Graz - Austria

I took a 2.5 hr bus ride and then a 4 hour train ride (split between 3 trains!) to get to Graz. The woman in charge of WWOOF Austria, Hildegard, met me at the train station and I am staying at her house. She is very nice and we have been talking about everything. I think she enjoys sharing a meal with me and I do the dishes.

Now is the hard part. There is a list of over 1000 organic farm families in and around Austria. I need to choose 1 or 2 to visit and help out at for a week or so. The list is long and I don't know who to choose. She will help me pick a few to email. Hopefully I will find one to take me ASAP and head their way.

I am very interested in one farm that makes icecream! You know I love icecream! and I would also like to work on a vineyard. I like wine and would like to know more about how it is made!

I will let you know what I pick!
Tonight Hildegard will take me up the Mountain to see where she used to live in the Country. I don't know when I will leave here for a farm, but she doesn't seem to mind. :)

Adrenline Check Eco Hostel- Soca River Valley - Slovenia

I wanted to go to Bovec to do outdoor water sports and found this place on hostelworld. Then I got on the bus and 4 hours later, was dropped off here!
Oh the drive was wonderful. We went up a huge mountain and then back down the other side. There was 50 switch backs. We stopped at the top for a half hour break and I met a nice girl that worked there. I told her she was so lucky, it was so beautiful, it was like heaven! I would love to go back there for hiking with a friend.

Then we went down the mountain and the driver dropped me off in the driveway of the camp. I stayed in a 10bed dorm room and I slept very well, even got afternoon naps after our busy activites!

They have all kinds of activities, but I chose hiking, river kayaking, canyoning and climbing. Each day was soo much fun! I loved climbing and river kayaking. I would like to do more when I get back home.

I met 2 travelers from Holland who are traveling in a tiny Fia 500. They participated in the same activites with me each day and we became good friends. Next they are going to Italy to get some car parts. While I will travel to Austria.

Ljubljana - 2nd night

After my walking tour I met some americans from San Fransisco and Seattle! I sat with them and chatted for a while about our travels and back home. It was nice to be around familier people. They invited me to dinner at their apartment.

We had lots of delicious pasta for dinner and I brought a large bottle of red wine to share. We talked more about our adventures. One guy from Seattle would like to start a hostel with me, he said! We will keep in touch and see what happens when we get home. Most of them just graduated from College.

We went to a bar and played foosball will some guys from Spain. In the beginning I was always winning, but after a few drinks- the terrible shot of tequila! We stopped winning :( But it was so much fun!

On the way to our next place, I got some icecream, it was soo amazing! I can't believe I haven't eaten any in so many days.

Then we went to a huka bar but we were too late to get a huka. The girls went to find a bathroom and were gone so long, I went to find them, they needed saving from some boys inside trying to give them strong drinks! Ha the guys tried to give me one too, but I did not taking, instead saying I had been waiting for the girls and leading them out of the bar!

The huka bar boasted that they had the best Mojito in town, so I had to try it, even though I did not need another drink! It was yummy and I shared it with the table of new friends!

Then I went home because I had to get up 5:45 to catch the bus to Bovec!

Ljubljana

Tuesday, I took the train from Zagreb to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
It is small and pretty and laid back. Yesterday I met a nice man in the lobby of my hostel and we went to grab a drink and chatted for a few hours. It was really nice and easy. I told him about how I'm thinking about opening my own hostel. He had some great suggestions.

He was Swiss and will take some friends Biking around Croatia in a couple weeks and he was planning his route.

We both are very travel oriented and we talked about American's work mentality. It was a very nice time. And afterward I came back to my hostel for a nap!

I couldn't believe it was almost 8 when I woke up! I showered and went out for dinner. I had a nice salad with shrimp and a glass of white wine. It was a nice dinner. I walked around looking for some music events, but I was too late and they were cleaning up.

Today, I took a walking tour of the old town of Ljubljana and decided to stay another night.
Tomorrow I plan to take a train and a bus to Bovec to do some more rafting and canyoning. I'm taking a train and then a bus rather then just a bus, because I can use my eurail pass and then only pay 7 euro or something for the bus.

I'm thinking about squeezing in a few more travel days before I start volunteering, because I still have 5 days left of my EuRail pass.
I'm really excited to start volunteering and Jenn will be joining me, so we can share this organic farming experience!

I feeling very happy and relaxed now, the first month my emotions were up and down, but now I've got a hang of it and having a great time!

back to Zagreb

I headed back to Zagreb and it feels so nice. I became friends with the hostel employees at Hostel Nocturno, so it felt like visiting old friends or family.
I stayed for 2 nights and just relaxed.

I went to the Bulldog Cafe and had a coffee and updated my journal, then I sat for a while longer and ordered a beer! and stayed for another hour or so. It was so nice and relaxing and I got caught up in my journal.

Kristina (from the hostel) came with me to the train station and sat and chatted for a while before I got on my train to Ljubljana.

