The Plitvice lake national park – Where land and water form perfect unison

The Plitvice Lake National Park is located halfway between Zagreb and Zadar – it’s 16 lakes fed by rivers Cruna Rijeka and Bijela Rijeka (White and Black River), underground springs, connected together by waterfalls, flowing into the river Korana. In 1979 it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be visited through a network of well marked trails and 18 km of walkways. The park is 215km from Trieste and the entrance fee (which includes all transport – electric boats, trains – in the park) costs about 70kn 110kn in low season and high season with a discount for children 7-18 years of 50% and free entry for children under 7 years). The best time to visit the lakes is May / June, when the lakes are full of water and trees and flowers are in full bloom.

Croatia - Plitvice Lakes

The park is divided roughly into two parts: the upper lakes which are located in a valley surrounded by forests and dolomite connected by spectacular waterfalls, and the bottom of lakes where you can see smaller and lower vegetation. Locally, there are many species of animals, including bears, wolves, wild boars, foxes and badgers, and several species of birds. Beyond the runways, to travel within the park ships, boats and train are available. The Plitvice Lakes National Park covers an area of 29,685.15 hectares. Although not all parts of the park are accessible to visitors, there are miles of walking paths and wooden bridges for exploring the surrounding nature that dazzles the visitor with its beauty. Inevitable and not to be missed are the scenic Plitvice trains with which you can reach even the remotest parts of the park and linger in order to get a panoramic view of the lakes. In the park there are also boats that sail on the lake Kozjak, connecting the upper and lower lakes. The Plitvice Lakes are divided into upper and lower ones. The lakes extending from Lake Superior to the ProScan Kozjak with a backdrop of the Dolomites, while the Lower Lakes with a limestone, which continues under the Sastavak taking the form of the Korana River canyon – along 134 km to the north. The length of the Plitvice Lakes is 8200 m, but if one adds in the length of the ‘Proscan inlet of Lake Liman, the bay of the lake Kozjak Susnjak, and the farthest point on the lake Ciginovac, one arrives at
 total length of 9050 m.

Kozjak Coast

Only later did man create channels and passages for the water that we see today in this area. The lake is at a ‘height of 620 m above sea level, and with a range of 0.07 km. The deepest point of the lake is at its center and is 11 meters. The most interesting part is the waterfall of Lake Proscan, with various rock formations in the south-eastern Europe. The slope forms the northern part of the lake (from which you can enjoy a wonderful view over the lake and Ciginovac ProScan), while the wooded slopes of the western part; provide a view of the north-east of the summit, ProScan and the tip of Murat.

Cape Verde, the most beautiful islands in the planet

he archipelago of Cape Verde consists of 10 islands and several islets and is located off the Senegalese coast. The clear waters and white sandy beaches of Cape Verde attract many
tourists from all over the world.

Sunset-Cape Verde

The largest islands of the archipelago are 10. Santiago and its capital, Praia, Boa Vista and Sal are the most popular. Here you can find more tourist facilities of the place. The capital of the archipelago is the Praia, located in the volcanic Santiago, the largest island of the group. Even in the capital, the pace is slow, and there lies the heart of the islands nightlife with musical events and dances. Within walking distance of Praia is the Cidade Velha, the first colonial city that was built in the tropics, which is now a world heritage of UNESCO. Most monuments are restored or are in the final stage of maintenance.

Boa Vista

Sao Antao, the second largest island of Cape Verde is the most westerly island of the cluster and the greenest of them all. It is characterized by the mountain Pico da Krouth that has 1585 meters of altitude, steep canyons, mountains, huge rocks, wooded slopes and small fishing villages on the edge of the cliff, like the Fontainhas. The island of Sal, one of the few flat islands of Cape Verde and especially the white tropical beach of Santa Maria, is an important ecosystem and hundreds of sea turtles come here to hatch their eggs. Apart from that, it is one
 of the most ideal spots in the world for windsurfing and kite surfing.

Sao Antao

Mindelo, the capital of Sao Vicente with its colored houses and the nostalgic atmosphere is considered the heart of the local culture of the islands and gathers all the artistic movement in the country. There you will hear music while walking to the streets of the city and definitely come across with concerts and musical groups playing the traditional “Mornos” (musical idiom prevalent in Cape Verde, born from the oppression of European colonizers, with themes of nostalgia, that describes the freedom , the betrayed love and unfulfilled dreams in a melancholic way) and more. Also, Mindelo is also known for its carnival, the biggest event of the year. The Fogo Island is essentially a round-island volcano, with its picturesque Sao Fillipe making a great impression with its narrow streets, colorful colonial houses, the squares and the great church of Our Lady and especially with the spectacular views of the ocean. Fogo is an active volcano and is unique to the archipelago of the volcanic cone reaching a height 2.829m at Pico do Cano. A road with many bends ascends the south slope of the volcano, reaching the edge, at 1,800 meters, while the crater is an entire village!

Mindelo

Tourism on the island with dunes, Boa Vista is still sparse and here you will not find luxury hotels. But what you will find are beautiful beaches with white sand and azure waters. The most beautiful beach is Curranlinho. Another popular beach is Cabo Santa Maria, on the coast of which lies the wreck of a Spanish ship.The various islands of Cape Verde are linked together by sea and by air. The cheapest way is definitely by ferry, but we must take into account the fact that the ocean is never really quiet and that in case of bad weather maritime links are broken. You can then decide to visit Cape Verde through domestic flights: the cost is certainly much higher, but the journey is by far more comfortable.

What to see in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul known to be European Capital of Culture is clearly one of the most dynamic and exciting cities today. This is mainly due to its geographical location wherein the city is divided between Europe and Asia. Even if you spend weeks in this place, it is not enough to see everything.  The sights found in Istanbul are intoxicating combining culture, religion and history. Even if the city is large, its local residents kept it clean and cosmopolitan. They are happy and friendly to tourists which add to the fun. There are top places that you want to see if you want to see Istanbul’s exotic charm.

The city of Istanbul
Topkapi Palace is the residence of sultans for four centuries. It has interlinking courtyards with various buildings. This is where you can find the Imperial Treasury which is a gallery of jewels. It also houses historical artifacts including tooth and hairs of Mohammed and St John the Baptists. No traveler is complete without visiting Hagia Sophia where you can find Christian mosaics and iconography which are considered valuable works of art. Blue Mosque is another place that you should see. Its interiors are lined with beautiful colored tiles. If you are visiting the mosque, make sure to be respectful on their worship.

Hagia Sophia

The Grand Bazaar is the largest market area in the world with thousands of shops that sells everything from rugs, antiques, jewelries, and ceramics. It is customary to bargain for the best price which is normally half from the original price. It is very easy to get lost in the maze of stores. You can also witness dervish. They are devotees who swirl and spin in believing that they get close to God because of their movements.  It is best to reserve prior since they only perform at certain times. You can also visit the Ataturk Cultural center which houses ballet and opera. At the other side is Republic Monument that commemorates heroes of Turkey.