CROATIA JUNE 2018

It was a quick turnaround after Greece.  I was only back in England for a weekend before taking off again, this time to Croatia for a week of dancing on the Istrian Peninsula with Barbara Driscoll at Butterfly House in a little village in the hills.

Butterfly House.  I slept in the sky room at the top. 
It was a tiny room but had spectacular views and a balcony on 2 sides.

One of the many butterflies that visited the garden daily

We danced in the garden every morning, on the decking in the shade of a large tree

The week was a perfect mix of dancing and sightseeing.  We visited the hilltop village of Motovun, seen here in the distance

We danced in Motovun on the summer solstice 

Followed by a meal overlooking the valley and the forests where the truffles are harvested

I saw these containers high up on a ledge.  It is the local way of making liqueur at home.  They put alcohol and fruit in a jar and leave it out in the sun for some weeks.

The local towns were full of character.   The streets were paved with travertine which had been there since Roman times.  It was VERY smooth and VERY slippery, especially when walking up and down the many hills.  Luckily we all survived unscathed.

This old town wall had wood from an olive tree embedded above the gateway, as a symbol of peace

In the old town of Poric we saw some beautiful examples of 4th century stone mosaics

And the Basilica was full of fine mosaic work on a huge scale, made with real gold leaf

At the top of yet another hill, overlooking the bay