Tag Archives: Vodice

Croatia / Bosnia – Vodice / Dubrovnik Day 13

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We left our hotel in Vodice around 10:30am and headed to Dubrovnik Airport (to drop off our rental car)

Really the only areas of interest along the way during the drive was the gas station stopped (to get some supplies, refuel, and throw things away), and crossing Bosnia. (Also the trip did affirm that Croatia’s highway system is pretty modern, but with a lot of tolls (the inner city roads however are a different story, since they are all small and tight).

Crossing Bosnia was really easy (we gave them our passport, and they didn’t even look at all 3 or scan them). It was a 9 minute drive to Bosnia, so super short. Going back to Croatia, they did check and scan all our passports.

After the border, it was about an hour till the airport. At the airport, when returning of our rental car to XL rental cars, we did have a bit of bad luck (guess because was Friday the 13th). There was two slight scratches on the hood of the car, which cost $400 USD (we really don’t know how they got there). Hopefully Chase Sapphire reserve will be able to cover it.

We then took an Uber to our AirBnb (what had crossed our minds is to take a ferry from a close city called Cavtat to Dubvrovnik, but decided against it since the port is far from the AirBnb).

We got to our Airbnb in 20 minutes, and then got some food at a place our host recommended called Belvedere. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/15/belvedere/

After dinner, got to the AirBnb, and I actually booked a separate hotel (for logistical reasons). Booked Arch B&B (super close to the AirBnb), but they then moved my reservation to Studenski Dom (a really awesome new dorm). It was great, from the newness, to no mosquitos, to the free breakfast. The only thing I did have to do is ask them to allow me to have the AC be able to set at a lower temperature (lowest was initially locked to 28 degrees Celsius!).

I did ask the receptionist at the AirBnb what club he recommends to go to. He said Revelin. I looked it up, and I was convinced (they do bring in famous DJs like Tiesto, and the website said it was in a castle).

Revelin is in the old town (which makes sense since it’s on/in a castle). The Uber ride was 12 minutes. The DJ did not disappoint (some refreshing progressive house and deep house). Great way to end the night.

Croatia – Plitvice Lakes / Vodice Day – 12

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We woke up at 8:30am to get to the Plitvice Lakes park entrance for 9pm (got there at 9:30ish). There are two entrance (we went to entrance 1 as it was closer to our AirBnb). It’s suggested to get tickets ahead of time online (the ticket line was really long).

We decided to do the “hardest” advertised hike (Hike K). All trails advertises it as moderate. Note that you have cell reception throughout the park so you can use All Trails pretty easily).

The park itself is really well maintained (lots of wooden and stone paved trails). As well as lots of places to get food, coffee, ice cream and restrooms. (Although we ended up packing everything for a traditional hikes like wraps, water, beef jerky, etc).

During the hike, we did end up going a bit off the K trail into a harder (less scenic route) called ST1. But we got back on it (the ST1 is more intense but less scenic).

The hike has a bunch of different sized waterfalls, as well as intermittent streams (difference between intermittent and active is that intermittent only happens some times during the year).

The large waterfall that is the most famous at Plitvice lakes is called Veliki Slap (literally means Large Waterfall.

As a side note, there is one part of the hike you have to use a boat (which is provided) to cross the lake.

It took us about 4.5 hours to complete the hike. Here is the Strava link: https://strava.app.link/76shb33JGib

After the hike, we went to the pharmacy to get some supplies.

Because of some unforeseen circumstances, we then decided to go to Vodice and get a hotel. (We stopped by Zadar Airport so I could get my official COVID test for the states). We got to Vodice around 9pm.

To end the night, we got got food at Konoba Porat. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/13/konoba-porat/

Some notes about Vodice is that it’s mainly a beach town, and seems quite “residential”. Definitely a different feel from Split, Hvar and Plitvice Lakes.