Susie's Report No 47

 

 

Well, Hello again, we’re back to finish off Croatia and more…..

 

SPLIT: The East Mediterranean Capital of the Dalmatia coast. It’s the crossroads of Central and Southern Europe and very busy. Loads of Tourists - just like us.  We caught the bus into the city and wandered through the markets and down to the waterfront to see the cruise ships and also what terminal we would have to be in to get the car ferry over to Orebic. It looked like too much organised chaos, and the parking for motor homes was pot luck, thus a change of plans.

 

The campsite near Split was, of course, excellent, we are parked right on the waters edge, with the water lapping and the sea birds screeching - it’s mating time.

 

We went for a walk along the foreshore and came across a Marina with some rather very large pleasure craft - we can just dream on and them some more……

Up and away again and we catch the car ferry to the Isthmus of Ploce for Trapnj. Orebic and Peljac were also gorgeous.

 

It’s a nice mode of travel, sitting up stairs and watching the scenery go past. H.H. gets a rest also. We did this to avoid Bosnia, which our van insurance didn’t allow us to pass through.

 

DUBROVNIK: Now this was a disappointment - It was pouring with rain and very misty, but what we could see coming down the hill was very impressive.  I managed a few photos through H.H.’s windscreen in-between raindrops and wipers flashing. 

 

The forecast was set with rain for days so we decided to move on. It’s no great joy wandering around in the rain trying to see things. We left next day, driving around, we got the gist of what it would be like on a sunny day - next time!!!!!!!

 

Croatia wins the prize for its scenic beauty, limestone mountains,rocks and rugged very blue coastlines.

 

We had to make an executive decision here and take a gamble. We leave Croatia for 10 minutes and cross into Bosnia and back out again into Croatia. It is 10 km of H.H. being uninsured CRAZY!!!! I promised Budha  (he sits on our dashboard) and our Guardian Angels, that we would be very good (i.e no cursing, swearing, blaspheming and whatever), if he would let us get through unscathed. I even did an imaginary white line of protection around H.H.  Yahoo!!!!!! We made it…otherwise, it meant climbing back up some very winding roads and catching the ferry and 80 km back to the mainland. Unfortunately, our passports were stamped again (big brother knows where we’ve been ).

 

We were chatting to some German lads, and they were saying that some bridges were closed for 4 hrs to Motor Homes and Caravans due to very high winds. Luckily we were not in those areas. It has been blowing dogs of chains and oh!!! The rain, we are so tired of it, especially when Europe does not have any drought problems, the rivers and creeks are flowing rapidly. 

 

Now we are heading up North to Zagreb. but, aaagh!!!!!! We have to go into a 5 km tunnel (can you imagine my anxiety).

 

The southbound tunnel was closed for repairs. So it was 2-way traffic with trucks thundering past, Phew!!! Sunlight again. It was 15 degrees then 7 degrees then we pop out the other end and there was SNOW all around. It hadn’t melted from the cold snap we had 4 days ago.The weather is all over the place.

 

ZAGREB:  The train trip took 1hr 20 mins and walking out of the station you see the views of Zagreb, the Statue of King Tomislav, the Art Pavilion, the Cathedral spires, and the slopes of Mount Medvennica. We arrived in the town square just in time to see the Changing of the Guards.

 

A very serious affair with long bladed swords, traditional dress and beautiful horses. We walked around the markets and past the Renaissance walls, sat in the park and listened to some music, now its time to go back to the station, and hope and pray we get onto the right train. It’s very confusing when we can’t read Croatian. 

 

Even getting there we had our fingers crossed, as you catch the train just near the level crossing there is no sign boards or clock, you pay the conductor when he comes around, just like the old days on Sydney buses.  We could have ended up anywhere - it just happened to be the right train.  Yeah…..

