Category Archives: Croatia

Rising from the dead

or how I watched Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Honestly, I didn’t think it would be a movie that would spur me to write. But that’s the beauty of life, it surprises you. Well, it’s beauty if you like surprises. πŸ™‚ Which I do.

Which is also what happened yesterday (surprise). πŸ™‚ I heard about the movie some time ago and was very prejudiced (hehe) because I love that story and putting zombies into it did not seem like a good idea.

Boy was I wrong!

I’ve been promoting the movie to everyone ever since I watched it, and the question I get is whether it’s a parody. I have no idea what genre this movie is. πŸ˜€ Not a parody.

Now I’m wondering if anyone else has seen it and what do you think of it? And if you haven’t seen it, do you think you might? Please try. πŸ™‚

Btw, I actually thought when I wrote again it would be to show some summer/sea photos. I’ll just add some from this weekend now. πŸ˜‰

Hope

That’s what I’ve been feeling with the start of this year. I don’t really know why. The last two years have felt like so much is happening and nothing is happening at the same time. I guess much news was happening, but our lives were mostly stagnant (that is my perspective). I know my life was stagnant.

Speaking of hope, I don’t want to do another post where I hope I’ll start writing more. I don’t know if that will happen but I know I am not ready to let my blog go.

But to get back to hope.

I think many of us weren’t aware of how hopeless we felt in the last two years. I know I didn’t even though I knew I didn’t feel like myself. Getting lost in life is something I believe many of us face at some point in our lives, even without a pandemic.

What I did to help myself was to regularly journal and include 3 things I am grateful for each time I write. From the smallest things like enjoying my coffee, to bigger stuff like being grateful for the family and friends. And eventually new year rolled along and I felt differently. I finally feel like I can get my life back on track.

Today helped move that idea along. πŸ™‚

Finally I went for a hike and enjoyed some snow. Followed by a great lunch with a friend and then a beer with another. Walking home from that beer we realized there is a new perfumery in town and even though I was ready to walk away (shame on me!) my friend said lets go in (because she knows me). On top of the amazing day I had, I got to feel like a little child in a candy shop. πŸ˜€ I don’t remember the last time I went into a niche perfume store. I enjoyed the experience and loved the lady working there because it was obvious she was having fun with us.

The name of the shop is Belodore and the one in Zagreb has amazing staff.

I don’t actually have a message to share with you – just the hope I feel. And pictures taken today at Sljeme. I love both winter and snow.

Wishing all of you a hopeful and healthy year ahead!

When you can’t run, walk

Or crawl as that was what I almost did this Saturday.

You all know how much I loved running and was a bit depressed upon learning that I couldn’t anymore. Well, it turns out there is this thing called trail running/trekking (I know it’s not exactly the same but as I walk in both cases it’s pretty much the same to me) which comes close to the same thing as running.

I decided to try trail running and see if my back could support it. So far I only did one training where I actually did some running, the rest was fast walking or just walking uphill.

Which brings me to last Saturday.

There was a B2B trail in Croatia and my company decided to participate, so 20 of us went to the island of Krk to try our best in trail running.

Not to keep you in suspense, I did no running at all. πŸ˜€ The path was rocky and steep and at one point I moved at a snail’s pace. I wanted to say literally at a snail’s pace but it wasn’t, turtle would be more appropriate. In my defense, it was extremely steep and everyone in my category of ‘only being able to walk’, was slow getting up that part.

It won’t be an exaggeration when I say this was one of the most difficult races I ever finished and I only walked. But getting up on a rocky mountain and then climbing down those steep hills is actually quite difficult. It’s a rather sharp uphill battle when you start climbing. Turns out getting down that kind of mountain is not as fast as one might think.

And since I made it in the time allotted I am very happy with myself. It is a bit painful walking these last two days but I don’t mind. It just means it will be less difficult next time. Although next time I’ll carefully checkΒ in advance what the trail looks like. πŸ˜‰

Saturday was an amazingly sunny and beautiful day so I’ll leave you with some of the pictures we took that day, and show off my colleagues that were as enthusiastic to participate as was I.

