Plitvice National Park

Today was an early start.We had to walk to the bus station and catch the bus to Plitvice Lakes at 8.30am and find some breakfast on the way. The day was particularly notable because it was raining,the first time since leaving home so our raincoats got an airing.
The bus trip takes about two and a half hours through quite rural countryside.Lots of forest and some rivers and wetlands along the way.Farming is the way of life in this area,some quite small and a number of abandoned houses in the villages.We actually saw a small flock of sheep,a couple of cows and some goats.
Antway the arrival time was eleven and we arrived on time.Lots of tour groups gathering and buying up raincoats because of the rain.However the rain was shortlived and we were able to revert to our shorts and a  t-shirt as we walked around the waterfalls on wooden walkways with large numbers of sightseers cramming the way.
The waterfalls had been replenished by the overnight rain so they were quite spectacular.I have to say as New Zealanders we have to have something pretty amazing to match our own parks.
We walked up and around the smaller lakes brimming with fish until we came to a larger lake where you catch a boat and ride along to the end of the lake where you transfer to a bus which returns you to your exit gate or you can go further up the lake system.The colours of the water are spectacular.It is karst country,Colin will know all about this and the water forms through tufa  to create this rich blue shade. Very striking against the green foliage.
Bird and animals were unseen by us but brown bears,wolves and lynx are present along with many butterflies and species plants native to Croatia.
Eventually we arrived back to where we would catch the bus back to Zagreb.Time for an ice cream and some lunch before heading back to the city.
We spent a few hours glamming up before walking into the old town to listen to a concert near St Catherine. It was in a museum outdoor courtyard so we were sitting under the stars.
It was stunning.The first half was a formal choir singing classical music,spine tingling in the harmony and chorus followed by another choir who sang and played a range of classical folk music.Very melodic and lively but great tempo and in harmony.Magic music.
The night was spoiled by me losing Brad's purse.We think it was picked out of my bag,no idea how but we retraced our steps and could not find anything so we treked around looking for the police station which we eventually found.We have to go back tomorrow!
The night was late so we ended up getting pizza at the railway station and eating in our room.
Such a shame as we had had a memorable day apart from the purse mystery.