CROATIA

When entering Croatia, our first stop was again at the next gas station to clarify the toll. This time we had to install a small device on the windshield because we weigh over 3.5 tons. But this was very practical as we didn't have to worry about small change anymore. From now on, I didn't complain anymore but thanked Leonie for the good roads when the device beeped and the toll fee was deducted. 😊 Kids simply make you a better person!

Since Leonie's birthday was coming up, we chose a campsite by the sea. With various pools, playgrounds, souvenir shops, ice cream parlors, crepe stands, and a restaurant. In a similar order, we celebrated Leonie's birthday and had a good time. Thanks to my sister-in-law, we had rainbow muffins and chocolate cake. I had already wrapped some gifts beforehand because I knew that after a good 2 weeks I wouldn't be able to find everything right away or my head would be somewhere else at the beginning of the trip. So there was a Lego camping set for girls, a small fabric backpack bag, a little dough, and, who remembers it from earlier??? Polly Pocket. I didn't think it still exists today ^^ And with a little chalk, you can also prepare a small treasure hunt on the campsite without being noticed, where she then found some sweets and the long-desired bikini. So off to the pool!!!

In the evening at the restaurant, Basti and I wanted to implement our idea of simply ordering something typical for each country, once vegetarian and once with meat. Unfortunately, the Croatian service staff said they didn't have that here??? After an unsolicited rant from a German elderly couple the next day, who complained about the standard of the campsite - at, I think she said, "Playa di Venecia" or something like that, everything was great here, we knew why we had no luck at the restaurant!!! Basti just said "ah yes, up there at the German grill" hahahah, the good lady didn't want to call it that. But honestly, that's what you could be ashamed of... And because of such "show-off tourists" we couldn't even try local food. At least not on the campsite. We felt very comfortable there otherwise. The whole campsite was way too big, but you have to find that out for yourself. Learned something again 😊

Otherwise, we have learned that Croatia actually has a lot of rocky beaches, which is not that great with children.

Well then. The weather was about to change, so after about a week, we packed the trunk again and Leonie once again led the departure control: locked windows, closed trunk, folded roof windows, brought ramp blocks, all cabinet knobs inside, leash for the dog, everyone strapped in and provided with drinks? Departure!

After talking to our Bosnian friend from Schwabenländle and the rain radar predicting drier weather in Bosnia than along the entire Adriatic coast, it was clear that we would head east for now. The route along the coast until we turned into Bosnia was spectacular!!! Probably that's why so many tourists love the country. Probably not because of the sharp-edged rocky beaches, but the view of the many islands and the view from above the sea made up for it.

Since we always start quite late and didn't continue after lunch, we spent the next night in Rijeka. Arriving somewhere in the middle of nowhere, we discovered a tall chimney in the distance that seemed to be in an industrial area. Fire was coming out of the chimney. So bright that it illuminated the whole night. Leonie first thought it was a lantern. But Felix hit the nail on the head without me having a chance to look it up and said it looked like a huge torch! We then found out that it really is a torch and that the resulting toxic gases are "flamed off" during raw material extraction, which would be more environmentally friendly than simply blowing the gases out into the air. However, these gases could actually be converted into energy if you had enough money. Then the cycle would be perfect. At least the raw material extraction cycle. WOW! That impressed us. A perpetual giant torch!!!

Later (after Bosnia), we found a sandy beach and turquoise blue water in a small bay in the south of Croatia and spontaneously stayed there for 2 nights. Moritz could run freely, the children had a top-notch climbing tree, but unfortunately, the empty water tank forced us to move on. We didn't see much of Dubrovnik. We drove into the crowded old town once and quickly turned back. The prices to visit the famous wall and the many people that the cruise ship had vomited out scared us off. But the city is definitely on the list of "we have to go there without children". At the last stop in the southernmost corner of Croatia, we got to know kiwi trees. But here too, there was only rocky beach in front of our door, so we didn't stay here long...

Maybe we saw the wrong corners, but Croatia doesn't appeal to us as much as some other tourists. Quite the opposite with Bosnia. So far our favorite country, which surprised us very positively...