Croatia

[LeeB]

Here are a few pictures from one of the islands off the coast of Croatia. First a couple of pics of the yard itself.









And a couple of shots of the dock side.






I'll make another post so it won't be too big.

[LeeB]

This yard is located on an inlet on the west side of the island. The name of the place is Lamjana Shipyard. You can find it on Google Earth. Here are a couple views out of the harbor.







In the back ground you can see the outer island just barely. The sun was wrong for the shot. Also a fishing boat coming in. Around to the right of the hill in the second picture is a big catch pen where they hold live tuna that is caght elsewhere and trundled back in nets to keep them alive. They bring in several million dollars worth at a time.





You can see the other island a little better in this shot. More pics coming.

[LeeB]

I made the trek into town this morning, about 2 1/2 miles and up hill.

Looking back down toward the yard. Only just getting started up the hill.




About half way up, maybe 3/4 mile in to it and still looking back behind me.




A coupe shots off to the side of the road and some of the local flora.










The last shot is of a drystack wall that are everywhere. Miles and miles of them

[LeeB]

Finally to the top of the hill and almost to the other side of the island. The built up area on the other side is the mainland.




Down the other side I go.



Looking off to the north east.



Still trudging along. I don't think I get it up to 40kph. Fat boy starting to get tired.

[LeeB]

And now a few scenes from in the town. I don't know the name and can't say it anyway. I think it's Preko




Some more shots of town.








The ferry to the mainland

[LeeB]

 10:00am, time to go back. I have to get some sleep before work this evening.




A few more shots of the local flora. I haven't a clue what they are except the last one and finally one shot of another dry stack wall.










About a five mile round trip and it was uphill both ways. Coming back up the hill from town about did me in. Sure was glad when I crested the top and started back down. I'll be going off the rig tommorow to go stay in a nother little town nearby while the living quarters are renovated. I'll try to get more pics if I can find a camera. These were taken with the rig camera and the battery is dead. The charge cord has gotten packed away nad is not to be found. Kind of a long winded post, but I hope you all enjoy it.

[Fla._Deadheader]

I did.  8)  Thanks for posting, Lee.  Guess you are done on the last job, then ???

[Magicman]

Thanks for showing me somewhere that I'll never see....

[DanG]

Fantastic Lee, just simply fantastic!   I think you're gonna like that place a lot better than BFE.  So how long will y'all be in port?

[WH_Conley]

I know what you mean about up hill both ways. Like that when I went to school. :D

[LeeB]

I'll be here till Monday next week. The rig will be here for about 3 - 4 months undergoing repairs and upgrades. Not sure if I'll get to stay with it or not. The guy who will be my immidiate supervisor is trying to arrange for me to stay with the rig. Long story short, only a few of the original crew from before will still be a part of the new crew. After the shipyard project the rig will go to work off the east coast of Itally. I really do hope I get to stay because the alternative is likely to be sitting home scratching my unemployed butt. They keep telling us that they're gonna find places for us but I've already seen quite a few get layed off.

[Paul_H]

Great post Lee!

[SwampDonkey]

Looking good Lee. Your a regular Rick Steeves. He did a full video tour on Croatia and the buildings all look just like your photos.  ;)

[LeeB]

A few more pics of Croatia. The first one is looking across the harbor of the little town where we are staying in the hotel. Early morning and just getting back from a night's work




The Sun peaking through the clouds.



Enjoying a little homemade wine with some of the crew before heading down to eat. They also make a local version of moonshine called graapa that will take your head off if you aren't careful.




Down the hill to the resteraunt.



A few shots of some of the bungalos we are staying in.






They tell me the wind is quite fierce here in the winter. The trees would seem to say so. There isn't a staight one to be found.

[LeeB]

After eating a little walk around town and I did mean a little walk. Not much to it. Only about 500 full time residents.

Boats in the harbor.






Coming into the town square.




Local watering hole on the square.




News stand. Nothing at all available in english.



Farmers market. Nothing happening right now. There is someone ther selling earlyer in the morning. 



Somebody has a stack of boardds air drying. I didn't get close enough to see what it was. Didn't want to trespass.



Back to the watering hole. Walking makes you thirsty.



Time to go back. Too much watering hole makes you wobbly.

[LeeB]

 Back up the hill to the room. Funny, I don,t remeber it being as far down as it is back up.





Top of the hill and my building is in sight.





Simple room but comfortable. A little warm though, no A.C. I brought a fan off the rig.





It has a nice view off the balcony



Evening comes and time to go back to work.




https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/2458/hotel_078.jpg [/img]

Waiting with the crew for the bus that takes us to work.

[Norm]

What a great tour Lee, thanks!

You say your rig is in the yard, what are you guys doing while it's being worked on?

[Bro. Noble]

Thanks for the great pictures

[LeeB]

What a great tour Lee, thanks!

You say your rig is in the yard, what are you guys doing while it's being worked on?

We are a part of the work team. Grunt labor and safety watchdogs mostly and the equipment still has to be cared for and maintained. The third party workers vary rarely come up to our safety standards so we have to keep them in line.

[DanG]

I'm sure enjoying the tour!  As was said, Rick Steves ain't got nuttin on our LeeB! 8) 8)

How about some pics of the rig? ;D

[beenthere]

Enjoying the pics too.

Seems to be a real absence of people and cars. Very clean and refreshing look to everything, but wonder where the money comes from.  Tourists? Vacationers?   You did say only 500 people live there full time.  Sure seems low for the looks of things. Impressive, and looks like a place to visit. 

[LeeB]

Not many cars here and the place is a summer tourist place. Not a whole lot of people here after the season is over. It is wonderfully clean and the people thaat live here seem to take real pride in keeping up thier gardens. I haven't seen any lawns so to speak, every patch of dirt around the homes is cultivated with vegetables, flowers or grape vines. I was talking to a fellow the same day I took the last group of pictures about how I could easily find myself living here, maybe about 40 - 50 acres to play on and a small house. He asked me if I had $2MM to pay out for that. There went that dream out the window. He also said that it wasn't very likely to get anyone to sell. The land has been handed down over a multitude of generations and even though they are not wealthy people they would rather live poor and keep thier properties. I don't know what the mainland is like where most of the population is. Maybe I'll get a chance to see a little of itwhen I head home next week.

[SwampDonkey]

That's interesting Lee, now I know why these folks here in some NA cities are talking about backyard and roof top gardening . Only thing is, I bet the Croatians are better back yard gardeners because the guy in NY city can just go buy what he wants and by-pass the "Green theme".  ;D All we see is the TV promos.

[beenthere]

..or that the Croatians have much better weather/climate than NY City. 

[LeeB]

On the outer islands they do. Inland it's about the same.