Venice
Thursday 13th June. Today we took our flight to Venice. The transfer from the airport to the Carlton Hotel was via a private water taxi. It was a very rough journey until we reached the Grand canal. The hotel was old but very comfortable. After check-in we took a walk around the area, along small streets and alleys. We found a lovely restaurant for dinner which was on a canal with a small balcony and flower boxes. We managed to find our way back and had a great Italian meal.
Friday 14th June. Today is the official start to our tour but we don’t meet until 6pm. We took the local ferry to St Marks Square. It took about 40 mins with many stops.It was quite hot so we walked to the Square via the many alleys that are in the area. The Square was crowded with long queues to the tower and into the cathedral so we decided to walk the perimeter instead. We visited a great exhibition by Carla Tolomes who uses fabric to create wonderful chairs designs of flowers, animals and birds on chairs. Our walk back to the hotel was via Rialto again not the direct route but through alleys which are less crowded. At 6pm we met the other members of the group and our tour guide, Maja. The group is Aussie but includes one NZ couple. 3 more Aussie couples will join its in Zagreb which will make a bus tour of 23. More people will join us for the cruise.We had a Welcome dinner together and everyone seems to be getting on quite well.
SLOVENIA
Saturday 15th June Today we head for Lake Bled via Postojna. We met our bus driver – Ivanci. After 3 hours driving through breathtaking scenery we arrived at Postonjna, home to Slovenia’s largest cave system. We barded an electric train that took us 2kms into the mountain and then proceeded on a guided walk for 11/2 hours through some magnificent limestone formations.
After the cave visit we continued to Lake Bled where our site seeing started at the castle chichis perched on top of a high cliff above the lake.There were some very impressive views. Lake Bled is 2km long and is used for international rowing competitions and has numerous permanent courses set up along its length. An idyllic place.
Sunday 16th June. An early start this morning as we took a traditional plenta boat to a small island in the middle of the lake to visit its iconic 15th cent church. We then travelled to a small local farm where they make cheese and walnut liqueur. The cheese, liqueur, salami were very tasty. We all took a turn churning cream to butter which eventually happened.
The next stop was Bohinj a small town in the Julian Alps where took a cable car up Mount Vogel to the ski fields and walking area. The views over the valley were spectacular.
Monday 17th June. Slovenia to Zagreb, Croatia.
First we drove to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital for a walking tour of the town and a visit to the castle.
We crossed both borders very quickly and drove to Zagreb, capital of Croatia. After a coffee and money changing we met our local guide, Sanya, who took us for an 11/2 hour walk through the old town. Dinner tonight was with the group at a local restaurant.
Tuesday 18th June. Bale, Istrian Peninsular.
Our first stop this morning was the town of Opatija on Kvarner Bay. Its a popular seaside resort with along history stretching back to the Hapsburgs. Near Bale we called into a family owned olive farm for an oil tasting. An interesting experience. We then went to a family owned small B&B for lunch. the restaurant doesn’t open to the public just guests and private groups. The meal a pasta goulash was delicious. Then to our hotel which is 8 homes incorporated into a small hotel. It is old but renovated and very comfortable. Maya took us for a short walk around the old town before a light dinner.
Wednesday 19th June. Today was a visit further into the Istrian Peninsular. Our first stop was the old village of Roving where we walked through the old town with its quaint alleys and cobblestone streets. There were beautiful views from the church on the hill over the coastline. It still retains much of its venetian heritage when this area was part of the Italian state. After lunch in a local restaurant we drove to the ancient town of Pula which was founded over 3,000 years ago by the Romans. We visited the 1st century amphitheatre but couldn’t go inside as they were setting up for a concert tonight by Foo Fighters. Dinner tonight back in Bale at a local tavern.
The first photo is one of Carla Tolomes’s chairs, next Mum in Venice, 3rd View of Lake Bled from the castle.
