Favorite Memories From Croatia and beyond

9/17/2022

Favorite Memories From Croatia and beyond

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So now the clothes are washed and put away and the suitcases are stored again, and life is returning to normal and as I reflect on the trip we returned from, I find memories popping up to the surface as I savor the moments in quiet reflection and I wonder if you too are finding special slices of our days that bring smiles to your face. I know Boris and Sasha are probably at the top of favorite memories, but I'd really love to hear from you. What are the things that you are savoring when you remember this trip still fresh in your mind?

Please make your comments below and if you can, post pics with them, or send them to me and I'll post them below. I'll start with one of my favorite memories and hope you'll join.
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I'll share one of my favorite memories- the Sunday night I shared the Book of Mormon with our waitress after everyone at the table wrote in it and we told her about it and she was interested and surprised the church was near her. I gave her a pass along card with the contact info on it and she said she is spiritual and will read it. We had made friends with her mother who owns the restaurant in May so we returned and brought more people back to eat there and then gave the daughter the Book of Mormon and of course that was the night the fireworks went off. We saw the mother and father looking through the book at what everyone had written later as they sat together at a table. Special night and Ron and Vicki are in the photo with me. -- Liz

6 Comments

Sandee Spencer

9/17/2022 03:54:30 pm

One of my favorite memories was scuba diving. To be honest I wasn’t that impressed with seeing the 2,000 year old pottery on the ocean bottom. UNTIL I saw the same pots in a museum a day or two later. Thanks to Kevin for not leaving me along with that crazy Croatian dive master.

Cheryl Holmes

9/18/2022 09:23:37 am

The most favorite memory of this amazing trip is the way Ethan, our grandson who turned 20 while on this trip with us, was treated by everyone in the group. He became so comfortable and I didn't feel like I needed to entertain him. Everyone seemed to take him as their own. He loved jumping in the water and made friends who also loved the water. He sat with random people for meals and when on the bus. He was loved for himself and not just because he was with us. I love how he paid attention during the devotionals and firesides. He discussed them with us. Something I never expected. "Grandpas" talked to him and encouraged him to receive his Patriarchal Blessing and to attend Church. He was never offended or irritated by their encouragement to go on a mission. Another memory, of course, was being with Boris and Sasha. They were wonderful to be around and I saw Russia through their eyes and actions. Russia is one of two places left on my Bucket List. I was almost there listening to and watching those two good people. I loved the welcoming celebration we had on the top deck. I loved how kind and gentle the two of them were. I love how they love their country and Boris didn't seem to be pulled into politics. I appreciated that Liz and Mark were one of us.There was no "authority" over us. They went with the flow, all the while being "in charge" and taking such good care of us. I loved the itinerary. I loved meeting the people of the places we were. I loved Maureen and Scot. I loved the devotionals and the firesides. I loved learning from people who lived their religion and shared it with us. I just loved the whole atmosphere of love and kindness. I loved the small group. I loved the yacht and the crew. They were really good at their job and made us feel welcome and cared about us and our needs and wants. They were so accommodating. I hope Mike can work it out so that we can go to Africa with you all.

Dennis Kim

9/18/2022 09:32:34 pm

We are now home pulling weeds, going to our grandchildren’s sports events, servicing my clients, and teaching seminary. Now, no jet lag for Yvonne (for some reason, I never had that).

As time goes on, this tour will seem like a dream, like many missionaries feelings about their missions ten years after they return home. Of course we (returned missionaries) all know that it was real – we have the pictures, our written journals, the contact information of those who shared the same experiences with us. Which brings us to the Bucket List Tours’ Heart of Croatia experience:

If I had to choose one memory to write about, it would take me many hours to decide. So, our favorite memory is the Tour Experience itself. For us, it was exactly what we anticipated. From the time we sat in the Olive Garden Restaurant in our hotel looking at the PARTHENON TEMPLE at the ACROPOLIS, to the ornate MILAN CATHEDRAL and the SFORZA CASTLE the day before going home, our experience was one of awe, educational enlightenment, and excitement. Visiting all the ruins, walled cities, cathedrals, town squares and museums gave us an appreciation of the ingenuity of man through the ages.

The time on the Yacht Lupus Mare was very relaxing as we were pampered with visits to many islands, each with its own uniqueness. The service of the crew and the cuisine of the area (we loved all the seafood dinners), and the Captain’s willingness and ability to adjust the itinerary to fit our desires including swim stops, water toys, and equipment.

