Zadar and Parks

We arrive in Split and are walking to the car rental location. We have chosen this location at the ferry port because of convenience and also it had the least crappy reviews of all the local rental shops. We spurge for the full coverage even though technically the credit card covers this because the last thing I want to do is fight over car scratches at the end. We discover that along with our stress free rental we are given a car that’s seen better days. We aren’t picky so other than the GPS we rented being completed useless the car is fine. We laugh that it is the owner’s cousin’s car that he rents out on the side to make some money.

I start driving and all we want to do is get our butts out of the city. We head toward Zadar, our next overnight location. It is a little stressful dealing with traffic in a new country but we make it out of the city relatively easy.

We stop on the way at a small town named Trogir. We walk around the medieval town for a couple hours.

We get to Zadar, find car parking and check into our apartment just in time to run down and catch the sunset at the artwork called “Greeting to the Sun” which during the day looks like just a glass floor but at night lights up beautifully. We catch the show better a couple hours later. There is a sax guy playing while we admire the sunset.

We share a late dinner then head to bed as we are heading to Plitvice Lakes national Park tomorrow.

As we head to Plitvice we aren’t without drama on the way since it is a long drive with absolutely no bathrooms along the way.

It is a rainy day so I am sure it keeps the crowds down a bit but it still pretty busy in the park known for its numerous waterfalls. This UNESCO protected park is very beautiful. We follow one of the most popular paths around that is estimated to take about a half day. Part of the route includes taking a ferry inside the park to another set of falls. We at some point lose the route we are supposed to be on but luckily we find our way back to the car park.

Despite the rain the park is very enjoyable.

On our way back we stop to buy some local cheese at one of the road side cheese stands. It is a weird texture and has very little flavor but what it does have is weird and disappointing. We try to eat it but it isn’t that great. We even try to feed it to street cats later and they wont eat it. I can’t believe there are cheeses out there I don’t like.

We get back into town wander to find a place to eat dinner. I decide tonight I need all the vegetables since my diet has been poor lately. I order a carpaccio salad and side of grilled vegetables.

The next day we head to the town of Nin, Croatia known for it’s salt harvest. Nin is also known for its beaches and its royal history in the 7th to 13th centuries. We visit the salt museum in this sleepy town and buy lots of salt including the flower of salt, a special salt that is harvested.

Back to town where we sit and listen to sea organ, an amazing art installation that sounds like an organ making music when the waves come in. We also shop, buy ice cream, eat dinner and make bad drink decisions. Afterwards we have Eurovision night in since it is on the next two nights.

Watching Eurovision

The next morning we visit the market in town because I love a good market.

We start driving toward Split but first we want to stop at Krka National Park, another waterfall park. Google gives us directions but we ignore them to follow the signs. For a while it seems like a dumb decision that has us driving out of the way but it ends up being the smart one. We find the park entrance and we park conveniently close to the free bathroom because of course we both have to go. On the way we stop by this cool looking abandoned building.

We buy our ticket and wait for the bus to take us down to the park. When we get off the bus there is a commotion. Someone may have died at the entrance to the park. Someone is giving CPR to a man on the ground while they wait for emergency medical help. Not wanting to contribute to the chaos we leave and start our waterfall visit, wondering if he is ok.

Today it is raining again. We see lots of water between the rain and waterfalls. Some parts around the trail become flooded. Thank goodness again for my poncho.

After our visit to Krka we drive to split and return rental car. More on that later.

Hanging Rock

Today I fly into Melbourne to start my journey of Victoria and South Australia. I am arriving in the early evening so I decide to book a hotel near the airport for the evening and pick up my rental car in the morning. When I walk outside to meet my hotel shuttle I am very happy to be greeted with temperatures of 68⁰F (20⁰C). I am in heaven. I spent the last couple months sweating non-stop but now I am finally in my favorite temperatures. I love Melbourne already and I haven’t even left the airport.

I have a dinner in the hotel restaurant and then leave early in the morning to pick up my rental car. A new adventure is starting, I have never driven on left side of the road nor the right side of the car. I am nervous but I am up for the challenge.

I take a little while to make sure I am familiar with the car and all the gadgets. I have also sprung for the GPS like I did in Spain; I make sure to have all my coordinates inputted.

Soon I am off on the road. I am nervous but I drive slower and stay in the slow lanes. Traffic gets thick in some places but luckily it is not too bad. My drive is less than an hour. I can do it!

It is almost mid day when I arrive at Hanging Rock, my main destination for the day. I could have visited this site on my way to other travels but I don’t like to rush my travel – especially when I am traveling alone. I plan to visit Hanging Rock and then stay the night in the area.