Last time I was at the hostel (a month ago!) we found a small sick kitten in the storage unit, the girls took him and brought him back to life and now he's their pet! His name is George and they had photos for me, that they took of him to show me!

So nice to be back amongst people I know for a few days.

Pletvice Lakes National Park

I wanted to get to the park in the early morning, but was getting a ride there from those crazy men. They stayed up drinking all night and were all hung over. We didn't leave until afternoon. Which worked out ok because it gave me time to chat with Bjeli's daughter who lives in Graz (she said I could stay with her while I'm in Austria!) and I got to walk to the spring by their house one last time.
I absolutely loved the park. When I got there it was confusing where to go to buy my ticket and store my big backpack but once I got on the trails and away from the crowds it was great. I followed Rick Steve's recommendation and saw that it was the same as one of the recommendations in the park, but backwards! So I was going against the crowds and had whole patches of solitude around the lakes. That was the best part. It was a beautiful day, since it had rained the day before it was cool and sunny. Very similar to hiking in Seattle!
I loved the park and caught the last bus to Zagreb

I'm here now in Zagreb for 2 nights, to relax and catch up on my blog and I started a flikr account for my photos because I have so many!
Check them out at www.flikr.com/beckstravelingagain

Bihac

I took a 7 hour bus trip to the northwest corner of Bosnia to Bihac. I walked all around town trying to find an tourist info and then to find an internet cafe. It was soo hot! But I used the internet and saw that I had a place to stay and that I should get a taxi there.
When the taxi was driving me further and further out of town I began to wonder where we were going! But then I saw a sign for Bjeli sport and knew we were on the right track.
We got near the end of the road and saw a man wearing a speedo washing some vans that said Bjeli sport white water rafting and knew I had come to the right place!
They have a tiny pool and I got my own room with a tiny window facing the mountains! They hardly spoke english, but they were very friendly and I felt completely relaxed.
The next day I walked to a little spring near their house and then went with Bjeli to learn to role the kayak. It was tough because he had to tell one guy who then told me, some things were lost in translation, I'm afraid. I tried but I couldn't make it. I would like to take some classes when I get home.
A girl from Slovenia and her family stayed at Bjeli's place that night, they did night rafting and went out drinking, it sounded like fun but I was already signed up to do rafting the next day.
The girl was about my age and worked for Princess cruise line, hearing her talk about it made it sound like a lot of fun and you get to travel all over the world! Maybe I'll look into working on a cruise ship?!
The next day I went white water rafting, unfortunately it was pouring down rain which delayed our start, then I got a ride with a van of rowdy 45 yr old men and it was too much for me, I was overwhelmed and ready to just get on the river!
When we finally got on the river our boat had 9 people! and we went down a 5m fall and the guy in the back next to me fell forward and cut open his eyelid on the person in front of him! He needed 7 stiches! I hit my head on the person in front of me and it still hurts!
There was a few big rapids at the begining then a long time of very flat water. It was not as good as eastern washington. I thought I would be english speaking boat, but although everyone else could speak and understand english they mostly spoke in Croatian/Bosnian and I never really knew what was going on. It make it boring.
Sad, because I love white water rafting at home!

Sarajevo

I stayed two nights at Haris Youth Hostel.
I was tired of being sick so I went to the doctor. They took a sample of my blood and said I had an infection and told me to go to the hospital. Haris took me to the hospital and they did a very thorough check. They were worried I had the flu or swine and they had to do an expensive test on me that took a long time.
I was taken to a room to lay down and they gave me an antibiotic on an iv. I lied there for over 3 hours. Finally they told me my results were negative and I only have a virus. The doctor prescribed bed rest and some medicine similar to TheraFlu.
I slept the rest of the day and night.
The next day I went on a tour of Sarajevo. I didn't want to miss out! I saw sniper alley, the tunnel build to escape and bring back supplies, the snow luve in the mountains for the Olympics, the Olympics museum and parts of old town.
Today I am relaxing in a double room in old town.
Tonight is a party to celebrate Haris Hostel's 6 yr bday
I will relax until then.
Tomorrow morning I will get on a 7 hour bus ride to Bihac (in the northwest corner of Bosnia). I am excited to do some white water rafting or kayaking on the Una river this weekend.
Hopefully I can get enough rest today and on the bus ride to feel better again. I have been feeling so exhausted from my cold that when faced with a difficult question I just start crying.
I do not want to cry anymore, I just want to enjoy myself!

Bosnia

I headed back to Dubrovnik and stayed overnight at the Backpackers Club because I knew where it was. The next morning I headed to Mostar on the bus.
Yeah Bosnia!
I stayed near a river and I saw some local guys jumping in and it was so hot I decided to give it a try.
The river was freezing, about 10 decrees. I was hoping it would knock out my cold but it did not! boo
There were a few guys staying at the hostel, everyone else was on a tour. We made scrambled eggs, veggies and rice for dinner. It was pretty good and cheap.
The next day we all sat around relaxing. Then everyone left except me and a nice guy named Frazier. We walked around and visited some historic places in town. He was very nice and it was great hearing about someone elses adventures.
There is a big orange school that is the only unsegregated school in the city. We visited 3 old bank buildings that are were destroyed but are still standing. One of them became a sniper tower and Frazier ran up to look for shell casings. I stayed in the park watching a man tear off metal from the outside of the bank building.

