56. New dolls' heads and LNG tanker

I can see new dolls' heads on my working table...

I needn't say how glad I am about it. 

And when I look through the window it is rainy, windy and autumny,

with a very high, as for this time of the year, temperature of ten degrees Centigrade...

We are waiting for the real winter like this in the picture below.

Have a look.

Carl Larsson's "Home, Family and Farm"

***

Heve you ever seen a cat walking along the beach?

It happened to me last Saturday, when I and my hubby drove to Świnoujście.

We went down to the beach near LNG Terminal.

The kitten was lovely, all striped with white bootees on his four paws.

What did he do here? - we wondered.

Perhaps he waited for the Qatari ship departure. Just like us.

The tanker with a liquified gas arrived in Świnoujście a few day ago.

And now she was ready to sail away.

We waited...

First we saw tug boats sailing up to the tanker. They looked so small compared with the colossal ship.

They were five. The boats were changing their position and finally they ranged themselves around the tanker.

It lasted quite a long time... 

Next the ship together with the tug boats around started to move very slowly.

In the beginning it was imperceptible, but after a while we saw a stripe of the pier invisible before.

Well, yes, it was evident the ship was moving. Very slowly but steadily.

She is mooooving!!

Suddenly we heard the hooter from the ship and after that the engines were turned on. 

Now only two tug boats, one ahead and the other behind the tanker, helped her maintain the direction. Little by little the other three lined up after the tanker.

A marvellous view!

When the tanker swiftly reached the exit of the Terminal, she stopped, and the tug boats moved away.

Then the ship easily turned right and... flowed away.

The whole operation lasted a bit more than an hour.

Believe me it was really fascinating to observe these actions happening  so close to us.

Part of LNG Terminal, Świnoujście

Thanks for dropping by.

Have a good day!

43. When it rains

Basko Polje near Baska Voda in Croatia

Now when it rains almost every day I like looking at my summer photos. 

This year we spent two weeks in Croatia. I remember when we reached Zagreb we decided on taking a road not a motorway. "It'll be better, you will see." - said my husband. "OK." - I agreed and added. "Yes, great. We can see more of Croatia then." And so we drove southward towards Makarska and Dalmacija.

40. Waiting for the ferry to Świnoujśćie

What am I going to work on now? I haven't decided yet. Meanwhile I cleaned off my table and went on an excursion...

It was Sunday afternoon when we set out for Świnoujście. It has always been a bit of a problem when driving to Świnoujście, the last Polish town on the borderline with Germany, because it is situated on two islands. To get to the main part of the town one has to take a ferry. Sometimes the waiting time for the ferry is two hours!

As expected we saw a long queue of cars in front of us. After fifteen minutes' time we gave up and decided to withdraw.

What to do?.. We heard there was a nature reserve about here, but actually never had time to visit it. We might go there now, why not. Let's try and find it!

Very soon we found out it was a good idea.

A couple of swans

The reserve is called Karsiborska Kępa "Birds' Sanctuary" and it is situated in the region of back delta of the river Świna. The landscape is greatly diverse with over forty isles and the river meandering among them. From time to time a tourists' ship turns up. Lovely place, peaceful and quiet.

The reserve itself consists of broad meadows and pastures. Soon we were in the fields of grass waving in the wind all around and we heard birds' singing.

Some horses were grazing in the pastures nearby. They were quiet and admirable... 

On the horizon we noticed a group of cows... 

Since they were far off we started strolling in their direction stopping now and then. 

Unexpectedly we saw them quite near. They were moving towards us, 

some of them even running, what was worse they were on the same path as we. 

Probably they crossed wires fencing the fields... 

We quickly retreated, and the cows.. after a while they left in the direction of the river.

Polish primitive horse (Konik polski), specific Polish breed with beautiful blue dun hair coat.

Here you can see some local farmers' horses grazing in the reserve pastures from spring to autumn.

In the neighbouring village there was an interesting mediaeval church from 15th century. 

And the flowering grass everywhere. 

Heron or crane? Who knows. 

The path where we saw cows.

We had a lovely afternoon here. 

The next day I wanted to go back to this lovely place. 

Thank you for your visit.

Have a nice weekend.

33. In the orchard

Abandoned orchard

There is an old plum orchard near our house...

Each year about this time the abandoned orchard comes into flower. 

For a fortnight it turns into white marvel. 

A mysterious garden.

For years new plum-trees have grown around the orchard. 

They have a beautiful spherical  shape as the tree in the photo below. 

In the autumn they have lots of plums, but they are inedible. So sour.

A plum-tree that has run wild in its spring loveliness

When May comes 

nightingales hiding in the thicket of the orchard start singing their love songs. 

They sing day and night  for two, three weeks. 

Apparently the birds got used to people and the noise people make. 

They seem not to pay attention to their neighborhood, 

however sometimes they fly away frightened when they are disturbed too much. 

It does happen from time to time, and believe me it is so quiet then. 

Too quiet. 

I can't wait to hear them sing again this year.

An abandoned orchard - our mysterious garden.

Thank you for stopping by. The sun is out now and it's finally warming. 

Have a pleasant weekend.

19. About Istria in Croatia

Storm with a whirlpool on the Adriatic Sea.

During our stay in Istria we toured quite a number of places. First we went by ship to Rovinj 

(Italian Rovigno). Before we reached it, we saw a storm with a whirlpool on the sea westward. Luckily the storm was a long distance from our ship, somewhere near to the Italian shore 

where Venice was. About a hundred kilometres from us. We sighed with relief... 

