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| View outside the window this morning |
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| View outside the lobby window this morning |
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| Leonard and Gianna with me in the lobby (yes my hair is out of control. Opatija is perfect for people with fine hair it just plumps it right up and out.) |
Since my entry last night before dinner I met a lovely retired Italian couple from Venice who were very chatty and I ended up eating dinner next to them which was perfect. The hotel has a buffet dinner each night and they had a special Easter one which worked out perfectly so I didn't have to head back out into the rain even though it had begun to lighten up by that point.
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| Children's version of the car race going on in Opatija this week |
Leonard and Gianna don't speak English so it was tough at times to communicate but my little Italian somehow got us through and then a little Google Translate did the rest. They are so sweet and their son and daughter-in-law with their grandchildren I believe were having Easter at her families so Leonard and Gianna came to Opatija where they'd been many times before.
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| Adult car race and show going on this week in Opatija |
They travel a lot and Venice is only a 3 hour drive from Croatia so it's very easy. They are hoping I'll visit next time I'm in Venice so they can take me on a tour of the city with their boat and Gianna can cook dinner for me. But most likely when I'm back in Venice it will be around the time they're be in Sicily where they have a second home and go every month or so for a week. They invited me to Catania as well. It's amazing how many wonderful people I've met and so nice when they are kind enough to invite you to their homes and boats next time you're near their city. They're very funny as well and had me laughing when they asked if I'd like coffee last night because they had brought their own mini electric espresso maker because the coffee at the resort is no better than car battery acid. I of course don't drink coffee let alone strong espresso but was very much appreciated that they didn't want me to have to endure the swill they serve as coffee there.
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| Senji Marina |
The first 10 minute break stop we had was in Senj. Senj is the oldest town on the upper Adriatic, and it was founded in the time before the Romans some 3,000 years ago (Senia) on the hill Kuk. It was the center of the Illyrian tribe Iapydes. The current settlement is situated at the foot of the slopes Mala Kapela and Velebit. The symbol of the town, the Fortress Nehaj (Croatian: Tvrđava Nehaj), that is found on the hill Nehaj, was completed in 1558, and has since then been the seat of the Uskoci until they were banished from the town in the 1617 after the Habsburg Monarchy made peace with the Republic of Venice.
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| Dalmatia region view from the Dinaric Alps toward the Gulf of Kvarner |
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| Dalmatia region view from the Dinaric Alps toward the Gulf of Kvarner |
I sat with them this morning in the lobby before they went out for a walk and I finished some computer work and got ready to check out and get my bus for Zadar. We exchanged emails and took a picture and I promised I'd try and see them in Venice.
After they left the young boy and his mother from Slovenia came down and the young boy named Andre chatted with me about his city and I told him I'd looked it up and saw pictures of the Mercury mine. He was so happy to be able to practice his English and share all the wonderful attributes of his mountain town. A very nice family and they were leaving soon after I was to drive back to Slovenia so I'm sure his mother was happy that he was occupied in the lobby chatting with me while she packed and got ready to check out.
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| Dalmatia region view from the Dinaric Alps toward the Gulf of Kvarner |
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| Dalmatia region view from the Dinaric Alps toward the Gulf of Kvarner |
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| Dalmatia region view from the Dinaric Alps toward the Gulf of Kvarner |
So at 12:30pm off I went to the bus station and was on the packed bus by 1:00pm and off we went through one beautiful seaside town after another and we left the Istria, Croatia area along the Dalmatian Coast and Dalmatia region.
And yes, I was thinking the same as you may be that the name for the Dalmatian dog may have something to do with this region and I had even convinced myself while looking at the mountains heavily dotted with jutting rocks and random growths of trees and bushes which from a distance looks like spots on a gray or white surface that that was the case. Well the breed of dog did in fact get it's name from this region but it is, according to my online research because the roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia (this region) where the first illustrations of the dog have been found. Although it may be the illustrations that caused them to name him but I still think the landscape must play some role it can't just be a coincidence.
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| See how the landscape looks like it's spotted like a Dalmatian Dog (or maybe it's just in my imagination) |
Some more information on the region which it turns out I've pretty much seen most of in one day. I'll see the rest when I head down to Split and Dubrovnik but today's journey gave me a very good idea of the rugged beauty of this spectacular region and having had sunshine most of the day certainly made the trip even more pleasurable. I could have done without the steep cliffs but there is something to be said for having a four hour bus ride where 99% of it is along the coastline.
