http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Croatia , Istria en-us Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:04:09 BST Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:04:09 BST Just chilling out at the moment.. have to be up in 4 hours time like I'm going to get any sleep anyway to leave for the airport since it's at another city about 4 hours drive away and i'm flying at midday. My time in Stara Novalja has been like a period of integration I've been really not doing very much spending a lot of time working on music and catching up with my cyberlife chilling down http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Novalja/blog-313700.html ...and i will walk OVER 9000 moarI haven't actually walked 1000 miles that is the biggest lie in the history of modern society however this time yesterday I was completing a journey probably about 1000 miles long overland which was not what I planned to do but screw it the worst thing that can happen is if everything goes to plan. And why this happened is a rather deep story which unf http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Novalja/blog-312904.html Wow has a lot happened since the last time I wrote to all of you. I don't have time to tell yout he whole story but I will tell you that in the last 72 hours we have spent about 27 hours either on a ferry a train or a bus or were waiting for one. This also included 2 hours at the Split Emergency room don't worry...it was just pink eye...Dave not me...gross right. Anyway it was all wor http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-306391.html Well after a very relaxing and hot week on Korcula on Sunday it was time to pack up the tent and head for the ferry terminal to catch the Marco Polo to Rijeka and then on to Krk Island in the north of Croatia. We got on the ferry ok and as we had a cabin we got the VIP treatment escorted to our cabin and we thought we were in for something special on this overnight ferry maybe a last bas http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Krk/blog-301944.html Arrival in CroatiaThe ferry ride from Piran Slovenia to Rovinj Croatia was mostly uneventful. We did get the opportunity to watch an Italian white trash family on baord lots of yelling smoking slapping shorts too short and tank tops too tight. BuonoAt Rovinj's ferry port the sun beat down on us and our backpacks as we waited for the hotel to pick us up not really a hotel more like a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-299043.html I just Skyped with my dad's almost entire side of the family while they were all at my aunt and uncle's house for a father's day party and it was wonderfulJust wanted to say hi to all of you again and it was so good to see your faces I miss you Thanks for helping me attend the party electronically And HAPPY FATHER'S DAY Wisconsin Dad http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-287723.html Well I think I have had the most interesting experience of my study abroad trip so far...read on to learn more...Yesterday was our last official Friday class trip...we got a later start than our past trips at 4 p.m. and began in Pore269 a small coastal town in Croatia. We saw some old Roman villas and a Byzantine Basilica with original frescoes and mosaics which was pretty awesome. After a li http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-287245.html Well I definitely know how to watch soccer now... these Europeans are CRAZY about their soccer Sunday night we watched the CroatiaAustria game which Croatia won 20...it was like Badger game days...after the game walking home everyone was honking their horns and driving really fast and cheering all over the city. Everyone wears jerseys and clothes with the Croatia flag design on them which rem http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-285780.html We left Italy after driving from Rome Monday 2nd June earlyish. We set GiPS and he decided to take us due east to Pescara then up the coast. The drive over the mountains was one to remember. You would drive directly towards a mountain enter a tunnel maybe 2 km long and come out on the other side directly onto a very high bridge straight into another mountain. The mountains still had a littl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-285098.html It has been a very busy past few daysMy birthday was wonderful although I did miss all of you. Right after I finished blogging on my class break I went back to class and they surprised me with candles on a cake and everyone sang to me again Tiramisu and a chocolate cake...which we all shared using gelatto spoons...and bubbles which we proceeded to blow throughout the rest of class. Nonetheles http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-285013.html Today is my 21st YAYIt is weird to be not at home with all my friends and family for my birthday but the people I have met here have already made it great and we have some fun plans for this evening. It is rainy and cooler so far today but thats OK we will make the best of it. Last night at midnight one of my classmates gave me a shot glass from Croatia as a gift and we took a shot of vodka at http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-284022.html I am sorry it has been SO long since I wrote and updated but we have been really busy here I have decided the thing I miss most about home is ice cubes. Nothing here is very cold and yet it is like 80 million degrees outside by like 8 a.m. Random thought but I am craving iceOnto the exciting things...the most exciting news so far is that I am probably going to be able to go to Brescia Italy o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-282912.html May 28 29 2008ISTRIA CroatiaOn a recent ferry trip we were looking at a magazine that showed some pictures and information about the Istrian Peninsula on the Adriatic in Croatia. It seemed like a good idea to check it out and what a pleasant surprise it has been. I guess print advertising works . This is a beautiful part of the world on some very nice coastline a 3 hour drive from Venice http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-281890.html Im trying to learn some croatian phrases to use...one of the ones in my rommates travel book is call the fire brigade and we keep laughing about it hence the title of this post. i do know hvala which means thank you. NOTE TO ALL the keyboard is super different here and so its hard to type the y and z are opposite which is the most difficult. and it took me at least 5 minutes to figure out http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/blog-280999.html I was torn between head305ng 305nto Roman305a or just keep on moving 305nto uncharted countr305es. So I called on a few fr305ends I had 305n croat305a to see 305f they were aval305able to hang out. Luck for me they were. I went stra305t to R305jeka to meet up w305th my fr305ends Davor and Majda. Majda 305s a Doctor so she was only able to spend the ev http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-277249.html April 20 2008 Tonight at midnight my Eurail pass expires. It's weird to think about it and it feels like a big moment in my European experience. This weekend marks the beginning of the end. I'm ready. It's been great to see so much of the world God created for us but now the creations I'd like to see most are the faces of family and friends back home. This past weekend was really ni http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-269617.html In a hurry to search Roman History in Pula. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Pula/blog-255692.html We got to Opatija ij is pronounced iy. And besides a little bit of sand in a park the whole thing is hotels and concrete and aside from some hicking there its pretty drab. We stayed for two nights and got our sleep schedules on a good track going to bed early and getting up at or before 9 which will be way better for seeing sights and meeting bus schedules. Went to a national park full o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Opatija/blog-210829.html Wednesday October 10thWe felt surprisingly good this morning and after negotiating with our landlady to leave our bags in the unit we set off to further explore the quaint little town of Rovinj. We took another route to the church of St Euphemia enjoying the ramble up the narrow streets reminiscent of Venice. After once again enjoying the views from the churchyard we took an alternate route down http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Pula/blog-210153.html We are liking Croatia so much that we will spend a little more time here than originally planned. Unfortunately today its raining... fortunately its not cold though. We went walking on a path along the ocean... our second rainy hike basically relaxed again today reading books eating good food walking along etc. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Opatija/blog-209975.html On our way to Croatia And yes the route makes sense. We are going to work our way south through Croatia and into Montengro then take a ferry from there to Bari Italy and head to the Amalfi Coast then work our way back North as we may end up in Southern France andor Spain.The drive to Croatia a bit of which was in Slovenia was very pretty. And we knew Croatia was going to be great as soon http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Opatija/blog-209972.html We were up and about by 6am and looking for something to eat came across the dining room where for about A7 each we had a buffet breakfast with cereal a cheese omelet especially made for us plus cheese meat rusks and tea or coffee. Two very satisfied people returned to pick up their gear. We teamed up with a young Irish couple Jude Kevin when we left. Judy had spoken to them before. Jude i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Opatija/blog-209484.html We took off from Plitvice and decided it would be a 'capital' idea to check out the capital Zagreb.Unfortunately Zagreb was closed. No one told us. It was SundayWe decided to cut our losses and keep on moving on to Rijeka where we were to fly out on Tuesday morning.Rijeka itself is a fairly horrible looking town with lots of highrise apartment buildings in desperate need of repair.Fortunately http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Opatija/blog-201356.html Yesterday we walked across the street from our hotel and got two beach chairs and an umbrella and laid by the sea. Jon went swimming. We had lunch at the little grill near our beach chairs. Jon ordered a hamburger that was definitely not your traditional American burger. There was some red pepper pureersquo sauce maybe a little vinegar and who knows what else on a huge half loaf of French brea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Pula/blog-178798.html The Adriatic archipelago is one of the main reasons to come to Croatia. The islands along the coast are similar but at the same time retain their own special character like siblings. Some like Krk and Mljet are covered mostly by a national park while others like Pag are floating Medieval villages. With limited time and money I could just visit one of them so I chose the island of Rab. Ra http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-169476.html After transplanting myself from my swanky digs at Zagrebrsquos Regent Esplanade to considerably more humble surroundings at the hostel just outside town I convinced my German roommate Angelika to accompany me to the Mirogoj Cemetary. It is called the most beautiful cemetery in Europe by travelers while Croats smirk in their characteristically dry way that the souls buried there are housed b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-169466.html HeySorry about the delay but weve been in small town Slovenia for 2 weeks with my family and the interent is quite a ways away. Slovenia is such a beautiful country it reminds me of the Okanagan. Ross and I were staying in the house where my papamy moms dad was born and raised with 13 of his brothers and sisters. My grandfather passed away over 10 years ago so to see where he was from will be http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Pula/blog-168732.html I suppose its not all that surprising that when you are away for a month not all your experiences will be highlights and there is no doubt that our short stay in Pula was the lowlight of our trip so far. The day had started well enough we had decided to leave Rab Island early mainly because the weather had taken a turn for the worse and if we couldnt spend the day swimming there was not a lot http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Pula/blog-164670.html After Returning from Belgrade Polona and I drove to Croatia where we stayed for the Slovenian Holiday. The Adriatic was a little cold but that didnt stop us from taking a swim. We made some delicious mushroom soup and spent out mornings drinking coffee at different cafes overlooking the harbour and the adriatic sea. TGiven the May Holiday 5 days off for Slovenes and honorary Slovenes 091your http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Pula/blog-162160.html Here are some photos of our trip to Yougoslavia. These pictures are of Rijeka which is now in Croatia. I can't be more precise about the date and trip as I was only 2 at the time but I found the pictures and I thought I'd share them anyway. Enjoy. I have some more to post soon. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-155457.html