Last fall my friend and I quickly threw together a trip to Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Bosnia -

these are the letters I wrote to family and friends capturing our experiences

So our trip to Croatia started with a little turbulence- after arriving to the airport we visited with Terese and the Sheren’s for a bit before going through security. Muskegon airport is very serious about security - they actually confiscated my self tanner ! I was so distraught that I could hardly be irritated when they made us take our whole bags apart to be searched. So while I was trying not to be derailed regarding my subjection to pale legs I had another crisis! I realized I didn’t have my drivers license or health card! Panic, panic , call Cyril - being the good man that he is he tried to right my wrong but alas... we had to board. Oh well -
The flight to Chicago went well once they got the 2 nd engine to start on the puddle jumper, however the flight to Germany was wonderful. Lufthansa is a nice airline! Then onto Zagreb!
Arrived without incident and eager to hit the road for our drive to Slovenia. One rental car away from adventure! Well as luck would have it they don’t have the car we reserved. It’s an either / or situation - big car on narrow roads like in Italy or very little car that’s suppose to be smart- we went for the toy! It’s like being on a moped with a windshield! So where’s the GPS we ask? You don’t have one?!? How about a map ?!? No map ?!? And we have no internet or cell service. Must I say the driving has been a bit intense at times. Thank goodness for google maps! The main roads are fine but the towns are challenging to say the least! After many right and Wrong turns and asking a local or two, we were able to find our room! Whew!
Of course there is no rest for the likes of me and Christine and we hit the lake bled region at a run!! The mist was hardly rising and we were at the vintgar gorge - a 5 km hike along a scenic river. That was followed by a strenuous hike up to an awesome view of Lake Bled - really idyllic! After a quick dip in the lake we took off for the castle over looking the lake and then on to the vrsic pass through the Julian alps! Breath taking! We weren’t sure our little toy car would make it over the mountains but Buzz (as in light year) has as much drive as we do on these excursions. The mountain drive was a little rough if you are sensitive to car sickness - more switchbacks than countable - but all was well in the end and our farm stay room was a good reprieve.
Predjama castle greeted us early in the am - a fortress built right into the side of a mountain complete with drawbridge and secret tunnels. The cave tour included hard hats and headlamps! Way cool and very dark!
We followed one cave tour with another at the Skocjan cave system- unbelievable! Hiked all through the caves and along the river - awesome, fabulous, no way to describe it .
Our time in Slovenia was much to short - it is an incredibly beautiful little country with warm and friendly people and lots of history!
So with a sigh and a nod we headed back into Croatia to enjoy its wonders. First and foremost for Christine it was a dip into the Adriatic Sea ! Unfortunately for me as close as I got to the sea was a slip on some wet rocks - down I went, ever so slowly but enough to break my camera! Cry, cry!! However the sun rises again so off we go to Rovinj and the famous St Euphemias churches bell tower. Majestic views of that small peninsula- well worth the climb up those rickety stairs!
Pula offered its own version of majesty with one of the best preserved Roman coliseums - spent the remainder of the day driving the Croatia coast feasting our eyes on the majesty of nature. Vineyards, olive groves, mountains and more mountains, and the shimmering Adriatic sea! Just like Buzz “to infinity and beyond” but in our case that destination is Dubrovnik!