CROATIA
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Moderator: Ken
CROATIA
by Kattaddorra » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:47 amLooking forward to seeing your photos Ken, we miss you! Katt 
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CROATIA
by Ken » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:00 pmWell thank you kind lady ! 
Our caravan accomodation in the outback was "quaint" with plenty of natural fresh air-conditioning and some lovely greenery !!
However,the night life was a bit wild --- so we moved to a hotel. I couldnt quite understand the local lingo & thought I must be mistaken when the landlord said something like minus 3 star ??
Ken.
Our caravan accomodation in the outback was "quaint" with plenty of natural fresh air-conditioning and some lovely greenery !!However,the night life was a bit wild --- so we moved to a hotel. I couldnt quite understand the local lingo & thought I must be mistaken when the landlord said something like minus 3 star ??
Ken.
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by Kattaddorra » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:31 pm
good ones Ken I'd have stayed in the caravan it looks positively luxurious against that -3 star hotel Katt- Kattaddorra
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by Giddion » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:39 pmhahaha ...builders from hell. Youre right ... I`d have stayed in the caravan also..
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by Ken » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:30 amWe start off in Slovenia. I took this pic in one of the world`s biggest cave systems :-
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by Catweasle » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:34 amKens still in England,the caravans and pub are both at Redcar He borrowed the props from the film Atonement and he's visited Mother Shiptons cave and had the films c.g. boys enhance the picture l.ol.
Last edited by Catweasle on Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by Ken » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:37 am Nice one Catweasel ! This stalagmite is 20 ft high and known as "The Brilliant" :-
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by Ken » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:27 pmThe journey into the caves is quite an experience in itself. You hurtle along on a little railway at quite a rate of knots for almost half an hour before reaching the most spectacular parts. Here`s one I took from deep within :-
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by Ken » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:47 pmThis next one will probably give the game away as these caves are the only place in the world where this creature , Proteus , exists naturally :-
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by Benny » Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:07 pmThis stalagmite is 20 ft high and known as "The Brilliant"
That gave the game away for me, it's Slovenia. A beautiful, under-valued destination. Good choice, Ken.
That gave the game away for me, it's Slovenia. A beautiful, under-valued destination. Good choice, Ken.
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by Ken » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:32 pmSo true , Benny. Contrary to popular belief , the famous breed of Lipizzana horse originates from Slovenia & the original stud farm still exists there --- at the little village of Lipicia ( hence the name ). These horses are incredible for their diligent footwork :-
However, I can`t say I approve of the way in which the stallions are kept boxed up all day --- even on such a lovely warm sunny day as today :-
Ken.
However, I can`t say I approve of the way in which the stallions are kept boxed up all day --- even on such a lovely warm sunny day as today :-
Ken.
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by DoctorBeaker » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:14 amKen wrote:these caves are the only place in the world where this creature , Proteus , exists naturally :-Ken.
I was just thinking about asking you if there were any live creatures in the cave Ken when I got to the next post and saw those little chaps. I was wondering if is it true, as I thought I remembered, thay have no eyes as they wouldn't see anything anyway with living in constant darkness,and that they have no real colour either so I've been browsing a bit and reading up, they're such interesting little things! There's some pictures and videos on here
http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/amphi ... s_anguinus
Showing them in water but they're using their little arms and legs to walk on, as far as I can make out from my reading these little fellows are where we might all have evolved from! It IS true they have no real eyes or colour but when they have been moved from their natural environment they have grown rudimentary, though useless, eyes and their skin colour changed. I'd say leave them be, in their natural environment.
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by Ken » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:05 amThanks Doctorbeaker. I couldn`t agree more. That`s why I deliberately used the words " .... exists naturally" , because some have been transferred from these Postojna caves in an attempt to introduce them elsewhere. As you say "leave them be in their natural environment".
