Day 7: Welcome to the Balkans

12.03.23

What exactly is the Balkans? The countries of former Yugoslavia? The bridge between Europe and Asia? Politically? Geographically? All countries below the Danube and the Sava? Börek?

There are several definitions and explanations that could push the educational level for this blog steeply. My geography teacher would surely be proud of me. Maybe another time... :D

For me, today definitely felt like the Balkans that I have somehow imagined, at least in parts. More on that later.

First of all, on a Sunday with sunny weather, we leave Zagreb and head onto the highway for several kilometers. Today's destination: Plitvice Lakes. Passing by another 8936 billboards, I realize that it is particularly pleasant to drive on Sundays when you are not constantly being overtaken and honked at by trucks.

Getting off the highway, it gradually becomes more rural. This is where my Balkan feeling begins. Passing by farms, smaller, simple houses with adjoining gardens and fields, the road snakes its way through the prairie. Dogs, cats, sheep, and especially chickens were not uncommon on the properties as well as on the road. The many vacant buildings and collapsing ruins also shape the landscape here. But of course, also the rivers and waters, the hills and mountains, the forests. There is also snow on the sides of the roads. Unfortunately, not only that, but also significantly more garbage than you would expect from Germany. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon for the Balkan Peninsula. Today, all expectations were exceeded, even though I didn't really have any... The route was definitely fantastic and a nice little foretaste of what awaits me in the coming weeks. More potholes and animals on the road, but of course also the sea, even more mountains, and interesting encounters.

Since the winding and hilly route took unexpectedly long, I couldn't visit the Plitvice Lakes today. I also wasn't aware that lakes had opening hours. Today, the lakes closed at 3:00 PM. So did I. What I have already seen in pictures and what was already suggested by the landscape throughout the day is definitely very promising.

Miscellaneous:

Along the way, I am always attracted to 'Lost Places'. Therefore, I took a little detour to the old, abandoned factory site. Unfortunately, I couldn't see everything because, judging by the sounds, there were other people somewhere on the premises...