 

Now…… as the weather has been so shitty……I thought I would share my tips on how one dries clothes on ever increasing rainy days. The steering wheel - is ideal for hanging socks and jocks, don’t forget the indicators. The gear stick - nickers also. The seats - T shirts and Tops ( just drape over with hangers) The Sun Visors (because they are large) Towels with a bit of adjustment (pegs), the dining table - well just about anything,  the Seat belt catches - you can hang a bra from one side to the other and even the arm rests do the same job. Coat hangers on cupboard doors, also you can plug the heater on and close the curtains. And on a sunny day (ha ha ) you can position things nicely on the dash board as you are driving along. T.Lee often complains he doesn’t like the reflection on the windscreen this causes - ho hum….when H.H. is stationary his windscreen wipers (we have 3) will also accommodate towels tucked underneath especially if it’s blustery, but, you do take the risk that they could end up anywhere/gone…. actually H.H. is very versatile and accommodating on this serious matter.

 

Back to business- Croatian is a very hard language to spell, they put letters together that you would never dream of doing, unless your spellcheck has lost the plot. To pronounce, you have to twist your mouth the other way and have a go.

 

That’s the important part..It’s also VERY interesting doing the grocery shop etc. I have made many mistakes trying to decipher items. There is also a 25% tax (GST) on everything, this is basically all of Europe. We shouldn’t complain in Australia….

 

That’s it for Croatia and onto HUNGARY and to visit Stuart…….say no more!

 

May 1st, time is ticking away…. we passed out of Croatia into Hungary. We were stopped at the Border to show passports, drivers licence, and H.H’s paperwork. They took their time going through everything. Terry tried to give one of the officers, (female I think) she wore very heavy shoes, and looked vicious,  a souvenir Koala Bear - answer….. NO THANKS… Terry….  O.K. …..she asked to have a look inside ( to see if we were carrying any illegal immigrants )- no problem -thank you - goodbye - and we pottered off. Next ….to a service station to purchase a vignette  ( road tax for foreign vehicles).

 

LAKE BALATON: It’s the largest fresh water lake in Europe, but we can’t see it, we are parked right beside it. We are sitting here with water cascading down the windscreen, and sipping on a Red and Rum. I’m so sick of rain and wind it really stops you doing things. Alone again….naturally.

 

Shopping in Hungary is severely testing my mathematical skills.  The currency is Forints, and you have to divide the item by 300  to get the euros equivalent.  Our bill in Lidl ( my favourite shop) was 22,478.00 Ft. Did I ever mention Maths was never my strong point… I failed it in school. Anyway, I fumble and mumble along. We thought Croatian was difficult but I think Hungarian takes the cake…I took some photo’s of road signs, there are not enough letters in the alphabet.

 

Terry says it’s a random collection of consonants with the odd vowel thrown in.

 

Today we hop on the Metro to BUDA & PEST …Budapest. But first, our drive through the city to the campsite was amazing to the eye. I didn’t know where to look.  I’m saying to Terry..gosh look at this  or that. O.M.G that’s extraordinary  and of course, he couldn’t … the traffic was pretty heavy but moving, I have a good job as the observer…..and photo taker …The Danube very pretty with its ships, canal cruising boats, tourist ferries and restaurant boats.  

 

We take in as much as we can for a couple of hours and of course, it's threatening rain. Parliament House is an amazing 268-metre long structure with its 96-metre high dome.

 

Another interesting feature is the “Shoes by the Danube” these commemorate those who were shot on the edge the Danube by the Hungarian Nazis.  It’s a reminder to all of the Holocaust, 60 pairs of Bronze made shoes from the 1940’s style, a sad sight.  

 

 

After much wandering around the streets, Terry nearly ended up eating a piece of soap!!  He was stopped just in time, it looked like jelly or a lolly.  These lovely young ladies approached us from the Dead Sea Shop saying they were promoting some new products, hence the brightly coloured SOAP.

 

After much laughter and chatting, I gave one of the girls my little Kangaroo pin I wear on my jacket. She is going to Australia in October and was very excited to be going, everybody we meet has some relative in Oz.

