Sail Croatia Adventures

Here is another installment peeps, but I am too tired to recount all the stories from the craziness which was my Croatian sailing tour, so I'm going to make a photographic blog. Here are some highlights with some brief commentary thrown in for good measure.

Omis

Spent our first night here. We were meant to stay in Makarska, which is supposed to be a big party city, but it was really windy that day so the Captain altered our route. It was a very pretty town, quite small and very few tourists. Went into town for dinner and drinks that night.

Mljet

Another sleepy town with a gorgeous National Park. We had dinner on the boat this night and plenty of drinks, after which I escorted a few people from our boat onto my friends boat. I had met this French guy in Split a few days before, and he was doing the same tour but on the super deluxe boat. So we had some drinks there, talked to some people, almost got kicked off a few times. Also, I had a marriage proposal from an Aussie named Andy.

Dubrovnik

One of the prettiest cities I've ever seen, although very crowded with tourists. This city was almost destroyed in the war not too long ago, but has been built back up to the point where you would almost never know. This was a hot day and I decided to take off on my own rather than stick with the group and I had a nice walk through the old town, stopping for some gelato. Lots of Italian influence in food in Croatia, as Italy is right across the Adriatic and they get a lot of Italian tourists. Later we had a fancy dinner by the ocean and drank too much wine.

Hvar

Posh, posh, posh. Yachts as far as the eye can see, and the most expensive island of them all. Gorgeous sunset, went out for dinner then went to a club that night in a old church. A few of us hooked up with some people from other boats and went to another place for cocktails. We didn't make it home until 5am, and the boat left at 6am so not very much sleep that night! However, we all napped on the top deck which helped our hang over and our tan.

Brac

This beach is one of the coolest I've seen. These small pebbles jut out into a peninsula shaped beach with turquoise waters. We had to swim out here from the boat as we were anchored just off the shore (you can see one of the other tour boats in the distance.) Laying out on these soft stones in the sun was like having a hot stone massage, and didn't hurt your feet to walk on. Just before this, we swam to a small island that you could only get to by water taxi. On it, we stumbled upon a gorgeous restaurant and bar with lounge couches and white, airy curtains just off the beach. Totally unexpected, it was amazing.

After the tour, we docked in Split and the next day I was on a night ferry to Ancona and then Igoumenitsa in Greece! Next installment: Corfu.

Yes, OK, I have had a fair few angry notes from people because I haven't updated this thing in a while. To be fair, I didn't even realize anyone actually read it. So here I am in Corfu, Greece staring at a computer screen rather than staring at the gorgeous sunset... but I'm sure none of you care that much about pulling me away from fun vacation time. However, you should.

Anyways, what have I been up to?August 10th was my first official day travelling alone. Mel and Amber left me alone at the airport hotel in London and I woke up in a slight panic at my situation. However, I took several deep breaths and thought about what I had to do one step at a time. 1) Shower. 2) Brush teeth. 3) Pack bag. 4) Find a hostel for two nites in London. 5) Figure out how to get to the tube.

So I found a nice, cheap hostel in Shepard's Bush and managed to get there unscathed. In my first five minutes I met a nice Aussie girl who invited me to the pub, so I left my bags and went out. Turns out Shepard's Bush is a sub-culture of Aussies and Kiwi's, and all that night I met tonnes of amazing travellers living at the hostel and working in London.

After that first night, I felt confident about travelling alone. The backpacker culture is amazing when it comes to meeting new people and doing interesting things together. People are usually in the same boat as you, or were at some point in their travels, and are quick to adopt you into their group.On the morning of the 12th, I left at 4am in order to catch my flight to Pula. Everything was fine, until I got to Pula town and tried to find my hostel... turns out one of the street names in the directions to get there didn’t exist, and I ended up wandering around in a town where no one spoke English. I managed to find the creepiest person in Pula to ask for directions. He didn’t know where the hostel was, or the street name but he still offered to drive me there in his car. I was a bit concerned about getting kidnapped at that point... he was very insistent about driving me there, so I just pretended I was meeting my boyfriend and ran off (with a heavy backpack in 35 degrees, mind you.) An hour later, I managed to find the hostel, sweating like I have never sweat before and relieved as all hell. Until I realized that no one was there, and all the lights were turned off. A little weird for for 2 0`clock in the afternoon at a youth hostel, yes?

I waited for an hour and no one showed up, so I made an executive decision to take the night train to Split that night instead of the next. I picked myself up out of my puddle of sweat and carried on right back to the bus station, where I started. Had to wait five hours for the bus. Arrived in Split at 6am with no arrangements for accommodation and no idea what to do with myself.

