Croatia?!

Riding to Zagreb from Vienna! Slovenian countryside is truly amazing. This is up there with riding through Austria.

Whew 10 hours on the train. Youthful feel to the city. Less refined then the other parts I have been to in Europe I guess. Anyways, couldn't get ahold of Marko using my phone, but got to know a Croatian girl sitting next to me the train and was kind enough to let me borrow hers. A PhD in physics, she definitely already looked smart. Told me about how the Pope was coming into town hence heavy security as well as the town festival.

Train station wasn't all that inviting. Contrast with Marko, who was one of the most hospitable people I have ever met in my life. Seriously, he should get an award. Made me dinner spontaneously, drinks, etc. He finished dental school but needs to do a year or two in practice before he can get his own license. Super sweet pad and great host, could not have asked for better. Went to a jazz club, had some mediocre Croatian beer (after having had Czech beer and having had Belgian ales before... no contest). Walked around the main sights in town, lots of events going on. We both had 4 tall ones by the time we met his friends at the movies. Anyways, getting a bit of sleep finally before Plitvice tomorrow, the whole reason I came!

Next day: with 2 of his friends we were off to Plitvice Lakes. Google it. Seriously amazing. About 2.5 hour drive. That was pretty much our day, hiking trails and checking out the lakes and waterfalls. A few boat rides across the lakes. Had no idea about them until James Liu told me that one day he visited Rice and was telling about his ridiculous Europe trip. So nice to get out of the cities every few days. Can only see so many churches and other buildings at a time before I get bored.

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Complete clusterfuck of traveling trying to leave!

Train Zagreb - Villach (missed, due to wrong bus)
Bus Villach - Venice (missed, train arrived a few minutes after)
Train Villach - Verona (missed, bus was late, literally pounding on the door button to get on)

-25EU online bus ticket (barely missed this bus, but had to buy another ticket for the bus 3 hours later)
-20EU for other bed in Verona. Could only find doubles. Great bed and breakfast nonetheless.
-10EU for reservation on train that locked its doors and I frantically tried to open. My damn bus was late. The bus I ended up taking was twice as long of a ride and packed.

Starting to get a bit broken down from all these traveling fails. Oh well, booked an amazing room in Verona, Italy to relax tonight before going to Ancona for the ferry to Greece!

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Way late for check-in. The woman had left to run errands but we agreed to meet back at 10 pm so she could give me the key and so on. Despite all that, very awesome service. Would probably stay here if I was coming again.