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  • Julia J

UK / Europe

Una aventura de 45 días de Julia J Leer más
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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    2
    112

    On to Dubrovnik

    4 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Another perfect departure fist to Naples then Rome and on to the airport. We’ve used our last high speed train. Their commercial top speed is 360 km/hr but can do 400. Rome came to a standstill two days ago with train stoppage. Thousands were stranded. We have been so incredibly fortunate. When we arrived all gates were closed and nobody was allowed out to the main station but luckily we were jumping on another train anyway to go to the airport! Didn’t find out what that was all about.
    Arriving at old town Dubrovnik is breathtaking. The old city has been so well looked after down through the ages despite the many attacks of war even. Everything is very clean.
    We’re very close to Bosnia. Just 5 or so km in parts while driving in apparently.
    We had a traditional meal which was good and so was my local wine. Accomodation faultless.    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    4
    2The stonework on the ground is worn to a polishAbout to hang my washing out11Our street1Sorry guys - not enough room!1

    Dubrovnik

    5 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Up early-ish to beet the sun and people to our planned walk of the old city wall. We are staying within the walls. It takes 1 1/2 to 2 hrs to walk them. They’ve survived attacks from Saracens, Venetians, Russians, and Austrians and they were either repelled by the city’s defenses, or the walls at least saved the city from suffering major damage.
    Even during the Yugoslav army siege of 1991–1992, in which millions of dollars worth of damage was inflicted on the city, reports found that the ancient city walls did a better job of withstanding bombardment than any of the city’s modern structures! We had a lazy afternoon and later took the cable car up to our booking at the Panoramic Restaurant up the top which I’d made months ago to be at the front edge.
    People carry on drinking well in to the night. You may wake at 2 or 3 and they’re still partying but it’s happy and inoffensive. You’re not to be noisy at siesta time funnily enough. Old town rules.    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    2Our gorgeous old boat to ourselves with Skipper!The wall of the Old City2Beltina cave.The little door on the left opens to a private tunnel up to one of the houses above.One Yugoslavia's best Hotel, the war took place all around it and it's been abandoned ever since.A rich Russian guy built this for his Turkish wife in the 1920's. She still left him later!Dubrovnik2Dubrovnik1Leaving the Old CityOff to the Island of Hvar2Hvar...... from my bedroom window!4

    Dubrovnik to Hvar

    6 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We did a little boat trip which was great and went around the Island too. Interesting hearing the history and local experience. eg the Beltina cave that Marin Getaldić did experiments in - he was around in 1500’s - a mathematician and physicist.. He had a telescope before Newton’s discovery and contributed a lot to geometry. He worked with spherical mirrors etc from the cave and was accused of wizardry.
    Leaving the Old Town for greater Dubrovnik… it’s just a beautiful little city. About 41,000 population, very clean, negligible crime, picturesque, sun 300 days a year and mild climate - could live there!
    So many super yachts…..
    We then jump on a ferry (catamaran) and to Hvar. Well…. Forget Dubrovnik now - this is just off the charts gorgeous. The sea here too is so clean, it’s all so beautiful and there are way less tourists! Our little apartment is to die for.    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    3Good morning Hvar....
    Time for exploring21313Breakfast. Delicious pastry! Can have meat or potato in them, spinach or cheese. A Burek.There are ladders fitted along the coast35So clear....Harder than it looks!5You're allowed to drink in public...24And that's our little apartment up the top!

    Hanging out in Hvar

    7 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    It’s paradise…..
    You walk up through the steps of the old town (with its 13th century walls) and on up to the hilltop fortress. Beyond the old town, you’re in a lovely natural park, planted and donated to the city - called the Herb Garden. Quite aromatic as you walk through. Nice views of the Pakleni Islands, dotted with their secluded beaches and coves.
    Down in Hvar town you have the main square and the Renaissance-era Hvar Cathedral.
    Without tourists the population is only about 11000.
    Wine making began with the Greeks who inhabited the Croation Coast in 5th century BC. Apparently the wine had a remarkable reputation in its time. They’ve had disease in some of the grapes at some point which had those growers switch to lavender growing.
    I’d like to come back and bike the whole area.    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    The ugliness of the Hotel plonked on top...A bronze? depiction of Split21Can't see them but the chandeliers were gorgeous!