Luckily I found a place and it was niiiiiice! Air conditioned, plasma screen TV, free internet. Met some more amazing people and we went out the next three nights before I was due to leave on my sail Croatia tour.

Ok, Ive been sitting here for way too long, I will leave the rest of my stories for later. Heading to watch the Corfu sunset...

Wish you were here.

Can You Tell I'm Excited?

Goodbye Scotland

Jenna and I both woke up with homesickness this morning. I dreamt last night I was sleeping in my bed at home, and when I heard foot steps outside my door I could have sworn they were my mothers.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't at home of course, and I had an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. This feeling will pass, as I've learned that my homesickness comes and goes. This time, it's probably the result of knowing I'll be leaving Edinburgh soon, and I'll have to say goodbye to Jenna who's the only real family I've had here. I've finally settled into this place and gotten to know the people, and now I'm leaving it behind me. I was surprised at how I've grown to love this city. It was a slow growing affection that has blossomed into true love. Many people I know love this city too, but not like I do. I will miss my beautiful flat, my friends and even the shit weather. I'll miss having to duck every time a double-decker drives past my window while I'm changing. I'll miss having to hide food from the mice. I'll even miss my shit job (but I'm sure I'll get over that quickly enough.) I haven't been a backpacker for the first leg of my trip which is how I planned it, but it was a very different experience from what I expected. I thought I'd make so many friends, meet handsome and exotic men, party all the time, jet set on the weekends to Spain or Portugal or where ever the wind blew me. Instead I've learned that I don't need any of that. It may sound silly, but this trip so far as mostly taught me that as long as I take it all in, what ever it may be, I'll be fine. The bad and the good; it's all part of the journey. I've been lonely and tired and bored and rejected, but it was all worth it. The bad bits make the good bits that much better.

So I'm taking off in a few weeks on the next leg of my journey, alone. I'm scared of course, mostly that I'll be lonely. But I've decided to revel in the solitude. I get to do whatever I want, all the time. If I want to take a ferry to this or that island, I can. If I want to park myself in Istanbul or Crete or Dubrovnik for a few weeks, there's nothing holding me back. I'm going to see and do things most people will never ever get to see and do. And when I get lonely and tired, which I will, I'll still take it in and live it. Just live through the pain. It wouldn't be the same experience without it.

Things

1) My mom and brother are coming to visit me in only three weeks! And, we're going to see Radiohead in concert together in Glasgow: I don't think it's possible for me to be more excited about this.

2) Remind me never to give out my number while I'm working. Ever.

3) Jenna is in good ol' Ontario for the next couple of weeks for a wedding, so if you're around make sure you harass her. And I have a new roomie while she is gone, named Mickaela. This girl is way cooler than me: Very English Mod type of style, a dancer and she likes to party. I don't think I could have asked for a better person to take Jenna's place! (Although, of course no one can really take her place.)

4) Amber and Melissa have booked their flights to come see me!! It's really happening! Croatia wont know whats coming...

5) I like my new job, but unfortunately it has caused me to loose all hope in the human race. I'm about to rant, so brace yourself... When I'm on the other side of that bar, suddenly people treat me like the floor they walk upon. You'd think as the provider of the alcohol they so desperately want to consume they'd be a tad more grateful, friendly and considerate, but no. Somehow they are a higher calibre of person than me, and treat me as such. Just a note to any of you who've never been a server, be gracious and tip well. Its a hard job and we're not slaves to your every want and need. Don't be a prick... OK, I'm finished now, phew!!

6) That is all. Love you.

SIIIIICK, but still a Work Horse

I've been a good girl and haven't spent any money for the past month except on rent, food and coffee (and not even that much on coffee because I get it free from work, yay!) So hopefully my savings will flourish and I'll be able to travel for longer before I have to start working again. I'm only taking time off at the end of this month when my parents come to visit, then I'm working straight until Amber and Melissa arrive in August and we go to Croatia. So I will be there and also in Turkey and Greece for August/September and maybe October (depends on the Sterling situation) and I will be doing most of this leg of the trip alone (ahhhhhhhh!!) I'm quite nervous, but also very very excited to be going at it by myself. However, if anyone so desires to join me on my adventures, just ask! I would love some company, even if it's just for a week or two. I'm already meeting up with a few people along the way, but I'd be ecstatic to see your beautiful, shining Canadian faces!