Croatia

Hotel. One night stay in a hotel close to the train station. Good facilities, all you can eat wireless and a cool little bar downstairs.

Dinner. We walked through the heart of Zagreb to get something to eat. We found the city to be very clean and beautifully lit at night but eerily quiet. Not sure if we were simply in the wrong part of town but apart from teenagers necking in the parklands there really wasn’t anyone around. We explored the city for a couple of hours to walk off the kilo of steak we just consumed. Might need to walk a little more tomorrow.

Go Aussie. Unlike France and Italy, which were absolutely flooded with Americans, neighbouring Croatia was jam packed with Aussie stock. Wherever we went there was the familiar cry of a fellow Aussie in the background. We only visited Zagreb, Split and Hvar but each were equally populated. It almost felt like we were in Northern Australia at times, particularly in Hvar.

Locals. We didn’t at any stage encounter disrespect or discourtesy during our time in Croatia but we found the people difficult to read. They rarely displayed emotion whether positive or negative almost always remaining emotionally neutral. Interaction was awkward at times as the general population were not entirely responsive to pleasantries. Maybe we’d become too accustomed to the Italian jovialness and over animation which in contrast alone could have made it all the more apparent.

Boat. After a big brekky, we boarded the Catamaran back to Split. We explored some more of the town for a couple of hours before jumping on the train to Zagreb. It was sad to leave this place but we didn’t travel to the other side of the world to sit on a beach. We were adequately rested and ready to resume the frantic pace we’d maintained throughout our adventure. The perfect pit stop.

Train. We’d already travelled the Zagreb to Split route so I guess there wasn’t that much to add visually. I was looking forward to using the time effectively to update our blog. It didn’t entirely work out the way I had planned. We again met some travelling Americans from Nevada (you wouldn’t think there was a recession in the states, everyone seems to be travelling) named Mark, Kyle and Garrett. Mark was taking his youngest son, Garrett (and middle son, Kyle) on a celebratory graduation trip. Sounded like fun. After chatting for a while, one of the rail staff walked in to ask if we wanted anything to drink. Mark asked for a scotch. “No scotch, just beer and soft drink.” His reply: “what is wrong with you people?” I coughed out a lung with laughter and I’m not sure Vicki took a breath for about 3 minutes. He was quite the character and kept us thoroughly entertained throughout the journey. I won’t thank you for my sore ribs but I will for making the train ride go so quickly. Nice meeting you and your boys. I hope we get to cross paths again. We’ll have a ham and cheese panini together!

Gym. I won’t write about every gym experience but I was fortunate enough to use it every day we were here. I even slotted in a dual visit on one of the days. The view was inspirational. Effortless.

Vicki upset her mum. After the gym, I hit the pool. Vic jumped on skype to call her Mumma while the time difference still permitted. She eventually joined me poolside but had mascara streaming down her face. The sunglasses disguised some of it but she was obviously upset about something. As it turns out, Vic and her Mum had come to the realisation that the Mother/Daughter thing would have been wonderful to do in their motherland of Hungary (next destination) now that Vicki was an adult (well sort of). I think they knew it all along but when the reality set in, it affected them both profoundly. Not sure how to finish this paragraph but to say that there will be plenty of opportunity to make it so. After all, there is the Red Bull Air Race and of course the Formula One Grand Prix on the Budapest event calendar!!

Poolside slugs. We slid back down to the pool to practice the difficult task of remaining completely inanimate in the searing sun. We’re naturally gifted I suppose.

Beach. I couldn’t resist the cry of the sea and returned to say hi to my seaside friends. The ocean is superb. Couldn’t quite appease my appetite but came close.

Dinner. One more seafood platter before hitting Hungary for a serious dose of meat. Fine choice. The fish soup was again a winner.

Leisurely Stroll. We decided that a nice leisurely stroll would be the way to finish off our stay in Hvar. The perfect ending.

Breakfast. They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I totally agree but only because I didn’t want to roll my lazy butt off the lounge once out in the sun.

Private Beach. No sand, just pebbles. It was hilarious watching Vicki negotiate gravity on her way to the water’s edge. They were slippery little suckers and if your footing wasn’t entirely right then rather painful too. The Adriatic sea apparently has a higher salt concentration than the oceans we’re more familiar with down under. More salt equals greater buoyancy and the bonus antiseptic qualities should have killed off any nasties that attached themselves when wading through the floodwaters of Venice. So easy to float away both physically and mentally.

Beached. A Fauna rescue helicopter began circling the air around us. We must have been mistaken for beached sea mammals in need of assistance. We were disgustingly sloth like ever so occasionally dipping ourselves in the clear water purely for survival when the sun’s radiance became a bit much. The Pina Colada alert was intermittently raised when sustenance was required during the 6 or so hours of baking in the Mediterranean sun.

Pool. Time for a change of scenery. The 20 metre walk back to the pool left us in a state of exhaustion (it could have been dehydration but I’m not a doctor). The only remedy available was an old fashioned one, more cocktails. Alcohol re-hydrates you, right? There’s ice in the glass. It has to.

Dinner. More seafood. Really, in a setting like this nothing else comes to mind. Tuna steak for me (I like mine rare. Slightly overcooked but still nice) and Vicki had a plate of Scampi (she has a knack for ordering the most expensive thing on the menu). The region is famous for it’s Scampi. Delectable.

Drinks. Back to the hotel bar for a stiff drink and a coffee whilst surfing the net. Nice way to wrap up a fine day.

Slice of Heaven. Breathtaking. The town was filled with old buildings, the water was crystal clear and you could see the ocean floor! The marina was lined with extravagant yachts which made for an even prettier sea scape. We’d made an impulsive decision to come here and all signs so far led to that being one of the best decisions made all holiday. We needed a few days relief from all the sightseeing and this looked like the perfect place.

Resort. Vic again found an absolute cracker of a deal on the net. We were staying in one of the premier resorts with all the spoils including our own private beach. The transfer shuttle picked us up at the dock and the drive to the resort seemed to go forever. We almost puked or pooed or both with excitement when we got there. Talk about lush. Amazing pool, great facilities and the view of the ocean was mesmerising.

Gym. The gym was massive with all the free weights and equipment you could ask for but it was again the view that had me in awe. It was located on the top floor of the hotel overlooking the pool, beach and distant islands. I immediately put on my gym gear and went hard (pardon the pun) for about 90 minutes. I would have stayed longer but Vic would have killed me. I’ll be back, maybe even twice a day.

Sun. A couple of hours of sunlight left. Where best to spend it than poolside? Great pool with plenty of sun beds. We’re definitely going to enjoy our time here.

Dinner. After an abundance of Pasta, it was time for some serious seafood overindulgence. Seafood platter, please. We knew what we were having even before choosing a restaurant. Great array of fine local seafood. The Riblja Juha (fish soup) was delectable and I assure you it won’t be the last.

Happy Birthday, Greggles.net!