Tag Archives: Excursions

Croatia : My Second Cruise In The Islands

A Cruise On a Nice Yacht

It’s always a pleasure to go to Croatia! After two flights with a change in Zagreb, I arrive in Dubrovnik where I join the yacht privatized by the French tour operator Rivages du Monde for about twenty clients. The boat is large and well maintained; its crew is young and dynamic. The next day, after a short morning in Dubrovnik (still as superb): I visit with a friend Cavtat, a charming seaside town and its surroundings with beautiful vineyards, 20 km south of Dubrovnik. This little getaway is not included in the cruise program.

The cruise starts the next day, heading for the small island of Korcula that I already know. I am also very excited to see Split again, even if the weather will not be great all week: torrential rain, turbulence and even a storm that will prevent us from going to Hvar. It happens. Fortunately for my seasickness, our cabin is comfortable. We will also have some beautiful clearings that will allow me to discover Trogir, Sibenik and Zadar. And to enjoy the beauty of the landscapes, at sea as on land. Photo above, the impeccable upper deck, my favorite place on the entire yacht, to appreciate the grandiose landscapes.

The week goes by quickly, full of discoveries and if you are independent and a gourmet by nature: take advantage of each stopover to follow your own program, at your own pace, by choosing your activities and restaurants. Rivages du Monde also offers excursions. In any case, I recommend that you prepare your cruise in advance, in order to make the most of it. And if you can, leave off-season. Don’t waste time doing your research on site. As the return flight is from Zagreb, we leave the yacht in Krk early in the morning and spend the day in Zagreb. I particularly like the historic city centre, with the funicular (on Tomić Street), its museums, terraces and gardens. It is a vibrant young city, with many students.

                            The cruise in pictures 

1. Dubrovnik & Cavtat

2. Korcula & Split

3. Split, Trogir & Sibenik

4. Zadar & Krk

5. Zagreb

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Rivages du Monde, Croatia

Many thanks to Rivages du Monde and the Croatian National Tourist Board for this beautiful invitation. As always these are my opinions.

Croatie : ma seconde croisière dans les îles

Croisière sur un agréable yacht

C’est toujours un plaisir d’aller en Croatie! Après deux vols avec un changement à Zagreb, j’arrive à Dubrovnik où je rejoins le yacht privatisé par le voyagiste français Rivages du Monde pour une vingtaine de clients. Le bateau est grand et bien entretenu ; son équipage est jeune et dynamique. Dès le lendemain, après une courte matinée à Dubrovnik (toujours aussi superbe) : je visite avec un ami Cavtat, charmante ville balnéaire et ses environs avec de beaux vignobles, à 20 km au sud de Dubrovnik. Cette petite escapade n’est pas incluse dans le programme de la croisière.

Le départ de la croisière commence le jour suivant, direction la petite île de Korcula que je connais déjà. Je suis aussi très enthousiaste de revoir Split, même si la météo ne sera pas au beau fixe de toute la semaine : pluie diluvienne, turbulences et même une tempête qui nous empêchera d’aller à Hvar. Ça arrive. Heureusement pour mon mal de mer, notre cabine est confortable. Nous aurons aussi quelques belles éclaircies qui me permettront de découvrir Trogir, Sibenik et Zadar. Et de profiter de la beauté des paysages, en mer comme sur terre. Photo ci-dessus, l’impeccable deck supérieur, mon endroit préféré de tout le yacht, pour apprécier les paysages grandioses.

La semaine passe vite, pleine de découvertes et si vous êtes de nature indépendante et gastronome : profitez de chaque escales pour suivre votre propre programme, à votre rythme, en choisissant vos activités et restaurants. Rivages du Monde vous propose aussi des excursions. Dans tous les cas, je vous recommande de préparer votre croisière à l’avance, afin d’en profiter au maximum. Et si vous le pouvez, partez hors saison. Ne perdez pas de temps, à faire vos recherches sur place. Comme le vol de retour se fait depuis Zagreb, nous quittons le yacht à Krk tôt le matin et passons la journée à Zagreb. Dont j’aime particulièrement le centre-ville historique, avec le funiculaire (dans la rue Tomić), ses musées, ses terrasses et ses jardins. C’est une ville jeune et vibrante, avec beaucoup d’étudiants.

                            La croisière en images 

1. Dubrovnik & Cavtat

2. Korcula & Split

3. Split, Trogir & Sibenik

4. Zadar & Krk

5. Zagreb

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Rivages du Monde, Croatia

Un tout grand merci à Rivages du Monde pour cette belle invitation. Et aussi un tout grand merci à l’Office du tourisme de la Croatie. Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

Madeira: Nature, Road Trip and Dinner At The Vine

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Mountain-Jeep Tour-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Pico do Areeiro

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Mountain-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

9 a.m. Departure From Funchal In Jeep

to Pico do Areeiro (1818 m), the third highest peak of the Madeira island (above photo). Different landscapes on the road (photo 1). And the view is stunning when we come to Pico do Areeiro! I think to serenely enjoy (-to avoid tourists-), you need to be there really early in the morning.

We get into the Jeep to go to Ribeiro Frio, for an easy 45 minute walk that follows the Levada de Serra do Faial. The Levadas are canals built between 1461 and 1966, to carry water to irrigate cropland. We get into the Laurissilva Forest unchanged since Prehistoric times (photo montage below). Lovely panorama of the valley from the Ribeira da Metade point of vue (on the photo montage below: the penultimate picture)!

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Ribeiro Frio-Laurisilva Forest-Jeep Tour-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Driving To Santana

Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Heading To The North Coast of Madeira

to visit SantanaThe road runs along the ocean! And I love Ocean! Steep coast, hills that plunge in water: bright green on the ultramarine blue with emerald hues. Happiness! We cross Faial, one of the first places to have been populated in the North coast.

Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Returning to Funchal

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

My Favorite Scenery!

I also love this part of the road leading to the most Eastern point of the island of Madeira. Where you can find the nature reserve Ponta de São Lourenço. Desert scenery and vegetation tormented by strong winds! I feel like in Sergio Leone movies… a palm tree here and there and this incredible light!

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Miradouro Ponta de São Lourenço

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K               Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-View From Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Dinner @ The Vine

Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Rooftop-Terrace-Bar-Swimming-Pool-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Back To Funchal In Late Afternoon

A quick stop at the Pestana Casino Park and now I’m ready to go dinner to UVA, the restaurant of The Vine hotel. I’m very excited to discover the decoration of the hotel designed by Nini Andrade Silva.

I could spend hours on the lovely terrace deck, bathed in a golden light and views over the rooftops of Funchal (photo below). At night it’s even more beautiful! Excellent fish and vegetables at the UVA restaurant (on the last photo montage. The restaurant pictured in the penultimate photo montage is not the UVA).

Then we enjoy the Festival do Atlantico‘s fireworks from the lazy terrace of The Vine (photo montage below). Followed by a glass (no poncha for me!) to the Venda Velha. Followed by a music vintage disco … LOL!

Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Rooftop-Terrace-Bar-Swimming-Pool-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-Food-Meals-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal & TAP 

Jeep safari tours : Mountain Expedition

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Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal and TAP. As always all my opinions are mine.