at the COAST in CROATIA

So on Sunday we went to the coast in Croatia for a few days. It was kinda interesting because we had to cross the boarder between Bosnia and Croatia 3 times. At the first stop the lady was nice and gave us stamps in our passports. Then after driving a ways we came to another border and went back into Bosnia. It was funny cuz at this border the guy didn't even stop us, he just waved us on. He actually looked kinda annoyed when we started to slow down. Then we drove for about 8 miles (the only 'sea-side' that Bosnia has) and came back to the Croatian border, where again we just drove on through (something you could never do at a U.S. border).

By the time we got to Orebić (which is on the tip of a peninsula) it was dark outside so we couldn't really see the Adriatic Sea. After we unloaded our things we took a ferry across the the island of Korčula... since the tourist season is over this place was basically dead. I swear we were like the only people walking around this town. We stopped in some seafood place for dinner and I decided that I would be adventurous so I ordered the "Small Fried Fish." That is exactly what it was. They brought me a plate full of little fish, and I had NOOOO idea how I was supposed to eat it. I figured they would normally eat them whole, but I wasn't too keen on the idea of doing that, so I started picking the meat off the bones. Now for some reason me trying to eat my dinner was pure entertainment for Petula and Allix. Then at one point out waiter came out and just stood at our table looking at me and judging by the look on his face he was probably thinking "this poor foreign girl, she doesn't even know how to eat fried fish!" He told me that they usually just pop the whole thing in their mouths - I guess frying them makes their bones easier to eat or something. I figured I may as well eat them the right way, and he stood there watching me eat the first few. It was actually really good... interesting but good.

On Monday we drove 2 hours to Dubrovnik (Petula is such a good mentor for taking us there!!!)... and OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS SOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! There is this wall that goes around the old town so we walked the wall. It was pretty cool cuz you got the best of both views - an amazing overhead of the city, and an amazing view of the sea (I have never seen anything like that btw, the water was so clear and so blue!!!). I really really liked Dubrovnik. We walked around town a bit after walking the wall, went to the Grotto (which is actually one of the oldest ones in Eastern Europe) and went to this cafe that is in the side of the wall looking out to the sea. Ahh, it was incredible!

On Tuesday we took the ferry back to Korčula so that we could see what it looked like during the day - so beautiful. I cannot get over the beauty of places here. And I absolutely love the history and being places that are so old - older than the United States! Things and places here are like straight out of a fairy tale.

Our drive back was interesting... we decided to take this one road that is supposed to be two-way, but seriously the road was big enough for like a car and a half. Then on top of that this road was going over mountains and around corners and all that fun stuff. Let's just say I was happy when we were finally off that road (2 hours later). We did however see some pretty cool stuff while we were driving - like Roman ruins. Then for dinner we stopped and got lamb on a spit and roasted potatoes. Yummy.

Now I know I probably wasn't as detailed as I usually am, so here are some pictures to help tell my story =)

Korčula


my plate of small fried fish


me eating the fish whole


Allix and me in Korčula


the view from our balcony


me touching the Adriatic Sea


Dubrovnik


me in Dubrovnik


me with a cannon (don't worry, it doesn't really work ;)


me, Petula, Allix on the wall in Dubrivnik


me on the wall


lamb on the spit

MOSTAR

After we were finished with our team business meetings we basically had 'free time' to do whatever we wanted around town.

Our Saturday was jam packed full of stuff. We started out with breakfast at Mark and Viviane's house. From there we went to Carolyn's apartment to get a CD of the pictures she took at the youth conference for Saša, and we also borrowed 2 of her movies (Finding Neverland and X-Men). From there we met up with Mirja for coffee - well, I had hot chocolate. It was good, kinda tasted like heated chocolate pudding. It was nice catching up with her... we met her a few weeks ago at the youth conference. After that we walked around town and got to really see Mostar (and take lots of pictures of course). Then we went to this lady's apartment and talked with her a bit, through Petula. She told us the story of how her son was killed in the war and how they became Christians. It was a very interesting story, super detailed. It is one thing to hear about these kinds of stories, but to actually talk to someone who lived that story is something else. I was really glad that she shared with us. When we left her place we met up with Alisa (another girl we met at the youth conference) and went out for coffee and talked. Then after dinner we went out to coffee with Smik, and then walked around town a bit, and went back to his apartment and hung out for a while.

Sunday morning we went to church at East Mostar (which was only down 2 flights of stairs for us since we were staying in the Bible School and that is also where church is held). This girl Kate gave the sermon - in English and had someone translating into Bosnian for her. From what I hear it is easier to preach in your native language to make sure that you get all your points across correctly (she is from London, but has lived in Mostar for the past 3 years). She did a really good job. After church we went out to coffee with a bunch of the young adults and got a chance to talk with them for a while. I really enjoyed that.


Me, Mirja, Allix


Me, Petula, Allix


Allix and Me with the new-old bridge behind us