I have been to Croatia!

Well that was rather brilliant!

In case you wondered I have been away for a week and I went to Dubrovnik in Croatia and wow what a place!

I kind of expected a grotty little town full of bomb holes but it was so much better than that. The Old part of the City is surrounded by a huge stone wall that goes right up to the sea (how they managed to build it I have no idea!) and the first thing we did was go up to walk around the walls. It was brilliant. Its a few kilometres around and took about 3 hours but by crikey what a view!

One side was mountains with scrubby bushes and rocks with the occasional building, very wild, impressive and rough in a beautiful kind of way and the other was the most stunning view of turquoise ocean (Adriatic) and fishing boats as far as you could see.

We also visited a nearby island called Lokrum (i think) which was a nature reserve and botanical garden. After a short trip on the mill pond like sea we landed in a little cove and began to trek around the paths laid through its woodland and cliff top areas. We saw so much wildlife (and not so wild) including peacocks (and hens), lizards, bats, swallows and the obligatory mosquitoes (definite proof there is no god if you ask me) and there were hundreds of species of plant and tree including massive cacti and eucalyptus.

At one point we found ourselves on the top of a sheer cliff which led to a lagoon known as the mini black sea due to its high salt content. We swam in it with the fishes all around us and yes you do float without trying!

After this we followed the path up an enormous and hugely steep hill to an old fort at the top with breathtaking views. A perfect visit was completed by a couple of local rums (yummy) at a cafe and the trip back on the boat.

Right-o more tomorrow can't describe it all at once or you will get bored!