a jail and a refuge for ostracized Ljubljana citizens.

Ljubljana Castle

After touring the inside of the castle I take a coffee break in the courtyard. It's a very relaxing moment and I think how lucky Europeans are to be surrounded by such amazing beauty and majesty everyday of their lives.  I look around at the other coffee drinkers (they each have a dog with them, by the way) and they look more like locals than tourists.  Can you imagine telling your friend to meet you at the castle for coffee or telling your boss you are taking your coffee break up at the castle?

Ljubljana's Central Market stretches between the Dragon Bridge and the Triple Bridge in the city center.  It includes an outdoor market in Vodnikov Square and a covered market along the river.  It is an explosion of color and smells from the beautiful produce and flowers of local farmers to the fresh bread baked in wood fired ovens.  You can find smoked meats, fresh cheese, even clothing and shoes. The citizens of Ljubljana show up to do a little shopping and a lot of mingling.  I want to buy something from every booth but I settle on a handful of tangerines.

I walk over to the Triple Bridge and take a rest at the Statue of the Slovenian poet, France Prešeren.   I eat a tangerine and people watch.  The pedestrians all seem to be tourists and the hundreds of bicyclists seem to be locals.  Street performers compete for your attention and your tips.  One particular group of men is singing traditional folk songs (with a Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra song thrown in every so often).   I can't tell what language they are singing but I think they are fantastic.

My last item on the checklist is Tivoli Park. Designed in 1813, it's a 10 minute walk from the city center and covers over 1,200 acres.  Here you will find locals sitting under trees reading books and picnicking, groups of college kids playing soccer, bike riders zipping through, and people relaxing on park benches.  It's beautiful, peaceful and a perfect final tourist stop for my trip.

I find the people in Ljubjlana to be extremely friendly, hip and a bit funky. As a matter of fact, the town is pretty funky.   Many shops are brightly colored with unique handmade items crafted by the designers themselves at a work table in the middle of the store.  Even though this is a capital city, the attitude everywhere seems to be very relaxed with a small town feel.  I've never been to Amsterdam but I imagine it's a lot like this.

Sadly, it is time to head home (My Croatian home, that is).  This time I share a compartment on the train with a Serbian man named Zravko.  We have a great conversation and he explains to me he is half Croatian, half Serbian, works in Zurich and lives in Belgrade.  Now that's quite a commute!  I show him the video I took of the men singing in Ljubljana and he exclaimed, "Gypsy music!" I tell him how much I loved it and I thought it sounded like Croatian or Serbian folk music.  He explains that they sound very similar and says he has a present for me.  He reaches into his suitcase and pulls out a boxed set of gypsy music.  Each CD is music from a different country, Hungary, Croatian, Romania, etc.  I tell him I can't accept such a nice gift and he waves me off.  He says, "I collect gypsy music and I have thousands of cd's." 

I don't know why I wanted so badly to have a compartment to myself.  Sharing stories with locals is a fantastic way to learn about their culture and just a lovely way to spend an afternoon. 

The view from the train ride home.

You can view more photos of Ljubljana at the gallery on my website:



Easter in Lipik

Lipik is a small, sleepy town in the Slavonian region of Croatia.  My friend, Sanja, invited me to spend the Easter weekend at her family home there.  The town is well known for its hot spring water, its Lipizzaner horses and more recently for damage it sustained in the Croatian War of Independence.

The drive to Lipik is a familiar one.  Not because I have been there before but because of the gorgeous rolling hillsides I have come to know and love.  I could just stare out the car window forever at the landscape that is so green it practically vibrates.  I have to bite my tongue to keep from constantly asking to pullover and let me take photos. 

We arrive Saturday afternoon to Sanja's childhood home.  Her father lives there alone but his son and family live in the adjacent house next door.  It is very common in Croatia for adult children to live with or next to their parents.  All of Sanja's family welcomes me like part of the family and it reminds me of my big Italian family back home.  (Just put some more pasta on the stove, everyone is welcome.)

