Two Worlds - beauty and tragedy

Today, on our 2nd last day of our journey, Linda took us to see the spectacular Plitvic Lakes national park! What an amazing place! It was proclaimed a National Park in 1949 and a Unesco World Heritage site in 1979. The waterfalls are absolutely outstanding and they have created kilometers and kilometers of boardwalks so you can walk around and enjoy the staggering beauty. The park represents a phenomenon of karst hydrography which forms these amazing towers and caves of travertine (I always loved that material and now I know why it is so expensive). We took a tonne of pics so I will happily share those when we get home.

The tragic part was seeing all the damaged homes on the road to the park. The different republics of the former Yugoslavia were at war with themselves in 1991 to 1995. The Serbians, Croatians and Bosnians were battling. We saw many, many homes that have not been repaired yet and you can see the machine- gun spray of bullets and also bombed homes. I remember hearing about the war, but seeing the damage now makes me so sad. We humans can be so cruel.

Now Croatia is doing well. It is an incredibly beautiful country with a stunning coastline. The undulating hillsides remind me of the drive through Salmon Arm. So green, so beautiful! The people are friendly, the cities are clean and greenspace is plentiful.

We are so fortunate in Canada. We have so much: inexpensive housing (yes even in Kelowna), space, and opportunities abound. I will appreciate it more.

This journey we have been on has changed us all. We have all grown as individuals and as a family. I have more desire for the simple pleasures: good fresh food, and good wine and time just being with Derek and the girls (and friends!) And I would like to think that I will need less of the material things.

Tomorrow is our last day... We will savour it like the 59 before... And are ready to come home.

I feel so bloody lucky! Two fabulous months to explore and learn. Thank you for reading our blog and for listening to my rambling... I encourage you all to hug those you love, to travel if you can, and to Carpe Diem!

Much love,

Tamara and the French Moran Clan

Croatia! What a Finale to this Trip!

Holy smokes this is one of the most beautiful places any of us have ever, ever been to!!! We landed in Zagreb on Wednesday and then Linda and her husband Davor and son Luka wisked us off to the island of Krk! We spend yesterday lounging on their boat (yacht!) in the Med sea frolicking, swimming, sunning and relaxing! Wow!!!  After the hustle and bustle of Paris (|and that damn rain) this is paradise!!!  Paradise!!!  My Mum laughed at me and said that I keep saying that I love each place we've been to best..... but now I mean it.  I think!!! 

We return to Canada next week and I will upload the best pics of our incredible sabbatical from life at home! We have learned so much! We have grown a lot... we have had the best best best time ever!!!

See you all soon!

Much much love!

Hvala! (thanks in Croatian)

Tamara and family