So, I have made it back home and what a relief. I find it amazing how in love I am with Canada whenever I first see Canadian soil after a trip overseas. I never thought I would be so happy to see Toronto! It was an extremely long flight home from Vienna... well, it was only 9 hours but I couldn't get up because I was between smelly guy and long legged guy. So for 9 hours I sat in my seat. To make it worse, my row was the only one that didn't have tv's that worked. So I read a book, catalogued my photos, wrote in my journal. And then had 3 more hours to sit and stare at the seat in front of me. Toronto was beautiful after that!
But my overnight in Vienna was great. I made it to the hostel, did a quick check of the glass in my bag (all intact!) and then went for wiener schnitzel with my room-mate, Nicole. It was all I wanted to do in Vienna and I was so happy after. I also had a decent night's sleep... hostel dorms... oh, how I missed you!
So, I am home now and happy to be back. I loved my trip (sorry for the recent negative posts). Overall, I saw some beautiful countries and enjoyed two weeks away. But I will say I am happy to be home. It is only when you are away when you realize what you value about the place and the people that make it home. Now, it is back to work and dreaming about more places to come. But that will be in the future. I'll keep you posted!
Lots of love, Lisa
Monday, July 26, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Surprise!
I barely posted the last two weeks and what do you know, two posts in the last two days!!! I am currently sitting in the airport in Podgorica (capital of Montenegro) and desperately trying to find things to do to pass time. I have been here for 8 hours already and finally got to check my bag in but I still have 2 hours to go before I leave Montenegro. And internet just happens to be cheap in the airport (that's a first).
So, what has happened in the last day? I told you about climbing the fortress walls in Kotor so ater that we took the bus to Podgorica. Now, if you know me, I tend to be quite relaxed and easy going but I finally had enough. The bus was pretty much a Tonka truck packed with people (even standing in the aisles) and it was kind of air conditioned. It was a race to get on before it left and then we just tried to figure out what was happening. I am not use to buses pulling over anywhere to pick up people on the side of the road and then to drop them off wherever. It was very haphazard and frustrating. Granted, I probably over reacted a bit but I was getting tired of Montenegro and just wanted to be someplace else. So wen we finally arrived and ade it to our hotel, we crashed for the afternoon and watched american tv. I don't usually watch TV when I am travelling, but there is nothing to do here! When dinner time inally arrived, we took a taxi to a fancy restarant that we had high hopes or. Our waiter was incompetent but we just tried to focus on the food. The grilled octopus was spectacular and the blue cheese and walnut gnocchi was amazing. This was starting out well. And then they brought out what was supposed to be beef steak and vegetables - but it was an attempt at a TV dinner... but worse! The steak was inedible and the egetables were from a can. I managed 5 bites and then touched nothing else. What a disappointment. Jaime and I just couldn't catch a brea. At this point there were two good things about Montenegro - the dinner in Kotor and climbing the fortress walls. But our luck had to change. Enter Igor, taxi-boy (I think the title sounds like a superhero and he was!). He had dropped us off at the restaurant and we called him to pick us up. He had wanted to tell us the food was bad there but was being polite. So we got talking about his recommendations and then we asked about dessert - he suggested palecinkes. Now, I have tried them repeatedy on this trip and was instantly interested. This turned out to be the best palecinkes I have had (not including my own). What an amazing turn of events. Igor, with his kind and generous heart, changed the end of the trip. I (and that's a big if) I ever come back to Montenegro, Igor will be the first person I contact and I will insist on a tour with him (sights and food). Some people just make a trip: for me it was Igor and our kind and sweet old Italian man from Korcula.
So, the trip is almost at it's end and I have been thinking a lot today (remember, 8 hours). There was the intial stress of actually getting to Croatia but once Jaime and I were together, it was reat. I absolutely love Slovenia and it remains my favourite European country - it is dramatic and beautiful and friendly and perfect! Croatia was exciting, a new experience - Istria was delicious or the truffles and honey while the coast offered stunning backdrops and great stops along the way. Island visits are definately the way to go. Montenegro, well not so much. It will be the only country I have visited that I would not recommend to anyone and would not come back myself.