The children come over to dye eggs in the traditional Croatian way. Eggs are tied up with cut pieces of panty hose and pressed with leaves and other items found in the yard. Then they are soaked with yellow onion shells in boiling water.  When they are finished cooking they turn out a beautiful dark crimson color. Then the eggs are rubbed with lard to give it a nice sheen.   It makes for  great family fun and builds to the excitement of Easter.

                                        

After the eggs are finished, we prepare for lunch.  Sanja's father is cooking fish called Šaran na rašljama, over an open flame outside.  Sanja's sister-in-law, Manuela, lays out a fantastic spread.   Plates of homemade sausage, the Šaran fish, fresh cheese with cream, bread...and let's not forget the Rakija are served.  Croatians drink their own version of schnapps called Rakija.  But don't let that fool you.  It's nothing like the sweet and mild liquor served in the U.S.  The best way I can describe it is like pure grain alcohol with a fruit essence.  It's definitely not for amateurs but it is surprisingly good.  Hey, when in Rome...

To walk off our lunch I get a private tour of the town.  The population is small, only about 2,000 people. (and they all seem to know each other) The streets are lined with quaint homes in typical Croatian style.  In the center of town is a beautiful park with a gazebo.  Inside the gazebo are fountains where hot spring water flows.  The water is used for medicinal purposes at the local hospital and spas and bottled at the Studenac bottling company. 

 From just about anywhere in town the smokestack of the Lipik Glass factory can be seen.  Unique minerals found in Lipik make it perfect for glass production. Owned by an Italian company, the glass is produced for Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Ferraris, Aston Martins and MacLarens. It's the main industry and major employer of the town.  Sanja's brother, Igor, works there as well.

As we walk down the streets I get to see first hand the damage the town sustained during the war.  Estates of Croatian wealthy are left abandoned and pock marked by bullets and grenades.  It's a profound and somber experience for me. I am never sure what to say to those who lived it. 

Later, Igor gives me a tour by car up into the green hills and I ask him if I could get out and take photos.  He gives me a determined "no!"  Within minutes I figure out why.  Signs warning of land mines line the streets.  Many homes that were destroyed in this area have been rebuilt.  But their owners left during the war and never returned.   These vacant homes stand as constant reminders of that turbulent time. 

 He then brings me to the famous Lipizzaner Horse Stables for another private tour.  How lucky am I that Sanja's brother is on a first name basis with the stable keeper?  Croatia has more than 200 years of experience breeding these high quality sport horses and has the largest population of Lipizzaner horses in the world.  In 2007, Croatia had more than a thousand Lipizzaners, out of 6000-7000 in the world.

In 1991, during the War of Independence, 27 of the stallions were killed and 80 stolen by the Serbian Army.  After years of negotiations, petitions that circulated worldwide, and international media coverage,  66 of these horses were returned to Lipik. Only 8 were originals, the rest were the children.  The citizens of Lipik described it as the return of their soul.

Each stable I tour houses a different age group of the Lipizzaner. The foals are born black and as they age turn to grey and then to white.  As I am standing there taking photos one of them comes behind me and nuzzles against my ear.  Another sticks his nose in my camera trying to investigate it. It's hard not to fall in love with these beauties.

  

Finally it's time to leave to return home for dinner.  I sit in the back seat of the car thinking how beautiful the property is.  Right before we exit we pass a large building that has a huge starburst hole in the center, clearly the evidence of a grenade. My brain has a hard time reconciling the images.

We return in time for dinner.  Manuela has prepared another wonderful meal and, of course, more Rakija. When I finally retire to bed  I am completely spent. Staring at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of silence outside I feel so relaxed. It is so incredibly peaceful here that I can practically feel my heart rate slow down. And it appears I am not the only one.  Earlier, as we were driving through a neighborhood, 2 large dogs were sleeping in the middle of the street preventing us from passing.  As we got closer they looked up at us, as if to say "What's the problem?"

The next morning, Easter morning, I get ready before anyone else wakes.  I'm sitting on the edge of the bed when I see Mr. Papić shuffle his feet to the bathroom.  He stops when he sees me and slowly looks up.  Then he gives me a beaming smile and throws up his hand in a wave and exclaims, "Dobro jutro!" (good morning!)  It was really sweet and funny at the same time.

