Plitvice Lakes to Opatija

Opatija
                                                                                                                                                             Hotel Reminsens
Sunny and hot

We left the quiet and stunning scenery of the national park to make our way one episode again to the Adriatic Coast.  We passed Swiss like chalets with their steeped roofs to accommodate the snow in the extreme cold of minus twenty five degrees.

 The homes and restaurants are very reminiscent of Swiss chalets including baskets of geraniums.

Our accommodation....very quaint with wooden panelled interiors.

We wended our way down the mountain on a very narrow road.  The bus and cars played manoeuvring games reversing and pulling aside with a very steep drop over the side.  Once again we had to alight the bus and walk across the wooden bridge that had a weight limit.

     

Sitting with the delightful village of Rastoke in the background.

Every little turn is a photo opportunity.

Plenty of wood for winter!

We had our first stop at Rastoke in the Slunji area which is known for its water-powered mechanical mills and its very picturesque setting.  Tickets had to be purchased to enter the village and we wandered passed houses bridging many rushing streams.  A quick visit to miller’s house showed the corn being ground using the water technology. The first mill dates back to the 17th century.

We then continued to the seaside resort of Opatija which became well known during thee 19th century as part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.  Much of the architecture in the town’s street reflects the timeframe of the popularity of this area.

Many buildings reflect the 18th century architecture. 

The view from our room.

Walking the promenade in the late afternoon sunshine.

An afternoon stroll along the lower street and promenade brought us by many restaurants, beaches and stall holders.  Buying ice dream was popular on this hot day.

After finding the recommended restaurant booked out for the evening we settled on a few drinks with our guide and then wandered over to a waterfront restaurant and enjoyed an Asian meal of prawns and noodles.  

Tomorrow is going to be a big day as the tour takes us exploring the Istrian Peninsula.