WPC: Ch-ch-changes

What to say but that I used to be so afraid of change and yet have since changed city, country, language, sea, climate, amore, dog, state of my fingernails, glasseslessness, tomatolessness. Only the smile remains.

First, a symbol of change as I knew it: a tree. I used to have four photos of the same tree in four seasons on my wall. They were distinctly distinct. All I can muster now in this climate is this:

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Here is an example of a more drastic change, the new and old school in Završje, in Croatian Istria. (ADD-IT: Newly refurbished, I should say.) To the second image a grateful hand has added: “Compliments for the air-conditioning!!!”

Then we have a case of a card tournament changing from municipal to international when the Italian flag is added.

2012

2014

Houses grow.

2008

2015

Dog follows dog.

2009

2015

Dogs grow.

2013

2014

Everything changes, only the smiles remain. One for each year together.

December 2012

October 2013

January 1st 2014

September 2015

Photo: MM (except New Year in Piran by a friendly soul)

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Change.”

WPC: Un giorno buono

This Thursday was indeed un giorno buono, a good day. We spent it discovering the part of Croatian peninsula Istria along the Mirna river which is such a good and quiet river that in Italian it is called Quieto. I love it when Weekly Photo Challenge imitates life.

Most of the time was spent in arty Grožnjan (Italian: Grisignana) and cinematic Motovun (It. Montona). I could make two separate posts for them but… the hack, life is short. Završje (It. Piemonte) I covered in this week’s Thursday Doors, while Oprtalj (It. Portole) provided lunch.

It was hard not to shoot every door (coming up in future Thursdays) and sit behind every table we encountered which you can see for yourself, just follow the story in captions.

Grožnjan

Welcome to Grožnjan!

So close to Slovenia and still first time I see it.

Arty touches on every building.

Including an orange goat…

…opposite a perfect tree.

Music is in the air.

The first table to call me its Favourite.

This one did not go by unnoticed either.

This one almost won, even if only for the awesome awning.

So edgy.

Pointing to Motovun on the hill, our last destination of the day.

But the winner was the shady neighbour.

Entrance to a restaurant.

Artist is present?

Happy.

“Look, a blog,” dad said.

“Infamous three stripes” and another…

…almost bestia.

Inspiring Grožnjan, ciao!

Greetings from your table testers.

Završje & Oprtalj

Father is directing Završje and me. Photo: BM

Cat in Završje

Oprtalj provided lunch but not at this table.

Motovun

Either late or VERY early for next year’s film festival.

A little trick – first you pay for parking, then for transfer uphill and then you still have to walk.

But it is worth it.

First table gone by.

And another – even though it has our name all over it, especially above. 😀

The Mirna river and the road which we took about a month ago to reach Krk island.

Tuscanicious.

A river or a road?

Up on the wall, getting thirsty.

Yep, a straw man.

The dog who came running to see who is whistling for him and why. /I did. What? I was missing bestia./

Quiet valley.

They are not nearly scared enough, considering.

Truffle town

A chocolate house

And even though they brag about their wines…

…our star-crossed table is still empty and waiting.

And another one bites the dust.

But eventually – we found our match. Grazie, Motovun, we will return for a film or two.

Photo: MM & BM (of Završje and me)

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Today Was a Good Day.”

Thursday Doors, August 21

Yesterday I took 350 photo. I bet almost 200 of them were of doors, because my uncle kept yelling DOOORS at noticing any candidate. It was Thursday after all.

The trip was to the Croatian Istria peninsula, just across the border with Slovenia. The route was Grožnjan (Italian: Grisignana), Završje (Italian: Piemonte), Oprtalj (it. Portole) and Motovun (it. Montona) with an international film festival. To say that it reminded me of home, sounds a bit cocky, but I am a Tuscan now after all.

The rest of the towns will get their share of fame in the future, but today’s doors are all from Završje which is called Piemonte in Italian (just like Slovenian coast, this Croatian territory is bilingual as well). Unlike other towns it is practically abandoned.

First there is the church.

From it leads the old Romanesque road. And the doors that line it are in their last breaths.

As you reach the top, the doors must stop calling themselves that.

But there are also more familiar scenes: another church, a rare inhabited house with beautiful entrance, and your tired but happy traveller.

Photo: MM & BM (last)

For Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors challenge.