The Church of St. John on Lopuc, an island near Dubrovik, Croatia, was reportedly built in the 9th or 10th century, though the rose window was probably added when the church was enlarged in the 14th century, according to nearby signs.


Some indications of cultural globalization observed in Italy and Croatia in late May through mid-June:

• Stop signs in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in which the Slavic dialects dominate, are in English.
• Passing by bus through a small inland town in rural Croatia en route to Plitvice Lakes National Park, one store sign was in multiple languages, including Chinese characters.
• The leading currency listed at one exchange in Ravenna, Italy, was Bangladeshi taka. Elsewhere in same city, I encountered a restaurant advertising “Bangla Euro kebabs.”
• Another restaurant I passed by on a train from Ravenna to the Ancona was named Pacha mama, the name for the “Mother World” goddess acknowledged by the indigenous people of the Andes.
• And in case you were wondering, the 29^th World Logging Championships were held last year in Zagreb, Croatia, as evidenced by a tattered billboard.