Croatia's Countryside
Day 11: Traveling Through Croatia
Today our bus heads to Croatia. At the border stop, we are asked to get off the bus,
line up, and give the Hungarian border guard our passports. We are then asked to return to the bus (and stay there!) while the guard takes
the passports to the Croatian guard for their stamping. Our quiet, compliant behavior gives one pause
to reflect on how the Nazi soldiers were able to gain compliance from the persecuted people of the war as they blindly did as they were
told.
Croatia is blessed with beautiful countryside: a variety of trees, hills covered in foliage, grassy areas, fall yellows coming on, and vegetation growing up to the roadside - all of it on a warm, sunny day. Scars of the war still show: abandoned houses with bullet holes (some plastered over) and walls gouged by shells.
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At Turanj, a village once in the war zone,
we make a quick stop at an open air museum (Museum of Arms from the Homeland)
which, at first glance, looks to be a small patch of grass with some of the
homemade tanks and small aircraft used by the people bravely defending their
town and their country. The bravery of
the people cannot be overstated. The museum site is the former backyard of a
ruined Austro-Hungarian military base.
Tip: Recommended movies: No
Man’s Land and In the Land of Blood
and Honey.
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Day 12: Walking Through Plitvice National Lakes Park
Spectacular!
We start at the top of the Plitvice Lakes National Park and make our
way down. The split wood boardwalks have
charm, but are also practical for draining away excess water.
Crystal clear lakes and rushing waterfalls of every size surround us, and the sound of cascading water is nearly constant.
For those looking for a little more exercise, a
trail branches off toward Supljara Cave.
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We cross the large lake by ferry and have lunch before continuing our hike through the park.
Tip: Have the chicken for lunch. The hamburgers are..."interesting". Beautiful autumn colors and turquoise water add
to the striking scenery.
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We climb out of the canyon and take our final look at the national park.
It's back
to the bus for the drive to the Adriatic Sea and Rovinj.
At the crest of the last hill before
reaching the coast, we stop for our first look at the Adriatic Sea. A foggy haze hangs over the sea and clouds are
hovering above us.
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Rovinj
We
check into the hotel and in my room I have a WOW! moment. I throw aside the heavy curtain, and WOW!, in
the evening twilight is the Adriatic right outside my window, boats moored in
the harbor just yards away. Lights wink on across the harbor as night falls.
Day 13: Rovinj |
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The day dawns sunny and blue – perfect for a
daylong walk-about.
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South along the shore from the hotel is a swimming
area - an attractive stone patio with steps leading into the water. Beautiful, dark blue water is inviting, but a
toe in the water registers “chilly”.
The path continues past the hotels and connects with a park on the left; it is a lovely stroll. Swimmers, somewhat akin to polar bears, bob in the less than warm water. It's time to turn back and return to the town. |
Farther along the path past the concrete “beach” is a rocky stretch
eliciting an “Ouch!” as I briefly remove one shoe.
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Looking around corners (I hear you, George), I find unexpected graceful
arches framing stone stairs and a business entrepreneur.
The Church of St. Euphemia is the focal point of the town.
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Views from the top of Old Town at the church are impressive.
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It's time to "brave the climb" up the "creaky wooden staircase" in the bell tower ( Rick's words).
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The stairs are worn slippery smooth, so I
make an equally careful descent and am ready to tackle another activity: the ferry to the island of Crevni Otok (islet
Sveti Andrija). The ride is pleasant and the island is a pretty
setting with an observation tower giving a good view of the surrounding water,
but there is not much else to do during a short stay.
The days have passed quickly, and tomorrow we head for our last country - Slovenia.