The tradition in Croatia on Easter morning is to greet people by shaking hands, kissing on both cheeks and saying Sretan Uskrs! (Happy Easter) It's great to see EVERYONE do it.  I attend Mass with Igor, Manuela and the kids. It appears most of the town is there.  The children's choir sit in the middle of the church led by a nun.  This nun, who stood close to us,  took her job very seriously.  She would let each of us know if we were not singing loudly enough.  But the hymns were all in Croatian.  So every time the nun would look my way I would sing "watermelon, watermelon" so not to get in trouble. 

After church, we have another fabulous meal.  I'm not sure how Manuela found the time to cook so much great food.  I'm positive I will be leaving Lipik 5 lbs. heavier, though.

Sadly, it is time to leave.  The whole family is there to give us a proper send off.  Mr. Papić loads me up with homemade honey and Easter eggs.  We hug, say our good byes and make promises for a return visit.  When we drive off into the green countryside, it occurs to me that I will probably never be able to return to Lipik.  Soon I will be leaving Croatia.  But I will forever carry the memory of this lovely town and these lovely people in my heart. 

Split, Croatia

 

 

The bus ride from Dubrovnik to Split is 4 hours of sight seeing bliss.  My original plan was to take the 8 hour ferry between the 2 Dalmatian towns but that is not offered in the "off season".   But I forget all about that with my face pressed against the window, unable to take my eyes off the scenery.  Small village homes dot the cliffs and I can't help but wonder who lives there. 

 

There is a French family sitting in front of me.  I like listening to their small children speaking in French.  One of the little boys spills his entire bag of peanut M & M's.  For the rest of the trip we can hear the candies roll the entire length of the bus floor back and forth.  The father hangs his head in frustration.  I am silently giggling.

There is a small portion of the Adriatic coastline that belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina.  If you are driving from Dubrovnik heading north you must drive through the Bosnian town of Neum. This is Bosnia's only access to the Adriatic.  The bus stops at the border and Croatian border guards board the bus to check passports.  I had already been told by friends that this was going to happen so I am prepared.  Most of the other tourists have their passports at the ready.   The French family, however,  is stunned and seems to be completely confused as to why they have to show their passports.

The Croatian guards send us on our way.  Ten minutes later we reach the border to re-enter Croatia.  This time the bus is boarded by Bosnian border guards.   The process seems backwards to me.  Why do they care who is leaving their country?  Shouldn't the Bosnian guards check passports as we ENTER Bosnia and Croatian guards check as we re-enter Croatia?  I don't think the US cares who is LEAVING only who is entering. The French family seems completely annoyed and confused to show their passports again.  If I spoke French I would try to explain it to them.

When we get close to Split the pristine coastline starts to fill with groupings of hotels and resorts.  Each community has the iconic steeple of a hilltop Croatian church, usually painted pale yellow.

Our bus ride ends unceremoniously at the main bus terminal in Split.  As nice as the ride is, my body is very happy to stand up.  The terminal faces the bay shared with ships and ferries of all sizes.  This area of Split is very commercialized with billboards, one after another, advertising McDonald's, banks and shopping malls.  Initially, it is a little disappointing but that changes quickly.  As I get close to the famous Riva Promenade,  billboards are replaced with palm trees and an endless row of coffee shops, one after another.  Each are filled with coffee drinkers dressed to impress.

The Riva Promenade

My apartment, Villa Olivia, is just on the edge of "Old Town", apparently in the seafood restaurant section.  The smell of seafood cooking in butter and garlic permeates the alleys and I wonder why anyone would eat McDonald's here.  The property owner, Ema, meets me at the building.  She is a sweet and friendly Croatian who brings me into the most charming property.  My room, a converted attic space on the top floor, is absolutely adorable. It's been completely remodeled and has brand new everything. It's painted mint green and has great views of the city.  I can't believe how lucky I've been choosing accommodation so far.  We sit for a while and she tells me all I need to know about her beloved city. Then she leaves me for my adventure.

