Balkan Holiday

Topic: Tour Calendar September 16 to 30, 2008

Visiting Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina

Discover a part of Southern Europe that is new territory of most of us - the beautiful Balkan countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Day 1 ~ 16, Tuesday - Departure

We're off to discover a part of Southern Europe that is new territory for most of us—the beautiful Balkan countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our adventure begins today as we fly from Grand Rapids to Chicago. Here we'll connect with an Austrian Airlines jet for the overnight flight across the Atlantic.

Day 2 ~ 17, Wednesday - Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Good morning! We have just arrived in Vienna, Austria. We'll be on the ground here briefly and then we'll catch another flight to the "sunny side of the Alps" and the intriguing little country of Slovenia. Arrival in Ljubljana is scheduled for the late morning. Following customs formalities, we'll meet our tour manager and driver and board the waiting motorcoach for the transfer to our hotel. En route, we'll begin to get a sense of this rich, historic city, the earliest record of which dates from the 12th century. Long before it was Ljubljana, though, there were settlements of pile dwellers, and later Illyrians, Celts, and Romans in this area. Following hotel check-in, we'll have time to rest or start exploring on our own. Ljubljana is a medium-sized, very walkable city and a large majority of its important sights are concentrated in a relatively small circle close to the Ljubljanica River. Public transportation is easy to use; and if you need directions, just ask one of the younger locals, most of whom speak at least some English. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

Day 3 ~ 18, Thursday - Ljubljana

Now that we've had a good night's sleep, we're ready for a formal introduction to the Slovenian capital. Our walking tour will focus on the old city center where we'll see Ljubljana Cathedral and a colorful open-air market. We'll also see the bridges designed by the famous architect, Joze Puenik, and the Town Hall. In front of this building stands the marble Fountain of Three Rivers, a baroque work by Francesco Robba, modeled after the fountain in Piazza Navona in Rome. Last but not least, we'll visit Ljubljana Castle. First mentioned in 1144, the present castle dates mainly from the 15th and 17th centuries. From the castle, we'll enjoy a magnificent view of Ljubljana's old town with its red-tile roofs. Before leaving the area, be sure to visit the castle's park to see the beautifully-sculpted monument to the Slovenian peasant uprising. The balance of the day is yours to shop, return to the cathedral to see its frescoed interior, or visit the National Museum.

Day 4 ~ 19, Friday - Postojna, Opatija (Croatia)

Leaving Ljubljana this morning, we'll travel a short distance to the south and into the Karst. This is the region where we'll find the Postojna Caves. The largest cave complex in Europe (and the second largest in the world) stretches for miles under the Karst and features an astonishing variety of stalactites, stalagmites and breathtaking rock formations. The visit is not too strenuous, as most of the sights can be seen during a ride on a miniature electric train; but we'll need to do some walking, too, so be sure to wear sturdy, flat-soled shoes. Oh, and don't forget to bring warm clothes-It's only about 46 degrees in the caves. Back above ground, we'll continue to nearby Predjama Castle. Steeped in legend, the castle hangs dramatically in the middle of a high, rocky cliff. After a visit to the castle, we'll travel into Croatia and on to Opatija. One of the principal resorts on the Istrian peninsula, Opatja occupies a site at the foot of Mt. Ucka overlooking the Gulf of Kvamer. Check in at the hotel here for dinner and a two-night stay.

Day 5 ~ 20, Saturday - Opatija-Excursion to Pula and Rovinj

We're off on a delightful full-day excursion through the heart-shaped Istrian peninsula. Our travels take us past many seaside holiday centers to Pula, a strategic port since ancient times. Pula boasts several reminders of its Roman origins, including well-preserved walls, a theater, twin gates, a trimphal arch, and a temple. The most imposing sight is the enormous 1st-century amphitheater, which we'll visit. Then we'll turn north and drive via Bale to Rovinj. This old fishing town and holiday center is known for its sloped cobblestone streets, small squares, and old Venetian-style palaces. We'll have free time to walk up to the cathedral and belfry. On our way back to Opatja, we'll pass through a lovely countryside dotted with vineyards, olive groves, green valleys, and picture-postcard villages. The evening is at leisure.

Day 6 ~ 21, Sunday - Zadar

We'll spend the morning and part of the afternoon traveling in a southerly direction to Zadar in the center of the Dalmatian region of Croatia. In a fine position on the Adriatic Coast, Zadar draws visitors interested in its antiquities—be sure to see the Roman Forum—and its many churches. Upon arrival, we'll have free time to visit the Forum or the monumental 9th-century St. Donatus' Church. Then we'll get settled at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 ~ 22, Monday - Trogir, Split

On the road again, we'll trace the coast to Trogir. Founded as a Greek colony in the 3rd century B.C., Trogir, with its distinctive medieval architecture and marble-covered narrow streets, has become an art center. After a break to have a look around, we'll continue to Split. When the Roman emperor Diocletian built a palace here, he was just looking for a peaceful place to retire; but when nearby Salona was destroyed in 614 A.D., its inhabitants sought shelter within the thick walls of the palace and a new town was born. We'll take a walking tour in the historic inner city, which, together with the palace, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll visit the palace and we'll also see Jupiter's Temple, the peristyle, and the cathedral. In the late afternoon or early evening, we'll transfer to our hotel to check in for dinner and a two-night stay.