    To Split

    8 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Well, cruising in to Split, seeing the size, the high-rise buildings etc, we just looked at each other and said ‘I want to go back to Hvar - it’s only 1 hr away!’
    Nevertheless, we spent that afternoon mooching and shopping about the place and found the ruins of the Diocletian's Palace quite intriguing.
    The palace was a Roman fortress and palace which Emperor Diocletian built late 3rd century as a place to retire. The only Emperor to ever ‘retire’ by the sounds. It's the only living monument in the world, with people still living inside - 3000 of them still.
    It seems the medieval buildings around here are more prone to sideways movement and bulging. Some are braced up. Movement in buildings or ground?
    We have another ‘special’ accommodation. I’ll post videos at the end I think as Nicki has dutifully filmed most I’m pretty sure. This one is across from a music school so we have almost a symphony orchestra playing to us from early-ish till in to the evening.
    We were feeling over sharing city spaces with fellow tourists so made a plan to ‘get outa town’ the next day.
    Sadly I’ve not got photos of the waterfront of Split or the Port - we were just in a despondent mood and overlooked it simply because we loved Hvar so much.    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    2
    2Huge bellows!Kind of a cave where they rinsed the woolFeeding on the seeds now 'under water'1Water flowing over the edge like a thick sheet of glass2nd Hydro dam to open in the world following Niagara by two days! Same brains behind both.SkradinSkradin harbourWoops!:-( the fire scars2Loooving the olive oils over here and the olives of course!

    Krka National Park and Skradin

    9 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Setting out early but still not as early as the start of the music school’s day - we headed for a bus to Krka. This UNESCO National Park is on the Krka river in Sthn Croatia. There had been a good rainfall a couple of days prior so it was full on. It was nice to be away from the multitudes but frankly, the roar of the rushing water all around us was pretty intense too. There’s an old Blacksmiths workshop there still, a mill and a huge kind of ancient industrial sized wash machine which I couldn’t quite fathom actually but they had sheep and wove wool for rugs, garments etc and traded them. There were some samples. Pretty rugged wool! Following looking around there we took a boat to Skradin. What a cute little town. About 3000 population. Had lunch there (delicious fish soup) and entertainment in the way of the car being craned out of the canal post an 11pm, night before mishap!
    Next to a wine and cheese tasting which was a bit disappointing really. This is in the area where they suffered the fires a couple of months back. They did a good job of saving homes - areas burnt all around some. Sadly some vineyards were completely lost.
    Still feeling disgruntled with Split (it would have been fine if we went there first!) we cut a new plan for the last day. We booked some accommodation in Trogir which is a small town on the other side of Split airport a bit more like Hvar!    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    1Yes - Game of Thrones - there have been a few...
    1More super yachts! So many....2Other side of harbour1Lethally warn and on uneven ground stones2Quite a flash airport

    Trogir

    10 de octubre de 2024, Croacia ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    Off with us -to Trogir which is a small town on the other side of the airport from Split - just a 1 hr drive in the bus. The old town is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much like the other old towns, it was founded by Greek colonists in the 3rd century BC and since has been inhabited by various civilizations throughout the centuries, including the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Austrians.
    We got beautiful accommodation for 68 euros! It’s much quieter and a good way to spend our last day. More like Hvar and nice beaches as well.
    On the bus a woman heard us talking and started chatting. They were from Auckland and had moved there for a year (min) with two teenagers. They’d not met any kiwis since they’d been there for 8 weeks. There were loving it. Her folks were from there and their eldest wanted a shot at professional football so off they went. Great experience.    Leer más

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  • Julia JUK / EuropeViajero
    5Yes - O Wild
    The LuasRoe's Distillery old windmill used for grinding corn. 1805.1Oldest functioning Post Office in the world1Conference Centre - note, being cleaned!2Dalkey IslandLooking out to Dalkey Sound. Coliemore Harbour.WicklowWicklowWicklowDalkeyFinnegan's, DalkeyMolly Malone StatuePariscourtPariscourtPariscourt

    Dublin

    11 de octubre de 2024, Irlanda ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Leaving on 15th so great to have a catch up with my girlfriend and her husband whom I’ve not seen for 28 years but kept in touch. To meet 2/3 of their gorgeous boys is great too. The night I arrived we went out for dinner along with others of the extended family to Hartleys - a very nice restaurant down by the yacht clubs.
    Next morning we took the dart (coast train) in to town, had a look about and did the hop on hop off bus and saw the sights of Dublin.
    Coming back we got off early and walked around Dalkey (so cute) - Helen insisted I must have my first Guinness which I admit surprised me for the better. Apparently Finnegan’s is a very good one (Bono’s local and others of that set).
    Looking out to and seeing along the coast where these nutters swim all year round was lovely and the absolutely gorgeous big homes looking out to it all.
    Next day to Pariscourt - incredible gardens and beautiful shops and outstanding lunch!
    Then to Wicklow - a great walk around the coast and through farmland. Afternoon tea with D and Neal and popped in to Moira’s. A good day of more very fresh air! (Freezing) but beautiful.
    Next day I hopped on the Luas (tram) and looked around Dundrum and met Helen. Just milling about. And next morning - head home!    Leer más

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    Fin del viaje
    17 de octubre de 2024