Monday 25th May 2009 Leaving behind a very run down Camping Fortuna (and it was our most expensive site fee so far) we set off once again heading for Austria. On the Auto route approx 5 miles before we left Hungary all the traffic was diverted into a Parking Area- lots of Police/ Customs. We were allowed to continue without stopping but they were searching lots of vehicles. When we arrived at the Hungarian/Austrian border it was very obvious in the past during the communist reign that the border had been very fortified - however we were not required to stop. [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 26th May 2009 After breakfast we walked along the side of the Danube into Tulln. Large Marina and commercial traffic on the river. Tulln on the Danube- Town on the Blue River is in the Heart of Lower Austria and one of this areas oldest communities, the Romans had a fort here. The Parish Church has two towers - one belonging to the Parish and the other to the Town -The Town Crier had his lookout and apartment in the Town Tower! Next to the Church is the Bone House it dates from the 13th Century- it was used for [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 24th May 2009 After replenishing the store cupboard at Tesco’s!!!!!!!!!!! They do not give points here! We set off for Budapest. Originally there were two settlement either side of the fast flowing (not blue) River Danube one being Buda and the other Pest! We drove to the embankment of the Danube through the Buda tunnel we parked very easily right by the Chain bridge, free parking on Sundays. Across the road was the Funicular railway that climbs the 95metres to the Royal Castle. We however crossed the Danube on the Chain Bridge it was the first permanent crossing of the [View Full Entry]

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Friday 22nd May 2009 Today we set off from Camping Castrum for a small tour of West Balaton- Lake Balaton is approximately 77 Kilometres long (48 miles) and has a width of between 4 and 14 kilometres. Most of the shoreline is reeded and there are many willows. It appears that most of the “beaches_ Lido’s are privately owned and you pay to access them needless to say No Dogs! We stopped at Delikates a large roadside shop selling pottery, basket ware, pots and lots more, the proprietors were very pleasant - no English but we made a few purchases. We [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 20th May 2009 We enjoyed our farewell meal at Ivan’s last night were up and around we needed to get the caravans up the slope! David took his down and around a more gentle incline but we benefited by the 4x4 and low ratio saw the caravan up with no problem much to the amusement of our German and Dutch neighbours who all came out to shake our hand and wish us safe travelling - we think were are quite a rarity down in this part of Dalmatia. We certainly have not seen any other British Caravans and the owners [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 17th May 2009 Today we stayed on site very hot and clear blue skies in and out of the blue sea. OazaMira is a lovely spot but it is starting to get busy we are the only British, lots of Germans and a few Dutch. Monday 18th May 2009 Leisurely day very hot and sunny swam several times. Went to Pakostane and walked around the marina/harbour with usual coffee in the shade, Peaceful little place then drove to Lake Vrana the largest natural lake in Croatia 13Km long- mostly set aside as nature reserve has a colony of Purple Herons [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 13th May 2009 A bit more overcast today but remaining very warm. We’re off to Zadar one of Croatia’s major sailing destinations. Tuna fishing takes place from here and also many ferries to the outlying Islands and further destinations. It has a compact old town squeezed into a narrow peninsula still partly enclosed by its medieval walls. Evidently it was largely destroyed by allied bombing in World War 2. At its heart is the old roman forum with the 9th centaury round church dedicated to an Irish Bishop of Zadar. Next to the church is a Romanesque Cathedral. Zadar also [View Full Entry]

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Monday 11th May 2009 Today we went to Biograd - NA- Moru to find a supermarket and some paddlers type shoes for swimming in. We found ourselves on the Seashore/ Marina and parked. Bought the shoes and wandered into the town. Good harbour side and reminded me of Dartmouth!!!!!! Only the temperature was up! Some lovely trees with superb perfumed flowers - looks a bit like Jasmine. We bought some delicious fresh bread and cheese type rolls and had coffee in a shady café overlooking the Marina. Found the Hypermarket! Have never paid 499 for shopping before but there are 7 [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 9th May 2009 We left Bled at 9.20am en route for Croatia heading for an overnight stop south of Zagreb however we found the Motorways so quiet and of good quality we decided to push on for the site Rod had pinpointed in Drage which is in Dalmatia north of Split. The site is right on the Adriatic beach. The journey was interesting - long tunnels of over 5 km each, climbs of over 2000ft. At the Border our passports were checked and stamped but they were not interested in Barney’s! Initially the Croatian countryside was lush and forested with [View Full Entry]

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Friday 8th May 2009 Today we took the Pletna ( a wooden clinker built boat with a sunshade rowed by one man with 2 oars standing at the stern) to the Island of Bled. On the Island is a church and a house with a small shop and café. This Island was inhabited as early as the 7th Century. We visited the Church of Mary the Queen with its beautiful Gold altar. The Church houses the Wishing Bell and legend has it that anyone who rings the bell 3 times to honour the Blessed Virgin will see their wish come true, [View Full Entry]

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