Paradise in Croatia

We wanted to sleep in but we were up at 730 and ready so see some sights. We headed south to Dubrovnik and enjoyed the amazing drive looking over the Adriatic Sea along the mountainside. We passed through an unusual 10 mile stretch of Bosnia long the way and spent our last Marks on yogurt, bread and espressos. Once we hit the shit show of Dubrovnik, we finally found a place to park and buy parking tickets and we walked through be Old Town. Way too many tourists here. We saw some churches and quaint small alleys with gardens on rooftops. On our way out, we followed some people through a small door and found the most beautiful rocks on the side of the old castle. Locals were laying on the 'private' area and we felt it was worthy of an expensive beer purchase to get away from everyone and enjoy the scenery. We wanted to pay with Euros and they weren't having it, especially coins. Wtf they are part of the EU, isn't that part of the agreement? Some people in Croatia are very friendly, some have shitty attitudes, Icelanders however are all friendly. 

Back in the car to head to a small stone beach for a much needed dip in the ocean. Only a dozen locals and us swam in the cool but refreshing ocean. This is just what we needed! My tender feet hate the rocks on the beach, I also with I had water shoes walking Landmannalaugar, I probably wouldn't have froze my ass off. The drive up the coast is so beautiful and I highly recommend. We stopped for gas in the small area along the coast that's Bosnia since it was so cheap inland. We had to pay in EUR  so the guy pulled out a calculator and told me I owed 50EUR. Whatever, I have no idea what the conversion rate is. 

Word of advice, you can't pass cars in Croatia like you can in Bosnia, the police will get your ass. They got Andy or Andrew as the cop called him. You were going 82 in a 65 and you passed on a solid white line. OK Andy responded, what else was he going to do (because it was true). The cop said the normal ticket is 500 but I charge you half and you pay 250 or 35EUR. It was a deal, we paid and moved on. Once we crossed the road to Bosnia we headed 30 min off the road to the highway to Split. The coast road didn't seem as pretty as the south and we have time constrains. Is this the right way? I have no idea my map doesn't have that much detail, back and forth the conversation went as you can imagine. 

Heading into Split, it looks like a ghetto city full of people with no redeeming factors. This confused us since it came recommended and its a UNESCO World Heritage site. We ended up at the ferries so I inquired about going to Hvar which was recommended by several people. By the time I ran to the ticket counter the 5pm ferry was already leaving so we got tickets for the 830pm. Is there camping? Yes, OK we are down. A tense drive around the city looking for parking (Andy went the wrong way down a road), we decided to leave the car at the dock and walk around which was the right choice. Running on my foot wasn't a good idea. This was the first day I wasn't limping and it wasn't swollen since the long hike. 

The small old town in Split is nice but only worth walking around for 30 plus dinner IMO. Just enough time for a great dinner in the courtyard of a quaint restaurant called Allegria. We had a delish bottle of white wine from an Croatia with white fish carpaccio with olives appetizer, mussels and squid. The olive oil with bread was amazing, we need to get some before we leave. Off just in time to walk to our car and ready to board the ferry. We are going to land in Hvar at 1030 and find a campsite ASAP. Tomorrow is going to be another full day.