The Misadventures of Miss B

I don't even know where to start... should I start with a description of the crystal clear vibrant waters of Dalmatia? Or the part where I come back from kayaking and biking around remote islands to find my camera is mysteriously missing?

Joy and grief- hand in hand.

After meeting Michelle in Athens, we headed out to the islands for some sun, and ended up huddled in jackets on the beaches for a few days, in between the two sunny ones! I felt quite grown up when I got to drive a rental car from beach to beach on one of those sunny days. Having a travel partner once again makes things like driving a beater-mini-Fiat much more fun.

Nostalgia hit in a bit in Athens when I finally caved and had my first Starbucks. It was amazing. I almost cried. Athens is almost amazing, but not quite as meaningful. The rooftop of our hotel overlooked, or I should say, underlooked the reigning Akropoli hill that towers above the cities wandering narrow streets that hug its base. Filled with history (and tourists) the acropolis is a work to behold. Its not difficult to imagine its political and religious activities looking up at the massive columns of the Parthenon. Its easy to understand the presence of idols and false gods looking at the massive temple of Nike and realize how easily they pass.

After two days in Athens, Dubovnik, Croatia is a rest; my favorite part of this segment, in spite of the drama of travelling for 27 hours straight (including a stop in the not so lovely port city of Bari Italy for 11 hours while waiting for a boat!). I love it. Water. Clean, stone streets. A city fortress of archaic stone hugged by the crystal clear brilliant water. History of war and peace. Trees clinging to cliffs plunging down to the water. Shrapnel freckled churches. Friendly, warm, vibrant hosts. Five star resorts awaiting repair.Very kind people (including the bartender who kept telling me not to cry about my camera and the amazing German kayakers that I went cruised with today). It feels like it could be home; it probably helps that we are lodging in a sobe, or a room in the home of lovely Renata, a Dubrovnik Old Town native. I will miss this place, and hopefully will return shortly, as soon as someone finds my camera!

Michelle and I head out for Bosnia tomorrow, the most unknown segment of the journey in a way. People have said nothing but positive things about Bosnia. I cannot wait for the adventure. For the next three weeks, I will be cruising around various parts of Bosnia and Croatia and then will head back to Italia to catch my flight home.