April 2022 – The Travelling Ginger

Lokrum Island & Dubrovnik old town 🇭🇷

April 30, 2022 gingertravellerblog1 Comment

Today is our last full day, and a free day for us to do whatever we fancy. As the majority of the town was cut off this morning due to the city walls run, we decided to take a boat trip to Lokrum Island. As much as we have enjoyed exploring the hustle and bustle of old towns this week, it was nice to go back to nature and calm.

For those or you who are Game of Thrones fans, it’s an absolute must as you get to sit on the iron throne – which was gifted to them from the production team! Time on the island can be spent doing absolutely nothing apart from enjoying a cocktail and the views, or wandering around the whole place. We decided to do both! One thing to bear in mind is the only way to get around is to walk. There are no cars on the island as it is an uninhabited UNESCO protected nature reserve, although the majority is easily assessable on the well maintained paths. We decided to head to the top of the island to get views from the Fort, however this is a very steep hill and the ticker definitely knew about it! Sensible footwear really is a must for this part of the walk as the paths are rocky and uneaven, but the views are worth it. Other things to see are the botanical gardens, monastery, the ‘dead sea’ and of course, the hundreds of peacocks which roam the island.

This afternoon we headed back to the old town for our last explore around the streets. We found a lovely restaurant which served tapas, so we settled in for food and people watching. After eating we went for a walk around the outside of the walls, and spotted a dead eel in the water being gobbled up by all the other fish. I didn’t realise they were so big! We finished the day with an ice cream before heading back to the hotel to pack ready to leave tomorrow. Although tiring, it has been another incredible trip with 3 more counties ticked off the list (according to my app I’ve now done 57% Europe!) The scenery and landscapes have been beautiful and the old towns full of character and charm. Croatia is only around 2hrs away from England, so why not add it to your list of potential destinations!

Kotor & Budva 🇲🇪

April 29, 2022 gingertravellerblogLeave a comment

This morning was another super early start as we crossed another border into Montenegro. This however meant more long waits for checks, but more stamps for the passport; every cloud!

As is custom on these trips, we had a toilet stop at one of the petrol stations. Unfortunately nobody knows what a latte is in these parts! So for an energy boost we went for a fat coke and a kitkat 🍫 I was so confident that my card had worked that I took my treats and left the shop, however I was soon chased by an angry lady ushering me back into the shop as I’d clearly been a criminal and walked out without paying.

Our first stop of the day was Kotor; a medieval old town full of windy streets and busy squares. It has so much character and charm about it that I could easily spend a day here. As with all of the old towns we’ve been to, the streets are very slippery and uneaven. Unfortunately I didn’t continue the advice of good shoes and today wore a primark sandal special. This resulted in my slipping over and landing star fish on the floor. Apart from a bruised arm, jolted back and embarrassment, I’m absolutely fine!

Leaving Kotor behind we headed for our next stop; Budva. Driving in I was a bit unsure why they had brought us here, as its basically a giant building site. Luckily we were able to put the vast amount of construction behind us and head into, yep you’ve guessed it.. the old town! We managed to find a square and settle down for some lunch. We noticed something going on in the cafe on the other side, and we were soon treated to a fantastic performance from an all man band, singing all sorts from traditional songs to roll out the barrel! There was also a wedding photoshoot and lots of other tourists getting the perfect gram shots outside the church – it was the best place for a bit of people watching.

We left Montenegro and headed back to Croatia where we will spend the remainder of our trip. Luckily the driver was able to sneak us round the super large Greek group in front at the border, so it wasn’t the massive wait we had prepared ourselves for. This evening we ate in the hotel which seems to have got ridiculously busy over the last day. I was happily eating my meal when the woman on the table next to me leaned over and stole my napkin! No excuse me, no nothing. The absolutely audacity.

Dubrovnik 🇭🇷

April 28, 2022 gingertravellerblogLeave a comment

Today has been all about Dubrovnik old town. It’s known as the ‘pearl of the Adriatic’ and is popular for a reason due to it being packed with culture and history. This does however mean it’s a very busy place, especially when there are not one, but three cruise ships in!

