Croatia 2012
Map from Intrepid Travel
The oldest posts are at the bottom of the page.
Thank you to Intrepid Travel for providing me with this tour though one of their awesome contests!
May 12th 2012
I do not think that I can hear the airplane safety warning audio recording once more. I might just have the Lufthansa one memorized after the last two weeks. Although, it may be good for my German learning to be hearing it repeated so many times.
I have been on six flight segments in the last twelve days, which is a record for me. The young man sitting on the Vienna- Berlin segment of my flight today was on his first ever plane trip. Although I don't have a clue to the actual number of flights that I have taken, I imagine that it is well over a hundred, with the vast majority of those being in the last 4 years. In fact, I imagine that my 2-year old cat, Rhome, has been on more plane rides than the average Canadian. One of these days I am going to have to do the math on how many segments I have done.
The day went smoothly. Our boat sailed into our find port just after 8am, giving me ample time to get to the airport. I took a 'Grey Hound'- esque bus from the small town of Primosten to Trogir. I took some time to wander around the local market that was set up next to the bus station. Besides the typical touristy items, there was a plethora of ice cream, pastries, and lavender; all of which summed up my trip well. By the time the bus to the airport arrived I didn't have long before my flight. It was just as well, as the airport was very small and crowded. Outside of the duty-free section, there was very little shopping to keep me occupied. It reminded me of many of the small Caribbean airports that I have been to in the past.
My layover in Vienna was uneventful, as was my final flight segment to Berlin. Looks like my vacation is over! Time to get to work!
Please ensure that your seatbacks are in the upright position and prepare for landing. We will be arriving in Berlin shortly! Want to read about it? Head over here!
I do not think that I can hear the airplane safety warning audio recording once more. I might just have the Lufthansa one memorized after the last two weeks. Although, it may be good for my German learning to be hearing it repeated so many times.
I have been on six flight segments in the last twelve days, which is a record for me. The young man sitting on the Vienna- Berlin segment of my flight today was on his first ever plane trip. Although I don't have a clue to the actual number of flights that I have taken, I imagine that it is well over a hundred, with the vast majority of those being in the last 4 years. In fact, I imagine that my 2-year old cat, Rhome, has been on more plane rides than the average Canadian. One of these days I am going to have to do the math on how many segments I have done.
The day went smoothly. Our boat sailed into our find port just after 8am, giving me ample time to get to the airport. I took a 'Grey Hound'- esque bus from the small town of Primosten to Trogir. I took some time to wander around the local market that was set up next to the bus station. Besides the typical touristy items, there was a plethora of ice cream, pastries, and lavender; all of which summed up my trip well. By the time the bus to the airport arrived I didn't have long before my flight. It was just as well, as the airport was very small and crowded. Outside of the duty-free section, there was very little shopping to keep me occupied. It reminded me of many of the small Caribbean airports that I have been to in the past.
My layover in Vienna was uneventful, as was my final flight segment to Berlin. Looks like my vacation is over! Time to get to work!
Please ensure that your seatbacks are in the upright position and prepare for landing. We will be arriving in Berlin shortly! Want to read about it? Head over here!
May 11th 2012
Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue! We spent the majority of the day sailing today. We were originally supposed to go to Split and Trogir, but the weather was more conducive to going to a special place called the 'Blue Grotto'.
The grotto is a cave, well out of the way of the typical tourist path. It glows blue light from 11am to noon each day. It was a surreal experience! Our boat was far to large to fit into the cave, so we had to take the inflatable lifeboat and row towards the cave. At the entrance there was a man charging admission. He charged the four of us for two adults and two children. Size-wise I think that makes me one of the children, but I am not going to turn down a deal for posterity sake!
The water inside the cave is unseen by the sun, so it is very cold! However, I took a dive in. I shivered in the water long enough to get photographic evidence. Only one other person, Carmen, got into the water. It was freezing, but a really neat experience! It definitely tops my Top Natural Phenomena list of sites that I have been fortunate enough to see.
Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue! We spent the majority of the day sailing today. We were originally supposed to go to Split and Trogir, but the weather was more conducive to going to a special place called the 'Blue Grotto'.
The grotto is a cave, well out of the way of the typical tourist path. It glows blue light from 11am to noon each day. It was a surreal experience! Our boat was far to large to fit into the cave, so we had to take the inflatable lifeboat and row towards the cave. At the entrance there was a man charging admission. He charged the four of us for two adults and two children. Size-wise I think that makes me one of the children, but I am not going to turn down a deal for posterity sake!
