Europe Trip: A Whirlwind in Croatia

6 November 2013

Departing Mostar and heading to Dubrovnik requires 3 border crossings, it has been an interesting journey with two friends and their bikes being taken into customs and given the hard sale of - you have drugs, we will find them and we will arrest you. Very intimidating and interestingly enough it happened on our second border crossing going back in Bosnia.

We stop for a rest and something to eat before crossing the border back into Croatia and our last leg to Dubrovnik. It’s a simple grocery and restaurant establishment but the second of its type I have come across that accepts three currency’s. Bosnian Mark, Croatian Kuna and the Euro. Finishing up my marks and not having any Kuna I do something I don’t like doing and paid partially in euro - just for a first time.

Hostel sorted and the four of us are straight out into the old town to enjoy the sun and stretch the legs. Its beautiful still a few tourists around but not like the height of summer. It is a little of a shock to be somewhere so organised. Realising its sunset time and our last evening together we pop into the local supermarket for nibbles and beer to relax with down on the rocks which is fantastic the sea is no longer calm due to winter and the sunset is brilliant and golden. The hostel puts on a Karaoke and Hats party for the night which is great fun but does result in a visit from the po po (police) at 4am and our hostel manager doing a runner.....

Next morning has me spitting tacks for the third time and hopefully last with bitey bitey bed bugs. I am so over them. Am checking out - the hostel is closing down for the season along with others in the old town leaving it a little empty. So am hoping like hell I don’t get the little critters into my clean gear whilst I shift onto Zadar. Not a lot I can do apart from quadruple plastic bagging my “contaminated” gear.

(Zadar)

Fig hostel in Zadar is also meant to be closed but they let me stay and bonus I have a dorm to my self. The hostel sort my gear out for me the following day making everything critter free. I manage to get the use of the managers good mountain bike with the agreement of drinks this evening which sounds like a plan. I have loved having the freedom of some wheels and have spent the day cycling the city followed by a couple of laps through the old town. I have also enjoyed a hours sun bathing at the city's sea organ watching the world go by and walking a beach to the south of the city. Gelato here is fantastic and its neat to see what the locals will try and dress it up with - Much cooler than what the Greeks manage and I am looking forward to see how it all stacks up against the Italians.

In the evening I get chatting to a couple at the hostel I’m trying to organise my way to the Plitvice Lakes and National park and they have a rental car which for a small fee towards their fuel costs they are happy to have me travel with them - perfect! The lakes are beautiful and I can only imagine what they must look like in the other seasons. The amount of terraces and water falls is astounding and I fully understand why this is now considered a UNSECO site. If you ever visit put it on your list as a day trip away.

It made no sense to head back to Zadar so I have bought my pack with me to catch the 6pm bus to Zagreb the capital of Croatia when whilst waiting a taxi van pulls up and offers me a ride to my hostel for a cheaper price - cant go wrong!! I’m in and stoked to meet another cool traveller who is keen to go out for the night and is also a life saver as the hostel where I was meant to be staying is closed due to a family emergency for the next 5 days. Nice of them to let me know. But all is not lost as I go the hostel of my dinner date who luckily have space for the next two nights. Our evening out is very easy, pleasant. We even discover a wine festival is being held - happy days. I'm sorry to say my last day here has not been over exciting seeing my catch upon small tasks and organising my transfer to Slovakia tomorrow on my walk to the train station I did come across a Toyota Rav4 that was looking a little worse for wear as over night we had strong winds and a large piece of plaster façade had come away from the building to collapse the roof. Love the old buildings but TLC needed!! Am a little disappointed Zagreb did not have a tour but had a enjoyable evening out with some locals in a nearby café. I was offered a motorbike for a weeks use but feeling a little uncomfortable I have let the opportunity pass.

My last day see’s me still in shorts, the temperature has dropped but I know I’m going to places far colder than here and it makes a good talking point with the locals about the crazy traveller!!

Hope that you are all well - wishing you all the best for 2014

-Gabrielle