Plitvice Lakes National Park

We left Zadar and headed inland about 2 hours to the Plitvice Lakes National Park.  The park is well known for its terraced lakes, clear water and numerous waterfalls and was Croatia’s first national park as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

We arrived mid-afternoon in June so we had plenty of daylight left to make our way through the park.  The boardwalk paths make their way over beautiful blue green water that is so clear you can see hundreds of fish.  Since we arrived later in the day we were able to miss most of the crowds and did not feel rushed along.

This first photo is the view as you begin the decent down to the lakes and the main trail.

This last photo is another view from up above as we made our way back to the park exit.  We enjoyed our time here and I was super excited to shoot some waterfalls.  It was a long walk through and our girls were real troopers and made it the whole way without any issues. 

We stayed nearby the park in small but very nice room at the Apartments Plitvicer Seen.  It was modern and the owner was nice.  We ate breakfast out by the pool before we headed north to Austria.  Since I am such a dork I was excited to get a stamp in my passport before we left Croatia and back into Slovenia!  Since the countries who have joined the EU have open borders the border crossing stations sit vacant so we never have to show our passports as we travel between those countries. 

We drove straight through Slovenia and into Austria to we could visit the Lipzzaner Stud Farm in Piber.  This is the where the famous stallions from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna are born.  I may have been more excited to visit here than the girls!  We arrived about 90 minutes before they closed for the day and were able to wander around.  We walked through a small museum and watched the horses being brought in from the fields for the night. 

This mare was very friendly and I spent a lot of time rubbing her nose and she became a willing subject for my photos. 

The next day we drove to Graz so JG could visit the Landeszeughaus.  He needed some manly time after hanging out with the Gibson girls for the entire vacation and really enjoyed his time walking through 4 floors of this Styrian Armoury.  The entire place was nothing but old weapons and suits of armor.  Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any photos while we were in there.   If you are interested in seeing some photos though just click on the hyperlink above and it will take you directly to the website for more information.

This finally wraps up our trip through Slovenia, Croatia and a quick stop in Austria.  It was really a vacation of a lifetime for me.  I loved every single place we visited and the drive along the Adriatic Sea was breathtaking.  I was happy to be home again but sad to have our amazing vacation come to an end.

Zadar, Croatia

I was looking back at my blog posts and I cannot believe I didn’t finish blogging our trip to Croatia in June.  It was by far the best trip we have taken in the 3 years we have lived in Europe!  I loved everything! 
The third place we visited was Zadar, located on the northern end of the Dalmatian Coast.  We spent 3 nights here and stayed at the Villa Valentina.  The hostess, Anna, was so nice and helpful and the rooms were comfortable.  I would highly recommend anyone planning a trip to Zadar to look here first!
The city is very easy to walk around and the old town is on a peninsula with a wall around part of it.  I really enjoyed the relaxed feel of the city.  We wandered around and admired the simple beauty.

Kiwi growing at our hotel!  There were fruit trees all over.

Zadar has an amazing Sea Organ!  These rectangular holes are along the steps so you can sit and listen to the “sea play music”.  That was Aubrey’s favorite part of the city.

We climbed many stairs to the top of this tower and were rewarded with beautiful views of the city, Adriatic Sea and surrounding islands.

Enjoying the last bit of daylight while listening to the Sea Organ on the steps.   The waves were so beautiful as they rolled in.

This is Salutations to the Sun, designed by the same gentleman who created the Sea Organ.  During the day it is a giant solar panel and at night it lights up and changes colors according to the waves!  It was pretty amazing!

I know I mentioned before how excited I was for this trip and I was not disappointed!  I loved, loved, loved this country!  The food was delicious, the scenery was gorgeous and the people were so friendly.  I still have two more locations in Croatia to share. 

Thanks for stopping by and joining me in this virtual tour of Croatian vacation!

Welcome to Croatia

We crossed into Croatia in the early afternoon and drove down to Pula which is located on the tip of the Istrian Peninsula.  Pula is an industrial port town but home to an intact Roman amphitheater. 
The Amphitheater was by far the highlight of the city and we were able to walk around inside and sit in the seats.  As is our luck, there was a crew setting up a stage for a concert while we were there.  However it did not take away from the sense of awe you experience when you walk around.  It is hard to believe that this structure has been here since it’s completion in 68 AD.  (I promise the sky was that blue and I did not Photoshop it.  I usually only run a sharpen action on my photos.)

There is an old Roman Theater just a couple of blocks away from the Amphitheater.  Unfortunately the area around the theater was covered in graffiti and there was a lot of broken glass on the ground.  It is sad to me that people don’t appreciate the history in their own town.

We walked up behind the theater to Fort Kastel and noticed many little lizards along the way.  They are speedy little things but this one wasn’t camera shy.

That is not a great photo of the girls but a good view of the fort.  I want to add that it was HOT in Croatia!  The girls were all red and flushed from the heat but we had plenty of water on hand and they were happy until I wanted to take a photo.  Sunscreen and hats are a must if you travel here, especially in the summer.
After we left Pula we drove about 15 minutes to a small town where our apartment was located.  JG picked a great place for sure and we were 400 meters from the beach!  The first night we just walked down and enjoyed the beautiful view.  The first thing you will notice is all the rocks!  Croatia does not have sandy beaches but there are still plenty of places to spread out your beach towel and relax.

There were plenty of little crabs to be found and we even saw a small jelly fish floating in the water.  Since it is all rocky the water stays perfectly clear as you walk in and you can easily see anything that may be swimming in the water with you.  On our second night there Aubrey noticed a jelly fish floating into the cove we claimed and we safely avoided him. 

Thanks for joining me again as I share our photos with you.  If you have any questions please leave a comment and I will answer them promptly. 

We're Back!

Sorry I have been neglecting my blog, again!  This time we were on vacation and I didn't have time to schedule any posts.  We had a fantastic time and I cannot wait to share our trip with you.  Croatia is an amazing country and this was the best trip we have taken yet!

Can You Guess...

Where our last big trip is going to be?  No?  You need a hint?  Ok.....here it is:

We are going to Croatia in June!  I am so excited.  I have wanted to visit there since I saw a tourism ad on CNN International a couple of years ago.  James decided that he wanted to visit when he saw a video of Plitvice National Park.  We are going to drive so we can take our time and stop when we want.  James spent most of the week researching hotels and places to visit and we made the final reservation last night. 

On our way back we are also going to spend an afternoon in Vienna, Austria.  We thought about spending more time in Vienna but most of the top sights there are museums and we just don't visit many museums with the girls.  They are generally well behaved but I swear once we enter a place that requires they use nice indoor voices is the very second they start screaming, fighting and crying.  I love my sanity so we tend to avoid places like that.  I don't want to ruin the experience for other people.  So, just an afternoon in Vienna will be fine for us.   

Has anyone been to Croatia?  I would love to hear your favorites from your trip...food, sights, beaches, etc.  

Thanks for stopping by today!