02.07.08

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Island living

Croatia is nothing less than fantastic.Not enough superlatives can come to mind to describe the beauties seen the past two days.Beautiful people and beautiful places!

I strolled around Zadar and took in the sights one of which was the most incredible sunset I think I have ever seen.Alfred Hitchock is famous for his quote regarding the brilliant sunset he observed while staying in Zadar.I can't remember the quote, but I am sure it went something like, WOW!I sat watching the sun go down over the islands offshore as the sea organ played a sweet melody…well not so much sweet, but it was the sound of the sea which always seems to call my heart.It moved me enough to produce my own little video so be sure and check the new flick out on the video section of the site.

I awoke early since I went to bed early and headed south to Trogir and Split and then out to the islands in the deep blue.Trogir is magnificent and I can very much see a small zodiac with the name of my boat plastered on the side bobbing next to the arched bridge that brings you on the peninsula.Split is equally impressive just on a larger more cosmopolitan scale.The grand promenade at waters edge is a marvel.A cross between Miami beach's Lincoln way filled with restaurants and canvas awnings and your typical downtown white marbled walk.With large swaying palm trees, new age park benches and a beautiful view of the Adriatic you can't go wrong in Split.The Unesco World Heritage protected city center is pretty cool, but venture much farther north and it is the usual hustle and bustle of a big city which in Croatia is still not a bad thing.

I hopped on a ferry in Split and started my exploration of the outer islands.It just keeps getting better.My face was hurting from the prolonged ear to ear grin.There is something about standing on the bow of a boat setting sail into the unknown and discovering hidden coves and hillside towns with majestic harbors.That is of course what I found with a sunset that put Zadars sunset to shame.In all the time I have spent on the sea trekking to the Bahamas, the Carribean I don't think I have ever seen a sunset so brilliant, truly the orange ball experience.Now people have said this to me before, but I don't think I quite imagine literally and orange BEACH BALL.It was pretty crazy and even though the cool breeze was whipping around my collar I stayed on deck to watch the suns final descent.Amazing!

I arrived on the island of Korcula on the opposite side of where I wanted to be.It was dark and I hate riding at night, but the hostel was on the other side of the island in the city of Korcula just 50km away.So I set out in the dark and man was it dark.The island road through the center rolling mountains was narrow and dark, but thankfully no potholes and very nice road paint.It was pretty amazing to be taking the corners at night something that I have been afraid of.Guess I conquered that fear, although riding at night is still something that I avoid like the plague more now because of break down situations.I do always have a bottle of water on me though just in case.

I arrived in Korcula to a closed hostel and seemingly now where elseto go(the only downfall to traveling in low season or rather freeze your butt of season).Did I mention I love Croatia.And part of that I think is the intelligence and great attitude the people have, plus everyone speaks English.I was helped by a lady at the front desk of a very expensive hotel find a little cheaper accommodation.This was pretty funny.So a man showed up at the hotel door ten minutes later and escorted me to his house where he had a studio apartment below.Rather nice accommodation for just a little more than the usual hostel gig. No passport, not much more than a hello here is the room and the football game is on. A good nights rest and I was off on another ferry, my favorite to island hop my way to Dubrovnik the supposed crown jewel of Croatia.

Along the way I saw some more spectacular sights and learned that Croatia has a booming wine industry.Back to the nice people, as I was stopped on the side of the road taking a short little break a big rig that I had passed earlier pulled in behind me and stopped.I instantly though oh no did I piss this guy off, did I cut him off.The guy gave me the peace sign jumped out of his cabin and gave me a motorcycle magazine and asked about my journey.Pretty nice encounter!He bid me good travels and we parted ways.I just shook my head and wondered why no one knows about Croatia.Oh and the beautiful people thing is no joke.Even the ugly people are good looking especially the women.I have never seen so many thin waisted long legged women in my life.Everyone has beautiful skin and carries a smile.I made a comment to a gentleman and he says oh yeah we get that a lot from foreigners, guess it is something in the water so it is not just my eyes.

I arrived in Dubrovnik mid morning and had decided to find the BMW dealership and get my 24,000 miles service done as I am now 250 miles over due if I count the 750 miles my odometer did not read from Barcelona to Paris.Well no dealership so it looks like Greece will be my next stop for that.Dubrovnik is a beautiful walled city as everyone has described, but I would have passed it off as just another walled city had it not been perched on the sea which in my eyes is its only enticing character to separate if from all the rest of the amazing walled cities I have seen.Since it did not take long to get through the city sights I took advantage of the afternoon to do some planning for the next leg.

Montenegro and Albania here I come!So thanks to my brother Chris who did some excellent research and gave me the bullet points on Albania I feel a little better prepared.All I hear from everyone that I ask which is now more frequent is you are crazy to go there or you must be brave to be riding there.I am looking forward to it and looking forward to really getting out of the comfort zone.As the trip has progressed I have gotten farther and farther from that center and I think Albania is the farthest I will get out of that comfort zone in my European trip.The second poorest country in Europe I am sure to see some 18th century living.So be sure to tune in to my adventures of Montenegro and Albania although, if you don't here from me in a week then I have fallen in a really big pothole, run into a herd of cows on the road, or been abducted by the mafia.

My only regret is not getting my bike serviced before heading into the crazy lands…lets pray she holds together on the rough roads.