So, off to Vienna for wiener schnitzel and then home! Lots of love,
Lisa
So, what has happened in the last day? I told you about climbing the fortress walls in Kotor so ater that we took the bus to Podgorica. Now, if you know me, I tend to be quite relaxed and easy going but I finally had enough. The bus was pretty much a Tonka truck packed with people (even standing in the aisles) and it was kind of air conditioned. It was a race to get on before it left and then we just tried to figure out what was happening. I am not use to buses pulling over anywhere to pick up people on the side of the road and then to drop them off wherever. It was very haphazard and frustrating. Granted, I probably over reacted a bit but I was getting tired of Montenegro and just wanted to be someplace else. So wen we finally arrived and ade it to our hotel, we crashed for the afternoon and watched american tv. I don't usually watch TV when I am travelling, but there is nothing to do here! When dinner time inally arrived, we took a taxi to a fancy restarant that we had high hopes or. Our waiter was incompetent but we just tried to focus on the food. The grilled octopus was spectacular and the blue cheese and walnut gnocchi was amazing. This was starting out well. And then they brought out what was supposed to be beef steak and vegetables - but it was an attempt at a TV dinner... but worse! The steak was inedible and the egetables were from a can. I managed 5 bites and then touched nothing else. What a disappointment. Jaime and I just couldn't catch a brea. At this point there were two good things about Montenegro - the dinner in Kotor and climbing the fortress walls. But our luck had to change. Enter Igor, taxi-boy (I think the title sounds like a superhero and he was!). He had dropped us off at the restaurant and we called him to pick us up. He had wanted to tell us the food was bad there but was being polite. So we got talking about his recommendations and then we asked about dessert - he suggested palecinkes. Now, I have tried them repeatedy on this trip and was instantly interested. This turned out to be the best palecinkes I have had (not including my own). What an amazing turn of events. Igor, with his kind and generous heart, changed the end of the trip. I (and that's a big if) I ever come back to Montenegro, Igor will be the first person I contact and I will insist on a tour with him (sights and food). Some people just make a trip: for me it was Igor and our kind and sweet old Italian man from Korcula.
So, the trip is almost at it's end and I have been thinking a lot today (remember, 8 hours). There was the intial stress of actually getting to Croatia but once Jaime and I were together, it was reat. I absolutely love Slovenia and it remains my favourite European country - it is dramatic and beautiful and friendly and perfect! Croatia was exciting, a new experience - Istria was delicious or the truffles and honey while the coast offered stunning backdrops and great stops along the way. Island visits are definately the way to go. Montenegro, well not so much. It will be the only country I have visited that I would not recommend to anyone and would not come back myself.
So, off to Vienna for wiener schnitzel and then home! Lots of love,
Lisa
Friday, July 23, 2010
Changes
Okay, so the last time I spoke with you I was getting ready to leave Croatia and head into Montenegro for 3 days. Well, as I guess can be expected, my plans changed. Jaime and I had an exhausting day in Dubrovnik: we ended up taking the car rental back to the airport a day early because we didn't want to pay to park a car we weren't using. Then we went to the beach for a bit before we packed our bags. We found a vegetarian restaurant that we wanted to eat at and it was amazing - the best meal of the trip. I had spring rolls and falafel (falafel, salad and naan bread with hummus). It was then that we decided we wanted to spend an extra day in Dubrovnik so that we could get two more meals in at Nishta. So our evening was spent making arrangements to stay an extra night. And we managed it which made us happy. We celebrated with drinks at our favourite bar.
So the next morning, we had to move to a different sobe but once we did, we headed to our smoothie bar for breakfast where we met a fun American girl. We spent a few hours just talking and relaxing before we made it to Nishta for meal #2 - green potato (baked potato with vegetables and sour cream). Delish! At this point, the thought of paying money to walk along the walls just didn't appeal to us so we decided to shop instead. I bought some jewellery and a beautiful white leather bag. It made both of us feel better. Then it was time for meal #3 at Nishta - this time joined by Angie. I had nachos con queso and tomatillos which is a vegetarian burrito. The nachos were my favourite. It was a great few days of healthy and quality food. So, I didn't do everything that I had originally planned to do in Dubrovnik but I was happy anyways.
We left early the next morning for our trip into Montenegro. The bus was late, it was packed and our driver was crazy (driving like a lunatic) and I was so nervous when they took my passport at the border and was the last to get it back! And Montenegro, well, we definately are not in Croatia anymore. You can still see the scars from war and the development has been slow. And it is probably the dirtiest country I have been to. First reaction: why did we come here? We are stazing in Kotor which is touted as the jewel in the coast's crown. Well, it is a dirty and boring jewel. In 10 minutes, we were ready to leave. The hostel appears to be good but is the smelliest and the worst bathroom I have seen in a while. And remember, I am the girl that loves hostels. Jaime and I also were disappointed because we had wanted to go paragliding or at least kayaking. Well, the travel agency said no. So what were we going to do? We ate and drank for 5.5 hours at a great restaurant in a garden (outside of Kotor) and we were able to escape for a bit and relax. It just feels like a disappointment and I regret leaving this to the end.
This morning, to escape the furnace that is our room (and the pee smelling bathroom) we started our hike up the fortress walls of Kotor. It was great to get out early before it gets hotter and the views were beautiful. A great thing to do as our last activity before I return home. Now, I'm getting ready to go to Podgorica, the capital. I fly out tomorrow for an overnight in Vienna. In two days, I'll be home! I am looking forward to coming home so that I can feel clean (for once) and not sweat so much. This region is currently in a heat wave and I have been melting - sweating non stop. It's also exhausting to do anything in this kind of heat.
