Team Korcula move on.

After our funny few weeks in Korcula, Alice, Amy, Eddie and I all decided to explore Kotor, Montenegro and Dubrovnik. We made our way out of Korcula on the water taxi early in the morning and spent the day in Dubrovnik hanging around the bus station. We then jumped on a bus to Herceg Novi where we jumped on yet another bus, which might I add was probably built in the 60s and looked like it was on its last legs, to our final destination of Kotor. Unfortunately, Eddie came by the flu and wasn't able to enjoy our time there as much but us gals made the best of it. We wandered around Kotors old town and decided to climb to the top of the Fortress. We had a grand time, despite a sudden down pour while making our way back down the hill. The top of the fortress offered some great views of Kotor and the fjord.

After a couple nights in Kotor we made our way back to Dubrovnik for one night. We thought we had booked a hostel dorm room but when we arrived it turns out we had rented a whole 4 person apartment to ourselves! We had a deck, cable TV, a kitchen and two bed rooms! And the entire thing cost us only about 20$ CAD each. I think we all wished that we didn't have to move on so soon so we could have stayed and enjoyed our little apartment for a bit longer. Unfortunately, we only had one night booked because Eddie, Amy and Alice were flying out to Barcelona the next day and I was heading to Mostar. We made the most of our time sprawled on the beach, cooked a good meal in the evening and wandered the old town by night.

 It was sad to say goodbye to Team Korcula. I had such a great time with my three new pals and we made some hilarious new memories together. I honestly don't think I could have asked to meet people any more awesome then they are! I look farward to seeing each and everyone of you again in your own countries!! RED CARD for the win!

 The water taxi.

 To the fortress we go!

The lovely Dalmatian Coast

From Zagreb I made my way to Split. I had been inland for almost two months by this point and I was desperately missing the salt air of the coast. I don't think in my whole life time I have ever been away from the coast for so long. In theory, I took the train from Zagreb to Split. It was a bizarre trip though because once again the tracks were being worked on. Along the way we passed fields filled with lang mines, old tanks left in fields, and memorial stones laid along the side of the road. Presumably, marking the places of fallen soldiers. So, three trains and a bus later I finally made it to Split. 

My reunion with the salt air was so sweet! I stepped off the train and was greeted by about a dozen little old ladies trying to get me to stay in their advertised "sobe, zimmer, rooms". They see a backpack and its like an immediate target. However, they are mostly friendly and I have gotten used to them since because they seem to be at every station in the Balkans. I made my way to my hostel, which was along the old city walls in the public market. I love markets so this was like a dream for me. Our terrace at the hostel overlooked the markets food stalls. I was always so tempted while sitting up there looking down on everyone. Of course, as is natural for me when it comes to food and markets, I gave in several times.

Splits old town is amazingly well preserved and I had a wonderful time wandering through and just strolling. I walked up to the top of the hill one day to check out the amazing sea and town views. However, I spent most of my time at the beach. It was pretty calm the first two days but my last day it was filled with music and a salsa party and zumba classes on the beach.

From Split I headed on to Korcula, where I had a workaway lined up. It proved to be possibly one of the best and worst experiences I have ever had on a Workaway before. My boss was a moody, socially incompetent, lazy pervert who hit on any female. Especially, his guests. However, the people I worked with were absolutely wonderful! I made some seriously awesome friends named Amy, Eddie and Alice. Amy and Eddie are from New Zealand and Alice is from London. We had such a great time together despite our boss, who quickly learned that I was not a fan of his bossy, lazy, pervert ways and didn't try to bother me much after that. The four of us had a blast entertaining the hostel guests, making up silly games, and lazing it on the beach or in the hostel pool. We made light of what could have been a horrible Workaway, didn't take our bosses demands to seriously, and enjoyed our time to the fullest. I could not have asked to meet better people and they truly were a highlight of my entire trip thus far! I can't wait to see them all again soon!

Split

 The promenade.

 I like to make four legged friends everywhere I go.

 The wonderful view!

 A cute old man in the market below the hostel terrace.

 Beach tanners.

 I was apparently really excited about the ocean!

 View of the market and old city walls from the hostel terrace.

Korcula

 Itty bitty kitty and her itty bitty baby. They lived outside our neighborhoods grocery store. I visited them everyday but they went missing our last several days. I sure hope they are ok.

 We rented a paddle boat a few times. We had such a blast on that little thing. And for $6/hour it cost us virtually nothing between the 4 of us!

 The crew, some of our most awesome guests, and of course our infamous, weirdo boss, Dragan. Can you guess which one he is? (Hint: He has a towel on his head and no pants.)

 This was our rock jumping place! So epic!

 One of the Irish lads had several different Canadian themed shirts. This one was the absolute best!

PS- Why does the Victoria shirt have a moose on it? We don't even have moose!

 Team Korcula!

A sight in the pretty Korcula old town. I will miss this place to no end.

Rockstar/Pope Benedict XVI

Hmm... Zagreb was kinda boring to be honest. I think the most eventful thing to happen was my trip to the Canadian Embassy and my decision to seriously change my plans for the following 90 days. Apparently this whole "Schengen area" thing is kinda a big deal. When I left Hungary into Croatia I left the Schengen zone. Since I had already over stayed my 90 days of 180 days within Schengen I would no longer be able to re-enter into Italy (a Schengen country) without being deported, fined, or both. So instead of leaving Croatia for Italy on June 16th as I had planned, I found a Workaway on an island in Croatia in Korcula starting on June 10th. I will have to stay within the Balkan countries until the first week of September, when I can go back to the Schengen zone.

   Anyways, back to my unexciting stay in Zagreb. Turns out the Pope was in town during my stay. He seems to be quite the rockstar. There were billboards and posters up promoting his visit and when he finally arrived the whole city shut down and was taken over by crowds of people singing songs, chanting in the streets, wearing matching t-shirts and carrying big signs. I think it was a bigger deal then if Jesus himself had returned. I chose to opt out of the pope spotting, since it seems you had to have a ticket to enter certain areas just to see the old guy. Instead I wandered, avoided the random rain down pours, and sat watching the thunder and lightning from my hostel. It was a good chance to relax and get a few things sorted out.

 Mr. Rockstar himself.

 The Museum of Broken Relationships - Best museum I've been to. Definitely the most original. It was so interesting to read about the ways other peoples relationships have ended. The sad, the bad, and the mad.

 BUREK!!!! Frickin delicous. I ate so many.

Hometown glory!