These first five photos were taken atop Mt. Kamenjak in the Vrana Lake Nature Park in Croatia. The amazing view you are seeing looks down over Lake Vrana towards the Kornati Islands in the Adriatic Sea.
Lake Vrana, the greenish body of water in the forefront, lies on the Dalmatian coast, and is the largest lake in Croatia. It is separated from the sea by a mere 2 km strip of land which you can clearly see in this photo.
The view from the opposite side of Mt. Kamenjak is also incredible, and looks into the interior of Croatia. It was quite special for me to visit this area of the world, because my grandfather, who emigrated to the US through Ellis Island in the early 1900’s, was from this area.
The spectacular Mt. Kamenjak viewpoint is off the beaten track and less traveled.
There is a charming old chapel, many hiking options, picnic facilities, and a place to order snacks if you didn’t bring a picnic.
Lake Varna can be easily reached on a day trip from nearby Zadar, the oldest continuously occupied city in Croatia. This is St. Donatus Church in Zadar, founded in the 9th Century.
The small chapel is St. Mary’s Church, founded in 1066, and the ruins you see scattered about are the remnants of the largest Roman Forum in the Eastern Adriatic.
Zadar is the historical center of The Dalmatian Coast. It was founded by the Liburnians in the 4th Century BC, and numerous Neolithic settlements have been discovered here.
Zadar is a delightfully fun city to visit, with lots of places to explore, and wonderful restaurants to sample the local cuisine. If this isn’t enough to tempt you, Croatia is a good travel bargain, especially off-season. The city quay, where people gather, has a sea organ that chimes in rhythm with the waves. It also has the remarkable glass “Greeting to the Sun,” which you can see in this photo and read about by clicking on the link below:
http://www.zadar.travel/en/city-guide/attractions/05-12-2007/the-greeting-to-the-sun
We are still home at The Holler now, but it is cheers to you from spectacular Lake Vrana and historic Zadar, Croatia~
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Great photos. I love the color of the clear sky. And the view to the wide open spaces.
It was an amazing view and relatively unheard of which meant very uncrowded~
The views are amazing, Cindy! You see some very beautiful areas around the world.
I try & thank you Lavinia~
Thanks for the tour and your enthusiasm for it as a destination is evident.
Croatia is beautiful!
Incredible photos! I’m really enjoying this trip 😉
We have a lot of fun together! <3
Yes, we do 🙂 <3
Gosh, how beautiful. I have never been to Croatia but hear from many that it is a place to visit and your post certainly reiterates that. Another place to add to my list.
Croatia has so many wonderful qualities and is will worth visiting~
Great pics, as always, Cindy! Did you get to explore any distant family in the area?
I have family member in Sofia Bulgaria and definitely plan to visit someday. I have been on the border, but haven’t yet made it across.
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Beautiful pictures of Croatia from Cindy Knoke.
Croatia, and I, are grateful to you Patricia~ <3
What a view from above. I would sit there all day.
I highly recommend it!!!
That’s a part of Croatia that I haven’t seen. Awesome & unique mountain view of the islands … and I imagine I would enjoy Zadar. Many thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating!
Cindy, this must have been an emotional and special visit for you with such close familial ties…a beautiful area with rich fascinating history.
Eastern Europe definitely strikes a chord in me. The history is so complex. I still only understand parts of it.
Somehow I doubt there are many who fully understand it’s very complicated and interwoven history…fascinating all the same and it’s almost as if you can sense it when visiting these places. 😀
What an amazing trip and with a family connection too! I love the views from Mt Kamenjak, so beautiful whichever way you look! Thank you so much for sharing :o) xxx
Thank you more for such encouraging words!
Great pictures.
Alberto Mrteh ( El zoco del escriba)
Hvala ti!
Okay Cindy, you convinced me. One day I will see Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast. 🙂
Oh, you will be so happy you did this! I am happy for you~
How wonderful to be able to visit your grandfather’s homeland!
He was a pivotal person in my life and it is amazing to wonder, did he walk here?
Gorgeous photos as always, Cindy. Cracking good views up there!
Great that you had the chance to visit the place of your Grandfather’s.
Wishing you a great summer at The Holler before you start on your next exciting expedition! 🙂
My next exciting adventure is heading way north towards your homeland, starting in Svalbard and heading further north into the arctic!
We know, we are fevering for the reports and the photos. ***Shiver*** with joy for you, sending lots of smiles 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
<3 <3
Cindy, are you familiar with Erica Haugen’s “Experiencenorthcape” about her life in Nordkapp? Great images of northernmost Norway!,
I am not, but thanks for the lead. I have been to Nordkapp and would love to see her work.
The sea organ and Greeting to the sun installation sound marvelous; thanks for sharing this!
Yes! They are incredible aren’t they!
Our neighbours are from Croatia, Cindy, and it’s so nice to see the country where they came from.
That’ll be on our bucket list.
Leslie
You will be very happy you added it. It is much less traveled than more touristy places, especially off season.
From what our neighbours say, it is wonderful.
Leslie
<3
🙂 <3
Wow! What a fabulous place, and your photos are stunning. 🙂
I am honored! Thank you Lynette~
I adore the way stones are incorporated into everything there. Please tell me that you dined at a restaurant that used large flat rocks instead of plates. 😉 Lovely pics as always sweet girl!
I saw them as serving dishes, and I have seen them at home, not knowing they came from here.
