Amerikanka in Croatia

My WordPress Blog

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Services
  • About Me
  • Contact

March Madness, the Medieval Calendar – and why you feel tired

06/03/2021 by Anastasia Kingsley Leave a Comment

It’s March – and we’re all a little mad. The sun is shining, and the dreariness of wintertime is starting to melt away.

Hello! So, how are you doing? Are you hanging on, with all that’s going on in the world? Maybe you’ve started walking or riding the bicycle given the slightly better weather?

Moving

Moving in the literal – walking to the store and so on. Figuratively – moving on – masks and all – despite the madness of coronavirus.

So, instead of dwelling on “that” subject, let’s jump in our cosmic spaceships and travel back to the Middle Ages.

Marzo / Aries
Sculpture RadovanPhoto Nicola Quirico, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDIEVAL CALENDAR

We have all heard about the Chinese New Year, which follows the Lunar Calendar.

There is also the Julian calendar, which is used in the Eastern Orthodox faith, and the good ol’ Gregorian calendar, which we use here in the west for 99% of our activities.

In different cultures around the globe, there are definitely more – I was once told that Indonesia uses no less than five calendars, interchangeably, and that no one gets confused! Amazing!

MARCH USED TO BE NEW YEAR.

March Madness in the US usually refers to sports, but we get mad here all by ourselves.
Just like the zodiac, it all begins with the sign of Aries, and … until about 500 years ago:

New Years Day was none other than – March 25.

March 25! What a random date!

It may seem like it, but, it’s not random…
March is exactly nine months before someone’s birthday… I wonder whose…(here’s a hint – it falls on Christmas).

THE CALENDAR – CARVED IN STONE

A very lovely depiction of this calendar can be seen – of all places – on the entrance of St. Lawrence’s (Sveti Lovre) Cathedral in Trogir.

As you can see in the picture, there is a lot of stonework here. We are interested in the second concentric row from the center.

By Prof saxx at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17836465

Late March, or Aries

From the bottom right-hand corner of the entrance, carved in fine white marble, you can see wild little Aries. Besides the March zodiac sign, he represents – March Madness!

Late April, or Taurus

Right over his head, you can see the symbols for the next month of the year – Taurus – and there is a bull sitting behind the man’s head, as he shears the wool from his sheep.

Late December, or Capricorn

On the left side of the arch, you can see a man chasing a pig, with a tall elk behind him – that’s Capricorn. These carvings are a masterpiece, but it is interesting that the greater the master, the more respect he shows for the common people.

Late January, or Aquarius

In the next carving – that – tells – a story, you see an old man, sitting by the fire, warming his feet and cooking sausages (from the pig he slaughtered the month before)! His servant is pouring something into his cup – yes, that is an analogy for Aquarius.

Hegor, CC BY-SA 3.0 &lt;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons
On this side of the arch, you can see Capricorn (behind the man who is slaughtering a pig); then Aquarius (water poured into his cup while cooking sausages over the stove; then, below is Pisces (planting fish in the soil as fertilizer).

Late February, or Pisces

On the lowest picture on the left-hand column, you will see a man planting his crops. There are dead fish being placed in the ground to act as fertilizer, and this is the depiction of Pisces.

Unfortunately, his masterpiece was never completed. And who is “he”, after all?

MASTER RADOVAN

People ask – who made these amazing carvings? Why isn’t he known, like Leonardo da Vinci, or Michelangelo?’
There are several reasons. We are not sure of his name… but we have a clue. For all intents and purposes, we call him RADOVAN. But how do we know this?

I will tell you how.  This Cathedral is made in the Gothic style – which means that everything means something else. Just like your friend who likes to make puns. (NOTE: Trogir was designed and built by the Ancient Greeks. It was a walled city, well over 3000 years old, and its streets are perpendicular to one another. This remnant from the past offers samplings of Romanesque, Gothic, Venetian, and even traces of Ancient architecture dating back to the 5th century at St. Barbara’s church, near the Loggia.)

THE PORTAL TELLS THE TALE

Within the half moon portal, 33 figures are shown, including that of his parents Mary and Joseph who are giving Baby Jesus a bath. Radovan’s meticulous work includes concentric circles of water – largely unseen – as Jesus enters the water. The ram is just left of the curtain surrounding the bath scene.

If you look at the half-crescent-shaped portal above the door, there is a carving showing many stories combined into one space. The Holy Family is there (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus); the Three Kings on their camels; you will notice shepherds and sheep, and so on. There are 33 figures in total, just like the number of Jesus’ years on earth (Gothic!). Oddly, not a single figure is looking directly forward towards the viewer. Except for one – and that is the ram. This “lusty” character is looking directly forward with a piercing look. Right below, the word “Radovan” is inscribed.

Radovan had a good sense of humor!!