View from the room.

 My sightseeing begins at the Diocletian Palace which makes up most of Old Town. At the turn of the fourth century AD, the Roman emperor Diocletian built a grand palace to spend his retirement.  Originally, the Adriatic lapped up against the fortress walls of the Palace.  Today, the Promenade separates the two.  Today businesses and residences make their home inside the Palace walls. Orchestras, operas and concerts take place in the square. I guess you could say the Palace is less of a museum and more of a city center.

Diocletian Palace

Outside of the Palace are markets where vendors sell everything from jewelry and clothing to fresh seafood, literally right off the boat. There is a seemingly endless selection of haute couture boutiques and of course, coffee bars.  Then there are the ice cream shops!  Every group of tourist can be seen enjoying a scoop.  As in Dubrovnik, there seems to be a "set" price for the frozen treat.  But unlike Dubrovnik is it 3 Kuna cheaper.  This gives me hope that my stay in Split will be a little kinder on my pocket book.

Kanoba Marjan employees

After a day of sight seeing, I find one of the seafood restaurants Ema recommended, Kanoba Marjan.  It's a tiny place, only about 4 tables.  It's fairly early still so there are just 2 other tables of customers.  I am pleasantly surprised that the prices are significantly cheaper than Dubrovnik.  I order black risotto with prawns and a mixed salad.  In Europe your meals don't come with side dishes.  Each item must be ordered separately.  Salads usually come dry and the waiter brings you oil and vinegar. It is just a lettuce, tomato and cucumber salad with fresh feta but tastes like each item was hand picked from the garden that day.  My seafood dish is so good I eat the entire huge portion not leaving a single grain of risotto on the plate.  I stay and chit chat with the waiter and bartender for a bit who are extremely friendly and want to know if they can be in my book.

When I get back to the apartment I am thoroughly exhausted but want to work on my photos.  I lie down on the bed with my laptop on my chest.  Bad idea.  I fall asleep immediately.  At some point in the night, the sounds of torrential rain and thunder wake me.  Every shutter of the building is slapping against the stone walls. I jump out of bed and open the windows trying to grab the shutters and close them.  The strong wind works against me for several minutes while icy cold wind and rain pelt my face.  Finally, I get all the shutters and windows closed.  I turn back to the bed and see my laptop on the floor.  I pick it up, there is  no power and it has an electrical burning smell.  When I jumped up to close the windows the laptop must have gone flying off my chest on to the floor.  I get a sick feeling in my stomach thinking that the laptop is toast.  Later my fears will be confirmed.

The next morning I run into Ema and tell her of my mishap.  She offers to bring me over an extra laptop of hers to use during my stay.  This kind gesture literally saves my trip. Thanks, Ema!!

On day 2, I decide to take the ferry to the famous island of Brač.  I show up to the harbor with no idea what I'm doing.  Eventually I find the ticket office and purchase my fare.  In a very thick accent she tells me where to go.  Not fully understanding, I show up to a boat that turns out to actually be a fishing boat.  I think the captain laughs at me when he sends me off  in the right direction.  The correct boat was one of those huge ferries that transport vehicles in the belly.  You have to take an escalator to get to the top.  I can't understand why almost every passenger is in the enclosed section downstairs.   I want to be on the top deck so I can swoon at the views.  It only takes 1 minute to figure out why I was practically alone upstairs.  The previous night's storm signicanlty dropped temperatures and left in its wake strong winds called Bora.  I have to wrap my scarf around my head to keep  my hair from flying around like it was being blown with a 100,000 watt hair dryer.

View of Split from the ferry

The harbor at Supetar on the island of Bol

Admittedly, I didn't know much about Brač.  After we land in the harbor city of Supetar, I immediately take off to the city center and start taking photos.  Very quickly I notice I am completely alone.  What happened to the hundreds of other people that got off the ferry.  I walk back to the port and see a bus station with buses loaded full.  I approach the ticket office and ask the lady, "Where should I go?"  "Bol, of course," is her response.  So, I buy a ticket to Bol.