So, I'll chat with you once I am home. Talk to you later,
Lisa
So the next morning, we had to move to a different sobe but once we did, we headed to our smoothie bar for breakfast where we met a fun American girl. We spent a few hours just talking and relaxing before we made it to Nishta for meal #2 - green potato (baked potato with vegetables and sour cream). Delish! At this point, the thought of paying money to walk along the walls just didn't appeal to us so we decided to shop instead. I bought some jewellery and a beautiful white leather bag. It made both of us feel better. Then it was time for meal #3 at Nishta - this time joined by Angie. I had nachos con queso and tomatillos which is a vegetarian burrito. The nachos were my favourite. It was a great few days of healthy and quality food. So, I didn't do everything that I had originally planned to do in Dubrovnik but I was happy anyways.
We left early the next morning for our trip into Montenegro. The bus was late, it was packed and our driver was crazy (driving like a lunatic) and I was so nervous when they took my passport at the border and was the last to get it back! And Montenegro, well, we definately are not in Croatia anymore. You can still see the scars from war and the development has been slow. And it is probably the dirtiest country I have been to. First reaction: why did we come here? We are stazing in Kotor which is touted as the jewel in the coast's crown. Well, it is a dirty and boring jewel. In 10 minutes, we were ready to leave. The hostel appears to be good but is the smelliest and the worst bathroom I have seen in a while. And remember, I am the girl that loves hostels. Jaime and I also were disappointed because we had wanted to go paragliding or at least kayaking. Well, the travel agency said no. So what were we going to do? We ate and drank for 5.5 hours at a great restaurant in a garden (outside of Kotor) and we were able to escape for a bit and relax. It just feels like a disappointment and I regret leaving this to the end.
This morning, to escape the furnace that is our room (and the pee smelling bathroom) we started our hike up the fortress walls of Kotor. It was great to get out early before it gets hotter and the views were beautiful. A great thing to do as our last activity before I return home. Now, I'm getting ready to go to Podgorica, the capital. I fly out tomorrow for an overnight in Vienna. In two days, I'll be home! I am looking forward to coming home so that I can feel clean (for once) and not sweat so much. This region is currently in a heat wave and I have been melting - sweating non stop. It's also exhausting to do anything in this kind of heat.
So, I'll chat with you once I am home. Talk to you later,
Lisa
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Almost done in Croatia then off to Montenegro
Well, hello everyone. It feels like ages since my last post. I guess a lot has happened. So bear with me as I try to remember :)
To be honest, I was ready to move on from Split. It was a busy, smelly and hectic city with not much to offer me. After posting, we spent the day running around and trying to get things in order. Jaime had issues she needed to fix and both of us had tried to mail things home. In Croatia, you cannot mail honey to the USA and you cannot mail glass to Canada so all the honey in glass jars Jaime bought are still with her. Then I stressed out because (stupid me) I put a chocolate bar in my camera bag and by the time we walked to our room, it had melted all over. I was worried but managed to get it off the chargers and thankfully they still work! It just seemed like there were so many things that were going against us.
The next day, we walked around town and quickly covered Diocletians Palace. So we packed up the car and drove out of Split to Krka National Park where I saw Skradinski buk or the waterfalls of Skradin. It is a series of lakes with cascading waterfalls linking them. It was a lovely walk and I got in the water by the waterfalls. What a joy! But then it was back to Split. I did meet up with a travel friend from last year, Victoria, who happened to be in Split as well. But then it was onto the ferry which would take us to Korcula Town on the island of Korcula. Once we arrived and stressfully found parking and our apartment (which is amazing) we went out for a drink. We were enjoying ourselves when a Croatian man who worked on the ferry offered to buy us a drink. It all started out harmless but throughout the evening, he got more creepy towards Jaime. Of course, I had her back so I made sure he didn't get too close. We went to another bar with him because we kind of itied him and wanted his coworkers to see him with us but then once we got to the disco we realized we needed to get away. So we danced for a bit and when the smoke machine was at it's peak, we ran. This was the second time on this trip we have runaway from creepy guys but still fun. It was only later that we realized we were back on that exact ferry in two days.
So our full day in Korcula town was great. It is such a great place... it is beautiful, small, exciting architecture and scenery and some nice people. We met an old Italian man who was just the sweetest guy. Our day was perfect: slept in, chatted in bed, walked around town, laid on the beach, then made our own meal and chatted for the night. Perfect!
