Distance travelled : 410 kms
A very different day today from the previous few weeks. We set off from Krapina into the hills and it was a day of ascents and descents, up onto ridges and then down into valleys. The hamlets were not as pristine as we have seen in previous days with half finished buildings and some abandoned. There were bountiful fruit trees ( apples, peaches and plums) and much more poultry than we have experienced before. Weather was perfect. Sunny but mild. About 28 degrees.
Marlise. The perfect hostess. Wonderful breakfast including real expresso coffees and scrambled eggs. 3 euros. All feeling great after our fabulous massages yesterday. 25 euros.
We started off today walking up the Sculpture Park near the Neanderthal Museum. A steep climb.
Up into the forest. All with our packs. No transport baggage today.
Into the first valley.
A spectacular spider and web,
Many poultry farms. Including spectacular turkeys and geese.
Up and over another rise.
Beautifully cared for private vineyards and fruit orchards.
Ros and Thelma finding a short cut.
A car stops at an intersection. Where are we going? Where are we from? Do we need any help?
Lunch with the fabulous ingredients provided by Marlise this morning.
Yet another picturesque valley.
Refreshment stop at one of the 'few and far between' supermarkets. Water needed as it was such a long day's walk.
Fruit trees lined the path. Delicious crunchy apples and sweet peaches keeping us very fit and regular!
At last another cafe. Very basic but so welcoming.
I asked for coffee (kava) and although not served at this cafe, the owner sent a message to his wife up the road, and she brought it down to me. Such a special moment in a small community where they wanted the make us feel so welcome.
Ros, Thelma and Kumi called our next host to come and collect them from the cafe as they felt the next 10 kms would prove too much for them. Good decision...and it proved to be another 13 kms,
Mark, Jason, Emma and I decided to continue the ups and downs for what ended up another 4 hours.
A fairytale house, one of many on our journey.
Our first view of Zagorska Sela.
Our accommodation tonight is a beautiful 400 year old manor house, with Inma and Aljosa.
Our bedroom with modern bathrooms.
The kitchen.
Dinner in the garden,
The very appreciative guests.
Our host, Aljosa, tonight is a musician, a saxophonist, who gave us a short recital with his talented son.
Their family have owned the house since the 1870 s and now it is their family home.
Wonderful company and welcome after such a long day.
M&M
1 comment:
Hi Meg & Mark. You seem to encounter a friendly welcome and an interesting place to stay at every turn. Had to laugh at the cafe that does not serve coffee - perhaps it was a pub and you should have asked for beer? Happy walking!
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