 

Next campsite in Keszthely, we hop on our bikes and ride around the lake to a small Palace!

 

We wandered around the grounds and had coffee in the courtyard, rode back along the lake, through the town, took our lives into our hands riding on the busy road once again, get back to H.H. only to find there is was safe bike track at the back of the site leading into town.  Aren't we clever ?????  Not….

 

Days later we arrive at Stuart’s house in Lenti (Hungary).

 

After finding No.123, we reverse up the driveway with burning clutch and smoke filling the air. We had to get across a drainway and slippery wet grass, and also praying that this was actually Stuarts house. The neighbours were watching and the local dogs barking. We get the table and chairs out, take a seat and wait for Stuart to arrive from Vienna. Even the local Police drove by and had a look. Thankfully he did arrive and, yes we were in the right house.

 

That night Stuart decided it would be a good idea to warm the house up.  So he proceeds to play boy scout with matches and paper and light the lovely old Aga type stove. Next was the lovely old fire place in the lounge room. Needless to say, both chimneys were blocked (OH NO!!!!!)

 

We had smoke creeping through the house at a rapid pace, streaming eyes and nose, coughing and laughing. Decision made, open doors, windows and pour ourselves another couple of drinks. We think some poor critters had built nests up there, as he hadn’t been here for 18 months.

 

After recovery and next day, we hop on our bikes for a bit of sightseeing and lunch. 

 

The day after we were invited to some friends of Stuarts, Agi, Gyorgy and their son, for a traditional Hungarian Sunday lunch - hooley dooley, it was delicious. After much discussions on our travels, it was decided that we should pop into SLOVENIA for ice-creams - WHAT!!!!!! That is forever away….NO…..only 10 kms  BUT…BUT….we haven't got our passports with us - it’s O.K. not needed, ARE YOU SURE…. no border control… O.K……off we go…. This all happened in broken English. O.K. five of us into a small sedan, we set off, sure enough into Slovenia we go.

 

We head to a tourist spot, an observation tower.

 

Up in the lift we go, approx 250ft and from here we can see the Austrian Hills, Croatia, Hungary and of course we are in Slovenia.

 

The next stop was at a Winery for a glass of Slovenian “Rose” overlooking the vineyard, then off for ice cream.

Ice cream in hand we wander down to the local town square and into the local theatre for a look. We see a lot of people in the traditional dress so we wander in further and end up sitting in the theatre. It is a “Polka Dance Competition”. We settle in and watch the rehearsals with piano accordion, fiddles, and lots of stamping of feet.

So we got the gist of the dance, the real thing started at 5pm. The theatre was starting to fill, and people were looking at us as if to say (you’re in our seats) OOPS!!! We decided to slink out casually and slowly trying not to draw any more attention to ourselves. We made it out the first door and a German lady came running after us saying “Bitte Bitte” ( please, please) you can all stay, we thanked her and kept going on our merry way….. It was one of those “you had to be there moments”!

 

Back in the car, we pop back to Hungary again, Say our farewells and many thanks for a very interesting day.  We hop on our bikes and head for home.  What a day it was…..

 

Monday morning we leave Stuart pondering his lawnmower, trying to work out why it won’t start, he’s jot a big job in front of him. We hope it goes well. We suggest he borrows some of the local goats we saw yesterday to help him out. I pity the gofers and snakes when he does get it started. As usual we had a really funny time, a quick three point turn out of the driveway, missing the drains we wave our goodbyes and off to Austria we go.

We miss a few turns, but end up seeing a lot of the city of Vienna and its huge motorways, and finally finding the campsite. Back to Euros again, my brain can handle that.

 

Next day a round trip on our bikes of 27 km to see the sites of Vienna. We cycle along the Danube and peddle into the land of Schubert, Strauss, Wagner, Beethoven, Mozart, just to name a few. 

Amazing Churches, Museums, Palaces, and a lot of high-end shops. Stunning….

