Bon Voyage!

Say "Hi" to Nicky and David, Linda & Peter...

thank you for your kind post, Helenvj...I only share my tons of photos now instead of long TR's...you know, "a pic is worth a thousand words," etc. Keep on truckin', kids!

stu (Bob and Karen are the most enthusiastic of travelers. Makes you wanna pack and go!)

Still fighting jet league---from a 6 hour flt???

Hope to wright tomorrow. Arrived in Kent this afternoon after 2 days with smeagol in the midlands

We are dreading the jet lag....

Hi Kathie, Cheryl,Craig, Jeane, Carol and June :)

Kathie we are also looking forward to Kauai early next year:)

Bob we will be in the bar of the Hilton when you arrive so meet us there haha.

Aloha!

Have a wonderful time.

Have enjoyed reading your trip reports over the years. Got a lot of ideas from Kathie, Craig and Jeanne besides yourselves.

Don't go on Fodors that much after the Dogsters sad demise.
However did write a trip report of my Camino this year.

I'm sure you know that Dubrovnik can get a bit overwhelmed when cruise ships are in port, so plan accordingly. And be sure to make time for the Buza Bar.

Wow - what a crew you have following along with you!

Our BA flt was fine--in coach... tight 3 seater.. nice young Russian woman seated between us.

Europe car rented upon arrival and a 2 hour drive up the M-40 to Henley-in-Arden. Lovely greeting from Nicky (smeagol) and David. Chat, chat, chat while David prepared a cake, lemon pudding and pasta bolonaise-- all were fantastic and then some.

Made it to 10:30 before crashing.

Woke Sunday to beautiful seasonal sunny day. Decided to visit Dalesford, an organic farm/restaurant in the Cotswold countryside. N & D had never been there.

Returned to Henley in time for our 2PM res at a local pub/restaurant for a leisurely Sunday roast meal. Three of us had the traditional roast beef and 1 had pork--- Yorkshire pudding/sweet-carrot mash/duck fat roasted pots/cheese cauliflower/peas and pea pods and finally pickled red cabbage. We were stuffed but managed to split one order of sticky toffee cake.

Relaxed the rest of the afternoon and evening, enjoying cheeses and port in the evening.

Monday saw us drive south to Bexleyheath to spend 2 days with Karen 50+ year pen pal. On the way we diverted to Westerham for a lunch at a favorite little restaurant-- pea and ham soup and coronation chicken sandwiches.

Have spent two days lazing around Bexleyheath and leave shortly for two days in Oxted with some other friends.

Enjoyed the best coq de vin last night at our friend's house. Today we ventured into the local countryside and visited the national trust property Standen. Very livablelarge country house lived in by family until 1972. Delicious lunch in their barn cafe.
Tonight Italian is on tap ata local Oxted restaurant.

Tomorrow night will bring our car return at gatwick and a 7AM flight on BA to Dubrovnik, Croatia where we meet up with Peter and Linda some Hawaiian Fodorite s.

S/B coq au vin


Gatwick courtyard. Ok hotel, good restaurant... no shuttles--- cheaper for 2 to take a taxi to the terminal than the airport shuttle.

Saturday

Up at 4AM for 7 AM flight. BA flt to Dubrovnik--2 hrs, 10 minutes. No immigration. Taken from plane by special lift/for wheelchair passengers.

Nice taxi ride into city--- about $40.

Peter was waiting outside the Hilton for us. Left our suitcases and walked 2 blocks to harborside where we had a nice lunch under an umbrella--beautiful day.

Took 2 taxis from Hilton to our Airbnb at Gruz harbor---apartment Gemma. Lovely large (3 bedroom) apartment on the 1st (2nd) floor of a very old building. Owner met us at 2pm and explained the place and surroundings to us.

Girls went out for a walk to stores and around the harbor.

They made 7PM res for dinner at taverna Otto, 2 doors up the road.

Delicious restaurant: steaks, fish, pasta, lamb. About $75 per couple with a bottle of wine, bottled water and a couple of vodkas. We have a res there again for Mon. nite.

All ready for bed at 9:30 but have not gone yet,.

Dubrovnik is a very busy place, but also one of exceptional beauty, what with the harbors, inlets and steep hills.

Looking forward to the next few days.

No immigration? Did the Croatian authorities not look at your passports? Surprising given that neither the U.K. Not Croatia are within the Schengen zone.

Looking forward to your impressions of Croatia. Please continue to have a great time.

Balkans are on our list. Waiting for more in Dubrovnik. Enjoy.

Took the bus #6 into town. It stops about 5 doors down the street from the apartment. 15 kn Each,each way for a 10 min ride. The gated old town is absolutely beautiful. Last night I figured out why it was so appealing . They do not allow the post card racks, fridge magnets etc outside of the stores. You see the marble streets( which are slippery) and the beautiful buildings. We were lucky there were no ships in port, but plenty day tour groups. I can see where it could be crowded when there are several ships in port.

