Dubrovnik - Emerald of the Adriatic

Hi All, Mon May 30, 2005

Flew from Zagreb to Dubrovnik on Monday, wow what a terrific city. Unbelievable
history, coblestone..no, large carved stone streets, narrow alley ways, I mean
really narrow as in 8 feet wide. Incredible old city with a protective wall
around and entry gates. Dubrovnik maintained its independence over many years,
then Napolean invaded..and in late 20th century it became part of Croatia.
Amazing place, tech difficulties in uploading pictures, few sites have the
capability or I would show you.

Went to a concert, 30 piece symphony orchestra, Beethoven and Mozart. Inside a
high ceilinged 100 by 100 foot room, the Rectors hall, with Renaisannce
columns, etc. Audience right next to the symphony orchestra. Wonderful
experience, the European musicians are incredibly good.

I stayed in an old home or flat right in the old city. Places are difficult to
get there, but I snagged one.

Had a great fish dinner. Down here fish swim three times, once in the ocean,
once in the olive oil, and once in the wine in your mouth. :)

Off to the Islands off southern Croatia for the rest of the week. First to
Korcula for two days then Hvar for two days.

Observations so far in Croatia:

1. Lots of wild cats all over the citys
2. People are wonderful, very family oriented. Stores close early and start late
just to accomodate family life. What a concept.
3. No breakfasts around, glad there are markets.
4. Many speak excellent English, kids 10 years old have had 6 years of english
5. Lowest crime rate in Europe.
6. Very few American Tourists here.
7. At a restaurant, you own the table. You never get they check unless you ask.

See you on the islands, in a few days

Yours in travel,

Bill

Plitvice Lakes - Croatia

Sunday May 29, 2005

Hi All,

Got up early to do a tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is another world
heritage site. If you took Niagra Falls at about 6 different levels, added a
dash of Grand Canyon and put it in the forest you have Plitvice Lakes.

It took a 2 one half hour bus ride down to the center of Croatia. On the bus
ride saw evidence of the war in this area, now 10 years away. Typical Croatian
2 story houses pockmarked with bullet holes and obvious burned structure marks.
This was only in a relatively small region near the lakes, most of the Croatia I
travelled had little signs of the 1991 war left showing. The first shots were
actually fired at the national park. The first casualty was a park ranger.

Plitvice is a series of lakes at different levels pouring into one another. They
are ?bowls? of very emerald blue water, the color coming from Calcium
carbonate deposits. The lakes are in karst limestone ground, pouring over each
other thru the forest. They have set up cut log pathways along the lake,
creating a beautiful effect.

I spent about 3 or 4 hours on a self guided tour. You can only buy one way
tickets from Zagreb, then you flag down the bus on your way back. Well this
works except on a holiday weekend, which this was!! tried for 3 hours, then
gave up. I got a hotel at the park, had a wonderful stay there, turned out for
the better :) Flagged down an early bus back, no problem the day after the
holiday.

Im off to Dubrovnik tommorrow (Monday). Ill fly down from Zagreb to Dubrovnik,
its only a $60 flight.

See you in Dubrovnik

Zagreb - A surprise city

Hi All, Saturday, May 28, 2005

Saturday was up early and took train from Budapest to Zagreb.

The train ride down, normally about 5 hours, was a beautiful ride thru the
Croatian countryside. I decided to go first class, only $15 more, but worth it
to splurge. About an hour out of Zagreb, the conductor said we must transfer to
a bus for the last hour!! hmmmm...I argued a little, he kept saying
?Everybawdy goes!! Everybody goes!!? A dutch group and I had fun repeating
that on the bus...?Everybawdy goes!! After awhile, the conductor was my buddy,
?a Amerikanski? my brother is in Chicago, he kept saying.

Zagreb is the capitol city of Croatia. A shot of the cathedral in downtown is
shown here. Yep, I have run into a lot of scaffolding, oh well.

Zagreb has a nice downtown square, large market area and old city walls. I
strolled around the city and found then main district, caught some pizza and
beer. It was a surprise town, most tourist just pass through, I had the chance
to takek some time to see it.

I?m staying at the youth hostel just out of town, a 20 minute tram ride through
the outskirts of town. The hostel is a great one, located in a small village,
and family run. The village Im in has the classic socialist era housing, high
rise apartments. Small market and restaurant. Its a contrast to the new,
booming Croatia.

I will stay here two nights, visit the Plitvice lakes National park, and fly
down to Dubrovnik on Monday to begin island hopping up the southern Dalmation
coast.

I?ll be back with report on National park tour next blog

Yours in travel,

Bill