36.07 Croatia: City of Senj, an improvised steep climb and haunting castles.
Nahaj, the 16th century castle, a symbol of the city of Senj viewed from a half hour into our hike up the front mountain. The harbor and part of the town. We meet so few South Africans on the trails that should we wish to see more of them, we have to travel to South Africa or remain in San Diego. It changed last week when we met three women, great-granny, granny and a friend, in Plitvicka. It was most pleasant chatting with them. Like many South Africans, they live outside the motherland. It was a first meeting of ex-patriates from the Isle of Man. A week later, we completed a rather bold hike and returned to the supermarket to restock. As we walked up the to the revolving entrance door, we noticed a couple of mountain bikes against the wall, one with a South African flag displayed prominently. That was even more novel. We decided to hunt them down in the market, prepared to lobby cabbages and tomatoes at their feet should we have felt they would not stop to talk with us. ...