BEST Road Ever! | Croatian Split Hole | P2T EP09
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- The nineth installment of my 5000 mile solo road trip to the Balkans on board the mighty BMW R1250 GS Adventure.
In this episode I find the best road ive ever ridden and end up in disappointment as Split is not what i expected - sorry if you live there, maybe i need to re-visit!
Comment "Magnatron" if you missed them.
Permission to Torque is a Mental Health movement set up to show others that you "get it" by displaying a discrete symbol for others to take comfort in. Its not about sitting around in a circle feeling sorry for yourself, its about shared experience and getting out there to find out what makes us happy - this is the aim of my trip and why I am sharing it on TH-cam, the good days and the inevitable bad ones too.
I hope you enjoy the journey with me and find it at least vaguely useful! :)
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I love the end where you're walking down the promenad complaining about the town and feeling lonely while several cuties are frantically waving at YOUR camera. Precious.
He was walking the wrong way!
I think he needs to start live streaming these walks so we can all scream at him to turn the hell around and potentially turn a $hitty night into a very interesting one...
@@kuhndj67 twitch plays Baron
it really summed up the entire last portion of the video tbh
They were insta hoes who wanted to be on a stream. He did well to avoid them.
Just a tip for you Poms, don’t just ride in a T-shirt when it is hot wear a jacket, not just for safety but it actually keeps you cooler, your body has to sweat and once it gets to 35 C, you want less heat hitting your body, wind burn is worse than sun burn.
Wear lighter colours, anything but black and carry a bottle of water to tip down your neck to keep your base layer wet, or soak your base layer in water at every opportunity, evaporative cooling is the secret.
Years of riding in an Australian summer taught me the hard way, keep hydrated.
Great shout 👍
Great recommendations, my issue is with my skin issues staying dry is super important or I'll be itching and covered in rashes within an hour
Wind burn? Isn't that sun burnt but in the wind without knowing you are getting burnt so don't know the severity of it.
@@dinxsy8069 you can get wind burn on a cloudy overcast day I've had it on the top of the mountain at the TT with not one but of sun
@@dinxsy8069 wind burn is like turning on a fan forced oven, it just cooks you quicker than just the sun, you can get wind burn on a cloudy day if the air is hot enough, it basically dries your skin out.
You have to take into account that your natural body temperature is around 35 C, so if the outside temperature is higher it will have no cooling effect at all.
The 'show all' aspect of this series really is it's strength, I think all of us appreciate that very much. It would be much more 'TH-cam alogrithim friendly'-type content if it was nothing but stunning scenery and great twisty roads, but that would miss the entire point of the trip. Absolutely loving it Chris.
yap, thats 100% how i wanted it to be and i wish all TH-cam was more reality based because, viewers end up feeling bad about their own lives and experiences because it can never compare to an edited influencers experience.
I adore Croatia, for whatever reasons, not necessary to list them here.
For anyone that is planning to visit (I usually go once / twice a year), stick to the small towns and ... resorts? Hotel resorts, near towns, not in them.
Food is usually great everywhere, especially coast restaurants.
These are my experiences, I guess it might not be the same everywhere.
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If you stay in small towns, go for apartments, you can talk to the owner, they might even invite you to a family dinner and all that, it can be a super pleasant experience, small talk, info, recommendations...
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Hotel resorts near the towns, usually secluded, they got their own services, private beaches, restaurants, cafes, and secure parking. Plus if you want to visit the city, it's nearby.
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If you want to see a larger city, the historic centers are good destinations. I'd still use the above-mentioned options for accommodation.
I've always wanted to go to Croatia, and being a Brit myself it wouldn't be unlikely that I would choose Split as Chris did, assuming it will be a nice place. Unfortunately as he says, when the tourism industry does nothing but milk a once quaint location for money, it soon goes to ruin. I am sure the more rural areas are lovely places to visit and I definitely have plans to do that!
Really loving this series, as someone who suffers from depression, anxiety and OCD I can relate a lot. Anyone in the comments who also suffers we got this!! Hope your not still feeling too sad Chris
🙌💪
This was a really powerful episode mate. I struggle with depression alot and I can relate alot to the stuff youve been going through, this felt like a real positive boost
Couldn't agree/relate more
100 % same !