Below Rovinj.

Rovinj. Old Town with  St. Euphemia's basilica towering over the hill.

Rovinj. A steep alley.

There are lots of narrow lanes climbing up to the top of the hill in Rovinj. We took this one.

Lim Canal. Nine-kilometre long estuary of the river Pazincica near Rovinj.

 Then Pula. Pula (Pola in Italian) is probably the oldest town on the Croatian coast of the 

Adriatic. Its most famous monument is a great Roman amphitheatre, Pula Arena constructed 

in 1st c. A.D., still standing to this day.  

Yet we were impressed by another monument - remains of the small Roman Theatre originating from 2nd century A.D. with  fragments of auditorium and proscenium.

Pula. Impressive ancient theatre.

And below the monastery of St. Francis built in the Romanesque style from the end 

of  13th century.

Pula. St. Francis' monastery.

We also visited Opatija (Abbazia in Italian) situated on the eastern coast of Istria by the Kvarner Gulf. There we liked a long promenade along the seashore extending for 12 km.

Opatija. Sculpture of a girl with a dove. View of Rijeka in the background.

Opatija. The same sculpture from a different side with a view of the Kvarner Gulf.

Polish traces in Opatija. A plaque commemorating stay
of Marshall Józef Piłsudski.

 

Eventually we went to Porec (Italian Parenzo) to see the most precious monument in Istria - 

the Euphrasian Basilica (inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List) - from 6th century A.D.

It was late evening, but we found the place easily. Inside the basilica we saw the most beautiful Byzantine mosaics. Porec was worth visiting.

Porec. Byzantine mosaics in the Euphrasian Basilica.

Porec. Ancient floor mosaic from 4th /5th c.

Leaving the basilica we popped in to a small gallery, where we wanted to buy some nicely looking souvenirs from Porec. Inside there was a tourist talking to a young shop-assistant. The girl was showing her a jug decorated with traditional regional patterns.  She was telling affectionally how her father (who was a sculptor) collected the patterns  travelling around, talking to people living in this part of Croatia, trying to obtain information, and so on.

The tourist asked with excitement:  Croatia? What do you mean Croatia? We are in Istria, aren't we?

The girl:   Yes, but Istria is in Croatia. We are in Croatia, aren't we? This is the name of the country you are in.

The lady:   No, this is not Croatia. This is Istria...

Well, tourists...   
Those were the holidays...

And now I think it 's time for new dolls to turn up.

Thank you very much for popping in.  

     

18. Croatia

Last shot from Croatia at the border crossing with Slovenia.
(with the view of vineyards on the hills.)

In September we were on holidays in Croatia. We spent two weeks on the most protruding southward end of Istria, on Kamenjak cape near the town Premantura.

Little bays with beaches, isles, Island Cres appearing on the horizon.  This is how the coast of Adriatic looks like from Kamenjak.

Kamenjak with Premantura far off.

Even now I can remember and feel that smell of the air, a mixture of herbal oils with spray sea water, warmth of the sun and wind. Water in the sea was not as warm as in August, but it was still much easier to get used to it than in the Baltic Sea in August (not September!) The time was going by as we swam, sunbathed and went sightseeing Istria. We started, however, with exploring Kamenjak...

Kamenjak and the view of the Uczka mountain massif on the horizon -
 the highest range of mountains in Istria.

Kamenjak. Blue thistle.

End of Istria, Kamenjak and land.   There stretches only the Adriatic Sea outside.
(You can see a tiny island and a lighthouse behind it on the left.)

Waters surrounding the end of Kamenjak are dangerous because of strong sea currents occuring there. Accordingly a relevant warning is placed nearby. However...

The last snip of Kamenjak and adventurous swimmers.

However... adventurers who like hazard can be found anywhere like the swimmers in this pic...

Gate or arch built from small pieces of rock and stones by a talented tourist

We often passed this "gate" walking to the sea. We liked it very much...

Kamenjak is a nature park. It is a beautiful place. What else have we seen in Istria? There is so much to write about that I 'll do it in a separate post.

Thank you for popping in.

16. In the countryside

I would like to present some shots from around Kamień Pamorski, 

a small town situated about 20 km off the sea. 

On our way from Wolin to Kamień Pomorski we spotted three storks' nests with storks, 

parents and their youth, inside. 

The three nests were located on electric line poles, near the houses, 

almost in the farmyard.

Storks' nest. A little stork inside.

10. On the way to Międzyzdroje

For some time I've been travelling from Wrocław to Międzyzdroje and back to Wroclaw. 

I like this road, especially  a section between Gorzów Wielkopolski and Międzyzdroje, 

being an express way S3.

During a drive I frequently stop for a short break in a village Gościkowo-Paradyż on the river Paklica, placed between Zielona Góra and Międzyrzecz. You will find here a remarkable monastery called Paradyż (Paradise) originating from the 13th century. 

Near the main entrance to the monastery there grow old trees, mostly platans.

Gościkowo-Paradyż, Monastery Paradise viewed from the main entrance

Gościkowo-Paradyż, platans near the main gate

Yet a small coffee and quick glance at the trees stretching their branches above my head (such a fresh green) and off I go.

Gościkowo-Paradyż, view of the branches of the old platans stretching above my head when I look at them drinking coffee

A now it is time for a little trailor, kind of surprise. Here is my new doll Ania or Anja. 

She already appeared during our trip with Mila to Łeba,

 if you remember.

She will be available in my ETSY boutique soon!

Waldorf doll *comapnion doll * ANIA, 14,5 inches tall

Have a nice day!