The water inside the cave is unseen by the sun, so it is very cold! However, I took a dive in. I shivered in the water long enough to get photographic evidence. Only one other person, Carmen, got into the water. It was freezing, but a really neat experience! It definitely tops my Top Natural Phenomena list of sites that I have been fortunate enough to see.
May 10th 2012
I am writing to you from the island of Hvar; the St. Tropez of the Adriatic. It is the party hub for the rich and famous; the see and be seen locale.
I swear that the food keeps getting better and better! Tonight we ate at a tiny restaurant, mainly serving yachters. There is no fixed menu, rather the catch of the day. Today's options were raw anchovies and raw squid salads as appetizers, and monkfish, shark, and sea bass as the main courses. We chose to have a mixed platter with all of the fish. It was all delicious and was accompanied by grilled zucchini. Dessert was raw meringue covered in chocolate. The chef was very friendly, flirty, and good looking (on top of being great at his job).
The actual town of Hvar is relatively small. It is dominated by expensive cocktail bars and small boutiques. It is definitely a shopping haven. Although the prices were obscene, the shops were meticulously laid out, making them a pleasure to browse. The largest boat in port was the 'Reef Chief' from the Bahamas, which measured 40 meters and costing $50 million USD. Sadly we didn't meet its owners...
Did I mention that we saw sharks today? Perhaps it was even the same one that ended up in my plate for dinner...
I am writing to you from the island of Hvar; the St. Tropez of the Adriatic. It is the party hub for the rich and famous; the see and be seen locale.
I swear that the food keeps getting better and better! Tonight we ate at a tiny restaurant, mainly serving yachters. There is no fixed menu, rather the catch of the day. Today's options were raw anchovies and raw squid salads as appetizers, and monkfish, shark, and sea bass as the main courses. We chose to have a mixed platter with all of the fish. It was all delicious and was accompanied by grilled zucchini. Dessert was raw meringue covered in chocolate. The chef was very friendly, flirty, and good looking (on top of being great at his job).
The actual town of Hvar is relatively small. It is dominated by expensive cocktail bars and small boutiques. It is definitely a shopping haven. Although the prices were obscene, the shops were meticulously laid out, making them a pleasure to browse. The largest boat in port was the 'Reef Chief' from the Bahamas, which measured 40 meters and costing $50 million USD. Sadly we didn't meet its owners...
Did I mention that we saw sharks today? Perhaps it was even the same one that ended up in my plate for dinner...
May 9th 2012
After a rather late start, we spent the day sailing across the Adriatic sea. Small fishing villages and coastal resorts flitted by, oozing the cool, Mediterranean vibe that the Dalmatian Coast seems to embody.
We finished our daily sail aside the island of Bol. We took a walk along the coastline, where various statues of a vaguely erotic nature had been erected. It was not until we reached the beach that the symbolism took on a greater meaning. There is no mistaking the phallic nature of the beach. The gravel has been shaped (supposedly by the tide) with a wide base, which gradually thins into a pronounced tip. Various bushes line the base, which further enhances the effect. Feel free to browse my photos for an image of this unique beach.
Dinner was top notch! After enjoying hot chocolate with whipped cream, we shared a seafood salad as an appetizer. For my main course I enjoyed a grilled shark steak. It was the best fish dish that I have ever had. I may need to come back at some point...
Another day, another Adriatic island; how blissful.
After a rather late start, we spent the day sailing across the Adriatic sea. Small fishing villages and coastal resorts flitted by, oozing the cool, Mediterranean vibe that the Dalmatian Coast seems to embody.
We finished our daily sail aside the island of Bol. We took a walk along the coastline, where various statues of a vaguely erotic nature had been erected. It was not until we reached the beach that the symbolism took on a greater meaning. There is no mistaking the phallic nature of the beach. The gravel has been shaped (supposedly by the tide) with a wide base, which gradually thins into a pronounced tip. Various bushes line the base, which further enhances the effect. Feel free to browse my photos for an image of this unique beach.
Dinner was top notch! After enjoying hot chocolate with whipped cream, we shared a seafood salad as an appetizer. For my main course I enjoyed a grilled shark steak. It was the best fish dish that I have ever had. I may need to come back at some point...
Another day, another Adriatic island; how blissful.
