Croatia

Today we walked from where we are staying (the closest building on the right side of the first photo) to Zavratnica Cove. The walk was all along the coast by the water and was pretty nice this morning in the shade. We saw lots of fun bugs and snails and even a snake! Maybe two, or the same snake on the way back as it was in a similar spot - I think it/they were an Aesculapian Snake so that was fun - he was slithering away when I saw him. Oh and the snake from other day that looked so weird in the pipe? That was actually a European Glass Lizard! I finally found a place to look up all the fun things we are seeing, though the bugs have over 100 pages so that is going to take a while.

The cove was actually really gorgeous! I wasn’t expecting much as the hike there went in and out and by the town of Jablanac, and it was nice but not amazing. Then we turned the corner to head into the cove and it was beautiful! Tall mountains and gorgeous water and I loved it! There were also the sunken remains of a German WWII ship in the water! There was a viewpoint you could walk up to, but before we headed out we both agreed we were not going to do that as it would be too hot and let’s just have a relaxed day. Well…we got there and a sign said you could learn all about the cove from a number of info boards along the way to the viewpoint so I was like well…maybe we should! So off we headed and the way up was not bad! Not that long and still mostly in the shade (though in the sun by the time we came back down!) and the view was really nice, but it was boiling at the viewpoint so we didn’t stay long. Also there was only one info board at the very beginning! I guess one is a number…but they tricked me!

We had lunch by the water in the cove and I put my feet in, but it was freezing! Like the coldest water I think we have tried on the trip! I was standing there and thought oh, I’m getting used to it maybe I can swim! Then I moved my foot and it was ice cubes all over again so no swimming there. Way too cold and not hot enough yet.

When we got down we noticed Raymond had some red rash spots on him, but he didn’t notice them until we sat down and we saw them, they didn’t itch so we figured he just brushed against something as it looked like poison something rash and he remembered one plant he did brush against, but we couldn’t figure out what it was. On the walk back to our place we went through a lot of grasses that we had to brush through and when we got back we had a swim in the pool as we were so hot! That last few minutes of the walk was no air and just the sun beating down on us so in the pool we went to cool off! When we got out we noticed both his legs were covered in red spots! They still weren’t itchy or anything, but not great it was getting worse. So he took a shower really washing off well and by the time he got out they were almost all gone! So we think it was the grasses as he has grass allergies, but has never had this happen before. Yesterday we did walk through a big bamboo field (the photo yesterday with the green before the Rocky area was all bamboo fields!) so that probably set them off yesterday. I had planned a hike for tomorrow, but since his allergies keep getting bad and now the red spots we decided to explore some cities instead. Stay out of the tall grasses! Should still be fun.

Where we are staying is right by a ferry dock that doesn’t go far so comes and goes a lot. This afternoon I kept getting so distracted watching the ferry! All the cars loading on and the people who were trying to buy a ticket quickly before the boat left. Luckily the ferry seemed to wait a few min if there was a last minute person/car who showed up, but it was fun! Then on one of the ferries a choir or something boarded and I could hear them singing! Such fun! So much entertainment!Read more