Day 5: Plitvice Lakes

Early in the morning, we took an Uber to the bus station, had some sweet pastries from the bakery for breakfast, and drank coffee from a vending machine - that's how our Day 5 started. Then followed a two and a half hour comfortable bus ride.

Upon arrival at the national park, we first got an overview of the possible routes around and through the lakes. Fortunately, we chose the second entrance, which saved us from the massive tourist crowds for the first hour and a half. The path was paved with wooden planks on wooden posts and led through the green paradise. Most of the time, clear water flowed beneath us, cascading over rock formations and vegetation along our way.

The tranquility on the paths came to an abrupt end as we approached the first larger waterfall. Our speed then reduced to 0.05 m/s. Many tourists had trouble walking at an appropriate speed on the wooden planks. Plus there were incredibly obstructive people taking pictures without any consideration for the flow. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the view and even became photographers ourselves, so as not to stand out in the crowd.

After our speed had increased again, we arrived at the ferry and realized that not only the people, but also the ferries moved very slowly (in the spirit of environmental protection...). Half an hour of waiting time on the pier finally rewarded us with a ride to the other shore.

Upon arriving at the other shore, we were greeted by the actual masses of tourists. Fortunately, they spread out on the different paths, allowing us to continue relatively smoothly. Despite these circumstances, the national park is truly recommendable. The view is great, the nature is beautiful, the water is crystal clear and turquoise-blue, and the shade of the trees provides for pleasant hiking temperatures.

After a short break at a restaurant and two drinks, we had an adventurous bus driver who mostly drove at excessive speed, regularly honked the horn, and made daring overtakes on our way back to Zagreb where we once again went in search of dinner.