Split – June 20/21

Split is a big city at the coast – the gateway to many beautiful islands in Croatia. I found a room right away after getting off the train. It started raining, and I’ve learned over here that when it rains it doesn’t just rain. It f’ing rains! Everything is soaked within seconds and huge amounts of water accumulate in no time.

I went for dinner at a restaurant recommended by the guy who I rented a room from. (Fife) Great place with big tables and very crowded. I was placed at a table with 4 Irish people. A mom and daughter from Dublin outskirts and 2 young guys from Dublin proper. They were great company and sat the whole evening away drinking wine.

I spent the next morning looking around Split. Would have liked longer there but Tracey and her friends were leaving Dubrovnik for Tirana on the 22 so I had to get there. It was a five hour bus ride to Dubrovnik along the coast and so incredibly beautiful! I had no idea this part of the world was so lovely. A twisting winding road following every inlet and bay with sparkling water and great beaches and beautiful towns with ancient cool buildings. I`m getting used to seeing castles and great churches and interesting roof lines everywhere.

Dubrovnik! Wow – even better! The Old Town (called Grad) is the coolest ever! Pictures aren`t going to do it justice but it was a great place to meet Tracey and the girls below the clock tower at 7 pm. They had been staying there in a great apartment for a week vacation before they all say goodbye to each other after teaching together for 2 years. We had a great pizza dinner out and then went to watch some local folk dancing. It was interesting to see all the costumes etc but a little touristy for me.

Next morning I got up and went for a run (with my camera!) around Dubrovnik. I had to take in a little more of it since we were leaving again to drive south to Tirana. It was great and once again I climbed up high to get a glimpse of the old town from a distance.

Great ride south with the girls. We had 2 boards to cross and we first entered Montenegro (again just a a beautiful beautiful part of the world) and then into Albania. A point of interest is the money part of things. Slovenia is part of the EU so Euros were the currency. Croatia is not (supposedly will be by 2012) and so the currency was the Kruna. Didn`t use money in Montenegro so don`t know about that but Albania now is the Lek. Everything is cheaper in Albania.

As soon as we hit Albania it was obvious we had entered a country still struggling economically. The driving is nuts (Sarah was great and just drove nuts too!) – cars have only been introduced to Albania since ÉÉÉÉ Cows and donkeys in the middle of the road. Horse drawn carts being used for transport by some (even though they are illegal) Corrupt cops waving their sticks and blowing their whistles to no avail. It will be years before Albania manages to join the EU apparently.

Dinner out at an Albanian restaurant – fantastic food!!! Grilled vegetables and meats and wonderful feta stuffed peppers-grilled and great breads with sticks of butter and feta and great salads too! Yum!
Entela – the 4th girl in the group who is Albanian and has been teaching at the school met us there. She hadn`t been able to join the girls on their holiday since she couldn`t get a visa for Croatia. She is lovely and Tracey and I will travel with her tomorrow to Korce, her home town near the boarder to Greece.

Enough rambling. Over and out until I get some Greek experiences!! Ciao!

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