DestinationsOther |
CroatiaINTRODUCTION The country is long and skinny, mostly hugging the coastline. As you head south, you pass by farmland and dry, rock-covered grasslands. Zagreb is the capital city. Dubrovnik, the largest city, is a gem glistening in the sun. Be sure to climb the stairs and walk the old city wall. There are great views on the hillside past town looking down on the entire walled city and the harbor. The old town has narrow pedestrian streets with great seafood restaurants and small shops. In Opatija, there's a seaside promenade that's mostly flat and offers great scenery, as it winds along the coast line. It ends at the small harbor of a fishing village that has some great waterside restaurants and trellaced balconies, overhanging narrow streets. The prices have been going up steadily each year as tourism returns to the country. Major cities include: HISTORY KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Power: 230 V, 50 Hz Capital: Zagreb Currency: Kuna - Currently 1 HRK = 0.1662 Climate: beautiful hot summers and cold winters, and mild winters and dry summers along the coast. Time Zone: DST +0200 UTC ATTRACTIONS With its beautiful beaches hugging the Adriatic coast, Croatia has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of Europe. Plitvice Lakes National Park This National Park is a World Heritage listed area. If your into the outdoors and exploring there are 16 deep blue lakes, amazing waterfalls and caves. There is 18 klms of pathways have been set up around the Park with wooden Footbridges over the creeks and gullys. One of the beauties of this area is the wildlife, you will see deer, boar, rabbits, foxes and badgers. These animals actually flourish here and the chances of seeing one is extremely good. The birdlife is vast with many species such as hawks, owls, cuckoos, thrushes, starlings, kingfishers, wild ducks and herons with the occasional black storks and ospreys. Mljet Island Mljet may be one of the most beautiful. More than half of the island is covered by forest and the rest is sprinkled with fields, vineyards and small villages. Mljet National Park includes gentle coves and a pair of saltwater lakes. Most people visit this tranquil island oasis on excursions from Dubrovnik. Solin The ruins of the ancient city of Salona, among the vineyards northeast of Split, are the most interesting archaeological site in Croatia. Salona was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia from the time of Julius Caesar until AD 614, when it was leveled by the Slavs and the Avars. RESTAURANTS LODGING Haus Am Meer - this charming 3 Star Hotel is located in Cavtat and is only a short stroll to local restaurants and bars Hotel Excelsior - This is a luxurious 5 Star Hotel, not far from the city center the Excelsior offers an in house restaurant and bar and is an internationally recognized hotel. PERSONAL STORIES I had no idea of what to expect in Croatia before I visited there. Of course, I'd heard about the fighting that had gone on there in the last 20 years, but hadn't heard about the country prior to that. We also stayed in Opatija. 
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