Dublin

Days 31 & 32 - Well we are at the end of the holiday as they say in Europe.  The Shelbourne Renaissance Hotel we are staying at in Dublin is very upscale and the room is big and beautiful.  Thank goodness for Marriott points.  It is a nice way to finish up the trip.

The heart of Dublin is really small and very enjoyable.  We took a walking history tour yesterday morning with a guide who was very informative and funny.  Got a lot of interesting facts.  Don't know how much I will remember though.  We also took an on off bus tour which we will do again today.  Except for a couple of sites, not too much to see outside of the heart of the city.  It was cold and overcast today so we had to bundle up.  Our guide said this is the rainy season in Ireland.  It starts Jan. 1st and goes to Dec. 31st.

We have switched from wine to beer.  Guinness to be exact.  Even Sue has enjoyed it.  That really shocked me.  Even though they are on the metric system and use liters as measurements  you still ask for a pint of Guinness.  Guess somethings never change.

Tomorrow we leave for home.  Hope you enjoyed the blog and we look forward to seeing you.

Grafton Street early on a Sunday morning.  Large pedestrian only street.

Our hotel

Downing a pint of Guinness.

In front of Trinity College.

Dubrovnik

Day 28, 29 & 30 - We spent these days exploring the wonderful city of Dubrovnik and some outlying areas.  Dubrovnik is wonderfully restored, full of shops (mostly jewelery pocketbooks and souvenirs).  The people are extremely friendly and warm. 

The only problem with visiting this city during the day is all the tours and cruise ships are in and the streets get very crowded. The city could get 5,000 to 6,000 tourists during the day.  So it is good to do things either early or late when the crowds have gone away.

One day at 11:00 am the skies opened up.  We were near a restaurant that had an awning that we used for cover.  It looked like it was going to rain for a little while so we decided to have a glass of wine in the restaurant and wait it out.  It really came down and there was lightning as well.  The electricity went out and the owner lit candles.  We had a chance to talk with her and it was very interesting.  She told us after the war in '91 they were without electricity for 5 years and during the bombings they took shelter in the basements of the old fortified buildings.

One day we walked the wall to the city and then took a ferry to Cavtat for lunch.  Really small village but very nice eating by the water.

Another day we took a tour to Korcula which is an island about 1 1/2 hours north of Dubrovnik.  We also stopped in Ston again and a winery.  On this tour we met an Australian family that was on holiday for two months.  He told us that in Australia if you work for a company for 10 years, you get a thirteen week paid vacation by law.  They were using this time to wander about Europe with their two children.  We exchanged experiences as well as email addresses.  If we ever get to Australia they will give us travel ideas and want us to visit them.

Cable car view of Dubrovnik on the way to the top.

Boy did it rain!!!

The view from the top overlooking Dubrovnik.

Walking atop the walled city of Dubrovnik.

On our way to Korcula and the wine country.

Our view from the table where we had lunch in Cavtat.

Another view of the old city.

Now we are at the airport and heading to Dublin.  Time to switch from wine to beer.

On to the Dalmation Coast

Day 25, 26 & 27  - We strolled around the town of Split and enjoyed being in the old town.  It is really enjoyable at night when the city is bathed in lights on the old buildings.

Yesterday we drove from Split down to Dubrovnik.  A really beautiful ride.  We stopped at a little village called Ston.  It is know for its seafood. and its steep stone wall.  We had a wonderful lunch of raw oysters as an appetizer and then pasta with shrimp, mussels and clams and a little local white wine.  It was really good.  Since we had to burn off the carbs we climbed the wall.

This is Diacletians Place in Split at night.

Stopping in Ston to have lunch.  Notice the wall in the background.

Yep, we climbed the wall.  Nice view.

We also climbed down the wall.

The view down the street from our room.

The view up the street to our room. STEPS!!!!!!

The main street in Dubrovnik called the Stradun.

After lunch we drove to the Dubrovnik airport to drop off the car.  We took a shuttle bus back to the old town and found our apartment.  There is no cars allowed in the old city and while it is not very big, one end, the end where we are staying is very steep.  We climbed and climbed and climbed to our apartment.  It is nice and the city is very beautiful.

Good bye Plitvice Hello Split

Lots of climbing and waterfalls

Day 24 - When we woke in Plitvice the sun was shining and the skies were blue, so we decided to the walk again and to a further point.  It is so beautiful when the sun is out.  We walked for three hours up and down the various lakes.  When we got back to the car to leave we were tired but we had a three hour ride to Split to recoup.  The weather here is so very varied.  In Plitvice it was warm, high sixties.  As we were driving across the mountains it turned cloudy and very cool, high forties. When we got to Split it was in the high seventies.

Getting to our hotel was a little adventure.  The GPS led us to a little back street of residential houses.  We drove around a bit seeing if we missed a turn.  No luck. Finally we stopped a man who was walking on the street and asked him for directions.  He spoke very little English.  After trying to understand what he was saying, he indicated that he would take us to the hotel.  We let him in the car and we ended driving around the block.  He pointed for us to make a right turn on what appeared to be a driveway.  As soon as we made the turn the hotel was right in front of us.  It was tucked away just off the main road.  I don't think we would have found it without him.  We wanted to give him some money for his efforts, but he just shook his head, smiled and walked away.

