On the waterfront

After arriving on the coast we begin the journey south.  One of our first stops was at an ocean front fishing village called Karlabag.  We stopped for lunch and a walk along the pier.  The warm sun and the boats bobbing in the water were delightful.  It’s a very quiet time of year here.  

Over the top

We headed through the Velebit mountains towards the coast.  The journey brought us higher and higher.  We were the ONLY people on the road.  We saw road signs warning for cows and boars and deer.

The higher we got on the mountain the more rocks there were.  At the top and descending the other side it was almost a lunar landscape.  The rocks look rounded but they are actually very sharp and uneven.  We tried to climb out onto them for some pictures, ... then dropped our new camera down the rocky side of the cliff.  We did manage to retrieve it.  The camera has some sharp edges on it now and the shutter doesn't want to open or close  :(
The roads are labeled as 'serpentine'.  Every angle provides new and stunning views. The views of the Adriatic see are stunning.  The water is aqua/ green.  All of the houses have orange tile roofs and the sun is bright.  Lovely!

Smiljan Croatia

After leaving Lake Plitvice we headed for Smiljan the birthplace of Nikola Tesla.  He was born in a small and remote village with roads that have no names for access.  When we became lost we would try to ask for directions.  We assumed people would know who Nikola Tesla was.  He was kind of a big deal. Nope.  When we tried to tell them the name of the town it was difficult because J's are pronounced as Y.  But we weren't confident so we'd add a Y and a J sound. Then we'd say it both ways.  Or try adding the Y sound before and after the J.  We were greeted by blank expressions mixed with confusion.   The maps are not very specific to say the least.  Maps show major roads but nothing to the small villages or in the towns.  At any rate by the time we found the the museum and farmhouse it had closed for the day.  We got a room close by and returned.  What a beautiful location.  The story tells us that Nikola was born at midnight during a thunderstorm. 

Futuristic playground for little Teslas:

too much beauty, I have too few words...

One of the areas we visited was Lake Plitvice.  It's breathtaking from every angle.  Every turn has some new vista.  The warm sun and the aqua color of the lakes and falls is beyond description.  I will post a few pics but they certainly do not do justice to the actual beauty.

Morning life in Slunj

We rented a car yesterday and left Zagreb.  (We missed the first exit we were supposed to take!! Nice start!)  This country is beautiful.  It seems they clear the fields and ditches by burning them.  Pat took some video from our deck this morning.   :) 

Exploring this town....

We’ve had perfect weather. It’s in the low 60’s and sunny making it perfect for walking and exploring. The sun feels nice too. We started out our day with a breakfast provided by the hotel. What a spread! Everything was fantastic. I even had blueberry juice! The coffee is heavenly.
Off to explore. It’s interesting that we are always surrounded by beautiful music. There are street players everywhere. You can toss in a coin if you’d like. The odd thing is….. They are so talented. We’ve heard classical music on violins, pop music with guitars, jazz… and in fact whistling. It’s strange to think they have so much talent, and can speak two languages…. (at least) And I’m the one that is tossing them a coin, and that I’m the one on vacation. ??
We took a gondola type of vehicle up to the top of the town and then walked about and back down.

We went into “The museum of broken Relationships”. It was great. It’s a collection of items and notes about past relationships. Some were funny, some were sad and others tragic. The items and notes were from all over the world. Some folks donated their entire wedding albums or dresses. Some just a tiny item, maybe a small personal token they had shared and did not want to keep any longer. All leave you thinking. The stories stay with you, I think we can all relate on some level. It made me thankful for what I have!

We sat at an outdoor café and rested with an afternoon coffee.

People watching is the best. Generally folks here are much better dressed than in the USA. The level of style is really apparent…. I feel like a slob.
We checked out the train station and bought some postcards. “wish you were here”!

Fantastic dinner at a small restaurant,

evening stroll and then off to sleep!

Zagreb, Croatia

Today we are in Croatia! What a trip. It's amazing. We were a bit worried. The first few days are always difficult due to lack of sleep and time change. Even with that considered..... it is amazing!
On our way to Croatia we flew into Amsterdam. Amsterdam airport is the best. It is beautiful and easy to navigate.

After about a 4 hour layover we caught a flight in Amsterdam to Croatia on Croatian airlines. We were a bit curious about "Croatian airlines"......it turns out the plane was BRAND new and smelled like a new car. Everything was shiny and perfect. The crew was all fresh faced and about 25 years old. It was so endearing and nice. The flight path took us over the Alps. WOW...WOW...... WOW. I cannot convey how breathtaking the Alps are. We took some pictures, however, nothing comes close to the reality. The pictures we took were a bit too early or late. The prime part was not captured. (sorry).



















After arriving at our hotel we explored a bit. We'd been without sleep for many hours.... (40 ?) we didn't want to turn in too early or we knew we'd be up in the middle of the night. We are on the 7th floor of our hotel, the window just opens up, wide, no screen or protection. Kinda cool. We hated to leave it open because we were worried something might fly in... and get trapped in Pats bed. (a bat? a bird? bugs?).

We went for a walk outside our hotel. We stumbled on an outdoor market, it was comprised of locals selling their goods, kind of like a farmers market. (... few people speak English). It was fun trying to communicate, everybody was happy to try and to help us.) All of it was inside a large tent on the plaza. The aroma inside was enticing. Fresh fruits, flowers, cheeses and meats. The meat was unprotected and just laying on tables. WEIRD we were horrified, but it smelled so good! The meat seemed to be smoked or preserved in such a way that it was okay...?

We bought something flavored with pears..... Vilijamovka...??? Pat thinks it's brandy. It was $10 for a liter. It mixes well with soda. :) Everybody was happy to sample and educate. It was like being at the fair.... only much better. Walking through the streets at night is also exciting. You can jump on a train/ trolley for free.

Everyplace has outdoor seating, with blankets on the chairs, live outdoor music and outdoor gas/ and electric heaters everywhere.

The currency exchange is $6 dollars to $1 so everything seems like a bargain. The math is the toughest part!!
.. So far we love Zagreb!!