Maps - Red Letter Edition

We unfolded the big map and starting making big plans. We had never visited the countries of Slovenia or Croatia so bought train tickets from Zurich through Salzburg to overnight in Ljubljana,Slovenia.
Two days later, we trained into Zagreb, Croatia, where the fast trains ended and only local trains hugged inland and intentionally stopped at every small village.  Here, we exchanged ideal travel for busses. 

      Three bus changes and a 7-hour ride stood between us and our final destination of Rovinj, Croatia, a seaside village on the Adriatic Sea.  We didn't speak the language, we were always slow in reasoning out the currency, but still we were eager to claim this experience.
Along the way, we overnighted at  Plitvice Lakes National Park of Croatia, where sixteen lakes are linked together by numerous waterfalls that cascade downward and spray visitors as they stroll by on weepy wooden sidewalks. This visit became one of the most memorable sidesteps in all of our combined travels. Here was a moist wonderland of mist and roar and vivid color that charmed us to be still and memorize.  We didn't want to leave this place.




However, our final destination and our date with the Adriatic coast was a long bus ride away.
We have a habit.   As soon as we step off a bus, plane, boat, or a train, regardless of where we are, we look for the Big i, which, ironically, is always a lower case i, but often represents a lifesaver for us: Tourist Information, Newcomers Welcome!  We are never too embarrassed to ask for a map.  These maps guide us to our destination.  Whereas, on this particular journey, we had left the driving to experienced bus drivers who had been this way before, in a few hours, our personal mapping skills would again be required.

Bussing onward, we finally reached the coastal village of Rovinj. We were tired and it was very hot. Low on water and hungry, we naturally searched for the Big i where we could find the map that would direct us to our accommodations. We slowed.
Kind people with broken English helped us decipher what we didn't understand and oriented us toward our accommodations. We followed the printed icons of history which became landmarks and gently notified us, "Go this way, not that way."
As we reflect on the value of maps that have directed us through our journeys, we realize that something that was already written/designed ages ago, presently steers us to our finale.   Maps have taken us and will take us to beautiful places, and the tiny map of Rovinj proved to be no exception. There is something about a map that forbids us to stare at it. Instead, it enkindles us to keep moving, to keep discovering, to keep learning. 


The Adriatic Coast is magnificent. It was the final destination of this long and intentionally planned adventure. 

Do you see the map of which we write?  Plan your journey now!   

Keep Looking Up!
 J:m and L:nda