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Thread: Croatia 2016

  1. #1
    Dislocated Member
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    Croatia 2016

    After three months in the sandpit I was starting to get restless, it's been an intense experience relocating here and with Ramadan in full swing and the temperature hitting over 40c every day I was ready to blow the joint if I didn't get some respite... so a short break at short notice, looked on the Fly Dubai site for destinations and came up with Croatia, spot on.., that'll do, I've always wanted to visit Croatia... so a little fact finding mission was underway as soon as you could say 'stick it on the Mastercard'.

    It's a 5 hour flight into Zagreb and then a 3 hour drive down to the coast where I had booked an apartment for 4 nights at Split. Exchange rate is 9 Kuna to the £.. so make it 10 to the £ after several beers have gone down and the already very reasonable prices start to make the place seem remarkably cheap.

    So...
    Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"

  2. #2
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    Dubai airport early morning and it's already too damn hot..



    Watch out for the fun police..



    They have a 100% take off record.. not worried at all



    it was worth the £20 and the extra legroom for a seat near the emergency exit.. bit of forward planning never did any harm



    One of those big bastard things loitering with intent



    And I'm off.! Bye bye blast furnace.. hello freedom.!!



    Stealth cloud.. possibly CIA



    Weather was shaping up nicely as we came into land...



    Overcast with a chance of rain.. perfect



    Arrivals at Zagreb.. a rather chilled out locale..



    Hire car, Seat Leon FR



    FR stands for Fookin' Raaaaagh.!!



    And here we go... you're probably thinking it looks a bit grim and the weather is shite, but I can honestly say at this point my eyeballs were having an Ecky fueled orgasm at the greenery... seriously, I'd left Blighty before spring had sprung and this was exactly what my brain was missing, green grass and grey skies.. just like back home



    From the airport very quickly on to the A1 autoroute that would take me all the way to the coast.. and moutains already.!!



    And tunnels..!



    This is about as busy as it got.. look at the weather.. it's perfect



    The A1 is a toll road and well maintained.. cost me 160 Kuna all the way to Split.. £17.60 .. bargain. I drove 1100 kms in 4 days and didn't get beeped at, tailgated or cut up once, all of which happened within 5 minutes of getting back to Dubai. Continental style driving at 100-140kph all the way... I was loving it already.



    The altimeter on my FR told me I was at about 650m above see level at this point and the range of mountains on my right, which had been constant for about the last 50kms, had disappeared into the cloud...



    then under the mountains at Sveti Rok tunnel for 5 kms...



    and out the other side to blue skies and Mediterranean landscapes...



    Beautiful.. the vacation was shaping up nicely..



    2 hours in and after a twisty decent time for a pitstop at the next service station at Jasenice



    Very nice it was too... very clean and a tasty looking food.



    £4.50 for that... I wasn't disappointed, tasted as good as it looked



    You.. me.. and the open road.. yeah baby.!



    Onward we go.. and isn't it just beautiful.. mountains and sea, this is what Croatia is all about



    Nearly there... you can almost hear the Cicada's chirping already...



    First impression of Split... 'meh' really... typically low rent, half finished Mediterranean living... but here I was anyway...



    Not too classy on the outside... but very peaceful



    and just perfect on the inside... WiFi and cable included..



    100 Euros a night



    There's a shower in there somewhere..



    and enough crockery to fill up the sink before I leave ...



    lovely out on the balcony, nice view... beach and bars just over the road



    Sun going down and still people enjoying a swim... a cool 30c and for a city beach a really nice spot..



    And there it is... 500ml of the finest local brew £1.65... the first of many that evening... perfect



    to be continued...
    Last edited by Neo; 14-07-2016 at 10:14 PM.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
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    Nice one Neo, me and the missus are thinking of going next year so look forward to this with interest.

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    Dislocated Member
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    Go for it... you'll love it. 4 nights was just enough to get a feel for it... but there's enough to keep you interested for much, much longer... beautiful, I shall return

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    a right posh place that , keeping the toilet roll in a plant pot..

  6. #6
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    It's a motorway cafe you div and the plant pot is an ashtray.. I was sitting outside.

  7. #7
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    Looks nice mate, but did you empty your nuts?

  8. #8
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    That plant pot got a rodgering, I reckon.

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    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Great pics mate, interesting stuff.

    Having the wheels makes a huge difference to any trip.

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    Just looks like a motorway toll road and a Med style Canvey Island (kind of reminds me of a holiday in Corfu back in the last 70s)... Very similar to coming out of Alicante airport, hiring a car and driving north on the Spanish tollway.

    Nonetheless, keep the pics coming - everyone loves a photothread.



    Were you the only passenger?
    (& wear some proper socks, Neo - those silly little baby sock things are so meh...).




