Category: Croatia

Reflecting and Planning

January 4, 2024

As 2024 begins, I reflect on my first full year as a nomad.

The biggest question is, “Am I happy with the nomadic lifestyle?”

Yes! Absolutely. As the months pass, I can’t imagine returning to my former profession, teaching.

I never thought I would be so happy to be unemployed. (I still don’t believe I am retired.)

I wake up grateful every day for the sights I see, the people I meet, and a more relaxed lifestyle.

New Experiences in 2023:

  • House and pet sitting: From May to July, I mostly house-sat and pet-sat. My favorites have been the “one-dog sits.” Cats are easy, but dogs are good company, and at least one daily walk is guaranteed. It’s also a huge budget saver!
  • European National Parks: I visited Plitvice and Mljet in Croatia and Teide and Garajonay in the Canary Islands. The national parks in Croatia were stunning! Trails were well-marked and easy to navigate. Tiede, Spain’s highest peak, is located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. I visited on a group tour that included star gazing. It was an unforgettable experience. I also spent a day on La Gomera in the Canaries, which is primarily a National Park. Absolutely gorgeous!
  • The Greek Islands: I spent about a month in Greece, starting in Athens and moving on to Crete, Karpathos, Rhodes, and Santorini. Each place had its unique character, and I enjoyed all of them. There are over 200 islands to explore in Greece, and I have plans to return this spring.
  • Reading: Okay, I have known how to read for a long time! I have always struggled with leisurely reading, though. I no longer feel guilty about spending the afternoon with my nose in a good book.

Plans and Changes for 2024:

  • More weeks of house sitting and pet sitting: I have been pet sitting since the middle of December when I arrived home from an extended trip to Europe. (I was able to schedule the sits around family Christmas celebrations.) And I will spend most of my days on sits through April. Requests have come my way, and I can be picky about pets and locations. I’m currently enjoying a gorgeous view of Puget Sound.
  • Volunteer Work: I’m researching options for volunteer positions both here in my home state and overseas. I’m hoping to make this part of my lifestyle.
  • Travel farther from home: I am going “Down Under” for the first time. After spending September in the Hawaiian Islands, I will head to Sydney, Australia, in October. I still need to plan the rest of the trip, including New Zealand.
  • No big US road trip: The past two years, I took off on extended road trips around the Western US (seven and ten weeks). Although I enjoyed those trips, which included visits with friends and family, I don’t have an open block of time this year. I will make some shorter trips instead.
  • Cruises: I haven’t been on a cruise ship in several years. I have mixed feelings about cruising, but incredible deals are out there as the cruise lines recover from the pandemic. And most cruise companies are responding to solo travelers with single rooms. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Two years ago, I never imagined that I would be living this lifestyle. I get a kick out of telling people that I am a nomad. Their reactions are almost always positive, and I enjoy answering their questions. Some people can’t believe that I no longer have a physical home. I have adapted and find it easy to make myself “at home” almost anywhere.

I have always enjoyed home renovation shows (I have remodeled one home and partially remodeled another.), and I love to see how people decorate. I now have a routine when I arrive for a sit. I take in the surroundings and appreciate their sense of style and the fact that they are entrusting me with their home and pets.

One of the best things about this lifestyle is that I see more of my adult kids now than I did in previous years. I schedule enough sits in the Seattle area that we get together quite often throughout the year. And Mom isn’t asking for their help with projects around the house. We just enjoy each other’s company.

Here’s to the year ahead! I wish you peace and happiness.

20K in a Day


September 24, 2023
I love to walk and hike. I’d say it is my primary form of recreation and transportation, especially while traveling.
I try to keep my daily limit to ten miles. You know, moderation and all. I don’t want to be too wiped out to enjoy the next day’s wanderings.
My friend Nancy likes to take it up a notch, though. She took up trail running in her fifties. Let’s say she’s my only friend my age who can kick my butt on a hiking trail. (Don’t be fooled by the sweet smile in the photo.)


We had two full days to explore Miljet National Park in Croatia. So, we decided to take a long hike the first day and take it easy the second.


The nice part about traveling with my friends Kirk and Nancy is that I don’t have to plan much at all. They are avid map readers, and Nancy loves to set up the day’s itinerary.


Besides covering much of the park, the hike also included an ascent to a viewing tower. The views of the island were stunning!


The side trip to the neighboring town of Polace for groceries added a couple of kilometers, too. But we got to see the ruins of a Roman place, too.


That’s how we ended up hiking 20K in a day, or 2.42 miles over my usual limit.


Don’t get me wrong; I’m just being cheeky. It was one of the most memorable days of our trip to Croatia. My feet survived, and I was only a little sore the next day.


And I would do the 20K all over again.

Splitting From Split

September 26, 2023

We arrived in Split, Croatia, yesterday afternoon.