The next day, we checked out and loaded up the car. Then we walked along the road to Lumbarda, which supposedly had amazing beaches. Halfway, I started cramping in my legs and feet and it just didn't get better. I guess I haven't been getting enough water. So when we got there, I settled on the first bach I saw. Then spent te next few hours snorkelling and sunbathing. And didn't realize I was burning all over my body. It was onyl when we left that I realized I was very sore all over. Throughout the night, it just got more painful and annoying. But we got back to town and onto the ferry... nervous about Croatian man and how he would react to our escape from the club. He eventually came up and we were friendly but distant. We said Jaime had to take me home because I was sick (which I wasn't) but we saw that he had a temper and we didn't want anything to happen. It was a stressful ferry ride to Dubrovnik and as we were pulling into port, we hid in our car and prayed for a clean escape. And it happened. The further we got away, the better we felt. We adverted a potentially creepy stalker situation. We got to our room right by the Pile Gate and went to a beautiful and relaxing bar for a celebratory drink. We had made it to Dubrovnik, burnt, but together and free from stalkers.
Now we have a full day in Dubrovnik to walk around the old town, walk the walls and enjoy our last stop in Croatia. Then it is off to Montenegro.
Talk to you then,
Love, Lisa
To be honest, I was ready to move on from Split. It was a busy, smelly and hectic city with not much to offer me. After posting, we spent the day running around and trying to get things in order. Jaime had issues she needed to fix and both of us had tried to mail things home. In Croatia, you cannot mail honey to the USA and you cannot mail glass to Canada so all the honey in glass jars Jaime bought are still with her. Then I stressed out because (stupid me) I put a chocolate bar in my camera bag and by the time we walked to our room, it had melted all over. I was worried but managed to get it off the chargers and thankfully they still work! It just seemed like there were so many things that were going against us.
The next day, we walked around town and quickly covered Diocletians Palace. So we packed up the car and drove out of Split to Krka National Park where I saw Skradinski buk or the waterfalls of Skradin. It is a series of lakes with cascading waterfalls linking them. It was a lovely walk and I got in the water by the waterfalls. What a joy! But then it was back to Split. I did meet up with a travel friend from last year, Victoria, who happened to be in Split as well. But then it was onto the ferry which would take us to Korcula Town on the island of Korcula. Once we arrived and stressfully found parking and our apartment (which is amazing) we went out for a drink. We were enjoying ourselves when a Croatian man who worked on the ferry offered to buy us a drink. It all started out harmless but throughout the evening, he got more creepy towards Jaime. Of course, I had her back so I made sure he didn't get too close. We went to another bar with him because we kind of itied him and wanted his coworkers to see him with us but then once we got to the disco we realized we needed to get away. So we danced for a bit and when the smoke machine was at it's peak, we ran. This was the second time on this trip we have runaway from creepy guys but still fun. It was only later that we realized we were back on that exact ferry in two days.
So our full day in Korcula town was great. It is such a great place... it is beautiful, small, exciting architecture and scenery and some nice people. We met an old Italian man who was just the sweetest guy. Our day was perfect: slept in, chatted in bed, walked around town, laid on the beach, then made our own meal and chatted for the night. Perfect!
The next day, we checked out and loaded up the car. Then we walked along the road to Lumbarda, which supposedly had amazing beaches. Halfway, I started cramping in my legs and feet and it just didn't get better. I guess I haven't been getting enough water. So when we got there, I settled on the first bach I saw. Then spent te next few hours snorkelling and sunbathing. And didn't realize I was burning all over my body. It was onyl when we left that I realized I was very sore all over. Throughout the night, it just got more painful and annoying. But we got back to town and onto the ferry... nervous about Croatian man and how he would react to our escape from the club. He eventually came up and we were friendly but distant. We said Jaime had to take me home because I was sick (which I wasn't) but we saw that he had a temper and we didn't want anything to happen. It was a stressful ferry ride to Dubrovnik and as we were pulling into port, we hid in our car and prayed for a clean escape. And it happened. The further we got away, the better we felt. We adverted a potentially creepy stalker situation. We got to our room right by the Pile Gate and went to a beautiful and relaxing bar for a celebratory drink. We had made it to Dubrovnik, burnt, but together and free from stalkers.
Now we have a full day in Dubrovnik to walk around the old town, walk the walls and enjoy our last stop in Croatia. Then it is off to Montenegro.
Talk to you then,
Love, Lisa
Friday, July 16, 2010
It's been so long!
Well, life on the road has been pretty hectic since my last post. Last time, I was in Lake Bohinj getting readyfor a day of excitement. Well, thankfully I felt better and we went to Savica Waterfall which was quite a hike up in 30+ heat. But it was beautiful to see the crashing waterfall and then to turn around and see the calm lake. Then we got some fabulous gelato before getting ready for paragliding. Just our luck, we arrived at the pickup spot and were told we couldn't go up because the wind picked up and it wasn't safe. I was relieved that they wouldn't take us up in unsafe conditions but yet again, my attempt at doing something adventurous in Slovenia failed (last year I had hoped to go white water rafting but couldn't). So we got back in the car and drove to Piran. Now, this is a part of Slovenia I had not seen and I am so glad I went!
