To our group, the Scaletti Hotel was much more like a friendly B&B and when we had to leave in the morning after a lovely breakfast it was like saying farewell to family friends.
The weather was not looking settled so to avoid getting wet we quickly walked the 500m to the bus depot nearby to await the 10:00 bus to Karlovac.
Soon after it arrived and we were on our way it started pouring and it rained continuously for the next three hours. The road we followed with its numerous tunnels was almost the same one we’d travelled upon a week ago although it was now exceedingly wet and enshrouded in cloud whereas previously our path had been sunny and hot. The other noticeable change was that the forests were much more obvious in their yellow, orange and bronze autumn colours than they’d been nine day’s ago.
Road between Pula & Karlovac
Tunnel between Pula & Karlovac
On arrival at Karlovac we found ourselves abandoned at an old and unclean bus depot with two hours to fill in before our next bus. We found a café bar within the bus precinct and sat outside under awnings where there wasn’t too much cigarette smoke and waited for our next bus through to the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
The bus duly arrived at the appointed hour and in cloudy and occasionally sunny conditions we left the dreary and dismal town of Karlovac and headed south towards Plitvice.
The road we followed passed through small farming villages and then dense forest areas with the terrain becoming steeper the further we travelled. After skirting along the edge of some deep valleys below we finally reached our terminus and we were pleased to find Zoran awaiting our arrival at the bus stop. He and his associate then transported us some 10km to our accommodation at Villa Plitvice lodge. The units we are in are new and delightfully warm, comfortable and clean.
There is a small family operated restaurant just 50m over the back lawn from our units and this is where we ventured for pre-dinner drinks and dinner. The friendly proprietor plied us with slivovitz and enormous amounts of delicious food including trout and other local delicacies. A most enjoyable evening was had by all despite the dramatic change in weather we’d all experienced during the past few days. We were now wearing jumpers and long trousers for the first time since leaving Australia.
Garden at Villa Plitvice
Pre dinner drinks at restaurant, Plitvice Lakes
Tomorrow if the weather is kind to us we will explore this beautiful lake region with its glorious forests and numerous waterfalls. Its fame as a region of natural beauty has us excited with expectation.