Flying Solo

I will start off by telling you about my boat experience…it didn’t leave port until 10.15 pm so by this time I was shattered, I’d been going to bed at 9 pm most nights since arriving in Croatia.

I had got myself a spot at the back of the boat outside on the deck, managing to get comfy by using my bag as a pillow and my towel as a blanket, waking only a few times to either peel my skin off the plastic seat, or to change sides that I was leaning on. When I awoke shortly before 6 the sun had started to rise and land could be seen – if I ever do it again, I’m booking a cabin!

I had arrived onto Italian soil, it was just after 7 and nothing seemed open. I had no idea where the main town was but I guessed it was up the hill, I didn’t have the energy to explore so headed towards the main train station a 1 mile walk away 💪🏼

An 8.42 departure from Ancona got me into Rimini shortly before 10. I suddenly had a need for coffee and breakfast I was flagging, I hadn’t eaten since my late lunch yesterday, I also didn’t have any euros so couldn’t even buy anything on the train 🤦🏻‍♀️. I left my bag in the station, took the hit that I would look like a hobo and smell for the next 4 hours and started to explore Rimini.

Rimini was originally founded by the Romans in 268 BC. Throughout Roman times, Rimini was a key communications link between the north and south of the peninsula. On its soil, Roman emperors erected monuments such as the Arch of Augustus and the Tiberius Bridge to mark the beginning and the end of the Decumanus of Rimini. During the Renaissance, the city benefited from the court of the House of Malatesta, which hosted artists like Leonardo da Vinci and produced works such as the Tempio Malatestiano. The main monuments in Rimini are the Tiberius Bridge and the Arch of Augustus.

In the 19th century, Rimini was one of the most active cities on the revolutionary front, hosting many of the movements seeking to achieve Italian unification. In the course of World War II, the city was the scene of numerous clashes and bombings, but also of a fierce partisan resistance that earned it the honour of a gold medal for civic valour. (Thank you Wikipedia)

After my mooch around Rimini, it was time to get the bus out to where I’m staying in Torre Predrera, north of Rimini.

Once here I decided to get myself a good lunch to allow me to have an excellent afternoon nap once I’d checked in. It didn’t disappoint. Prawn gnocchi with a mixed salad, and a couple of glasses of wine. You can also tell that I’m not in an English tourist destination, no one really speaks English and I just point and get by 🤦🏻‍♀️. So ignorant, I may be better speaking Spanish. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Finally it was time to check in. It’s amazing how much you can fit in and see with an early rise. Is that why I wake up at 5.58 am regardless of whether it’s work or holiday!?

A nap by the pool and I was done for the day

A quiet night for me – beach day tomorrow, hopefully San Marino on Wednesday and Bologna on Thursday before returning to Edinburgh on Friday 💃🏻

A fairly steady morning with a bus trip down to Split.

Split, a town on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, is known for its beaches and the fortresslike complex at its center, Diocletian’s Palace, erected by the Roman emperor in the 4th century. Once home to thousands, its sprawling remains include more than 200 buildings.

It was also home to some sights from the Game of Thrones, although, I wouldn’t have a clue which ones, it’s hard enough paying attention to the story line never mind the cinematography.

It was also home to some very nice yachts, so I decided to spend my afternoon with a few Aperols admiring the nice yachts…if only I could afford one.

At 7pm it was time to board the Marko Polo to Ancona, not going to lie I’m a bit nervous about this leg of the journey, 11 hours no sleeping facilities and a lot of Croatians/ Italians. What’s the worse that can happen – I will let you know tomorrow. Although one thing I can say Italians do not know how to queue 🤣

Once aboard my transportation for the evening I got myself a spot on the deck outside and some some stunning night scenes across the port. Mum thinks I’m going to roll off the side off the ship/ get thrown off if I fall asleep. However I’m sat on the lifejackets and the sides are solid so it would take substantial effort to get me off! 🤣🤣🛳🛳

Next stop: Ancona

I had a lie in today – yes a 9 am rise (ok I originally woke up at 7 for half an hour then fell back to sleep and dreamt in Spanish, still a bonus!).

I’d already decided that today I was going to spend the morning by the pool and read my book, that I did. Pool to myself, and book ready to go. 3 hours later kindle died and I had nothing to do.

So it was time to freshen up, get into the old town and buy myself a magnet. The fridge is going to love my collection and start a bar crawl towards tonight’s dinner.

Please take note that enroute I did look into an old church and please take note of the bite to the forehead – not ideal

Dinner tonight – I treated myself I went to Proto Food & More, it was number 4 on trip advisor and looked good.

