CROATIA

June 11: DUBROVNIK.  We walked around the Old Town, within the walled city streets, most of the day.  This area was founded 1300 years ago. 

June 12: KNIN, CROATIA.  We drove to the border of Montenegro and got in a discussion with the border patrol.  Other countries, like Austria, charge a Vignette fee for using their roads and we’ve purchased a 7 day pass.  Montenegro wanted us to pay a yearly tax and Jim said no, since we were only going to be there one day.  So we turned back north and drove go Knin.  On Sunday most places are closed so we felt it was a good day for a drive.

We stopped in Bosnia (that little strip of land along the coast of Croatia that belongs to Bosnia) and had a fabulous lunch of roasted lamb that had been on a spit all morning.  We had noticed these through out our trip, but it was our first stop to enjoy the local flavor (they either fire roast a pig or lamb).

We did our first night of free camping, and our stop was an area between a soccer field and a tennis court in the city.  Free camping is like anchoring out on the boat.  You find your own space and stop for the night.  A soccer game was going on so we took that in and talked with a police woman to be sure we could spend the night.

June 13:  SLUNJ.  Most of the day was spent at the PLITVICKA JEZERA NATIONAL PARK, or National Park Plitvice Lakes.  It became a national park in 1949 and it “represents a phenomenon of karst hydrography”.  The lakes are known for their cascades, small to large waterfalls, and 1267 different species of plants. 

June 14, Tues:  ZAGREB.  Zagreb is the capitol of Croatia.  Today we took a day off and sent it leisurely at the campsite.  The picture for today is one of a Toilet/WC.  Several of the commercial WCs are set up in this fashion and require agility and balance!