Saturday and guest blog with Elisabeth Haug
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ShareOnce down on the island of Pag in Croatia, it felt like the holiday really started. We were probably not quite used to the heat so the first few days we just took it easy and enjoyed being together and did everything in slow motion. We don't have AC in the car so you have to be aware that it can get hot at night. It actually goes quite well.
Table of contents
Camping Strasko
The campsite is quite large and there are about 4000 guests here, we have pitches at the end of the campsite so our bikes are put to great use. We cycle to the beach, the shop or just when we go out somewhere.
When we were choosing sites, I asked if they were going to build nearby because we saw an excavator there. We were promised that they would not build or dig there because they had another project that was prioritised. Guess how that turned out. The next morning they started digging.
Grrrr, I went down to reception and we got a 20 per cent discount on our stay and thought that was ok. Unfortunately, the construction hours increased every day and after 6 days we chose to change places. It went smoothly and well to move. Nice to avoid the trucks that drove shuttle traffic outside the motorhome.
The beach at Camping Strasko
There is a pebble beach at Strasko, we like it. The water is so clear and you can snorkel directly from the beach. If you go about 10 metres out, there is a sandy bottom. There you can stand and cosy up, throw a ball etc.
Homemade sun protection
Got a very good tip on the Facebook page "We who are going to Croatia with motorhome / caravan", to sew your own sun protection of two shower curtains and an electrical cable at the top so that it can be attached to the awning. Thanks for that, has been very useful as the sun is hard on when breakfast is to be taken. Very nice.
Training on the campsite
I took the opportunity to try pilates and it was great fun. Every day 10.15 at the training centre. All training is included in the camping price 🙂 There were varied skills on the trainers, some were super good and some had, eeeh development potential 🙂.
It certainly gave me a taste for it and I want to continue it when I get home. It has actually become a nice routine to get up, have breakfast and do a session of pilates before the beach. Quite an ok start to the day.
City of Novalja
There was a small train from the campsite to the city, all the children enjoyed the ride. The train cost 20 kuna per adult (from 7 years) and took about 10 minutes.
A small cosy town with a nice harbour and many restaurants. We were surprised at first because there were more bars than restaurants. We understood why later in the evening, it is probably a party town. When we would go back to the train at 21.30, there was a good draw in the bars we passed by. Nice to have dinner and then leave before the nightlife started for real 🙂.
Very hot, thunderstorms and broken fridge
It is very hot for a northerner and we really have to take it easy in the middle of the day. We swim all the time to cool down, and we haven't managed to go on any cycling excursions. On Tuesday we had a short and intense storm. Lightning and thunder, full storm. It disappeared as quickly as it came. It is powerful to see what forces the weather has.
What was less fun was that our fridge stopped working on electricity. It started blinking to show that it wasn't getting electricity. Eventually we got it running on LPG. Boring and annoying. It doesn't work when we run on 12v or on fixed power 220v. Called Folksam and we agreed that I would get a repairman over.
While we were waiting for the repairman, the fridge decided to shut down completely. At the time of writing, we don't really know what will happen, the repairman who was supposed to come tonight (read Thursday) announced that he will come tomorrow morning. Talked again with Folksam about what to do if it cannot be repaired. Feels like that to be without a fridge and to be out on the road for just over 4 more weeks. Continuation follows.
Goodbye for this time the Mattinson family
On Saturday we will be travelling in two different directions. The Mattinsons will go to Italy and on to Austria/Germany and we will go south. Always sad to part when you have been travelling together for a few weeks. It has been so nice to travel together, a lot of joy and laughter.
So nice to be two cars together when there are problems. Do not know what we would have done if we had stood alone when the fridge broke down. Kisses and hugs to you, have a wonderful time on the trip and continuation follows when we meet in Åkersberga in August.
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Britta says:
So nice to read about your trip.I hope you continue to have a wonderful trip (despite the trouble) Enjoy and hug everyone ❤️❤️❤️
15 July 2017 - 7:57
Elisabeth says:
Hi Britta,
Thank you. We're not giving up. A bit of a struggle but it will work out, we won't let a fridge ruin our holiday.
16 July 2017 - 9:00
Mr Frank Olsen says:
It looks like you have had a good start to your holiday? Nice beach and cosy town. And thunderstorms are something you have to expect when you are in hot humid areas. Here in Crete it is actually too hot and dry for thunderstorms to occur in the summer, but there are usually some in the spring and autumn.
When we were on a long trip last year, we also had problems with the refrigerator in the car. A trip to a service centre where they changed the circuit board fixed it ?
Have a good trip further south, now we are excited to see where the journey goes!
15 July 2017 - 8:40
Anonymous says:
Do you know if there are service centres in Croatia? It is so difficult to find.
15 July 2017 - 10:15
Mr Frank Olsen says:
No, I don't know; we were fortunately in Norway when our fridge needed help.
15 July 2017 - 15:08
Biggeros says:
What a great idea with the shower curtain! Especially in the heat. Sad when the fridge doesn't work so early in the holiday. Good thing you had your friends to help you. Good also that you have insurance in case something happens. Have a nice continued holiday in lovely Croatia?
15 July 2017 - 12:24
Elisabeth says:
Sun protection is great, even better when it doesn't cost a fortune. Thank you, we have it absolutely great. Will be a little more restaurant visits than planned but it has its charm too 🙂
16 July 2017 - 9:03
Helena says:
You seem to have had a great first week, but tough on the fridge!!!! At the end of our trip in the Czech Republic and Poland, our fridge stopped working on LPG, and now it only works on electricity. The last two nights we stayed without electricity so we just had to empty the fridge - and still it smelled bad. Not fun at all... So now we have to try to fix it. But yours doesn't work on electricity either, and you're in the middle of your holiday and in the middle of the heat ... I really hope you find someone who can help you. Let us know how it goes!!!
15 July 2017 - 20:35
Elisabeth says:
Yes, you won't believe what a hassle it is to find a garage. Crazy. Write about it next week and I hope we have a good solution one way or another.
16 July 2017 - 9:04
BP says:
A great week in other words - apart from the fridge then - a must in the heat of course, unless you want to eat out all the time, that is. Oh lukewarm beer / wine / juice is not exactly a highlight either.
I really hope you got help yesterday!
15 July 2017 - 21:09
Husis blog says:
Both nice and boring reading. I really hope it works out for you with the refrigerator because it is used a lot... I was on that campsite last year and did not enjoy it completely, too big and impersonal was the owners' judgement. Just as you say, the city turned into a small drunken party in the evening so my owners were the only instance one evening. Have a good continued trip!
15 July 2017 - 21:25
Elisabeth says:
Yes, the city was super cosy, you just had to get there from there at the right time, before the city was taken over by all the young party people. 🙂
We liked the campsite but it feels like it has some vegetation, it has become a bit too big too fast. Nice staff and clean hygiene areas. 🙂
16 July 2017 - 9:08
Netti Starby says:
Hope it works out with the fridge and have a nice trip! 😀 Hugs
16 July 2017 - 0:14