The second 10 minute break stop on our bus journey and where the bathroom incident happened - "Karlobag (Italian: Carlopago) is a historic and picturesque seaside municipality on the Adriatic coast in Croatia, located underneath Velebit overlooking the island of Pag, west of Gospić and south of Senj. The Gacka river also runs through the area. The population of the municipality is 1,019, with Croats making up the majority at 92.44%, and with 510 people living in the settlement of Karlobag (2001 census). Today, chief occupations are fishing and tourism. Main activities include boating and hiking, as Karlobag is known for its excellent trails. The Velebit mountains rising above Karlobag have been declared the a world biosphere reserve (The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature (e.g. encourage sustainable development), the only one in Croatia. The town of Karlobag is also a ferry port for the nearby island of Pag."
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| Karlobag |
"Dalmatia is a region on the eastern coast of Adriatic Sea, situated in Croatia. With only 50 km wide at its widest part, it is mostly a coastal region characterized by its coves, secluded beaches, islands and inlets. Due to the rugged coastline and numerous islands of all sizes and topographies, diving, yachting, kayaking and other outdoor activities are very popular in this part of Croatia. Dalmatian coast is known for its warm sea, constant winds and beautiful wooded islands.
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| Interesting Sky |
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| Interesting Sky |
The dramatic coastal scenery is due to the rugged Dinaric Alps, which form a 1500m long barrier that separates Dalmatia from Bosnia and Hercegovina. After the last Ice Age part of the coastal mountains were flooded, creating the sort of long, high islands seen in the Gulf of Kvarner. The deep, protected passages between these islands are a paradise for sailors and cruisers."
We stopped in a few towns for 10 minute breaks which was good for stretching legs and for a quick potty break although I would have appreciated a cleaner bathroom with toilet paper but some of these villages are no more than 10 houses and a small marina so I guess I should be so demanding. I fortunately had the paper receipt the hotel gave me when I checked out and in a potty emergency it makes for good toilet paper. One must be adaptive when on a traveling adventure.
We reached Zadar bus terminal around 6:00pm and a quick check at the ticket desk got me the information that my hotel was on the #5 or #8 bus route and the bus was due in 5 minutes which worked out perfectly.
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| Town not far from Zadar |
Bus # 8 takes you past some of the most stunning residential neighborhoods by the seaside with gorgeous villas. I wasn't sure what to expect from my hotel but was pleasantly surprised that it was fairly modern and right on the water.
I had booked the Falkensteiner Hotel Adrian which according to the reviews on Hotels.com was the quiet one for adults just next door to their family friendly hotel. But when I checked in the very sweet front desk clerk went and got the manager who came right out and shook my hand and apologized but the hotel I booked was closed due to all the rain the past week and the low booking numbers but he arranged for me to be upgraded and put in the family friendly hotel. I was automatically fine with that, I'm not picky but the Manager wanted so much to make sure I was okay he had not only given me a huge suite overlooking the water he had a bottle of house wine (not that I could drink it) and a small platter of fruit waiting for me when I got upstairs. He also arranged for me to have all inclusive meals. Dinner was already included in my booking but he said I could go to the ala carte restaurant instead of the buffet with the families which was kind of him but really the buffet was perfect and the kids were all being very well behaved so it was fine. I am so impressed with the service here. Really I would have been happy to have the same single standard type room just in the family hotel they didn't need to go out of their way like this but I'm not going to complain and I'm just going to enjoy the experience which I imagine in the high season would be about 500 or 600 dollars a night. The room has a large canopy bed, two balcony's, a small room for kids with bunk beds and a lovely living room with a large desk, sofa and coffee table. And don't get me started o the marble bathroom about the size of a studio apartment in NYC.
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| View from my balcony |
The dinner was incredible so I'm glad I stuck with the buffet which included lots of local seafood and these furry clams that you have to open by pulling out a seaweed type growth at the top. I know my mother would love those although they taste much more salty than the ones we are used to in New England. And the mussels were particularly fresh and delicious.
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| Another view from my balcony of the outdoor pools |
The hotel is not operating fully this time of year so the large outdoor pools are closed which is fine with me. I got to enjoy, the indoor pool which is a little chilly because it's attached to the closed outdoor pool by a passage. And they have lots of areas for people to just relax and take a nap I suppose. I only had an hour and half so after swimming a bit I did the sauna/steam room area and enjoyed the outdoor Jacuzzi which was warm and bubbly and I was the only one there for awhile so I just marveled at the starry sky, the clean air and how lucky I was to be there.
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| View from Balcony around 7:45pm |
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| Bedroom in hotel |
So now I'm in my beautiful room with the window cracked open for all the good fresh salt air and for a hotel filled with kids it's nice and quiet so it all worked out perfectly so far. And tomorrow I get to explore the ancient Roman town center and the lovely seaside marinas and parks.