Piran is a stunning coastal town with amazing views and scenery. We parked the car outside the city limits and then walked to our hostel in the middle of the old town. Piran was under Italian influence for many years therefore it has a very Italian feel. It reminded me of Venice with the small winding alleys, the lack of vehicles in the old town and the architecture. Once we checked in, we went to the ˝beach˝ which was a cement pad. But it was nice to just lounge around before we packed up to sit at a cafe and watch the sunset. It was so peaceful and beautiful. We had a great dinner in a small local restaurant. I had schnitzel (I know, not very Slovenian but I had a craving) and palecinkes. I was cautious because we make palecinkes at home and I was nervous these wouldn't be as good. And I was right... they weren't which was disappointing.
The next morning, I walked and Jaime ran through the streets of Piran, winding our way up the hills to a lookout with stunning views of Piran below and the surrouding neighbourhoods and the Adriatic. One of the best walks I have done! Then we stopped for palecinkes at a different place and I am pleased to say they were good. Mine and my family's are better but I enjoyed them. Then it was off to Croatia. Once we passed the border, we started making our way through Istria, known for hilltop villages and truffles. We were going to Motovun, the most beautiful hilltop village and also where we stocked up on truffles. It as fun driving on dirt roads through Istria searching for the town. And once we arrived, we shopped. I had never had truffles before and wow, they are good! Then we got back on the road and headed for the coast. We arrived in Porec, a resort town that Jaime had only visited for 30 minutes last time she was here, but liked it. Well, we stayed in a resort for the night and it was definately a step up in accommodation. We lounged by the pool for the afternoon and then headed to the restaurant for dinner. Well, we barely ate. The food was so salty I felt like I had just drank from the sea. We tried some things but it was some of the worst food I had ever had. And the scary part was that everybody else was just stuffing themselves... and I felt like I was going to die! After dinner we needed to move so we walked along a dark path (we forgot our lights) to South Porec. It was so touristy and cheesy and the gelato was bad. That part of Porec was a bust.
The next day, we got out of Porec and drove along the coast stopping in Opatija for a walk, but then continuing down the Kvarner Gulf to the island of Rab. We took the ferry over and I was on my first Croatian island! We managed to find a room in a house for cheap. Great considering we had no plans or schedule at this point. I used some of my german training to communicate with the landlady which was interesting. Then we headed for the water. For someone who isn't much of a water baby, I have loved going to the beach and in the water. Probably because it is in the middle to high 30s all the time... it doesn't even cool down in the evening. And so far, we hadn't had any air conditioning. That meant we were always hot and couldn't sleep. So, in Rab, I hopped in the water and used my snorkel to choke on water. Note: do not snorkel in choppy water beside boats unless you want to swallow salt water. After our beach trip we went for dinner. My guide book recommended a restaurant but when we walked in and were the only ones at 7.30, we were nervous. We only ordered wine and calamari, which was alright. The rest of the night we chatted and had more wine and Pag cheese... divine!
So, before we left the island, we went to a beach that was awesome. A sandy beach in Croatia (this is rare) we sunbathed and walked out in the water and just enjoyed ourselves for an hour. Then it was back in the car, across to the mainland and the long drive down the windy coast to Split. Split is by far the biggest city we have been to in Croatia and it was a frustrating few hours. Our maps were bad, we got lost multiple times trying to find a guy I called about a room. We finally found him and then were dragged through town by another guy to the room we wanted to rent. It was a lonf few hous, I was hot and tired and just wanted to rest and at times I was worried we were being used. But it all turned out well. We have a room with air conditioning! We headed out for food and had a fabulous meal - I had seafood risotto which was so fresh and tasty. Then it was people watching along the Riva. A stressful day but it all ended well.
So that brings me to today. Still in Split for the day and spending time to run around and get errands down. We have decided we need to come up with a plan for the next few days because it is getting very busy in this part of Croatia. It's hot but Split is definately a striking city. I'll write more in a few days once I make it to Dubrovnik... gotta go!
Lots of love from Croatia, Lisa
Piran is a stunning coastal town with amazing views and scenery. We parked the car outside the city limits and then walked to our hostel in the middle of the old town. Piran was under Italian influence for many years therefore it has a very Italian feel. It reminded me of Venice with the small winding alleys, the lack of vehicles in the old town and the architecture. Once we checked in, we went to the ˝beach˝ which was a cement pad. But it was nice to just lounge around before we packed up to sit at a cafe and watch the sunset. It was so peaceful and beautiful. We had a great dinner in a small local restaurant. I had schnitzel (I know, not very Slovenian but I had a craving) and palecinkes. I was cautious because we make palecinkes at home and I was nervous these wouldn't be as good. And I was right... they weren't which was disappointing.
