DAY 56
Saturday June 25 2005
Wow! What a totally awesome day! First we went on a long four hour hike at the nearby national park. It was so stunning! What a great vacation! This hike was rather hard for me in different ways since I don't have that great depth perception. When we fist started there was a bad part full of wooden stairs. It was done in such a way that it looked completely flat to me. Jayne the tour assistant really came through for me during those first two hours. I would put my hand on her shoulder an step when and where she did. It really helped. I remember that when we first started and we hit a section like that, we slowly made our way down. When we were done I clapped my hands, because I was so proud of myself. All the sudden a loud cheer went up behind me. I looked back and there were about two our three tour groups. I don't know if they were cheering because I finished it our that I got out of the way. Either way I was happy and laughed and so did they. It was a good start to a good hike. The pictures are here of how stunning it all was. After the hike we went for a long bus ride and stopped for our fist view of the coast. On the way down the scree filled hill, Jayne offered her shoulder to me, to help me down. I went to put my hand on here should and saw a huge, huge bug on her should. It looked like a scarab with blue iridescent shell and black and orange markings. I quickly said, Oh my God, you have a huge fucking bug on you!" and backed away about three feet. She was pretty calm about it, but the rest of the touring group behind me kept telling how big it was. She asked someone to get it off her, I stepped forward and just couldn't bring myself to reach out an knock it off. I noticed that no one else stepped forward either. We were all a nice healthy distance away. She kept trying to see on the back of here shoulder while the jokes were flying fast and furious. Like "Oh, sure, now I know who my real friends are." And so many more. It flew off on its own and we all went on our merry way cracking jokes so quick one right after another that I laughed my whole way down. How big was it? It was so big it had to parachute in. Things like that. I laughed for twenty minutes. After that we went on a ferry ride to get to and island off the coast of Croatia where we will be staying for two nights. Pictures follow.
This is just a stunning hike.
See the cave!
The water was so clear we could see the schools of the fish. I felt like I could just reach in and grab one! Lunch anyone?
This wonderful guy really helped me on my hike. There were many problem areas for me and I was covered in sweat with moisture dripping from my face and arms like a constant drizzle, but he didn't leave my side until the hike was over. Thanks Kent! You rock!
I was so proud of myself for catching this dragon fly just before he took off.
It's my lucky day! I also got this butterfly just before she took wing.
Tourist were everywhere, this is not a hidden secret!
Croatia.
My first view of the Dalmatian coast.
The city where we waited three hours for the ferry. Oh, the hardship! :-)
Finally. See the tour busses?
The view as we leave the mainland behind.
This is the view from my wonderful hotel room. I am in the land of sun and palm trees! This is the life! I sure am a long way from Alaska.