Update on my mid-life crisis: September 2015

Florence, Italy

Florence Art - Thipp wasn't able to buy any of these masterpieces, although I'm sure that she would have liked to.

Italy

Kotor, Montenegro - Another picturesque coastal town, with castle, playground, art galleries, etc.

A rare photo of the three of us together. In Dubrovnik, Croatia

Play time in Mlini, Croatia

The Best of Croatia

When we left Split one week ago I wondered if it would prove to be the high point of our European trip. It was a beautiful place, with lots of history, a great house for us to stay, nice people, and a playground near by. We really enjoyed Split, but when we headed south to Dubrovnik it got even better.

What made our time in Dubrovnik so special was the family that we rented a suite from through AirB&B. Living in the small town of Mlini, about a 15 minute drive south of Dubrovnik, Luko drives the local garbage truck and Marija is a stay-at-home mom studying to be a kindergarten teacher. They have five children aged from 1.5 to 9. They also have a trampoline. For Alex it was the best week of this trip and possibly of his life. He spent many hours bouncing happily with the other children, with the language difference being no barrier.

We had initially booked for just three nights and ended-up staying for a week. As the suite was already reserved we simply moved upstair's to share brother Marko's apartment and enjoy his million dollar view. We made trips into Dubrovnik and enjoyed exploring the castle-walled old city. Thipp was tempted to take a "Game of Thrones" tour, but ultimately visited a historical museum. At the end of our visits we were happy to return to Mlini.

For our last evening we were invited to join the family for dinner. Marija and Thipp prepared the food and the result was a combination of fish, octopus and sushi. The kids played on the lawn and, of course, the trampoline, while the adults talked and drank homemade wine over a leisurely dinner on their back porch. Luca and Marjan may lead a relatively simple life, but in many ways it is one to envy.