Middle Age Crisis from Taiwan at the Adriatic sea
Bikes are ready guests are ready
We got waked up by drops of rain hitting our windows, so we postponed our start to get almost dry out of split. Along the coast we made our way to Drvenik where we hit the ferry to make our way to isle Hvar. Late lunch in Stari Grad got the energy back to our riders. As end of the day we got a small welcome drink.
The second riding day, whose final destination was the real Pearl of the Adriatic, had to start earlier than usual. The plan was to catch one of the morning ferries from the island of Hvar back to the mainland. We succeeded and after a short ferry ride in the sun we are back on land. So we continue on road number 8, one of the most beautiful roads in the world, which bears the name Adriatic Highway to the south. Along the way, we stop several times to catch our breath and absorb the amazing scenery that the Adriatic offers not only with natural creations in the form of a delta from which a tangerine plantation was sown, but also with technological ones such as the Pelješac bridge to the peninsula of the same name, or the gateway to the Pearl of the Adriatic Bridge Dr. Franj Tudman. In the Hotel with the most amazing view of Dubrovnik, we strengthen ourselves with a small lunch and before dinner we go on a tour of the historical center, which is registered and protected by UNESCO cultural heritage. After entering through the easternmost gate, based on Rubin's experience, we head, unconventionally, not to the square, but along the upper walls and to the basketball court. We ask what? Rubin just reassures us with his own smile, don't worry it will be worth it and he was right! The view and the possibility to play are breathtaking. By chance, the next steps are going down the stairs. We arrive at the announced ice cream parlor, from where we are and Rubin is excited as he managed to arrange a private tour of the motorcycle museum outside opening hours. Amazed! Motorcycle history on every centimeter with a lot of information has no end, but our energy does and so we head straight for great coffee. After a pleasant sitting, it's time for dinner, and where else than in the Nautica Michelin restaurant in front of the western gate of the city.
Dubrovnik, as the biggest pearl of the Adriatic, deserves more time than just an evening stroll, that's why we have this morning reserved for getting to know it better. Rubin took a large part of the group through Napoleon's fortress and in it briefly explained the history of his battles and actions in Dalmatia, but also the history of the Yugoslav wars. Later, the group enjoyed their free time by walking around the old town, and before that we started to escape from the coming rain. A few kilometers from the Adriatic highway and we are already on the border with Montenegro. After the passport control, we get back into the saddles and continue a few tens of Km deeper into the Bay of Kotor. Chris is already waiting for us at the hotel and we are arranging a departure to another world-famous pearl of the Adriatic, the historical center and fortress of Kotor. In the city, we are the first to look for a well-known restaurant under the bells of the cathedral, and after a great lunch, we let ourselves be driven through the streets and corners of Kotor, where, in addition to Rubin, we are also accompanied by many cats. The evening, as is already a tradition at Edelweiss Bike Travel tours, ends with a great dinner, this time right on the shore of the Bay of Kotor.
On the first rest day, the middle age crisis group set their alarm clocks an hour late. But on the contrary, everyone came to breakfast determined to make the most of rest day by riding motorcycles. And so we set off on a tour of Kotor, Montenegro and Budva. After a short ferry ride to the other side of the bay, we climbed the Kotor Serpentines to the very top of Montenegro. Here we enjoyed the view of Kotor during an early lunch, and later we went down the eastern side of the mountain range to Budva. The early evening return allowed us the warm rays of the setting sun over the Bay of Kotor, and after returning to the hotel, a pleasant surprise awaited us in the form of a picnic by Chris on the pier. Just another amazing day.
Good morning Kotor
After a wonderful oriental evening, we managed to arrive at the hotel before the beginning of the storm, and luckily the wind blew away the moisture from the roads and the clouds from the sky at night, so in the morning we started the longest day of the trip in beautiful weather. The first stop was the viewpoint of Mostar, due to the force of the wind we did not stay long and continued to the border with Croatia. Shortly after crossing them, Rubin spotted a bakery that was unusually open on a Sunday, and a great picnic was born. An hour later, we made a stop for coffee in a cafe popular with motorcyclists and headed for the last stop at the bottom of the viewpoint over Vrana Lake. The amazing view of the greenish water area of the lake and the turquoise sea behind it pleased our eyes and soul, and we headed to the Miramare Hotel in Zadar satisfied.
Today we saw Krka national Park
Today we had our last day of riding motorcycles. We made full use of the days planned for rest, but with the driving and so on left us with less energy, and we still have more than 300 km to our final destination, Pearls of Adriatic sea the city of Split. The excellent breakfast encouraged us and we will leave before the planned departure time. After a few kilometers we will leave Zadar and the first complication was the road closure. However our tourguide Rubin, thanks to his language skills, solves it elegantly and the work on the road is interrupted for the moment we need and we can cross. And so we are approaching the first stop of the Visaček lake and the view of the Monastery built on a small island. The next stop is under Klin Castle and we have a small lunch. Later, Rubin asked us to approve a small detour to the Eye of our planet. It sounds awesome and the view is even more beautiful in person. If it is best said at the end, then in this case it applies doubly! The last stop before arriving at Hotel Cornare is the view from the monument to the heroes who fell in the civil war in the 90s. At the hotel, the always ready Chris is already waiting for us, who takes over the motorcycles and announces the time for dinner, which will be under the city walls and is also awesome. All that remains is to have a dessert in a famous ice cream parlor and go to bed.
The last day of the trip. The last day in Croatia. Last group fptography. The last sunny day before returning home where, according to all available information, a Tornado is raging. We enjoy walking through the city, visiting the fish market and finally buying subenirs. See you next year on another of Rubin's and Chris's recommended tours.