Former war-torn nation now welcoming tourists government, adventure, tourists, campaign, outdoor

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Former war-torn nation now welcoming tourists
Is this really the way the Mediterranean used to be? If this was the way the Mediterranean used to be as the TV advertisements say, I had the Mediterranean all wrong. Croatia offers an abundance of culture, outdoor and subterranean adventures to satisfy any adventure travel cravings.

The Croatian government has been embarking on an aggressive advertising campaign for several years to draw tourists to its Mediterranean coastline and ancient cities. Croatia is now a stable, peaceful country filled with opportunities for a variety of tourism escapes.

The city of Zadar and the Velebit national park and reserve system in the central part of Croatia offer a great jumping-off point for an adventure exploring the Croatian people and countryside. The national park encompasses a large mountain range that separates the dry coastal sundrenched city of Zadar and the Mediterranean shores from the cooler interior covered in pine trees, running rivers and fertile pastures.

The park, located just northeast of the port city of Zadar, is a short 45minute drive and the starting point to begin river rafting through the national park. Zadar's history mirrors the rest of Croatia.

Foreign powers have occupied this ancient city including the Romans, the Venetians, the Germans during the Second World War, and finally the Soviets during the period of communism. The city centre has a fortress wall (almost 50 feet tall in places) designed to keep out Turkish Ottoman invaders during the Venetian period.

The entrance through the wall still contains the old hinges from the solid wood and iron doors that once secured the fortress. Inscriptions carved in stone here proclaim that the city was taken by peaceful means. The city was actually sold to the Venetians in the 1400s and remained in their control until 1797.

The Hotel Bastion, located in the historical city core, was built on the remains of the medieval fortress "Kastela" from the 13th century. The hotel has luxurious rooms with a fantastic restaurant serving fresh seafood and local meats.

The hotel is a historical journey complete with port views where you can watch the ferry man rowing across the port entrance, for a few coins, as has been done undisturbed for centuries.

I was lucky enough to team up with Zeljko Kelemen, who owns Huck Finn Adventures.

Kelemen has been offering outdoor adventure excursions including sailing, mountain biking, hiking, rafting and sea kayaking trips for over 11 years and provides adventures for REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) from Seattle.

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In Velebit national park, the Zrmanja River snakes through canyons to the coastline and Huck Finn Adventures offers a beginner to moderate rafting trip and a great way to experience the remote side of Croatia. The best times to explore the Croatian river systems is the spring when mountain run off is at its highest, but all the river trips operate year round, even when water levels are lower and make for a "soft adventure," suitable for any experience level.

The Zrmanja River combines a mixture of serene peaceful sections to take in the tranquil beauty of the region, along with sections of short rapids to add a bit of adrenalin to the day.

There is a portage around a 50-foot waterfall and ample opportunity to swim and do some cliff jumping into the cold "refreshing" river.

The landscape is a mixture of rocky imestone and fertile pastures along the river valley, where locals wave as you float by. The day was finished off with an early dinner of succulent lamb cooked "under the bell," a large castiron metal dome enclosing the meat, which is slowly cooked over a wood fire. The meal made a fantastic finish and heartwarming closing to a day in the Croatian countryside.

From the city of Zadar, the journey to another national park called Plitvice is just four hours by car and a one-or two-day trip to explore this region known for its crystal clear lakes and waterfalls is well worth it.

If you stay overnight within the park, the Hotel Jezero, is a "charming" large drab Communist concrete facility from the outside and is more akin to a movie set from the 1970s.

Decorating each room is the orange bedspreads and other dated decor, which you would expect from the outside.

There is even a stuffed black bear in the hotel lobby, encased in glass, which is more protection from the tourist hordes than the actual animal.

However, its aged charm begins to wear on you and is offset by the phenomenal view, and sunsets, from the rooms overlooking the national park.

The entire park is a major attraction for throngs of Italian and German bus tours, so hiking the more difficult trails or starting out first thing in the morning is a must if you want to avoid the crowds.

If you are caught in the hordes, being patient is a virtue as the crowds around some of the waterfalls can be somewhat daunting in this natural park. But the countless waterfalls and still lakes are an absolute must and, hopefully, receive the protection to preserve their beauty.

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Croatia is perforated with cave systems because of its limestone geological makeup.

Subterranean trips are available in a number of locations; one of the most interesting is through the cave system just outside the small town of Knin.

Knin is southeast of Zadar and a short 1.5-hour drive through rolling hills and a mountain pass. The caves are only open during daylight hours, which makes for a fantastic day trip.

The site named Parc Prirode, is actually home to three large caves, of which two are open to the public, and each range in length from 1,300-metres to 2,400-metres long.

These caves are enormous inside and the air extremely cool at 8 C.

The stalagmites and open cathedral-like caverns are an amazing sight.

A railway engineer doing survey work accidentally discovered the caves in the 1920s and you can still feel the train rumble by from time to time, which adds to the isolated, subterranean feeling.

In the southern part of Croatia, off the shores of the ancient city of Dubrovnik, lie three islands: Loud, Kolocep and Sipan. These Mediterranean shores are perfect to take in kayaking, bicycling and sailing, while soaking up the Mediterranean sun and enjoying Croatian hospitality. The islands of Kolocep and Sipan provide ample bicycle riding in small Mediterranean towns, through olive groves and along their sandstone shorelines.

Dubrovnik is a well-preserved medieval city that escaped the many invasions of past conquering empires including the Venetians and German Second World War aerial bombardments. The high fortress walls and masterful negotiating skills of past city administrators negotiated full autonomy from the Venetians and became a family stronghold of which the current residents are extremely proud.

The Croatia I experienced was not lounging on a beach, being served drinks, surrounded by thousands of other tourists.

Croatia offers so much more.

The people are fantastic, welcoming and warm. What a shame it would be to miss out on what the Mediterranean really was, and currently is.

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Croatia is an under-rated travel destination that more and more visitors are discovering.

快樂牛郎

Croatia should be cool to visit