Croatia
This pine covered island is totally undeveloped. The catamaran from Dubrovnik drops you at the tiny town of Polace which has remains of a Roman palace. Here you can hire a bicycle to explore the quiet roads and reach the lake with an islet that is home to a 12th century Benedictine monastery. This is now a restaurant and served by a little boat so that you can treat yourself to a seafood lunch. Swimming in the clear blue lake is a great way to cool down.
www.mljettravel.com
Mljet island is 90 minutes by catamaran from Dubrovnik
Google map: bit.ly/LFjAcV
Mljet is an island off the Dubrovnik coast. Stay in Sobra, the village that tourists normally sail past. You'll have a private 'beach' and Nikola runs a first class bar/ restaurant serving Croatian food and Italian pizzas. From Sobra catch a ferry or hire a Dalmation styled Fiat 500 (seriously) and head to the National Park on the other side of Mljet. Once there rent bicycles and explore the beautiful, wild and lush forest. The highlight being the large salt water lake which cocoons a Benedictine Monastery. You can take the hourly boat over to it or swim across yourself.
Konoba RIVA:
Sobra 2, Babino Polje
(+385-20) 74 52 22
++385 (0)20 745-222
A cheap, friendly pavement restaurant near the city centre that serves fantastic black squid risotto and oysters.
Gunduliceva poljana 8
Mjlet is an island 1 1/2 hours from Dubrovnik by ferry. The majority of the island is uninhabited, and it hosts a large national park.
I recommend it for 1) Its walking trails. You could walk for days and never take the same trail twice, and 2) Its beauty. The blues and greens of the trees, sky, and water are more vibrant than you'll find elsewhere.
Trip report and photos: shallowmusings.typepad.com/travel_musings/
Here's the national park website:
www.np-mljet.hr/
Arrive at Graz Harbor around 7:15 am to catch a ferry. The ferry is less than $20, entrance into the park is $20. Debark at the second port. Buy a map or you'll get lost. There's a hotel on the island (accessible from the port by bus) but I didn't stay there (and I regret it). The Mali Raj food was overpriced and underquality: hold out for the restaurant at the monastary.
Dubrovnik, it's a unique city in the whole world. I traveled there in September 2006. I think Croatia is a great country, it has the whole package; history; cultural richness; beautiful places to visit, and great weather.
Pile Bay-Old Town is very romantic. We stayed there at apartments near Fort Lovrijenac. The price was OK and location perfect (only 70 m from magnificent Placa-Stradun). Nevertheless, the location was quiet.
The staff were obliging and rooms clean. Another hot tip is the wonderful fish restaurant Orhan near apartments at small idilic Pile harbour.
I recommend visiting Dubrovnik a thousand times!
od tabakarije 19,fon:+385(0)917397545
www.apartments-lovrijenac.com
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