Zagreb

Zagreb is the Capital City of Croatia. One million people live here and it is a very lively city indeed. We had a 'sleep in' this morning and met at 9am for our city tour. The bus took us high above Zagreb to the "political" square. This is where all the government buildings are. We then walked our way through the old city down to the town square. There are truly some magnificent buildings in Zagreb. We then had time for ourselves, but the people who had booked for the optinal tour met at 2pm and we were taken far into the country side to the birthplace of Joseph Tito. He was the leader of the Jugoslav Republic before the fall of the Iron Curtain. The village where he was born has been made into a living Museum. We could go inside the old houses and saw how people lived in the 19th and 20th century. It was very interesting and very hot. In Zagreb 38 in the country 35 degrees. We then carried on further into the Countryside and went for dinner in a lovely old Country Inn. Dinner was delicious - I love this food - well I love food - full stop. We had duck and veal with potatoes and noodles and a salad. All very very nicely done. We arrived back at the Hotel at 8pm, tired but very happy.
This will be my last post for a while. I'll be with my sisters until the middle of August and do not intent to write in my Blog.
If something exciting happens in Berchtesgaden I will let you know. The trip to the Middle East starts August 28th - so watch out for me then.
This has been one fantastic trip and I can recommend it to everybody. And this is where I am signing off.

Bled - Ljubijana - Zagreb

I am now in Zagreb. And what a finish to the Trip. We are in the 5 Star Regent Hotel and this is luxury PLUS. This trip, organized by "Beyond Travel" has fulfilled all of my expectations. We had a wonderful guide, the Hotels were ALL very good. All but one 4 star, and the 3 star at Plitvicka Lakes was comfortable and clean.
But let me continue in Bled. The next morning we were driven around the lake and up to the fortress where we had a wonderful view over the lake with the small island in the middle. After the tour we had free time, but all of the group who had booked in for the extra tour were taken to the lake and then we were rowed, yes rowed to the island. There is a lovely Church on the island and the legend goes, if you ring the bell and make a wish it will come true. All of us were hanging on the rope and wouldn't you know it, I was the one who actually rang the bell. It was hard work, but I do have practise. Thank you St Swithuns! We had to go back to our starting point - yes rowing once again, then we were taken by bus into a little valley with clear streams and abundant wild life. We saw a fox and plenty of trout in the streams. Our guide then produced a bottle of Blueberry liqueur and we all had a sip of the local produce. It was delicious. There were actually blueberries in the bottle. Then at nighttime, still part of the optional tour, we went to a small village to a wine tasting and a real local dinner. Before we went to the restaurant, we had a little walk around town. And wouldn't you know it, there were some local people practising for an event - maybe for the weekend. They sang some local songs and it was enchanting. We clapped and clapped and ask for more. But we had to go for dinner as they were waiting for us.
WELL - the wine was delicious. With it we had some sausage baked into a breadroll and a cheese roll - just wonderful. Then up to the dining room. We had Accordeon Music and the dinner - what else can I say - D E L I C I O U S.
We were home by 10pm tired, but very, very happy.
We left Bled at the usual time at 8 and drove to Ljubijana.
Ljubijana is a lovely town, the capital city of Slowenia. Our guide was born here and the love for his home town came through loud and clear. He walked us through the old part of the city and then we had free time until 1.30 We used it well and saw a lot. It took only 2 hours to reach Zagreb, had to cross the borders into Croatia once again. Needless to say we are now back from Euro to Kuno.
Tomorrow we will explore Zagreb and then we have another optional tour. These tours have been really value for money and if any of you out there consider going to these parts of the world - Beyond Travel it must be.

Bled

It's been a long day today. We left Plitvicka Lakes at 7.45am. On the way to Bled we stopped at a couple of places for a comfort stop. Soon I will reach my limit of taking it all in. So much to see and to learn. Our lunch stop was in Opatija, another beautiful little town in Croatia. From there we drove to Pot something where we visited the most gorgeous limestone caves. We are now in Slowenia, which is part of the common market and it is another currency yet again. These caves are really something. They are 20km long with literally hundreds of caves. We were taken by train underground and then for 2 hours shown some absolutely magnificent Stalagmites and stalagtides. And yes, I do know which is which. Stalagtides grown DOWN, stalagmites UP. Some of these formations were huge. Brilliant white with diamonds sprinkled ev erywhere. It was fabulous. From there is was another hour and a half to our Hotel in Bled. We all have rooms with lovely views over the lake and the castle. Tomorrow it will be a visit to the castle, then the optional tour on the lake itself and then dinner in a little village on the lake. This is optional also, but we are going to "DO" it. Sitting in the bus for such a long time - my back which has not bothered me much these past few days - is complaining and I must go and lie down.
I will keep you posted.

