A Familiar Face

CROATIA. Zagreb - stormy weather, lots of rain, driving on again...

There are lots of deserted houses, half-built and missing windows. Young people come to sit in their shells away from critical townsfolk. In the country too, next to barns converted and chickens running wild, are more of these dark places.

PLITVICA National Park was where we found Zach. He sent an email from Zagreb at exactly the same time we were there, saying he would be in Plitvica the next day, also the same as us - such a coincidence! So he phoned Ed and we arranged to pick him up then spend the rest of the day exploring the National, World Heritage, Park (somehow it had passed our notice that we were on the doorstep of such an outstanding area of natural beauty).

The top half consisted of, I think, six lakes joined by crystal clear water pouring though varying sized waterfalls. After a feast of a lunch: a huge circular brown loaf, butter, salami, cucumber and tomato, we felt ready to take the boat to the next walk and the aptly named "Big Waterfall".

We didn't leave until gone six so it was a long evening drive in the direction of Split (change to our plans in favour of Zach's). Stopping in a lay-by just outside a small local town the boys cooked up another Lidl special dog-food stew and we squeezed the three of us into the back of the van. A fitful night's sleep opened up into a glorious day and the surprise of another beautifully clear lake which we made the most of in the absence of a shower. Further investigation of the town led us through a few stalls to a marina and the biggest yacht I've ever seen! We made the last two hours of the journey that day as the bright sun heated up the van.

Split is an amazing town and I'm sure we will return on the way back up the coast. We didn't stop in the town that first afternoon but found a nice big car park, a stony bit of shoreline with the most delicious turquoise sea and a good breeze to whistle through the van. The next two nights were spent along from the beach by some quieter 'mermaid'-like rocks, waking up early in the heat, cooling off in the sea, burning in the sun, feasting like kings on fresh fish and vegetables from the market in town and sitting up late as the moon came out at night.

Now we have separated and left Zach to find his own path as we head down South to Dubrovnik.