I prepared this post in response to the Life of B’s November Shadows square photo challenge. Her guidance states: “I am… mostly focusing on dark shapes, silhouettes and reflective shadows. The dictionaries highlight that shadows can also be an illusory image, a remnant of a thing, an imitation, an inseparable companion and of course partialContinue reading “Makarska, Croatia Shadows”
Author Archives: Dalmatian Insider
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! I happened upon this creepily cute little ghost earlier this month. I was captivated by the chilling atmosphere created by the display. It conjured up feelings of walking into a scene from a horror movie. I wish I could say this was my yard! And these little jack-o’-lanterns are super cute, too. HaveContinue reading “Happy Halloween!”
Sweet Summery Snapshots from Sweden
In this post, I share several snapshots of strawberries from a trip to Sweden over the Midsummer holiday. Midsummer, or Midsommar in Swedish, occurs on the June summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While many European countries mark the solstice, Midsummer celebrations are most common in the Scandinavian countriesContinue reading “Sweet Summery Snapshots from Sweden”
A Decade in Dubrovnik
My husband and I are not making a trip to Croatia this summer so I thought I’d reminisce by writing about past trips to the country, a place we’ve traveled to on an almost annual basis since 2001. One destination we’ve visited time and time again is the city of Dubrovnik, that idyllic and almostContinue reading “A Decade in Dubrovnik”
Monday Window in Bratislava, Slovakia
Window boxes filled with bright and cheery red geraniums liven up the dark and dreary austere façade of a functionalist style apartment building in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. I took this photo from the window of the room where my husband and I stayed when we visited friends in the city. Our friends enjoyedContinue reading “Monday Window in Bratislava, Slovakia”
Spring Travel in France: What to Wear
The weather in France in spring – that mercurial season stretching from March 20 to June 20 – can be unpredictable and daunting to pack for. For it is not unusual to arrive in late March to beautiful sunshine and bright blue skies, only to depart in early June in rain and gloom. Indeed, theContinue reading “Spring Travel in France: What to Wear”
Flight 5342: In Memoriam
This is a post I never predicted I would write, but I am compelled to write it before I can write about anything else. I’d like to take the time to remember the 67 victims of the deadly mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the waters ofContinue reading “Flight 5342: In Memoriam”
A Festive and Unique Holiday Gift Wrapping Technique
This holiday season, I undertook a creative quest to spice up my gift wrapping routine. I had become uninspired by traditional holiday gift wrapping techniques. Searching for a box big enough to contain my gift and then wrapping it in holiday-themed wrapping paper wasn’t bringing me as much joy as in the past. And muchContinue reading “A Festive and Unique Holiday Gift Wrapping Technique”
Monochrome Monday Nature-Art Meld
In this photo I took in Vail, Colorado, USA in July 2024, an aspen tree and Whitaker Wind Sculpture meld together in a seamless and organic way. I like how the bean-like features of the copper “Double Helix Horizontal” wind sculpture do double-duty as the “eyes” of the aspen tree’s chalky white trunk. The darkContinue reading “Monochrome Monday Nature-Art Meld”
Thursday Doors on Makančeva Street, Zagreb, Croatia
One of the most memorable times in my life to date was living in Zagreb, Croatia for six months while my husband and I pursued research projects in the Croatian capital. It was also a cherished opportunity to reconnect with family in the country. We were fortunate to live in Zagreb’s city center in anContinue reading “Thursday Doors on Makančeva Street, Zagreb, Croatia”
Thursday Doors at the Palmer House Hotel
When I booked my stay at the Palmer House Hotel for a trip to Chicago, Illinois, USA this past April, I was not anticipating a Thursday Doors post about the hotel itself. Yet, the opportunity presented itself, so I seized it! I should not have been surprised. The city of Chicago is an architecture lover’sContinue reading “Thursday Doors at the Palmer House Hotel”
A Bucket List Boating Day on the Island of Vis
Dreaming of Croatia’s tranquil, crystal-clear waters and remote, one-of-a-kind beaches but don’t want to spend your entire vacation confined to a boat? Tired of touristy excursions to overcrowded beaches and gimmicky attractions? Consider hiring your very own skipper and boat for the day. Image featured above: The waters of the aptly named “Blue Lagoon” onContinue reading “A Bucket List Boating Day on the Island of Vis”
Review of Road to Gold Destination Vail 2023 Adult Figure Skating Camp, Part 2: What I Learned
This post is the second in a two-part review of the Road to Gold Destination Vail 2023 adult figure skating camp. Held in Vail, Colorado, USA each summer, the camp features two-time US National Ladies Figure Skating Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Gracie Gold. See Part 1 of my review for an overview of theContinue reading “Review of Road to Gold Destination Vail 2023 Adult Figure Skating Camp, Part 2: What I Learned”
Thursday Doors in Dalmatia, Croatia