After settling in our apartment, we took a ten-minute walk to the old town. As old towns go, it’s a good one. In fact, most of the old town is the site of Diocletian’s Palace.

This morning, we were ready for something different, though. We would have two more full days in Split. Why not go see something a little off the beaten path?

The priority was the Green Market, or farmers’ market. I had been hankering for some quality produce, and the tiny grocery stores on the Croatian islands we just visited lacked selection and freshness.

Visiting the markets is one of my favorite things to do in Europe. I love seeing the local produce and agricultural products. In addition to fruits and vegetables, we picked up some honey, dried fruit, sausage, and olive oil.

Speaking of olive oil…my friend Nancy and I had wanted to learn more about olive oil production. We had been looking for a tour but weren’t finding anything.

Then I found the Olive Museum in an online search. It’s located just a few miles outside Split, in Stella Croatica Experience Center. That sounded like something we needed to explore!

After a bus ride 30 minutes or so out of town, we arrived. Stella Croatica was a combination of gardens, a restaurant, a factory, a museum, and a gift shop.

It was one of those better-than-expected experiences. The whole premise of the place was to promote local agriculture. The first part of the tour was a walk through the factory where they make candied oranges, lemons, and fig cakes. This included some samples.

We were then advised to go up to the village and tavern where we could have a drink and bite to eat before the rest of the tour. I’m still not sure if the village was all or part re-creation, but it was charming and inviting. We sampled local wine, cake, and ice cream. Yum!

The tour took us past an old olive press and into the Olive Museum, where we learned some history and statistics regarding Croatian olive oil production.

The tour ended at the delightful gift shop where I could have bought one of everything. But fortunately, I’m a nomad, which makes it easy to pass.

Afterward, we wandered around the gardens until closing time.

Then we walked over to Klis Fortress, which was more extensive and interesting than expected.

Perched high on a rocky plateau, it has been a strategic location since about 3600 BC. The buildings and gates were in various phases of repair and renovation, which made for some fun exploration.

One of the most intriguing buildings was the round Church of Saint Vitus. Not to be missed!

The fortress offered stunning views of Split and the surrounding areas. It could be a fabulous spot to watch the sunset.

Be sure to add both locations to your Split itinerary!

There Are No Busses on Sundays


September 24, 2023
Sometimes, the best days happen when things don’t go according to plan.
I have been traveling in Croatia with old friends, a married couple, for the past nine days. We are a compatible trio, all three active, outdoorsy types. In fact, it was during a cross-country ski and snowshoe trip last winter that we decided to plan an adventure together.
I was ecstatic when Nancy offered to help with the planning because, in my nomad life, I am constantly working on my itinerary.
We met up at the Dubrovnik airport just over a week ago, and the trip has gone exceptionally well until…


Yesterday afternoon, before we left Mljet Island, the rain came in with a vengeance. We had been enduring some feisty winds, but rain can really put a damper on the fun.
After trying to remain dry, we boarded the ferry for a 30-minute ride to Korcula. Our host generously offered to pick us up, and the rain had momentarily stopped when we arrived.
Then the thunder and lightning returned yesterday evening. So much for our plans to paddle board tomorrow.
Our power went out around 3:00 AM and didn’t come on until about 10:00 AM.
Our host felt terrible about the weather and the power outage. This morning, he brought us some candy and a bottle of wine as a consolation. (As if he could control the weather.) He also realized that a close lightning strike had blown out our modem and had a new one ready for us when we returned this evening. Such a nice man!


After a brief break early this morning, the thunder, lightning, and rain continued until about 11:00 AM.

Then the skies started to look hopeful.

We did have a couple of other issues, though.
Last night, we discovered that no public buses were running on Sundays.
Today, no Uber drivers responded to our request.
No problem. We are walkers. We could easily cover the three miles into town.


The weather was much more promising by noon, and we walked out the door.
Along the way, we stopped to inspect local plant life, saw a monument to World War I soldiers from the island, and visited a Marian shrine.


We ended up having a fabulous time exploring the old city of Korcula. It is a picture-perfect medieval town located on the beautiful Adriatic waters. The rain had cleared the air, making for an exceptional day.
After searching for the right restaurant to cater to my gluten-free diet, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch by the old city gate. I had eggs benedict for the first time in many years, and we all enjoyed chocolate mousse cake with pistachios for dessert.


After lunch, we wandered through town and climbed the church tower for the best views of the day.


Then we walked along the waterfront, checking out the different buildings, sections of the old city walls, and the luxurious modern yachts in the harbor.


After stopping for groceries, we took the backroads home and saw things most tourists miss.


The 101 stone steps up to the Votive Chapel of Saint Anthony.


The cypress trees were planted in 1708 after the chapel was renovated (originally built in the 15th century).
The last leg of the journey back to our apartment took us through rural areas bound by stone walls with abundant olive trees.


What looked like a potential disaster of a day ended up being one of my best travel days yet!