The next morning, I walked and Jaime ran through the streets of Piran, winding our way up the hills to a lookout with stunning views of Piran below and the surrouding neighbourhoods and the Adriatic. One of the best walks I have done! Then we stopped for palecinkes at a different place and I am pleased to say they were good. Mine and my family's are better but I enjoyed them. Then it was off to Croatia. Once we passed the border, we started making our way through Istria, known for hilltop villages and truffles. We were going to Motovun, the most beautiful hilltop village and also where we stocked up on truffles. It as fun driving on dirt roads through Istria searching for the town. And once we arrived, we shopped. I had never had truffles before and wow, they are good! Then we got back on the road and headed for the coast. We arrived in Porec, a resort town that Jaime had only visited for 30 minutes last time she was here, but liked it. Well, we stayed in a resort for the night and it was definately a step up in accommodation. We lounged by the pool for the afternoon and then headed to the restaurant for dinner. Well, we barely ate. The food was so salty I felt like I had just drank from the sea. We tried some things but it was some of the worst food I had ever had. And the scary part was that everybody else was just stuffing themselves... and I felt like I was going to die! After dinner we needed to move so we walked along a dark path (we forgot our lights) to South Porec. It was so touristy and cheesy and the gelato was bad. That part of Porec was a bust.
The next day, we got out of Porec and drove along the coast stopping in Opatija for a walk, but then continuing down the Kvarner Gulf to the island of Rab. We took the ferry over and I was on my first Croatian island! We managed to find a room in a house for cheap. Great considering we had no plans or schedule at this point. I used some of my german training to communicate with the landlady which was interesting. Then we headed for the water. For someone who isn't much of a water baby, I have loved going to the beach and in the water. Probably because it is in the middle to high 30s all the time... it doesn't even cool down in the evening. And so far, we hadn't had any air conditioning. That meant we were always hot and couldn't sleep. So, in Rab, I hopped in the water and used my snorkel to choke on water. Note: do not snorkel in choppy water beside boats unless you want to swallow salt water. After our beach trip we went for dinner. My guide book recommended a restaurant but when we walked in and were the only ones at 7.30, we were nervous. We only ordered wine and calamari, which was alright. The rest of the night we chatted and had more wine and Pag cheese... divine!
So, before we left the island, we went to a beach that was awesome. A sandy beach in Croatia (this is rare) we sunbathed and walked out in the water and just enjoyed ourselves for an hour. Then it was back in the car, across to the mainland and the long drive down the windy coast to Split. Split is by far the biggest city we have been to in Croatia and it was a frustrating few hours. Our maps were bad, we got lost multiple times trying to find a guy I called about a room. We finally found him and then were dragged through town by another guy to the room we wanted to rent. It was a lonf few hous, I was hot and tired and just wanted to rest and at times I was worried we were being used. But it all turned out well. We have a room with air conditioning! We headed out for food and had a fabulous meal - I had seafood risotto which was so fresh and tasty. Then it was people watching along the Riva. A stressful day but it all ended well.
So that brings me to today. Still in Split for the day and spending time to run around and get errands down. We have decided we need to come up with a plan for the next few days because it is getting very busy in this part of Croatia. It's hot but Split is definately a striking city. I'll write more in a few days once I make it to Dubrovnik... gotta go!
Lots of love from Croatia, Lisa
Sunday, July 11, 2010
I am alive and in Slovenia!
Well, greetings everyone from Slovenia! What a crazy couple of days it has been so I apologize it has taken me a while to post. So much to bring up so I will start at the beginning.
I left home early on July 9 and eventually made it to the airport. One of the down sides to travelling in peak season is airports are busy and staff are testy. I was glad to just get on the plane but not happy when they did not take off. After 45 minutes I was not happy. I had an hour between flights in Montreal and this was making my layover non existent. So I landed and had 15 minutes to sprint through the airport to catch my flight to Munich. I made it but was told my luggage may not. That was not a comfortable flight: first I was stressed about my bag and then I could not sleep on the flight (go figure). I made it to Munich tired and stressed and then... my flight to Zagreb was delayed by 1.5 hours. I just wanted to get to Croatia so I could start my holiday. I did make it... and so did my bag (I almost cried for joy).
