Road trips

V seems keen to try a foreign GP next year, having thoroughly enjoyed a
trip to Donington Park. She is, after all, unique in many ways. Even the
food didn't kill her.

I'm trying to make it interesting, maybe as part of a two week trip.
London - Italy - Croatia - Brno - Home, possibly via the Alps on the way
out and sunny Belgium on the way back. That kind of thing. Naturally,
this would be in the car. So, anyone know any good bits of Croatia worth
a visit?

 

One has to walk away from a feed line that obvious

 

Yes

Istrian Peninsula has nice mountains, Roman history, decent Adriatic resorts.
I stayed in Opatija in a 4* hotel overlooking a harbour.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...d_Hotel_Opatijska_Cvijeta-Opatija_Istria.html
That was in 2005 and it was good then.

In the centre of the country is the Plitvik National Park. It is quite a sight
and I would recommend spending half a day or more there.

That was the furthest south I went.

Away from the coast the villages are still quite undeveloped. I saw 3 generations
of families harvesting vegetables by hand in the fields and the roads are often
dirt or gravel. There is still a lot of evidence of the war away from the
touristy bits.

Rijeka stinks due to traffic pollution and the refinery.

The well to do natives that parade in the swish coastal resorts are stunningly
gorgeous. Largely, the people are very friendly. They seem to be glad that the
war ended and that tourists have returned. They are very keen to join the EU.

It gets very hot. One of the nicest experiences was riding from the coast at
Pula into a thunderstorm in the mountains. By the time I had descended back
to the coast at Opatija I had dried out again. Jeans & trainers of course, none
of this ATGATT shit.

 

AOL. I went there a few years before and that was one place that I
really enjoyed.

It's a beautiful place but when we went there it was an awful rip-off
with a bunch of very annoying people running the hotels.

 

I've only been to Split and the islands of Brac[1] and Hvar. Split seemed
nice enough for a large town. The islands though are very nice, with
sleepy little towns, great countryside and views etc. The sea is nice and
warm and the people are friendly.

I'd also recommend Slovenia. Stunning roads and views up through the
mountains and some fabulous local wines too.

[1] the 'c' should have caron, but Xnews won't help. It's pronounced
'Bratch'