It's a curse, at least you got a reply and Luv
saving up to get me a bike, to do just this, i need to... need to get a handle on my anxiety #soon
@@Murr_3823 The daily ups.... and the daily downs! But still here and moving forward!
When we travel on Croatian coastline, we always wear swimming shorts under moto gear,and find a place to cool off in warm sea,eat and drink.
the last section of the video finding parking and thinking ‘this looks shit’ had me laughing because it was the exact same reaction and stress i would have had in that situation. Fantastic series. thank you baron
I was lucky enough to spent 3 weeks working in Croatia on a Harley event. It’s such a fantastic place for riding, empty roads beautiful scenery and lovely people. The coastal road from Split down the coast is amazing. I wish I had some of that weather on my own solo trip a few months ago. As a fellow rider who suffers from anxiety and bouts of depression, travelling solo is equally daunting and exhilarating at the same time. (A decent wicking base layer makes all the difference 👍)
Croatia is a beautiful place I have to absolutely agree with you there. I went interrailing last summer all over Europe and actually started in Split - gotta agree with you, its very touristy. But, as a university student being properly away from home on a long holiday - I gotta say I fucking loved the place. Loads of things to do, and we stayed outside the centre in a place called kastel gomillica or something just taking the bus in when we wanted to explore, and that was nice as when we wanted to chill we weren't surrounded by the hustle and bustle ...so long story short Croatia won by heart and I'll definately be returning, but I'd want to see the "real" Croatia next time.
I'm sorry to here about how you feel currently and I hope you're able to process what you're going through. Mental health is absolutely no joke so take your time. I hope 2023 whilst off to a rocky start will open up to be a bright year for you.
Edit: Just realised this was recorded last summer, wondered why it was so hot! The above still applies though, I hope you're doing good Chris :)
We toured Croatia in the early 90’s on a Kawasaki Z1000R ELR before mobile phones and sat navs, camping in 37 degs in a tube tent you couldn’t sit up in! We ended up in the Plitvice national park awesome place..great video
When in the 90’s?! What year?
@@RideCroatia in recollection I think it might of been 1988/89, we were on a guided tour with a guy from near Birmingham, Bike & Sun Tours..
@@howardrathbone2120 that’s what I thought. Probably before Serbia attacked Croatia.
You're a legend pal. Could tell you were struggling at times during this one and fucking well done for sticking with it. I'd love to get away on a solo trip on my 1250GS and i often look then think 'I'd be bored on my own' but i may just give it a bash this year. All thanks to you - legend.
Wooooohoooo! I loved these roads too! I went here a few weeks ago. It was one of the best roads and views i've ever ridden on! Amazing.
Superbly spectacular scenery with Blackpool at the end😂 …..great vid as usual👌👌
I had the pleasure of riding the coast road to Dubrovnik from Trieste/Slovenia/Croatia in 2007! It was not all complete but I agree, what a lovely scenic road to ride!
Just want to say a big thanks, this is such a brilliant series so far
Reckon this is your finest stuff Chris. So relatable and helpful on so many levels ❤
Very good episode. This is what it's about, real life. Often people who suffer anxiety look at others and compare themselves. You often think, why can't I cope like they can. You don't always see others when they are anxious or getting stressed. This video shows normality, real life. It was great to see you at BBB in Guildord. Its the first time I met you, you looked hyper and happy. It was nice to see. I hope you can overcome your breakup and eventually find someone new. Cheers for the content.
Ayyyyyy HRVATSKA! HRVATSKA! HRVATSKA! Glad you enjoyed the old Magistrala.
Was in Senj Zadar and Dubrovnik loved them all especially Dubrovnik old town.
Chris! A good looking, funny, successful man like you could have the pick of the bunch! Life’s too short my man! You have soo much and you have said that multiple times! I remember a time when I was just soo unhappy and depleted but me and my partner made some big changes and I learnt a few things that I needed todo to maintain my mental health! Change and acceptance is the key! Things don’t always get better without change!!! Exercise and the appreciation for exercise should not be taken for granted! You’re walking in the morning is a great thing todo! Well done!! Great series and editing Chris! Croatia looks incredible and I want to go there!! Peace ✌️
YEEEEESSSSSS! I so much hoped that your trip would cover this croatian coastal road. As I wrote two vids ago, I have been there too and so happy to see this region again. And this road is effing epic (as long as there is no traffic in front of you).
