Looking Back on 2021

Hello from Paris!

After island life and the solitude of Croatia, it’s good to be in the bustling city of Paris - especially at this time of year! The change in vibe feels good.

It’s also that time of the year for reflection, and like probably most of the world, 2021 didn’t end up exactly like I thought it would. But, I’m certainly not going to complain. In fact, I’m grateful.

Last year at this time I was in Lisbon, Portugal because travel back to the US was difficult. My Christmas and New Years was really wonderful, even though I couldn’t be with family or friends.

This year isn’t much different. It was just easier and safer to stay in Europe and spend a few months in France rather than travel back to the US.

So I’ll once again share my experiences and feelings about the year past. I’m forever grateful that you’ve cared enough to follow along. I hope that as you reflect back on your 2021, it is also filled with some good times - and lots of gratitude.

Lisbon

My year started out in Lisbon. Portugal has a very mild winter climate that I enjoyed very much. On top of that, it's simply a beautiful city with very friendly people. Unfortunately, by mid-January we went into lockdown for three months. On the positive side, I had an apartment that was super spacious and comfortable.

I was still able to stay creative and enjoy my time there. I had a "phone call with myself", a photoshoot, and filmed a short film called "The Street He Lives On" with some film friends.

Porto

Lockdown ended in April, so on May 1st it was off to another part of the country, a four-hour train ride up north to Porto! I loved Porto, and it many ways it was preferable to Lisbon. If you want more history and culture, the capital city of Lisbon is the place to be. But Porto has so much to offer as well. The food was just crazy good! It all depends on what you're looking for I guess. I'm glad I got to experience both places.

Some video highlights include my trip to the world's "most beautiful McDonald's", a nighttime bridge climb - and finally a summer evening wine boat cruise down the Douro river. Oh, almost forgot my visit to Livraria Lello, one of Europe's most famous bookstores!

Bol, Croatia

After what turned out to be a wonderful 10 months in Portugal, I needed to move on. So off it was to Croatia to experience island life in the small town of Bol, on Brač Island. Bol is a small fishing village with about 2,000 locals. Watching the boats come and go on the warm, clear waters of the Adriatic Sea was just amazing. It was also an ideal place to swim - and Zlatni Rat is one of Europe's most beautiful beaches!

There was so much spectacular scenery here, so I filmed a number of videos. First, I took the train from Zagreb to Split, and then the catamaran from Split to Brač Island and the town of Bol. I also give you a walking tour all through town - and also take you along on my trip to the nearby island of Hvar.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

I needed to continue my stay in Croatia, and you can't go to Croatia without seeing one of it's most beautiful and best known cities: Dubrovnik. So, it was goodbye to island life and back to the mainland! The Adriatic Sea is always stunning, but here you get to wander through Old City, and also learn about the history of this Eastern European area formerly known as Yugoslavia.

One of the highlights was my trek to the top of Mount Srd for a stunning view of Dubrovnik, the Adriatic Sea, and nearby islands. This is where I learned more about the Croatian War of Independence (from Yugoslavia) in the early 1990s.

Finally...

I'm trying to find my groove here in Paris. The first thing I did was join a gym - which always makes me feel healthier and more connected. But in terms of finding groups and workshops to join (and people to meet), it's proving more difficult than I thought.

The language barrier is something I wasn't prepared for. In Portugal and Croatia, most people wanted to speak English. That's not necessarily true here, and it makes networking more of a challenge. I still have a couple of months, so I'm hoping that will change!

I truly hope you found some peace, joy and happiness in 2021 - and here's to an even better 2022!

Thanks for following along!

ACTOR // CREATIVE // VOICE TALENT

TAPP

Bob Tapper

tapp@bobtapper

www.bobtapper.com

Outside US: +01 9494846275

Inside US: (949) 484-6275

Beautiful Dubrovnik

Hello from Dubrovnik!

I arrived in Dubrovnik on November 1, and just like I’ve been told, it’s quite beautiful. It’s “King’s Landing” for you Game of Thrones fans!

During tourist season, you can take a fairly quick boat ride from Split to Dubrovnik. I imagine that would have been a nice trip, but my only option was a bus. They have several buses leaving Split each day for Dubrovnik, and my 8am bus was completely full. The ride takes about 4-5 hours and is pretty comfortable. I’m always thankful for my noise-canceling headphones and plenty of podcasts to listen to!

The most interesting part of the trip is going through Bosnia. If you look at a map, you’ll see a small part of Bosnia cuts through Croatia in order to give them access to the sea - about 12 miles of coastline. It’s called the Neum corridor and happened when Yugoslavia broke up in 1991.

You’re only in Bosnia for about 15 minutes, then you’re back in Croatia. But you do need to show your passport at both borders.