Once in Zagreb, I picked up the car rental which we got upgraded from a Skoda to a VW Passat. Very nice! Then I had an hour to kill before Jaime landed so I got a phone (dirt cheap... worked out to be 25$). Once Jaime arrived I was finally able to relax and start my holiday. I drove from Zagreb to Ljubljana in a couple of hours and I was overjoyed to be in LJ again. We decided to go out for dinner but some drinks before. So we sat on the river front at a cafe sipping mojitos and chatting with some Americans. Now, it started out all fun but they would not leave our sides. We eventually tried to ditch them by going into a restaurant to have dinner. Throughout the dinner, they kept coming in and checking on us. So annoying. Oh, by the way, the dinner was great. But we wanted to ditch these guys so we ended up ducking out the side entrance and then running through the streets of Ljubljana worried they saw us and would follow us. I can say now, we were paranoid! But we ran until there was a dark alley and we had no idea where we were. Some voices spooked us to hide in the shadows (we must have looked absolutely insane) but then we made a break for the hostel... if we could find it. Roaming the streets trying to find our hostel was exhausting after a big meal and some alcohol but we made it. Oh, I forgot to mention we are staying in a hostel that was a former military prison... we have our own cell. Once back at the hostel we intended to watch the rest of the footy match but ended up meeting more guys (they flock to us!). At this point my evening turned from bad to worse. Lets just say I had to do 4 jagger bombs before following the group to a club where I got sick and eventually made it back to the hostel before passing out (and just, I slept on the floor of the cell).
So that was yesterday, and today I suffered the consequences. Not only did we hight tail it out of LJ before any of the guys saw us, but then I had an awful hangover for the drive to Lake Bohinj. Not a great way to start a holiday and I have learned my lesson and I will admit that I am a lightweight compared to seasoned drinkers. To kick the hangover, Jaime and I walked the entire lake perimeter which is about 10 km. It was a beautiful day and a stunning place. And I feel better. But I am exhausted. After the walk, we cleaned up and eventually found a pizzeria that was open late. Food was poor but greasy enough that I feel great now. Just going to watch the rest of the Fifa Final (go Netherlands!) before heading to bed. I have a big day tomorrow: visit to Savica Waterfall, take to cable car up Mt Vogel, canoe on the lake all before I para glide over the lake. Then we head to the coast of Slovenia for a night in Piran.
I hope to write again in a few days but I just wanted to fill you in on my crazy life. It has been a crazy few days but should calm down once I get to the coast. Lots of love,
Lisa
I left home early on July 9 and eventually made it to the airport. One of the down sides to travelling in peak season is airports are busy and staff are testy. I was glad to just get on the plane but not happy when they did not take off. After 45 minutes I was not happy. I had an hour between flights in Montreal and this was making my layover non existent. So I landed and had 15 minutes to sprint through the airport to catch my flight to Munich. I made it but was told my luggage may not. That was not a comfortable flight: first I was stressed about my bag and then I could not sleep on the flight (go figure). I made it to Munich tired and stressed and then... my flight to Zagreb was delayed by 1.5 hours. I just wanted to get to Croatia so I could start my holiday. I did make it... and so did my bag (I almost cried for joy).
Once in Zagreb, I picked up the car rental which we got upgraded from a Skoda to a VW Passat. Very nice! Then I had an hour to kill before Jaime landed so I got a phone (dirt cheap... worked out to be 25$). Once Jaime arrived I was finally able to relax and start my holiday. I drove from Zagreb to Ljubljana in a couple of hours and I was overjoyed to be in LJ again. We decided to go out for dinner but some drinks before. So we sat on the river front at a cafe sipping mojitos and chatting with some Americans. Now, it started out all fun but they would not leave our sides. We eventually tried to ditch them by going into a restaurant to have dinner. Throughout the dinner, they kept coming in and checking on us. So annoying. Oh, by the way, the dinner was great. But we wanted to ditch these guys so we ended up ducking out the side entrance and then running through the streets of Ljubljana worried they saw us and would follow us. I can say now, we were paranoid! But we ran until there was a dark alley and we had no idea where we were. Some voices spooked us to hide in the shadows (we must have looked absolutely insane) but then we made a break for the hostel... if we could find it. Roaming the streets trying to find our hostel was exhausting after a big meal and some alcohol but we made it. Oh, I forgot to mention we are staying in a hostel that was a former military prison... we have our own cell. Once back at the hostel we intended to watch the rest of the footy match but ended up meeting more guys (they flock to us!). At this point my evening turned from bad to worse. Lets just say I had to do 4 jagger bombs before following the group to a club where I got sick and eventually made it back to the hostel before passing out (and just, I slept on the floor of the cell).
So that was yesterday, and today I suffered the consequences. Not only did we hight tail it out of LJ before any of the guys saw us, but then I had an awful hangover for the drive to Lake Bohinj. Not a great way to start a holiday and I have learned my lesson and I will admit that I am a lightweight compared to seasoned drinkers. To kick the hangover, Jaime and I walked the entire lake perimeter which is about 10 km. It was a beautiful day and a stunning place. And I feel better. But I am exhausted. After the walk, we cleaned up and eventually found a pizzeria that was open late. Food was poor but greasy enough that I feel great now. Just going to watch the rest of the Fifa Final (go Netherlands!) before heading to bed. I have a big day tomorrow: visit to Savica Waterfall, take to cable car up Mt Vogel, canoe on the lake all before I para glide over the lake. Then we head to the coast of Slovenia for a night in Piran.
