Europe 2025 Day 11 Plitvice Lakes National Park

We were happy to find out that today was the last day with reduced off-season pricing. 

June 1st (tomorrow) and the prices would almost double. The amount of tourists in the park was already wall to wall on our visit with all of the tour groups. I can’t imagine what it would be like on a full capacity day. 

We followed Lucy’s recommendations for seeing the park most of the day starting at Station 1 where we walked to the Big Waterfall. 

The raised wooden paths were filled with people and if you got behind a tour group, you just had to hope they would pull off to the side at some point. The lower lakes were filled with one waterfall after another. 

We followed the path until we finally saw the big waterfall from the ground. It was one of the waterfalls we saw from the overlook last night. 

After seeing the lower lakes and waterfalls, we took the train/tram from Station 1 to Station 3 at the top of the Upper Lakes. This was going against the tourist traffic according to Lucy and would allow us to encounter the least amount of crowds. 

We started from Station 3 and walked to our first viewpoint. It was a bit of an elevation gain, so not traveled by quite as many tourists. 

We followed the path to P2 and got in the huge line for the ferry to P3. This is where we should have followed Lucy’s advice and walk to P3 around the lake from P2. As luck would have it, we waited in line for the ferry to P3, eating our packed lunch along the way, and then walked back to P2. 

When we got back to P2, the line was at least half a mile long. We texted Lucy and asked her best advice. She suggested we go to Station 2 and get the train there instead of taking the ferry. We didn’t realize that would be an extra mile and half! 

It was a 12 mile day of walking. But so beautiful. Well worth our time to visit.

Graduation Photo Shoot for Amy

Amy’s new shoes arrived just in time for her graduation photo shoot on Saturday evening. She rented someone’s gown, shawl and cap and then found a newbie photographer willing to take her photos for her for a good price. 

The photos are lovely and show Amy’s excitement with being graduated. (And she was plenty happy that she didn't walk in the graduation ceremony.)

Unboxing the Louboutins

While Chris and I were on an evening walk in Plitvice, Croatia, Amy texted that her Louboutin’s had arrived. We FaceTimed with her for the great unboxing. 

She was giddy with excitement.

Europe 2025 Day 10 Rab to Plitvica

Our last day on Rab island. We found a short hike that led from one beach to another, Suma Punta in Kampor. Can’t complain about that! The color of the water in Croatia was simply amazing.

We stayed at the beach until 2 pm and then drove to the Otok Misnjak Ferry on the other side of the island. 

It took us to Lika Senj and from there we drove to our next destination at Plitvice Lakes National Park. 

We found this amazing bed and breakfast called Plitvica River House run by Lucy and Ante with their young children Matteo and Maria. They were all so welcoming and friendly. 

We arrived just before the dinner hour which gave me time to shower first. Dinner was prepared by Ante who worked for 20 years on Celebrity cruise lines and was their head food and beverage manager. 

We weren’t disappointed in our dinner. 

Lucy gave us directions to an overlook above the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It was dusk but we decided to walk the 15 minutes to the overlook. Wow. So amazing.

We were excited for our day in the park tomorrow.

Misha's Duolingo Streak

Misha has been learning French on the Duolingo App for over 700 days. She may not think she is fluent, but I bet she could hold her own in France if given the opportunity.

Misha Job Applications

Misha has been applying for marketing jobs in and around Denver. It is a non-stop process until she finds something that meets her potential and career interests.

Europe 2025 Day 9 Rab Island

Old Town Rab was lovely. If we hadn’t climbed the stairs beyond the waterfront, we would have never known the Old Town was there. 

Old Town juts out as a peninsula. We walked through the town and the down along the other side of the peninsula. The path wound around until we ended back at our hotel. 

We drove to the beach again and enjoyed our day. After dinner, we walked around to the other side of the harbor. 

The sunset was spectacular.

Europe 2025 Day 8 Rab Island

Our next few days on Rab Island were rather relaxed. 

We found a beautiful beach and spent the day relaxing and enjoying lunch at a quaint cafe. 

After dinner at the hotel, we went for another walk and decided to follow stairs behind the waterfront cafes. 

The town was enchanting and without tourists. We decided to return in the morning so that we could wander the Old Town in daylight.

Europe 2025 Day 7 Pula to Rab, Croatia

We had a late checkout this morning and sat by the beach before leaving Rovinj. We would definitely love to return. 

Our destination today was a small island called Rab. It was recommended to Chris by one of his co-workers who grew up in Croatia. 

We stopped at Pula first. The most mesmerizing feature of Pula was the Roman amphitheater. 

We found parking and then captured some photos of the coliseum before looking for more of the Old Town. It wasn’t too spectacular from what we could find. 

We walked around a castle and then had to get on the road to catch our ferry in time. Good thing we left when we did, there was a huge backup in traffic and it delayed us for almost an hour. 

Chris had purchased ferry tickets in advance; we arrived at the Valbiska ferry port just in time for departure to Lopar on Rab Island. We were surprised at how gentle and calm the ferry ride was. 

We stayed at the Valamar Imperial Hotel, not realizing that Chris had booked our stay as half board—breakfast and dinner included. It was 8:30 pm and the dining room closed at 9 pm. We hurried to deposit our luggage and enjoy some dinner before the dining room closed. 

Somehow we managed to get a family room with two bathrooms and a sitting room. The counter space in the bathrooms was non-existent. One wonders what these hotel designers were thinking. 

After dinner, we walked along the harbor. It was already dark so there wasn’t too much to see, but after a day in the car, it was nice to get out and walk.

Europe 2025 Day 6 Porec and Novigrad

We had the chance to chat with Kristen around 8 am. 

Today we explored the Istria Coast and drove to Porec (pronounced Por-etch) about 45 minutes from Rovinj. 

There was a school field day close to the Old Town; we avoided the loud and screaming children playing dodgeball and walked to the Old Town. 

From Porec we drove to Novigrad which seemed to have less tourists and a quieter ambiance. The Old Town was being decorated with umbrellas. 

We enjoyed a lunch in a small cafe tucked into a corner. And of course, Chris was happy to stop at the gelateria just next door. 

We returned to Rovinj and enjoyed the warm afternoon beach the beach and then found Le Faro for dinner.