Over the course of my "studies" here at Kasteel Well, the entire student population takes two required travel breaks with faculty members. The first of these breaks was to Croatia.
We left on Thursday, October 9th and flew into Split (which is about a third of the way up the coast). For the first two nights we stayed in a Hotel near Trogir which is about half an hour from Split. On Friday we ventured into the picturesque city of Trogir, which was added to UNESCO's list of historic places in 1997. Much of the original architecture of the city, dating back from Venetian to Roman influence, still remains intact inside the city walls. I could literally point my camera anywhere and get a good picture.
Togir.
Trogir's bell tower.
Dilapidated monastery in Trogir.
On Saturday morning we visited the Roman ruins at Salona outside of Split before driving down the Dalmatian Coast to Dubrovnik (very southern tip of Croatia). We made a stop in Split (to see the ruins of the Palace of Diocletian -- phenomenal) before continuing down. The drive itself was spectacular. Views of various islands in the Adriatic Sea as the sun was setting was unlike anything I've ever seen. As you can see from the map, Bosnia gets a little bit of coast and while there we made a pit stop (everything was ridiculously cheap).
Ruins of a colosseum-like structure in Salona.
Part of the Diocletian ruins in Split.
More.
A view from Bosnia.
We arrived in Dubrovnik on Saturday night. The next three days would blow my mind.
Sunday we took a walking tour of the city, getting an overview of all of the buildings. We also went up onto the city's ancient walls, taking a tour from above. Dulcia (Director of the program) was my tour guide and she's magical. I wish everyone got to meet her. In the afternoon we were left to do whatever and found a perfect bar on the cliffs to take a dip in the Adriatic.
Outside the city walls of Dubrovnik.
Fortress detached from Dubrovnik (I didn't get to visit, though I heard it was amazing).
View from atop the walls.
Monday included a tour of a monastery, a look into several of the churches of old Dubrovnik, and an abbreviated tour of the Rector's Palace (the rector was like a governor for Dubrovnik and the surrounding area when it was its own sovereign state).
Tuesday was da bomb, though. Several of us had to stay in Dubrovnik an extra night (the academic program finished on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the Independent Travel Break) because our planes or boats didn't leave until Wednesday. So, twelve of us got together and rented a boat for the afternoon. We got five hours on the boat, time at two different islands, and dinner all for 200 Kuna (about 40 Euros). God bless the exchange rate. It was an amazing afternoon.
Dubrovnik from the sea.
Island #2.
Sun setting over the Adriatic.
That night, five of us (who were continuing on to Barcelona for the Travel Break together) spent the night in a homey little hostel situated up quite a hill. The bed springs were poking through, but Marie was so sweet that there wasn't anything to complain about. Wednesday we got driven to the airport (this drive was more nerve-racking than it was amazingly beautiful -- Petra's sister isn't afraid to pass on windy, mountainy roads going well over the speed limit) and took our flight to Barcelona. See the next installment.
As a general note, I reread what I've written about Croatia and it doesn't even come close to doing it justice. And while pictures honestly can't either, they're probably able to give you a better idea of its beauty. Here they are:
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