Croatia: Zagreb & Plitvice Lakes National Park

After hanging out on the coast, we took a bus inland to the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb.  We heard from a lot of people that Zagreb was really boring.  We didn't spend much time there, so I can't really agree or disagree with that opinion, but what I did like about Zagreb was that it was much cheaper than Dubrovnik, Split, and Hvar since there were a lot less tourists.

We only had a bit of time in Zagreb to walk around and see a few sights.  Among the interesting things we saw was the famous St. Mark's Church with its beautiful tiled roof.

The main reason for travelling to Zagreb was that was where our departing flight was from, and that it was easy to access Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the country's biggest attractions.  From Zagreb, we took a bus around 2.5 hours to Plitvice.  It was foggy and rainy when we arrived, but we were prepared with umbrellas and rain coats.  Getting wet didn't matter much because in the national park there is water EVERYWHERE.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is the largest national park in Croatia, and paying the entrance fee of around $32 is worth it.  There are 16 lakes and countless waterfalls at the park.  Basically the whole park is built on boardwalks which lead you around the beautiful scenery.  Sometimes the waterfalls even flow onto the boardwalks, so you are literally walking on water.  The water is a brilliant blue colour which was visible even during the cloudy weather, but when it started to get sunny it was even more stunning.  John, being a nature lover, really enjoyed this place.  There are several trails that lead you around the park.  We chose the one which brought us around the entire place, which took us around 6 hours.

Visiting Plitvice was a great way to end our trip to Croatia... back to Canada the next day!  :)

Croatia: The Dalmatian Coast

We've been wanting to travel to Croatia for a while now, and this summer we finally got the chance to do it.  All the photographs we'd seen looked stunning, and in person the scenery was even more beautiful.

Croatia is getting pretty popular with tour groups and cruise ships these days, so it was quite busy in the places we visited, and not so cheap like the Czech Republic.  We arrived by plane, a short trip from Prague, to Dubrovnik - the country's #1 tourist destination, and for good reason... Dubrovnik was gorgeous and ended up being our favourite place on the trip, and one of the coolest cities I've ever been to.

Dubrovnik - inside the walled city

Dubrovnik isn't a large city, with a population of less than 43,000 people, but so many tourists flock to it because it is simply AMAZING.  You need to go there to experience it, but in a nutshell it's a preserved medieval walled city on the Adriatic coast, part of the beautiful Dalmatia region in southern Croatia.  There are nearly 2 km of walls that surround Dubrovnik, and if you pay the entrance fee (worth it) you can walk around the city walls, overlooking the old town.  The views are absolutely awesome and this was probably my favourite thing that I did in Croatia.

View from on top of the city walls

Checking out the city walls!

The rooftops of Dubrovnik!

Another cool place in Dubrovnik that we visited was Banje Beach.  It is located right next to the walled city, and is the city's most popular beach.  Part of it is privately owned by a beach club, but the other half you can use for free.  Just plop your towel down on the rocks and jump in that refreshingly cool water!  Mostly all the beaches we visited in Croatia were rocks, not sand, so wearing water shoes might be a good idea.

Banje Beach

We found the food in Dubrovnik to be quite expensive.  The local specialties were mostly seafood (which I don't enjoy), but the one thing that was a great deal was gelato.  We could get huge scoops of it for a cheap price.  Just thinking about that gelato makes me hungry!  To save some money and calories on food, we made some meals ourselves, as we were staying in an apartment that had a full kitchen.  Our apartment had a balcony overlooking the city which was a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy the view.

View from our apartment balcony

From Dubrovnik we made our way by bus to Split.  Since the country is actually split into two parts, the highway to Split requires you to carry a passport as you leave Croatia, enter Bosnia and Herzegovina, leave Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then enter Croatia again.  We made a pit stop at Neum, part of Herzegovina.  I think it would be an interesting place to spend more time in some day, and it probably isn't too expensive as it hasn't been ridden with too many tourists yet... hmmm, future trip?

Split is the second largest city in Croatia.  It was also on the Adriatic coast, and also very beautiful.  Unlike Dubrovnik, it wasn't totally surrounded by walls, but did contain the remnants of the Roman Emperor Diocletian's former palace.  Split also has a wide promenade called the Riva, which is lined by palm trees, cafes, and shops.  If you want to shop, Split is the place to do it!  There are lots of street vendors, boutiques, and high end shops everywhere.

Ruins of Diocletian's Palace

The Riva

In Split, we climbed the steep stairs of the clock tower in Diocletian's Palace to have a great view of the city.  Views like this make the climb worth it every time! 

