Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia - June 2013

In June 2013, I traveled to Croatia, Slovenia, and a small bit of Bosnia-Herzegovina with CIE Tours.
These are absolutely beautiful places. They are a good example of the principle that sometimes scenery is present in foreign countries that is simply not present in the U.S. At left is typical Dalmatian coast scenery near Dubrovnik.This coastal scenery is really beautiful, in fact I cannot describe it in words really, and pictures don't quite do it justice;  one has to see it firsthand!



The tour started in Dubrovnik and followed the coastal road through Neum (Bosnia), Makarska, Split, and Trogir. Then we headed inland to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Then we went back to the coast at Senj, and then up to Opatija. From there we entered Slovenia and saw Postojna Caves, Bled, and Ljubljana in that order. The trip ended with visits to Zagreb and Kumrovec (both in Croatia).

Picture of Dubrovnik, Croatia, on final approach to the airport, which is about 12 miles south of the city. The bright orange roofs of the old town are visible just to the left of center. Dubrovnik is a lovely city.

Driving by Neum, Bosnia, which is another beautiful coastal spot. This area of Bosnia separates the main part of Croatia from its exclave where Dubrovnik is located. In traveling along the coast, one must therefore go through customs twice.It was pretty quick, though, in the case of our tour bus



                                      

This picture was taken ascending a coastal mountain with Trogir, Croatia, in the background.  Another really beautiful place.

 Waterfall in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia.

Mileage sign traveling along Slovenian freeway.

Scenery in Bled, Slovenia, one of the world's truly beautiful places. The church in the picture sits on a small island right in the middle of Lake Bled. No motorboats are allowed on the lake, so you pay a  rower to take you across. You can ring the bell of the church supposedly for good luck. There is a small hiking trail along the perimeter of the island, and a much longer one around the lake.

Myself in Bled, Slovenia....same church as is pictured
above.
















Zagreb, Croatia, has a fascinating old town. This is St. Mark's Church within the old town. The tiles on the roof were recently refurbished. The coats of arms represent, on the left, the triune kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia, and on the right, Zagreb.

Beautiful Croatian countryside just north of Zagreb and very close to the Slovenian border.The countryside in Europe always seems so quaint and historic at seemingly every turn.
 

This photo shows the specatcular mountain scenery forming the background for the resort town of Makarska on the Adriatic Sea.

Colorful buildings within the old town of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

Myself in Trogir, Croatia, within the historical city core. Trogir is an incredibly beautiful and well-preserved Romanesque-Gothic historical town located on the Adriatic.

View of Split, Croatia, from Diocletian's Palace, a historical landmark located in the heart of the city.

This house was the birthplace of Josef Tito, located in Kumrovec, Croatia, close to the Slovenian border. Tito, of course, was the ruler of the old Yugoslavia for many years.