 

There was a great T-shirt we saw in a Vienna souvenir shop which read “There Are No Kangaroos in Austria” .

At least they have a sense of humour! There are only 2 letters separating us, so there will always be mistakes in the spoken word. I should have bought one for posterity.

 

Now… Austria a place where the hills are alive with the Sound of Music, but thankfully, not Julie Andrews bursting out of the foliage in song….It’s sooooooo picturesque, green, with the ever changing weather, loads of very tall trees and large houses.  The campsites are first class. The snow capped mountains stunning, a lot shrouded in cloud.

 

We drove through the city of “Salzburg” then quickly into Germany, where we were stopped by the Police, they were doing random checks for illegal immigrants, sent us on our way, and then drifted back into Austria again, all in the space of twenty minutes.

 

We have stayed at some incredibly lovely campsites here but it’s time to move on. 

 

We are now on the bus to Innsbruck and arrive at the old part of town, and the sun is actually shinning.

 

The Bergisel Ski Jump is impressive, it was used for the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter games. The snow capped mountains are dazzling.

 

Leaving Innsbruck and it’s tunnel time again, we passed through many, one such was 15.3 kms long.  Yuk….I think it’s the third longest road tunnel in the world!!

 

The following day it was a bit confusing what country we were still in, we looked at the service station prices, and yes we had obviously left Austria and we were now in Switzerland after crossing the Rhein river. Austria and Switzerland are expensive campsites, and also have a lot of hidden taxes, but they have first class facilities. You get spoilt. You pay about 10% more with the Swiss Franc. Apparently a lot of people cross the borders either side to do a big shop. 

 

Pottering along next day we have now crossed into South Western Germany. We are in a lovely cheap Stellplatz in Degernau. Such a change back to basics again.

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Tomorrow back into France and back to the “Aires” till June where we return to England for H.H’s annual Health check ( MOT) and a timing belt change.  Please cross your finger for us, that’s all we need.

 

Anyway we will write again soon.

 

And thank you all for your support of our wonderful and crazy lifestyle.

 

Love and best wishes Susie, Terry & H.H.  X X X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susie's Report No 46

Well !!!!!! Hello to All - It’s been a while since the last report, so here we go.  Greetings from Croatia…..the land of rocks and Rosemary!

 

I started to write this on ANZAC Day, the writers block didn’t know where to start. So I went for a walk - all the locals must of thought what a nutter - she’s walking around with a good size sprig of Rosemary attached to her shirt.( It grows wild everywhere here) We are proud old Australians and, we raised a few glasses to the Diggers that night in their honour…. 

 

Now I digress………

 

March 5th, and our stay in Carnac (France) has come to an end.  Max has returned to reclaim his apartment, he wouldn’t accept that after 4 months we had squatters rights, he said we couldn’t possibly claim that as we had been paying him rent……… Oh well- nice try….

 

So we said our Merci Beaucoup’s and Au Revoir’s to Max, Robin and Sheila, sad to leave Carnac, such a beautiful place.

 

We’ll miss the sunsets from Max’s balcony.

 

 

Robin and Sheila had just purchased an apartment downstairs and have been happily renovating. They hope to buy a van and hit the road for a couple of months a year. So we had many laughs telling them about our mis-adventures and also the really good bits so they didn’t think we’re really silly/nuts lots of the time ?!?…and also Mairie Pierre who lived downstairs, who  was a good friend and helped us with language barriers and advice on medical stuff. Terry's also picked up a terrible cold and cough and is starting to feel wheezy and shortness of breath (especially with the stairs) all 8 levels of them!

 

I digress again…..We also had a lovely Christmas and we even had presents to open from Rosemary, Matt and family, Catherine and family, lots of Australian goodies and stickers for H.H. 

 

New Years was fun with the  downstairs mob. Terry’s birthday another lovely gathering. 