View of Split from the clock tower

During our trip, the weather on the coast of Croatia was sunny and hot.  This called for some island hopping.  We took a catamaran for a short ride to the island of Hvar.  We stayed at a lovely apartment on the hill overlooking Hvar Town.  The town was small but bustling, with a busy marina in front lined with some pretty impressive yachts.  Hvar had several beaches worth checking out, but we heard the best ones were on the small Pakleni islands just off the coast of Hvar.  We bought a boat ticket and made our way to Jerolim and Stipanska.  There were a lot of nudists at Jerolim which was kind of weird, but lots were swimming in bathing suits too.  There was wild rosemary, lavender, and other flowers growing all over the island, and once we got away from the main beaches it seemed like no one else was there!  At Stipanska we visited the famous Carpe Diem Beach Club and had lunch there.  Apparently they have parties there that go all night but we weren't crazy enough to check it out!

Hvar Town

Jerolim Island

Island hopping!

The best part of our trip to Hvar, and one of my other favourite places of Croatia was visiting THE BEACH.  Dubovica.  To get there from Hvar Town, we had to take a bus to the other side of the island, get off on the side of the road where a small sign marked the beach, and then walk 10 minutes down a steep dirt path.  The hassle was worth it because Dubovica was gorgeous!  It wasn't as crowded as the other beaches we visited, and the water was so clear and calm.  We spent all day there relaxing.  I hope it won't become as crowded as the other beaches, but I don't think this hidden gem is really that hidden anymore.  It's ranked as the #1 place on Hvar TripAdvisor, but luckily its out of the way location seems to be deterring people from going there.

The path down to Dubovica Beach

Dubovica

Love this place!

I can definitely see why Croatia has become a hot tourist destination.  I'm just happy that we finally made it there and got to see it at its best - in the warmth of the summer sun!

Czech it out! ... Prague, Karlstejn, Cesky Krumlov

Excuse the bad puns within this post, but they're so hard to resist.  The Czech Republic is a beautiful country which allows you to travel comfortably without breaking the bank.  It's Europe for a bargain!  Meals are usually under $10 Canadian, beer is cheaper than water, and you can hop on a train or bus for a fun and cheap day trip, no problem!

Old Town Square, Prague

We have been to Prague in both winter and summer now.  Well, what's the Prague-nosis you may be wondering?  I can say with confidence that this city would be beautiful in any season and everyone should try to visit if you find yourselves in central Europe.

John Lennon Wall, Prague

Vanessa and I went on a cheap day trip from Prague to Karlstejn to see the castle there.  The castle was founded in 1348 by Charles IV.  It was only 45 minutes away by train, and a lovely walk up the cute main road of town up to the castle.  If you don't want to walk up the road, there are horse drawn carriages that can take you up most of the way.  After our little hike, we got a cheap Gambrinus (local beer) to cool off... when in Czech Republic, do as the Czechs do.  Got it?  Czech!

View from castle, Karlstejn

Cesky Krumlov is sort of like a mini-Prague.  The town is small and picturesque, with a river running through it.  We wandered through the streets and stumbled upon amazing vistas overlooking the town.  I could get used to living in a small town like that!

We took a train/bus combination from Prague to get there, and checked into one of the first places in the town centre that we saw - "Pension Ametyst."  We were lucky because this place ended up being so cute, and they served us a huge breakfast to our room.  It was one of the best accommodations I enjoyed on our trip this summer.

Breakfast at Pension Ametyst

Cesky Krumlov also has a lot of lovely shops and restaurants.  We ate at a place called "U Dwau Maryi" (The 2 Marys).  The name came from the fact that two wall paintings of the Virgin Mary were discovered there during restoration of the building.  We both ordered the "Old Bohemian Feast."  I got the vegetarian version which included:  puffed barley with vegetables, steamed buckwheat with spinach, baked millet casserole, potato cakes with cabbage, dumpling, potato, and salad.  It was one of my favourite meals on the trip, and it cost around $8!

"Bohemian feast" (vegetarian version)

Dinner with a view, Cesky Krumlov

The restaurant was located right on the river, where we could enjoy a nice view of the castle tower.  The weather in Cesky Krumlov was pretty cold when we were there... it felt like fall!  We still enjoyed the town and did a nice free walking tour there run by a company called Wiseman, started up by one of the locals there.

Cesky Krumlov, view from the castle

The population of the town is only about 14,000 people but they get plenty of tourists per year.  The castle within the town centre is the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic, behind the one in Prague.  It was built in the 13th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The castle area is surrounded by a moat with real live bears in it.  If I had to describe the town of Cesky Krumlov in one word, it would be "charming!"

Great view of the town!

Wedding in Prague

Our wedding was July 7, 2014... it was a beautiful sunny day in Prague.  We arrived at the church (St. Jilji) for the ceremony at 2:00pm.  Everything was beautiful.

Photo by:  Petr Pelucha Photography

After the wedding ceremony we made our way onto a boat for a nice little river cruise.  It was great to take in the sights of Prague while cooling off with a nice cold Czech beer.  On the cruise we passed by the Charles Bridge, where we got engaged on Christmas Day, 2012.

Photo by:  Petr Pelucha Photography

The reception was at Hotel Paris, another beautiful venue.  It's an art deco hotel built in 1904, located right in the old town.  The food and service was outstanding.  I wish I could eat that meal over and over again... (without packing on all those calories)!

