BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?

Subject: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: jimmyt
Date: 21 May 04 - 04:16 PM

Would appreciate some input.   My son and daughter-in-law want to go to Slovenia and Croatia in October, and I am trying to get some ideas about best places to go, transportation, etc. My wife and I will be taking them, but as we have not been there, thought perhaps some folks here could provide some input. Had thought about flying into Venice then taking Ferry across to Istria. Thanks in advance

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: michaelr
Date: 21 May 04 - 07:03 PM

I have, in the 1970s. Slovenia is very pretty lake and castle country, really quite a bit like Austria. Croatia has the long Adriatic coastline and very wild and rocky hinterland, the enchanted Plitvice lakes, and of course beautiful Dubrovnik, by all accounts nicely rebuilt. Rijeka, Senj and Split are nice port towns, and the island of Korcula boasts Marco Polo's (birth?) house.

There's a major highway winding down the coast from Trieste almost to Albania, and you can go by bus. Don't know about other forms of transport (we hitchhiked).

I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could. The food, the wine, the Mediterranean, and the people... it's all good!

Enjoy,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Padre
Date: 21 May 04 - 11:39 PM

In 1965, I spent a week at Split - a wonderful town on the Adriatic. At the time, you could get a large beer for about 25c (I suspect that it is more expensive now)

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 22 May 04 - 10:55 AM

A friend of mine has made the move from California to Slovenia and is delighted there. He finds the country beautiful, the cities more liveable, and the people more willing to think than Americans. He glories in living in a country where translations of the classics regularly appear on best seller lists. But then, he's a little odd, like most of my friends.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 May 04 - 10:55 AM

In 1961 I hitch-hiked/walked the length of Yugoslavia from Rieka down along the coast and up over the mountains, skirting Albania, into Greece. They were just building the main road then and doing it in parts, so that sometimes the road ended and you had to walk over the open fields to find the beginning of the next part. I travelled with a Danish pal who had a drum and I had my bagpipes and we met the most hospitable people I have ever come across. We had a thirty day transit visa and at times we thought we'd never make it in time as there was practically no traffic. The scenery was magnificent and I was heartbroken at the recent internal war. What a waste of lives and destruction of beautiful structures. I haven't been back since but I've heard the reconstruction is excellent.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: iRiShBaBe
Date: 22 May 04 - 04:13 PM

i just came back from Croatia.
Im a travel agent and they send us out there to suss it out and come back and sell it.
I was so so shocked.
I am very well travelled and I have never in my life met people as rude.
We were in Split, Makarska, Hvar and Dubrovnik and I'd say I encountererd about 5 nice pople the whole 10 days.
The scenery is BREATHTAKING, as are the marinas. A very very historical country. Definatly move around dont stay in the one place longer than about 5 days.
Food is very basic,sea food being a speciality. Pizza is good.
Shopping is ok, brilliant in Split with all the designer clothes shops but expect to pay higher than most other European countrues.
No night-life except in July and August.
Loads and loads of forigners with huge yaughts.
Hvar Town and Split are DEFINATLY worth seeing. Makarska is a lovely place as is Dubrovnik.
Just dont expect fab food, mannerly people or a dirt cheap holiday.
I know I sound very rascist when I talk about the people, and I would be the first to stand up and say that maybe they were just having a bad day, but 10 bad days in a row in 4 different cities might be taking it a little too far...
hope you find this useful...
I-B-!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 22 May 04 - 09:34 PM

Maybe irishbabe just brings out the worst in people. I'm not sure that I'd generalise at all, but I've certainly met many sociable folk in Croatia, pleasingly well-informed about European history, world affairs etc, and much into playing traditional music in bars and cafes, once you delve beyond the touristy facade. Irishbabe is spot on, however, about the food, and about the scenery.

If you get anywhere near the Dalmatian coast, jimmyt, Rab is well worth a visit along with, or even ahead of, the other places mentioned.

If you depend on the crossing from Venice, be sure it's running at that time of the year - it's seasonal, and the tourist season proper doesn't extend much either side of June, July and August. Also I believe it's geared for day trips from Porec (on the west coast of Istra) so I'm not sure how easy it is to start from the other end.

Opatija on the other side of Istra is a good bit classier and less touristy than Porec, with a more scenic hinterland. But you'd be going at a good time to see the Porec side at its best, when most of the tourists will have gone, but many bars, restaurants etc will still be open. Rovinj, just down the coast, is is a picturesque town, and Pula has a huge Roman amphitheatre.

