Day 5: Plitvice Lakes National Park

Today was a day-trip from Rakovica; we took a 20 minute bus ride down the road to Plitvice Lakes National Park. There really isn't much we can say about this place that pictures couldn't do better, and even they don't come close to doing it justice.

Highly recommended to all, and for those who do make the adventure out here we have a few tips:
- Definitely go early. We arrived about 8am and the trails were pretty much clear for most of our day. Looking back onto some of them later in the day we could see hordes of people, and your yearning to overtake grandma hobblepants could cause you to miss a stunning sight. Just get out of bed and get there!
- Wear some sturdy shoes, anything with grip is good. Thongs bad. A lot of the paths are constructed from logs over rushing water.
- Try the strudel. But not the mass-produced stuff in the main cafe, get it from the old bird with a stall across from the exit gate.
- Finally: Any detours you see, take them. Some of our best pictures came from off the main tracks.

This monster greets you as you first walk through the gates.

The first of our many detours...

This was also a detour. Worth the 10 minute walk!

The lakes had the clearest water we've ever seen. This fish was 12 feet deep.

We made it to the top :)

 

Total distance walked: 11.5km

Total time taken: 4h 35m

Pictures taken: 167

Sladoled consumed: Only one :(

That's all folks. Tomorrow we return to Zadar before catching the overnight ferry to Ancona.