The many side tours that were already planned allowed us to see many of the natural wonders like the KRKA NATIONAL PARK and its many beautiful waterfalls. Yvonne said that her favorite memory was to actually see VENICE on a gondola with its myriads of water ways and the St. Marks Cathedral Square. It was one of her childhood dreams.

The tour also gave us the structure needed to shepherd us, but the freedom to go off on our own or even not go on a side tour if we so decided. From a spiritual standpoint, it was great meeting all the other members of the tour knowing they shared the same values with us, and participating in the devotionals and visits to the local units of the church.

Mark and Elizabeth, I know how much you two put into making this tour a perfect experience for many of us, especially at an extremely short notice. The negotiations, scheduling, coordination, last minute adjustments, helping with emergencies (like my ATM cards not working), and keeping your cool just made us feel like we were with family on the whole tour. It really was a Bucket List Tour!

Robin Johnson link

9/23/2022 05:33:42 am

First, thank you to everyone for your many kindnesses to me. During the first day, when asked who I came with and I replied that I was by myself, they said (I think it was the Proctors:), "You're not by yourself! You're with us!" Bonnie, and then Arlene were wonderful cabinmates!

One of my first favorite memories was Sunday night eating dinner at the top of the hotel in Athens and seeing the Parthenon all lit up from the restaurant window! I had been so focused on learning about Croatia, of which I knew practically nothing, I had completely forgotten that I would be in Athens! I had to pinch myself several times the next day, that I was really truly at the Acropolis and the Parthenon!

Another favorite memory was when Bonnie invited me to climb to the top and walk all the way around the city wall (can't remember which one - Dubrovnek??). I think Deanne may have joined us on that adventure - it did feel rather daring, and the sights were amazing! That started my journey of climbing up to the top of several structures (I had discovered my previously unknown fear of heights when I was about halfway up Half Dome in Yosemite many years ago:), and led me to write a summary in my journal - "I can do hard things." Of course, I already knew I could do hard things, but climbing to the top of that wall, and then subsequent walls, towers, steeples, cemented that sentiment for me.

Another great memory was walking through the "passageway" (where all the fancy shops were) from the Opera House (?) in Milan to the Duomo, and coming out of the end of "tunnel" and seeing the Duomo pop into view for the first time was absolutely breathtaking!! And yes, I later went to the top and climbed the entire perimeter of the roof - really mind-blowing.

Also, another quick thought - when the tour guide was talking about the construction of the Duomo, how it took 500 years, she said that they always start building at the back of the church because "once they get Christ set and right, then everything else will be ok" or something to that effect. I thought, what a great metaphor for life - get Christ right first, then everything else will fall in place:)

Biggest hugs ever to all of you! Robin

Mark Stoddard

9/23/2022 12:01:52 pm

My Personal Highlights of our Croatia Cruise and Tour

As I quietly sit and picture the trip we just concluded – we were gone 30 days counting going into Athens early to prepare for the group and staying a few days extra in Lake Como to unwind (we didn’t) – I enjoy closing my eyes and seeing what highlights come to mind. Here’s a brief nearly stream of consciousness listing:

Athens
Eating dinner at the top of the Titania Hotel with the evening lights on the Parthenon.
First gelato at the bakery just down the street.
Seeing Delphi.
Attending church at the Athens branch. Love being with the Saints and hearing the hymns sung in many tongues.
Greeting each group as they arrived in Athens. They looked great.
Riding the Hop On bus for an easy overview tour.
4* event= Dinner and show with live entertainers at the night-life section of Athens. Great entertainers, fun dancing, good friends and food.

Kotor
The photo stop high above Kotor.
The amazing Blue Grotto swim. Can’t get the turquoise explosions of water splashes out of my mind.
Others jumping off the boat.

Bosnia
The sudden canyon and plains below that led to the Sea.
Group picture and bathroom stop in one.
Finding a passport. Huge relief especially for the passport holder. So happy for her.

Dubrovnik
Gelato stop.
Getting on the Lupus Mare and meeting the great captain and fab crew.

Sipan and Mljet
First swim stop at Mljet or was it Sipan.
Love riding the electric bikes around the lake. Beauty everywhere and especially when strangers from Slovenia smilingly took our bikes to haul them down the stairs, over the bridge and up the embankment. They were wonderful and kind.