I am the last to board and then we drive off into the mountains.  The hour long bus ride takes us straight up into the mountains and eventually to the complete other side.  The roads are winding and I can look out of my window and see straight down the side of the mountain.   Oddly for me, I am never scared. 

  Again, within minutes I found myself totally alone.  Either I am not paying attention or these people are disappearing into thin air.

Our destination, as it turns out, is a famous beach with an iconic peninsula shape.  I've seen it in books.  The bus, however, drops us off at the city center and the beach is still quite a trek.  During the peak season the town is hopping with tourists, many of them on bikes.  But this is the off season and everything is closed, including bike rental shops.  My goal is to get to the point of that peninsula, but it is so damn cold.   I zip up my jacket and wrap my scarf around my neck and start walking at practically a 45 degree angle into the wind.  Must...get...to...the...point. 

I finally make it and all I can say is what a view!  Imagine clear blue water lapping up to a pebble beach backdroped by mountains on all sides. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like it.  Standing on the tip of the point I kept walking around in circles thinking this has to be the most peaceful and amazing place on Earth.  And I had the entire beach practically to myself.  Seriously...where do all of the people disappear to?

It hardly seems fair one country has so many amazing landscapes.  Islands, mountains, clear blue sea, lush green country sides, giant waterfalls. I wonder if the neighboring countries are jealous?

When my lips and fingernails turn a lovely shade of blue I head back to the bus stop.   We make the winding mountain trip again in reverse.  When I board the ferry I go below deck this time.  I'd seen it.

By the time I get back to Split it is 7pm.  I'd been thinking of that dinner at Konoba Marjan all day and couldn't wait to go back.  When I finally get there the dining room is full except for 1 table.  The same guys I made friends with one day earlier were now turning me away because I was a party of one.  I couldn't believe it!  I try a few other restaurants and the same thing kept happening.  If maximizing occupancy at tables is that important then they should turn the 4 & 6 tops into 2 tops to accommodate smaller parties.

Feeling defeated, I walk back towards my apartment.  At the last minute I see an Italian restaurant  that doesn't look too busy.  When I get to the door there are a group of waiters talking.   I ask if I can grab a table and they say, "Of course".  Most of the tables are full but I find an open 4 top and plop down.  I was hell bent on seafood so I choose the shrimp and salmon pasta. My waiter is not very attentive so I practically have to tackle him to get him to pay attention to me. (Waiters are paid a salary in Croatia and do not expect tips.)

The table next to me is a group of British women and I hear them order the Amerikanka Pizza.  American pizza? I flipped throught the menu and found the list of pizzas.  The American has bacon and corn.  Hmm. In all my years I've never seen any pizza offered with corn in the US.  Maybe in Nebraska? And not one single time have I ever seen pepperoni pizza anywhere in Europe.  As a matter of fact, I heard small peppers called pepperoni one time.

As I am enjoying my delicious dinner, I look up and notice that the restaurant has not only filled up they are turning people away at the door.  The manager walks by and gives me and my 3 empty seats the stink eye. I ignore it.

On day 3, I take the city bus to the historical town of Trogir.  It's about a 15 minute ride west of Split.  Trogir, is located on the coast and has history dating back to the 3rd Century BC. The town is very charming in the typical Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque mixtures of architecture.  It looks like a little Venice.  The weather is still cold and windy and the narrow pathways between the old buildings create a wind tunnel that make my teeth chatter.  When I finally  can take no more I find a café to hole up in.  I make friends with the waitress and bartender as I am the only patron. The bartender entertains himself by watching the Ellen DeGeneres show on his iPhone. 

Trogir

When I get back to Split I go exploring up the coastline.  I head north and walk for a couple of hours without ever seeing another soul.  (Well, except for the sleeping grandpa)  Every so often I stop to admire the peaceful Adriatic.  There is something so soothing about this sea. And it's really  not as calm as people say.  But still, it seems to repair the rough edges of the soul when you drink in its greatness.  When I feel I've gone as far as I can go without needing transportation back I turn around.  As I walk, I realize my Dalmatian adventure is coming to a close.  Sadly, I start to prepare for the trip home.