WJ Tested: Croatia – Uniworld River Cruise Tour of Vukovar and Osijek
Day 10:
Uniworld River Princess arrived in Vukovar, Croatia around 8:00 a.m. and once customs and immigration cleared passengers to go ashore we met our local guides for our included tour.
Franjo Tuđman Square in Vukovar
Our group’s guide, Ivor, took us on a 30-minute stroll along the waterfront and through a small part of the town towards the bus station where we joined our bus for the journey to Osijek.
Ivor – Tour Guide in Vukovar, Croatia
Did You Know?… Croatia – Country Facts:
Vukovar Old Town Building Damaged by Shrapnel
During our walk through Vukovar, Ivor pointed out many buildings that had been bombed during the war with the Serbs in the 1990s.
New Building at Franjo Tudman Square in Vukovar
Did You Know?… Vukovar:
Daily Outdoor Market in Vukovar, Croatia
Although we did not have time to stop and peruse the outdoor market we did observe a lot of locals shopping for food, clothing, kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, and the sort of items typically found in hardware stores.
Memorial to Defenders of Vukovar
Did You Know?… Battle of Vukovar – facts from local guide Ivor:
Military Tank in Vukovar
During the 50-minute drive between Vukovar and Osijek we saw many bombed out buildings – now all that remains are just the ruins of what once were thriving businesses and family homes. This was a war that we did not know many details about, and although Ivor was only 3 years old when the war started he had many tales to share regarding how it affected the people from this region.
Bombed Out Building near Vukovar, Croatia
Did You Know?… Osijek:
Franciscan Church in Osijek
Once we arrived at the Franciscan Church (it has an amazing baroque interior) near Osijek we enjoyed a beautiful guitar and vocal concert by two local teenagers.
Guitar Concert in Osijek Franciscan Church
Following the concert there was a little time to shop for souvenirs before walking with Ivor through the district known as Tvrdja (The Fortress).
Tvrdja – The Fortress – in Osijek, Croatia
Did You Know?… Tvrdja:
Lunch at the Home of a Croatian Family
Lunch at the home of a Croatian family:
One of the main highlights of our Uniworld Eastern Europe Explorer cruise was having lunch at the home of a wonderful Croatian family. A short 10-km drive through the countryside from Osijek took us to the village of Bilje, where eight passengers from our bus spent about 90 minutes having lunch and conversing with the Aleksander family.
Lunch with a Croatian Family in Bilje, Croatia
Not only did the family make us a delicious lunch with fresh ingredients straight from their garden, but we learned a little about what they experienced in the war with the Serbs – not only did they lose all of their possessions, but also family members were killed. The family also runs a B&B in their house – Seoski Turizam Aleksander – that we would love to stay at; it is very popular with cyclists passing through this region.
Lunch with Croatian Family
For lunch we dined on chicken that was probably the freshest and most tender we have ever eaten – it was wandering around their garden the night before. They grow their own fruit and vegetables and make their own version of maraskino – a very potent cherry liqueur.
Lunch at the Home of a Croatian Family
After lunch we went into the garden where the mother, Helena, showed off her abundant garden and picked fresh blackberries for us to snack on while we waited for the coach to return and take us on to the next stop of our tour.
Tasting Croatian Wine
Wine Tasting:
Our final stop of the tour was to a local business where we were entertained by the owner (he is quite a character and also runs guided tours of the nearby Kopacki Rit Nature Park) as he gave us a short lecture on the wine industry in the region. We then sampled the wine and also some local specialties – kulenova seka (paprika flavored salami), ajvar (a Macedonian red pepper relish), and a local sweet bread with chopped nuts.
Sampling Kulenova Seka and Ajvar
Many of our fellow passengers agreed that this included shore excursion had been one of the most memorable and enjoyable of the trip thus far. In our opinion, guests that chose not to take this tour and stay either at the ship or in Vukovar missed out on the opportunity to really spend time with the locals and learn about their culture.
Our group returned to the ship around 4:00 p.m. and River Princess set sail for Budapest shortly thereafter.
Rebuilt Building in Vukovar, Croatia
At 6:00 p.m. we joined other passengers for the River Heritage Club cocktail party in the lounge – by invitation only for repeat Uniworld passengers. Then at 6:45 p.m. Cruise Manager Heiner Schmidt held a port talk to inform us about the various excursions the following day in Budapest in Hungary, followed by dinner in the restaurant.
Marinated Balkan Feta Cheese Appetizer
Sirloin Steak with Fries
Dessert – Berry Lasagna with White Chocolate Mousse
Our evening entertainment was again provided by Freddy, but this time he performed a classical piano concert that was splendid and showcased his extensive musical talents. We also enjoyed a marvelous piano piece from the youngest passenger onboard – a 9-year old girl travelling with her parents and grandparents.
If You Go:
Continue Reading WAVEJourney’s Uniworld Eastern Europe Explorer River Cruise Review:
Cruise Overview | Bucharest | Peles Castle | Bran Castle | Bucharest City Tour | Uniworld River Princess | Giurgiu: Embarkation | Rousse to Varna & the Black Sea | Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi | Captain’s Welcome Gala | Vidin, Belogradchik & Baba Vida Fortress | Iron Gates | Donji Milanovac | Viminacium Archaeological Site | Sava River | Belgrade City Tour | Deck Dining | Vukovar & Osijek | Cruising the Danube to Budapest | Budapest City Tour | Budapest Parliament Building Guided Tour | Gabcikovo Hydroelectric Dam and Lock | Bratislava City Tour | Captain’s Farewell Dinner | Vienna City Tour |
Notes: WAVEJourney travelled from Bucharest to Vienna as guests of Uniworld River Cruise Collection from July 25 to August 8, 2012.
March 2019 Travel Tips and Tales Newsletter By WAVEJourney Greetings! Spring is here in the Northern Hemisphere and WJ has big travel plans! How about you? Chat with us and let us know where you’re going, what you’re doing, and ask for the advice and travel tips you need to enhance your adventures. After a […]