Korcula
Meeting a family with 5 children from Bavaria not far from where I lived as a kid. Sang the only German song I knew and, fortunately, they joined in a carried it well. Very faithful family.

Vis
Another but different Blue Grotto experience with a speedboat to and from.
A professor of Croatian music singing American folks songs who was surprised when I asked him to sing Croatian songs. He enthusiastically changed repertoires and sang beautifully Croatian heritage songs. We knew they were authentic because Anna, KC and Kara were singing along. Delightful.
A great swim stop. Loved how many who said they weren’t really that into swimming were all in and having a ball. Great water. So crystal clear with patches of turquoise water reflecting from white sands below. Folks out on kayaks, canoes, the bullet and the wave runner. What a tranquil spot.

Hvar
Having the men’s a capella choir perform. What tight, perfect harmonies with tenderness and bravado. And seeing our ship’s crew comfortable with us so they sat with us and loved it. But they were singing LOUDLY some of the songs and lip-syncing others. So charming to enjoy what they were enjoying and loving of their culture.

Brac
Atop their highest peak with a great view.
The wharf on the other side of the island.
The unexpectedly good olive oil museum and great lunch.

Split
Diocletian’s palace was so expansive and far more intact than I recalled.
The smaller ruins of the amphitheater in Solin.
Seeing the staff again of the Bellevue Hotel. Loved the breakfasts.

Zadar
Attending the branch. Amazed they conducted the service in English – made me feel a bit uncomfortable that we were intruding, but, we weren’t and we felt at home meeting with the Croatian saints. The branch president’s talk won’t be forgotten. Tough establishing the gospel here. Milos and his wife leaving all they had in St. George and moving here to help the Church and Saints was inspirational.

Krka
Helping Mike up the million stairs – all uneven – and watching Mike never complain but worked hard to make it up the stairs. He’d stop now and then and comment on the beauty. And Ethan was such a great help to a grandfather he obviously adored.

Sibenik
Eating on the esplanade and the incredible fortune of having been told in advance to get reservations and go early to eat so we had front row seats for the evening light show against the sails of the boats, the wonderful “Blood, Sweat and Tears” type group blasting their great singers and instruments from a barge nearby in the bay. All followed by one of the best fireworks displays I’ve ever seen. Even beat the DC and Freedom Festival fireworks shows. Loved being with so many friends from our cruise in three different adjacent restaurants. Then Elizabeth gave our waitress a copy of a Croatian Book of Mormon. She was thrilled – Liz too.

Road to Pula
Nice stop at Nikolai Tesla’s home grounds near Gospic. And the canyon/ravine that dropped 2,000 feet was pretty nice.
Going into the amazing amphitheater in Pula left an impression.

Venice
Enjoyed winding our way through the back streets of Venice. Our original guide canceled at the last minute so we had a new guide who really loved the back streets. Pi

Kent Brooksby

9/26/2022 12:39:27 pm

Special memories of our Croatia trip:

1. Making new friends. We met people we would never have met in the course of our ordinary lives. What was really special was the unity we instantly felt with our new friends, simply based on our commonality of faith. Within a day, it felt like we had known each other for years.

2. The warmth and hospitality of the Croatian people, especially the crew of the Lupus Mare. We will never forget the smiles and graciousness of Kasija, Anna, and Petra and the captain of the ship. They were so friendly and helpful, seeming to anticipate our every need.

3. The GELATO! YUMMMMM!

4. The special spirit we enjoyed at the Sunday meetings in Zadar, as the Branch President spoke of the hardships his family had endured over the centuries, reminding us that "hard does not mean bad." And the sweet spirit of the meeting after the meeting as the Proctors shared their experiences with the prophets.

5. The incredible beauty of the Adriatic. Going back over the pictures I took I am amazed at the number of photos of the crystal blue water. I will never forget the color of the water inside the cave of the Blue Grotto we visited on our first day in Kotor. The deep, iridescent dark blue of that water sticks in my mind as a sweet memory).

6. The morning devotionals and evening programs with the Leostrins and the Proctors. Beginning every new day with a group prayer. Great memories!

7. All the pre-tour work done by the Stoddards, having everything lined up and ready for us to make the transition from place to place seamless and stress free. We could have gone on a big cruise ship and seen similar sights, but this trip was so intimate and unforgettable. Thank you, thank you!

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Favorite Memories From Croatia and beyond

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