Vukovar, Osijek & Ilok, Croatia

July 28

Our tour today was to Osijek Citadel & Vukovar’s Eltz Manor Museum. In the afternoon we explored Ilok on our own.

Vukokar is best known for its recent history. In 1991, Vukovar came under siege during the Yugoslav Wars, becoming the only town in Europe to have suffered such destruction since World War II. Notable buildings have now been restored, including the Eltz Manor and the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas.

We drove to Vukovar’s Eltz Manor Museum. We literally waited for someone to come open it for us. It’s normally closed on Sunday, and they opened it for Viking tours. It was a small but interesting museum.

We drove a short distance to Osijek. We started at a local church and the description said it would be a performance by the choir, but it was a performance by the choir director & her ukulele. Very nice, however. They had a small table with chocolate to sample that was gone by the time we got there and had some other small items for sale. Plenty of the local “firewater” and we downed our shots of that. If we had known nothing else would be open in either town, we would have bought a few things.

back in the bus

the tour said the performance was going to be a choir but it was the choir director & her ukelele

the tour said the performance was going to be a choir, but it was the choir director & her ukelele - since it was Sunday, and everything was closed we were thrilled to have her

with our free time we popped into this church

We next had a guided walk of Osijek’s citadel aka Old Town.

the one bar that was open and for those who couldn't do the walking tour they waited there

cute little fire hydrant

Over lunch the ship moved to Ilok and we also had a performance of a Croatian Tamburica band in the lounge. The tamburica is a stringed instrument believed to have originated in ancient Mesopotamia. Very entertaining!

the tamburica is the small instrument the guy on the left is playing

the accordion player also sang their form of opera

In the afternoon we went to explore the town of Ilok on our own. The only excursion here was a wine tour which we weren’t interested in. In hindsight, since nothing was open, and the winery opened just for Viking and had a gift shop and a museum.

We climbed up the hill to the remains of a Roman fort and took in the views and then went down the back way into town. The 15th-century Ilok Castle presides over the medieval town, offering magnificent views of the Danube.