March 19th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Croatia
The day is not quite over yet, in fact it has just started as I sit here in the internet cafe in Makarska. I figure I should get to Split today. So just a quick update for today.
Satoshi recently asked how much things are here in Croatia. Here is a run down on the last few shopping sprees:
Oranges: 7.99 Kuna/kg (1.44 USD)
Bananas (seconds): 3.65 Kuna/kg (0.65 USD)
Walnuts : 59.99 Kuna/kg (10.35 USD)
Dried apricots: 34.99 Kuna/kg (6.30 USD)
125g box of Jaffa cakes: 5.99 Kuna (1 USD)
180g drinking yoghurt: 2.09 Kuna (0.37 USD)
600g fresh baked bread: 6.50 Kuna (1.17 USD)
Gouda cheese: 54.50 Kuna/kg (9.80 USD)
Dried ham salami (YUM!): 149 Kuna/kg (27 USD)
Chocolate pudding 200g: 2.70 Kuna (0.48 USD)
I haven’t been cooking pasta or other things lately, opting for bread and other ingredients for quick meals instead. This means that I am spending about 50 to 60 Kuna per day here in Croatia (about 7 Euro, or 10 USD) for food. My main costs after food, actualy, my only cost after food, is internet. The place I am at now is 24 Kuna (4.30 USD) an hour. I just have to accept it, but it’s hard after spending the last 7 months sometimes only paying 0.50 USD per hour!
The weather forecast for the coast is not good. 80% chance of rain for the next four days. Rain, rain, stay away…
For the time being however, things are looking good for today. I will make as much ground as I can while the weather is good.
March 18th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Croatia
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 110km
Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 1232.86km (plus 8400km)
Ascent / 上り: +1150m
Descent / 下り: -1085m
More of the same today. More of the same amazing scenery.
A highlight for today was the 9kms or so of Bosina that I cycled through. This coastline is not all Croatian. There still remains a little sprout of Bosnia that you need to go through. There are border controls and everything. Unfortunately I didn’t get a stamp in mz passport. I forgot to ask for one. In general, this 9km stretch didn’ seem as developed as the rest of the Croatian coast. Many more buildings under construction.
It was a long day today. One of those days when I was thinking of the future. Too much of that carry on is bad for the mind, I decided. From mid afternoon onwards I listened to the radio on the small radio thing I got in Istanbul. That kept me going for the rest of the day.
I arrived in Gradac at dusk, and went for a wander along some of the walking tracks, looking for landmines to throw stones at, until I realised that I wouldn’t be able to see them. Probably more effective if I just rolled along the ground on my stomach lengthwise…
March 17th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Croatia
I suppose I might as well let the cat out of the bag.
www.villagecamps.ch
I spent most of the day sorting out application forms. All going well I will be a summer camp counsellor this summer in Switzerland, facilitating summer activities for children and teenagers. If there are still places available, and I manage to get one, then I will be spending up to two months there. I heard about Village Camps from an ex-workmate who had worked at Village Camps in the past.
As for what this would mean for the 14degrees Off The Beaten Track journey, it would mean that it would be just part of the adventure as a whole. I’ve always had an interest in outdoor education, and Village Camps would give me a chance to really get to grips with it, and get some proper experience in the area. The 14degrees blog would continue uninterrupted.
Ideally, I would spend one season at Village Camps, and then carry on to England. Once again, I would be cycling in winter. Ugh.
I finally left Dubrovnik at 4pm, and cycled for about 15kms to a small beach, where Nick and his father were fishing for squid. They had been there for 6 hours, and had caught nothing. I must have been the lucky charm, because as soon as I arrived, they caught five squid in a matter of an hour.
I’m not usually very emotional when it comes to fish dying, but squid are a different matter. They just lie there, watching you with their big, knowing eyes. Their skin pulses with brown dots, like miniature arouras, coming and going in gentle waves. The colour however slowly fades as the life in the squid fades. And all the time, those eyes.Those eyes. Watching. Pleading…
Nick seemed happy enough though.
I slept under the eaves of an old building near the beach. A calm night. Nothing stirred except those squid eyes, burned into my mind as I wafted off to sleep.
March 16th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Croatia,Montenegro
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 60km
Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 1122.86km (plus 8400km)
Ascent / 上り: +970m
Descent / 下り: -930m
Dumb speedometer. I think the sensor is to blame for the fact that it no longer registers speed. Will try to get a replacement somewhere along the road somewhere…
The ride around the bay of Kotor is really quite pleasant. Rather pleasant indeed. Great Sunday drive stuff. Quaint old towns, quiet marinas…
From the border of Croatia, the road passes through relatively uninspiring inland farmland until it hits the coast. For about 25kms, I was thinking that all the hype about Croatia wasn’t living up to itself. I did however meet the third touring cyclist I have met so far on this journey. Sandra from France is cycling to Mt. Kailash in Tibet. Jolly nice to meet her.
The uninspiring farmland continued. Then I hit the coast.
I almost cycled on past Dubrovnik, due to the fact that I would have to cycle down there, and up to get out. But just as well that I did go down for a look, as the town lives up to its fame as a beautiful old town.
I cycled around through the narrow streets to the amusement of fellow tourists and locals alike, before making a beeline for the coast to find somewhere to sleep. I eventually settled on a quiet spot of stony beach. I found a large plank of discarded wood nearby, and used this as a ‘bunk’.
Quite nice, and slept till morning when I was woken by the sound of a large cruise ship entering the bay.
