Croatia

When planning this trip, Croatia was on the top of the list. And I knew going in that it would be a difficult task. Being so mountainous, there is no real train system at all. So that means travel between driving, flying or busing.

Because of my Visa situation, I booked a flight in preparation of staying for several weeks. And being that my Visa got worked out before I left, I was able to go as a vacation rather than a short-term home. I decided I would book a hostel in Split, and find a way there when I arrived in Zadar.

The trip would start at 1:00am, taking a train from Münster to Duisburg and waiting until 3:20 for a bus. The bus would take me to a very small airport outside of Düsseldorf for a 7:00 flight to Zadar. Once in Zadar, I would take a taxi to the main bus station, buy a ticket for a bus to Split and four hours later, I would arrive. I was not sure where my hostel was, so I took a long walk and finally arrived around 4:00 or 5:00pm.

I spent two days in Split, walking around and enjoying the consistent daily temperature of 90 degrees, and 70 at night. On my third day, I woke up and stopped at a cafe for a cup of coffee. The coffee came with a glass of water, I finished them both and hopped on a bus to Dubrovnik. Twenty minutes into the trip I begin to feel sick. The water. I would spend the next five hours trapped on a bus as sick as I have ever been. Later in the trip I would learn of two others that had become sick from the water in Split.

When I arrive in Dubrovnik, my goal is just to get to my hostel and sleep. I took a taxi 12 kilometers out to the village of Zaton. It's a small village that is pretty popular among Italians and Croatians, but otherwise pretty unknown. The following day I would ride into old town Dubrovnik and walk the fortress wall and throughout the old town square. The rest of my time would be spent taking long walks down the coast and hiking in the area. I had booked the hostel for three nights, but decided last minute to stay for a fourth. Having made that decision, I would have to find a way to Zadar in one day. It's eight and half hours by bus, and while talking about it, my roommate in Zaton showed some interest when I brought up the idea of renting a car. I looked into it the next morning and booked the smallest car they had. Thursday morning we ride into Dubrovnik and pick up our car. It was supposed to be a small car, but instead they gave us a nice four door 308 Peugeot.


At 8:00am we leave for Zadar. It would take us all along the Dalmatian coast, through Bosnia and back into Croatia, through Split and ultimately Zadar. While cruising north, there would be mountains to our right and island after island to our left. Absolutely the most beautiful drive I have ever taken. And much more enjoyable this time, because I was't sick. The trip finishes with just one night in Zadar, but it was enough.

The reward was well worth the effort because Croatia is now my new favorite European country. Although I have seen enough male beach thongs for a lifetime.

My pictures of Split can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffkittleson/sets/72157627358673789/

My pictures of Dubrovnik can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffkittleson/sets/72157627359151441/

My pictures of Zaton can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffkittleson/sets/72157627484161232/

Bosnia

Mario

I met Mario while walking down the coast, stopped him and commented on his fine choice of jersey. I told him I'm from Minnesota, and we talked for twenty minutes or so. He was walking around town posting flyers about an American football league that he plays in. At one point he says, "I remember in 1998 when Brett Favre threw a touchdown to Randy Moss. He jumped through two guys and caught it with one hand." I didn't correct him.

A Croatian Vikings fan. How great is that?

Split, Croatia

Completely unexpected...

This morning Olga and I went through the steps of 'preparing' my Visa application. I was told that after making a few arrangements and sitting down with local Visa representative, I would be sending off my application for review. We sit down, Olga translates for me, and he tells us he would call us back in the room shortly. A half hour or more passes and I begin to wonder what could possibly be taking so long. All he needed to do was enter a few pieces of information into the computer, how long could that take? He would leave the room and come back, finally calling us back in. He tells me I need to pay 60 euros and he asks for my Passport. He finds a couple open pages and sticks the adhesive Visa into place.

I almost couldn't believe it. This changes everything. I was wondering what exactly I was going to do in Croatia for 6 to 8 weeks and now I will just go for a week to 10 days and scope out a country that has long intrigued me. This also opens the door to further travel through Europe. I still have not made my way to Scandinavia, and now it should happen sometime this fall.

...completely unexpected

Crushed it!!

I arrived at Inlingua a little nervous but prepared for anything. I meet with Patrick and tell him of my travels so far and my interest in teaching at Inlingua. Of course he knows what I am going to ask but in the beginning I skirt the issue. Telling him about my morning walks through town, around the Promenade, playing guitar in the park and my general interest in Münster as a whole. Before I tell him I only have 8 days left on my Visa, I tell him that I have enrolled in a TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) course and show him my resume. At this point we had been talking for twenty minutes or so and he is sold. I got the job.

The problem however, is that getting a work Visa can take up to 8 weeks. The rules were changed in May of this year and instead of getting a work visa in a couple days, it now takes 6 to 8 weeks. So we fill out the necessary paper work and send it off. With that, I need to leave Germany and return as soon as the paper work is complete. I have booked a flight to Zadar, Croatia on Monday the 8th and will spend two nights in a hostel there before heading to Split and ultimately Dubrovnik. I am not sure how I will do it yet, but I plan on spending at least the next 6 weeks in Croatia or somewhere nearby. I would have liked to stay, but you will not hear me complaining about spending 6 weeks on the Adriatic Sea.

Tomorrow is a big day...

Tomorrow I have an appointment with Inlingua here in Münster . As of now, I have 9 days left on my Visa and either I get a job (work Visa) or I need to leave (this part of) Europe for three months. Inlingua is an international English learning service and I would like to pursue a job with them. I really hope everything here pans out, but there is a very real possibility that come tomorrow, I will be have to travel to another non Schengen Treaty country. The Schengen treaty allows (in my case) American visitors to travel easily through 25 countries in Europe. However, after those 90 days, a next destination must be found. I have been searching for work for over a month, but in reality I have been dragging my feet a little bit and now need to prepare for another move. If this meeting does not go as planned, I need to book a ticket out of the Schengen Treaty countries jurisdiction. Most likely Croatia would be the choice, but I sure hope it pans out.