Blogs from Istria, Croatia, Europe
July 11th 2011
When planning this blog there was some discussion as to whether we actually need to write one. Not much has changed from yesterday. It is still very hot, although there are some large clouds in the distance over mainland Croatia, and there is a slight breeze. Our routine seems to be unchanged from yesterday. After breakfast we catch up on blog writing, rest in the cool of our sea view balcony, wander down to the beach front cafes, siesta, swim, cool beers, dinner. Life is so tough, especially in mid 30° temperatures. So as you can see not much has changed from yesterday except this is Blog 100 and we couldn’t let it pass without comment. Tomorrow we rescue our car from this unbearable heat and drive to Trogir, just outside Split, where the temperatures are ... read more
July 10th 2011
After a trying night coming to terms with heat that is like a hot blanket we got up to another cloudless day and the need to keep as cool as possible. Our huge hotel is right beside the water and everywhere people were either cooling off in the blue Adriatic or lying in the shade of the many spindly oak trees. A neighbouring camping ground plus day trippers make for a continuous passing parade of humanity enjoying the water and sun, or just dozing in a shady spot. Heat is everywhere; it built through the morning and by noon the water and the air conditioned hotel lobby were the only cooler spots. We managed a leisurely walk around the beach front areas before we joined the throngs in the water. Much of the water’s edge is ... read more
July 9th 2011
Our short stay in the relatively small country of Slovenia has been a real eye opener. The people we have met have been friendly, the scenery great and it feels very relaxed. We have discovered a country that would be worth a return visit one day, but today we said our sad farewells to our wonderful hosts and headed for Croatia. To drive on the motorways in Slovenia you need to buy a vignette for either a six month or one year period. As we were only in the country for three days we felt the expense was not worth it so it was the minor roads for us. By taking the minor roads we discovered wonderful scenery, fairytale villages and rural life in Slovenia. Leaving Radovljica the route we took meant negotiating more zig zag ... read more
June 30th 2011
This sentence is everywhere: Hum is the smallest city in the world. From the publications of the Croatian Tourism Board, the articles in my Croatian language learning books, the posts in any travel guide for Croatia, till the board at the entrance to Hum. Whether this is true or not? God knows. I mean, define city, what is it? The presence of a post office, a bank, a bus or train station, a city hall, and a gas station? None of those things presents in Hum. It is a village, if I can call it a village after all, consists of like no more than 10 buildings including a konoba (typical local restaurant), two or three souvenir shops, a church, two rented rooms for tourists and few houses of locals. I believe that was it. But, ... read more
Roadtrip Around Rab, Opatija & Rovinj - Istria, Croatia
Published: February 5th 2012Europe » Croatia » Istria » Rab
June 28th 2011
We decided to revisit Croatia for 2 weeks following a great time in the South of the Country in 2009. While the last trip ended in Zadar, this one started there. From Zadar, we drove over the barren island of Pag towards our base for the next few nights on the island of Rab. From there, it was onto the mainland and on to Plitvice Lakes National Park (see next blog entry!!), Rijeka, Motovun, Opatija and Rovinj. From Rovinj, we took a catemaran to Venice for 4 nights then continued by car for a drive around Lake Garda... fantastic!... read more
June 22nd 2011
This was another of those 2 stop hops – local 45 min bus to Pula – then more frequent connections, but 2 hr trip, to the large port city of Rijeka where I was going to be staying. Having checked the bus timetable (first thing you have to do when you get off the bus) I decided on the 2pm – but then had to wait until the 2.30pm bus anyway as unbeknownst to me it was a public holiday in Croatia. Yes folks, 22 June, the commemoration of the start of the Anti-Fascist Uprising in 1941 (why can’t we have holidays like that?). And today 23 June is Corpus Christi also a holiday – and Sunday 25th is National Founding Day or somesuch. Because this has all given people a large reason to have a ... read more
June 15th 2011
What were we concerned about? What a lovely country this is. We have been blown away by the coastal scenery, completely unspoilt thanks to considerate development. The roads are great for towing the caravan, it’s not expensive, and everyone wears a smile on their face. Our campsite Porto Sole has first class facilities and it’s all pretty new and shiny too. The boys have been in heaven with a choice of two beaches, two pools and a minigolf! We have a village green type atmosphere going on around the caravan as we are near the euro-camp style tents with the kids and parents venturing on to the green in the evening for cricket, badminton, tennis type activities. We’ve taken the boat (blow up dinghy!) into the sea a couple of times and used the snorkelling gear ... read more
June 13th 2011
Day 24 13th June Rovinj As the guidebook so succinctly put it: Rovinj is a welcoming old oasis in a sea of tourist kitsch. I could not have put it better myself! The old town is delightful IF you just take a step or two off the main tourist trail – twisty, narrow lanes with tall slightly dilapidated buildings reaching for the sky; it is indeed rather like Venice without the canals. Pula (at the end of the Istrian peninsular) and Trieste became the main ports when the Austrians ruled Istria and therefore little Rovinj was allowed to remain the past – and so it has. There is still a proper working feel about the small town and the old harbour is full of hard working fishing boats. The weather was perfect for our cycle ride ... read more
Days 21 –23 Plitvice Croatia – Rovinj Croatia
Published: June 12th 2011Europe » Croatia » Istria » Rovinj
June 12th 2011
Days 21 –23 Plitvice Croatia – Rovinj Croatia We have been on the road for 3 weeks and the Eastern European leg of our journey has now started. Why Croatia, why Plitvice? Bits & pieces of what we call Croatia has been batted back and forth between foreign powers for nearly a millennium and it is hard to believe that it was only in 1991 that it gained its independence. We all remember ‘the war’ and when travelling through Croatia there is still evidence of that terrible struggle. Perhaps because of its history (excluding the last war) Croatia has always attracted tourists, it has Roman arenas, Byzantine mosaics & Venetian bell towers coupled with predictably balmy summer weather and a coastline that beggars belief in its rugged beauty. We have been to Dubrovnik and wanted to ... read more