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by Ken » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:42 amWell -- moving on now to another part of this ex-soviet eastern bloc country. If anyone`s interested in doing a more detailed "virtual tour" of these countries , join Michael Palin every Sunday evening at 9 pm on BBC 1. Before leaving Slovenia it would be amiss not to post a picture of one of its most beautiful areas in the Julian Alps. Here is the lovely little island in the middle of Lake Bled :-
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by Firefly » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:44 amKen wrote: join Michael Palin every Sunday evening at 9 pm on BBC 1.
Yes. i`ve been watching this series and its very good. if you miss any its on again on Satuerdays at 8.30pm on BBC2. Your photos are brilliant Ken. You should get a job with Michael Pallin !
Cant wait for next lot of you travels. Babs.
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by Black Knight » Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:54 pmCouldn`t agree more Firefly. both the Palin series and Ken`s pics are excellent. Lets have a bit more about the peoples of these countries Ken. B.K.
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by Ken » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:48 amO.K. When I get a bit more time , B.K.. Moved on to another country now. Here`s the view from my hotel overlooking the Adriatic :-
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by Giddion » Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:49 pmVery nice ken.......your scenery photos are very good, buddy...would make nice backgrounds for the things i do Have you somewhere as to were i can go to have a peek at some of your scenery shots m8..... ?
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by Ken » Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:21 amCheers Giddion. No -- I don`t have a website but feel free to use any of my pics you see on here. Also if you`d like a DVD of the originals ( at 2048 x 1536 resolution ) , let me know & I`ll send you one. Here`s one of the beautiful little town of Novigrad where I stayed :-
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by Ken » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:42 pmYup. Croatia is still recovering from the Serb/Bosnia fighting but it is a most beautiful country. Istria is probably the nicest part. Its quiet , the people are so nice and the coastline is stunning. Rovinj is acclaimed as being the prime resort but having visited Umag, Porec, Vsar, Rovinj & Novigrad , I rate Novigrad the nicest by far. Here are a few pics of this lovely little compact city :-
You can relax here with the Adriatic lapping at your feet & watch the wide variety of fish swimming by :-
Its still warm even at 11pm.
Ken.
You can relax here with the Adriatic lapping at your feet & watch the wide variety of fish swimming by :-
Its still warm even at 11pm.
Ken.
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by Ken » Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:38 pmBlack Knight wrote:Couldn`t agree more Firefly. both the Palin series and Ken`s pics are excellent. Lets have a bit more about the peoples of these countries Ken. B.K.
Sorry B.K. Forgot this one. I cant comment much on the Slovenians as I didn`t meet many but those I did I found rather surly. Slovenia also got off rather lightly in the recent wars. Although they were one of the main independence instigators , their part in the war lasted only 10 days, after which they were able to continue to develope. Croatia`s fate wasn`t as fortunate however & the wars have really set them back. They are a relatively poor country but the Croatians are lovely people -- so freindly & helpful. It also doesn`t surprise me that they top our European Football group. Every village you pass through , you`ll see kids being coached from an early age & local games being played alongside. Every school has football coaching as an essential part of the corriculum :-
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by Ken » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:55 amThis is the pretty little town of Rovinj which was a pleasant boat ride away further down the Adriatic coast :-
-- with its quaint cobbled streets :-
Ken.
-- with its quaint cobbled streets :-
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by Ken » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:25 amWe also saw some local dancers :-
--- and some daring divers :-
Ken.
--- and some daring divers :-
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by Ken » Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:21 pmA couple more of Novigrad coming up & then I`ll dump this one into "Photographs" as well.
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by Ken » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:38 pmOf all the many places we visited in Croatia , Novigrad was my favourite. A very compact , friendly little city with quiet quaint streets :-
& yet you could wander through them & still discover a new one even after several days.
Ken.
& yet you could wander through them & still discover a new one even after several days.
Ken.