Dinner for £30 was: Fish Pate to start, and a homemade pasta with prawns and truffle for main, including 2 glasses of wine. Bargain really.

I then decided to walk to it’s sister restaurant for a couple of aperols, in the mean time a regatta was going on in the harbour, good watching.

Back to the apartment for an early night. I’m not going to see a bed until Monday night, tomorrow is the overnight ferry to Ancona, I feel it may be an experience.

I’m not one to sit down for longer than a day unless I’m ill, but I figured I needed to have some relaxation otherwise I would go back to work more exhausted than when I first started the 6 week holiday. As a teacher the 6 weeks are great if you have a family, or money to keep yourself occupied. As a singleton with little money (I marked 540 GCSEs to get me here and a credit card) 6 weeks can be a drag. Yes it’s nice to have time off but keeping yourself occupied without spending money is a chore. I get bored very easily and as you may have gathered like to see new things.

So day 22 of my trip was a relax day, it was also pay day – don’t worry I can afford to get home, will just be boring for the rest of September – anyone need any Chemistry tuition?

I came down to the beach having bought myself a picnic and grabbed myself the least rock filled spot, just gravel – time to relax

Whilst I’ve been away I finished off one book and started the next, both have been part of the Shardlake series of novels by CJ Sansom. I’m on book 6: Lamentation. It’s basically a fictional crime novel based during the reign of Henry VIII, I told you I was a geek, he’s coming up to his last few months alive and a book written by Catherine Parr has gone missing/ stolen- the book would lead her to be charged with high treason if it were ever to be given to the hands of the King – her uncle has hired Sergeant Shardlake a lawyer to investigate. It’s pretty good but very meaty, each book has been more than 600 pages. Hence why it takes me so long to read.

A heat break led me into the water, there didn’t appear to be any fishes today.

By 2.30 pm the wind had picked up so I headed to the bar for a 25 kuna (approx £3) aperol spritz. Whilst sat in the bar it surprisingly started to rain. Not sure quite wheee from as there didn’t appear to be any rain clouds in the sky – it soon evacuated all the locals off the beach.

I went back to the freshness of my apartment for a shower and a quiet time – I actually put a wash on – I was running out of clean clothes 🤣

I then decided to go to a local restaurant for dinner about 400 m from where I was staying..it was clearly windy when I took the below photo

I went for the grilled tuna, with roasted veg and fries. I must say it was fairly tasty, probably one of the best meals yet…

I then headed to the beach bar to watch the world go by and the sun go down.

Who knows what tomorrow will hold. I keep changing my mind as to what I’m going to do 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Having not slept well the last couple of nights the thought of the 3.30 am wake up made me sick – non the less I managed it and was stood waiting for my pre-booked airport transfer outside the hotel at 4 am. When I checked my confirmation I realised the date was wrong and the transfer was coming next week. Ideal. So what do you do at 4 in the morning with little Croatian Kuna – get on Uber.

So back to the worlds smallest airport. The flight was at 6, clearly no movement at the airport until 5 but straight through and in Zadar by 6.25 am

After a well needed coffee and a croissant it was time to check out the GCSE results – Safe to say they well and truly smashed it and I think I’ve got a job for another year.

I dropped off my bag at my next accommodation as I couldn’t check in until 2pm, hopped on a bus and checked out the old town of Zadar. It seems much smaller than Pula, or maybe that is because it’s more compact – I’m not sure. But I get the feeling it’s less touristy…

By 11 am I was exhausted, I’d had 2 coffees and an iced tea. I then got the bus back towards where my apartment was and jumped off at the beaches. 2 ciders and 2 aperol in the beach bars and it was time to check in.

As soon as I could I decided to relax by the pool, and within moments I was asleep. This led me to feeling very lethargic for the rest of the afternoon and I found it difficult to decide what to do. I cooked some pasta – it was gross and made the decision that I would have to eat out from now on – more expense.

A walk back down to the beach and a few drinks in the evening sun ended my first day in Zadar. I’m in desperate need of a good sleep in an air conditioned room! Fingers crossed that happens tonight 🙏🏼

As mentioned yesterday I said I thought I had found the perfect spot for watching the sunset in Pula. I wasn’t wrong 😍💪🏼

After a restless night, I was hot and at one point resorted to lying on the balcony to cool down – it worked, I had a leisurely morning prior to my boat excursion around the Brijuni islands national park.

