Sky full of stars (Torö)

Last week, there were perfect conditions for photography of the Milky Way.
I have never really been successful to take them in Sweden before. Mainly because it is quite difficult to find places where there is not too much light pollution, around Stockholm in any case, but also partly that its rarely clear skies during autumn.
Knowing that it's mostly summerhouses around Torö, it meant also that there is bigger chance of succeeding. At this time of the year, Milky Way is visible toward the open sea and Finland, which means that it is 'easier' to find good spots where the background is dark. Although as you can see in the pictures below, there is light from the towns along the coast anyway - Norrköping, Oxelösund, Trosa etc.
Really pleased with the result though, and the whole process of standing still and just gazing into the stars and the Milky way is quite relaxing :)

                                                                     

Croatia 2017

Finally it was time for my summer vacation too :)
Croatia, where we were heading is great, and a lot of people know of that so its' getting more and more crowded and especially during summer when everybody is on vacation.
Anyway, to avoid the major crowds, we flew down to Dubrovnik Sept 10th, hired a car and drove along the coast to our summer house.
First four days we were joined by my wife's little sister and her husband who had already been there a week earlier, which only meant that we had somebody joining us for the drinks after that the building projects had been started.
We too had few days alone before my cousin and her husband joined us for some sun, drinks and adventures. It is nice and fun to show how great Dubrovnik and the Peljesac peninsula are with all the vineyards, seaside resorts and restaurants etc...
Last couple of days of vacation we were alone again discovering and hiking the mountains and walking on the Napoleon road that goes through the whole Peljesac. To be honest, think we only did 4 km (one way) but then there is more to explore coming years :)
To do the hikes and mountaineering as we did this year would have not been possible in the middle of the summer, it is simply to hot.
It was so great that we have already decided that it will be the 'same procedure' next year - summer of 2018 here we come.

I love the nightskyes there :)

                                                                     

Mantis

Lonely kayaker

Ston walls

one of many vineyards

vineyard

City of Ston from Napoleon road

Dubrovnik