 

 

Australia Day, we dressed Max’s apartment with every Australian item we had (flags flying and looking very colourful) and we feasted on homemade meat pies, sausage rolls and pavlova….Yum….

 

Now back to departing - H.H. was looking particularly good inside and out, he was gleaming and tyres eager to hit the road, his batteries needed a thorough rev up and a good run…. so off we toddle. 

 

We end up at an “Aire” that can take 150 camping cars and as usual, we are the only ones there. Next day “Montlucon” by a lake then onto “Le Puy en Velay. 

 

The next morning when we wake up we have SNOW all over H.H. It’s a bit chilly, there was a snow plough parked behind us that had just finished clearing the roads. Thank God we had bought H.H. four new tyres last year so we put him and the driver T.L to the test and off we go. 

 

We are fast tracking our way to Italy to catch up with John and Maddy Morgan in Treviso before they go back to Oz. It’s also John’s birthday.

They came to visit us in Carnac but John had caught a severe bacterial lung infection and spent most of his time in Hospital before returning to Treviso. It was a nightmare for them, but he’s fighting fit now thank heavens.

 

Terry and I have also made the decision that something has to be done for him, the antibiotics are not doing what we thought - he’s getting worse. Maddy has organised a Doctor for him to see as she speaks fluent Italian - so she can translate  - so he battles on. 

 

Our first hiccup for 2016 was of course……….the TOLLWAY on the border of France/Italy.  We end up at a wrong gate…..on go the hazard lights and we have to reverse…..so does everybody else behind us….we recover well and negotiate the RIGHT gate and off we go again…. Yeah…

 

Our little workhorse H.H. pulls his weight up and down the mountains extremely well  to “San Remo” in Italy via some snow covered roads.

We are back in the land of long tunnels, 2 kms etc, and you know how much I dread these inevitable necessities of the road. 

 

It’s just I don’t like seeing the water seepage creeping down the walls, it doesn’t give me great confidence - that’s all!!!! hum…

 

At least our arms get a bit of exercise negotiating the tunnels - sunglasses on sunglasses off - on - off - I lost count …….I did stop counting at well over 110 tunnels. At “Genova” we lost the GPS for a moment and I lost focus!

 

On the 14th of March we arrive in Treviso, Terry deteriorating, not able to walk very far. Doctors prognosis …off to the Hospital - he has Acute Bronchitis with a touch of Asthma……… Hospital it is then…..he is admitted with help from Maddy’s translations for 3 1/2 days - all we have to do is show his Passport and Aust Medicare Card.The Doctors and Staff are fantastic.

 

I dare not take a photo of Terry in the wheelchair (not good etiquette) but they MADE HIM sit in it to be wheeled away into emergency for all his tests.,  He was admitted at 9.30am and taken upstairs at 2.30pm.

 

 

 

While waiting to go up to his room - this lovely old gentleman came in - started chatting - only Maddy could answer - he was 81 yrs old - he said he was here because his heart was tired ( I nearly cried when this was translated) BUT….. he would really like a plate of spaghetti and a litre of Red Wine to keep him going as he missed out on his lunch. Many laughs after and with translation he said he has been making Gelato for the last 50 yrs and he would like to make it to 100 y.o. - we wished him well and  we hope he gets there…..

 

Terry ended up with 2 room mates, they ended up occupying their time, in between having tests, by teaching each other English and Italian. I also think the Licorice I took up to the Hospital also kept them occupied as of course the Hospital food was a bit so so. Ordering the meals was a pot luck deal as the little old Nanna taking the menu couldn’t speak English. One night he ended up with a plate of mash potato and a chunk of cheese, never mind…….another night he ended up with a Pork Curry which he said was very good, next night a boiled meat hamburger with sauce and mash. Hey, one is not there for the food …..just to feel better ….

Meanwhile we are parked in an “Aire” in Treviso, the only bonus for me is I could walk to the Hospital - 20 mins a fast walk - 25 mins if you stop to feed the ducks and swans.  

