Transfer Day Again!

 Zagreb was delightful and varied but the time has come to move on.  This was be our longest repositioning bus trip of the tour.  Much of the time was spent in the National Park of Plitvika, or Plitvice, Lakes. 

We set out at 7:30 and had our usual coffee and bathroom break along the way.  Then just before entering the area another potty stop as the park was expected to be crowded and the bathrooms near the entrance no the best.  Also, we would not have time for long lines as we needed to see the lakes and move on.  Lunch needed to be met at the scheduled time.

Dinner was already cooking at the place we stopped for coffee.

The park does indeed have bears and we were warned against them but these ones seem friendly!

We  walked a good distance and up and down some steep wooded steps and we could see that easly the park was already crowded.  Tina got our tickets and knew right where to have us stand to be sure that we could all be in the first car of the 'train' bus.

Tina gave us the lay of the land and the directions for hiking.  We would all go together from Station 1 where we were to Station 2.  Then we had options.  Elva and I opted for the not two hour non stop hike over uneven boardwalks.  Turns out no handrails either.  Also the climb was steep.  So we opted for the bus up to Station 3.  Our ride was not as good as the walk everyone else took but it was safer for us and for the time schedule!  The pictures below are a combination of mine and of Judy's, who was on the walk.  I had looked forward to it but was glad I changed my mind.

See the little people hiking precariusly?

I was there and that is good enough for me.  Elva kept comparing the falls to Iguazu and there is no comparison at all really.

I don't know why there were so many rock piles.

This looks like fun.  But just the steepness and unevenness of the path up to where the bus began was a struggle.  I would have maybe been able to do the lower lakes walk if I had more than a total of 2 1/2 hours. 

Jim, Karen and Connie on the way up to the second station.

Always good advice n a public ladies' room!

These next few pictures are what we saw from the bus.  Sort of like the North Georgia Mountains and very steep.

We returned to Station 2 after a short walk around to look at flowers and rocks, and an even more uneven boardwalk which went out over a swampy area.  That convinced me that had I done the hike I would have seen nothing but the ground as I threaded my way over the obstacles.

Here are Judy's lovely, practically professional, picture book photos from up close and personal.

Walking between the Upper Lakes and the Lower Lakes.

Notice that apparently there is no Croatian ADA!  No railings even over water!  And very narrow in some laces and definitely unevenly spaced and often rounded boards.  Get out there and do things while you can!

Croatian Flag is flanked by a Plitvice flag and a UNESCO one!

 

We had one of the best lunches we have had so far and great service at this National Park restaurant.  There was soup, salad, chicken breast or trout, vegetables, potato, and of course, as always bread at the beginning, dessert at the end which was a very light and delicious chocolate cake.   The coffee and tea actually came with the dessert for a change instead of after.

Mickey, the bus driver, and I are always the only ones awake after lunch.  We drove through some beautiful countryside and quiet and quaint towns.

Are those storm clouds gathering as we make our way to the coast?

The mountains seem to capture the clouds and hold them just there!

On the other side of the windy up and down hill mountain road there is sun shining.

We have reached Opatija on the Croatian Riviera!

There is still mist fogging the bridge between the mainland and the busy island of Krk.

We arrived at the Hotel Agava about six o'clock and at 6:30 we set out on our orientation walk.  My room makes me happy - I have a bathtub!  Granted, European tubs are a long, narrow, deep challenge but give it to me!  I will take it on!

View from my window includes a kiddie playground on the rooftop nearby.

 

What a beautiful and homey breakfast room.  This is a truly fine hotel build in 1896 as a Hapsburg Villa by the sea.

We are next to the Park Angelina.

This was the first hotel built here in this resort designed to give the wealthy a respite from the nearby industrial city of Rajka.

On this balcony overlooking the Adriatic the famed dancer, Isadora Duncan, contemplated movement and developed her unique fluttering style.  Nearby is her statue.

In front of the hotel is this lovely beach.  Note the ladder to allow for easy access!

 

This is the house built for the lovely Angelina, wife of the sea captain who built everything and named it for her.  The Angelina Garden, next to our hotel is filled with exotic plants brought to this wealthy captain by other seafarers wanting favors.

Famous faces commemorate their visits on the back of the sea wall. 

We made our way to the Yacht Club for a delicious ending of a long and busy day.

Just an egg made of seashells to with us a Happy Easter!

Elva and Lana share a laugh as we wait to be served.  My pork tenderloin was delicious.  The other choic was a shrimp pasta   Glad I didn't choose that as most of us didn't care for it at all.