I love Hrvatska

10Nov09

I went to Croatia again in September for 10 days with my good friend Hannah. We flew into Zagreb the capitol and immediately felt the urge to be near the sea, to be near water. So we made a cardboard sign and hitchhiked our way to Rijeka. Hitchhiking down the coast from Rijeka to the Islands of Rab and Krk, through Zadar and Split was amazing. We met many amazing people along the way, very helpful and eager to give us some information about this beautiful country.

I for one am now obsessed with Croatia, and no, I am not going to move there and become an Au Pair, but I would love if time and finances permit to travel there once a year. It is cheap, they are not yet using the Euro as their currency, the weather is perfect and it is a significantly less discovered than Italy. Italy and Croatia both share the abundant beauty of the Adriatic sea. Italy settles to its West and Croatia to the East. On the East there remains a relaxed presence of rolling cliffs, rolling roads and dried landscape but the air and the sea make up for the stiffness.

Hannah and I had a ride from a small town where we got dumped off at the ferry dock to Zadar, a more modern, student city. The 3^rd largest city in Croatia. Two young students picked us up, and in almost perfect english took us the 3 hours to our destination. They were both studying at the University in Zadar and were returing back to school after visiting some family. I for one would not be able to drive down this winding, two lane road. The scenery would distract me. Mesmorize me. I would crash. Luckily our driver seemed quite oblivious to what I would call overpowering beauty of Earthly creations. Of water, of sky, of mountain.

I will not go indepth for every encounter we had with hitchhiking in Croatia…but all I can say is that it was simply amazing, cheap and never did I feel unsafe or in a bad situation. We even got picked up outside of Zadar on our way to Split by 2 off duty Croatian Police officers. Neither spoke English, but they took us right into the city center and then bid us farewell.

My favourite city in Croatia is Split. And I say that because I travelled there last April, and again in September. It defines beauty. It is compelling and cultural. The people here have seen war and refuge yet they are peaceful. They are natives and immigrants. They are travelers and seekers and strong workers. They are children who have 240 sunny days per year. Who grow up in the water. Who learn to swim when they are babies.

I met some great people in Split. We couchsurfed with a friend Aljosa (pronounce. Al-Yo-Shah), and spent 5 days meeting his family and friends. He made us feel very welcome, and Hannah and I returned the favor by cooking Fajitas for them one night..which I think they’d never eaten before.

I can say “do you speak english or German” in Croatian, “thank you, Please, What does it Cost,” and “where is the toilet.” I think that is the extent of it. It’s a hard language, but a lovely one, and is spoken in Bosnia and Serbia, (well certain dialects but it is understood). German is also widely known. The children after learning compulsory English, must decide between Italian and German as their 3^rd language.

There is definitely a reality check when returning to a more modern high paced metropolis. I’m refering to Berlin. Berlin is busy and cold and with winter slowing creeping up on us, I find myself casting my mind back to a time and a place where I was laying on a beach hearing the waves cracking and sand sifting below turquoise waters. But everyone needs their escape. Some people meditate, some people take yoga, some people have to take drugs…I just think of Croatia;)

Well, since September 14^th…I decided to be a Vegetarian. I do not eat meat anymore. I do eat eggs though, and Im not sure I can hold out before I eat fish…well I know I can hold out until I come back to Seattle…but if there happens to be a Salmon Fest..Im not sure how strong I can be. I like challenging myself. I stopped drinking alcohol last January until Sam and Ashleys wedding, that was easy. So I think being a vegetarian will be too.

I like having lesser options. I go to the grocery store, and I just have less the buy. Less to think about. Also, a friend of mine and fellow vegetarian said he feels more “in-tune with the world, because he doesn’t need to eat another living creature to survive.”

I’m not quite satisfied or ready to share my reasoning with the world, and would be lying if I said it was something right now to do with Animal Rights, because I am not an activist. Its just a personal choice. I will find my reason some day. But as for now, its only been a few months. I feel healthy, energized and am discovering all sorts of ways to cook Tofu!!!

Love and Peace, and Vegetarianism….