Hvar, Croatia

I am still not totally sure how you say it but we are in Hvar and we Love it.  We liked Split we love Hvar.  There is not much here not to like.  Crystal clear blue water, yachts (and lots of them), beautiful old buildings, palm trees, and of course us.  It is very nice.  We got here via catamaran passenger ferry from Split.  Todd had to leave early to get the tickets, which gave me time to clean and pack.  We walked back to town to the ferry stop, Sierra started to complaint the moment we left the A/C so it was kind of a long walk but we made it.  It was only about a one hour ferry ride which was nice and when we got here we were greeted by the owner of the apartment we are staying in holding a printed sign that said "Sarah" on it.  I wish I had a picture I've never had that before.  Everyone else has been like, "you have 4 kids, I'll spot you."  We walked with Edi, the owner’s son, back to our home for the next few days.  It's right near the center of town which is great.  With some initial bargaining about having to pay to use the A/C (it's like 100 degrees, like I don't want the A/C.) We got settled and decompressed.  We have developed a sort of ritual when we travel.  We travel somewhere new and then the boys grab the iPads, girls go through every nook and cranny and completely rearrange everything (I have actually started taking pictures so that we can put it back when we leave) and Todd and I take a nap.  It's pretty stressful traveling with the kids.  They are great but it is always something so by the time we get there we are spent.  

Jumping in together

Pizza on the beach

Or Ice Cream on the Beach

Best time to swim you get the beach to yourself.

Ferry boat we took from Split, apparently the Pope has been on it as noted by several poster sized photos on the boat.

4th of July in Hvar full of patriotic Americans scantily clothed in stars and stripes.

Ya really we are walking more

Walking with Edi, owner of apt from the boat.

Pizza delivery man

The owners of the apartment live next door.  They are all super friendly.  The mother, Joki has a granddaughter, Nika who is around the girls age so they played together a while out on the patio.  Once I got Sierra and Hannah to communicate.  Joki offered to watch the kids for us so that Todd and I could go out to dinner.  It' super sweet and I think we will take her up on it.  Though I don't worry about the kids I worry about her surviving them.  Anyhow they are super nice which is great because I was starting to wonder about why Croatians were so quiet and austere.  

After we recovered, Todd took Jackson and went to the store.  They came back and I decided I had to get out so I took Sierra to the store to get all the stuff Todd did not.  I give him lists but I don't think he ever looks at them.  The store here is great, actually the best one we have seen in a while.  I think when we get home to the states we will basically buy everything as it will be familiar.  It's been so long since we have seen anything we are used to.  Sierra and I had fun we walked around a bit.  There is a ton of Party boats here, mostly with Americans, Brits, and Australians.  I had kind of forgotten that it was the 4th of July and was wondering why on earth everyone was wearing these ridiculous stars and stripes get ups.  Some of which I might add were pretty funny if not completely horrifying.  I then remembered it was the 4th and it did not seem so much like a strange dream.  

We had dinner, I so wish I was a better cook but frankly I am just not and there is no promise of improvement with time.  So when I say I made dinner I mean I made sandwiches with tomatoes and cheese and these little mini hot dogs and carrots, apples, and some corn chips.  Ya...dinner.  Anyhow after dinner, we gathered everyone up and headed out to the beach.  The coast line here is pretty rocky. It's beautiful though it's almost like tumbled marble slabs with crystal clear blue water washing away at it.  There are also "beaches" that are large 2"-4" pebbles.  While we were walking Hannah took a fall.  I picked her up and she was pulling up her skirt to show me her knee which was unscathed and she noticed her hand.  Which had blood all over it and dripping down her arm....great.  I don't think she would have even noticed until she saw it.  So she let out her typical "there is blood" scream and I quickly handed her off to Todd who did good work with the one napkin I had and some pressure.  

So having survived the spill we worked our way past a Las Vegas style party to find a beach.  Austin quickly jumped in and everyone, including Todd, followed.  They kids had fun jumping in, throwing rocks, and playing around for a while.  We then walked back.  Todd is off on a run and I finally got everyone to bed.  I cannot quite figure out Croatia but it is a beautiful place.  

Thursday July 5:

Today we got up and tried to beat the heat up the hill.  That is we got up and started to climb the hills behind Hvar where they have an ancient fortress.  It is remarkably preserved and was a great spot for the kids to explore.  It even has a prison.  The hike up was hot but shaded most of the way so there was little complaining.  Once there we enjoyed climbing around and taking in the view which was absolutely amazing from up there.  We came home, ate lunch, and proceeded with the local custom of siesta.  We have been having trouble with our Internet so Todd had gone to town to search out a signal.  It’s not a biggie when you don’t have it at all you just kind of deal with it…it’s when you kind of half have it that it becomes annoying.  Sierra and Hannah played with their little friend Nika from down stairs again.  They like her, or at least her toys and she seems to be having fun learning some English with the girls. 

Later in the day we went out and grabbed a Pizza.  We like the beach we were at yesterday which is right next to a beach club of sorts called the Hula Hula.  We ate pizza and swam.  It’s really a great time to go because the beach which is normally packed, as evidenced by the fact there are lounge chairs covering every inch of the beach, is completely vacant.  Plus you get a sun set and to watch the crazies at the club next door.  We swam and Todd schooled us in skipping rocks, again.  We walked back home, and everyone is in bed watching movies.  We are considering renting a boat.  It’s common here you can jump around all these little islands they have here, but I think the combination of 4 kids on a boat in the ocean and it being so hot has us a little discouraged with that idea.