As for Rijeka, which is a few miles along from Opatija, michaelr may have seen aspects of it that have eluded me. It is a working port that makes no attempt that I can see to disguise its commercial/industrial ambience.

If you get to Porec, whether from Venice or from Trieste airport, we have a flat nearby that you'd be welcome to doss in for a night or two (4/5 people). Any longer and you'd have to pay the very modest rent.

One last thought. Learn a few Croatian phrases in advance. It's always very much appreciated as hardly anyone attempts to learn their language. It can also be useful, unless you're going to be sticking to tourist haunts. Young Serbs and Croatians are likely to know some English, but relatively few adults speak it. They are much more likely to know Italian and/or German.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: jimmyt
Date: 23 May 04 - 11:02 AM

what great information!   I really appreciate your help, all, especially the kind offer from PeterK. I am off to Atlanta to pick up some tourbooks as well as a phrase book. Good advice Peter. I have found people to generally be quite helpful and friendly anywhere I have travelled provided I make an effort to speak their language and respect their customs and culture. Have met many wonderful people when I had that desperate look in a Czech Resturant in Pilsen, holding a menu that I had no clue what a single word was. I look forward to the trip already.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 May 04 - 06:37 PM

My wife and I did the Adriatic coast route in the early-1970s...hitchhiking and just plain hiking. As notes, the views are terrific, especially where you can look down over the cliffs and the water is/was so clear that you can see the bottom of the Adriatic. There was a lot of Serb/Croat antagonism then, and I don't expect that will have changed much.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: DaveA
Date: 24 May 04 - 02:29 AM

Jimmyt,

Your kids are going to a great (if unheralded part of the world). I was there (with my daughter & son in law) in April & was blown away by the beauty of the country & how relatively untouched by the Tourist Plague it was.

we flew into Venice & hired a car to drive from there on. (Warning - make sure they know you are going into Slovenia as several Hire Firms don't allow it & all hell breaks loose at the first border crossing. You may be forced to abandon your car & find your own way back & they will bill you for retrieving the car!!!). we spent the first night at Koper ( a convenient distance after an afternoon flight from the UK) & thought we had died & gone to tourist heaven. It was the first wedding anniversary for the kids & so we thought a nice dinner was in order.
we had (& bear in mind this is for 3 adults):
2 camparis & Sodas
3 beers (half litres)
3 mineral waters
3 mushroom soups
2 calamaris
1 spaghetti carbonara
cheese for three
2 brandies
6 expresso coffees

Total Bill
    $45:00 Australian
       (to put this in perspective, the A$ is about .70 US & .42 UK)

We then (next day & I might add that my room was about $A 50 for all trimmings, cable tv, private bathroom etc) headed for Postojna which has the best caves you can imagine. You take a small diesel train into the mountain for about 2 kil before getting out and starting to explore. Enormous caverns, stalagmites & stalagtites too many to count and one chamber so big that they held concerts in there with a full symphony orchestra & 4000 audience - I believe they stopped because the musicians complained that the damp was bad for their instruments. The whole excursion took about 3 hours & was less than $20 - absolute bargain. Also, just up the road is one of the most authentic castles you will ever see. It backs into a huge cave & is almost impregnable. Not to be missed!
The next day was Bled, a resort town around an Alpine lake but without the tourist hype you get in Austria or Switzerland. Superb setting & almost deserted. Then we went up into the mountains to Planica where the World Ski Jump record was set and indulged ourselves in Alpine scenery that was magic.
As you can see, we were blown away by Slovenia - All I can say is get in there and see it before it becomes yet another standard stop on the tourist itinerary and the prices go through the roof. And tell your kids to watch out for "Berliners" - gigantic doughnuts either filled with Peach Jam or iced with Chocolate & stuffed with cream.
As you can see, I was enthralled by Slovenia - have to admit that I have no idea as to the music side of things but if you want a cheap exhilerating holiday in Europe, I can't think of anywhere better. And this from a bloke who had never heard of it before his daughter insisted we should go there.

As the bible says "Go and do thou likewise"!!!

