I went to Croatia during my study abroad semester in Vienna so that I could complete my research for "UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in Europe." I did research at Plitvice Lakes National Park. As these natural sites are not easily accessible, it was easier to stay in Zagreb and then drive to Plitvice. My friend whom I met in Vienna and I took a Flixbus from Vienna to Zagreb. We stayed overnight in Zagreb.

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The next morning, we headed to Plitvice Lakes National Park. I had booked a tour guide to take us from Zagreb to the lake park and then to take us around the lakes. He was a younger guy but was extremely informative and friendly. On our way to Plitvice, we stopped in a tiny but beautiful town called Rastoke. 

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We finally arrived at Plitvice and spent about 5 hours touring the national park. The lake park is huge and it would be impossible for us to cover everything in one day. The park was extremely crowded but I did not let this get in the way of enjoying it. This park is one of the most beautiful works of nature I have ever seen. It is simply picturesque. The green-blue water and the waterfalls are mesmerizing. 

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To learn more about my research about the lake park, use the link below:

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https://andydonatelli2018magellan.blogspot.com/2018/06/plitvice-lakes-national-park.html

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We went back to Zagreb and spent the night there. The next morning, we toured through Zagreb. Zagreb is also a very pretty city. There were tons of flowers and very nice parks. St. Mark's Church was my favorite attraction. The artistry on the roof is amazing to see in person.

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I was pleasantly surprised with Croatia. I absolutely loved this country. I would love to go back to visit some of the coastal towns. Originally, I had planned to stay in Zagreb for one more day and take a day trip to Zadar but I had to cancel because of a final that was rescheduled. Looks like I have to go back now!

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