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/