I hope to write again in a few days but I just wanted to fill you in on my crazy life. It has been a crazy few days but should calm down once I get to the coast. Lots of love,
Lisa
Friday, July 9, 2010
And I'm off...
Good morning everyone - today is the day! I am packed (hello backpack... oh, how I have missed you!), got tickets in my hand (well, safely tucked away) and I am getting ready for the drive out to the airport. From there, it will be 4 hours to Montreal (1 hour layover), 7.5 hours to Munich (1 hour layover) and finally 1 hour to Zagreb! 3 flights and 14.5 hours later, I will be in Croatia!
It has felt like a whirlwind trying to prepare for this trip. Planning has been ongoing for 1.5 months but it has only been the last two days that accommodation has been addressed - and even then, I only have my first 4 and my last 4 nights booked. From July 14 to July 21... who knows where I will be and moreover, where I will be sleeping. That's the beauty of having a car - we can go wherever we want and if need be, sleep in the car for a night. Of course, more than three nights in a car and I might have some issues.
This was just a short note before I leave and I just want to wish everyone a great July and I hope you follow along as I get back into the travelling thing. Hopefully, I haven't lost "it" (whatever it is that has made my travels so much fun and life-changing). It's been 6 months and 3 days since I arrived back in Canada from my year of travel and I really feel like I need this trip for my health. It should be great!
Lots of love,
Lisa
"Travel with love not fear"
It has felt like a whirlwind trying to prepare for this trip. Planning has been ongoing for 1.5 months but it has only been the last two days that accommodation has been addressed - and even then, I only have my first 4 and my last 4 nights booked. From July 14 to July 21... who knows where I will be and moreover, where I will be sleeping. That's the beauty of having a car - we can go wherever we want and if need be, sleep in the car for a night. Of course, more than three nights in a car and I might have some issues.
This was just a short note before I leave and I just want to wish everyone a great July and I hope you follow along as I get back into the travelling thing. Hopefully, I haven't lost "it" (whatever it is that has made my travels so much fun and life-changing). It's been 6 months and 3 days since I arrived back in Canada from my year of travel and I really feel like I need this trip for my health. It should be great!
Lots of love,
Lisa
"Travel with love not fear"
Saturday, July 3, 2010
One week and counting
I can't believe it but I only have one week left before I leave for Europe again. I have two weeks of holidays and rather than spend it at home, I jumped at the chance to get on a plane (or 3) to Zagreb, Croatia. I will be meeting up with Jaime and we will be spending two weeks driving through Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.
You may remember, I visited Slovenia last year. In just three days I was blown away by this unassuming country and it quickly became my favourite European country. Ljubljana (my home-base) is my favourite European city... so exciting and warm and inviting. So of course I am uber-excited to be going "home". It would have been great to have a week alone in Slovenia to explore my Opa's native country, but that will have to be another time.
I have not been to Croatia but I have spent the past few weeks reading up on the coast and I feel over-whelmed. For a relatively small area, there seems to be so much going on. It will definately be exciting to drive the coast, exploring and experiencing the best of Croatia.
Lastly, the plan is to drop the car in Croatia and public-transport our way into Montenegro. I guess if all else fails, there should be gypsies, right? We only have a few days in Montenegro but I hope to make the most of it.
So, I leave on July 9 (arriving July 10) for a couple of weeks of adventure. On July 24, I fly to Vienna, Austria for an overnight before returning home on July 25. Then, back to work to earn money to allow me to travel again.
I will of course blog about my trip so, I'll talk to you later! I've got to go finishing packing... not much to do because my backpack is always half packed, ready for my next adventure!
Lots of love,
Lisa
You may remember, I visited Slovenia last year. In just three days I was blown away by this unassuming country and it quickly became my favourite European country. Ljubljana (my home-base) is my favourite European city... so exciting and warm and inviting. So of course I am uber-excited to be going "home". It would have been great to have a week alone in Slovenia to explore my Opa's native country, but that will have to be another time.
I have not been to Croatia but I have spent the past few weeks reading up on the coast and I feel over-whelmed. For a relatively small area, there seems to be so much going on. It will definately be exciting to drive the coast, exploring and experiencing the best of Croatia.
Lastly, the plan is to drop the car in Croatia and public-transport our way into Montenegro. I guess if all else fails, there should be gypsies, right? We only have a few days in Montenegro but I hope to make the most of it.
So, I leave on July 9 (arriving July 10) for a couple of weeks of adventure. On July 24, I fly to Vienna, Austria for an overnight before returning home on July 25. Then, back to work to earn money to allow me to travel again.
I will of course blog about my trip so, I'll talk to you later! I've got to go finishing packing... not much to do because my backpack is always half packed, ready for my next adventure!
Lots of love,
Lisa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
