Martin would like to cruise round the med in this
I would like to cruise round the med on this!
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Wednesday
We caught the bus this morning for a 3 hour drive to Zadar. The bus took a few inland roads so the view from the window was not as interesting. It was then a 20 min trek with rucksacks on to our accommodation so it was a good test of how comfortable they are. The accommodation has very speedy internet so we hope to skype our girls and then stream the football tonight.
Zadar is a very large city with a small old town on an islet which we will visit tomorrow. This afternoon we just walked round the coast road and got some sun. There is also a Sea Organ built on the shore here - apparently it needs a breeze to work properly so fingers crossed we'll hear a tune tomorrow.
One week has already gone by and we are in the groove now. Of course the sun is shining, travel arrangements have run smoothly so far and all the Croatians we meet are lovely so that has helped!
Zadar is a very large city with a small old town on an islet which we will visit tomorrow. This afternoon we just walked round the coast road and got some sun. There is also a Sea Organ built on the shore here - apparently it needs a breeze to work properly so fingers crossed we'll hear a tune tomorrow.
One week has already gone by and we are in the groove now. Of course the sun is shining, travel arrangements have run smoothly so far and all the Croatians we meet are lovely so that has helped!
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Sunday and Monday
It was a lovely sunny day on Sunday so we wondered around the Old Town again - still more to see. There was a Memorial room for the Homeland war open. It was amazing to see the photos showing the state the streets we had just wandered down were in and the damage to the monuments. The town was full of the youngsters who had arrived for the convention.
After a packed lunch sat outside the walls overlooking the sea we went to watch the football........... Hmmm not much to say except to Jim and Scott - we bet you had a great time in Liverpool! Later we ate out in a restaurant for our last meal with Barb and Al who have looked after us so well.
On Monday morning we took down the tent and packed up the van. Barb and Al dropped us at the bus station for our 5 hour ride to Trogir. As we waved goodbye we both thought - well, here we go off on our own travels. The bus followed the coast so the scenery was fab - beautiful colour sea, orange and olive groves, oyster beds and roadsigns for wild boar apparently prevalent in all parts of Croatia. We passed easily through the Bosnia border controls - they have retained 9km of coastline. It was a very long journey which actually took 6 hours with 1 comfort break only an hour into the journey. Martin caught up on some sleep as it had rained quite a lot the previous night. Even though I was recovered I still wimped out and slept in the van!
On arrival at the bus station we walked down some higgledy streets armed with a photo of our accommodation and a map. With the help of young boys only aged about 9 but with very good English we found it and received a lovely welcome from the owner and his dad who picked us some lemons from his trees on the terrace. A visit to the supermarket netted us food enough for 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners for the princely sum of £10. :-)
Trogir is like a mini Dubrovnik but without intact walls and it didn't take long this morning to walk around so we are off to walk along the coast this afternoon.
After a packed lunch sat outside the walls overlooking the sea we went to watch the football........... Hmmm not much to say except to Jim and Scott - we bet you had a great time in Liverpool! Later we ate out in a restaurant for our last meal with Barb and Al who have looked after us so well.
On Monday morning we took down the tent and packed up the van. Barb and Al dropped us at the bus station for our 5 hour ride to Trogir. As we waved goodbye we both thought - well, here we go off on our own travels. The bus followed the coast so the scenery was fab - beautiful colour sea, orange and olive groves, oyster beds and roadsigns for wild boar apparently prevalent in all parts of Croatia. We passed easily through the Bosnia border controls - they have retained 9km of coastline. It was a very long journey which actually took 6 hours with 1 comfort break only an hour into the journey. Martin caught up on some sleep as it had rained quite a lot the previous night. Even though I was recovered I still wimped out and slept in the van!
On arrival at the bus station we walked down some higgledy streets armed with a photo of our accommodation and a map. With the help of young boys only aged about 9 but with very good English we found it and received a lovely welcome from the owner and his dad who picked us some lemons from his trees on the terrace. A visit to the supermarket netted us food enough for 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners for the princely sum of £10. :-)
Trogir is like a mini Dubrovnik but without intact walls and it didn't take long this morning to walk around so we are off to walk along the coast this afternoon.
Monday, 28 April 2014
Sunday, 27 April 2014
No photos yesterday - we woke up not to digger noise (not working at the weekend) but to rain. And it rained and it rained. So we stayed in the campervan waiting in the vain hope that the rain would stop. Activities included crocheting, reading, emailing, surfing the net, reading old newspapers, suduko, crosswords, cribbage...... We had had enough by 2.30 and got the wet gear on to walk round the coast through the hotel zone just outside the Old Town. We ended up in a bar to dry off.
Friday, 25 April 2014
Last night was very comfortable in the campervan and even the diggers starting at 6.45 didn't disturb me too much. Many campers including us have complained about the machinery which operates from early morning to 8 pm and some people have left. Yesterday they decided to give us 90% reduction on the fees for the campsite for all 5 nights and today when we returned from our day out we were given a voucher for a free 3 course meal for all 4 of us in the onsite restaurant!
