2024 POSTCARD FROM CROATIA Friday 2 August – Sunday 11 August

I was picked up at the unearthly hour of 5.30am on Friday 2nd August and got to the airport half an hour later. From then on it was chaotic. Terminal 3 is not my favourite terminal [not sure why BA use it for short haul] – I sat in the BA lounge for an hour or so and then tried to make my way to the Gate but BA simply would not put up the Gate number. So at 8am I walked around to try and find the Gate. Eventually found it at 8.30am but all the BA ladies seemed unsure as to whether it was the right Gate or not. Eventually at 8.45 they decided it was and put us all on buses [a long ride – thought we were off to Gatwick!] to the plane. Once on board we sat and we sat – after ¾ hour they gave us some water, and still we sat. We eventually took off 65 minutes late. At least I got a glass of fizz and some brunch! Pretty chaotic at Zagreb airport too – however did eventually find someone to take me to my hotel [with 10 others] and did eventually manage to check into my hotel by 3pm! Quite a palavar! Hotel OK – and had a reasonable room. However, having been to Zagreb before it was a rather long and boring afternoon, and no coffee on offer in the room either. On Saturday I had a dreadful day! Checked out of my room at midday. We should have been picked up at 1pm and taken to the Lady Eleganza in Opatije. However, she had a collision with a ferry so they were searching out a new ship for us. They delayed our departure to 3pm, so 3 hours in the hotel lounge with no food or drink. We [just 25 of us] were then driven for 5 hours to Zadar to a new ship called Bellezza. Once in Zadar they had to take us to dinner – at 9pm – as the new ship had not arrived. So a very very late night by the time we go on board and unpacked. I think I turned my light out at 2.30 am. On Sunday I spent most of the day on the top deck soaking up the sunshine. My sciatica was worse than ever – probably from spending 5 hours on a coach. We cruised all the way from Zadar to Rab where some went on a walking tour. On Monday we cruised back to Pag and dropped anchor so that some of us could go swimming in the Adriatic – good for my sciatica. After lunch I spent the afternoon on the top deck soaking up the sunshine. Tuesday was sunshine on the top deck but we then had an amazing display from the fire fighting pilots putting out a mountain fire. In the evening we had dinner in the village of Radosic. Back to the ship around 9.30 for a nightcap before bed. On Wednesday we visited Krka National Park – beautiful waterfalls but very hot and very exhausting as we were walking for two hours – and my sciatica was playing up a lot. That evening there was a lot singing, so I slipped away to bed. On Thursday we were woken at 5am when the ship had to move itself around – they seem to like berthing their ships side by side, but then in the morning all have to move to let others out – nightmare. That day I went on a rather poor trip to Komiza on the island of Vis, and sadly we had a guide who didn’t draw a breath on the coach journey. En route to Hvar we stopped for a lovely swim in the Adriatic. Then back to the top deck for the afternoon, while we sailed to Hvar, where arrived quite late. Having been there before I did not go on an evening tour but took myself to the bar while the other 24 went on a short tour of Hvar. On Friday morning we woke to find we had sailed for Korcula. A quiet morning on board and another swim in the Adriatic. We arrived in Korcula at 3pm and I went on a short walking tour of the town. An early dinner that night so we could watch the sunset at 8pm. On Saturday I spent the day on the top deck, mostly in the shade as it was quite warm! We sailed all morning and arrived in Dubrovnik at lunchtime. Having been before I did not join any tour but relaxed on the top deck. Then it was time to pack cases and prepare for the Captain’s dinner on our last night. Quite a good dinner – at least I had a good table, and after dinner the Captain kindly invited me to visit his Bridge. Then returned to my friends for one more nightcap! A bit of problem getting off the ship with moving ships around, but eventually made it to the airport. Had a lousy flight with very noisy kids sitting in front of me in Business class. BA should not allow it – or at least put them at the back of Business. Too many hiccups for me. And no apology from APT for all that we have been through.