As we said at the end of our last blog update we are now in Croatia after a 2 night stopover in Ankaran, right down in the South West corner of Slovenia. Once again it was weird crossing the border from Italy into Slovenia, but especially as it was totally new territory for us with another language, different road systems and also because it’s not your typical tourist destination for most. The weather wasn’t great either with grey skies and low cloud and a chilly 17-20 degrees but we found our campsite right next to the sea and got settled (you may have noticed that everywhere we go is near water!!) but it felt really strange. The next day we planned to visit some local caves but overnight the heavens opened and it didn’t stop raining, torrential at that, all night, and all day the next day, it felt like being back at home on a Winters day, we even had to put the heating on in the van, the first time in months!!! We spent all day in the van but it wasn’t wasted as we spent the day researching sites in Croatia, catching up with our diary and typing up the blog and then watched a film. It was a real shame as we did want to go out and see what Slovenia had to offer but it wasn’t to be. We took a couple of pictures but it was so grey and overcast.
We left Slovenia heading for the Croatian border which wasn’t far at all and our first site was to be at Rovinj on the West coast and only a 55 mile drive from Slovenia, great we thought, we’d be all settled in and set up by lunchtime, how wrong could we be!! We arrived at our first site, Camping Colone, and after checking in and being given our pitch we spotted a camper van wash area so decided to give the van a jet wash off as the roads on route had been wet after early rain and the rusty red soil of Croatia had made it’s mark on our shiny clean van. All washed off and sparkly clean again we headed for our pitch along a tarmac road which must have been a good half a mile from reception, we then turned down the stone track towards our pitch which looked a bit overgrown with a mixture of grass & rusty coloured mud which didn’t look too bad so I proceeded with caution but this still resulted in me coming to an abrupt halt in the mud half on and half off the pitch. As with any campsite anywhere you go a new arrival like us always brings out the locals to judge your manoeuvring/pitching skills so with that and not to be beaten by the mud and not to look like complete novices out came our two tried and tested bristle door mats which I put under the front wheels and with Julie pushing at the back I eventually got the van back on terra firma at the far end of the pitch, thankfully with nods of approval from the locals!!! Now all I had to do was reverse it back off using the same technique which was surprisingly uneventful too and find a more suitable mud free pitch. So with the van back on the stone track we rang reception (as it was so far away) and asked if they had any other pitches but they weren’t that helpful and after looking around most of the other pitches were the same so we decided to find another site but before we collected our documents, yep you’ve guessed it, it was back on the camper wash to get the mud off that we had just plastered the van with!!! First impressions of Slovenia & Croatia were not brilliant but we knew it could only get better.
We usually have a contingency plan and there was another site about 5 miles up the road so we set off to Camping Polari, what a difference, a large site but no mud in sight so after walking and then cycling around (it was that big) to find a pitch we finally got ourselves set up and settled, so much for a little 55 mile drive, we were both exhausted and it was now late afternoon so we had a late lunch, a well earned beer and a walk down to the beach before dinner and a glass of wine. We would go exploring tomorrow.
The site was only a few kilometres south of Rovinj and there was a beautiful cycle path from the site along the coast all the way with some stunning scenery along the way, our first proper glimpse of Croatia and it’s many Islands, there are over 1,000 Islands some inhabited and some not. We followed the cycle path through the pine trees along the rocky coast next to the crystal clear waters until we reached Rovinj a lovely little fishing village with the Church of St Euphemia up on the hill looking down over the village and harbour. The sun was shining again so we stopped in a local bar overlooking the harbour for a large beer before heading back to camp.
The pebble beach at the campsite was opposite a couple of small uninhabited islands so we wanted to have a paddle board but it was a bit breezy when we went but it was nice to get out on the Adriatic sea and it’s clear waters, again new territory for us but I am sure there is better to come the further South we head. Usually we find a friendly campsite cat but since we were in Barcelona and mentioned “Campsite Cat” for our weekly blog we haven’t seen any but at this campsite we did gain a pet, Sid, a huge seagull of all things!!!
After 3 nights we left Rovinj and Camping Polari and drove the 30 odd miles further South past Pula and it’s Roman Amphitheatre to Premantura at the very tip but the campsite was very unlevel and on very rough rocky terrain so after a quick look round we decided to head round to Camping Pomer a few miles away which was beautiful and we bagged a lovely pitch overlooking the Adriatic and it’s beautiful sunsets.
From here we went to Pula and found the Roman Amphitheatre constructed in 27BC to 68AD which was quite amazing and is the only remaining one to have four side towers with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved and is among the sixth largest surviving Roman arenas in the world, a rare example of the 200 Roman surviving amphitheatres. It is built from limestone on the side of natural hillside and has three storeys on one side and two on the other and in it’s day seated 23,000, hard to believe what it would have been like.
We had a day out exploring the surrounding area including Medulin before heading off up the East Coast towards to the Island of Krk, one of the most Northern, largest and most visited islands in the Adriactic and only one of a few reached by an accessible mile long (toll) bridge. On route we went along the main coast road and got some fantastic views of the what Croatia and it’s many islands has to offer.
We arrived at Njivice on the Island of Krk to a lovely campsite, Camping Njivice which must have been refurbished fairly recently and for a change the touring section is excellent (not a scruffy seasonal pitch in sight) with a lovely new shower block and large pitches under old oak trees with small rustic rock walls separating the pitches. There is a great footpath next to the waters edge that takes you out of the site and into Njivice itself which has small bars/restaurants and a small marina, it’s a great location.
We have been walking, cycling, paddle boarding, swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, quite scary on the paddle boards as when you look down it's just like a window to the bottom of the sea.
Oh and no seagulls here, look what Julie found, a "Campsite Cat" for you!!
Croatia is starting to tick all the boxes and as we have said apparently it gets even better the further South you head. Next stop is the Plitvicka National Park which we are told is beautiful so look out for our next blog.
That's all folks.
J&J
x
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