From the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Seas in 5 weeks - Part 1 (Croatia)
Nov 17th, 2021, 01:42 AM
#43
Original Poster
Karenwoo and tripplanner,
It really was wonderful. At times, I had to consciously remember where we were because it felt so much like Tuscany! And did I mention the truffles?😉 Now that is a good reason to visit!
It really was wonderful. At times, I had to consciously remember where we were because it felt so much like Tuscany! And did I mention the truffles?😉 Now that is a good reason to visit!
Nov 17th, 2021, 02:25 AM
#44
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I am positively swooning over your pictures of Istria! I didn't make it that far north on my one trip to Croatia. Your TR has me contemplating adding it to my next trip to Venice. Please keep this wonderful trip report coming. I'm so enjoying the ride!
Nov 17th, 2021, 04:56 AM
#46
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Good reason indeed. Wonder what your take is on Croatian olive oil? We enjoyed some of the best on Hvar and brought several bottles home with us.
Nov 17th, 2021, 05:29 AM
#47
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To be honest, tripplanner, we didn’t pay attention specifically to the olive oil, though I do remember it as good when we had it with our meals. It was the uniqueness of the truffles that we were totally blown away by. I regret not buying any of the small jars of preserved truffles, though with 5 weeks of travel, we didn’t want to carry it around with us. The memory of the meal, though, I will never forget!
Nov 18th, 2021, 03:54 AM
#48
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Re: truffles. One of my coworkers took a Smithsonian trip to Italy during white truffle season. The entire trip was organized around the truffle theme, but sadly I don't see it on their web site anymore. Hopefully they'll bring it back someday...
Nov 18th, 2021, 02:23 PM
#50
Nov 19th, 2021, 02:40 AM
#51
Original Poster
Nov 19th, 2021, 06:00 AM
#52
Original Poster
So, time to pack up and leave Rovinj 
but before we leave this lovely town, here are a few photos of the small apartment at Apartments Villa Bianca. We booked 1 night through booking.com and then paid the rest in cash. For an area that is high-priced, this was a good value. It wasn't my favorite place but it was a very clean and comfortable place to stay. The view from the dining area is of the backs of other buildings, like a large air shaft, but it's very bright and airy. The owner was responsive to questions via WhatsApp and offered to pick us up from the parking lot (I didn't coordinate well and we ended up searching on our own) and did drop us off at the parking lot, which is a bit of a walk from the apartment. We were there for 4 nights and they did change the towels once while we were there.
The view from the BR/LR room across the small street, not the dining area
BR area
Did I mention steps?! The apartment is 2 flights up.
but before we leave this lovely town, here are a few photos of the small apartment at Apartments Villa Bianca. We booked 1 night through booking.com and then paid the rest in cash. For an area that is high-priced, this was a good value. It wasn't my favorite place but it was a very clean and comfortable place to stay. The view from the dining area is of the backs of other buildings, like a large air shaft, but it's very bright and airy. The owner was responsive to questions via WhatsApp and offered to pick us up from the parking lot (I didn't coordinate well and we ended up searching on our own) and did drop us off at the parking lot, which is a bit of a walk from the apartment. We were there for 4 nights and they did change the towels once while we were there. The view from the BR/LR room across the small street, not the dining area
BR area
Did I mention steps?! The apartment is 2 flights up.
Nov 19th, 2021, 11:01 AM
#53
Original Poster
Plitvice Lakes NP/UNESCO World Heritage site, the oldest and largest national Park in Croatia
Our drive to Plitvice took us over 3+ hours from Rovinj. We had been instructed to avoid one road (D42) because of construction somewhere (it wasn’t very clear where) so we ended up on a tiny road, through a modest countryside instead of the quick highway! It was fun for a while, though it did get old quickly.
At last, we arrived at Plitvice Miric Inn, a charming and comfortable inn, where we stayed for one night. I remember reading about the wonderful dinners people had there and was disappointed to learn that, during Covid, they stopped serving dinner (though recent reviews of the inn suggest they might’ve started serving it again). So, having arrived tired and hungry, we were very pleased when they offered to make us a platter of cheese, meats and grilled vegetables for lunch. The platter was so big we had leftovers for dinner!
I had been following weather reports for weeks, and the closer we got, the more it looked like we were going to have rain, either the day we arrived or the next day. I had debated about which tickets to purchase and when for a long time; the choices were between Entrance 1 & Entrance 2 and whether to go the day we arrive or the morning of the day we were leaving. Eventually, I figured I’d buy tickets for both and was VERY happy we did that! I had also initially planned to stay 2 nights but it was suggested that we only need one night – and, having been there, I agree. But I’m also glad that we had 2 visits – the first, for the lower lakes and the second, the upper lakes.