The old town is so easy to get around and it’s full of cafes, bars and restaurants which are much needed in this heat 🥵 We started the day by tackling the city walls – a 2km loop of the old town. Although it costs around £20pp it is absolutely worth it and is one of the best ways to see the red tiled rooftops below. There is the option to finish the walls half way round, and this is great for those who struggle with lots of steps. As we worked up quite the thirst, we stopped at one of the bars for a beverage. As they only did full fat coke, we had to treat ourselves to something more fabulous, and went with a fresh OJ instead. With views of the glistening Adriatic Sea, red and orange rooftops, bustling squares, fortresses, the beautiful Island of Lokrum and of course an array of GoT film locations, it was the perfect way to start our day.

The other best way to explore is old town is just to wander up and down the narrow streets that feed off Stradun. Make sure you wear shoes with decent grip – the children playing football (in a busy square.. hooligans!) were able to celebrate their goals in style by sliding (a fair distance!) on their knees along the slippery street. There are so many shops and bars.. and cats to discover along the way.

After doing the obligatory steps of Cersei’s walk of shame (for all you GoT fans) we decided it was time for lunch, and found a lovely cafe that served the best beef and cheese sandwich I’ve ever eaten! You really are spoilt for choice for places to eat and drink.

As we love to chase a sunset, we decided this afternoon and evening would be spent on top of Srd Hill which we got to via cable car. This gives you great views over the city, but again comes at a price of £20pp for a return trip. There is the option of walking, but this felt like the best option for our tired legs. There is the option to take in the views from the platform by the cable car, however we decided to venture a bit further. After climbing up some dodgy steps and over a very uneaven path, we found the best place to watch the sun go down. It seemed to be a popular spot, but there is so much space to enjoy the beauty in front of you with all the other tourists. After catching mild hypothermia due to the temperature drop, we headed back to the old town on the cable car, and explored a bit more now it was all lit up and a lot less busy. Whether it’s day or night, the old town really is a great place to explore.

Mostar 🇧🇦

April 27, 2022 gingertravellerblogLeave a comment

Today we left our lovely hotel in Drvenik and headed over the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to the UNESCO old city of Mostar. Dressed as a giant bar code, we met our guide and had a walking tour of the town.

The cobbled streets were lined with lots of colourful shops selling all sorts from scarves, souvenirs and of course, a genuine (although incredibly obvious) fake. We walked over the iconic Stari Most bridge, which has since been rebuilt following the 90s conflicts. It is also known for people jumping off it into the river below. We were hopeful that the chap in his budgie smugglers would give us the ooooh we were waiting for, however he took the loose change and did nothing else apart from ask for more money off people. From the minute we got there to the minute we left, he was there, ready and waiting for the 23 metre jump. I’m sure he made a fortune today, but whether he took the plunge, we will never know!

We were also taken to a traditional Turkish house, where there was a tortoise roaming free in the grounds. Unfortunately one of the tour group (one half of the friends with benefits) didn’t see the tortoise, and ended up kicking it in the face 🐢

After the tour we were left to our own devices, so following advice from Google we went to the Lučki Most bridge for a better view of the Start Most, and it was indeed the perfect place to see it. As is tradition in Mostar, we had to try the coffee. Traditional Bosnian coffee is freshly ground into a fine powder, which is then put into a special pot called cezve or ibrik. Boiled water is poured over it and the mixture is then put back to the burner, and heated till the coffee starts to rise. I have to say, although verrrrry strong it was actually very nice!

I really enjoyed Mostar. Would I recommend it for a few days.. probably not. But if you get chance to visit for the day I would 100% recommend it. It has a certain charm and is rich with culture, history and beautiful buildings.

This afternoon we returned to Dubrovnik (after being stuck at the border for an hour) where we will be spending the next few days. We are staying on the outskirts of the town in a questionable hotel where the rooms resemble something from a retirement home. However it’s only a base to sleep and eat.. so can’t complain!

Wondering if this could accidently fall in my bag… (don’t worry, it didn’t!)

Krka National Park 🇭🇷

April 26, 2022 gingertravellerblogLeave a comment

Today was somewhere we have been looking forward to going to, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint! Krka National Park is one of Croatia’s best known attractions, and it’s easy to see why. The naturally colourful pools provide a spectacular backdrop as you take a gentle stroll along the boardwalk that takes you through the park. There are plenty of viewpoints where you can take in the falls and admire the beauty happening below. It was an incredibly tranquil place and I would recommend this to anyone visiting Croatia. One thing to bear in mind is swimming is now prohibited to protect the biodiversity within the park. That does however mean views and photos that are free of people!

