Search results for: croatia

‘Twas the night before London

At the job I met T. He was the owner’s nephew and was working at the restaurant, too. I fell in love with him.

The awful, first love kind of way where you never think you will ever in a million years feel the way you feel about the man you are with.

Only, our relationship wasn’t a good one. T was an alcoholic, 10 years my senior, who despised life. While his self-loathing and misery didn’t rub off on me, it was entirely taken out on me. Our relationship was one of cyclical emotional abuse. It was pints of I-love-you’s with double shots of I-hate-you’s and lots and lots (and lots) of tears. And crazy wicked emotional hangovers.

Press

“Witty, fun …”| Viator Travel Awards, 2011 Top 25 Travel Blogs “The pictures are stunning, and the text compelling, leaving you hungry for more.”|Rickshaw Travel, Top Travel Bloggers “Quite an energetic voice and attitude and her website transpires life, passion and willingness to do good.”| Ten Mania, It’s a Big World: 50 Travel Bloggers toContinue reading “Press”

The City of Stairs

I looked up at the stairs that seemed to rise to the sky. Panting. We had made it up the first few sets of stairs, me trying to balance the very unsteady bag I had on my back. I had specifically taken this piece of luggage for my trip because it had wheels (!) and straps to turn into one massive backpack. But, it really wasn’t made to be balanced on a back. I could barely stand up straight, and when I was upright, it felt like the weight of the bag would have me topple over, down the stairs and back to Square One.

It’s not “goodbye,” it’s “see you soon”

I didn’t want to continue to Dubrovnik. In the short time I had been with these people, they had become like a family. I know I’ve said it before, but you really do make friends fast and furious when you travel, and these girls were no exception to that rule. And, as it goes with traveling, you move on, keep in touch with those that matter, and meet new and wonderful people at your next destination.

Still, it was really hard to say goodbye. Chopper put it best — when you travel, most of the time when you say goodbye, its . The likelihood of ever seeing these people again is slim. And, knowing that made my heart hurt a little bit.

A BRIEF intermission: I quit

For months, since laying on the beach in Croatia, I have dreamt of quitting my job. Of fulfilling my dreams of traveling and documenting my experiences. Now, it is O-F-F-I-C-I-A-L. I handed in my letter of resignation today. And, it went remarkably well. Wednesday, Feb. 3 is my last day of work. The wave of relief,Continue reading “A BRIEF intermission: I quit”

There’s WHAT in the water?!?

Even though the Sea Urchin were stationery, I hated them.

Once we docked the boat and headed to our beach (which was almost as small as the boat, but sandy), I carefully surveyed the water. Just a patch of seaweed a few feet out … I’d have to swim over it so as not to risk any chance of anything.

When I say swim, I mean it this time. Earlier, swimming meant more fa-la-la-la-la-look-at-me-I’m-in-the-water, a kick here, an arm movement there, a little treading water. In Hvar,
swimming meant actual strokes to move past that patch of seaweed. Granted, because the water is clear, I could see its brown green tangle for what it was. But, you never know. Lurking entangled in the plant could have been my Croatian nemesis, black spiky awfulness, just waiting to stick its needles into the soft arches of my naked feet.

A BRIEF intermission: My 30 Life Crisis … solved?

Since my return from Croatia, I have teetered between sanity and tears (bless you, Mom and Dad and my inner-circle of amazing friends), a career change and a life change. After months of research, weighing my options and learning from my travel peers what works and what doesn’t, I have decided to take an oh-so-scary step to infuse my passion with my daily living and quit my job, put my life in storage, foster my cats, and GET LIVING.