Blogs from Korcula, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe - page 7

Today is our last day in Croatia before heading out to Hungary and a week’s bike riding in a national park up North of Hungary, then back to Budapest before heading back to real life and the big smoke (literally) of London. Croatia has been great, though we both agree it has been quite strange going from travelling to holidaying and back again as a lot of the areas we have been in are really tourist resorts and not set up for serious travelling, however this has not been a bad thing. The last week has been spent in Korcula, an island off the coast of southern Dalmatia, with about 16,000 people and here the tale begins... Having decided that lying on the beach and swimming and eating was a bit too much relaxing even for ... read more

For some reason I didn't bounce out of bed today! Forcing myself out of bed we all went downstairs for some breakfast. I grabbed some yoghurt before going back upstairs to try and get more sleep. It was a pretty slow morning, which was probably my fault because I wouldn't get out of bed. When I did get up it wasn't much fun in the streets of Dubrovnik. The weather had turned. After a perfect day yesterday it was now drizzling rain, and the streets were packed because there was at least one cruise ship in town. This forced our hand a bit in going to Korcula. Ginko and I were going to hike up the mountain over looking Dubrovnik, but there wasn't anything that suited for baggage holding. Our first plan on getting to Korcula ... read more

Last night there was a heavy thunderstorm in Korcula island, so heavy that the rain started to seep through the cracks in the wall near the window of our room, and we had to call in the sobe owner. She quickly used some rags and towels to keep the rain from seeping through, that showed how heavy the rain was. This morning we woke up late at 9 plus and took the 10.15 bus to Vela Luka, 1 hr away. Turned out to be a disappointing day-trip. There was nothing much to see, we ended up spending our time sipping coffee in a cafe, while waiting for the bus back at 13.40. So far we have spent 6-7 days in Croatia. A little of my own observation about the national psyche of the Croatians. Croatians are ... read more

WOW, I just finished reading the Da Vinci code yesterday. Incredible. Best book i have ever read. Granted that is not saying too much due to the fact that i have not really read many books but nonetheless i loved it. 592 pages in less than 72 hours, i am amazed myself. Nursing a bit of a hangover at the moment. We are on the island of Korcula now leaving for Dubrovnic at 1pm, should be fantastic. Stayed at this hostel here that is owned by this south african guy. Pretty crazy place. It was the last night of it being open, closing for the season. He is going to Ko Pi Pi in thailand to start a new one so we have agreed to meet up there with him. Can;t wait. Dean, read the Da ... read more

Now we would travel north along the Dalamatian coast from Dubrovnik to Split. The journey was via an ocean-going ferry, Liburnija, operated by Jadrolinija. A clamshell bow opened to admit cars and trucks. A long queue of cars awaited loading at Gruž, the Durbrovnik port. The upper deck of the ship was packed with sunseekers all in, shall we say brief, swimsuits, like the Lido Deck on a contemporary cruise ship, except there was no swimming pool. Wearing street clothes, one felt overdressed here! The first stop on the coastal ferry was at Korcula island. The walled town was known as Corcyra Nigra in Roman times and as Curzola in the Venetian and Austrian periods. It was an interesting Medieval looking town, with a cathedral in the center and fortified wall overlooking the harbor entrance. Marco ... read more