CROATIA, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL TOUR.

The itinerary of our UK and European tour in 2018 allowed only two days in London. Early morning on the third day, we were to depart London from Stanford Airport to Rome. But all of a sudden, the airport employees of Rome called for a strike and the airport was closed. Our travel agency, Oasis, was so considerate that they did not inform us about the predicament to keep us away from embarrassment.

There was no way to go to Rome by flight, hence the tickets were canceled. The expert agency worked the whole night and came to a solution. The forty member party was divided into three groups, all going to Croatia by three different routes, one via Germany and another via Austria and the third directly to Croatia. Croatia is a country at the crossroads of Central and southeast Europe. It shares a coastline along the Adriatic Sea.

Split Airport

The three groups reached at" SPLIT" Airport of Croatia by three different routes. It was a pleasant surprise to be at Croatia, which was an unexpected fortune. The topography of Croatia looked panoramically magnificent while landing in Split airport, very near to SPLIT harbour. We were comfortable in Croatia as eighty percent of the Croatians were bilingual and spoke English.

Split Croatia

Croatia is famous for its scenic pebbled beaches which are beautifully lapped by crystal clear waters. It is where you will find a wonderful climate with over 2500 hours of sun per year, beautiful cultural cities, picturesque ports, stunning nature, and hundreds of islands.

Split

Tourism is a notable source of income during the summer and a major industry in Croatia. Croatia has the most enviable lifestyles in the world. The waterfront cafes of most coastal towns are crowded. This little Croatia incidentally became the champions of World Cup Football in 2018, the year we were there.

Split Harbour

SPLIT is a quintessential Mediterranean city with a small town vibe, noisy streets, and easy going locals. All the three groups of tour party joined in Split harbour. Our further journey to Rome was arranged by a voyage in a large luxury ship called, " Markopolo". That voyage in the calm and quiet Adriatic sea was the most comfortable hours of our one month tour of thirteen countries.

The dinner in Marcopolo, in mid sea was so sumptuous with seafoods and various other delicious cuisines. That night voyage in a calm and serene Adriatic sea, never been a rough sea any time, but flashing with gentle ripples with the beautiful illuminations of the Split city around was an unexpected fortune. In the dawn of next day none of us were pleased to disembark at Ancona harbour on Italy's Adriatic coast.

As it was at night, when we embarked in Marko polo in Split harbour, we could only enjoy the interior beauty and comforts of the ship at night, but as we came out of Marcopolo in the morning light, we were in goosebumps with the exterior view of the ship. A cheap pride conquered us to have achieved something undeserved. A luxury Mercedes Benz coach was waiting in Ancona harbour to take us to Rome.

Marko Polo

The deviation of the tour through, Croatia, Split, the Adriatic Sea in Marko polo, etc. due to the unexpected airport strike took us to a world of fantasy where we have a fixed deposit of everlasting pleasant memories, which we ruminate when we sit idle and communicate in social media with the tour group, in which many are totally in retired life. As William Wordsworth says, in "Daffodils".

"For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant and in pensive mood

That flashes upon my inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude

And my heart with pleasure fills

And dances with Marko polo"