I made a point of letting the Polizia that patrol the park area, that we would be staying longer than the 48hrs allowed (which isn’t enforced) that my Husband is in Hospital so we will be here for extra days (10 days in total) as he had to recuperate also. 

 

Thanks to Mathew and our Christmas presents, I was able to hand over some Koala Bears, which they loved. The Police got to know me well and would stop and ask me how he was, and thanks to Maddy’s cousin Caterina, who knows somebody, who knows somebody  etc. etc.in the force we ended up with a letter typed by Caterina to put on the windscreen letting anyone know we had Police approval, the owner in Hospital and permission to stay there. Everyone was so helpful.

 

March 19th - Escape day - Terry promised and begged the Doctor that he would be well looked after if he let him out today.  Maddy and I took a cab to the hospital and with translation she took notes of his tablets dosage and the hospital gave him a lovely green mask to use with an atomiser. Thankfully Maddy had a machine we could borrow. And thankfully we still had the Inverter that Terry had wanted to throw out but I had hidden in H.H. We did not have 240 volts at the car park. so we needed it to run the atomiser mask.

 

Still on this day, we celebrate John Morgan’s 74th Birthday with a beaut lunch at a lovely restaurant that John and Maddy knew well, followed by birthday cake at their apartment.

We even had the people sitting at outside tables singing him Happy Birthday, it was a lovely lunch, on a lovely Treviso day.

With the old bloke out of hospital, supposed to be resting up. HuH…

 

Our last night is Pizza and Beers with John and Maddy, but the night before we totally mucked up. I cooked a huge Roast Chicken dinner, with lots of Red wine and lots of laughs, with a slow walk back to H.H.

We take our leave and bid  Arrivederci on the Thursday - Terry is now fighting fit, and is ready to battle on, and a couple of hours later we are in SLOVENIA.

 

The campsite in Slovenia was excellent with fabulous facilities (Hot Water) in the showers - bloody marvelous invention !!!!!!!!! We sat and watched Paragliders jumping off the mountains behind us for 2 days. Slovenia is very mountainous, so perfect for this mad sport ( who in their right mind would jump of cliffs)

 

Talking to the young family who owns this site, he said it has taken him 11 yrs to get approval from the government to build his dream - and being the second born son he was given a tiny bit portion of the family land (that old tradition still stands) after his Father died. He hasn’t spoken to his brother in 8 years, no such thing as 50/50 or sharing, anyway I hope he gets to build on his Reception room and Restaurant and sell local produce. He speaks 5 languages, but when you see all the countries surrounding Slovenia, it’s understandable - that’s just how it is -  It makes us feel very inadequate - because we are changing countries so often, our old brains can only absorb so much, and then poof…its gone and then onto the next one to try and learn some more.

 

We leave and wind our way up and down the mountains then onto a view of the Adriatic Sea. It’s Easter so we stay 2 days at “Portoroz”/Piran” a marina with views looking toward Trieste around the corner. There was a rather large sailing comp with hundreds of little boats with little kids/teenagers sailing them, it looked spectacular (organised chaos ).

So after the chocolate Easter Eggs, it is bums on bikes and off we peddle. Drinks at sunset with a bottle of sparkling Rosato overlooking the ocean, chairs out the front of H.H. very civilised and gorgeous

 

 

Easter Monday we pass through Passport checks leaving Slovenia and then 100 mtrs later a Passport check entering Croatia. We are at “Rovinj” on the Istrian Peninsula, a picturesque coastal town. 

 

 

The camp site is full of ancient Olive trees, Woodpeckers, and for the first time in forever, a good variety of singing birds. The water is so very blue and so very clear.

 

You can see loads of those black spiky, sea urchins (obviously no asians around), the water is too cold.  I remember the chef  Maggie Beer demonstrating on TV, just cut them open and suck the contents out…raw….YUK….pass….no thanks.

