I’m home! And what a whirlwind last few weeks it was, really just relaxing and taking it all in. It was a nice way to finish seven quick months away.
I loved Croatia. I was travelling on my own for the first time this whole trip, something I had been planning to do a lot of, but it just never quite happened, because I’m not going to say no to company! I’m glad I did do it, for at least a little bit though, as it truly is a very different experience to travelling with friends. I love both, but travelling solo has an extra element of adventure. You can depend on no one but yourself, and the experience really is what you make it. I find it lends itself towards meeting more people, all sorts of people, and to having more random experiences!
I didn’t realise that Croatia has so many beautiful islands to visit! Luckily I had not booked anything ahead so I was able to arrange a night staying on Hvar, an island off Split, and I also visited a smaller island off Dubrovnik, just for the afternoon.
Hvar was the highlight of Croatia for me. Arriving on the ferry, it was a bit surreal, paradise! The clearest water, with little secluded beaches spotted all along the coast. I wondered off to a beach about a 20 minute walk from my hostel and the township of Hvar for the afternoon, where I found myself a nice little spot on the rocks to take in some vitamin D!
From Croatia, my final country was Spain, and first Barcelona. The city that will always be remembered for naked men walking up the main street in the middle of the day (legally!) and enjoying themselves on the beach! It is a bustling, vibrant city, and one that you need a lot of energy for! It was boiling hot when we were there, but we still managed to get around to all of the sights, though appreciated all of the outdoors escalators that the Spanish have to help you walk up hills!
My favourite place in Barca was the fresh food market, just near our hostel. We went there everyday for breakfast, and sometimes lunch or dinner too! They had masses of fresh summer fruit, as it comes off the plant, or cut up in fruit salads, or juiced into the freshest juices you can imagine, heaven!
From Barca, my final destination before the home journey was San Sebastian, on the north coast of Spain. We could not have chosen a more perfect spot. It was great! Our hostel was 2 blocks back from the surf beach, there was tapas and sangria galore, and we had a delightful time! The weather did not always behave, but we still managed to get some sun every day, and the water was always warm. On the last night, we went to a big Fourth of July party, and I ran into two separate people I knew from Melbourne from years ago, the world is so small, and it was a nice way to end the trip.
My entire trip went so quickly, seven months absolutely flew. I had a ball, and the experience has only upped my travel bug even more, and shown me the best way to travel, by living and breathing a culture, rather than just passing through. The last week away, I was really looking forward to coming home, and it is really nice to be here. I will be ready to go back soon though!
