hitch-hiking Croatia

04/26/2012 So, we decided to try hitch-hiking! We weren't going to tell my mom at first but then decided that it was probably a good idea just in case something did go wrong. She wasn't very please obviously. She asked "have you lost your fucking minds". (please excuse the language). We explained our plan and also decided if we couldn't find a ride by a certain time, we would take the bus. We started at 830 and were picked up by 910! We were dropped off about 5 miles down the road. We were hungry so pulled out the meat and bread to make sandwiches. As I was making them, so no eating. we were picked up about 20 mins after arriving by 2 electricians going to work. They brought us about 30 mins south to a town called Omis. We stayed in Omis for a little and walked around and took pictures, it was a really cute town! The whole day it was windy and cloudy. I thought it was going to start pouring at any moment. It never did though! That was mother nature giving us a break for the day! While were waiting at the bus stop for a ride a young girl, probably in her teens was watching me stick my thumb out as people drove by. She probably thought we were crazy thinking we wanted to catch a ride. I only think this because of the way she was looking at us. Lol. I think she was in shock when about 30 mins later, a Bosnian man pulled over and said he was going to Mostar! That was about half way to where we needed to go, Dubrovnik! So, we jumped in. He couldn't speak much English and we don't speak Bosnian lol so, it was an interesting car ride to say the least! He put his Adele CD on and we all just listened to that for an hour and a half! It was great! He pulled over twice at sightseeing points so I could take pictures. I thought that was very kind. He dropped us off in front of a cafe/pizzeria in the middle of no where!!! It was close to the Bosnian border and we weren't going to Bosnia, so he kind of had no choice! We walked into the cafe and spoke to the couple in the cafe, asked if we could use the restroom and asked where on earth we were! Lol! We spoke for a little, explained what we were doing. They offered is coffee, very nice gesture since our Damn host had us running out the door and we hadn't even eaten yet! We enjoyed the coffee and decided we walk around the area for a bit, it was beautiful. They told us we were in the middle of the Bacina Lakes. Such a wonderful location to be dropped off!! The couple let us leave our bags and we went around and took pics and enjoyed the surroundings. When we decided to leave, I thought I would try to make the sandwiches again, as I began, the man in the cafe said he was going south and would bring us as far as he could. Lol, so no eating again. He dropped us off literally in the middle of no where. There was just a gas station near by and some cafe (i think). We stood there for a bit until we realized we were at the split for the highway for Bosnia and Croatia. People didn't know where we were trying to go. We had someone ask if we were going to Bosnia. So, to make things easier we just walked about 2 miles down the road and waited. About 15 mins later we had 2 Turkish guys (about our age) say, "hi, Dubrovnik". We asked if they literally meant Dubrovnik or just close to it. They responded with "city center"....and we were all off! They didn't speak English so well but we were all able to communicate. They were on vacation for 10 days and doing a road trip through Croatia. They brought is down and dropped us off in the city center. We exchanged personal info so we could all stay in touch in case we made it to Turkey, we could contact them. Danielle and I walked around, looked for a CS host. My request was set for the following day since I didn't think we would make it in one day let alone, in half the day! We went to a bar and looked for hostels. After a while we decided to take a walk. While walking around, we ran into the Turkish dudes. They asked what we were doing, we told them we weren't sure yet. They said we could sleep in their car with them. So, we did! Lol! Danielle and I sprawled out in their back seat and woke up the next day fully rested and hit the town. We saw a lot of cool things. We went into the first pharmacy in Europe! It was neat! Later that day, the guys asked if we had any plans or if we wanted to join them that night and head back North and go to Plitvice National Park. That is the one place in Croatia we actually wanted to go! It was perfect! So, we went :) The drive that night was great, I slept. Danielle can't sleep in cars with other people driving so she stayed awake the full 7 hours. The guys just switched out when they were tired. We made it by 5ish. And pulled into a rest stop and we all slept some more. In the morning we took off the to park! I have been to some awesome national parks but that park was unbelievable! There was ferry we had to take to cross the river. When we got off on the other side, it was like heaven! There were waterfalls everywhere!! I was picture happy for sure! I am not sure if I will ever see anything like that again! Big waterfalls, small waterfalls, cascades coming from every direction. Danielle trips about 5-10 times a day, no joke. So, of course she was bound to trip while in the park and that she did. Only think is that she fell into a hole full of mud. It was gross ans funny all at the same time! There were tiny bridges that connects people from one side of a waterfall to another. And millions, yes millions of steps made of planks of skinny wood used as stairs. It's like something you see in a movie that you think they added special effects! Just amazing! Remember Everyone: Plitvice National Park! Get there at some point if you can! It's amazing! It eventually started to rain but kept going a bit further and then started making our way out. What a wonderful way to spend a day :) We left after that to head towards Zagreb. Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia. First we needed gas. We barely had enough to make it another 20 miles, if that. The closest gas station or petroleum office as the Turkish guys called it lol...was over the Bosnian border. No problem, just cross, get gas and come back to be on our way. Yes, in a perfect world that would be the way the story would go but not with us. The craziest things go on sometimes and I just wonder if these types of things happen to all people, seriously. Lol. So, let explain the back story so you know what was going on. The guys we were with are from Turkey and had taken a plane into Zagreb about 1 week prior. We are 2 American woman and had taken a ferry from Italy 4 days prior. Somehow though we were all together in a rented car trying to cross the Bosnian border. Ok, so we get to the Croatian booth, they are ok, stamp us and we go to the Bosnian booth. They weren't so ok with it all. They asked us to pull over after siting there for 5 mins. I knew none of us were criminals because we had all had our passports checked already going to Dubrovnik (so I knew they weren't criminals or anything). We pulled over and sat there for 10 more mins. Finally some man came over and started speak Bosnian, asking questions. None of us speak the language. The guys could respond with a few words they did know but it didn't get us very far. We tried to explain that we were almost out of gas and the closest station was over the border. The man told the guys to ask Allah for more gas and that maybe we wouldn't have a problem. Not very nice. The man just laughed and walked away. About 5 mins later another man walked up asked the same questions and finally gave us our passports. We crossed got gas and cane back. Then had the same damn problem coming back in. Like, the dude from earlier couldn't have told his college what was up?! They saw the tank before and now it was full, its a miracle! No, we really got gas! Danielle made a joke. They asked why we were coming into Bosnia together so many times, she said we should tell them take we came to Europe and decided of all places that Bosnia was the place for us! We were laughing hysterically! I think it made the guys nervous that we kept laughing. The whole situation was ridiculous though. Fine, going in question it. But coming back 20 mins later. Check the car or do something then, don't just make us sit there, it made no sense but it was funny. So, we got to Zagreb and we are now at a hostel in the middle of nowhere. Literally in the country side! It's wonderful though!! We took a day to do nothing! Today we did laundry and some more of nothing and tomorrow we will go into the city and see Zagreb! That's about it. Miss you all! Xoxo

Pictures from:
Split
Dubrovnik
Plitvice National Park