Dang you Richard!  You only posted 74 of those Croat pics!  How are
we to concentrate at our jobs after the long weekend when you post
those fabulous pics?

I have heard from friends that Croatia & the Islands in the Adriatic
are amazing, but now you have proven it!

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-shipping the westy asap

On Jul 6, 2008, at 10:43 PM, Richard A Jones wrote:

> I spent 14 days driving from Dubrovnik (south end of
> Croatia) to Opatija then Zagreb, with extensions to
> Montenegro and Slovenia.
>
> These countries are Vanagon heaven.  There are LOTS
> of T3s.  Many are panel vans used by businesses, but
> there are passenger vans as well.  I saw one syncro--
> a gold passenger van in Montenegro.  Also truck versions,
> like single-cabs with a wide bed on the back--very
> common.
>
> Lots of T4s, too.  Every ambulance in Croatia is a
> T4, I think.
>
> The climate is very benign for automobiles.  No rust.
> The T3s all look in great shape.  I looked inside and
> they seem to have big steering wheels--no power steering,
> I guess--and metal dashes like my '81.  Stripped
> versions, compared to what they brought to the US.
>
> Quite a few campers--mostly with "D" plates.  Germans,
> heading S for vacation.  No pop-top Westies as we know
> them--high-tops.  Double plastic windows.  Quite a
> few of the passenger vans also had these windows.
>
> Lots of Golfs, Polos, Caddys, Passats, but no Jettas.
> Sharons, Touregs, too.  And T5s.  To see what you
> can get there, check:
> http://www.volkswagen.com.hr/
>
> Also lots of old cars, especially Fiats and Renaults from
> the early 60s--little wagons--and old Zastavas (Yugos.)
>
> No photos of VWs, but my pix are at
> http://jones.colorado.edu/jones/Croatia08
>
> We were booked for a VW Touran, but couldn't take it
> into Montenegro, so got an Opel Astra instead.
>
> Back in the US, I'm grumpy driving--big cars for no
> reason and bad drivers.  Outside the US, driving is
> a skill.  Here, it is just a "right."  :-(
>
> Richard