The setting for my Thursday Doors* post is Croatia’s coastal Dalmatia region, a distinctive spot on the globe where the Adriatic Sea and the Dinaric Alps mountain range converge to create stunningly beautiful and dramatic photogenic effects. I focus on doors in three areas in Dalmatia: the town of Makarska, the island of Brač, andContinue reading “Thursday Doors in Dalmatia, Croatia”
Review of Road to Gold Destination Vail 2023 Adult Figure Skating Camp, Part 1: Overview
This past summer, I was fortunate to attend two-time US Ladies National Figure Skating Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Gracie Gold’s Road to Gold Destination Vail training camp. Presented by the Vail Skating Festival in conjunction with Shipstad Entertainment, Road to Gold Destination Vail is perhaps the most storied of all the Road to Gold trainingContinue reading “Review of Road to Gold Destination Vail 2023 Adult Figure Skating Camp, Part 1: Overview”
Wandering in Bordeaux (Part 2)
In this post, I explore the Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux and what I view as the paradox of cathedrals. That is, how cathedrals serve as embodiments of eternal life yet at the same time force us to face the brevity of life. This post is the second in a three-part series about a day I spent wanderingContinue reading “Wandering in Bordeaux (Part 2)”
Wandering in Bordeaux (Part 1)
While guided tours and planned activities offer great opportunities to learn about new places and cultures, one of the most authentic and meaningful ways to experience a city when traveling is to simply wander. Wandering allows the traveler to become part of the pulse of a city. It is an opportunity to witness life as it isContinue reading “Wandering in Bordeaux (Part 1)”
Review of Ashley Wagner’s Skate & Sculpt Fitness Class (Part 2)
This post is the second in a two-part review of three-time US National Ladies Figure Skating Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Wagner’s Skate & Sculpt, an adults-only on-ice figure skating fitness class. In Part 2, I share a handful of key takeaways from the Skate & Sculpt class I took. I write about theContinue reading “Review of Ashley Wagner’s Skate & Sculpt Fitness Class (Part 2)”
Review of Ashley Wagner’s Skate & Sculpt Fitness Class (Part 1)
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending three-time US National Ladies Figure Skating Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Wagner’s Skate & Sculpt, an adults-only on-ice figure skating fitness class. Ashley Wagner tours around the USA leading Skate & Sculpt for skaters aged 18 and up. Image featured above: My friends and I with AshleyContinue reading “Review of Ashley Wagner’s Skate & Sculpt Fitness Class (Part 1)”
MCL Tear Recovery: Off-Ice Exercises for Figure Skaters (and all athletes!)
I sustained a high-grade tear to the MCL on my left knee this past summer. While initially it was devastating – requiring me to take a three-month break from figure skating – I worked hard to find a silver lining. I discovered two off-ice exercises on my road to recovery that not only helped maintainContinue reading “MCL Tear Recovery: Off-Ice Exercises for Figure Skaters (and all athletes!)”
Buenos Aires: Taconeando Tango in San Telmo
A trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without attending a tango show. The city offers a plethora of options to experience this Argentine tradition, ranging from the small, unassuming, and local to the large, pretentious, and touristy. When we were in “BA,” as locals lovingly refer to their city, we were fortunate to attendContinue reading “Buenos Aires: Taconeando Tango in San Telmo”
Dalmatian Dining Traditions: The After-Dinner Stroll
The stroll, or “šetnja” in Croatian, is a beloved pastime in Croatia’s coastal Dalmatia region. In this post, I explain why the šetnja is so popular in Dalmatia. Then, I explore the tradition specific to the after-dinner hours, set against the backdrop of my family’s travels on the Dalmatian island of Vis. Image featured above:Continue reading “Dalmatian Dining Traditions: The After-Dinner Stroll”
Island of Vis, Croatia Dining: Luka Nižetić’s Restaurants
While konobas* offer a great opportunity to experience Dalmatian culture through cuisine, sometimes one needs a break from them. In fact, konobas are so ubiquitous throughout Croatia’s Dalmatia region that when I travel there I often find myself wondering, is there anything else??? In the town of Komiža on the island of Vis, there is! Continue reading “Island of Vis, Croatia Dining: Luka Nižetić’s Restaurants”
Island of Vis, Croatia Dining: Konoba Barba and Konoba Dol
My next several travel blog posts are about dining experiences and traditions in Croatia’s Dalmatia region. The posts are written through the lens of my family’s travels on the Dalmatian island of Vis, primarily in the town of Komiža but elsewhere on the island as well. Image featured above: The beckoning waterfront terrace at KonobaContinue reading “Island of Vis, Croatia Dining: Konoba Barba and Konoba Dol”
Breaking Down the Champion’s Lap
I first learned the figure skating warmup pattern referred to as the Champion’s Lap when I attended the Janet Champion Spin Clinic in the fall of 2022. See my blog post dated May 14, 2023 for a review of the clinic. After the clinic some of the attendees, including many of my fellow adult skaterContinue reading “Breaking Down the Champion’s Lap”
Finding Balance on the Edge: Figure Skating & Travel Journeys by Carolyn Tir 