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P.S. Forgot to say. The air on Krk was amazingly fragrant! The spring was in the sea air.

Yoga retreat in Istria

For the May 1st weekend I decided to see what a yoga retreat looks like and went to one with a friend. It was organized by Slovenians who seem to have more free days around May 1st so the long weekend turned out to actually be 5 days.

And let me warn you for future reference – if you want to participate in a retreat organized by Slovenians, you better be in really good shape because they seem to be able to exercise all day long and continue that days on end (it turned out I can’t). πŸ™‚

The retreat we went to was an acro yoga retreat that Danijela (friend I went with) and I practice occasionally. I actually thought we were doing fine until this retreat. πŸ˜€ The people who came practice acro yoga for much longer (and most of them are actually yoga teachers who have daily practices) so it turned out us beginners had some problems following the more advanced poses. Still, we did our best and I’m quite happy with that.

Even though it was an acro yoga retreat, we would start each day with a yoga session – the sessions were organized by the elements so we went through earth, water, fire and air. I found it really interesting that the hardest one for me was water because when I look at my natal chart (astrological) water is the one element missing in it.

And as if yoga wasn’t enough, we did some rock climbing as well. πŸ™‚ Well, they did. πŸ˜€ I tried one day, realized it’s not the thing for me and when the next day they went for more, I enjoyed the sun and the beach and went for a really short swim (the sea is still very cold!).

To sum up my experience – I loved it! I ached all over for days but had the greatest time and met some wonderful people. I also realized I’m in terrible shape. πŸ˜€ At least compared to everyone else who was there. My body still feels weak, like all the energy went out of my muscles and is very slowly finding its way back. Still, wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Here are some pictures of what it all looked like:

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Did not climb far πŸ˜€

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One of the best Istrian sunsets

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What acro yoga looks like

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Swimming at 14 degrees Celsius (not for long though) πŸ˜‰

Summer vacation is over

And autumn seems to already be here…

When I looked back on my vacation, I realized I really did get enough rest and I enjoyed my time off. Even when the weather turned cold and windy. The books occupied my time while I waited for the sun’s return.

I’m not sure if you can see it in this picture, but the wind “bura” was blowing and there is a white fog over the sea.

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But then, when the wind and the rain stopped, it became possible to catch pictures of sun through the trees.DSC_0043

Most of my vacation was spent in Smokvica, we just traveledΒ for the last few days to southern Dalmatia to watch Β Maraton laΔ‘a – a famous event in that part of Croatia where teams compete on the river Neretva in rowing old-fashioned boats native to that region. For 22,5km! That is more than 2,5 hours of rowing.

But before the main event, we were lucky to have dinner at a place that features this sunset in front of it.Β DSC_0053

And views like this one:DSC_0056

In order to get to the start of the race boats are organized for tourists that first take you for a swim and a lunch and then to the start of the race.

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And here go the teams – there were 34 of them.DSC_0064

This is what cheering from the boat looks like. πŸ™‚

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And now I’m back in Zagreb, just so you don’t think my hair always looks that disheveled, I have a fresh hairstyle.

(that will probably be disheveled in 2 days time) πŸ˜€DSC_0078

Long time, no sea

Sorry, couldn’t help myself. πŸ™‚ It’s been a long time since I wrote anything, and well, this post will come with sea photos. πŸ˜‰ 

Yes, I’m on vacation. Finally.

I had (still have) time to think about what’s been going on in my life and pondering the reasons why I no longer have the time and/or energy to read and write. Honestly though, I haven’t come to any smart conclusions. Life takes you on a path and before you know it, all that once brought you pleasure as a hobby suddenly no longer fits into the hours in a day. I hate that.

So I spent my first week of vacation basically doing nothing. Just resting from the hectic pace my life is when I go to work. 

