Category Archives: Central Europe

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

Eat your heart out Uncle Walt, Plitvice Lakes National Park (Plit-viss-uh) is better than an “E Ride”.
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4.5 mile walk around, through and over water falls.
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Literally miles of hills that seem to gush water.
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More water running wild than drought stung Californians can imagine.
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It is a buck-list item that exceeded our expectation. Truly magical place that words and photos can’t justly capture.
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Slovina’s capital Ljubljana, with a fortified castle on top and a river running through has cafes everywhere
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and a dragon as their symbol.
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At impossibly picturesque Lake Bled Jerry reneged on the tradition of carrying his bride up the 99 steps of the church on Slovinia’s only island.
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A road with 50 hair-pin turns through the snow covered Julian Alps was originally build by Russian POWs during World War II
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We stayed in Kobarid, the site of one of the bloodiest battles of that war.
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We’re trying to digest some of the horrific history of the creation and break-up of Yugoslavia and its strongman, Tito, whose memory is still revered in some areas as seen on this Croatian hillside. So many stories that we didn’t learn in our history classes.
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Who knew Croatia has many medieval hill towns like Motovun where we slept in the castle on the hill after carrying our luggage partway up.
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The Adriatic boasts coastal gems like Rovinj, with incredible blue water lined with water-front cafes.
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Rovinj is hosting the Red Bull Plane Race event between and around pylons. Thrilling to watch and hear the roar of the planes in their practice runs.
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This Rick Steves’ tour is packed with information, walking, early bus rides and food
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FOOD
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Surprises, delights and a daily awareness that given the lack of infrastructure attempting this on our own would be madness. Grateful to be doing the Croatian version of Mr, Toad’s Wild Ride.