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West Balkans - Switzerland - Italy moto trip (part 2)

West Balkans - Switzerland - Italy moto trip (part 2)

October 2020 · 5 min read · Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Croatia (1/2)

I'm leaving Montenegro behind with really nice memories despite the stuff that was stolen from my bike and a minor fall I had close to Cetinje. Weather's nice with only a few clouds decorating the blue sky. All set to enjoy a ride by the sea (for most of the part) and the funny fact that on this route you leave Montenegro to enter Croatia then Bosnia/Herzegovina for a tiny part then again Croatia. As ex Yugoslavia as it gets... At the borders I didn't have much delay due to my wise choice to pick early season to be around but those hippy(ish) guys in a beetle van might still be there checked by the local police. I guess the officers smelled their weed from miles away. I did :)

Entering Dubrovnik my eyes don't run out of nice things to see. The area is marvellous and so does the city. A local biker horns and smiles on the view of a fully loaded bike from Greece and I try to find the place I rented to unload my stuff and Carpe Diem around this gem. After a bit of a struggle in the narrow uphill backstreets of Dubrovnik I find my place and instantly feel lucky I booked it:

Bedroom view at Dubrovnik
Bedroom view at Dubrovnik

The view to the old port from my bedroom was so nice that I felt like leaving a camera on 24/7 could make a considerable income. So beautiful to see all these vessels, especially those old ships on any time of the day.

Panoramic from my bedroom
Panoramic from my bedroom

Old glory
Old glory

I don't hesitate to walk around and especially the old part of the city stole my heart.

Entering the old beauty of Dubrovnik
Entering the old beauty of Dubrovnik

No surprise why people choose this for their wedding
No surprise why people choose this for their wedding

Was nice to walk around the fortress
Was nice to walk around the fortress

A perfect day at a perfect place
A perfect day at a perfect place

However, scenic stuff was not the only I experienced around. Croatians haven't spared from exposure items reminding their fight(s) against their neighbours. Actually they placed them close to touristic attractions just to be sure people don't skip that information.

I can’t convince you this is the winner of an Italian car design contest...
I can’t convince you this is the winner of an Italian car design contest...

...but FYI here’s the story behind it.
...but FYI here’s the story behind it.

Neither would I try to tell you this was Princess Diana’s yacht...
Neither would I try to tell you this was Princess Diana’s yacht...

...but here’s a sign to remind you the ”friendship” with Serbia/Montenegro.
...but here’s a sign to remind you the ”friendship” with Serbia/Montenegro.

Seriously now, I don't want to sound ironic by peppering all this stuff with my English humour which is for from great since I am not a native English speaker. These are very sad memories flooded by hatred and blood so let's hope that it won't happen again. In other words, mission impossible - people are talented in repeating the same mistakes.

Was nice to walk around Dubrovnik's peninsula (Babin Kuk) were they have their local attraction, a beach "aptly" named Copacabana.

Way much smaller than the original in Brazil but a more neat and relaxing ”Copacabana”
Way much smaller than the original in Brazil but a more neat and relaxing ”Copacabana”

I have my last hours to spend at Dubrovnik so I first consume my last local delicious supplies,

Eating and drinking with view never hurt anybody
Eating and drinking with view never hurt anybody

and later I watch the last wonderful port view there:

Sun setting behind the clouds. Good bye Dubrovnik.
Sun setting behind the clouds. Good bye Dubrovnik.

Next morning finds me heading North, driving on the coastal (not toll) road), on a very nice route that I would enjoy even more without the part time rain. Still early season hence the traffic was not that much. I don't want to imagine what it is like with all these slow campers later. I make it to my next AirBnB at Split without drama. I have booked a place up by the castle and the first thing that caught my attention were...the peacocks! These beings can jump on the road any time regardless the traffic. Fortunately I was slow looking for my place but still missed one by a couple of cm. However, next morning I would find out a more annoying habit of their's...they start screaming from 5:00am. Free alarm clock. Whether you want/need it or not. And just in case they might not be heard, they climb on the rooftops to amplify the effect:

Peacocks around Split’s castle are a thing...
Peacocks around Split’s castle are a thing...

The city of Split was really nice to walk around, speaking of the historic center at least which I enjoyed (surprise surprise) much better than the contemporary one. I managed to take some pictures when the rain paused.

Split’s republic square
Split’s republic square

Outside Saint Domnius cathedral
Outside Saint Domnius cathedral

Back at my AirBnB that old Yugoslavian radio caught my eye:

Next day's nice weather was a no brainer to tour around Split so I did Sinj, Knin, Sibenik and then back again from the coastal road. Lake Peruca offered unique moments. I couldn't have a better natural mirror there. Some of the most calm, cleansing and therapeutic images of my life:

Heading back to Split via the coastal road it was such a nice ride. Many attractive view points. Here's some from Morinje bridge:

Back at Split the beauty of course was still there:

At night too:

Strossmayerova Fontana
Strossmayerova Fontana

Matejuska
Matejuska

Time to leave Split next morning and head to my next destination, one of the least known places on earth. I mean...who knows this?

A tiny village (?) by the sea
A tiny village (?) by the sea

This place hosted my first swimming in the Adriatic sea and besides the cold water I couldn't complain much about it:

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Balcony view via a glass I found in the sea. In my eyes sea sculptured a bike on it. Is that too much of a stretch of imagination?
Balcony view via a glass I found in the sea. In my eyes sea sculptured a bike on it. Is that too much of a stretch of imagination?

You know what happens after swimming? Yep, you're getting hungry like a wolf. Luckily the meal was a nice match for a nice day like this:

The area is a biker's heaven with top tarmac and nice bends by the sea which I could enjoy due to low traffic (again, don't wanna know how it would be like later).

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Flawless tarmac
Flawless tarmac

Lucky to have such a model
Lucky to have such a model

Love is in the air...ehm..sorry...on the tarmac.
Love is in the air...ehm..sorry...on the tarmac.

Croatia was impossible to upload in one piece (it kept returning error 500) so stay tuned for the rest of this country on part 3!

Travel Resources for your trip to Croatia

Recommended by TravelFeed

Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Croatia.

Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Croatia on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.

Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.

Transportation: Use 12go and Omio to find detailed bus and train schedules, making travel planning easier.

Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.

Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!

Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.

Tickets: Save on entrance fees in Croatia with Klook and Tiquets.

Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Croatia. Chat now.

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