Family promotional week with reduced ticket prices for the Plitvice Lakes National Park, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List on 26 October 1979. He lured us to Lika again.
We visited Jezera on several occasions, but it is so beautiful that it is worth being a repeater of the material. Every step, every step, reveals a new wonder of nature.
Tickets for Entrance 1 we bought online (10,00 Eur/person), where we parked the car after 2 and a half hours drive from Kastav to Bosiljevo, and then one of the possible winding routes of equal length path Plitvice. Parking space is enough, and the price is 1,00 Eur/hour.
Upon entry, the information boards indicate the paths to move and their length. We decided to track K, the longest of the offers. Fortunately, she is not chosen by a lot of visitors, which is important for a “hitting” weekend like this one.
We must first cross the path that is common to all paths. We move cautiously and slowly. What about the crowds, and what about those who stop in the middle of the trail every so often and take photos. But despite this, we are immediately drawn into the world of natural beauty of enchanting cascades and waterfalls. Each step brings a new magnificent sight, and the power of water and the noise of waterfalls enhances the admiration and respect we show Nature.
The footpath to the Great Waterfall is being restored, so we cannot reach its foothills but enjoy watching it from above, descending from entrance 1 to the lake.
The road from the P3 rest area along the shore of Lake Kozjak all the way to the viewpoint on Veliki Prštavac is almost deserted.
It's a sunny day. We're enjoying it. Part of the route is being renewed, so we have shortened some of the planned walking. There we are in the crowd, in line at the pier P2 where we are waiting for the boat to transfer us to P1.
We have to comment on the organisation of queues at this micro location. A large number of visitors are waiting for transport from P2 to P3, and a smaller number from P2 to P1, so the queues are mixed. There is a lack of clearer instructions and instructions for visitors to place themselves in one of the rows, and not for everyone to wait in one unique one.
Bistro Kupalište is a pleasant place to take a break with beer and coffee. Unfortunately, the parasols are not on a beautiful terrace, so we hide from the sun in the interior of the buildings, and the terrace gapes empty. ⁇
Rustic Inn River
Before dinner we register in Rustic Inn River.
The facilities are located right next to the main road, not far from Entrance 2. Excellent price/quality ratio!
Restaurant Degenija
The receptionist recommended this one to us. object. Crowds in the (too)small parking lot, but also in the building. We cannot escape the bad impression of mass tourism that we do not normally associate with Lika.
Modernly decorated interior, decent space between the tables, friendly staff but something is not right here.
More than 45 minutes of waiting for a cold starter and then so much more on the main course, without hint and warning is too much. On top of that, the order was wrongly received, so one burger was waiting for an additional 15 minutes.
The food? Nothing special, nothing to remember. We did not object, but it is commendable that the staff was aware of the error, so we took free dessert as an apology. They won't see us again.
After dinner like this, we went to Local daunt where we meet a group of tourists from the far east. We buy a sweet and a bottle of wine for enjoyment with an evening TV program. ⁇
Villa Izvor
But before resting, we drive for about 20 minutes on narrow, curved, but paved roads to the remains Villas Source, once the most elite secret residence of the Marshals of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito.
Whether this building, which even in this dilapidated state causes fear, will ever get any purpose, is a question awaiting answers from the management of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, which was allegedly given to management.
Day 2 – Slunj (Rastoke) and Petrova Gora
Slunj
Check-out is followed by a visit Rastokama.
On Sundays it is not possible to visit the museum exhibition, but the newly renovated surrounding promenade for which the entrance is paid offers beautiful views of “small Plitvice”, a watermill settlement with traditional wooden houses and mills.
A break in the pleasant shade with great coffee can be found in a cafe of a peculiar name Water Sheep.
Powered by caffeine, we walked to the remains of the Frankopan fortress, then downhill to Korana and along it a kilometer or two.
Climb to the center Slunj It's not demanding.
It is adorned with a beautiful park, neat surrounding buildings and an imposing Monument to the fallen Croatian defenders and civilian victims of the Homeland War.
Lunch
Tired of walking and the heat, we are looking for a place for lunch. After some doubts, we chose Ambar Restaurant.
It is located in the immediate vicinity the Napoleonic Magazine, with a beautiful view of Rastoke.
Excellent food and craft beer, service and ambience for 5*!
Petrova Gora
On the way home, through Karlovac, we will visit it along the way the Central Partisan Hospital on Petrova gora, which was built to treat the wounded and patients from the wider Kordun area during World War II. During the war, about 5,000 people were wounded. The site is not systematically maintained, but resists the ravages of time. There is tourist potential, access roads are under construction. Even in this state, it attracts visitors.
On a small island, we also visited Monument to the uprising of the people of Banija and Kordun. Once a museum and a recreation complex, today a sad, devastated ruin. The firm structure resists time, so one gets the impression that the building could be brought to a new purpose. The view from the roof amazes. There is no shortage of visitors here.
Get us tired, Lika.
To drive home we are quiet, probably intoxicated with a cocktail of natural beauties, food, drinks, remembering the horrors of the Homeland and World War II, as well as the painful fact that this beautiful area lacks people.
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