Tag: holiday

Croatia Days 14 – 21

Tomorrow is our last day in Croatia and whilst I love it here, I’d have my doubts about doing 10 days just the four of us again. I actually had my doubts about this last part of our trip before we came away, because I know that no matter how beautiful the surroundings, it can feel pretty claustrophobic when it’s just us. I also know how tricky our youngest child is and there was no reason she’d change just because we are away. I was right. She didn’t change.

Anyway, we’ve visited one of our favourite places, Solaris, several times. I feel a bit embarrassed to love it so much because it’s a resort, but it’s easy with the kids and the beaches are beautiful there. Solaris is on the outskirts of Sibenik and has actually changed quite a lot over the past few years. The changes this time were a surprise, as they had removed the cheesy pirate ship nightclub that we secretly all loved. I welcomed some new posh toilets but the children were gutted not to be able to steer the ship.

We’ve also visited Banj beach in Sibenik a couple of times, which is a nice city beach that we’ve never been to before. Last night we swam in the early evening and then walked along to Sibenik old town for dinner. I’ve got a real soft spot for Sibenik , there is something about the atmosphere that I adore. I love walking along the harbour choosing boats and exploring the old town never gets dull. What was apparent last night, was that my fitness has seriously declined! I really struggled with climbing all of the stairs and felt pretty light-headed at the top. Admittedly the large glass of red I’d downed on an empty stomach didn’t help, but still I feel motivated to get fit again when I get home. We had a lovely dinner in the evening warmth and I felt a pang as we walked back to the car. I’m actually ready to go home for once, but I will miss the sea so much and the thought of work makes my stomach churn.

Another place we visited is Roski Slap. Roski Slap is possibly my favourite place in Croatia. It is breathtakingly stunning. Roški slap is made up of a 22.5 m high main waterfall and countless backwaters and cascades. Roški slap is situated about 36 km downstream of the Krka River spring. After completing the beautiful little walk there, you can swim in a cordoned off part of the river and sit under some of the smaller waterfalls. We also climbed the 517 wooden steps to the cave and were very excited to see bats. There is something totally tranquil about Roski Slap, like you’ve escaped the rest of the world, and it’s pretty rare that I feel like that.

We also once again visited Skradinski Buk, the big waterfall at Krka. The 800m-long cascade descends by almost 46m before crashing into the lower lake, which is a popular swimming spot. Also very beautiful but too busy for me. It seems to get busier each year and this year was absolutely heaving. There is no dignified way to get into the water here and slipping and scrambling across the rocks is the only way to get across them. I came away with a few scrapes and knocks as I usually do. I also had a pretty hairy moment with E, where it became clear that the current was too strong for her. I swam with her on my back to get to the buoys but she was losing her swim shoe and so was distracted. I ended up taking a huge lungful of water and also almost lost a contact lens, clinging on to my precious girl!

We had a night out in Split but again the girls were quite tricky and probably over-tired. Split at night is fantastic and we did have a little drink and dance inside the square at the Diocletian’s Palace. It would have been nice to stay out longer but moaning children meant we cut the night short. The upshot of an earlier night was that we enjoyed a walk around the following morning without a hangover.

These past 10 days I’ve been swimming, slept a lot, sunbathed, eaten a ridiculous amount, had a fair bit to drink and contemplated life. I’d like to take the sea and sunshine home but I’m ready to go home. I miss my friends, I miss exercise and unbelievably, I miss the dog!!! Tomorrow is our last beach day and I plan to enjoy every second.  Croatia…until the next time…

Days 10 – 10 Croatia

The drive to Croatia was fairly straightforward, one we have done before. The only drama was when a spider crawled across the back of my seat in the car whilst we were bombing down the motorway. The screams from the girls were blood-curdling and the look of terror on E’s face was highly entertaining. I feel ashamed that they are that way around spiders because that’s how I am.

The past few days have been spent on the beach, doing little more than swimming, sun-bathing, eating and drinking. Here are some of the conversations with my darling girls:

  • Eldest child (E) looks at me and says, “Is that the dress I told you you look fat in?” “Yes,” I reply, waiting for her to tell me I actually don’t. “Yep, you definitely do look fat in it,” she says.
  • Conversation with E in the sea… “Do sea urchins swim up and attack people?” she asks. “No” I tell her. “Do you find them in rivers?” she wants to know. Youngest child chips in (one of them has a few brain cells) “They are called SEA urchins.” E then asks about piranhas, “Do they have them here?” I tell her they are found in rivers like the Amazon. “Well this is like the Amazon” she says matter-of-factly.
  • Youngest child finds a pinecone floating in the sea and names it piney. She leaves it in the sea and sends me in to retrieve. Piney looks very much like a turd floating in the sea and I was quite hesitant to pick him up!
  • Quote from youngest child about what mummy and daddy like: “Mummy likes going on holiday and teaching her children. Daddy likes the weekend and watching football.” She’s not too far off.

Anyway, I need to get back to my red wine now and the family have just returned with take-away pizza. I’m going to be the size of a small whale by the time I get home but hey-ho.