Plitvicka Lakes

We left Split early in the morning, having another stop in a very pretty town which name I just cannot recall at the moment. We are now at Plitvicka Lakes and this is one of the most beatiful places I have been. There are Waterfalls everywhere! Big ones, little ones, and in between. We come to a tranquil lake and there around the corner are more waterfalls. This is a National Park, protected by Unesco. And I can understand why. When we arrived, we checked into our Hotel and half an hour later went on a 3 hour walk around the Park. We are only staying for one night, we will be in Bled in Slowenia tomorrow. The change of currency is giving me a headache. 3 countries, 3 different curencies. Tomorrow it will be the Euro, then back to Kuno in Croatia. This trip is quite hectic. Wake up call in the morning is 6am, suitcases out at 7, leaving at 8 or 7.45am. But we are seeing lot and all is done rather well. I am only glad that we get on so well together. It would have been a nightmare otherwise. I am enjoying myself - soon it will come to the end. I will keep you posted.

Split

It has nothing to do with Banana Split, but you can buy one in a cafe.
After Dubrovnik a bit of a let down, but never the less a town full of history. We drove for 4 hours along the very picturesque dalmatian coast - and yes, the dalmation dogs come from here. The coastline is gorgeous, but the beaches are pepples. There are islands all along the coast and a very pretty country side. We arrived about 3, were checked into our Hotel, I just had 15 minutes to have a shower, then back on the bus as our guide was waiting for us. One thing I find really wonderful. We have audio tours. We all get a little receiver, our guide talks to us and tells us and we do not have to stand close by to understand him. And we could not hear the other guides talking either. We are only here for one night at a wonderful Hotel, called the Atrium. Must be at least 4 stars. So far everything has been perfect. The choice of Hotels could not be faulted and our group is terrific. The next post will probably be from Bled. I am having a ball.

Dubrovnik

I walked 14km today. We drove to Dubrovnik via Mostar another very pretty city in Bosnia. Our Hotel was the Lapad a very elegant 4 star Hotel about 15 minutes by car to the old town. We - my new friend Pam and I - walked around a bit that night, the hotel is right at the harbour, but then we were too tired to go on. The next morning it was an early rise. Our bus took us into town and we had a local guide who took us on a 3 hour walk around the city. We then had free time until 6pm when we had booked on our first optional tour. But about that later. Our guide told us that we absolutely had to walk at least part of the City wall. So after the tour had finished, Pam and I set off. Up and down steps until we had done the complete loop around the city. It was magic. We climbed up everything. Our legs were buckling so we decided to have lunch at one of the very nice restaurants at the harbour. After we had collected ourselves we decided to go over to the Fortress, which is not part of the City wall and climb that. When we finally found it, we were told it was not much further, just 500 odd steps up. That is when we called it quits. I could have done it up, but coming down would have killed me. So we walked back into town and caught the public bus back to the hotel. It stopped right outside our Hotel. We came home at 5pm, exhausted but very happy. Just time for a quick shower and then off on our optional trip. This was dinner at a beach. We were picked up by boat, taken all around the old city - breathtaking views - to the beach. They served the most delicious seafood. Calamary salad and then all kinds of other seafoods with plenty of wine to wash it all down. We met the owner and his Mum who was the cook. The restaurant is 165 steps down from the road and everything has to be brought down by a dumb waiter. It's a milk crate on a string. The lady was cooking in the most basic kitchen - and what a meal she produced! It was nice to get to know the other people in our group. We were 11 from Sarajewo, then in Dubrovnik another 23 joined us. We are a very happy group which is so important. I just loved Dubrovnik.

Sarajewo PPS

Must tell the story - as we were told. We had lunch in a lovely OLD house on the river and the story goes like this. They wanted to build a town hall in Sarajewo. They had aquired all the land except for one small parcel with a house which was owned by an old man. He refused to sell. So the king paid him a visit and persuaded him to sell. But there were certain conditions. He wanted to move his house, as it was, to the new location across the river. So they "clamped" the house, put rope all around it, put it on a float and then 50 horses dragged it across a very shallow river to the new location where it is today - or so the story goes. That is where we had a most delecious lunch.