After entering Croatia and still with a few hours of riding still ahead of us, we kept on rolling. It was really noticeable now that we were in a different country and one that has struggled back to some prosperity after the Balkan War of the 90’s.
The area was tired looking and the fields definitely not as well maintained as they had been in Slovenia. Interesting also, was the police presence. We saw more police in the first hour than we’d seen the entire trip so far!
The area was tired looking and the fields definitely not as well maintained as they had been in Slovenia. Interesting also, was the police presence. We saw more police in the first hour than we’d seen the entire trip so far!
Still, it was scenic and we enjoyed the roads taking us to our next stop. Until the good old GPS told us to turn left, which we duly did. It did seem a little strange. It was a narrow road, which quickly turned very rural…and then basically changed to a track! This couldn’t be right!
Turning back on to the main road, we took an hour long “diversion” (ahem, mistake) but eventually we arrived in Rastoke and the lovely AirBnB that was to be our home for the next three nights!
Turning back on to the main road, we took an hour long “diversion” (ahem, mistake) but eventually we arrived in Rastoke and the lovely AirBnB that was to be our home for the next three nights!
Our wonderful host Zlatko welcomed us with some traditional Croatian liquor and gave us lots of good advice on the area, where to go to eat, drink and the best activities.
Of course, as we do, we got to chatting and Iain shared that he had served in Bosnia with the United Nations during the war. Zlatko then shared with us his story.
Of course, as we do, we got to chatting and Iain shared that he had served in Bosnia with the United Nations during the war. Zlatko then shared with us his story.
At seven years old, he, with his brother and mother fled the town of Rastoke just two hours before it was invaded by the Serbians. With a few other mothers and children, they crammed in a VW bus and drove towards Zagreb, in search of refuge. It took them seven days to do what is ordinarily a 90 minute journey. They had to take side roads and zigzag across the country avoiding the main highways until they reached safety. I asked him about his father. He told us that the men had to travel on foot but in fact, they reached Zagreb in five days. Now, remember, back then, there were no cell phones. The men and women had no way to keep in touch. Neither group knew how the other was faring.
It is unimaginable to me what must have been going through their heads. Being forced out from their homes, with just a single back pack of belongings each, never knowing if they were going to see family and friends again let alone their fathers/husbands.
Eventually, with the Serbians in retreat, Zlatko and his family returned home. They found their town demolished. Their home was burnt out and all their possessions either taken or destroyed.
It is unimaginable to me what must have been going through their heads. Being forced out from their homes, with just a single back pack of belongings each, never knowing if they were going to see family and friends again let alone their fathers/husbands.
Eventually, with the Serbians in retreat, Zlatko and his family returned home. They found their town demolished. Their home was burnt out and all their possessions either taken or destroyed.
The town rebuilt itself slowly and eventually, Zlatko and his brother completely overhauled and renovated their family home into the AirBnB apartments it is now. What a great job they have done. The apartment we are in is modern and comfortable with brilliant amenities. It makes my heart happy that they came through such adversity and are now so successful 🙂
Our first day in Croatia took us to the place that I had most been looking forward to; Plitvice Lakes National Park, the oldest and largest national park in Croatia.
I actually have no adequate words to describe the wonderful beauty of this amazing place. I will let the pictures and videos do the talking…..
I actually have no adequate words to describe the wonderful beauty of this amazing place. I will let the pictures and videos do the talking…..
We hiked around the park, following (for the most part) the well marked trail system. So well marked that we completely missed this sign, which meant we ended up walking for 15 minutes in an area we weren’t supposed to be in…oh hum!
It was a fabulous day. We hiked for four hours, enjoying the astonishing scenery and taking about two million photographs! Brilliant day 🙂
It was a fabulous day. We hiked for four hours, enjoying the astonishing scenery and taking about two million photographs! Brilliant day 🙂
The next day, Iain took off on his own to revisit his old haunts from his time serving in nearby Bosnia. Now, as I’m normally the navigator and map reader, I was a tad concerned about this but just had to have faith that he would find his way back!
Meanwhile, after a relaxing morning catching up with picture and video editing, I wandered down to explore the town of Rastoke.
Meanwhile, after a relaxing morning catching up with picture and video editing, I wandered down to explore the town of Rastoke.
Rastoke is a 19th century town, located where the Slunjčica river splits into several river branches flowing across cascades into the Korana river. Nature played with blue-green waters of the Slunjčica river and spread them into many playful waterfalls of different sizes. Because of its natural beauties and historical tradition, Rastoke was protected by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage . However that didn’t stop the Serbians from destroying it during their period of occupation. It has since been reconstructed and renovated and there are now 30 households in the village and their wish is to renew all the watermills that once, as Zlatko had explained to us, were in every house.
Iain did eventually make it make, and in good time, I didn’t even have a chance to be worried about him. He tipped up full of tales of what he saw and sporting the best haircut he’s had since leaving the UK eleven years ago!
He even managed to get a photo!
Apparently, not a lot had changed. Twenty years on from the war and, save the odd randomly placed mansion (& lots of shiny new mosques) nothing seems to advanced much at all.
He even managed to get a photo!
Apparently, not a lot had changed. Twenty years on from the war and, save the odd randomly placed mansion (& lots of shiny new mosques) nothing seems to advanced much at all.
The first part of our Croatia tour definitely lived up to the hype and expectations! Heres hoping that stage 2 does the same 🙂
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