If you are wondering about Adam and Eve, they were added later (not by Radovan) probably inspired by the Tree of Good and Evil in the portal; the lions probably refer to the Venetians who were here for a few hundred years, and so on. The men at the base of these carvings are known as the miserable ones, and they don’t look too happy with their job of holding up these extremely heavy works of art.

Artists tried to replicate Radovan’s work, but Adam and Eve and the stick figures scattered around the exterior arches are clearly inferior workmanship.

 

Whatever happened to Radovan? To this day, historians simply don’t know.

As a master builder, he might have found a better job offer in another country (ie. Spain or Italy, perhaps). He might have fallen off a ladder or died of the plague. In those days, people did not use last names. You were Radovan from Split, for example, until you moved. As these artisans were used to moving around for their work, it is a little hard to trace. Radovan itself means “Happy, working person”.

SelfQ, CC BY-SA 3.0 &lt;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons
This side of the arch shows (from bottom-up: Aries with sword drawn, Taurus (man shearing sheep with el Toro in the background)

By the way, these masterpieces were recently cleaned up just a few years ago (in the 1980s) due to laser technology of cleaning the dirt and grime from the limestone carvings.

We hope, down the road, to discover more hidden works by Radovan.

 

 

By Bernard Gagnon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88904587
The “Gothic basketweave” carvings at the mid-level, quite rare in Europe.

“War is declared every day in Trogir at noon”

Those bells are LOUD!

Note: This church and its gorgeous belltower were built in the 13th century, in the days of Ghengis Khan.

 

Characters from the past

In fact, his nephew and heir very nearly invaded Trogir in search of King Bela IV of Hungary who, along with his family, was hiding in Trogir.

The situation was a bit tense, to say the least. After a seven-day standoff with soldiers shouting at the entrance, they finally gave up and galloped off. It wasn’t what the invaders had planned to do, but it seems that Genghis Khan was lying on his deathbed and wanted his nephew back home asap.

Some say it was a miracle. The townsfolk attribute it to their beloved Saint John (Ivan), who they prayed to during this impending invasion. St. John was a bishop in Trogir, later canonized for his many good deeds.

 

Back into our spaceships… we are re-entering the Present…..

WHY YOU FEEL SO DARNED TIRED IN MARCH

Why are you tired? Because the sun in March is very high in the sky, direct, and because each day is gradually getting longer.
It is also the season when, traditionally, farmers went to the fields to clean their vineyards of freshly sprouting grass and other weeds that threatened to invade their crops. (Remember Radovan’s carvings for April). Sheep – that means new baby animals being born, Easter, fieldwork, fresh eggs, milk, sirnica (Easter bread) and cheese after the long winter hiatus aka dead season.

How to navigate the season

According to the folk wisdom of Dalmatia, the best way around it is – go to bed at 10 or 11.
This time of year, people eat a lot of seasonal veggies, like asparagus, artichokes, blitva (mangold/swiss chard) with olive oil and garlic, spinach, and other light meals (as well as dairy foods) to not feel too weighed down.
Get up early and work, and as a result, you’ll find it easy to catch a nap in the afternoon. What if you don’t own your own plot of land to till? You can always have a glass of “biwanda” after the midday-meal – it consists of half water and half wine – preferably red wine, domestic!

André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
Dalmatian Siesta

This routine will help you get through the summer, too, and not be too tired to enjoy the summer festivals, free concerts on the Riva or town square, and so on. Early am, shop or swim, come home, prepare lunch, eat, sleep.

In the afternoons, the older generations play Bocci Ball (lawn bowling), sit in the park, younger people walk the dog, meet for coffee: basically – do whatever you like… but be asleep by midnight most nights so you can enjoy every drop of sunshine.

Radovan would have approved.

Kind Regards from Amerikanka in Croatia!

Anastasia

 

 

Expat [DESTINATIONCOMPLETE]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Workout for free (or cheap) at Višnjik Sports Center in ZADAR

17/02/2021 by Anastasia Kingsley Leave a Comment

Lockdown can sure be limiting, huh? Well, I have some good news:  It’s hard to believe that in the middle of a fairly large city, you can find an extensive work-out terrain that is absolutely free to the public.

An outdoor gym!
Nice to see parents and children working out together 

At Višnjik, you can work out – for free

Personally, I never expected to find such a gold mine.

It is not unusual to fork out 200 to 300 kn per month to go to fitness classes. Mainly, I used the treadmill or did some upper body exercises. Visnjik has all the modern equipment you’ll find at most gyms.

 

The mood is carefree. 

People meet, talk, walk and recreate.

Just what the doctor ordered!

A huge sports facility – dedicated to Krešimir Ćošić

Krešimir Ćošić was a legendary basketball player from the city of Zadar, and this sports center is dedicated to him. This modern stadium is used for intense basketball matches, concerts, and other gala events.