May 8th 2012
Most of the boats docked near us in the ACI Harbor in Korcula are expensive; our skipper estimated 5 million dollars minimum. Perhaps it is for this reason that the showers in the marina are akin to spa showers. The giant overhead shower heads measure a foot across and gush hot water. They are hardly reminiscent to the school locker room shower blocks that I would have expected.
Lisa and myself are ill with a cold. Although it is unfortunate, I cannot imagine a better place to be when sick. We enjoyed creamy, cool ice cream for breakfast and then spent the afternoon sailing. We stopped for the evening in Place. It was here that we met the other Intrepid group, who are doing the same trip, but in reverse. They had only positive things to say about the other half of the trip, so I am looking forward to seeing what the coming days have to offer.
Dinner was less spectacular than in previous days, but significantly cheaper as well. I had grilled squid, which were very good. The other group were much heavier drinkers than ours, so Lisa and I retired to our boat early to enjoy warm milk and quiet. We'll have to make up for it on another night.
Even sick doesn't seem so bad when you're looking out in the Adriatic sea.
Most of the boats docked near us in the ACI Harbor in Korcula are expensive; our skipper estimated 5 million dollars minimum. Perhaps it is for this reason that the showers in the marina are akin to spa showers. The giant overhead shower heads measure a foot across and gush hot water. They are hardly reminiscent to the school locker room shower blocks that I would have expected.
Lisa and myself are ill with a cold. Although it is unfortunate, I cannot imagine a better place to be when sick. We enjoyed creamy, cool ice cream for breakfast and then spent the afternoon sailing. We stopped for the evening in Place. It was here that we met the other Intrepid group, who are doing the same trip, but in reverse. They had only positive things to say about the other half of the trip, so I am looking forward to seeing what the coming days have to offer.
Dinner was less spectacular than in previous days, but significantly cheaper as well. I had grilled squid, which were very good. The other group were much heavier drinkers than ours, so Lisa and I retired to our boat early to enjoy warm milk and quiet. We'll have to make up for it on another night.
Even sick doesn't seem so bad when you're looking out in the Adriatic sea.
May 7th 2012
After staying up late last night we had a later start this morning. The waters were rough, so there was a heightened chance of seasickness. However, the sun was still out, so it was an enjoyable time to just watch the coast go by.
We docked in the town of Korcula in the early afternoon. This is the rumored home of Marco Polo. We took turns posing in what is said to have been his chair. It is huge, so I'm not sure if he was a giant or not... Although I suppose everyone is big compared to me!
After posing for photos we purchased ice cream cones. It was made in the same manner as the amazing ice cream in Dubrovnik. I had kiwi, complete with seeds! It was equally as good as the first time. We strolled through the town, taking pictures and enjoying our snack. We then had a group dinner at a small seaside restaurant, where I had white fish stew. It was delicious as always!
After staying up late last night we had a later start this morning. The waters were rough, so there was a heightened chance of seasickness. However, the sun was still out, so it was an enjoyable time to just watch the coast go by.
We docked in the town of Korcula in the early afternoon. This is the rumored home of Marco Polo. We took turns posing in what is said to have been his chair. It is huge, so I'm not sure if he was a giant or not... Although I suppose everyone is big compared to me!
After posing for photos we purchased ice cream cones. It was made in the same manner as the amazing ice cream in Dubrovnik. I had kiwi, complete with seeds! It was equally as good as the first time. We strolled through the town, taking pictures and enjoying our snack. We then had a group dinner at a small seaside restaurant, where I had white fish stew. It was delicious as always!
May 6th 2012
This morning we sailed to the island of Ston. This is the home of a 5.5km long wall, which is one of the longest fortifications in Europe. From a distance it resembles the Great Wall of China. It was created to protect this important salt producing town from invaders.
The walk up the wall was quite difficult, however, the view from the top was well worth the hike. The town is small, but beautiful. I am beginning to think that all towns in Croatia are stunning. There was a small castle marked with the words 'disco'. Sadly we were leaving before the evening, so we didn't have the chance to party in a castle.
However, we spent an enjoyable evening on the island of Mjlet. The town we moored in is home to only 40 people, the next closest town has 60 residents. We had dinner in an adorable restaurant with only 2 other guests. It had a dock built in front of it, and I imagine that the only customers are boaters. I had an amazing muscle dish, espresso, and tiramisu. The food in Croatia just keeps getting better and better!
The winds picked up a bit during the night, but since we were in a sheltered bay it was relatively calm for us. 3 of us sat in the lounge talking well into the night. This group is really fun! Everyone is very well traveled and it is a lot of fun talking about our shared experiences.