So the islands are that sparse, if I remember correctly, because their wood had been taken long ago. And now there is the Bora, strong winds coming down these mountains on the main land, blowing out towards these islands. The Bora can become quite strong and even flip cars etc. over. And it blows saltwater all over these islands. So only a few plants are able to withstand these kind of conditions. If 've been on Pag (one of the large rocky islands) and indeed, there is more green on the other side of the island, that points towards the Mediterranean.
And well, haven't been down to Split...but seems I did not miss out ;-)
So, I highly enjoy these videos and looking very much forward toward the next ones! Greetings!
You seemed quite upbeat in this instalment. Tea total is definitely the way to go. You should have stayed in that small coastal town that welcomed bikers.
And, I’ve been an avid full-face Arai wearer for decades, but it’s always a flip front Shoei when touring… every village and town dawdle means time to flip up and let the air circulate. You have to try one.
The frustration took me back to the first time I headed to Italy via France with a sat nav that played up constant in torrential rain and lots of routes closed due to road works, it is one of the less fun aspects of solo touring.
Now days at least we have smart phones and upto date road data.
Great series so far mate, very good content.
That’s because you’re doing it wrong. The correct way to road trip is to take any random road in the general direction that you wanna go and just ride. When I was a young man I’d just get on my bike and take road going south. If end up wherever I’d end up, didn’t even think about it. It was the best time of my life. Ended up all the way down in Italy just taking roads going south.
What a tonic on a freezing winters night 😎
agreed - i want to go right back there now!
@@BaronVonGrumble it's cold and rainy here in Split, so you aren't missing anything but on positive side, there are no tourists
Ah memories, I rode the same route on my way to Athens in October. I also planned to stay in Split but decided it looked a bit, errr, rubbish and found a stunning hotel a few clicks further south. I didn't book ahead which meant I could adjust destination based upon mood and inclination. Great series 🙂
A very real episode mate, and I'm really enjoying this series. Your videos have helped me more than you know over the years, and were one of the reasons I got into biking in the first place which really helped me through a lot, and which has became a huge passion of mine. So, thank you. Stay strong Sir.
Haven't watched yet but just wanted to say you inspired me to do a similar roadtrip. Currently in New Zealand South Island doing a 5 day tour. One of the best decisons of my life! Thanks for the inspiration over the years
I sometimes struggle to let go of the things that are bothering me while on holiday. I wish I could just put it aside but sometimes it’s very difficult. It’s really nice to see I’m not alone. Keep fighting Chris and thank you for being real.
Holy jizz balls - Chris thank you for your hard work! Looks amazing and enjoying this series a lot. I hoped the cream helped
I definitely need a bike trip in my life.. Great insight into it.
Oh my god, it's amazing!!
Into my 5th month of not riding due to bad slipped disc and I've been struggling mentally. Watching this series and riding with you in my head (ooo err missus ) especially on that road has helped massively..
Echoing all the other comments about how great this series is. Appreciate the honesty, humour and just the general sense of adventure from travelling solo. There's highs, there's lows, but it's all authentic. Keep it up!
Lovely video, thanks for bringing back memories of my trip there in 2017. Me and a mate on bikes from Devon stayed at the Beach Hotel, Stobrec which is on the southern side of Split for 3 nights. Totally agree with your assessment of Split itself, totally ruined by tourist tat everywhere. Lovely riding country though and Slovenia was even better on the way home. Loving this series so keep them coming, ride safe.
Your misery feeds my happiness. I mean that in the nicest of way. I love your production and appreciate the hours of work it must take.
Love the venting at the end 🤣 Sometimes you just gotta tell it like it is.
Love it you took your time on these roads... I always do. Its a trip to enjoy not to race.
