Spring Break (Part 2) - The Ferry and the Villa

Monday morning, we woke bright and early and packed up to catch the ferry.  We left some extra time for getting lost, which was good because we did.  In the midst of trying to figure out where we were and wondering if we gave ourselves enough extra time, Rosetta provided one of her classic moments of comic relief:  I stalled the car turning around in a parking lot, and she innocently asked, "Daddy, you don't know how to drive?"  It's tough to take yourself seriously when you have a four-year-old questioning your driving abilities.

But, we did figure it out and managed to get to the ferry in plenty of time, where we met our good friends Cindy and Don, who had driven down to Split separately.  It was a beautiful day for the ferry and the kiddos were very excited about being on the big boat.  The ride out to Vis was two hours and wove through several of the islands off the coast of Croatia.  It was a gorgeous view, but the best part was that no one got sick.

When we arrived in Vis, the people who were renting us their house met us at the ferry and led the way up through the hills and then along the coast to their "Villa Tempera".  It was one of the most picturesque places any of us had ever been, and no description we can write will do it justice.  The house and landscaping were immaculate, with tiered patios and gardens leading down from the road to the house to the water.  The gardens were filled with lavender, rosemary, and olive, lemon, and orange trees, as well as lizards, snails, and bumble bees.  The beauty of the Adriatic and sound of the waves was accented by the smell of the gardens, especially the lavender.  Plus, the owners, Sanja and Vladislav and their daughters, were incredibly nice: they gave us a champagne welcome, which included juice and Easter pastries for the kids and an octopus salad, green salad, fresh bread, fresh fruit and a prisciutto and cheese plate that fed us for three meals.  They even offered to let us stop at their house in Split on the way back to freshen up before our drive to Ljubljana!

It was the type of place and people that we won't soon forget (in a good way).  In fact, as Rosetta and I sat on the rocks below their villa with our toes in the water one afternoon, I couldn't help looking out to the sea and islands in the distance, thinking, "It really can't get much better than this."