With prior Roman and Napolean settlements, the Brijuni islands were under Austrian-Hungarian ownership in 1815, building a fort and creating the now abandoned military bases at the edge of Pula port.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy abandoned the fortress, and in 1894 the Viennese business magnate Paul Kupelwieser bought the islands and created an exclusive beach resort. Every time someone came to the islands Kupelwieser ensured that they brought an exotic animal hence why it now has a safari park upon the main island. For the scientists amongst you,  an exceptionally important task for Paul Kupelwieser was to exterminate malaria from the islands. Having read in the newspaper that Dr. Koch intended to carry out research on malaria in Italy, Kupelwieser wrote him a letter with his observations about the disease. Shortly after, Koch sent his collaborators and he himself visited the islands twice in 1900/1901. He discovered that that the cause of malaria was the anopheles mosquito with multi-colored wings. In 1901 the island was declared malaria-free. Koch then went on to win the Nobel Prize for medicine for his discovery of the cause of tuberculosis and cholera.

So there you go a history and science lesson for you all in one day. The boat excursion included lunch and unlimited wine, considering it was cooked on board my whole mackerel was spot on. So fresh and not as oily as when you get it in England.

After lunch we stopped off at the island of Sveti Jerolim a small island with a donkey and a couple of peacocks. I was on the island for 2 hours, so went for a dip, had a little explore and enjoyed a nice cold Croatian beer.

Upon my return it was time to pack – another early start to get me to my next destination: Zadar

Having not been to Croatia before I thought it best to learn a bit about the history over breakfast.

From being part of the Roman Empire since 9AD, the majority of Croatia (aside Dubrovnik) being controlled by Venice in 1428 and then the Austrian-Hungarian movement up until the First World War. The country is full of history and I haven’t even spoken about the former Yugoslavia era present up until 1995.

So let’s begin.

A trip on the trusty open top bus allowed me to gain a further insight. Starting at the Colosseum, the 6th largest amphitheatre in the world made in the first century AD – more on that later. The bus took me along the port of Pula out along the coast – past the naval base of the Austrian-Hungarian period and around the Austrian Villas. One of which was owned by George Von Trapp the Austro-Hungarian naval officer – the family are the same as the one in which the famous musical – the sound of music was based.

An hour well spent and ready to explore further the history of Pula.

Next stop inside the colosseum as mentioned this was built in the first century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. It was used for the gladiator games and for staging bloodthirsty beast hunts. At the beginning of the 5th Century AD Emperor Honorius forbade gladiatorial games and that was the end of that, left for ruins. Although in 1583 Venice wanted to take it down stone by stone and rebuild it in Venice – Venetian senator Gabriele Emo put two fingers up to that and it remained in Pula.

Next on my cultural adventure was the olive oil museum. Who knew you could learn so much about the delicacy that we use pretty much everyday. The Istrian Olive oil is famous for its quality and there was such an array to choose from. If only I didn’t have hand luggage on my return flight home I may have been tempted. But anyway basic concept of making the olive oil (I used to do it with the kids – until they changed the specification) get the olives, press to make a pulp, and press even more to drain the oil out, separate oil from water and bobs your uncle.. an olive oil to die for.

Back on foot, I saw some more sights of Pula, a church, a Roman gate and the Venetian fort built in the 17th century! At this point excuse the sweat. It was hot.

Next stop – the underground shelters and tunnels of Pula, built immediately prior to the First World War. These were a welcome breath of cold air, although it wasn’t ideal that they were doing electrical works and the lights kept flickering off. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Next stop lunch. I had spotted previously a few nice restaurants – I think I chose the wrong one but non the less I had a good refuel with a Caesar salad and glass of wine before hopping onto the bus to my penultimate destination Fort Monsival. The bus stopped here earlier and looking on google maps it seemed a short distance from where I was staying – alas it is a closed fort and when it’s so hot the walk back doesn’t seem so short (it was only 1.3km).

Upon arrival at my hotel I definitely needed a cool down – to the sea I said. I didn’t have a snorkel, so I decided to take underwater photos – there’s a novelty. I think there’s only one fish to view 🐟🐟

I then spotted the worlds most hairiest man so it was deffos time for a cocktail.

As I sit and write this I’m yet to have dinner, I’ve showered and I’m sat on my balcony drinking red wine, the yoga on a paddle board has started to set itself up in the bay, top effort I mean I wouldn’t even be able to balance on the board never mind do a downward dog or whatever it is. But anyway – would I have envisaged myself being here 4 months ago? Is it the best thing I’ve ever done? Only time will tell.