Thanks for sharing your journeys both physically and mentally
Mate have to say that this series is amazing, I've been watching your videos since I first found you with the S1000 green lane video lol. You were also one of the reasons I decided to go and get my bike licence and get riding. Now finding myself going through a separation, so have tons of stress with selling our home, agreeing on child access and everything in between. My head is f*****g everywhere right now, being left with pretty much nothing. Crap, utter crap. But... decided to treat myself and am about to start the process of ordering a new R1250 GSA which I've wanted for ages and slowly get some touring bits and hit the road. I need it and seeing you do this only reaffirms my choice. Keep your chin up you utter double bloody decker legend
Massive respect to you ✊ it’s a great adventure series, one I look forward to every week 👍 you often have me in stitches 😂
Please do the adventure bike rider festival and do a talk 👍✊
Can't believe it's taken me this long to find this channel, even after watching 44 teeth for so long!
I really need to do a long road trip. These are the type of trips where you complain about so much, but in a few months time you look back and it's nothing but great memories. 👍
You are the 2023 Victor Meldrew of adventure biking. You should be a travel writer. Tres funny. Keep up the good work Baron it good therapy.
Excellent series, Chris, and I’m sending my love as a fellow rider, and human being who struggles significantly with my mental health.
I was in Croatia a couple of years back at a wedding in Cavtat. Gorgeous place. I made the mistake of spending the last two nights in Split, and hated it as much as you seem to. Its a pit!
Every time of of these drop it enriches my, and everyone who watches lives - hope you know that 👊
The islands were once covered in oak and pine trees, until the Romans needed large amounts of wood, to build their immense fleet of ships to conquer and destroy Carthage about 220 BCE.
The further South you go, the more green and lush the landscape becomes.
Punic Wars...
That coast road is very reminiscent of Highway One that runs down the US west coast. Every turn seems to provide another stunning view.
Loving the tourist complaining about ... tourists :) Hysterical getting lost scenes as well, just like me!
If you're hot, a trick we use here sometimes, when wearing mesh gear (and since we are all idiots we bought black because it looks cool....), is get a bottle of water, and pour it all over your jacket and the mesh part of your pants. You will notice, for a few precious minutes, that your hot gear will turn into air conditioning as soon as you get moving.
You are right, it is one of the most spectacular roads in the World. I'd say it is THE best, and I've driven in many places around the World. Makes it even nicer when you are on it without the tourist hordes!
@15:00, those street junctions made mad few times as well
I think some of it is an age thing. As I’ve got older, I’m way more intolerant to busy, touristy, rip-off restaurant infested mong traps… it just gives me the rage! However, I bloody love Croatia. Once away from the tourist traps, it’s genuinely one of the prettiest and welcoming parts of Europe I’ve visited
Just broke up with my girl of five months yesterday. You're not alone mate! I'm proud that I'm able to say I still love her as a person and still want to be a genuinely supportive friend to her, and she to me. I feel like I'm growing up.
Thanks so much for this, made me laugh out loud at the end and really needed that today…. Thank you 🙂
It's like listening to myself on tour, except you're more interesting!!
Great video,love the split detours.Remember doing just that in Munich,constantly swearing to myself because i kept taking the wrong road!
I’m thankful that you shared it with us. It’s definitely making me contemplate heading of on my GSA 1250 and do a Lone Ranger trip. I’d like it for all of the same reasons as you did. We seem to have the same logic in common 🤔
Watching this many months after posting, and without seeing where you're headed, but down the Dalmatian coast there's a lovely small town called Cavtat, it maybe fits the 'cute' category that Split didn't meet!
Great series mate. I can relate to your up/down moods. Keep up the good work! Your making people like me with spastic inner head issues feel not as lonely 😅
Glad to see I’m not the only person that can NEVER find the hotel car park !! 😂😂😂
A piece of heaven in our present greyness ❤🙂
Great Odyssey! Be well Chris - enjoy what you've got around you, and your magnificent steed. Gut dass Du den Kabelsalat unter Kontrolle gebracht hast! 😂😂😂
And on that note ...
Yeh I didn't go to Split when I went down to Croatia two summers ago. I stuck to the coastline, mostly northern part.
Tears in my eyes from laughing at the last 5 minutes with all the recognisable dismay (and anger? :p ) of going on a holiday and the time before that, tears in my eyes because I know how you feel. Relation wise, house, life in general. Nice episode.
Loving it!!! 👌
Had me in absolute stitches toward the end there Chris, but my oh my how you've reacted exactly as I would've in the same/similar situation of circling in that excruciating heat....