 

Besides being called “the Arena”, its nickname is Peć, (pech) because it resembles the bell-shaped metal lid used for outdoor barbecues when cooking meat dishes here in Dalmatia.

Courtesy of Autor Ex13 - Vlastito djelo postavljača, CC BY-SA 3.0, httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid=11114452
Courtesy of Autor Ex13 – Vlastito djelo postavljača, CC BY-SA 3.0, httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid=11114452

 

The aliens have arrived!
Aerial view of the Sports Center
An aerial view of the Sports Center. The Adriatic Sea and the island of Ugljan can be seen in the background.

 

Swimming pools too, COVID permitting

Just beyond the extensive, outdoor terrain, the center also offers enclosed swimming pools.

The Big Pool
Swim laps from 6 am to 10 pm every day except Sundays and holidays, which are 8 am to 8 pm!
The Small Pool
Right behind this pool is a smaller one used for teaching small children. There are three pools in all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depending on the current lockdown situation, the pools may be open or closed.

Currently, the pools are open!

Different groups and sports teams come and go, but between the three heated pools, I have never encountered any issues finding a free or shared swim lane.

 

 

How do you swim?

First of all, you must pay to use the pools. Daily fees range from 10 to 25 kn per day, and monthly fees range from 50 kn for retirees to 600 for a family of five.

  • Park near the Radio Station
  • Enter the facility.
  • Pay a fee or show your card, and put on a small, rubberized magnetic bracelet. This doubles as your locker room key.
  • Right before entering the pools, you need to take a shower and pass through a foot-washing area.

Best of all – No masks!

Kids have birthday parties here on the weekends.

This small paradise is located in the center of town, just a few blocks east of Mala Posta, which is just on the inland side of the Branimir Bridge.

Located at Splitska 3, free parking is available at Splitska and across the street from Kaufland.

It’s a great option to look into.

Bring the body, and the mind will follow.

Best Regards from Anastasia

– Amerikanka in Croatia

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A mild form of outdoor meditation – the Labryinths of Zadar

25/01/2021 by Anastasia Kingsley 2 Comments

There is an amazing array of spiral-shaped stone-lined disks of wonder in the area just outside the city of Zadar.

 

Located at a nature park called Musapstan, it was once a camp for the Italian army during WWII. It is very woody, forested, and was often visited by local citizens trying to escape the confinement of the pandemic.

Let the sun shine in...
Let the sunshine in…

What is a labyrinth? It is a winding maze, that twists, and turns, and if you are lucky or clever enough, you can find your way out. Greek mythology mentions them. But these labyrinths are not exactly a test.

 

As each one was expertly designed to be placed in alignment with each of the planets, you choose which one appeals to you most. For example, pick Jupiter (for abundance), Mars (for strength and power), Venus (for love), Saturn for self-discipline, and so on. Each has its own particular specialization.

Whatever is on your mind, freely release it as you walk along the winding path within the labyrinths.

 

As you can see by the photos, it’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon, walking in the woods and finding your way to the center of whichever labyrinth you choose to visit.

How do you do it? Well, it’s best to enter the labyrinth alone. If you decide to go there with a friend, as I did, take turns. My friend and I switched places (you go visit Mars while I pay a visit to Venus, etc.). Enter its opening, which may or may not be on its furthermost circle. You may have a few switchbacks in front of you before you reach the center of the danish, so to speak.

Breathe, relax, and make a wish. Are you wanting more money? A new partner or a better relationship with the existing one? Make a mental wish, breath deeply, enjoying the luxurious, pine-scented air that surrounds you. You can put your arms out like Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, or just stand peacefully. Then, when you’re ready, begin making your way back to the entrance (which has now become the exit) of the labyrinth.

During January it’s great to spend some time alone, in nature, taking advantage of the limited amount of sunshine during these shortest days of the year.

Happy Trails,

Anastasia

Amerikanka in Croatia

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Zadar Nature meditation walking

Zen in Biograd – We like to Move it :D

01/08/2020 by Anastasia Kingsley Leave a Comment

 

They like to move it 🙂

 

It is always an exciting time when the tourists arrive.

Of course, their arrival was considerably delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, which was kind of like missing Aunt Flo, who inevitably arrives on July 4 come hell or high water.

Tourists do get on the locals’ nerves because they tend to be clueless, but on the other hand, they bring a new slant to daily life in somewhat monotone Dalmatia.

Today, passing by our park, I noticed some friendly tourists doing some impromptu Yoga in the park. It’s not that Croatians don’t do yoga. We do, but usually in the privacy of our living rooms or a yoga studio.

A little background:  This town park is conveniently situated right next to the bus stop. Older adults meet and chat, travelers drink coffee and wait for buses, teenagers flirt and eat ice cream cones. Grandmas and moms watch their toddlers scamper around.