The actual distance from Split to Dubrovnik is only 140 miles, but the roads are fairly windy, narrow, and slow in some parts. I’d rather take a boat down the Adriatic, but experiencing the trip by bus was definitely an experience to remember!

Srd Hill

One of the first sites I visited in Durbrovnik was Srd Hill - and it was a trek filled with gorgeous views and plenty of history. The cable car ride up was short, but it led to a truly different world once you reached the top!

Beautiful Dubrovnik

It was really hard to pick only a few of the stunning pictures of this city, but here are some of my favorites. Old City is the most visited part of town, and that's where the history lies. But there are other areas of the city that are also just plain breathtaking!

I Took a Picture

Just for fun. Remember the way we used to take a picture of ourselves?

Finally...

Being in Croatia has been quite amazing. I experienced the solitude of island life in Bol, and also reacquainted myself with some fairly recent history here in Dubrovnik. There still is some tension in Bosnia, and I’m hoping the Balkans stay a safe place for me to return to in the future.

Next stop is Paris, where I’ll be staying for a few months. I’m really eager to return to a larger city - and expecting that there will be some Christmas magic in France!

Thanks for following along!

ACTOR // CREATIVE // VOICE TALENT

TAPP

Bob Tapper

tapp@bobtapper

www.bobtapper.com

Outside US: +01 9494846275

Inside US: (949) 484-6275

Island Life in Croatia

Hello from Croatia!

Living on Brač Island here in Croatia for almost two months was very life changing - just as I expected it to be. The daily view of the Adriatic Sea from my apartment balcony brought me peace and tranquility. I swam in the clear, warm sea almost every day and joined the gym at a local hotel. It was reinvigorating, rejuvenating, and really nice!

Not only did I get to know the small town of Bol quite well, but I also had the chance to tour the whole island. The scenery, the views, and the kind, wonderful people made this time one that I’ll forever cherish!

Take a Walk Through Bol, Croatia

The town of Bol has only about 2,000 locals living here all year round. During the summer months, tourists increase that number to close to 10,000! Aside from tourism, the locals are involved in wine-making, olive growing, and fishing. You can easily walk from one end of Bol to the other in no time at all.

So in the video below, we start at the Dominican Monastery (with its bells ringing in the morning) and end up at one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches - Zlatni Rat Beach (also known as the Golden Horn due to its unique shape!) The tip of this renowned beach is constantly changing shape due to the effect of the waves and currents.

Island Hopping to Hvar

One of the best things about the coast of Croatia is being able to hop on a boat and explore nearby islands. In this video, I visit the nearby island of Hvar - and the town of Hvar. It’s a beautiful town (with somewhat of a younger, more hip vibe), and the boat trip across the Adriatic Sea was amazing on this clear, sunny day!

A View from St. Vid's Mount

My friend Nikica was born and raised here in Bol. He’s a tour guide, and I first met him when I was in Zagreb in the spring of 2020. He’s so fun to be with, and obviously very knowledgeable in the history of Croatia - both in the capital of Zagreb and also the coastal towns and islands.

Late one afternoon he drove me up to the top of Vidova Goran (St. Vid's mountain) for one of the best views of Bol. This mountain is the highest peak in the Adriatic islands. From this view you can also see the neighboring islands of Hvar, Vis, Korčula, and Jabuka.

Finally...

To make my time here even more memorable is that Bol was in full swing when I got here in early September. The tourists were everywhere, making for a really fun, exciting vibe.

Then I experienced all the tourists leaving - and restaurants and stores closing up for the winter. It went from one extreme to the other. I was expecting this, so it wasn’t a shock.

Although it was very weird experience, that’s the seasonal reality here. And when they close up for the winter, it’s like they are preparing for a hurricane! It's a bit ironic in that the town becomes desolate, yet you look right out at the peaceful, clear blue Adriatic Sea - with bright sunny skies (most days) and sailboats everywhere.

But now I’m ready to leave the island and get back to civilization (just like Gilligan lol.). I’m ready for more people around me - and can’t wait to once again feel the buzz and vibrant excitement of restaurants, music, busy streets, and open stores.

So… it’s back to the mainland of Croatia and the scenic coastal town Dubrovnik! Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most visited towns, known for its architecture in Old Town - and many people also know it from where they filmed Game of Thrones. I never watched the show, but nevertheless I know it will be another beautiful place to visit here in Croatia.

More from Dubrovnik next month!

Thanks for following along!

ACTOR // CREATIVE // VOICE TALENT

TAPP

Bob Tapper

tapp@bobtapper

www.bobtapper.com

Outside US: +01 9494846275

Inside US: (949) 484-6275