2013-7-11 - Vukovar and the city of Osijek - Croatia

 

 



 

"Vukovar, which literally means "the town on the river Vuka," is the largest river port in Croatia. It stretches along the right bank of the Danube & is cut in half by the Vuka, which flow in to meet it.  Osijek, the larger city to the north is the economic & cultural center of the region of Slavonia."

 



Ahhhh....the dawn of another beautiful day. We've been incredibly lucky that there's been no rain-just sun & fluffy clouds. We arrived in Vukovar about 10am on 7/11/13.  After breakfast, we were entertained by a local Croatian Tamburica band. What a great way to start the day !!

The Tamburica Band

We enjoyed lunch on board as the crew was busy rafting up to another river boat & preparing a way for us to disembark.

 

 

Rafted to another river boat

 

 



This is the boat we had to walk through to get to shore

 





We enjoyed an afternoon excursion to a charming 'home' in the outskirts of the Croatian city of Osijek. The whole bus-load of us were cheerfully greeted by the family at this home who offered more food, wine & Plum Brandy (you must aquire a taste for it -you either love it or hate it)  

 

 

 

Beautiful, hand-made Croatian dress

 

Acres & Acres of Lavender

  

And dried Lavender

 

Yummy stuff

 

 

  Village in Osijek, Croatia

 



"CROATIA: Officially the Republic of  Croatia is a Southeast European country, covering some 21,831 square miles, at the crossroads between the Pannonian Plain, Mediterranean Sea & the Balkans. Its capital & largest city is Zagreb. Croaia borders Slovenia & Hungary to the north, Serbia to the northeast, Bosnia & Herzegovina to the east, & Montenegro to the far southeast. Its southern & western flanks border the Adriatic Sea & also shares a sea border with Italy in the Gulf of Trieste." 

 



We then visited an amazing cathederal in the city. Here are a few pictures of the cathederal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're kidding-right?  a Keys-like toilet seat in the Cathederal ? !!

 

 

I'm trying hard to open the moat bridge

 

 

Mc Drive ??

 

It was a long but enjoyable day & was comforting to be back on board in the cool of the boat. Another yummy dinner & disembarkation details by George about the next days'

events. Soothing live piano music in the lounge as we sailed away from Croatia for Kalocsa, Hungary at 8pm then a lively

guest's talent show & sing-a-long in the lounge.

 

 

Taming the Danube in Croatia

" The Lower Danube is many things to many people...Its an important shipping channel for Eastern Europe, but it is also a precious wetlands environment that supports hundreds of fish, birds & land animals...Plans are underway to change the course of the Danube in Croatia by straightening the river's path, building up its banks & adding structures  to prevent silting & erosion. Upper regions of the Danube were reengineered years ago, but Eastern Europe was the land that time forgot - until now....Environmentalists have serious concerns. They point out that the river has its own self-regulating mechanism - spring rains & runoff from melting snow causes the water to swell from March through August; the floodplains absorb the water, fish spawn, birds feed..."