Day 90 Plitvicka delights!

Tuesday 19/06/2018 Apartments Cirjak 411 Sveti Petar na moru, Sveti Petar, 23207, Croatia

Today is the day I have waited for, for ages, since I first saw pics from here many years ago... finally I get to see them for real!

So up early and off by 6.30am to head to the Plitvice NP!!!!! Before we left it was quite overcast all except the edges of the 3 small islands out in front of us! The were illuminated around around the edges by the glow of the sun just touching the edges of its shores!

Off we speed towards the ranges I have been seeing in the distance not only on Sunday when we went to Pag, but also when we have been around the area in our car, they are always in a distance with colours hugging around it’s peaks.....

As we drove along, the mornings sunrays were peaking through the colours creating the most beautiful look over the valleys and mountains.

On we head through tunnel after tunnel, the last one being the longest which turned out longer than the one in Montenegro 5,681 m long unreal... however before we started in the tunnels that went through this massive mountain range, the speed signs started flashing 40kph with a wind sock sign... we were thinking surely it’s not that bad, but soon realise it was unreal, being that high up the thermals were playing havoc with cars, trucks, motorbikes and Vans... it was actually quite unnerving as the wind blew the car around after coming out each tunnel it appeared to be worse... after the big tunnel we came through to a whole different screen greenery and no wind.. so different than belts the rugged craggy huge mountain rocks and terrible wind... still fairly overcast and some sprinkles we thought we might have a wet day... and it was over cast and very cool 16c when we got out of the car.... coming into all the little villages which were very alpine like, there were heaps of Cheese, wine and honey stalls. Nope no stopping on a mission going and leaving... so haven’t got to try any local produce...

We arrived at what we thought was the NP as there were no clear signs to confirm it justice lots of cars around so we gathered this was it... paid parking what more couple we guess...

Getting the ticket and finding out what to do was a pain in the neck, and very different to the last NP. You would nearly think they were run by different groups and maybe it is who would know... but this one as about ripping g you off... paying a lot for car parking, the ticket to get in with no information and lastly you had to buy a map,if you wanted to know anything... you are kidding I couldn’t believe that a NP would charge you for a map to get from A-B.... at least a KrKa gave you a map with your ticket and some info as you paid... not this lot... no info no map... so what do you do go blind or pay for their map... and Kay we did as we needed to figure out how to make our way around the park... it wasn’t just get on the track and go... there were 3 stations for buses and 3 piers for boats... know which one went where and how long etc could only be worked out by map....

We fortunately had, had the conversation with the Aussie couple at KrKa Park who had given us some pointers... thank goodness and we actually did what they suggested when we understood where everything was and how to get to it... So bus first to Stn 3 as we got on the bus another couple sat in front of us. But as due to how the bus was set up they had to face us... turns out they were Aussie from Melb, lovely couple who had been here yesterday to work out their plan if attack today... so they confirmed what we had already planned thank goodness at least we know that it might work...

So off the bus and too bad if you bought kids with prams, or wheelchairs or anything with wheels you just couldn’t go to this park... all their walk ways were made from branches which were exactly smooth and even... looked amazing but actually a bit unstable to walk on... and it went for miles like this...it really was very pretty looking at the walk way but a bit tricky to manoeuvre, especially if you were unstable in your gait...

But off we headed and from the offset you could see it was going to be just beautiful and it was.... waterfalls after waterfalls, lake after lake. Water courses going here there and everywhere..... to describe it is very difficult

This is what the map says... tucked away in this karst forest landscape are 16 blue and green lakes p, large and small, one underneath another.... they are linked together with foaming cascades and pounding waterfalls, and are supplied with water from numerous little brooks and streams... so there you go, explanation... you just couldn’t compare it to a KrKa NP at all, wry different vegetation around it this is more rainforest looking the other was more arid... so ver different..l you hear people say you see one waterfall you see them all... but each one is different, in so many ways...

I was like the other NP though just blown away by the sheer beauty of the falls, the vegetation, the lake colours the clearness of the water... and of course the people... so glad we picked the route we did less people where we started out and sadly by the time we got to the end it was teaming with people... but at least we had a slower morning able to take it in and just enjoy the total beauty of this magnificent creation....
We wound our way along the wooden paths, past so many spots that took you breath away it was so hard to take it all in....

We hit pier 2 by lunch time and were floated down stream to pier 3 by about 1230..... fortunately it was pretty quite here so we could get a table and a drink I had made lunch today, after KrKa we didn’t have lunch and John didn’t want to pay for it as we were told it was too expensive... by now I had to peel my coat off it was hotting up,so different than this morning... sun 🌞 streaming and no cool breeze.. turns out this NP find was pretty good in fact price wise but we still had our lunch and were able to refuel ourselves ready for the next leg...

Good thing we did as this is where the hoards started... many Asian groups... the usually push you out if the way, even when I tried to get out of the loo at lunch time, an Asian lady was pushing to get in making it very hard for me to get out... so I had to push back to get out... I know in their own country it’s the norm,,but I said to a John when they go on tour their leaders need to explain that in most countries it’s not acceptable to push your way through you wait your turn and you don’t need to run to get there before everyone, you will get on or in, what ever just wait and be patient... but they don’t tell them and it’s a wonder more are not hurt by many of their actions....

So we hung walls, squeezed past, manoeuvred around past and sometimes through to make our way through this last section... a shame really it was so Beautiful just like this mornings but again very different..l got to match heaps of vain girls posing taking their time in crowded spots where people needed to get through... got to see a sleeping snake on a little tree branch... fortunately it was well below me.... got to see heaps of families trying to take kids along the sometimes quite narrow paths where 100’s tried to pass each other and no side rails to stop people falling in... got me beat how no one fell in or got pushed in.... we made I to the end which as up.... was it worth the walk Yes, was it worth the fight to get through som places Yes, but about 1130 the sun had come out and it was just unreal to see the true colours of the lakes and streams...

Worth my wing about no free map, worth the drive and the walk....we had a cuppa at where we started before we headed home... finished the whole thing by about 3pm and didn’t feel to buggard at all....

So back into the car and off we headed for home, stopping at our swim spot to revive as to swimming in this NP unlike the other... all though we have been told it is about to stop swimming there too to protect the waterways....

When we got to our spot a nudie lady was there enjoying the sun... I didn’t realise she was in the all together until I got out into the water and turned back to land... wasn’t long after she had swimmers on and off into the ocean with goggles to explore the water ways... made Johns da I am sure...

Home for yep you guessed it more leftovers... lady one of this tonight what’s left can go in the bin....

Another amazing nature filled day... loved it!もっと詳しく