Krka National Park

One of the posters in reception of the hostel was advertising day trips to the nearby Krka National Park, which is a virtually untouched, protected park along the Krka river. The river and park are known to have numerous self sustaining ecosystems within them, and over eighteen species of fish, over half of which are endemic, and nearly 900 species and sub-species of plants, including several that are endemic as well. I, however knew I was going to go as soon as I saw a picture of the crystal clear water and seventeen waterfalls which cascade over 1,300 feet, top to bottom, and cover a width of over 100 yards. There were eleven of us in the shuttle bus making the trip that day and I quickly made friends with a couple of guys, Harry and David, who were from Byron Bay. The ride to the park from Split was just around two hours, giving us plenty of time to talk about our travels and for me to tell them how I fell in love with Byron Bay, in just the one day I had spent there. The trip to the park is not a quick one, but once you are there it is absolutely magical.


After the drive you must get on a boat which takes you a few kilometers up the Krka River, and to the entrance to the national park. From there, it is just a short walk to the last and most impressive of the waterfalls. After going for a swim near the falls and jumping off a nearby bridge we decided to head out on a hike that winds its’ way around the entire waterfall area, and it is possible to view not only the fish and plants of the area, but many species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, some of which are endangered or are near extinction and can only be found in and around the park. As we followed the loop around the falls we were treated to some of the most spectacular views of nature I have ever seen; Crystal clear water, raging waterfalls, bright emerald green plants and shrubs, and the sweet symphonies of nature’s sounds.






Definitely one of those places where you feel a connection the ground beneath you. As the loop came to a close, we were brought back to that first and most impressive waterfall and were quickly reminded that we were tourists visiting a park. So, naturally, along with the hundreds of other tourists, we jump back in the river for one last swim before returning to the hostel.



Back at the hostel, I laid on my bed for a bit of a rest and to recall what an amazing day I had had so far, and as I dosed off I was content, having no idea that my day was only about to get better.

Don't Talk About Politics, Religion, or Sex

That night I went to dinner with a Swiss girl who was staying in my room, who I had met while putting my bags down and getting situated. She was taking a nap, I could only guess to escape the mid-July heat after having been on some exciting adventure, or to recharge after having been on one of the booze cruises, or having just returned from one of the 1,100 beautiful islands just off the coast. Turns out she was just tired. After dinner, we cruised around the alleyways, looking for a bar to have a drink and chat. We stumbled upon Charlie’s Bar, which is also owned by the girls who ran Booze and Snooze and one other hostel in Split. As soon as we opened the door, we decided to go somewhere else as it was too loud, too crowded, and too smokey for what we were looking for. Again the irony here is amazing, as I ended up spending almost every night of the rest of the summer a in that bar. But once again, another story for another time. We decided upon a nice little place with a patio, and had a couple of beers and talked about politics, religion, and sex. Yep, the three things you never discuss while drinking, and absolutely never discuss with someone you have just met. Needless to say, we ended up quickly paying our check and heading back to the hostel and to our beds.

First Impressions

Places, just like people, give off a certain energy, a certain feeling, that can’t easily be explained but can definitely be felt. Sometimes it is our own projection of ourselves or what is going on in our own lives, sometimes it’s keen observation, and other times it just is, what it is. Every time I approached a new place, either by train, boat, bus, or plane, I found myself looking out the window and without fail, every time, some sort of emotion would begin stirring inside of me. Sometimes I would feel anxious or nervous. I would feel as though it was going to be difficult to find my accommodation, the people might not be friendly or helpful, or that it just simply was not my kind of place. Other times, as was the case with Croatia, I felt happy, at peace, and the only anxiousness was to hurry up and get off the boat so I could begin experiencing yet another amazing country. I had already booked a bed in a hostel called Booze and Snooze, and the directions sounded fairly simple, so with my bags on my shoulders, I decided I didn’t need to stop and get a map. I should have gotten a map. I don’t really know how to describe the Old Town in Split other than to call it a labyrinth of marble covered walkways, none of which go in a straight line, or even in one direction for that matter. So, needless to say, I got lost. Not to worry though, I was still too excited about this place to worry about being lost. Plus, getting lost walking around the only remaining Roman Palace that is still complete in the entire world is a pretty awesome experience all on its own.















Eventually I crossed a piazza that was noted on the directions for the hostel, and saw a local waiter smoking a cigarette on his break. I decided to ask if he knew the hostel or where I could find it. He didn’t know the hostel, but new the alleyway and kindly walked me to it. Sure enough, there it was, Booze and Snooze. I couldn’t be happier.

There was a group of girls ahead of me that were checking in to the hostel, so I found a seat in Reception and waited my turn. As I was waiting my eyes began wondering around the walls of the office and again I felt my intrigue and excitement growing for the adventures that were ahead of me. The walls were covered with posters and flyers for every activity and tour you could imagine; whitewater rafting, national parks, booze cruises, island hopping tours, day trips to this town, or that island, bus schedules and ferry timetables. I was quickly realizing that the 12 days I had anticipated spending in Croatia was not going to be enough. Writing this now, I can only laugh… if I only knew. Ironically enough, I ended up spending almost all of the rest of that summer in Croatia, and never really made it too far from Split, but we’ll get to that part of the story in a bit. For now I just needed to check in.