2013 Silver Lining

​Now that all the excitement from worlds is over I am glad I planned a trip to Croatia for 5 days to decompress. It has been exactly what I needed.  Croatia has truly beautiful National Parks, building and beaches. There is so much to see; I didn’t get to do everything I wanted but I only wanted to be stay for a short time before coming home.
 
I flew into Zagreb, capital of Croatia. I stayed at a hostel called ‘Chic.’ The Hostel was all purple, just my style. I was staying in the 8 people dorm and I was the only one sleeping in it due to September is the start of Croatia’s off season. I had nothing planned before getting to Croatia so I have just been winging it this whole time. I saw all of the main sights in downtown Zagreb in a 5-hour walk. The receptionist at Chic hostel told me I should go to Plivinet National Park and there was a bus leaving in the morning. I jumped on that trip. Plivinet was incredible! The waterfalls, lakes and surroundings were definitely worth a 3-hour hike.
 
Yes originally I booked my trip to Croatia to sit on the beach and do nothing but relax and read my book for 5 days but there are to many incredible things to see. I slowly made my way to the coast. Zadar was my next stop, were there are known for the sunset, sea organ and solar paneled lightshow.   The sea organ was super cool; it made music by the crashing of the waves against the wall. It was a very beautiful way to watch a sunset. 
 
My final stop in Croatia is three days in Split, this is where I finally got to sit on the beach and relax.  When I got settled in my hostel and booked a few tours for the following days, I walked around and enjoyed the massive market. So many fruits and veggies! I did a little shopping, did a lot of eating and then sat on the beach the rest of the day.
 
Day two in Split I went on a boat tour of blue lagoon, Vis, _______, green caves and Hvar. This was totally worth the money!!!  Blue lagoon was a cave where the sun turned the water this incredible blue color.  At the green cave we saw some people jumping off the cliff and I needed to join them before we left. The tour guide stopped to boat so I could jump off the top of the cliff, it was so much fun! A few of the guys on my boat tour joined me.  I met some very nice people on my boat tour and they made the trip that much more enjoyable.
 
On my last day there I needed to do something active, besides walking around. There were so many signs for a kayaking tour around the island of Split and it seemed like such a good idea. When I went to sign up they said I was the only one and they won’t run the tour with just me. I was pretty excited for the tour so they bent their rule and did the one on one guided tour. What great people to accommodate for me because they knew I was leaving the next day and wouldn’t have another opportunity. It was another day well spent but by the end of the 4-hour kayaking tour I was so tired and passed out on the beach for the rest of the day.
 
I recommend to everyone to go to Croatia! It is my new number 1 place I have been in the world. It might be because it was there off-season so there were a lot less people around and they were more accommodating but the site seeing was incredible! I will be going back to Croatia to see the parts I didn’t have time to see last time.