Love it! 😁😁😁
The lake looks magnificent!
It is huge and gorgeous and the islands are stunning too!
What a delight to get to see a part of the world I know very little about. Your photos and enthusiasm made me want to travel there or at least learn more. Thanks.
The further I travel around this great big world of ours, the more I realize there is to see!
Beautiful!
Thank you!
What a beautifully historic place!
Roman ruins are scattered around like tinker toys! Amazing~
Every set of photos you post makes me want to go and live there!
I know exactly how you feel, since I feel the same!
Exquisite Cindy! The lake is gorgeous but my heart leaps to the sea. I do understand your connection and do hope that one day I will finally see Sweden where my father was from… 🙂
Oh, I hope you do visit Sweden Lea. The islands off the coast are incredible!
It is high on my list! Finger’s crossed Cindy! 🙂
<3
Bisous et calins mon amie!
This is awesome!
So happy you think so!
Fascinating. My vast ignorance about that area just had a little enlightening.
Real and virtual travel expands our horizons which is a very good thing!
That is so kewl you got to see where your grandfather came from! Looks so beautiful sweetie! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Hugs back to youze twoze~ <3
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I have just popped in to see how things are going and to browse through some of my friend’s blogs.. Never disappointed to visit Cindy Knoke’s photography posts. I have never been to Croatia but Cindy’s Grandfather came from this particular area of stunning coastline.. Looks like a wonderful place to visit. #recommended
My lovely friend Sally! Hugs to you and thank you too! <3
I’ve always heard Croatia was beautiful. Your pictures prove it. Gorgeous.
Hey lady! Wonderful to hear from you and I hope you visit someday. <3
Beautiful photos, Cindy. It’s strange to look at such lovely “normal” looking places and remember that not long ago war was waged here, neighbors killing neighbors. I’m glad that your photos show a place of peace and beauty now.
Such horrendous brutality in the region, yes, and it is such a lovely place and old culture.
Cindy, how wonderful for you to visit the land of your ancestors! And what a beautiful land it is, too! I’d never heard of the sea organ or the greeting to the sun — how interesting! You’ve got some gorgeous photos here … as usual.
I hadn’t heard of either of the sea organ or the Greeting to the Sun. They really make the quay something special!
Beautiful scenery!
Very pleased you enjoyed!
Lovely insight into the world of Croatia 🙂 That sea reminds me of the sea at Brighton the other day!! It was 32 degrees C and blue skies and sunshine….bit like Croatia!! 😉
Sounds so beautiful! I want to go to Cornwall and Wales, two places I have never been.
Being the arm chair traveller I am, you are taking me to some wonderful places =^_^=
I love traveling with you ! <3
How truly wonderful. Thank you.
Hugs to you my friend~ <3
Oh Cindy, this one is extra special to me because my grandfather’s family was from the former Yugoslavia. Croatian love xx Thank you for the extraordinary photos
No wonder we get along so well. We are practically cousins! <3
I told my wife about some photos of Croatia I had seen and she’s ready o go. I love that brick building with the green shutters. Is it a house? or a business of some sort?
It is a little cafe, serving regional cuisine, at the view point. There were around five small buildings and the chapel made from the local stone.
Cindy, Your photographs are stunning and beautiful!
Awww, you are very kind Charles~
Love the color of that green lake against the coastline.
I am so glad. It had just enough color variation to make the difference noticeable.
Gorgeous pics. Looks like a slice of heaven. 🙂 xx
Thanks my friend, we live in a beautiful world!
We do, we just have to keep it that way. 🙂
I see the building architecture seems to be using strong rectangle or square shape (or close to be). That is very interesting but beautifully blended together.
There was another building with no windows and the rocks were just stacked in frames with no cement. Fascinating……
I am wondering what the build is for now. I used to work in a build that has no window at all. Once you are in you do not know what the world outside is like.
Sounds like an electronic room. They have these in defense, no windows, no noise, you wear headphones, and just have computer screens. When you step outside, you are temporarily disoriented.
That makes sense.
Such an enjoyable tour! What a beautiful city. Love these photos, Cindy! 🙂
I am so glad you do and thank you!
💖 🙂
A beautiful old chapel…my favourite of all the pictures although they are all beautiful Cindy 🙂
I have interiors of the chapel which was rustic, but very lovely!
Lovely it does look imple but stunning…I love rustic..I am not a modernist 🙂
What a sweet enticing place. I think Croatia must go on the list!
Alison
Oh good. Your feet must be starting to itch just about now!
Wow…
That is what I said when I saw the view!
The churches and buildings that are that old seem to be in very good condition, considering. They are very unique, and I’m sure as you said made that trip very special to visit having your grandfather coming from there. That was another thing I loved too about my trip to Russia in 1989 because Odessa was my grandfather’s birthplace and the city he immigrated from to the U.S. Croatia looks like an awesome historical site to visit. The coastline with the Vrana lake pretty too.
I don’t think the ones you are looking at are old, although the rocks certainly are. This lookout was spruced up recently, possibly 2006. There are much older buildings around though.
Wow – so very special Cindy. Thank you for sharing this little known perspective 💕
Thank you more for the kind appreciation Val & have a wonderful week!
So beautiful! 😘💞💓
So kind of you and so appreciated too! <3
Thank you! 😘😁💓. So much-deserved 💚💙
💜💟