Day 2 and 3: Sept 17-18, 2018

We arrive midday in Plitvike Lakes, a famous national parc and check in our villa. We drive back to have lunch towards a small town but come across the Baca Caves and decide that we should explore them. We have lunch at a nearby local restaurant…vegetarian options are few and far between here but we make do…Chuck really likes the local beer 🙂

Back at the cave, we are joined by a group of Germans and some Brits. The guide takes us up to the higher cave opened to the public. Temperature inside the caves is always 9C no matter the season and humidity 100%. Two types of bats live in the cave and we spot some right away shortly after entering.

She explains that archeologists have found mementoes proving life in the medieval times as well as animal remains from 20,000 years ago…yes no typo, back in the ice age. They have unearthed the squeleton of a cave bear that would have been more than 3 metres high and weighing over 700 tonnes. Bigger than the grizzlies and the polar bears. The have also found cave lions and a cousins to rhinoceros in those caves.

The scenery is spectacular and she turns the lights off at some point to show what complete darkness actually means….the perfect representation of pitch dark….

Chuck and i LOVE our helmets! Especially since I hit my head….

Back at the villa for a dinner onsite and off to bed for the big hiking day tomorrow.

The next day begins earlyish at 8:30 and we get to the park ready to board bus at 9:30AM. We decide tp start with the lower lakes loop per the recommandation of Ivy at the villa. We are swamped by large groups of tourist, mostly from Asia….it is a selfy party!!!

This park is mainly about the waterfall and the turquoise water. The lower lakes do not disappoint although we find a striking ressemblance to lakes in the Ontario and Quebec cottage country.

At the end of the hike, we get to the boat pick up that will bring us back to mid point.

We then begin the hike up the hill and the highlight of the day…what I called the ’circular waterfalls’. For many minutes, we walk and are able to see this combination of falls from several different angles.

We continue upwards to the top and after a short break, we decide to forgo the bus ride down and instead, we walk back to the bottom. All in all, my app is indicating 18,000 steps, 12 km and most importantly, 47 floors!!! That is some elevation. Feet and knee survive very well which is great!

We make it back to the hotel for a well deserved shower and beer. A great day.

I feel that the recommandation we found online to take a 2-day pass for the park is completely unnecessary. A brisk walk for 4-5 hours will do the trick. Glad we chose to only stay one day.

Off to the coast tomorrow…can’t wait!