Around the curves of Croatia, June 2014

We rented a car and explored.  Along the coast, the water was literally right beside us,      (heading towards Karlobag)

                                      and crystal clear.                                 (beach at Brela)

    Quaint little restaurants offered up some of the Istrian Peninsula's culinary delights. (Pula)

                    Every coastal town had a harbour.                                     (Rovinj) 

                                   Incredible skies developed               (around Makarska)

                               and changed frequently.                      (Motovun)

                                   So many different shades                    (north of Dubrovnik)

                                                of water.                                    (beach at Brela)

     Give me a bucket, some rocks and some water and I can play all day!           (Novigrad)

 We skipped onto the super highway to make up some time.  The roads were incredible…no frost or winter weather to torment them. (toll highway north of Makarska)

(coastal highway south of Karlobag)

(coastal highway north of Karlobag)

Narrow streets and cobblestone paths generally were uphill.  (Rovinj)

        We drove through a very small village that was having a band competition.                       (on the road to Motovun)

All ages were playing instruments

and carrying flags.

People were on street corners, in little pubs

and outside their homes enjoying the music.

                              Small villages were built on huge hills.                         (Motovun)

The countryside was so green.  This was one of the views from our window in Motovun.

How sweet is that?  The whole shop was open, and filled with the artist's work, and there was no one minding the store.  We often commented on reception at some of our guest houses.  Staff may have stayed until about 9pm, then we were left to lock up.  Their computers, goods for sale, etc. were left out in the open with no concern that anything would go missing.  (Groznjan)

     Whether small village, or big city, churches were works of art.      (Buzet)

Mosaics from as early as the 6th century

                                    that have survived for centuries.      (Euphrasian Basilica, Porec)

(Euphrasian Basilica, Porec)

                 Vineyards are just one of the many agricultural crops.                (Groznjan)

One of my many memories of Croatia is shoes!  I am not generally taken with shoes, however, I began to take note of people's feet.  It didn't matter if they were flats, flip flops, running shoes or super high heels…they were colourful, decorated and just fun!  I don't have any great photos, but this is just a quick peek.  You seem pretty creepy when you try to take photos of people's feet:)  

                             Pasta with truffles…an Istrian delicacy.                        (Porec)

                         This could have been Georgian Bay.           (Rt Kamenjak, Premantura Peninsula)

Jim is looking for the dinosaur that made the footprints that are circled to his left.

 Spectacular views,

on no one was there but us!

Croatia, Dubrovnik, June 2104

Dubrovnik's history begins in the 7th century.  Over the years it held importance as a coastal trading centre, and enjoyed centuries of peace and prosperity.  

Huge destruction came in the form of an earthquake in 1667.  More damage again between 1991 and 1992, as war raged in the former Yugoslavia.  War brings instantly with it images of human sacrifices and suffering.  Nothing can be compared to this.

 Shellfire hit more than 65% of the Dubrovnik's buildings. Fire gutted nine historic palaces, many others experienced significant damage. Reconstruction of the city utilized original materials and traditional building techniques where ever possible.  

Now, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

it is called the most prosperous and elegant city in Croatia.

The walls surrounding the old city are said to be the finest in the world, built between the 13th and 16th centuries.  

After walking in and out, and up and down the tiny streets...

everyone wants a catnap...

or at the very least to stop at the "Hole in the Wall" to admire the views.

You never tire of seeing

the Adriatic Sea.

 We left Dubrovnik and headed north.

Bus stops were in isolated places without buildings or towns or people in sight.  We weren't sure what type of transportation was required to get you to the bus stop.

The coastal highways...

were some of the most beautiful drives we have ever taken. 

Often we were reminded of our own Killarney Provincial Park at home.  

 

 

Seaside towns dotted the drive, and sometimes became our home for the night.

Pula's oldest part of town houses Roman achitecture.  Its famous landmark

is a 1st century ampitheatre built of local limestone.  

It was built to seat 20 000 spectators for gladiator events.   

It was fun finding places where new buildings

were just built around ancient ruins.