Why do I choose to visit Hanging Rock do you ask? Besides it being a very interesting looking rock structure, I also have a family connection of sorts. I recently have lost my aunt who died a horrible slow death at a relatively young age. In the 1970’s she went to see the mystery movie Picnic at Hanging Rock in the movie theater with my grandmother and they both loved the film. My aunt had communicated that to me in the past so I watched the movie on my own and was drawn to the film as well. Viewing the movie made me want to visit the sight where it is filmed. I spent some time helping my aunt convalesce in Las Vegas in the year prior to this trip. Unfortunately she died a couple months later but during my time with her the new series Picnic at Hanging Rock came out. I was able to watch the series with my aunt not knowing that is the last time I would get to spend any kind of quality time with her before she died. So you can say I have an emotional connection to this place and the visit is a pilgrimage of sort.

I walk up a concrete path where the view of the rocks gets clearer the closer I get. In the movie the girls walk through brush and cross streams. I have a nice paved path that takes me straight there.

Once at the top I enjoy the views below.

I notices the crevices between the rocks so I do some exploring.

I also do a slight bit of rock scrambling but really it is just me sliding down some rocks on my butt.

I come to an area where I am alone and only hear bees buzzing, it is very ominous. This is where I feel like I could have been part of a movie scene.

More crevices….

Some rocks to sit on to enjoy the view. I see farms and maybe alpacas or llamas in the distance.

I start my descent back down where I actually see hanging rocks. I chose the smooth flat uphill path on the way up and taking the stairs on the way down. I am glad I chose that method.

There is a short trail around the rock formation. I take the trail around the loop. I seem to be the only one taking the trail. I hear nature and get other views of the hanging rock.

As I drive away I stop to take photos from another angle.

It is a nice visit. I wish I would have brought a picnic and bottle of wine to truly live out a picnic at hanging rock. If you haven’t see the original movie it is an interesting watch.

I check into my guesthouse twenty minutes away at Lancefield Guest House. I do a self check-in and don’t see another soul there until the next morning. I feel like I have the whole place to myself for the night.

At the guesthouse I see a list of the activities in the area and I spot a couple wineries close by that are still open for the day. I rush out to visit some cellar doors (cellar doors are what tasting rooms are called in Australia).

Here is my little note about what I know about Australian wines: In my opinion the majority wines we import in the United States from Australia are the most horrible wines ever. I am coming into my wine journey of Australia with low expectations.

WOW am I surprised!

I start my tasting at Cleveland Winery.

I am pleasantly surprised with my tastings. The first two are sparkling wines which I generally avoid due to headaches but they are quite good. I even like the chardonnay I sample and it is hard for me to find a chardonnay I like. Even though I didn’t think I am a fan of the style, the shiraz wine is pleasant to me. I pick up a bottle or two of wine to take back with me. I wouldn’t normally buy bottles while I am traveling but I will be traveling by car for about a week so no worries about carrying bottles on my back.

The hostess at Cleveland recommends a couple more wineries in the area. I only have time (and alcohol tolerance) for one more so I visit Curly Flat.

It is a terrific recommendation. The wines are more expensive but pretty good. I also pick up two bottles here – one I mean to take to my cousin when I visit him in Sydney. Sadly (for him) the wine never made it to Sydney. I couldn’t resist opening it a week later.

I head back to my hotel and walk to get dinner.

I walk to Lancefield Hotel to get dinner. They are all booked for the night at their nicer sit down dining (reservations only) but I am able to order food at the bar. I order the not so healthy prawn and chicken in garlic cream sauce. It seems like it might be the Australian version of comfort food. I sleep well after that meal.

I am staying in a sleepy area so there is not much to do after dinner. I head back to my room and get some rest.

Tomorrow I start my road trip!

Tight car space

The downsides of renting a large and nice car abroad is trying to get out of tight awkward places.

When I parked in the hotel garage in Gijón I had a feeling things would be challenging. All the spaces were narrow but I parked anyway. There was no car next to me but the other side was two large columns.

However there was a handicap spot behind me or I could pull forward if I needed some space to get out.

Well the worst scenario happened when I tried to finally leave Gijón: the car next to me is parked closely, the handicap space behind me is occupied and someone is parked in front of me (not a real space).

All my contingency plans have been thwarted. I am in a real tight situation.

So I start the long process to shimmy out of my space. The car has a good system of letting you know before you are about to hit something. But the alarm is too sensitive. I need to get close if I am ever getting out of the space.

I back up, I pull forward a couple inches. I back up. It continues. I get frustrated and get out of the car and flick a bird at car next to me, at the car in front of me, at car behind me, and at the columns. So many columns.

I get back in and I am getting very close to getting out when a man comes over to “help” guide me. I am just about out now but thanks?

Finally I am out with no car injury and glad to get out of this garage. I really should have parked in that surface paid lot instead.

You can see the car tightly next to me but you can’t see the car that is stopping me from pulling forward.