Back over two weeks now, the return flight was as fast and smooth as the outbound flight. I have been trying to get to the ‘last entry’ but we got back into our routine quickly. Things move fast around here sometimes…

My goal on trips is to be so tired on the return flight that I sleep through most of it, I succeeded mostly. I did wake up enough to spy on Iceland, our flight path took us directly across it and what surprised me was how much of it one could see this time. In past flights I could see some land then clouds as we cross but this time it was clear to the horizon, brown land with the occasional white, white ice. I did not have a window seat so pictures were not going to happen this time but I wish I could have, an incredible vista. But it also bothered me this was so different than in the past, why so clear this time? Perhaps it would not have lodged in my mind except for the fact that several of our tour guides mentioned how much the weather was different this year, when talking with Rada in Split (Croatia) she mentioned that they usually get a brushing of snow in the winter that does not stick however this past winter the snow hung around for two days. In Kotor our guide (forgot her name which I regret) told us that usually the Bay of Kotor was warm enough for children to swim in in April but it was still too cold during our visit. In July. I don’t believe much of what I hear in the media these days and to me the sample set is still small. However if I were a betting man right now I would say something global is happening with the weather. I want to be wrong.

More ‘advances’ in internet access on this trip as well. Many moons ago communications on trips meant postcards that would arrive weeks after departure. E-mail started the shortening of the communications lines followed by the blogs which essentially replaced postcards. The advent of Facebook not only spread travel news a bit further and put us back in touch with the Mambelli’s who we met some years ago plus helped us arrange a rendezvous in Venice of both now expanded families. However the largest change that started on this trip was for the first time we could look back as well, events at our house before we left brought about the installation of an internet ready security system that not only kept us abreast of the comings and goings at home, it also allowed us to see in around the property as well. It was reassuring to be sure but a little unnerving as well, the world is shrinking in all directions.

Well that is a wrap for this blog and thus the trip. Croatia was a clear winner in our book and we will be returning fairly soon. Many, many thanks to Nancy and her crew at Ladera Travel, they helped us not only in arranging another great vacation but held our hands thru the house event and kept us on track to new passports quickly and out the door on schedule. THANKS NANCY! Have a vacation in mind and need some help? Call Nancy!

Thanks also to Chris who watched the house while we were away, his niece is great with the cats as well.

Pictures taken: 8000+….