National Park Paklenica and the big uphill

First I have to make a correction - our guides name is actually Branimir , with a B not a V - an easy mistake given his lovely accent and Brani for short. He also has a lovely habit of drying off his shirt at lunch so has to strip off the top to change - did get a picture but might be too much for the older readers to cope with !!

Wearing clothes here is a bit optional a times. We got an eyeful of a couple changing into swimmers at the beach yesterday morning - all very browned saggy bits and not bashful about it. The boy hikers like to strip down to shorts when hot and sweaty and everyone sits about in the sun getting browner by the minute.

Our walk was amazing yesterday in the Paklenica NP. A narrow limestone canyon which then as you walk up and up broadens into a deep forested valley. So 3 and a 1/2 hours up the view was marvellous and there were mountain huts and a ruined farmhouse from the 17th century - all good once recovered from the climb.









But the most amazing bit was the climbers in the narrow valley - climbs of all grades brings out hoards of serious and just for fun climbers and some climbed very high indeed - too high to watch.

There were the serious ones



And the family ones


And us !!




The afternoon was picnic time so clothes were off and ropes left dangling while everyone sunned and sat about chatting and feeding the babies - an amazing atmosphere with some serious gear and adrenaline mixed in.

We were pretty exhausted when we got back to the hotel so a swim ( or paddle) in the sea was on order, then after tea we headed off to Zader, a historical city inside a bigger city on the seaside. There was a lovely wall and paved streets and narrow alleys full of people strolling and drinking at the many bars and cafes. Occupied by the Venetians and Romans and others over the centuries and then ruined in various wars ( including many bullet holes and grenade marks from the last in 1991 ) the city has lots of history and then modern touches like a sea organ under the paved promenade singing a slow sad song and a solar light display built under the stones to dance over and light up the sky.

Novigrad this morning is a bit overcast, but still a lovely little town on the bay. It is not nearly what it used to be before the war as many left for safer places and have not returned. So now the tourists can sit about and enjoy the sun and the peace and quiet in return for paying exorbitant prices for red wine - but the beer is only $1.00 a bottle - not quite fair really .


See you soon

Love Wendy and Graeme