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by Ken » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:53 pmYou have to feel sorry for most of the Croatian farmers & wine producers. Some of their smallholdings aren`t much bigger than my rear garden & their agricultural equipment is way behind the times. However , they produce some lovely wine at a ridiculous price. A decent bottle at a local supermarket will set you back a pound but you can take your own container to the local vat & get a nice wine for about 40p a litre :-
And my final Croatian pic of the centre of my favourite little city of all time --- NOVIGRAD :-
I only hope Flyglobespan retain their flights from Teesside to Pula. Of all the places I`ve travelled to , Novigrad is the one I`d like most to revisit. If anyone else is thinking of going , drop a line to the Epoca agency there at :- tz-novigrad@pu.t-com.hr They are so helpful AND we now have a Shildon.net member there ( Luana).
Ken.
And my final Croatian pic of the centre of my favourite little city of all time --- NOVIGRAD :-
I only hope Flyglobespan retain their flights from Teesside to Pula. Of all the places I`ve travelled to , Novigrad is the one I`d like most to revisit. If anyone else is thinking of going , drop a line to the Epoca agency there at :- tz-novigrad@pu.t-com.hr They are so helpful AND we now have a Shildon.net member there ( Luana).
Ken.
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by Ken » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:46 pmP.S. Epoca`s website is :- http://www.epocaimmobilie.com/novo/index.asp?j=eng
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by Phil » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:53 pmDid you see any campsites in Novigrad for caravaners, Ken? The link you posted seem to be more for accommodation than camping?
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by Ken » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:26 amIts actually a caravaner`s dream , Phil. The trees along much of the coast of Istria stretch right down to the sea and many miles of this coastline is designated for caravans. Most are on the edge of the beach but because of the surrounding trees , you dont notice them till you`re close up. One of the best sites in fact is at the southern tip of Novigrad. There was an article recently by holiday critic,Philippa Braidwood,in the Mail on Sunday , in which she describes this as "The New Tuscany" and one of the best sites in the world. I`ll scan & send you it.
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by Daffy » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:06 amKen can I be cheeky and ask that you send me the article as well, it looks so interesting I would love to go there touring, Daffy
Ps thanks once again for the wonderful photos and tales from all of your trips.
Ps thanks once again for the wonderful photos and tales from all of your trips.
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by Ken » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:02 pmCertainly. No problem. I`ve already scanned it for Phil so I`ll e-mail it to you now.
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Re: CROATIA
by Ken » Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:33 pmMostar bridge , courtesy of Alan Thomson :-
and how Alan saw it earlier this year :-
Alan wrote :- "This is the famous Mostar bridge, now a World Monument, rebuilt after the war. Our guide, who was of the Catholic faith said that the bridge had been demolished by them during the war to stop supplies getting to the enemy, but because they have destroyed it, they had to repay to rebuild it. Apparently you could pay one of the locals to jump from the apex of the bridge, into the river below! I don't know what it is built with, but it was very slippery to walk on, and quite a steep angle. It is a beautiful structure though."
"The tall building behind is the local church, rebuilt, and I believe that this is part of that organisation. What ever somewhat different condition to the previous."
Ken.
and how Alan saw it earlier this year :-
Alan wrote :- "This is the famous Mostar bridge, now a World Monument, rebuilt after the war. Our guide, who was of the Catholic faith said that the bridge had been demolished by them during the war to stop supplies getting to the enemy, but because they have destroyed it, they had to repay to rebuild it. Apparently you could pay one of the locals to jump from the apex of the bridge, into the river below! I don't know what it is built with, but it was very slippery to walk on, and quite a steep angle. It is a beautiful structure though."
"The tall building behind is the local church, rebuilt, and I believe that this is part of that organisation. What ever somewhat different condition to the previous."
Ken.
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Re: CROATIA
by Ken » Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:42 pmAlso from Alan :- "This is Dubrovnik, the Old Town. We had a walk around the "Town Walls", boy did we need oxygen just to walk the steps up to the the top of the wall. The roofs of most of the buildings are a beautiful orange (to me) and the views out to the sea are enjoyable. Mind the proximity of the buildings to each other would be worrying in the event of fire."
and he comments :- "This is a lovely colour" :-
and he comments :- "This is a lovely colour" :-
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