Day 8 ~ 23, Tuesday - Split

The entire day is yours to do just as you please in Split. There's plenty to see in town—walk the Riva, a seaside promenade, visit the Archaeological Museum or the gallery of world-class sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, or do some shopping. Another option is an excursion to Brac, one of the most beautiful of the Croatian islands.

Day 9 ~ 24, Wednesday - Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Dubrovnik

We'll enjoy more of the spectacular Adriatic Coast today as we travel still further south today. Our ultimate destination is Dubrovnik; but instead of going directly there, we'll first jog into the neighboring country of Bosnia-Herzegovina to visit Mostar. Mostar was founded in the 15th century when a wooden bridge was built across the Neretva River at a strategically important crossing. In Turkish times, Mostar became an important traffic junction and trade center; and in 1566, Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent built a new bridge, which was an architectural marvel of the time. Although much of old Mostar has disappeared, we'll see traces of its Turkish heritage in the old bazaar and the mosque. Then we'll double back to Croatia and continue to Dubrovnik. Nestled between the Adriatic and the steep slopes of Mt. Srdj, the city walls of Dubrovnik are fused with natural rock. The walls encircle a town of white stone, a unique, living open-air museum, which seems to have grown out of the sea. It is the only such structure in Europe to be preserved in its entirety; and it, too, has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll be headquartered here for the next three nights. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

Day 10 ~ 25, Thursday - Dubrovnik

Our morning sightseeing will acquaint us with the layout of Dubrovnik's pedestrians-only old town and the location of many of its wonderful old palaces, communal buildings, fountains, and churches. We'll visit the Rector's Palace. During the time of the Dubrovnik Republic, the palace housed the residence of the rector, all of the government offices, and the prison. Rebuilt many times after man-made and natural disasters, it is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance; and it houses a beautiful concert hall and the Historical Museum. We'll also see the Sponza Palace and the Dominican Monastery (we recommend getting back to both of these sites during free time) and we'll visit the Franciscan Monastery, an oasis of peace in a busy town. The monastery's pharmacy, established in 1319, is still in service. The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Along with sightseeing and shopping, be sure to set some time aside to walk on the city walls. Sure to be a highlight of your stay in Dubrovnik, the walk, with its steps and slopes, will take at least a couple of hours.

Day 11 ~ 26, Friday Dubrovnik - Excursion to Montenegro (Yugoslavia)

On our agenda for today is an excursion to into the Republic of Montenegro, which is part of Yugoslavia. We'll head toward the mouth of the spectacular Bay of Kotor, the only real fjord in Southern Europe. Traveling via the little towns of Risan and Kotor, we'll soon be in Cetinje, the former capital of Montenegro, which sits on a plateau amid high and barren limestone mountains. This small provincial town played a major role in history. At the beginning of the 20th century, every important European state had an embassy in Cetinje. Much of the old city remains intact. Our sightseeing here will include a visit to the State Museum with its remarkable collection of art and artifacts. En route back to Croatia, we'll make short stops in Sveti Stefan, an island-town where every house is a tourist cottage; and Budva, with its glorious beaches. Back "home" in Dubrovnik, the evening is at leisure.

Day 12 ~ 27, Saturday - Sibenik, Plitvice Lakes National Park

Another "red letter" day lies ahead! Pursuing a northerly course along the coast, we plan to visit the old port of Sibenik, quite possibly the oldest authentic Slavic-Croatian town on the coast. The cathedral, a marvelous example of Croatian Renaissance architecture, is alone worth the stop. Its roof consists of stone slabs that are tightly joined without any support. From Sibenik, we'll turn inland and travel through wooded, mountainous terrain and lush vegetation to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a truly amazing natural phenomenon of 16 large and countless small lakes. They are all linked to one another by a series of cascades, waterfalls, and cave systems. Sounds like heaven on earth—and the perfect place to have dinner and spend the night.

Day 13 ~ 28, Sunday Plitvice National Park, Zagreb

Got your walking shoes on and your camera ready? We're going to spend a few hours exploring the park on foot, skirting some of the lower lakes and feasting on the fantastic scenery created by the sparkling water against a backdrop of lush foliage and thickly forested mountains. After what is sure to be one of the best mornings of the tour, we'll return to our motorcoach and continue to Zagreb. The capital of Croatia since 1557, Zagreb is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Medvednica. It's a bustling, big city with more than a million inhabitants and a decidedly European atmosphere. It developed out of two medieval rivals: Kaptol and Gradec, which now form Zagreb's well-preserved Upper Town. The hub of business and commerce in the city is the Lower Town; and New Zagreb is the more recently built part of the city. After hotel check-in, your tour manager will suggest restaurants in the area; and John will be happy to assist those who would like to dine in groups.

Day 14 ~ 29, Monday - Zagreb

In the morning, we'll take a guided walk in the historic Upper Town where we'll see St. Mark's and St. Catherine's Churches, the Parliament, and the Government Palace. We also plan to visit St. Stephen's Cathedral with its striking twin spires rising over 4,000 feet above the Archbishop's Palace. The afternoon is yours to finish your souvenir shopping or get started on packing for tomorrow's homeward journey. At day's end, we'll get together for a festive farewell dinner at our hotel.

Day 15 ~ 30, Tuesday - Return

All too soon, our tour is coming to a close. After breakfast, we'll transfer to Zagreb Airport to check in for our flights via Vienna and back to the U.S. We'll be clearing customs in Chicago. Then we'll catch a plane for the flight back to Grand Rapids. We hope your Balkan Holiday has been a marvelous "journey of discovery" and lots of fun!

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