Spent the morning walking , looking up at the surrounding medieval wall,window shopping, enjoying the beautiful architecture. Climbed up to some of the upper inner levels. On our way down hill we stopped at Trattoria Teroro. Mussels were delicious in a tomatoe.garlic sauce.

After lunch went out by the old harbor. Lots of tourist boats available for a 50 min. Scenic cruise. Had An ice cream and headed back to the bus stop. It was too late in the day to walk the wall, we will do it another day.

Stopped at a bakery and bought some goodies for dessert. L and I cooked cheese, mushroom, onion and ham omelette for dinner, accompanied by a green salad. Am really liking the local white wine.

Our apartment is very, very well equipped and exceptionally comfortable: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, large kitchen with an eating table, living room. Each room has a balcony with French doors overlooking the harbor.

Monday morning we awoke to rain. Brilliance of the sea cruise ship has arrived for a stop and is docked in the harbor. Lazy AM for us thus far. May venture out for some lunch.

Hung out hoping rain would stop.
Called taxi to take us to a luncheon place... turned out to be a walking street with restaurants and bars leading down to the sea.

Had a simple lunch and then walked down to the beach. Took taxi back to the apartment.

Dinner res at 7 back to Otto taverna. Welcomed back by staff. Good dinner, wine, vodka and lots of laughs. Started to rain as we left. Turned out living room lights and watched lighting over harbor. Early to bed..

Dinner: carrot ginger soup, pork ribs, shrimp Caesar salad, leg of lamb, white local wine, fancy desserts.

Great day today... lazed around in AM. Took local bus into town. Entered old town... decided we would eat lunch first. A sales person approached us in one of the side alleys with a menu... everything was 7-E. we ate outside but the interior was very beautiful... Art restaurant Renaissance. 6-7 rating.

Girls decided to climb the wall, and then walk the total length--1+ hours--cost 120 kn each ($17.).

Taxi home.

We love our apartment

Ditto to all the above. Linda and I are having a blast here with our good friends Bob n .Karen. Just wanted to mention the waitress at restaurant Otto that has made our experience there exceptional. Helena is one of the best waitresses we have ever experienced in all of our many travels worldwide. Her bubbly attitude is infectious. Her attention to detail impeccable. Her service unmatched and she does it all so smoothly that you feel as if your part of the restaurant Otto home regulars and not visitors from a foreign country. Thank you Helena we appreciate it more than you can imagine.

Aloha!

Just lost 3 days of posting.... more later

Off to Capri from Naples tomorrow.

Sorry you lost your post, but looking forward to reading it when you can do a rewrite. While also keeping up to date on your current travels also! Glad you liked the apartment so much. Sounds perfect.

OK, let's try again...

Oct 11

Breakfast at apartment... Girls walked around harbor to check out our ferry tickets and find a R restaurant for dinner. Went into old town by taxi...P&I had gelato while girls walked the entire wall-- 120 kn each. We met back at the cistern just inside the entrance to old town.
Lovely very similar building made of stone all along Main Street of old town which is made of marble... tons of people about.

Had a nice simple lunch down one of the alleys--Art Restaurant Renaissance-- everything cost a uniform 7-E.

Dinner this night was at the Japanese restaurant Shizuku, a 5 minute taxi ride from our apt. DELICIOUS.... great sushi, etc. reasonable.

Taxi back to apt.

Oct 12

Laundry again... lazy AM.

Took taxi to base of cable car. 120E each for 5 min ride. Went right into lunch in Panorama Restaurant. Good lunch indoors away from wind. Spent an hour viewing every view available from top.

Taxi back to house to finish packing. Landlord coming at 6:25 for checkout. We asked and were granted a late checkout, for which he asked for a very fair $90.

Taxi to Amfora Restaurant, opposite ferry terminal with all of our 8 suitcases. Very excellent dinner.

At 8:30 lined up for immigration--given head of line because us two men are hobbling-- old.
Boarded ferry for 10PM departure for Bari, Italy. Tiny staterooms with narrow, not great, twin beds and a w/c and shower. Slept fitfully.

Oct 13

Arrived Bari at 8AM, after an included breakfast. Slow exiting boat because of tiny elevators. Immigration. Taxi to train station. Few hous wait for our 1:15 train to Naples. No decent restaurants at station, only a cafeteria.

1st class car 2/3s of way to Naples, 2nd class (new) train last 1/3.

Taxi to Marriott Renaissance hotel. Located in a nice area close to the harbor. Decent room-- they upgraded P&L too on my platinum status.
Very tired so we had dinner in the hotel that nite. Very good and reasonable.

Great bed for sleeping