The Ivan Mestrovic Gallery had not even made it to my “must-see” list on a recent visit to Croatia. But I am thrilled to have stumbled upon it. In the city of Split the dreamy, clear Adriatic Sea meets a palm tree-lined harbor. Across the city, patches of lush green trees stand out against the white buildings with red tiled roofs. Rugged mountains loom in the background as if to watch over and protect the peacefulness below.
Across the river, a visitor rings a large bell in memory of all those who suffered that day and throughout the war. Take a moment to strike the bell yourself in an otherwise quiet reflection, then travel further into the Peace Memorial Park to the Children’s Peace Memorial, where thousands of colorful paper cranes made by elementary students around the world are strung together as symbols for peace and remembrance.
So what happened to the “great little neighborhood restaurant”? Remember that favored place where you were sure to recognize a neighbor or two? Well, hidden away in the trendy Knox/Henderson area, within striking distance of the affluent neighborhoods of Highland Park, Turtle Creek, and Uptown, the upscale neighborhood restaurant survives.
If you are looking for good-value cruising in one of the most magical places in Europe, you’ll not find a more rewarding experience than an eight-day excursion on the Rhine River. It is a comfortable way to see the spectacular European countryside without having to “go it alone.” And, with multiple stops along the way, optional excursions are available to see the thatch-roofed villages of the Black Forest, sample local cuisine, or meander the cobbled streets on your own.
On a visit to England’s West Country, it’s easy to miss the village of Cheddar, tucked away at the foot of the Mendip Hills, 18 miles southwest of Bristol. But this picturesque gem, hidden deep in rural Somerset, is a trove of touristic treasure and well worth the effort of swinging off the main highway. Behind the village, cleaving into the Mendips, is the world-famous Cheddar Gorge — three miles of sheer limestone cliffs that soar 450 feet on either side of the snaking road. The Gorge was formed by meltwater floods over hundreds of thousands of years.
