CROATIA - BOSNIA - CROATIA

Croatia to Bosnia

I did a shop for some vegetables. It is really hard to work all this out so we can press the right button to get the weight and price done ready to go to the checkout. What is the word for onion and which onions? Even cabbage isn’t cabbage. They look like nothing I know

The scenery is interesting with some beautiful sunflower fields with huge flowers.

We have been to what is now Slovenia and Croatia before. Now we want to go straight to Dubrovnik to take a ferry to Italy. Our next few days were a mixture of adventure and misadventure. This may give you a clue.

We decided to drive through Bosnia to Croatia. At the border we got the paperwork for taking Harry through then set off. We have been warned not to approach any buildings especially if they look empty as some homes were boobi trapped when people had to leave their homes during the war years.

The road we start off on is full of maniacal drivers who care nothing about keeping to the correct side. As we drive along,  marble monuments with a lasered photo of the deceased marks road accident spots. This road must be a kamikazi (or what they call it in Bosnian) route.

scenery we pass through is really lovely as the road winds th

It as near lunch time and the spits were being put to good use.

These signs were a little alarming.

 We saw some fabulous scenery and many interesting places. But we were very happy to see the signs for Dubrovnik.

The road to Dubrovnik follows very close to the coast, And I mean close!!! It is really pretty if you can only uncover your eyes and Look!!

and this secluded beach with lounges and a bar can only be reached by boat or a very dicey path.

There are boats everywhere cruising around the islands.

We were very happy to see the signs for Dubrovnik. We settled into the camping park and caught a bus to the harbour to book our ferry to Bari in Italy. We managed to get tickets for the ferry which was leaving the next evening. 

The rest of our stay we walked and climbed in and around the old city along with a million other tourists. These towers were rebuilt after Dubrovnik was bombed.

These towers survived the bombing just like the travel battered tourists in front of it.

The main street inside the town is very wide with lots of small alleys leading off of the streets and every one has at least one restaurant in it.

The town shows some signs of the war. Where the bombing was intense you can now see shiny new roof tiles.

We had lunch in one of the small alleys and asked the waiter about the damage he said the walls are so thick that most were left standing after the bombardment even though you could see what looked like bullet or rocket holes in them.

Looking up to the fort above on top of the range shows how easy it was to bomb the town.

Kevin took the cable car up to the top to visit the museum at the fort which had lots of information about the war.

I stayed in town to take it easy. I found a seat by the fountain and enjoyed people watching.

 This fellow played the most boring music. I think people paid him hoping he would shut
and go home . 

The next fellow tourist looked like he wished he was home.

We booked out of the camping park at 12 noon spent some time taking local buses around while Harry waited in the car park. Around 6 we got into the line for the ferry.

While we were in the line the Audi Club surrounded us. The black and white swirly car was eye catching. So was the driver

Because of our late booking we had reserved reclining seats for our crossing. We found the seats and were then surprised and entertained by the travellers who obviously do this crossing often. We were just remarking about how uncomfortable the seats were and that the arm rest were unmovable when there was a lot of rustling and the huffing and puffing by the others. They were blowing up plastic li lo’s. I wish we had known what they knew and we would have bought 2 also.  

After a few restless hours and sore necks as well as listening to all the snoring we put our blankets on the floor and went to sleep as best we could. I never thought I would envy someone who had a plastic li -lo.

We arrived in Bari with sore backs and necks and set off to travel over country to Naples to go to Pompei and the Amalfi coast.

SLOVAKIA TO HUNGARY

SLOVAKIA

Our drive through Slovakia means lots of hills and lots of castles.  We paid our vignette and crossing by the highway felt like we were using back roads which as they were fixing the surface. The way they do it is to take off all of the concrete by cutting a straight cut across the concrete about 8cm deep. This was done for kilometres and kilometres so we continually came to a sharp surface without warning. Poor Harry, poor tyres.

The high rise here are used for advertising. At least it brightens up a dull building.

We find the farm fields are interesting with ripe crops of wheat alongside green crops of corn.

We crossed the border into Hungary. I still feel strange when I see a country written in their own language. I wonder why English names for countries are so different.

We are heading straight to Budapest to a camping park recommended to us which is a short ride on the underground to the centre of the city. On the way we are passing large fields of sunflowers in full bloom.

This sign reminds drivers they  must have a vignette, there were other interesting signs.

The deer sign is very pretty. So far, thank goodness we haven’t seen any.

The children’s school sign is cute but I am not sure of why some crosswalks have a man in a hat and some with a cap.

We settled into the camping park and in the morning we took the hop on and off bus around Budapest to get our bearings. With a two day ticket it gives plenty of time to look around.

Budapest was bombed during the war but the buildings were rebuilt using craftsmen so they still have beautiful detail on all the buildings. It is a pleasure to see them.

There a lots of cruise ships along the banks of the Blue Danube, which didn’t look very blue. 

 This photo shows the two cities, Buda on one side and Pest on the other.

There are beauitiful buildings everywhere we go.

While we were cruising around we saw this cycling beer cart. I only hope they appointed a skipper.

There are always impressive squares and giant statues to see. You might notice Kevin pulling in the belly. ( Too many good beers and chocolates)

I think we are slowing down a bit. Castles and statues don’t always send us into raptures anymore.

We are heading off  tomorrow after we do the washing and clean Harry up a bit. He is getting a bit untidy as we are so busy sightseeing, housekeeping is on the backburner.

On the Highway to Croatia we stopped  for lunch. The picnic areas are really good but we did wonder what was ahead when we saw these signs. Is this a sign of things to come I hope not!!

The stork nests look overflowing with families of storks and they are out in the fields prowling for food. When we started off on our trip they were either building nests or had small chicks.