Wandering the Cascades

Although we were in Argentina for quite a long time, we didn't make it up to the famous Iguazu Falls.  We were scolded for this oversight by fellow travelers, but our reasoning was simple: we didn't want to get on another bus for 20 hours just to spend one day in a park and drive right back! (After several 24+ hour bus rides, we definitely needed a break.)

While traveling in Croatia, several people we met told us that we had to go visit the Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia, which was just a few hours from the city of Split. We decided that this was the perfect way to get our waterfall fix without the long bus rides. 

We've convinced ourselves that it was just as beautiful as Iguazu Falls is. (Yes, this is likely us rationalizing.) Plivitce Lakes National Park has hundreds, if not thousands, of waterfalls of all different shapes and sizes that trickle and splash their way into big turquoise lakes. We were there on a slightly rainy day in mid-May and we had the best kind of day: small crowds and high water from the rain.

I'm pretty sure that one day when I think back on this trip, I'll first think of the rickety bridges

A lingering bit of autumn

The lake was so high that the water sloshed through the cracks of the steps

Mouth of a limestone cave

Turquoise waters

Ferry boat that escorted us from one area of the park to another

If you're planning a trip to Croatia, definitely add Plivitice Lakes to your itinerary. The waterwalls were breathtaking, and the nature that surrounds the lakes is much different from what you'll see on the beaches of Dubrovnik or Split. Many people visit Plivitice as a day trip, but we stayed at a wonderful guesthouse in town and enjoyed the slower pace.

-R