Dubrovnik

We stayed the night in Mlina. We have two apartments, both with bathrooms and kitchens. It is very nice. Our landlandy, Nada, sat with us while we drank wine on the porch last night. She was funny.

Today we went into the city of Dubrovnik. It is a walled city and we walked around the perimeter of the walls. It's a great view. I got quite a few interesting looks since my leg is scratched up, but I made it up and down the streets. We are shopping around the town now, and then heading back to Mlina. We plan to go swiming this afternoon and then we are off to Omis to go river rafting.

Split

Yesterday we wandered all around Split. Our hostel was right outside the palace of Diocletian. The walls were right outside our window (there were other things in that area too... see photo!). The palace is basically a big tourist area, shops are built into every corner. It is strange to walk around an ancient palace and be buying postcards there too. We also found a sarcophagus in the middle of the road and the only scooter Melissa can ever drive again.

After we wandered around, we went to the tourist office to arrange accommodation in Dubrovnik. We decided to ask for accommodation outside the city, because we found if we stayed a little out of the cities we got better rooms at better prices. In Split, we had basic rooms with bunks. Shared bathroom and shower area. But when we were on Hvar we had a whole apartment with 2 bedrooms, kitchen and living room. So, we arranged better accommodation, went to have lunch - at a great restaurant and then drove to Dubrovnik. The drive was really pretty.

Food

I (Melissa) have had very bad luck with food this trip. Not that the food is bad, but that I just can't get a break. We went to one place where my food came out last and it was wrong. We sent it back and it was still wrong, so I ate it anyway. It was good sausage!

Then we went to a nice meal on Hvar at a place called For that had been recommended. My risoto was the last food out and it was crunchy. So they cooked it longer. But it was wonderful when done right.

I thought I would circumvent the problem and have Melanie order my meal at Fast Food Hello. Still came out last. But it was correct this time! Melanie had a mushroom bruschetta and I had a beer. Yummy.

We have seem some interesting foods, but it has been yummy and Melanie is eating well. Pastas, pizza's, fish, breads... it's all good.

Hvar... Dive and vroom, vroom, Ciao

After our first dive, Melanie and I met back up with Jenny and Mandy. We wandered around town buying souviners (Hvar is known for it's lavendar). Then we had dinner at a "fast food" place called Hello. It was yummy. Drank some of the home made wine and went to bed early as Melanie and I had a dive the next day. (photos are around Hvar).

We dove with a company called Viking Diving. They took us out about 25 minutes from Hvar, through a bunch of the surrounding islands until we got to the island we were diving. It was a wall dive and very nice. The Med is not known for colorful fish, but there were lots of starfish, corals and a few octopus to see. The wall was great, the current just helped us along the side. On the dive out, our dive master Juan (he's Brazilian) told us the five signs we needed. Ok, not ok, air at 100 bars, air at 50 bars and then a stabbing motion for "stab your partner so the sharks eat them instead of you!" But, no sharks. Darn.

After the dive, Melanie and I ate lunch and met back up with Jenny and Mandy. We wandered around for a bit, then we decided to rent scooters. It has always been something I wanted to do while on vacation. So, we get the scooters and do a practice drive, then off we go. I had Jenny on the back of my scooter and Melanie rode on Mandy's scooter. It was great! We drove across the island quite a ways. Stopped in the town of Jelsa and had ice cream. It was good ice cream! Then we went to head out to a neolithic town that sounded interesting.

Unfortunaltly, this is where it got interesting. I was driving and took a curve wrong. Before you read further... I AM FINE and JENNY IS FINE! I ran the scooter into an embankment. We weren't going too fast. Jenny pitched off and I scraped along the embankment a bit. Jenny has a few scratches and brusies, I have a few more. I scraped the right side of my body. Stings a bit and my knee hurts to bend some because of how it's scraped, but it's all good. It was a great ride until then! The wind in our hair, the sea to our side... But again, I am fine. I told Jenny I was trying to kill her, but not really! What a story to tell. But I think it cured me of the need for speed on scooters! (No more vroom, vroom, ciao!).

After I got cleaned up, we went to bed. Took care of the scooter in the morning and headed out on the ferry. We are in the city of Split. Spending the night here and then touring around tomorrow. Heading to Dubrovnik tomorrow evening.

Ferry to Hvar and Hvar

After we wandered around Zadar in the morning, we drove to Split, where we caught a ferry to Hvar. The ferry photos are below. (Mandy and Jenny in one). We are staying in a private accommodation that is very nice. The couple is interesting! They gave us some wine they home make in a plastic coke bottle (see Melanie's photo). The wine is not as bad as you might think!

Last night we ate a great dinner. Risotto and fish. Had a local wine. This morning, we had Breakfast at Tiffany's - not great, but eggs, bacon and mushrooms for Melanie.

Melanie and I dove today (finally - we couldn't dive due to weather in Porec). We also did some snorkeling. Planning another dive in the morning. The water is very clear, but colder. We had to wear a full wet suit. Took some photos, but need to keep working at uploading them, will keep trying.

Staying on Hvar at least for tonight and then going to Dubrovnik soon. Will post again as soon as possible!

The Porec and Pula

We stayed the night in Porec in private accomodation the second night. The town was very cute. All the coastal cities are walled cities.

As we wandered around town, we decided to stop for gelato. When Jenny walked up, the guy called her Bruce Lee (then Jackie Chan). She asked how many flavors of gelato she could get and the guy asked if she liked ice cream. She said yes, then craziness started. He scooped up so much gelato it was a big as her head. It was so much fun! Everyone was stopping to watch. I've never seen someone scoop so fast!

Then we went to the church in the area. Some of the signs crack us up. The church was beautiful though. Then we walked through town more.

After we left Porec, we went into Pula. Wandered around the archeological muesum there and then went over to the ampitheater. It was a great place to see. So well preserved. They do have concerts there. That night we drove back to Zadar.

Porec

We are in Porec today (Istria penisula). Looking at diving tomorrow and then down the coast of Croatia. We drove about 4 hours last night after hiking all day to get to the area. It's the weekend, so all of Croatia hits the coast. Had a little trouble finding a room because we wanted to stick to private accomodation. It's been nice, and cheaper then hotels. However, we had to do a hotel last nigh! Oh well.

Off to schedule the day. More to come later!

Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes is a beautiful national park. We arrived about 9 am, started hiking at about 10:30 and didn't stop until the late afternoon. Lots of walking - but it was so pretty. Waterfalls around every corner. Jenny jinxed us. At the beginning of the walk she said she thought one of us would fall. All of us tripped, but never fell, but it was close! You walk along a boardwalk area the entire length of the park. There are trams to the drop off areas, but then it's hiking the whole way. We have TONS of photos from here, because we just had to keep stopping. Below are just a very few.