    I hate that airport. In fact, the only airport I've ever been to which I disliked more (excluding Heathrow and Gatwick and Luton and Stanstead, obviously) was the big shithole in Qatar...
    Cycling should be banned!!!

  11. #11
    Dislocated Member
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    Jeez... so much negativity.. you guys are killing my post holiday buzz



    *yeah there were only about 30-40 people on the plane Betty, same on the way back

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    It's good, most of us have never been there (I'm guessing), so it is interesting!

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    Thailand Expat klong toey's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blue
    a right posh place that , keeping the toilet roll in a plant pot
    Also nice to see that great English tradition of drinking tea out of the saucer and not the cup.
    I noted the saucer placed on top of his cup in that picture.

  14. #14
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo View Post
    kind of reminds me of a holiday in Corfu back in the last 70s..
    feckin 'ell, how old are you? Or are you talking Goat years?

  15. #15
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    ^ I was a kid at the time, born in 1970.


  16. #16
    splendid and tremendous
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    Top fucking thread man.

    Doesn't sound like you're long for the sandpit, though, and for that I wouldn't blame you.

    There are snake-infested thickets in the Burmese jungle with more appeal than Saudi Arabia.

  17. #17
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    I had a lay-over in Abu Dhabi, the view from the plane was similar, just sand all around. I found it depressing. Made me appreciate the greens & blues of my country.

    Thanx for the pics. I hope there are some dude pics for patsy & me later on.

  18. #18
    Dislocated Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by somtamslap View Post
    Doesn't sound like you're long for the sandpit, though, and for that I wouldn't blame you.
    It's a challenge that's for sure, with the needle on the love-hate meter swinging wildly... but isn't that part of many an expat posting..? I'm finding solace in flange and the philosophy of the sagacious and ever salacious Ms Crow.. It's not having what you want, but wanting what you've got.

    The break to Croatia really did the trick though... onward and upward.!

    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    Thanx for the pics. I hope there are some dude pics for patsy & me later on.
    I took some pics especially for you both as you will see... you like men in uniform right..?
    Last edited by Neo; 16-07-2016 at 04:29 PM.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23
    I hope there are some dude pics for patsy & me later on.
    Quote Originally Posted by Neo
    I took some
    Quote Originally Posted by Neo
    men in uniform
    Shifter!

  20. #20
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    Day two and after an early morning swim and some breakfast I went into Split for a walk about. Split is Croatia's second largest city, (it's really not that big at all) and important strategically throughout the centuries, and today the main port and gateway for the ferries servicing the Dalmatian islands.



    The town centers around the Diocletian's Palace, erected by the Roman emperor in the 4th century, (2,400 years ago) a large walled off enclosure that contains a maze of alleyways and buildings, full of restaurants and photo opportunities. I don't really know the history of most of what I was looking at.. so just pictures and few comments. There's more info on Split here if you want it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split,_Croatia

    I found Split to be a very clean and safe environment, even walking about at night I didn't feel at risk of getting mugged at any point... and the quality of food and level of service was excellent, as would be expected of a well oiled tourist destination. The same could be said of my entire stay, although one downside for me was that my visit was in the school holiday period and I felt like it was just way too crowded at times... the next time I visit I think it will be when the school holidays are over and the the centres a little less crowded to really enjoy the atmosphere and the history at a more leisurely pace.

  21. #21
    Dislocated Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by katie23
    I hope there are some dude pics for patsy & me later on.
    Quote Originally Posted by Neo
    I took some
    Quote Originally Posted by Neo
    men in uniform
    Shifter!
    I looked high and low for some goats for you cos I didn't want you to feel left out... but I think the bears and the wolves must have eaten them all. Don't go wandering off into the Croatian mountains in search of your cloven footed friends there Betty... you may not come back

  22. #22
    Dislocated Member
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    Split.







    This is Gregory of Nin... if you touch his toe it means you will return to Split one day... so I'll certainly be going back.





    The walls of the Diocletian's Palace





    A pair of indolent young Legionaries masquerading as university students by the gate



    They soon smartened up when I mentioned that the picture was for Katie and Pats



    But got quite defensive when I asked them where they keep their goats



    A handful of Kuna and promises that I was only asking on behalf of friend soon calmed their hostility though









    This is the cathedral of Saint Domnius










    a spot of lunch in one of the many cafe terraces







    and a stroll to walk it off











    on to the waterfront







    then back through the town





    and up the cathedral tower to take in the view
















  23. #23
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    Then back to Znjan beach over the road from the apartment for a few more beers in one of the bars before a siesta













    Last edited by Neo; 16-07-2016 at 05:37 PM.

  24. #24
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    This thread has now much improved. Nice pictures, Neo.

    However, only you (and maybe KiwiNick) could go to Croatia and get more pics of men than women - shifter... Looks like a nice place to visit.

  25. #25
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    before heading back into Split in the evening...






















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