The following photo collages of beautiful national costumes displayed in Split’s Ethnographic Museum.

Modern (and communist era) apartment buildings form the Split skyline outside of the picturesque historical core (upper.) Not far outside of Split we encountered farmland and small villages (lower.)

After the horrfic terrorist attacks in Paris, flowers and candles were left outside the French Embassy in Split (upper left.) The first time (on this trip) neighbors invited us over was in Split, Croatia (upper right.) On our final day we discovered an entrepreneur with whom we share a common interest – coffee! (lower, right)

We enjoyed a free Organ and Choir concert.

Omis, about 10 miles down the coast from Split, nestled between the Adriatic and mountains. We visited the beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik on a previos trip so we didn’t return this time.

Arching majestically over the Neretva River, the newly rebuilt Stari Most. In the summer divers dive nearly 68 feet from the bridge.

Minarets and bell towers punctuate the Mostar skyline. A memorable home-style meal of local dishes. There were several rice dishes, but they all tasted different and were delicious. I’m all bundled up because a terrifically strong and cold wind was blowing through Mostar.

We stayed 2 nights in Mostar. The quaint historic center is built alongside the river. Although a lot of bombed out buildings are still visible, so are cranes and signs of new construction.

The Keski Mehmed Pasha Mosque was built in 1619.

The view from our guesthouse room window. Notice the heavy flagstone roofing.

Adnan, another friendly soul, took us under his care and showed us Blagoj, a national monument and the source of the Buna River.

The Tekija Blagoj National Monument, a 14th-century Tekke-Dervish mosque, masoleum and holy place.

Colorful carpet in the prayer room, stars in the ceiling of one room, and a painted wooden ceiling in another.

The clear aqua-colored headwaters of the Buna River gush from the cave.

The Bay of Kotor is one of the most beautiful of the world’s bays. Some say these are Europe’s southernmost fjords, but others say they are flooded river canyons.

Montenegro’s mountains are some of Europe’s most rugged, averaging more than 7000′ in elevation. The coastal plains are only 1-4 miles wide so towns are settled between the high mountains and the water’s edge. This is Kotor City.

Kotor’s medieval walls were built by the Venetian empire and from a distance are barely discernible from the mountains.

There are 16 churches and monasteries within the walled city of Kotor. The Montenegrins and Serbians share the same Orthodox faith.

The town walls continue up the mountain to an ancient fortress overlooking the city.

The vew of the illuminated walls encircling the city like a necklace. Both photos were taken from our balcony – at dusk and at night.

There are over 1300 steps zig-zagging up to the fortress.

It is an ambitious climb up, but the view entices one to stop frequently and rest.

BEAUTIFUL!

I don’t think I’d ever tire of a ocean view like this one and the daily sunset displays! Taken from the bus between the coastal towns of Budva and Sveti Stefan, Montenegro. STUNNING!