Šibenik 

Dalmatia

Croatia

May 28, 2015

Hello,

Driving south, between Zadar and Split, I stop for a coffee in the small coastal city of Šibenik.

Despite the fact that Šibenik is not even mentioned in my guidebook, I decide to take a stroll.  No matter where, there is always something of interest to discover.

Šibenik will be no exception.

Zadar

(pop 78,200)

Dalmatia

Republic of Croatia

May 28, 2015

Zadar attracts a vibrant mixture of local residents and international tourists. 

No cruise ship passengers here.  Just a lively assemblage of individual travelers, local teenagers, and moms and dads out with the kids on an ordinary yet sparkling Thursday afternoon. 

In the bright afternoon sun, everyone enjoys the sights and sounds of this historic city by the sea:

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Zadar Region

Croatia

May 27, 2015

Plitvice Lakes lies midway between Zagreb and Zadar.

A pocket guide published by the Zagreb Tourist Board, Zagreb and Surroundings posts this description of the Park:

The Plitvice Lakes National Park, a magical world of lakes, forests, waterfalls, moss, water and sunlight is a true natural monument, a unique phenomenon under the protection of UNESCO.

My guidebook has more detail:

Split

Croatia

May 30 2015

I adopt three distinct strategies to avoid the teeming hordes streaming through the streets of the Old City of Split.

The first strategy is to avoid them altogether by wandering towards the port and then up the cobbled streets and stairways to the hills above the city.   Great scenery…well worth the climb....

Hvar Island

(pop 11,200)

Adriatic Sea

Republic of Croatia

June 2, 2015

Hello,

On Hvar, the hills are alive with the sound of motor scooters.  Automobiles are impractical given the steep and narrow cobbled lanes,

I stroll down the floral-forested path from my hilltop guest house to the shoreline and the pebbled beach.

Luxury hotels replete with lagoon-sized swimming pools and spas face west to the gleaming sea.  (Thai Massage anyone?)

Kirkenes

Norway

August 15, 2015

Hello,

So I leave my hotel and take a walk around the empty streets of Kirkenes, the embarkation point for my cruise down the coast of Norway.

Weather is still mild in this Arctic town.  A lovely church.  Flower boxes adorn the homes and businesses.  Boats in the harbor.  A War Memorial.  The Second World War was particularly harsh here.

Kirkenes is only 225km (140 mi) from Murmansk, Russia.  Signs here in Cyrillic.