Photo by:  Petr Pelucha Photography

Photo by:  Petr Pelucha Photography

I'm still amazed that we were even able to get married in Prague (the city we got engaged in).  It wouldn't have been possible without our wedding planner Magda.  I would highly recommend the company Prague Weddings to anyone considering a wedding in Prague.  Our photographer, Petr Pelucha was also amazing and took many gorgeous photos for us to remember our special day.  We couldn't have asked for a better wedding.

Photo by:  Petr Pelucha Photography

Farewell, Saigon

Just like when I left my job teaching English in Korea, the feeling was bittersweet.  Saying goodbye to Vietnam, my home for the past three years was harder than I thought.  Actually, I didn't think I'd feel emotional about it at all.  In my mind, I thought I was ready to leave.  I actually said to myself on more than one occasion in the last few months that I couldn't wait to get out of the country.  On a cab ride back from a trip to D1 in the final weeks, I suddenly felt overcome with sadness.  HCMC was a city I had grown to love.  Upon arrival, I wasn't convinced that I'd love living there.  It was chaotic, crowded, noisy, sweaty, dirty... Slowly, my opinions changed.  I'm not sure when or how, but I began to see past the traffic jams, clusters of power lines, slums, and busy markets with funky smells.  HCMC was more than just motorbikes and pho.  The city is very much alive with a personality of its own, and if you bothered to look, you would be amazed at what you would find.  Hidden temples, cafes, and tailor shops are around every corner.  There is a little bit of everything for everyone who visits here.

However, living in HCMC for an extended period of time isn't for everyone.  It can be stifling in more ways than one.  The heat can be unbearable for some people, but I learned to appreciate it.  Likewise, I also have a new appreciation for air conditioning.  With over 9 million people living there, the crowds can also take a while to get used to.  Personal space?  Forget it.  When you're in a busy market shopping for fabric or designer knockoffs, you're bound to rub shoulders with somebody, literally.  Pushing people and Canadian manners aside becomes a necessity if you want to get anywhere.

Upon first glance, the motorbike traffic can be daunting.  With time, I could understand and appreciate the organized chaos that takes place in the streets and roundabouts of Saigon.  The first time I rode on the back of a motorbike to D1 was exhilarating. With a city that huge, it is impossible to see it all - but little by little, you can uncover some hidden gems that will become your favourite hangouts - the places where you go to shop, eat, people watch, or just ponder life.  Making the city your own will make it that much harder to leave when the time comes.

The hardest part was leaving our friends and co-workers there.  When you are away from home, your friends become like your family.  They are the people you share everything with.  They are the people who understand the joys and frustrations of living in another country.  They are the people that make you feel at home in your new home.

So why leave?  That was the question I asked myself when I began to feel sad about packing up my life and moving away from the city and friends that were special to me.  I was moving based on my own choice, so if I felt sad about it, shouldn't I stay?  Sometimes you know the answer but can't explain it, and this was one of those situations.  I knew it was time to leave but couldn't fully explain why.  Time to move on to new challenges professionally?  Move on to new travel opportunities?  Move on to new life experiences?  It just seemed like the right time.

When I watched the twinkling jewels of Saigon city lights beneath me as our plane took off, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic about the past 3 years.  Will I be back some day?  Probably, but who knows when.  Vietnamese people never like to say goodbye, they like to say hẹn gặp lại which means "see you again."  So
hẹn gặp lại Saigon, it's been real.

Where has the time gone?

Firstly I apologize for the lack of posts.  In the past 2 months a lot has happened... I finished my third year teaching in Vietnam, moved back to Canada, got married in Europe, and am now in PEI waiting for our move to Dubai.  Things have been busy to say the least, and this will definitely go down as the most eventful summer yet.

I'll backtrack to the end of the school year.  During this time there was a lot going on...

There was an emotional end of year staff party in late May, where my two awesome friends Jess and Alex wrote me a farewell speech, followed by some partying downtown.

My friends threw me a fun surprise bachelorette party which I had NO IDEA about!  I'm still so surprised how they pulled everything off!

My friend Sarah and I brought our netball team to the final city-wide tournament.  The kids (and us) went from knowing absolutely nothing about netball at the beginning of the year to actually winning some games!

I did my final set of report cards and helped organize the junior division "Water Fun Day" and end of year success assembly slideshow.

We got together with friends to have a mini wedding celebration in HCMC, with drinks at the top of Bitexco Tower and dinner downtown.

I said goodbye to my grade 5 students and friends/colleagues in Vietnam.

We packed up all our stuff, mailed a bunch of boxes to Dubai, crammed the rest in suitcases and moved back to Canada.

Back home, I attended the wedding of my friends Katie and Gary.

Then a few days later I packed my bags and hopped on a plane to Prague with my family for our wedding, which I'll write about in another post.  Things have definitely been busy... I think I need another vacation!  :)