I will save the rest of today’s adventure for tomorrow’s blog, I’m hoping for a decent sunset, I think I’ve found the best place for the money shot 💃🏻💃🏻.

Ciao for now.

A very very early start, I hate 4am wake ups. But when you are heading back to heat can I really complain? ☀️

I had received a text asking me to put my hand luggage in the hold as the plane was full – absolutely fine I thought. Not until the lady at the check in desk said it was 4kg over weight (max is 8kg) – to which I responded, I didn’t have to bring it here and would have got away with it otherwise. She let me put it on for free. Charlotte 1 – Easywings lady 0.

A slight delay in the departure from Cologne, but non the less a smooth journey to Pula – the worlds smallest airport.

A bus transfer into Pula was the cheapest way to the centre – scheduled departure 9.15, pretty sure we didn’t leave until 9.30.

The bus dropped me off at the marina, already I had spotted the boat I wanted to hijack.

I had no idea where I was really so decided to grab a coffee and re group. I had initially thought to leave my bag somewhere and do the cultural sights. Who was I kidding, I will do those tomorrow. I got the bus to the area of my hotel and thankfully the room was available. With a sea view and a balcony I made a dash to a supermarket to buy the essential bottle of red to watch the sun go down later.

I then decided to check out the little swimming area at my hotel. A good read of my book and I must say I’m almost horizontal.

An afternoon by the sea/ pool led me to need a nap – who isn’t a fan of a siesta. Although once I woke up I felt like I could sleep for a thousand years. An early night was called for before a day of exploring.

Waking up to torrential rain is never ideal and when all you have is a denim jacket to protect you from the rain – you know instantly who is going to win the battle – the weather

Non the less, I got myself ready and jumped on the national express train to Cologne, a speedy 40 minute journey from Krefeld.

Once in Cologne, I left my bag at the left luggage and started to explore. Admittedly I have been to Cologne before. Last time I came, I flew from Salzburg after a week away skiing with the uni crew at Christmas, it snowed and planes were struggling to take off. This time I got to see Cologne in the rain – does the sun ever shine on this city?

To see a city and gain an insight into the history, I was back on a bus, this time not open top. Did you know it took the people of Cologne 632 years to build the cathedral – they liked to party rather than work 🤣.

After the bus tour it was time to sample some German fodder! What better way than a Bratwurst with a glass of German red. It felt like winter so some proper pub grub is exactly what I needed – although after I was in a serious food coma! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I then decided to go for a little walk, little did I know I would be seeking refuge inside of the cathedral due to a torrential down pour. To be honest I was going to go in earlier but the queue was huge – so it was the perfect opportunity.

Due to the weather and severe lack of waterproof clothing, I decided to call it a day in Cologne and head to my airport hotel. Next stop: Pula

Day 15

After a fairly smooth flight from Venice to Cologne courtesy of Easywings, I was baffled as to why the majority of the passengers clapped upon arrival. It was past midnight and the pilot had done his job, got us from a to b without issue.

I arrived at my hotel after a game of Chinese whispers German style. Basically I asked a taxi man to take me to the hotel, he looked at me oddly, showed his friend the address, next thing shuttle is being shouted round Cologne airport taxi rank to get a taxi driver who was clearly designated shuttle driver. Bizarre.

After what I like to call a delightful sleep, I just couldn’t get up I made my way up to Krefeld, via train. Why is public transport abroad so much better than the crap we get in the UK? Big empty trains, on time and cheap! – we could learn something from our fellow Europeans, oh wait we are leaving them to go back in time to prehistoric Britain! 😡🤬 – Friday rant over.

Upon arrival in Krefeld, it was like getting off the train in Harrogate, except the train station was prettier (not difficult).

I walked up the pedestrianised street to be greeeted by some well known names – Mango, H&M, and Primark. I grabbed a coffee and worked out how on earth I was going to get the hockey club.

Bus route 54 and a 15 minute walk got me to Krefeld hockey club, I’m pretty sure I was walking along the Dutchy of Krefeld! The houses were huge!

After arriving at the hockey club, I was quick to discover that the aperol was the cheapest of the holiday so far at 4 euros a drink! Winning!

An afternoon of hockey and aperol meant that when I made it to my accommodation I was rather sleepy….

2.5 hours later I woke up from my nap, cooked some pasta and called it quits for the night.

Day 16

A welcomed lie in, breakfast with Fi and spending the majority of the day supporting Scotland!

More aperol, and more pasta for tea before an early rise back to Cologne for a day of exploring.