Regards

DaveA

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 24 May 04 - 08:32 AM

Many years ago but times have changed things greatly since then. Be Blessed.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: joanna
Date: 24 May 04 - 11:29 AM

Id recommend Mljet an Island off the Dalmation coast, 36 kilometers by 5 kilometers, has 2 salt-water lakes, is a national park, there is a Benitictine Monestry, Limestone hills, thick woodland of Alleppo pine, Stone pine and other Mediterranian Evergreens, wild Mongoose snakes est.
                      Mljet is identified with Ortygia, the Island where Odysseus spent 7 years with the Nymph Calypso, st Paul was olso wrecked here ( Acts of the Apostles chapter 27).
                      Get there by boat from Spit. Other Archipelago beautiful too as is the mainland ,enjoy!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: jimmyt
Date: 24 May 04 - 01:49 PM

Wow, great information. Can't wait to go on the trip! thanks everyone! WIll copy down this info and use it

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 25 May 04 - 05:31 AM

I went a few years ago. It's a lovely place.

We went to Dubrovnik, Split, Mostar, Belgrade and Skopje, went into the Dalmation mountains and all over.

It was a memorable holiday, and we met lots of lovely people. THey were very friendly to us, but then we made lots of efforts to speak the language, and had a head start with that as my father spoke serb/croat, which he learnt from his time working in Skopje as an earthquake relief worker.

We went back to all the places he went to help at and talked to lots of locals, who remembered the earthquake and were interested to speak to us.

Local food (phoenetically - chev-ap-chee-chee) is lovely, and so was the cured ham we ate in a simple taverna in the mountains.

The lakes area are absolutely out of this world, and a place called (again phoenetically - svetti-stefan) was just gorg!

walk the walls of Dubrovnik town (inspiring) (though don't drink from the fountains - I did and was very very very ill for 2 days. Take a boat trip, from Dubrovnik. Or you can get a boat in Split and visit some of the smaller islands there.

I can't agree with Irishbabe, I felt the people were lovely, especially if you made an effort to speak the language. It's not a particularly hard language to grasp either. Los of chi chee sounds.

watch out for the sea - there's those prickely fish that when you stand on they give you a nastly sting with their spike.

But apart from that, it is a lovely, breathtaking and fine country!

Have fun, I'm jealous!

Ella

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 25 May 04 - 05:32 AM

Oh and porec too, soo many fine places to discover!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Bugface
Date: 25 May 04 - 06:12 AM

I live about half an hour from the border of Slovenia. I went there for lunch two weeks ago and it looks lovely, I'm going again in two weeks for the weekend, I'll report back afterwards...........

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: michaelr
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:03 AM

Ella, you bring back food memories -- cevapcici!! MMMM!! We're talking lamb kebabs to die for! Did you have the calamari?

Your mention of Mostar brought back the memory of that lovely 12th century arched stone bridge over the river in the middle of town, a gorgeous, graceful piece of medieval construction. It was destroyed in a bomb raid in the 80's "civil" war. I wonder whether they'll rebuild it.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 26 May 04 - 10:09 AM

hmmmmhmmmhmmm ohhhhh yesssssssssssss.... calamari!

lots of places were destroyed and damaged during the conflicts, hopefully they are able to be rebuilt!

Ella

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 30 May 04 - 07:12 PM

So which country are you in, Bugface? Italy, Croatia, Austria, Hungary...?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: Big Tim
Date: 31 May 04 - 05:55 AM

I've visited both countries twice in the last 7 years, in both summer and winter. Both are extremely beautiful, Slovenia more alpine, Croatia more mediteranean, tho of course Slovenia is also partly on the Med. In Slovenia, Lake Bled and the Julian Alps are an absolute must, so too is the beautiful, ancient capital Ljublana. (Good pic of Bled on cover of Lonely Planet guide to Slovenia). In Croatia, I only visited the Istrian Peninsula, which, being next door to Italy, is quite Italianate! Handy for popping across to Venice, well worth the journey.

Both countries have very low crime figures, are very safe to travel in, and the people welcoming and friendly. I off to the travel agents...

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: GUEST,EBarnacle
Date: 31 May 04 - 10:16 AM

A friend of mine is headed for a marketing conference in Croatia this week. I shall check with him when he gets back and report.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone been to Slovenia or Croatia?
From: jimmyt
Date: 17 Jun 04 - 09:21 PM

Sorry to keep pestering about this but do any of you that have commented know whether the Euro is an acceptable currency since Croatia and Slovenia have come in to the EU? I have been to Czech Republic and Slovakia back when it was still Czechoslovakia and hard western currency was readily accepted in fact preferred then. If this is to be the case I will not concern myself with difficult conversions, just use Euros, Otherwise will have to get up on Tolars and Kuna. Thanks in advance for the info. Jimmyt