Trains, planes, and buses...OH MY

The view from a hike up 8 million stairs to the see Split from all angles

Question: Where in the world is Annie?
Answer: In Split, Croatia

I think I should get a red and white striped hat so you all could keep better track of me.

Katie and I decided during our break between summer session and the semester that we wanted to travel Europe and visit family and friends while we were there...therefore that meant Italy for her and Germany for me-so how did we get to Croatia, good question.

Since rediscovering my Croatian roots I have been itching to go and explore the country. I had only heard wonderful things about it from multiple sources so when a friend on the summer program told me about a hostel in Split and the different activities one can do here we decided that we would give it a go. It helped to seal the deal when we found an extremely low fair to fly into Zagreb from Tel Aviv, so we booked it and here I am writing a post in the kitchen of the "green hostel" after a morning run along the harbor.

Right now I am at ease and relaxed enjoying my time here, but getting here was a whole other ball of wax. Our flight left at 8:30 on Tuesday morning so we stayed with a friend overnight in Jaffa on Monday night so we could get to the airport on time on Tuesday morning...HA that was a nice thought.

Tuesday morning started at 4:00 AM with alarms buzzing, showering, instant coffee making and then heading out the door to the streets of Jaffa to try and find a bus to take us to the main bus station to take another bus to take us to the airport. Our friend just moved to Jaffa so she didn't know what to take where. When we tried to research online it was not coming up with anything, so that put an exhilarating start to the day.

After getting on buses dropping us 15 min from the main bus station, getting told wrong platforms for buses to the airport, having to get off the bus that "goes to the airport" because it really drops you 2 miles outside the airport, instinctively following the orthodox jews with suitcases on another bus that actually took us into the terminal, going through 800 hours of security we FINALLY made it to our gate and got on the plane to Zagreb.

Side note about security:
-Thanks Mom and Dad for giving me Besant as my middle name, I was questioned about it for a good 5 min
-Then got asked the names of our friends we made in Israel, where we lived, who packed our bags, what we were studying (I left out the Arabic part)
-Before we could get our boarding passes our bags had to go through security, scanned and then opened and rifled through with some small blue wand with a white tip on the end. If you all know me you know my suitcase was stuffed and zipping it took 20 min so I was so grateful when she undid all of my packing...
-We then were taken like VIPs and were able to cut lines, which lead to a screaming match between a man and the woman helping us
-Then more bag checks, more wands, more waiting

After a 3 hour flight we made it to Zagreb and then took about a 5 hour (speed) bus to Split. The ride was long, but breathtakingly gorgeous. Going from the north to the south was amazing to watch the landscape change right before my eyes. Even though it was a long trek after the day we had I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Arriving into Split was a magnificent experience, the sun was setting as we came out of the tunnels from the mountains and the Adriatic was glistening in reflection. As we got off the bus the sweet and salty smell of the sea filled my senses and I felt a sense of calm and tranquility wash over me. We got our bags and started out to try and find our hostel. We walked in 80 different wrong directions and finally after sweating and bleeding (lovely blister on my heel) we asked an older man with his dog for directions, he graciously lead us right to the hostel door and made sure we got to reception and then just disappeared, our own little Croatian guardian angel.

The view from the bus on the way from Zagreb to Split

A picture is worth 1,000 words...

The sunset welcoming us to Split

Laura McCarthy's dream come true, fried potato on a stick 

A  concert set in the center of Diocletian's palace

Katie, myself and some random dude who is like 55 and doesn't do anything other than travel the world went out for dinner last night. 

 Fife check out this clip, this is where I had dinner. I had the beef dish over the gnocchi that she has (Annie having beef I think 2012 really is the end of the world)

Split, BEEEEEEAAAAACHHH

Katie and I strolling around by the harbor

Yesterday was spent exploring the beach (it's rocky not sandy), buying some fresh fruit from grandmas at the market, and chowing down on some local grub at Fife.

Today started off with a nice run around the area, some reading, breakfast on the little balcony outside our kitchen and now I think we are off to an archaeological museum. It is a little overcast and rainy here today, much needed after coming from the desert, so I am going to enjoy rainy day activities and hopefully get to know the city a bit more.

It hasn't been that long but I am already falling in love with this country...I don't think I ever want to leave. Plus, I have found where my skin tone originates from woot woot everyone here has my yellowish coloring, I feel right at home!