This morning we sailed to the island of Ston. This is the home of a 5.5km long wall, which is one of the longest fortifications in Europe. From a distance it resembles the Great Wall of China. It was created to protect this important salt producing town from invaders.
The walk up the wall was quite difficult, however, the view from the top was well worth the hike. The town is small, but beautiful. I am beginning to think that all towns in Croatia are stunning. There was a small castle marked with the words 'disco'. Sadly we were leaving before the evening, so we didn't have the chance to party in a castle.
However, we spent an enjoyable evening on the island of Mjlet. The town we moored in is home to only 40 people, the next closest town has 60 residents. We had dinner in an adorable restaurant with only 2 other guests. It had a dock built in front of it, and I imagine that the only customers are boaters. I had an amazing muscle dish, espresso, and tiramisu. The food in Croatia just keeps getting better and better!
The winds picked up a bit during the night, but since we were in a sheltered bay it was relatively calm for us. 3 of us sat in the lounge talking well into the night. This group is really fun! Everyone is very well traveled and it is a lot of fun talking about our shared experiences.
May 5th 2012
The gargantuan 'MSC Musical', as well as 4 'smaller' cruise ships arrived in the Dubrovnik port today. There were tens of thousands of tourists crammed into the 2 city block by 2 city block that is the old city. After purchasing the most delicious ice cream that I have ever had (yogurt and cherries), I headed into the new city of Dubrovnik. I spent the afternoon sitting in a quaint cafe, eating strange pastries, and watching the world go by.
In the early afternoon I went to meet my Intrepid Travel group. I took the city bus to the ACI Marina. The marina is large, but I managed to find my group with ease. There are three other young females on my trip; Carmen from Canada, Lisa from London, and Janelle from Australia. Instead of a typical tour leader, we have a Skipper from Germany named Cornelius. Although he is not supposed to act as a guide in the typical sense, he is in charge of the boat and makes sure that we arrive safe and sound at each of our destinations.
The sail boat has 1 mast and is 41 feet. It sleeps six, but there are only five of us on the trip. It has two bathrooms and a living room. There is also a kitchen with a stove and small oven. It is going to be a nice space to spend the next week!
We sailed to a small bay called Mali Zlaton. There was an adorable restaurant, with only a few seats. We had a mixed dinner, with 5 different appetizers, 4 different main courses and 3 desserts to share between us. We had anchovies, ceviche squid, smoked tuna, lobster salad, and tuna tartare. For dinner we had seafood pasta, black risotto (made with squid ink), seafood gnocchi, and prawns. Dessert was creme caramel, cheesecake, and Croatian pancakes (nut crepes). Everything was AMAZING! The last time I ate food of this caliber was when I was in the south of France.
Living the dream! And getting a tan ;)
The gargantuan 'MSC Musical', as well as 4 'smaller' cruise ships arrived in the Dubrovnik port today. There were tens of thousands of tourists crammed into the 2 city block by 2 city block that is the old city. After purchasing the most delicious ice cream that I have ever had (yogurt and cherries), I headed into the new city of Dubrovnik. I spent the afternoon sitting in a quaint cafe, eating strange pastries, and watching the world go by.
In the early afternoon I went to meet my Intrepid Travel group. I took the city bus to the ACI Marina. The marina is large, but I managed to find my group with ease. There are three other young females on my trip; Carmen from Canada, Lisa from London, and Janelle from Australia. Instead of a typical tour leader, we have a Skipper from Germany named Cornelius. Although he is not supposed to act as a guide in the typical sense, he is in charge of the boat and makes sure that we arrive safe and sound at each of our destinations.
The sail boat has 1 mast and is 41 feet. It sleeps six, but there are only five of us on the trip. It has two bathrooms and a living room. There is also a kitchen with a stove and small oven. It is going to be a nice space to spend the next week!
We sailed to a small bay called Mali Zlaton. There was an adorable restaurant, with only a few seats. We had a mixed dinner, with 5 different appetizers, 4 different main courses and 3 desserts to share between us. We had anchovies, ceviche squid, smoked tuna, lobster salad, and tuna tartare. For dinner we had seafood pasta, black risotto (made with squid ink), seafood gnocchi, and prawns. Dessert was creme caramel, cheesecake, and Croatian pancakes (nut crepes). Everything was AMAZING! The last time I ate food of this caliber was when I was in the south of France.
