We’re currently enjoying a brilliant weekend in Split where our daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter have flown to from Rome to join us — it’s very hot here, so we get to the beach early, have a good swim, then pick up a variety of delicious pastries to eat with coffee back home. After a reasonable siesta during the hot afternoon hours, we head out for another swim, some exploring, and then the delightfully difficult task of choosing a place for dinner. Only one more day together, though, so I can only spare a few minutes for blogging, and I thought I’d share the photos Pater took of Dottoressa and I enjoying coffee together last Saturday morning — participating in and observing Zagreb’s social ritual, spica, where friends meet to catch up on news, to share a coffee, and, it seems, to enjoy being dressed up and to observe the latest styles.
Back in November 2015, Dottoressa wrote a guest post here about coffee in Croatia, and if you haven’t already read it, she’s much more knowledgeable than I am on the topic. As well, in quickly pulling this post together, wanting to check my terms, I found a series of posts tagged “spica” from an online English-language newsletter, Croatia Week — they’ll give you a good sense of the importance of style and fashion to this Saturday morning tradition. All I could add to these two sources is my enthusiastic agreement — In the hour we spent people-watching, chatting, and drinking our coffees (Paul had a cappuccino — he’s very impressed with the quality of the foamed milk, especially, here, and the espresso base is excellent; Dottoressa and I had kava sa slagom — espresso topped with whipped cream), I saw as many beautifully dressed women (of a wide variety of ages) as I’ve ever seen in any hour spent people-watching in Paris. (To learn more about Fashion in Zagreb, read Dottoressa’s 2016 guest post on Lisa’s blog, “A Personal History of Fashion in Zagreb.)
I know you’d love to hear more about my time with our Croatian friend, but a certain tiny Italian speaker (she’s been working on helping Granddad pronounce Per favore correctly — girl can really roll her rrrr’s!) will be waking up soon, and when she does, I’d better have my bathing suit on. . . Chat soon, okay?
I remember the Dottoressa post about coffee in Croatia. It sounded very elegant. The two of you look as though you fit in well. Enjoy the little Italian speaker.
Thank you very much Madame,we certainly did-Frances did look great all the time
D.
What a lovely meeting and what an elegant pair. Good to put a face to Dottoressa's name too. Enjoy
Thank you Cery
D
What lovely photos!
Thank you K. Line
D.
Lovely photos of the two of you. Enjoy your time with the little expat.
Thank you slf (for the first part :-))
D
Lovely to see Dotoressa and you are looking fabulous. Great hair. So lovely coffee al fresco and stylish people watching. Mary
Thank you Mary
F has really great hair
D.
Lovely, thanks for putting a face to the name. And my first thought too was how good your hair looks! :0)
Patricia,thank you.
Frances has beautiful hair and was looking amazing all the time
D
Sounds like the perfect place for a family holiday. Bet you enjoyed that coffee and natter. Your Winnie the poo picture has me chuckling. Enjoy the rest of your holiday. B x
Coastal Ripples,it was a real pleasure for me to meet Frances and Paul
D
What fun…all of it! Whipped cream in espresso, beaches and pastries, summer afternoon naps, bilingual grandchildren…:) (D, I think you are wearing the Max Mara dress I have been dreaming of, it looks lovely on you, a perfect colour. You must have mentioned it here, unless I am psychic.)
You are right :-)about the dress(and the other things,too),it is Weekend Max Mara ,there were two beautiful colours,the other one exactly like Frances has-imagine that!
It did surprise me that it doesn't wrinkle a lot
Thank you-we had a lot of fun indeed
D.
When you're posting from Vancouver, I completely forget what an international life you otherwise lead. Not that Vancouver isn't 'international' to me, a Missourian. đ In any event, your blogs and photos on this trip have been so much fun. Thank you so much.
Two lovely women Sipping coffee in a cafe…chatting.
Ah and whipped cream with espresso sounds delightful, so much richer and more decadent than a regular coffee…in keeping with the celebration of the meet up!
Thank you Hostess-it was celebration indeed!
D.
Hello my beautiful friends! So nice to see the two of you together, I can only imagine the conversation. All the best from across the seas.
Thank you Lisa
I'm looking forward to the second part of the conversation đ
D.
We've had a lot of fun,indeed (I hope that Frances and Paul agree :-))
They are really wonderful and you couldn't imagine (or maybe you could :-)) how many speaking mistakes I've made -but we've covered a lot of themes
I'm looking forward to a coffee or two (with whipped cream!) after they return from Dalmatia
It is great how I've felt from the first moment that I've met the friends
This community here is amazing
I'll leave to F. to describe everything to you,I'll just mention that they both were very elegant all the time!
Dottoressa
Nice to see you Dotteressa & how beautifully colour coordinated you both are – like a professional photo shoot .
Wendy in York
Thank you Wendy-isn't it funny?
Serendipity (it's a word I've learned here :-))!
D.
Thanks everyone! Sorry I'm not responding individually (and thank you to Dottoressa for taking the time to do so). We are wonderfully coordinated, aren't we? (and Pater was wearing a turquoise-white gingham shirt!)
Wow, you both look very stylish! Enjoy your hols. Brenda
Thanks Brenda đ
D.
Isn't it so special when women bond and find common interests. Two women enjoying their meet-up and lovely coffee while people watching. What could be better! Susan
What a wonderful meeting between friends, proving the world is,indeed ,small and this blog is a catalyst for so many good things.
In my mind Dottoressa looks the way she looks…only with redish brown hair. You both look fab.
And, as for Peter, in his baseball cap? A thumbs up from me. I think he wears it well.
Cheers from a rainy, rainy, cold Maine.
x A. in London
Thanks A.,you are right,it is amazing,isn't it?
I have to try red wig once-I was a natural blonde (a little bit blonder lately :-))
D
This coffee with pals habit is very pleasing. But in my head, Dottoressa has her hair up in a French pleat. Perhaps it was down for the weekend.
It is indeed!
French pleat? Very rarely,but thanks,it sounds perfect
Ponytail is my second option
D.
Good to actually "see" you Dottoressa! You both look extremely elegant. So wonderful that you were able to meet up and spend so much time together. Strangely I'd imagined you with darker hair as well! đ
Rosie
Thank you Rosie!
I was really happy and it was amazing to meet Mater and Pater
D.
Such a pleasure to see you enjoying one another's company!
Thank you Duchesse!
D.
Sorry I'm so late to the coffee party. Hello to Dottoressa. You two look fabulous. So chic. The dresses perfectly coordinated! Can't believe I almost missed this post but having major computer issues this week.
Hello and thanks đ
And sorry for the computer issues
D