Plitvice Lakes, National Park

PLITVICE LAKES ARE THEIR NATIVES TOO

     I was born in the National Park Plitvice Lakes, Croatia. Many people know of this place because of its impeccable natural beauty, the sixteen lakes connected with innumerable waterfalls and pristine location. 

     Some have been there in one of the hotels: Plitvice, Jezero or Bellevue, or ate in Restaurant Licka Kuca which recently got caught on fire and burned almost entirely. Maybe you shopped in one of the souvenir shops and found commercial promotional souvenirs, some of which were made by natives, but most of which are actually imported and produced in China or Vietnam. 

     Next time when you visit Plitvice I would like you to think of its hard working, knowledgable and creative native people. Not all people working in the National Park Plitvice Lakes are natives, especially many people who hold high positions in the National Park. Many natives have lost their lives due to the war in 1991 or have refuged and never returned due to the lack of housing destroyed in war, economic opportunities and other fears for existence in general.

     Those who stayed and managed to return live a simple life that is becoming very difficult for many. As in the whole country in Croatia, natives in Plitvice are losing the opportunity to be employed in the National Park and many of them are seasonal workers for many years, being at mercy of the employers every year anew. As everywhere in Croatia, your employment is determined widely by your belonging to the leading political party at certain district, unless you are an employee with more than 20 years of working experience in the park, which does not always apply to all of the refugees returned. 

       

Natives have been lately suppressed from selling many home-made goods due to the extremely expensive regulations which are forcing many of them off the market. A guest who visited Plitvice Lakes 30 years ago might remember this place for many more activities and cultural locations offered at that time. Many of the centers had been destroyed due to the negligence of the government and local authorities, but there is something that still didn't die out. 

     I advise you to stay in local family owned establishments in surrounding villages like Jezerce, Mukinje, Rastovaca, Korana etc. In some of these inns you will find the finest and the best locally produced food. Ask for the locally made cheeses from cow and sheep milk (my favorite is cream cheese called "BASA") or meat cold cuts, as well as freshly picked home-garden grown fruits and vegetables. You might find home-made liquors made from locally grown fruit like prune, walnut or cherry and jams and honey. You can find ladies selling locally known deserts by the road whether you are coming from Otocac, Zagreb or Split.

                                                                                  Once you are at Plitvice, stay more than just few days and visit surrounding pristine villages and river wells, like village Plitvicki Ljeskovac, where you can find Black and White river wells, or Selo Plitvice where the well of Plitvice creek is, which goes to form the largest Plitvice Waterfall. Natives will be very grateful to you for reviving the old traditions that have been forgotten lately, as well as their livelihoods.

I thank you for reading and hope you enjoy these pics.
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