Living the dream! And getting a tan ;)
The beautiful city of Dubrovnik
May 4th 2012
I've been to some really unique places. I've seen the pyramids, cruised in the Caribbean, had close encounters with African wildlife, scuba dived in Cuba, and lived in French wine country (and that's just the tip of the iceberg). However, nothing compares to the awe-inspiring splendor of Dubrovnik. I have never been so enamored by a place. I am utterly confused why everyone doesn't live here, I can't imagine anywhere more idyllic.
The old city of Dubrovnik is a member of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, which ensures its continuing protections and restoration. This is fortunate, as a good deal of shelling damage was done to the city during the war. Shockingly, only 42,641 people live here on a full-time basis. The town is relative small, but as you can see from my photos, every inch of land is used. There was even a basketball court crammed between buildings to make the most use of space. The old town is free to enter, likely because people still live inside it. The old city is defined by large, domineering walls, which encircle it on all sides. The only exceptions are the main 'Pile' gate and the 'hole in the wall' Buza. For $15 you can get a ticket that allows you to walk the entire length of the walls. The view was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen. Although the full circuit took an hour to complete, I did it twice. During the first pass I tried to take in as much as possible, from the beautiful Adriatic coast to the stunning buildings inside the walls. On my second time around I took photos, in an attempt to preserve the memories. The walk is a bit of a workout, as stairs bring you up and down many towers along the way. I would happily do the walk again- it truly is one of the most amazing views that I have ever experienced. You would have to be crazy not to feel completely satisfied looking out at the orange-brown roofs with the perfectly blue waters behind them.
Maybe it was the jet lag, or maybe it was the anticipation, but I didn't sleep long last night. I was on my way to the old town by 8 am. At that time there was a speckling of well-dressed men in button down shirts and attractive women in white linen pants eating breakfast at one of the dozens of outdoor restaurants. Although I had heard that the Croatian coast is a 'see and be seen' locale for the rich and famous, I had expected it to be more touristy. Not to fear though! Once noon rolled around, tour buses pulled up to the Pile gate. Thousands of tourists in zip off cargo pants and over sized t- shirts (or far too tight tank tops for that matter) poured into the town. I took this as my cue to move on.
I spent the afternoon lying on a small beach tucked behind a church. It was quite a ways off the main road and required walking up a steep hill and down a long set of stairs. It seemed the effort was too great for most, as there were never more than 2 other people on the beach all afternoon. The weather was perfect, 25 degrees with clear blue skies.
The day couldn't have been any better. It was the perfect mix of culture and relaxation. At this point, I don't think that it is even necessary to say that I'm living the dream!!
I've been to some really unique places. I've seen the pyramids, cruised in the Caribbean, had close encounters with African wildlife, scuba dived in Cuba, and lived in French wine country (and that's just the tip of the iceberg). However, nothing compares to the awe-inspiring splendor of Dubrovnik. I have never been so enamored by a place. I am utterly confused why everyone doesn't live here, I can't imagine anywhere more idyllic.
The old city of Dubrovnik is a member of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, which ensures its continuing protections and restoration. This is fortunate, as a good deal of shelling damage was done to the city during the war. Shockingly, only 42,641 people live here on a full-time basis. The town is relative small, but as you can see from my photos, every inch of land is used. There was even a basketball court crammed between buildings to make the most use of space. The old town is free to enter, likely because people still live inside it. The old city is defined by large, domineering walls, which encircle it on all sides. The only exceptions are the main 'Pile' gate and the 'hole in the wall' Buza. For $15 you can get a ticket that allows you to walk the entire length of the walls. The view was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen. Although the full circuit took an hour to complete, I did it twice. During the first pass I tried to take in as much as possible, from the beautiful Adriatic coast to the stunning buildings inside the walls. On my second time around I took photos, in an attempt to preserve the memories. The walk is a bit of a workout, as stairs bring you up and down many towers along the way. I would happily do the walk again- it truly is one of the most amazing views that I have ever experienced. You would have to be crazy not to feel completely satisfied looking out at the orange-brown roofs with the perfectly blue waters behind them.
Maybe it was the jet lag, or maybe it was the anticipation, but I didn't sleep long last night. I was on my way to the old town by 8 am. At that time there was a speckling of well-dressed men in button down shirts and attractive women in white linen pants eating breakfast at one of the dozens of outdoor restaurants. Although I had heard that the Croatian coast is a 'see and be seen' locale for the rich and famous, I had expected it to be more touristy. Not to fear though! Once noon rolled around, tour buses pulled up to the Pile gate. Thousands of tourists in zip off cargo pants and over sized t- shirts (or far too tight tank tops for that matter) poured into the town. I took this as my cue to move on.