The next day I took the tour offered by the hostel of the surrounding area. There was soo much to see and I was coughing all morning in the van.
We went to Kravice waterfalls and got to climb behind them, jumped from a rope swing.
We visited the hills where teenagers saw the mother mary.
an old turkish house built under a cliff,
and Pocitj and old medival town where only 4 people still live.
The tour was 14 hours and I was exhausted when it was over. I came home and went right to bed
In the morning I took the train to Sarajevo. I met a nice young couple from Holland on the train and they shared their candy.
My hostel is a long walk up hill from the old town but it has a beautiful view.

Montenegro

On Monday Morning Tess and I caught an early bus to Montenegro. It was a long ride and when we stopped at the border, we were surprised to see Andrew from our boat was also on our bus!
We chatted with some guys from Austria who were going to Butva for 9 days! That sounded like an incredibly long time to stay in one place, especially after we have been moving around soo much!

We got off in Kotor and walked through the old city. Tess wanted to cash some travelers checks and it took us forever to find some banks. We went in circles about 5 times. Once we found the square that had about 10 banks, we had to find one that would exchange travelers checks! So you see they are not very helpful to travel with these days!

After getting some cash. They use Euros in Montenegro. We got some snacks, pizza and icecream and headed back to the bus station. We contintued down to Budva, the beach resort town.
We were offered some rooms when we exited the station, but decided to walk towards the beach till we found one.
Luckily a woman stopped us in the street and asked if we needed a room. We did and she led us to the most beautiful 4 story white house on the block, with fountains out front and balconies on each floor!
Then they had to find someone who spoke english! I had to talk to a woman on the phone, who could translate for us. We ended up getting a big room with a huge bed on the 3rd floor with a balcony and air conditioning, our own bathroom and shower and minifridge. For only 13 euro a night each!
Awesome!
We went to the grocery store and stocked up on picnic food.

We learned that there has been a huge building boom and everyone has been losing thier view to ugly, unfinished buildings. The economy has been hurting people everywhere.
We had a great picnic dinner on our balcony with some yummy strong sangria. Then we headed down to check out the beach.

The next day was my birthday! But I didn't feel like celebrating because I have such a bad cough and we have airconditioning so all I want to do is lie in bed!

We had some great breakfast in our room, yougart, cereal and milk. Then we headed to the beach. I got a beach umbrella and layed down. Every half hour I went for a little swim. Later in the day we layed around in bed, sleeping on and off and enjoying the air con.
The bed was huge, we could each be lying down and still have 2 feet between us!
Tess is really great, I hope I can visit here in Britian sometime.

That night we went out to dinner on the beach, the restaurant food was terrible, everything was very salty and there was a live band that was not very good. We ran into some guys from our apartment along the beach, they were actually on our bus from Dubrovnik!
We got a drink with them and then headed back to our room. We drank the rest of our sangria on our balcony and chatted. I called my mom and texted Tim.
It was nice night.

Dubrovnik

Stayed in Dubrovnik for another night. We got up and went to the beach. I woke up with a sore throat and no voice, must be getting sick. Too many people on the boat, not enough sleep and too much heat and beer!
I guess we are still in beach/swim mode from the boat.
After the beach we headed into the old town of Dubrovnik to get some lunch and watch the men's finals at Wimbledon. Did you see the game?! It was long and intense! We stayed for the whole thing, each time expecting a win at the end of set, only to have them tie again!
Dubrovnik is probably my least favorite town. It's too big and crowded. The tourists pour off the cruise ships here.
One cool thing we saw was, Dubrovnik Fashion Week was taking place while we were there.

happy 4th of July!

I was in Dubrovnik for 4th of July. I stayed at the Backpackers Club with Tess and Ricky.
We met with some of the others from the boat to do the big hike around the old city walls. It was soo hot and so high up. And there were a lot of steps!
Afterwards we went to the beach near our hostel until it began to rain.
We got a room all to our selves because the 3 of us were together. It was nice and we got to bed early. We were all tired from the boat. Too much party not enough sleep.

Sail Croatia boat tour

Tomorrow's the last day of my week long boat tour of the islands. The islands have been beautiful and the new group of friends has been a lot of fun. But I would never recommend the company. The food has been pretty awful. Worse then when we poor and cheap in college!
We started in Split and went to Bol, Vis, Hvar, Mljet and we are ending in Dubrovnik.
I have made great friends with a brit girl named Tess. I'm going to drag her along to Montengro for a couple days before she leaves on the 8th.
I'll try to post some photos tomorrow or the next day.
It has been hot and muggy and I've gotten a nice tan.

I miss you and wish you could come join in the fun!