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Published: June 26th 2007
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After leaving our boat crew in Split we jumped on the bus to Plitvice National Park. After 7 days of lying around and eating & not doing very much we were keen to get some hiking in and have a change of scenery. Plitvice is known for its beautiful waterfalls and can be done in a day trip but I'm very glad we stayed 3 nights.
We arrived in Plitvice quite late in the evening and were pleased to find our hotel was in a beautiful location on the edge of the national park and had a large room, bathroom etc. It was very 70's though, and we wondered whether it was built in the 70's or designed in this way. I suspect the latter!!
The next day we set out for a 3-4 hour hike. As usual, the guildelines on time must have been estimated for an elderly person with a broken leg as we finished in 1 hour 20 mins!! Nevertheless, the scenery in Plitvice is like nothing I have ever seen. It is a series of lakes & waterfalls all connected and the water is the most brilliant turquoise I have ever seen. You walk
around the lakes & waterfalls on paths but there is also a large portion of walkway that is a boardwalk over and across the lakes so you get a really good view of everything. There is also a really good network of buses & ferries to get you around the park and from one point to another. For once postcards of Plitvice do not do it justice. Some of the lakes are 30 metres deep and you can see all the way to the bottom. The waterfalls are everywhere and give a feeling of serenity when you hear the running water.
Jen & I had taken our cozzies as we were swim- deprived but were dismayed to see that swimming in the lakes is not allowed!! Not happy Jan! I guess they want to preserve the lakes but in the heat of the day we were thinking about 'accidentally' falling in. We hiked all of the first day and had a nanna nap in the arvo and dined in the hotel restaurant which was actually very good! Being the last couple of nights in Croatia we had to make sure we filled up on palacinke (pancakes) and fresh seafood
before leaving.
We hiked the second day also. As we had covered most of the park the first day we decided to tackle one of the paths in reverse. Easier said than done - the paths are designed to be one way only so we put our orienteering skills to the test!! We ran into some friends from the boat on the way (people we kept running into all over Croatia) and they were doing our walk the right way so it confirmed we were heading in the right direction.
Again, dinner at the hotel restaurant (there wasn't much choice). Yesterday we headed to the bus stop to jump on a bus to Zagreb. After 3 days of not hearing much english in Plitvice we were surprised that the only 5 people at the bus stop were all Aussies! A clever cab driver poached us before the bus came and offered us a very good price to drive us all the way to Zagreb. A good idea at the time - I've now decided that Croatian drivers are crazier than the Italians. I was on a bus that overtook another bus on a local road (sorry mum!) and
this cab driver was quite nuts. He actually got pulled over by a policeman for speeding and got out of the taxi with us all in it wondering what was going on.
We made it to Zagreb ok and I decided to find a hostel in the centre of town rather than staying with Jen out near the airport. I found a great small hostel then had a wander around town. I didnt know what to expect opf Zagreb but its nice and clean and with some great buildings to look at - in particular St Marks church. I'm a bit over churches but this one impressed with its stained glass, beautiful frescoes and mummy of a priest up the back! I ran into my boat friends again in an internet cafe & we agreed to meet for dinner.
Jen & I had a final meal to say farewell - a late lunch. We found a place that has salads (oh joy!) and had a huge salad and Jen had her last tiramisu. We bade farewell.....not sure when we'll see each other next but promised to stay in touch.
I'm on my own for the next week....
off to Slovenia for 3 nights and then to Salzburg to do the whole Sound of Music/ Mozart thing and can't wait! I then have a couple of days in Vienna and meet up with Anni in Prague - woo hoo!
Love to all and hope you are well.
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Robyn
non-member comment
Jealous!
Wow Anj, these photos are stunning! You know I am a blue and green girl as well so very visually stimulating. I am so very jealous.