Middle-aged flash packers

Day 8 – Bosnia/Croatia/Baska Voda
I woke in the night to the sound of pouring rain and found it hard to get back to sleep again.
We performed our usual routine of breakfast/shower/email/pack/load car/check room for left behind things. I left my trusty eyeshade in Slovenia which was a real blow as I hate any light at all when I sleep. At the moment I’m using Steve’s ear warmers which obviously aren’t ideal!
Asmir gave us our bill which I was slightly nervous about as we hadn’t asked the price of the evening meal or the booze, we just trusted he wouldn’t rip us off. For 2 nights accommodation, 4 x3 course meals, 1 bottle of wine and 7 beers (I know, but it was over 2 nights!) we handed over 120 Euros. Asmir didn’t even want to charge us for the wine, he just wanted us to try the wine of Bosnia.
We will be sorry to leave Asmir and his family. We wish them great success and happiness for the future – they truly deserve it.
Asmir pointed out the best route to go and we found ourselves driving high up into the cloud with not a soul around. Magical.
On our entrance into first large town we came across a policeman pulled us over. When he lent into the car and saw us, he laughed and sent us on our way. I’m assuming he decided it would be too much trouble to enter into conversation but it could be other reasons I suppose.
Before long we had crossed into the Croatian border.
I expected to see a much richer country with neat houses and cultivation. The reality was uncared for homes, untended land and a sense of abandonment. Whole communities fallen into disrepair. There were several memorials to those who died in the war. The gloomy weather added to the feeling that most people had upped sticks and left.
As we got closer to Split, there was more habitation, but still the houses were half finished, unpainted and generally unloved.
Driving into Split was a real shock. Having got used to quiet roads with hardly anyone on them, we hit a traffic jam.
Split is huge and I was very glad we had decided not to stay there. As we drove along the coast road, it was stop-start and very built up. Not pretty at all and certainly not one of the most beautiful coastal drives ever.
But as we left the suburbs of Split behind, the development became less frenetic and we could see the sea and the mountains.
By the time we arrived in Baska Voda we could see the attraction of the Dalmation Coast.
We found our apartment without too much trouble but annoyingly we couldn’t park outside the building and had to use a car park down the road. This is not great as we are only insured for third party in the old Yugoslavia territories so we need to keep the car close.
Anyway, the apartment is basic but fine and we went for a stroll along the promenade. Lots of Russians here, spread out like brown beached whales along the stony beach.
Actually it’s a really nice place and quite upmarket – I can see why people would come here.
Off now for some dinner. I’m starving and after having stopped for a glass of wine , need something to soak it up with!