Dubrovnik and Split - Croatia

From Vienna, the four of us flew to Dubrovnik in Croatia. As we we began to land we were all so excited because we could see the sea! Finally we would be able to have our first European swim!

Our taxi dropped us at the entrance of the old town and told us our place was a 5 minute walk through the old town walls. The guy actually had no clue where we were staying. Luckily a very nice restaurant owner called our apartment owner and he came and got us. 

The apartment owner Alberto showed us around our apartment, a bit of the old town and then shouted us all a drink. He took as back to the apartment and as we left Brendan cried "Alberto, when will we see you again?". (He refuses to think this is how it went down but us girls like to believe it happened this way).

Inside the old town walls

We then walked to Banje beach which was just outside of the old town. Now having gone to Greece, I have seen better beaches, but at the time it was amazing. It was still so nice and clear and we were so stoked that this was the first European beach we would swim in.

Banje beach

That night we had pizza for dinner and then all went to the cliff bar Alberto showed us. It was so relaxing AND they have the best cider in Croatia called 'inCider' and it tasted like apple juice. I am DYING to have another one.

Dubrovnik by night

I started the next morning with a nutella and walnut crepe before we caught a crazy bus to a bus station so that we could book a bus to Split for the day after. We then went up a cable car from the old town to the top of the mountain behind us. It gave us beautiful views over the old town and other parts of Dubrovnik. We even had a drink up there :)

As we were just about to catch the cable car back down, we saw that Ness and Christine were there too! (They were on a Croatia sailing tour). So we planned to meet them at the beach because we were sweating like never before.

We spent a nice afternoon at the beach with the girls. Then Bren, Laura and Myself went to walk along the Old town walls. I was blown away by the beauty of the old town and I'm so glad I got to do that!!

Then we took the girls to the cliff bar before dinner. The sun was setting at the time and it was just SO pretty. We then had a family dinner (minus Josh who was living the village life) at a pizza joint because the restauraunts in Dubrovnik old town are literally 95% pizza restaurants! lol. To top off our "traditional" Croatian dinner, we had to get Gelato. The gelato guy was AMAZING! He flipped the icecream in the air and caught it on the cone. It was good gelato too!

After that we chilled in Alberto's apartment with the crew...listening to the choir at the music school next door....living the dream.

The next day we were off to Split!

That next morning we jumped on the bus to split and as soon as we got on, a policeman came onto the bus and asked for passports...we all got our passports out but then realised he was only talking to Bren. I don't know if they thought he was a serial killer or something but he just checked it and left. Too weird. On our bus ride we passed through the borders of Bosnia twice and had to get our passport checked too. It was a very odd bus ride.

We arrived in Split late in the afternoon. After checking in, we went to find some food. I wanted to finally have some traditional Croatian food, so we found a place that had Chevapcici. It was yummy.

Chevapcici

We then went for a walk to explore some of the beaches. The main one called Bacvice beach stays about knee deep for 200m out so there are heaps of people playing ball sports in the water. We saw a few other beaches but they definitely weren't as nice as Dubrovnik.

After we found this awesome bar overlooking the port and drank Incider till our hearts desired. Later we got some donuts and walked back through the old castle walls to home.

Bacvice Beach

View from our favourite bar in Split

Our second and last full day in Split and Croatia in general, was a scorcher. However, instead of hitting the beach first, we decided to do some sightseeing. We walked up to a lookout which gave a view of the whole of Split. There was even a bar when you got to the top! Then we went to see inside the Dolcletian palace which was built in the 4th century!

Random hook statue in Split

View from the lookout

The Dolcletian Palace

After that sweat-fest we finally decided to hit up the beach. After lunch and a few drinks at the bar again on the way home, we awaited Josh's arrival to Split from the village. 

When Josh arrived that night he took us to this place for Burek (a pastry filled with cheese and/or meat). It was soooooo soooooooooo good. I am drooling at the thought and wish I took a picture but I was too hungry at the time. After more food and a few drinks on our balcony, we went to bed ready to get up early for our flight to ITALY!