Page 19 of Steve Corin Travel Blog Posts


Europe » Slovenia » Upper Carniola » Ljubljana July 15th 2015

Bid farewell to Zagreb and off to Slovenia. Only a short time to the border. Get to passport control and we have to get off the bus, walk in the office, get our passports stamped then out the next door (on the Slovenian side) and back on the bus. Hmmm..... Anyway, all done quite quickly in comparison to one of the Bosnian borders. A few minutes later we stop at a roadside diner. No Burger King this time. We are given half an hour. Way too much time again, and you had to pay €0.50 to have a wee. Finally into the centre of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Meet our guide who likes to crack jokes and ask us lots of questions - thought he was meant to be the expert. Bloody hot so everyone ... read more
Lake Bled
Lake Bled
Lake Bled

Europe » Croatia » Central Croatia » Zagreb July 14th 2015

Onto the bus for a tour of the town with a local guide. We drive the lower end with commentary then head up the hill to the top of the high part of town where we walk. Very ordered grid streets in the lower part, but the high part is like Sydney, streets going in all directions. Lots of old buildings again, then we get to St Marks church. This has a roof of coloured ceramic tiles with 2 symbols, one of the local area the other the Croatian flag. Stunning effect. Wander through alleys, little squares, and lots of views down into the main square. We see one building where they had painted windows on the 1st level walls. The guide said that someone must have wanted some fresh air, so they painted a few ... read more

Europe » Croatia » Central Croatia » Zagreb July 13th 2015

Wake up to the sound of running water from the lakes and waterfalls. Very peaceful. breakfast is much better than last nights meal, and an added bonus. One of the Tennessee ladies (family of 5 women travelling with us - more on them later) has found my missing bag lock from last night. The world is in harmony again...... Meet our guide (who Viktor later told us her name translated to Snow White or something like that - didn't quite fit the body though). This walk went to the lower lakes just as pretty but much busier with 2 waynfoot traffic. No real chance/time to stop too much as you were being pushed from behind all the time. Lots of pretty sights all the same. Finally get back up to the top when Viktor announce we ... read more

Europe » Croatia » Central Croatia July 12th 2015

Breakfast today was quite good again, bacon cooked properly. Sarajevo didn't have bacon as it is mainly Muslim territory so no pork..... Skyped Jessica and Charlie when we got up. Pippa was asleep. When they answered we said good morning to Charlie. He advised us that is the afternoon, but we told him that we were on the other side of the world and it was 0630 for us - yes, Chris is getting up early.... Unfortunately the Internet connection for Jessica was a bit dodgy, too much wind around in Mildura. Just about to hang up when Pippa woke up from her afternoon sleep. Got to say hiPelli to her even though she was yawning, a bit like us. stephanie was hosting a baby shower so we didnt get to chat with her. Later maybe. ... read more
Plitvice
Plitvice
Plitvice

Europe » Croatia » Dalmatia » Split July 11th 2015

Depart Sarajevo headed for Split. We are told to bring snacks with us as the place we are stopping at doesn't cater too well for coach groups (why stop there you ask - hmmmm). A quick stop on the Bosnian side at a pretty little restaurant on the side of a mountain where they specialise in lamb on the spit (cooked pretty much in its entirety - i.e. the whole head still on, even the eyes). Smelt spectacular, didn't look overly great with the head doing circles. Our route takes us back through Mostar and then on to Split. We get through Mostar then take a turn into the back streets. Are we lost again Guisseppe, no, this is a deliberate ploy to get to a smaller border crossing According to Viktor. Seems we are going ... read more

Europe » Bosnia & Herzegovina » East » Sarajevo July 10th 2015

Off on a walking tour this morning. Meet our guide, Nella. All good until Viktor butts in to have his say on something which I think starts a mini war between the 2 of them. Never mind. Walk the old town, through the catholic cathedral Jewish synagogue and outside one of the mosques (can't go in during Ramadan). finish walk without too much more friction between the 2 guides, but we still have a tunnel and war museum to go. Onto the bus for our next bit. Nella starts talking then Viktor grabs the mic to say something, tension..... Then Guisseppe has trouble navigating the streets he came in on yesterday and Viktor takes over again. A bit like a 3 ring circus. Get to tunnels which are right beside the airport. Go in and sit ... read more

Europe » Bosnia & Herzegovina » East » Sarajevo July 9th 2015

First "bags out" this morning. Right on time and the porter arrived as we put the 2nd bag out so big tick for us.... On to the bus and seat rotation has us in the front seat behind Guisseppe our Italian driver. Good spot you say, not quite. Guiseppe is not the best driver and there are several pieces of spectacular driving of which more will come in later parts of this blog. Any hoo, away via the port. 4 cruise ships in today so lucky we did our tours the last few days. Onto the new suspension type bridge out of Dubrovnik on our way to Sarajevo Via Moston (old capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina). All going well, get to the border and there are 3 buses in the queue in front of us so ... read more

Europe July 8th 2015

Up really early today (0600 wake up call for an 0730 departure). Why you ask. Good question, we did as well, but easy answer is to beat the other tours to the Montenagren border. We have a day over the border into Montenegro today. Evidently the border crossing can take up to 2 hours if you get the timing wrong. All good for early start and we get to the border with 1 tour coach in front of us. Viktor is excited and gathers our passports for the business part. Gets us into another queue and then gets the passport stuff done pretty quickly. He is very happy, but we then find out that was just getting out of Croatia, Montenegro still to come. Get to the Montenegro control and again, second coach in the line. ... read more

Europe » Croatia » Dalmatia » Dubrovnik July 7th 2015

Oops! forgot to mention yesterday that as we were finishing up from the dining room, a whole bunch of young guys in yellow t shirts arrive in the dining room and attack the food. Closer Inspection and they have the Australian coat of arms and AIS on the shirts. Then we see water polo so Chris catechies one of the more mature guys (coach material) and quizzes him. Sure enough, they are the Australian water polo team over here for the world championships. Any hoo, this is now today's post and get the early call and up and at 'em.... At the bus by allocated 0800 start. Today we are doing a guided walking tour of the old town. Go through the safety video and play with the "whispers". This is a radio receiver so we ... read more

Europe July 6th 2015

Up a bit earlier then yesterday. Final pack of bags and down to breakfast. Eat up big as we now have to pay for food - got spoilt with all inclusive deal..... Finalise room and check out. Walk up the hill isn't too bad and when we get to the new hotel, they have our room available for us - bonus.... Into the room, not bad, but not as good a view as had - never mind. Break the safe trying to set the code - oops. Reception report that and we just head off to the old town of Dubrovnik. By public transport. Bus just up the road from the hotel that goes to the old town. Too easy. Very full bus by the time we get past the 3rd stop. Get to our destination ... read more
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik




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