Only difference is I would've been swearing much more 🤣🤣🤣
Ps:
I'm definitely that "mong" with the flip face helmet mate,
Works an absolute treat with a smoked visor 👌👌👌
Safe onward travels buddy, and enjoy...
This kinda riding and views are great for the soul. Hope you loved every second. It’s super fortunate to be able to do it! Cheers for the vid.
I was cracking up, with all the f bomb horns while you were trying to get to the fbaaping hotel. Brilliant...totally like watching myself going through that 😃
Love the outbursts, I would react in exactly the same way 😂 Really enjoying the series
"Come on Gandalf" hahaha had me roaring. Another cracking video Chris.
Drove it with my car several times. I'm in love with that countries coast...
I'm not depressed but the last moments of this video, are 🎯
I went on a 2 week tour in June and went from the Uk to Croatia and back with 2 mates: absolutely awesome trip. We went onto the island of Pag which was beautiful. Everyone just seems to farm rocks though….
Top-drawer again…hope this trip helped you as much as watching it now is helping so many viewers here! BVG vids in Swiss Alps back in the day were my inspiration for doing the same - cheers pal!
Instantly subscribed when I heard your thoughts about Split. As a Croatian, you are almost spot on. It has been ruined by tourism indeed, but it always was a junkie infested shithole. Sibenik and Zadar are much nicer coastal cities.
The Best Part of the Coast Road [D8, Jadranska Magistrala] is between Zadar and Dubrovnik, over Šibenik, Trogir, Split and Makarska ❤
Epic rant, 10/10 loved it. lol
This will be a great vid for boring the nurses in your care home when you're pissing yourself and having your ass wiped. You did it and you've been there, much respect
Ken and Barbara...Brilliant!
Said my farewell to motorcycles and unsubscribed from everything containing motorcycles but Baron and 44th will stay forever with me. Keep it up bro and stay safe please...Depression included...🤗🤗🤗. Much love, Mike.
The rant at the end had me in stitches 😂
Spot on assessment of Split.
Love that last part.... If only all travel shows were as real and honest about shit holes that everyone bigs up because they don't want to admit they've spent a fortune and its not that great! Proper job! 😂👍
Great vid , but road rash really kills and changing the dressing is just the best fun ever......!!!!!. Loving the vids Chris have a great time.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
Ridden the coast road to Dubrovnik absolutely awesome, did some island as well. Enjoy.😀
BVG, the new Karl Pilkington? Travel guide without the bullshit. Love it.
Last time we fetched up in Split we were on GB plates, caused some interest, not least from those who had the sense to only invest 3hrs with EasyJet to make the journey… Didn’t stay too long, there was probably a queue of cruise ships waiting to disgorge their contents into the town centre for an afternoon. I didn't have a satnav then, so at least the locals didn't get to hear me going through the [urban] dictionary at it. All the best with your huge journey, I feel you're changing lives on the way.
Hi Chris.. yet another cracking video ... keep telling it like it is -
What a disappointment Split was it looked horrible but what a fantastic ride down, but that weather would certainly have been too hot for me.
Yes went to split on a cruise ship few years ago , didnt get a good vibe there either 😕 great roads getting there though. Enjoying the journey with you.
Chris I sympathise I have the same feeling every time I go to Yarmouth!
Why the islands (northern ones) are without vegetation? Two reasons - 1) Bura - northern wind that makes it really hard for vegetation to catch on and 2) Venice was built on wooden pylons made from woods that used to be trees on this islands - this is what you get because of hundred of years of deforestation. And because of Bura, once the islands were stripped of trees, the forests never managed to grow once more on the northern sides of islands.
Area before that end town with all those swim spots looked very nice.
As someone who lives in Croatia.. I share your opinion about Split 100%. Absolutely hate the place for the exact same reasons.
Arrid islands due to wild fires. I watched a big one a few years ago. The Croatian and Italians fought it all day with planes and helicopters dropping water. Been down that road twice in large cars with the family on board and the dog the second time. Great roads, they were all brand new about 4 or 5 years ago. I still giggle at the strange looks we got in my blacked out Merc. booming Bob Marley out the sunroof. Puzzled looks at the strange British number plate and the weird music coming out of it.