We explored Split a little, went back to the room to relax and then went for dinner.

It's really nice in the sunshine

Split in the old city

Split along the waterfront

Plitvice

Day 23 - We left Rovinj and headed east.  The sun was out and the weather was warm.  Following the GPS we drove for approx. 3 1/2 hours.  The distance wasn't that far but the route that it took us through was very rural and mountainous.  Something like being on Mr. Toad's wild ride in Disneyworld.  Beautiful country with many many twists and turns.  The road for the most part was only 1 1/2 lanes wide.  Wasn't too much of a problem since we were the only one on it for 90% of the time.  We arrived at Plitvice (Plea veh say) at around 1:00pm and proceeded to walk around the park.

What an unusual place.  It's a number of lakes that are terraced and each one having waterfalls going into the lower lakes.  In some places it was Cinque Terre all over again.  Mostly wooded walkways with steep drop offs.  Sue did much better this time.  Wasn't quite as afraid.  Wish the sun was out fully instead of the hazy sun we had.  But it was still worth the trip. Just enjoy the pictures.

Ravinj on the water

Ravinj from the water

Day 22 - There was rain overnight and summer turned to spring once again.  No rain but cloudy and cool.  We took a sightseeing boat around the Istria Peninsula today.  The views were enjoyable but it was cold on the water.  They served grappa (homemade wine made from the last pressing of the grapes and skins).  This stuff will either put hair on your chest or burn it off.  Later in the day we just strolled the town and had a little wine and cheese at a little place with a balcony right on the water.  Hoping the weather will get better again.

Freezing, but enjoying the views

Another vantage point

Walking around the shopping area and enjoying the ambiance.

More ambiance.

Ravinj

Day 21 - Four days ago we were in Lake Bled and it felt like late autumn. Yesterday we were in Ljubljana and it felt like spring.  Today we are in Rovinj, Croatia and it feels like summer.  We are on the coast of the Adriatic with old town views and crystal clear blue water.  We just wandered the town, had pizza and wine for lunch (less than $9.00) and enjoyed the sights.  Sue had to put her feet in the water.  She was in heaven.  Tomorrow we will take a boat tour around the area and visit wineries as well.

We keep climbing those towers

A view down one of the streets in the old town.

This one does not need any caption.

View of the harbor and the old town.

A view from the top.

Julian Alps and Ljubljana

Viewing the Soca River and the surrounding mountains.

Day 19 & 20 - We left Lake Bled and the weather was just turning nice.  We headed north toward the Austrian border and just before entering we turned south to go through the Julian Alps.  Magnificent mountains that just seem to come almost straight up.  As we headed into the mountains the weather went from sunny to cloudy to rainy to cloudy to sunny, over and over again.  The views from the top were not great but we had a good time doing 50 hairpin turns.  After leaving the mountains we stopped at a small village (they are all small villages) called Bovec.  The town was cute and the scenery was beautiful.  The food here is good and very inexpensive.  Sue and I like it better than French food.  (I know some of you think we are nuts.)
We spent yesterday afternoon and today strolling through Ljubljana.  The old town is really nice.  It has some really expensive shops (Cartier, Rolex watches, etc.) but lots of small local shops as well.  This could be the next Prague.  All of the people speak wonderful English and are extremely polite and helpful.  We took a 2 1/5 hour walking tour of the city with a trip to the castle at the top of the mountain.  The views were great.

Sure, the day we leave Lake Bled the sky starts to clear up.

Up in the Julian Alps and in the clouds.

Had to try using one of the suspension bridges to cross the Soca River.

The city and river during the day.

The city and river at night.

The view from the castle.  Yup, we climbed the steps again.

Enjoying a little lunch and wine along the river.

The little village of Bovec where we had lunch on the way to Ljubljana.

Strolling along the river in Ljubljana

Tomorrow we leave for Rovinj, Croatia.  Hopefully the weather will continue to be sunny and warm. 

Lake Bled

Day 18 - Unfortunately the weather has not changed very much.  It rained a little this morning so we drove around the area and up to the castle that we can see from our room.  We got back late morning and while it was still very overcast the rain had stopped.  So we decided to take the 3.5 mile walk around Lake Bled.  It was just wonderful.  While the pictures do not do the scenery justice it is really beautiful and clean.  The lake is crystal clear and the people are warm and friendly.  We stopped for a bite halfway around the lake and had a cup of soup and a glass of wine at a little inn and restaurant.  The owner asked us where we were from.  We told him we were from New Jersey and asked him if had heard of it.  He said "Yes, of course.  That is where Bruce Springsteen comes from."

This is a church on a tiny island in the middle of the lake.

Off in the distance is where we started our walk.

Just so picturesque, just a shame it is so very cloudy.

Tomorrow we leave for Ljubljana (Lu bee ana) but first we are heading north to the Italian border (not crossing it) and driving south through the Julian Alps to get to Ljubljana.  With stops this should take about 5 to 6 hours.  Hopefully the weather will clear up and we will get to see good vistas.