Here I am on the plane back from Croatia to London. I went to Croatia only for 6 days. I flew out on Wednesday by Norwegian Airlines (3h) from London Gatwick - Split. The weather was rough, still sunny but with a strong wind and a storm at sea. I couldn't take the speed boat - catamaran (4.30pm, 1h) because of the weather conditions, so I waited for a ferry (8.30pm, 2h). So I had four hours of spare time to wander around Splits' beautiful harbour and sit in a cafe with a sea view.
I watched a street theatre performance by some Americans and Canadians. Their aim was to worship Jesus's name while travelling across the world. I wasn't particularly drawn into the religious aspect of it all, but I really liked the sense of community these missionaries created. They were traveling across the world in the name of peace. I found it meaningful, especially during this disturbed time we are living in now with all the divisive political messages. People forget how terrible it is to live with borders and racism. We were heading is the right direction, towards world peace and unity, then we see egomaniac politicians try to destroy all the love and togetherness we created in their bid for power. This theatre group tries to bring people together and talk - as simple as that....we need more of that!!! Having such a purpose would lead to a happy life.
Eventually I've got on the ferry and, for a couple of hours, I was connected to my keyboard and could catch up on my work, so I could have some time off when I arrived.
The weather was rough, but the ferry was big and stable and I was able to do some work on the crossing to Hvar harbour. I stayed a couple of nights exploring the coastal paths next to this pretty town, despite having to brave the wind and rain. Then friend Ivan Kasandric came by car, with his driver, to colllect me from the harbour. Ivan comes from a aristocratic Croatian family that lost most of their assets in the Communist times. All was lost except for his grandparents sea cottage, which happens to be in the most beautiful place on the earth, Dubovica, about 20km from Hvar harbour.
When I arrived in Dubovica I was mesmerised. I had been there for the first time four years ago and it was just the same. A stone house standing high above the transparent and turquoise sea in a small bay surrounded by the olive trees. Ivan has preserved the style of this house dating from the 13th century and it is well looked after.
Ivan has travelled to many countries, he speaks several languages fluently (Italian, English, German, Spanish, French, Croatian) and he has six children living across Europe and USA. He fought against the old Communism in his country - Croatia after the breakup of Yugoslavia. He has never sold his soul to the screwed up system. He stood up for his and other peoples rights and spoke up the truth. His family lost all the properties from Hvar and Split and they've never got them back. I was wondering if there is anyway to get those properties back even if they've changed ownership three times since they were taken away from the Kasandric family.
I would like to appeal to those who are involved in the process of claiming back the goods lost during the Communist period in Croatia. If you know how to solve this problem, please get in touch: me@gowithflow.me
I left my iPhone 7 charger and MacBook Pro in Hvar so I could spend three wonderful and sunny days resting on the terrace of this large property in Dubrovica. I sunbathed, walked and swam around the coast. The time was precious and the weather was just perfect. 20C degrees in the shade and up to 30C in the sun. The water was crystal clear and cold. It was very refreshing to dive in to regenerate the energy levels of my mind and body. The blood circulation and the heartbeat increase on the first contact with the cold (15C) water. For a fraction of a second, everything went black. Then I was there floating on the surface of the Adriatic Sea and feeling free again. Nothing could bother me anymore, a high tech detox. No more electronic devices. No more constantly checking messages, emails, writing or reading. It was just me and nature. I was meditating and not interrupted by my thoughts. I was restoring my vital energy without going blind and crazy about all the little thoughts crossing my mind. I was completely detached from the civilised world and any kind of mental analysis. I found myself in the right time and space. I was renewed and full of energy to return to civilised life and I will stick with this approach I learnt in Croatia. I can't remember when was the last time I kept myself away from electronic devices to ground myself in a real way. It might have been 10 years ago. If you get chance to detox on electronic devices for a time, at least for a weekend, do it. It feels so liberating!