Islands of the Kvarner and northern Dalmatia regions are mostly arid due to the effects of Bura wind (Bora in Italian), look it up. When Bura blows underneath the Velebit mountain, no plant or soil can stay in place, ergo the moon-like landscape. And it is usually their eastern side that is barren, south and west being full of greenery. On the other hand, central and southern Dalmatia suffer from the large scale wildfires, northern Adriatic not so much (or at the very least not in such a large scale).
Get yourself to Dubrovnik, full of beautiful people and beautiful views.
Another great instalment mr baron. Looks like some good views.
I've been to Split several times and I really do love it, but everything you said is absolutely right and it's getting worse and worse and worse. 😂
Well that was uplifting. Probably the darkest I've seen you. Hope all is well now Chris.
At 3:55 you were looking at Island 'Goli Otok' or translated 'Barren Island'. Read a bit of it on wiki, recommended. It is like a Yugoslavian Alcatraz. Up there was a political prison and labor camp for many many years in previous regime. Now you can go there on a tour and read all kind of stories, that are written on the info tables across the island. Really interesting and horrifying. Just behind it on the west is Island of Sveti Grgur (St. Grgur) where they had penitentiary for female in roughly same era as on Goli Otok. Today both with 0 inhabitants, just a few restaurants that are open in the summer.
Answer for 4:45 are strong gusts of Bora wind. North-east sides of those islands are all just pure rock. Soil was blown away. Been there up close with a boat a many times. On west side of those bigger islands it is quite normal. You can also take a look at Island of Cres which is quite a bit further away on the west when gusts become weaker. (Go to Satellite mode goo.gl/maps/Fj5DYmqvYABtvHCm8 ) The lines in vegetation are visible. Quite evidently where is the wind coming from.
I wish you health and joy on the bike. Keep coming with the series. Thanks.
Absolutely laughing my plums off at your scathing review of Split - Judith Chalmers would be proud of you!!!! 😆👍. Unfortunately at this stage there isn't many places that can claim to be unspoilt as tourism arrives and fucks the charm out of a place. Good riding though 👍
Unfortunately, there is way too many of you coming to unspoiled places making them spoiled, Baron included. You are all part of the same trend, and it is so goddamn funny observing you trying to judge others while acting *exactly* the same. I can bet that some random dude or dudette commented BVG while he was walking down the waterfront like ''oh look maaan, another annoying blogger filming himself... are there any places left that are unspoiled by them??''.
@@milionSTFully agree with your comment. Going to a big city (second-largest city of Croatia!) at the Adriatic coast in the holiday season and then complaining about the tourists there is a bit thick. But then for some there are the tourists and there is…us. Easily prevented by doing a minimum of research 🤷🏻♂️
@@jschoofs I mean, if it's not already obvious, I live and work in Split. I have 0 profit or interest in tourism and consider it more of a nuisance than anything else. However, I met some amazing people that actually did their homework, knew what to expect and merged into the locals almost effortlessly. I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed having a drink with those ''tourists'', sharing experiences and knowledge. Germans, Austrians, English, Brasilians... every race and colour. Needles to say, those people usually come off season, are not interested in tourist traps and do not drink and piss everywhere, or expect every local to be at their service.
To all people complaining that somewhere ''is not what they expected'' I recommend some new practical technologies, like for example Google, Street View and TH-cam. It's 2022. people...
@@milionST Exactly - a minimum of preparation makes a major difference and as you say with the tech available today it is not that hard to do that research even when you are on the road. We always tend to travel south with the bike (I’m from Antwerp, Belgium) in September/October. One of the nicest trips was taking the bike to Malaga and back exploring inland Spain: deserted roads, reasonable prices, friendly/relaxed people, good service, quiet towns/villages/cities (Segovia!), impressive and varied landscapes. And yet so many people keep returning to the overcrowded Spanish Costas and think they are representative for Spain!
I also remember doing a trekking holiday in Montenegro: beautiful inland and then we descended into Kotor which was flooded with visitors coming in with these gigantic cruiseships! After exploring Kotor we took a taxi driving us inland and within 30 minutes we were in a National park surrounded by mountains, tranquility and nature. We were the only guests in the hotel! That is the sort of experience I am after. The only regret I had was that I did not have my bike to explore even more!