Today was a total driving day.

But first, a breakfast of champions, served from a wooden piano.

Our driver took us to Umag to pick up our rental car. MoD wasn’t keen to engage too much in conversation on the 40 minute drive, claimed the driver talked with his hands.

And he might have, but given how hard it was to organise transport from Piran to Umag I was happy with that.

Highly recommend Transfeero.

Once in Umag we picked up the car and headed off. Took the long scenic drive. Winding roads through many villages. People live right on the roads. LOTS of tunnels, each one named and how many metres in length. The longest was 2143. Now that’s long.

Stopped at Restoran Fjord for a rest 😜 and a fish lunch as recommended by the rental car person. Given it was only 11ish we instead opted for walnut pancakes which looked just a little like a slug. The view from the balcony was of course, quite pleasant. Temperature 25.  Noice.

Restoran Fjord was pretty enough. Not quite the spectacular of a NZ Fjord. We are a little spoilt from that point of view.

Headed over the Poklon Mountain Pass, named so because for centuries pilgrims have travelled from Istria across the pass to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trsat in Rijeka. Good on them.

Onwards and upwards…..saw a Police Van with mesh covering the passenger and the driver windows.

We finally arrived into our Hotel Plitvice which is actually at Entrance 2 of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Because it was already 4.30 we couldn’t actually start any hiking.

You have to buy a ticket (ours was included in the hotel price) which lets you into the park between 7am and 7pm. The tracks take anywhere from 3-8 hours.

They let us walk down to Kozjak Lakes and the boat ferry which was quite pretty.

By this time, of course, it was time to eat again. There is a steak and pasta bar right next to the hotel which wasn’t too busy so we stopped for an early tea.

Steaks were a little pricey, lucky I am a flexitarian. The relaxing view looking out on the terrace made up for the lack of steak. Didn’t it MoD?

I opted for a cheese platter and wedges. Plenty of energy in that meal 😜 Well deserved I say, after all I had spent five hours sitting in a car. At this rate I may have to book a second seat for the flight home.

Tomorrow we get up early and hike one of these.

Then heading to Zadar for two nights.

Night folks.