Once we had finished the walk around the park, we boarded a boat to Skradin, a small town along the Krka River. As we love a viewpoint, we headed to the fortress on the hill. As with most heights so far this trip, the steps on the way up were a tad uneaven, but it’s all part of the fun! It was time for lunch so we stopped at one of the restaurants that lined the colourful street. As I wasn’t that hungry, I decided to order a cucumber salad. The waiter must have been howling to himself as he presented me with a plate with an entire cucumber cut up 🥒 whilst I was expecting cucumber to be the main ingredient.. I wasn’t expecting it to be the only ingredient! However a bit of salt and pepper and emergency chips managed to save the meal.

It’s our last night in our Drvenik pad as we head over to Dubrovnik tomorrow via Mostar. So I couldn’t resist having a glass of Croatian wine with dinner tonight. It was delicious! Look out Tesco’s Croatian wine section.. I’m coming for you 🍷

Split & Trogir 🇭🇷

April 25, 2022 gingertravellerblog1 Comment

As always with a coach holiday, it was a super early get up ready for a long day ahead. Although the drive to Split was 2 hours, it was incredibly scenic. You just can’t beat a coastal drive!

We arrived in Split armed with our headphones and audio ready for the guided tour. Unfortunately, so did a very large cruise ship full of Americans, and they all quickly headed to the centre like flies to shite 💩 This however didn’t ruin the day as there is so much to see in Split. We were treated to a Cathedral, a Palace and a beautiful waterfront. We went up the bell tower for wonderful views of Split’s old town, and although the steps up to the top give you super twitchy arse, it is definitely worth it. I just wish people would learn the etiquette of waiting rather than barging past you on an already incredibly narrow and steep staircase.

As I watched Joe Lycett on Travel Man before I came, I made it my mission to find the ice cream that he enjoyed. Luckily we came across a Spar, and there waiting for me was a pot of Slag. An incredibly creamy vanilla ice cream! Unfortunately it didn’t come with a spoon, so we ate it like a Frube instead. There are also other Slaggy treats.. like squirty slag cream!

After Split we set off for another UNESCO treat – Trogir. Not a place I’d heard of before, but definitely a gem worth visiting. There are so many narrow streets full of character (and pants on the washing lines!) and a fabulous mix of Renaissance, baroque and Romanesque architecture, as well as cafes on every corner. We certainly could have spent a lot longer here, and we ended our trip with a traditional rafioli – fine thin dough which is filled with ground almonds.

Croatia 🇭🇷 – Arrival day

April 24, 2022 gingertravellerblogLeave a comment

We are finally here! This trip was originally planned for June 2020 which Rona cancelled and re-booked for July 2021. As that was also cancelled we decided to try for a different part of Croatia, however a month ago we found out that due to drop outs, that had also been cancelled! So.. we’re back to where we started and will be spending the next week exploring Dubrovnik, Split, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina and the Dalmation Coast.

Due to the recent dramas at Manchester airport we decided to give ourselves plenty of time.. and that meant a 0230 alarm 😭 however they were incredibly organised and we flew through security! This meant plenty of time to sniff out somewhere suitable for breakfast. However as we are creatures of habit, we went to Pret 👍 This was our first time flying Jet2, and we somehow ended up with a whole row to ourselves!

As you know by now, we love an escorted tour holiday. We met our guide Ivan and headed for the wanker bus which will be our ride for the next week. As this was a 3 hour journey, there won’t be much more to this blog for today. However we have already started sussing out our group and there is definitely a mature friends with benefits couple on here.

We are staying in a hotel in Drvenik for the next 3 nights and were able to have a little explore this evening. The water is crystal clear and the views are beautiful. We managed to find a viewpoint up rather steep and windy road, but it was worth the sweaty walk. As its not quite the start of the season, the majority of the cafes and bars are closed (obvs) however we spotted a cute looking bar by the waterfront so we will definitely be checking that out over the next few nights.

I know many of you are wondering… where is Santa? Fear not… he’s taking his sleigh (better known as the Eurostar) to Bruges for a lads lads lads sesh.