I sleep a lot, go for a swim, do some yoga and pilates and read. I’m just doing things I enjoy and that bring me relaxation and hopefully, one of these relaxed days I will have an epiphany and realize how to make time in my routine for things that make me happy and relaxed.
Because when I’m happy and relaxed, nice things happen to me. Like talking to a neighbor and discovering a new perfume gem I now covet. 

Cartier’s La Panthere. 

I was so surprised to find myself enjoying a perfume I thought was for older ladies. πŸ˜€ Oh, well, I’m the first to admit I’m prejudiced. 

Anyway, I hope to do a review sometime in the near future. So far, I can only say that after reading the notes, I am no longer surprised I fell for it. There is gardenia hidden in its heart. πŸ™‚ 

And to leave you now with typical Smokvica sights:

Merry Christmas!

From Zagreb! πŸ™‚

I wish everyone a very merry Christmas, spent among people you love, hopefully with some good food and drinks as well! πŸ™‚

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This is a photo of what Advent (part of it) looks like in Zagreb. I took the photo today while passing by.

Ingrid DivkoviΔ‡: J..e li vas ego?

Or, loosely translated into English, Is your ego fu..ing with you?

Well, I hope you’re intrigued by the title as I was. πŸ™‚ jebe li vas

I was at the book signing on Monday as I thought this might be an interesting book to read and after hearing the author say how it came about, I decided to get my copy and read it. It’s a fast read as it’s notΒ  a long book, and also, it’s not a self-help book. It’s more author’s musings on different situations that happened to her in life that made her realize how much she reacts from/with her ego than anything else. Something we can all relate to.

I find it funny that I can say that Ingrid is still young (she’s 30) and you can tell from her writing she is young. I’m not that much older than she but it feels like I am, after reading the book.She still has that naive outlook at life (which I had for quite a while as well) and it shows in her writing. Not that I mind, I just find it funny that I look it that way now.

For her first book, it’s amazingly interesting and full ofΒ thoughts that make so much sense from a female perspective. I might be prejudiced, but I somehow don’t think men would understand them as women do.

And although the book suffers from some beginner mistakes (mostly the thoughts feel unfinished), it is still a book you read in one sitting because once you start you just go on. It also makes you feel good about yourself and leaves you with a positive outlook on your future.

I really look forward to reading what Ingrid writes next because it’s rare to find a Croatian writer I like and think has so much potential.

Picture taken from ingriddivkovic.com

It’s autumn and I’m still posting summer pictures

My last stop during the summer was island of Hvar where I went to run a half-marathon. A most beautiful race but definitely the most difficult one as more than half of it is uphill (and parts of that uphill are 10% hills). Anyway, it was a great experience and the town of Hvar is really beautiful (the whole island is). So I’m leaving you with some of my summer memories… πŸ™‚

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Profumo di Rovigno

I would haveΒ been a very bad perfumista if, when possible, I wouldn’t had visited the only different perfume shop in town where I was staying. In Rovinj, it was a little shop called Profumo di Rovigno where I spent more money than I expected, all thanks to the lovely owner and her products.

There are only two perfumes, the woman and man variant of Profumo di Rovigno and I admit that the woman version is a really nice floral. It contains the synthetic musks I have a problem with, but I still liked it a lot and thought is was extremely reasonably priced for the perfume you got (it’s been a while but I think it was around 30 Euros for 100ml).

The things I bought were a home perfume with the note of oud – La Notte di S. Lorenzo, a herbal/floral refreshing water Aqua di Rovigno and several soaps. There is something for everyone in that shop, I dare you go there and leave empty-handed. πŸ˜‰

I thouroughly enjoyed my experience and almost succumbed to the amazingly beautifl silk scarves they have (that would be the only reason to advise anyone to not go there – they might succumb to silky temptation).

Still, if you’re ever in Rovinj, go visit the store, it’s definitely a place to see and smell and enjoy your senses, both scentual and sensual.

You can check more of what they have on offer on their site.

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Entrance

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Interior

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The owner

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Soaps! πŸ™‚

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