 

Croatian is a Language I can’t possible fathom or attempt to copy, the pronunciation is a no go. Luckily most people here understand/speak English, we try to learn the basic’s ( manners) it’s impossible. I was reading the Lonely Planet phrasebook also for Hungarian and I have to give up on that one also, its to hard on our old brains

 

Moving along to Pula, the campsite has 900 pitches - rather large. Here you have the Naval port of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and the old gladiator haunt built between 27BC - 68AD which is  the 6th largest surviving Roman Amphitheatre in the World, and still used today not for gristly things but music concerts and functions.

 

 

There is a concert soon with Robert Plant. it seats about 20,000 and it’s an amazing structure with fascinating history. Whats left of the walls could tell some extraordinary tales. No more feeding Christians to the Lions.

 

T.Lee had a great haircut from the local Barber, 50 Kuna or 7 euros ( a bargain) then we caught the bus back to the campsite. My arithmetic has improved again by having to divide everything by 7 for euros. Hungary is going to do my head in as you have to divide by 300….

 

We have moved down the West coast, rounded the bottom and up the East coast to a town called SV.Marina near “Labin” It’s a bit isolated so we take advantage for some “domestics”!

We both end up with head colds AGAIN !!!!!!  It’s the French and  Italians fault.  We have to stop kissing cheek to cheek and cheek again !! The germs floating around just love it……or it could be a delay from the hospital stay. 

 

Anyway…. we move on to “Brestova - Porozina” we have to drag poor H.H. back up these hills again, but he does it in his stride and off we go to the Ferry terminal and across to the Island of “Cres”. We miss the car ferry and wait 1st in line for 2hrs for the next - so I’m sitting here trying to compose our log..while watching some workers paint new yellow lines  on the road, and YES “It’s watching paint dry time” AND also cause I’m an idiot ??- I am picking prickly pear prickles out of my fingers with some not so good tweezers, I knew I shouldn’t have touched them - they looked pretty…..!!!!!!!

 

The Island of “Cres” has remarkable rock formations, with rock walls as land and property dividers in mind boggling structures and these are so ancient and hard to explain.

  It is very dry to the eye, the vegetation - not much. Also this area is very protective of the endangered Griffon Vulture.

 

 And also….it was ruled by the Roman empire in the 1st Century B.C - then everybody has had a crack at ruling it. Romans, Greeks, Venetians, Croats. Everybody known to man has been here, conquered and moved on or out…. its very beautiful. 

 

So Croatia wins on the bird singing and chirps, swallows are protected here. The local saying is “No Stress on Cres” and I’d believe it……

 

Still pottering around Cres and there is a huge Sea fog that envelopes everywhere, even the locals are impressed.  Our ride around part of the island was interesting today, even more so when my bike peddle fell off  in the middle of the road, do you know how hard it is to peddle with only one peddle left.?????? we couldn’t fix it on the spot as it had cross threaded. dammmm..

 

Next car ferry is to the Island of KRK its a 25 minute ride and equally beautiful.

I can’t keep banging on about the water and scenery, the diversity is something else, the huge contrast between the rugged rocks, limestone, dry barren landscapes and the oceans and lakes. Croatia wins  - it is a very beautiful country the coastlines visually stunning. 

We passed through 45 degrees Nth of the equator which puts us half way between the equator and the North Pole.

 

Moving onto “Seline/Starigrad” which is famous for its Gorge in the National Park. Our Autocamp was right on the waters edge and we stayed 4 days.

 

A lovely spot indeed.

 

 

 NOW.. if you had mountain bikes (we don’t) or if you have walking sticks (we don’t) you can have a lovely day getting up to the Gorge (we didn’t) we looked from afar, we just rode along and around the foreshore of the town. The Island of “Pag” was across the waters from us - its famous for its Sheep milk cheese,good wine and excellent food, and that’s another thing, the wine vines grow out of rubble rock here and poor looking soil, which is amazing.

To be continued….  Croatia is such a wild and diverse place.

Susie, Terry and HH.

XXXX

 

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