Day 290: Plitvice Lakes: Hiking and Translation Issues

December 1, 2016

Today I spent the whole day hiking in one of the most picturesque places in Europe.

The Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are only a couple of hours from Zagreb, but the huge waterfalls and lake systems are like from a postcard.

The upper lakes were closed, and for good reason! We tried to hike some of it, but the path was literally iced over, or completely under water in some parts!

I am staying in a nearby town and hitched a ride with some American Girls to the place. All of the hostels here are really just people's homes, with the upper floor converted into a series of bedrooms for people to rent out.

The woman I am staying with speaks literally no English, and the only Croatian I know is thank you, which I don't think applied when trying to ask for my passport back!

The views are amazing though, and I can see the milky way from my bed, so it's not all bad!

Tomorrow, more hikes xx

Day 289: Zagreb: Christmas Markets and Long Busses

November 30, 2016

Today I spent all day on a bus.

The views were alright, but man was I glad to get to Zagreb. They currently have all of their Christmas Markets set up, and they have been voted as the best in Europe!

I really didn't get a chance to do much though, as the sun sets so early!

Tomorrow, Plitvice Lakes xx

Day 287: Sarajevo: Bobsleds and Tunnels

November 29, 2016

Today gave a lot of insight for me into the Balkans and the modern history of the wars.

I went on a tour of the outskirts of the town, which first went to the airport, where there is a tunnel under the runway which people used to smuggle things in and out of during the war. It is a really tragic time in human history, and just so recent.

After the war stories and the tunnels, we went up a nearby mountain in the snow. The 1984 Winter Olympics were held there, and there is still a bobsled up there. You can only go there on tours though, as the surrounding mountain still has some land-mines around the place.

The course is covered in graffiti and actually looked amazing in the snow.

We finished the tour at the old Jewish Cemetery with views over the city, and bullet holes in the graves. Some of them date back to the 1600s and earlier, and a lot of them were destroyed by war.

I finished the day with a walking tour of the city, including the place Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, practically starting the second world war, and the line between the new town and the old town.

Tomorrow, all day on a bus xx

Day 286: Mostar: Bridges and Abandoned Banks

November 28, 2016

Today I left Croatia for now, and headed into Bosnia. The first stop was a small town called Mostar, with around 1000 years of history.

I got told about a place by a fellow traveller which was awesome - an abandoned bank which was destroyed in the war. Bosnia doesn't have enough money at the moment to rebuild a lot of the buildings, so many are still covered in bullet holes and grenade scars. This building was a bank which got completely blown out.

To get inside you have to jump over a fence and wander through the halls, but that was all part of the adventure! You can climb all the way to the roof, and see across the whole town.

After the building, we went to the other main attraction of the city, the old bridge. It was originally built in the 1300s, and was rebuilt after the war in the early 2000s.

The city is beautiful in a tragic way though.

We arrived in Sarajevo this evening, and will spend a couple of nights here.

Tomorrow, a tour of the city xx

Day 285: Dubrovnik: Swimming and Blue Skies

November 27, 2016

Today was beautiful weather compared to yesterday, so we capitalised on it and went for a swim in the bay.

I started off with a morning walk around the Old Town, which is all beautiful white stone and marble, and with the blue skies looked like a postcard. A lot of Game of Thrones is shot here, and I can't blame them for using such a pretty location.

I also went up to the old fortress over the water overlooking the town which was lovely. The water is just so blue!

I convinced a few people from the hostel to come with me, so in winter, in just bathers, we went for a swim in the Adriatic Sea. It was magical. There were fish, and a medieval city to look over, as if the crystal clear waters weren't enough.

Tomorrow, Bosnia and Herzegovina xx

Day 284: Dubrovnik: Rainy Day Hikes

November 26, 2016

Today I got to Dubrovnik in Croatia. It is like Kotor's older sibling, but sadly really, really rainy.

Started off with another bus border crossing, and then a 3 hour trip.

Can't keep a good travellor down though, so I hiked up the mountain behind the town to the fortress. Unfortunately, there wasn't really anything up there other than a good view, but as the rain cleared up, the sunset was amazing, and the night lights were beautiful.

All of my clothes are drenched through though.

Tomorrow, swimming xx

Day: 283: Kotor: Fortress and the Cheese Guy

November 25, 2016

Today I hiked up the mountain behind Kotor Old Town, to the fortress on the top.

Not only was the historic city amazing, but the views across the bay were incredible. There is an old ruins villiage and a church behind the fortress as well, and to get there you have to go through a hole in the wall.

If you follow the path, you get to a couple's house, who are goat farmers. There, you can sit on their back porch and eat goat cheese and look out over the bay while the old man sits and the wife works away, tending the farm and serving travellers.

After we climbed down, I convinced one of the guys to circumnavigate the bay. It rained the whole time, but we saw some beautiful views and rode on the most crammed mini bus I have ever seen.

Tomorrow, Kings Landing xx

Day 282: Kotor: Museums and Old Towns

November 24, 2016

Today I headed to Montenegro. Shkoder is nice, but there really isn't that much to see or do, so I decided to head off.

I spent the morning hanging out with some stray dog friends I made (they are all immunised and de-flead in the town) and seeing some museums. Nothing was as good as the one at the fortress on the hill yesterday, but they were still nice.

Kotor is beautiful. Absolutely spectacularly amazing. I only saw the Old Town so far, but the city is right on a bay, with mountains surrounding it. Incredible.

Tomorrow, another fortress on a hill xx

Day 281: Shkoder: Strays and Fortresses

November 23, 2016

Today I arrived in Shkoder (or Shkodra, depending on who you ask) in Albania.

It is a fairly small city, but there is still a fair bit too do. I walked around the city for a while, then headed up the mountain to the old fortress. Some of it dated back to the 6th century BC!

My computer died last night (as in completely broken with all of my photos on it) so blogs will be photoless until I get home, and not as regular.

Tomorrow, Montenegro xx

Day 280: Athens: Flea Markets and Lord Byron

November 22, 2016

Today was my last day in Athens, and I spent it wandering around the city.

I started off at the flea markets near my hostel, then came across some more ancient ruins. There was also a beautiful garden where I made a friend and helped him find a statue of his idol - Lord Byron, the poet.

I ended the day on the overnight bus up to Albania. There is a lot of cool street art in the area.