Plitvice ( pronounced Pleetveetsuh) is a spectacular site, comprised of 16 gorgeous lakes, filled with waterfalls and rushing water in a lush landscape. Walkways made of slatted wood crisscross the park and connect the lakes.
The day arrived and the weather was perfect! Mostly blue skies, and, though it does get cooler inland, it wasn’t the freezing weather I prepared for. No need for my gloves or hat! Starting at entrance 1, there was a wonderful overview of the falls over the cliffs and lakes. As we continued on the path, the views unfolded, and the colors of the lakes were really striking.
We ended our first walk by the the rest stop within the park, and walked back up a very long uphill path to bring us to the exit. There had been no rain, fortunately for us, and the rickety walkways were dry, though we had been warned they were slippery when wet. And there were no crowds. Yes, the tourists are back, but it was easy enough to navigate and often, we were walking with only a few people in our vicinity.
Plitvice Day 2
If I had to choose which day and walk I preferred, it would be hard to make a decision, but our second day walk along the Upper lakes was just so relaxed and easy and if the initial views were more dramatic on Day 1, the beauty just kept unfolding in sensuous ways on this walk. And, while the tourists were really not too bad at all on the first day, we were definitely walking amongst smaller groups of other tourists, which gradually dropped off as we walked further along the path.
We entered through the second entrance, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. A little crisp and cool air which warmed up by the end of the walk. We took a brief boat ride across the small lake to start our walk. And oh, so glorious!
So glad we got here!
Our drive to Plitvice took us over 3+ hours from Rovinj. We had been instructed to avoid one road (D42) because of construction somewhere (it wasn’t very clear where) so we ended up on a tiny road, through a modest countryside instead of the quick highway! It was fun for a while, though it did get old quickly.
At last, we arrived at Plitvice Miric Inn, a charming and comfortable inn, where we stayed for one night. I remember reading about the wonderful dinners people had there and was disappointed to learn that, during Covid, they stopped serving dinner (though recent reviews of the inn suggest they might’ve started serving it again). So, having arrived tired and hungry, we were very pleased when they offered to make us a platter of cheese, meats and grilled vegetables for lunch. The platter was so big we had leftovers for dinner!
I had been following weather reports for weeks, and the closer we got, the more it looked like we were going to have rain, either the day we arrived or the next day. I had debated about which tickets to purchase and when for a long time; the choices were between Entrance 1 & Entrance 2 and whether to go the day we arrive or the morning of the day we were leaving. Eventually, I figured I’d buy tickets for both and was VERY happy we did that! I had also initially planned to stay 2 nights but it was suggested that we only need one night – and, having been there, I agree. But I’m also glad that we had 2 visits – the first, for the lower lakes and the second, the upper lakes.
Plitvice ( pronounced Pleetveetsuh) is a spectacular site, comprised of 16 gorgeous lakes, filled with waterfalls and rushing water in a lush landscape. Walkways made of slatted wood crisscross the park and connect the lakes.
The day arrived and the weather was perfect! Mostly blue skies, and, though it does get cooler inland, it wasn’t the freezing weather I prepared for. No need for my gloves or hat! Starting at entrance 1, there was a wonderful overview of the falls over the cliffs and lakes. As we continued on the path, the views unfolded, and the colors of the lakes were really striking.
We ended our first walk by the the rest stop within the park, and walked back up a very long uphill path to bring us to the exit. There had been no rain, fortunately for us, and the rickety walkways were dry, though we had been warned they were slippery when wet. And there were no crowds. Yes, the tourists are back, but it was easy enough to navigate and often, we were walking with only a few people in our vicinity.
Plitvice Day 2
If I had to choose which day and walk I preferred, it would be hard to make a decision, but our second day walk along the Upper lakes was just so relaxed and easy and if the initial views were more dramatic on Day 1, the beauty just kept unfolding in sensuous ways on this walk. And, while the tourists were really not too bad at all on the first day, we were definitely walking amongst smaller groups of other tourists, which gradually dropped off as we walked further along the path.
We entered through the second entrance, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. A little crisp and cool air which warmed up by the end of the walk. We took a brief boat ride across the small lake to start our walk. And oh, so glorious!
So glad we got here!
Nov 19th, 2021, 01:45 PM
#58
Original Poster
