Dree Your Own Weird

Of course I should have known I would fall in love with an island named after a nymph; beautiful women don’t lend out their name to any old land-mass - it must be a place that bears their essence. Although my own name means “peaceful island,” I’ve yet to have any such location named after me - then again, I was only properly wed to a mortal, not brazenly abducted by the god of the sea. The island is most commonly reached by a ferry crossing from Orebic on the mainland to to the walled town of Korcula.   Its largest claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of the illustrious explorer, Marco Polo.   The historical  legitimacy is disputed, but I’ve no problem buying into possible hype if it adds to my experience.   I quite enjoyed hearing what Luke and Serenna learned of his adventures while standing outside the gate to his home, then after inspecting spy glasses and sextants in a dark shop that bore the same name, the air scented with a musky incense. ...

Montenegro, where mountains meet sea.  We went because we were told we must.  We stayed because we couldn't bear leaving. Along the coast of this minuscule country lies the Bay of Kotor, and along the Bay of Kotor lies small village after small village, with one exception - Kotor itself.  Kotor is a fortified city, and one that belies belief.  Its walls run up the side of the mountain spasmodically; they cling to crags and mount small valleys, utilizing the landscape if ever under attack.   And today it  is  under attack, by throngs of tourists disembarking their cruise ships before its very gates.  They are there to plunder the shops of their wares and the bay of its fruits.  I can't blame them one bit, really, for I was one of them.  I took the advice of a local, however, and did not order fish from any of the area restaurants.  During the warmer months, the demand is great, and more often than not you are served fish s...

White water rafting has alway seemed to me something of which to be very, very wary.  I suppose I could blame the 90's movie, The River Wild for my caution; I remember choking back fear as I watched that poor family forced down deadly rapids by an armed Kevin Bacon.  However did they survive?  Then again, perhaps Milo and Otis  are to blame!  Sweet kitties should not have to endure falling through waterfalls in nothing more than a wooden crate; I closed my eyes to the horror. More so, though, I am a seeker of beauty, not of thrills.  When we realized that we were only a few hours from Europe's top rafting waters though, I knew my fears needed to be laid aside for the benefit of the family. Where the borders of Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro meet lies the Tara River Canyon, second deepest in the world after the Colorado. There are quite a number of rafting camps that stretch along the river, all providing similar services to summer tourists....

We hadn't intended on visiting Belgrade, but after enjoying ourselves so much in Nis, we added the capital city to our itinerary, and arrived one afternoon via bus. We were at once struck by the cosmopolitan atmosphere.  This is a city that has been through many struggles in the last few decades, yet it is evident they are moving forward vigorously.  Not every building has been brought to the standards of the twentieth century, but this makes for a very interesting juxtaposition - posh restaurants next to tired looking apartment complexes.  But posh indeed many were!  There were a multitude of coffee shops and bars that made me gape in wonder at their dazzling interiors and classy customers.  Clothed in jeans and hiking shoes I only dared to take a photo from the door, but was glad they existed all the same. In order to better understand Belgrade's history and culture, we joined a Free Walking Tour.   These tours are com...