Today we got a boat to Lokrum island which had some interesting sights and a fab view back to the Old Town. On the info board at the entrance to the botanical gardens we read that during the civil war in the early nineties the island was hit 50 times by heavy artillery fire. It is to odd to think that the population here aged over 25 lived through a war. A lot of money has been spent getting rid of the physical damage - it will be interesting to talk to locals about any lasting effects.
We are not sure where to go tomorrow - Dubrovnik is preparing for the arrival of 40,000 youngsters for some sort of catholic convention. So we need to go wherever they aren't! Vehicles will be banned from the roads - tour coaches have had to apply for special permits if they need to leave the town and must leave very early.
We are happy to stay put until Monday when Martin and I catch the bus to Trogir and Barb and Al set off for the rest of their 10 week trip. We are managing to cope with 4 of us and our rucksacks etc in the campervan and Barb is producing some lovely meals - we'll come again!
Today we got a boat to Lokrum island which had some interesting sights and a fab view back to the Old Town. On the info board at the entrance to the botanical gardens we read that during the civil war in the early nineties the island was hit 50 times by heavy artillery fire. It is to odd to think that the population here aged over 25 lived through a war. A lot of money has been spent getting rid of the physical damage - it will be interesting to talk to locals about any lasting effects.
We are not sure where to go tomorrow - Dubrovnik is preparing for the arrival of 40,000 youngsters for some sort of catholic convention. So we need to go wherever they aren't! Vehicles will be banned from the roads - tour coaches have had to apply for special permits if they need to leave the town and must leave very early.
We are happy to stay put until Monday when Martin and I catch the bus to Trogir and Barb and Al set off for the rest of their 10 week trip. We are managing to cope with 4 of us and our rucksacks etc in the campervan and Barb is producing some lovely meals - we'll come again!
Thursday, 24 April 2014
First night
Yesterday started so well. Barb and Al arrived to collect us from Dubrovnik airport just as we came through arrivals. We drove to our campsite and after setting up caught the bus to the Old Town which is beautiful. Our walk round also had an objective - to find somewhere which would show the crucial football matches on Sunday for the 2 Liverpudlians and 1 ardent Crystal Palace fan in our party. In a quaint alley we discovered an Irish pub with I ♥ Anfield signs and tv screens showing sport so thats sorted. We were followed out by a Croatian keen to tell us how he has followed Liverpool FC all round Europe. I suspect he may wish to sit with us on Sunday.
We then had a coffee and beers at a cafe with a view over the bay and Martin and I both began to realise we were finally here. After dinner and a competitive game of scrabble we retired. Well, last night has to be the worst night I've ever had. It was windy, it rained outside and inside the tent, the dawn chorus was very noisy and a breaker/digger machine started up nearby at 7. I had arrived with a cold and felt rough all night. So, the others have gone out whilst I caught up with some sleep and I will catch a bus in a minute to meet up with them. I'm pleased to report that I will be on the bench in the campervan tonight - martin will stay in the tent - he is made of hardier stuff than me.
The pic shows Barb and Martin in the old town.
We then had a coffee and beers at a cafe with a view over the bay and Martin and I both began to realise we were finally here. After dinner and a competitive game of scrabble we retired. Well, last night has to be the worst night I've ever had. It was windy, it rained outside and inside the tent, the dawn chorus was very noisy and a breaker/digger machine started up nearby at 7. I had arrived with a cold and felt rough all night. So, the others have gone out whilst I caught up with some sleep and I will catch a bus in a minute to meet up with them. I'm pleased to report that I will be on the bench in the campervan tonight - martin will stay in the tent - he is made of hardier stuff than me.
The pic shows Barb and Martin in the old town.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Ready for the off
Packed and ready to go. Martin's rucksack is lighter than mine as he is used to living with few clothes following Clipper. I'm taking much less than normal - ah well, we'll both be stinky together.
On Wednesday Jess will be driving us to Gatwick - leaving at 3.30 am for an early morning flight. Our starting point is Dubrovnik - 5 nights camping outside Martin's sister's campervan. They leave us at the bus station on Monday 28 April and our plan is to travel up through Croatia, Slovenia, the Italian Lakes and through Switzerland to eventually reach Geneva for our flight home on 25 May.
We can't wait to get started as we've done so much planning and talking about the trip. I think our greatest challenge will be finding the right buses and trains - or will it be living out of a rucksack, or managing to eat well on a limited budget.........we'll let you know!
On Wednesday Jess will be driving us to Gatwick - leaving at 3.30 am for an early morning flight. Our starting point is Dubrovnik - 5 nights camping outside Martin's sister's campervan. They leave us at the bus station on Monday 28 April and our plan is to travel up through Croatia, Slovenia, the Italian Lakes and through Switzerland to eventually reach Geneva for our flight home on 25 May.
We can't wait to get started as we've done so much planning and talking about the trip. I think our greatest challenge will be finding the right buses and trains - or will it be living out of a rucksack, or managing to eat well on a limited budget.........we'll let you know!
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