If you ever felt like trying yoga in the privacy of your own home, I recommend Yoga with Adriene, a kind and helpful. teacher.  Yoga with Adriene

Another great fitness video I discovered is how to improve poor posture, caused by inactive muscles by – let’s face it – too much sitting:  10-minute Posture Routine

Anyway, as you can tell by the intrigued onlooker, this is how it looks when tourists come to Croatia and do yoga in the park. People here unabashedly stare, but go on with their lives. The color green is so vibrant here. Maybe it’s magnified by the incredibly high humidity in this air these days.

Hooray for Summer! Let’s keep on moving it – and be healthy.

Ohhhmmmm

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Real Estate in the Republic of Croatia

20/05/2019 by Anastasia Kingsley 2 Comments

Nekretnine means “Real Estate”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Weather in Croatia in October – A handy weather converter

17/10/2018 by Anastasia Kingsley Leave a Comment

Hello dear readers 🙂

How are you enjoying this weather in Croatia in October? It’s a lovely Fall morning. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the olives are ripe for picking.

If you are in the States and wondering what the weather is like here in Croatia, I have a handy-dandy explanation for you below.

A mini Heat wave

It turns out we are having unseasonably warm weather these days. In fact about 10 degrees Celsius more than usual.

Instead of the usual 17 degrees at midday, the temperatures have been reaching 27 degrees (c). That is quite a plus if you like to move freely without crowds and see the countryside. Autumn activities like theater, plays, classes (like Tai Chi, kickboxing, aerobics) power walking and so on have reactivated after the summer break.

Tour guides are leading groups around –but without the crowds of summer.

For those who are still getting used to the difference in temperature- it works like this: Let’s start with the basics –

Temperature Conversions

Freezing:   In Celsius- it’s zero (0)

In Fahrenheit – it is 32 degrees.

and now comes the fun part. Add 1.8 for every degree in Fahrenheit. For example, we need to find a common denominator.

An easy one is 10 degrees Celsius

It’s equivalent to 50 degrees Fahrenheit which is the sum of 32 + (10 x 1.8) or 18 = 50.

Comparing Apples to Oranges

So let’s say you are sitting in your cubicle in Chicago and musing – hmm – what is the temperature in Croatia in Fahrenheit? The weather in Split Croatia right now is 27 degrees Celsius

 

Converting to Fahrenheit

In Chicago, it just happens to be 8 degrees Fahrenheit right now.

Remember, we established that 10 degrees Celsius is equal to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

So 27C is really 50F degrees plus (17 degrees x 1.8) =30.6F

50F + 30.6F is 80.6F degrees Fahrenheit

Chicago is 8F and Split Croatia is 80F. It’s amazing to think that there is a 72 degree Fahrenheit difference between the two.

Converting to Celsius

In Split, it just happens to be 27 degrees right now:

Remember, we established that 10 degrees Celsius is equal to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

So 8F is really 32 degrees minus 24 to reach 8F. The difference of 24 is divided by 1.8 so that both temperatures can be compared in Fahrenheit.

24 / 1.8 equals 13.3 degrees

Since it is below freezing it will be minus 13

Answer = -13.3 Celsius

A link

Weather in Croatia
She is a “hot” soccer fan for the Croatian team

If this is too hard for you, no worries. Here is a link: http://Converter – Fahrenheit to Celsius or C-> F

And now for something completely different

Nives Celzijus is a very strong supporter of our national football team 🙂

Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone with a surname of Fahrenheit.

Have a great day! You can also follow me on Facebook + Pinterest and Instagram!

Make it a Good one!…

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 9
  • Next Page »

Hey there!

My name is Anastasia. I’m a translator by day and groupie by night - (I love to go out and hear live music!).

Born, raised, and educated in the USA, I live in the most beautiful place in the world, Dalmatia, on the gorgeous Croatian coastline, the land of my forefathers. Ever since I came here, I've been called Amerikanka, and I’ve grown to like it.

Tell me what you want to know about CROATIA!

Translated.net

Certified Translators

You might be interested in…

March Madness, the Medieval Calendar – and why you feel tired

Workout for free (or cheap) at Višnjik Sports Center in ZADAR

Categories

  • Uncategorized

Archives

Recent Comments

  • Anastasia Kingsley on A mild form of outdoor meditation – the Labryinths of Zadar
  • Tihana on A mild form of outdoor meditation – the Labryinths of Zadar
  • Anastasia Kingsley on Croatian Cvita Recipe
  • https://nasa.ecologyinfo.com/what-are-two-differences-between-venus-and-earth on Thermal Hot Springs – Croatian Winter Itinerary
  • Ann Dragich Belson on Croatian Cvita Recipe

Copyright © 2023 — Amerikanka in Croatia • All rights reserved.

Designed by Small Town Co., LLC