Anyway that said I'd quite like to see the husband again, somehow things are just not quite as cool without him around! And Dad well he's starting to pine for his shed full of partially rebuilt tanks, he's sick of the bright blue ocean and all the rock - he wants some machinery to play with.
So let's wrap up the Balkans, I know I've done some pretty heavy pieces of late so I'll keep it short and sharp.
Highlights:
• Bosnia. Sobering and sad but stunning all the same. Scratch the surface with a few day trips, as I did, or delve deeper into the country, as I intend to do one day!
• Plitvice National Park, inland Croatia - everyone in our part of the world has heard about the stunning Croatian coastline, but the Plitvice Lakes are a gobsmackingly beautiful natural attraction not to be missed.
• The traditional tourist spots are still essential - Split, Dubrovnik, the island of Hvar to party and the beautiful island of Mljet for quiet time.• Montenegro. Grab a day tour from Dubrovnik or head south over the boarder and you will find the magnificent Bay of Kotor. The tour guides like to call it ‘Europe's southernmost fjord', but according to ‘Wiki' it's actually a submerged river canyon that opens out to the sea. Whatever it is, the drive around it made me think of the South Island and Fjordland - that's until I hit the ancient fortified ‘city' of Kotor, with it's great coffee and bustling tourist filled streets.
• The sales in Split - good Italian shoes for under $100 bucks. Three pairs for me, and two for Husband!
Lowlights:
• European style togs for men. UNDIES, UNDIES, UNDIES and even striped like undies. Come on people!
• The escalating price of coffee in Dubrovnik. In fact Dubrovnik is getting a bit beyond itself in terms of sucking the poor tourist dry. Expense wise it's still not anything like Italy or France but it's certainly much hungrier for the Euro than the rest of Croatia.
Travel Tips:
• Try and avoid the high tourist season in Croatia, which generally runs from July through to early September. If you can go either side of this you will still be in for great weather and some excellent deals too boot.
• Private accommodation is a great way to go - it's cost effective and generally of a good standard. Hint - try and go for the legit operators who are registered with the Tourist office - they have blue ‘Sobe' signs outside their properties and can be booked directly or via the Tourist Office. The people who approach you with handwritten ‘Sobe' signs might be ok too, but with these guys you have little recourse if there are any issues.
• One of the best ways to see the islands is by boat, there are plenty of options from party cruises to relaxed luxury - just book in advance.
• Don't just sit on the beach, do some exploring through the old villages - just watch out for snakes!
• If you plan on swimming lots get yourself some of those hideous rubber shoes to deal with the pebbles, and hell, why not grab a li-lo while you are at it! All can be purchased on location.
Sayonara,
Lenska
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