I spent the afternoon lying on a small beach tucked behind a church. It was quite a ways off the main road and required walking up a steep hill and down a long set of stairs. It seemed the effort was too great for most, as there were never more than 2 other people on the beach all afternoon. The weather was perfect, 25 degrees with clear blue skies.
The day couldn't have been any better. It was the perfect mix of culture and relaxation. At this point, I don't think that it is even necessary to say that I'm living the dream!!
May 3rd 2012
I'm in Croatia! After 3 days and 6 countries (Canada, England, Germany, Austria, Bosnia, and Croatia) I am here! Wait a second... Bosnia??? I was surprised too! I was driving along in a bus when we pulled over to the side of the road. A uniformed man came abroad and asked for all our passports. It didn't take long and soon we were driving again. As I looked outside my window I saw a grouping of signs which all had a similar message 'Welcome to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Didn't see that one coming at all!
I suppose that I should start at the beginning of the day. The Berlin-Tegal Airport is designed differently than anywhere I have ever been. There is no central area with check in lines, instead, each airline has their own spread out all over the airport. Once you check in you go directly through behind the counters to the airlines private security screening. Past that is a lounge where only flights going to similar destinations by the same airline are located. In this case, there were three different flights waiting in the same area, going to Munich, Vienna, and Frankfurt. Oh, did you know Vienna is Wien in German. Me neither! Which made it a bit difficult finding which counter to go to since I couldn't find an Austria airline flight going to Vienna...
Somehow I did manage to get there, and onto Split Croatia after that. There was a transfer bus outside, which I took to the local bus station. After that, it was a breeze to find the bus going to Dubrovnik, which left about five minutes after I boarded. It was an easy transfer and a relatively smooth trip (minus the surprise of arriving in Bosnia). I had considered flying straight to Dubrovnik, but had heard that it was a beautiful drive. This was certainly the case. The road snaked along the coast for the majority of the way, with little towns splattered in the hills. The buildings are almost all white with brown roofs. The symmetry between the buildings gives the towns an old, yet refreshing feel; like you're far from the big city and really are in vacation.
In sad news, my photo card for my camera fizzled out and isn't working. Sorry for the less than stellar iPad photos that you get instead. I will try my best to find a new one tomorrow.
Oh, did I mention that is was 29 degrees here today. Oh yah, living the dream!
I'm in Croatia! After 3 days and 6 countries (Canada, England, Germany, Austria, Bosnia, and Croatia) I am here! Wait a second... Bosnia??? I was surprised too! I was driving along in a bus when we pulled over to the side of the road. A uniformed man came abroad and asked for all our passports. It didn't take long and soon we were driving again. As I looked outside my window I saw a grouping of signs which all had a similar message 'Welcome to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Didn't see that one coming at all!
I suppose that I should start at the beginning of the day. The Berlin-Tegal Airport is designed differently than anywhere I have ever been. There is no central area with check in lines, instead, each airline has their own spread out all over the airport. Once you check in you go directly through behind the counters to the airlines private security screening. Past that is a lounge where only flights going to similar destinations by the same airline are located. In this case, there were three different flights waiting in the same area, going to Munich, Vienna, and Frankfurt. Oh, did you know Vienna is Wien in German. Me neither! Which made it a bit difficult finding which counter to go to since I couldn't find an Austria airline flight going to Vienna...
Somehow I did manage to get there, and onto Split Croatia after that. There was a transfer bus outside, which I took to the local bus station. After that, it was a breeze to find the bus going to Dubrovnik, which left about five minutes after I boarded. It was an easy transfer and a relatively smooth trip (minus the surprise of arriving in Bosnia). I had considered flying straight to Dubrovnik, but had heard that it was a beautiful drive. This was certainly the case. The road snaked along the coast for the majority of the way, with little towns splattered in the hills. The buildings are almost all white with brown roofs. The symmetry between the buildings gives the towns an old, yet refreshing feel; like you're far from the big city and really are in vacation.
In sad news, my photo card for my camera fizzled out and isn't working. Sorry for the less than stellar iPad photos that you get instead. I will try my best to find a new one tomorrow.
Oh, did I mention that is was 29 degrees here today. Oh yah, living the dream!
