Croatia Round Three, where I stay longer than two days, practice my flexible backpacking skills, strengthen and form friendships, inspire myself to keep going, and, of course, eat
This morning, after consuming one last homemade cookie, I said goodbye to Matea, my several-time couchsurfing host. Matea and her kids Jackson and Kaya first hosted me last September when I was bopping through former Yugoslavia the first time. This goodbye was bittersweet, as I am not sure when I will return to Croatia. As I gave Matea a final big hug, I had the feeling this would not be the last time we saw each other, so I have that hope propelling me forward. Let me back up. In mid-April I had recently booked a ticket to Minneapolis for two and a half weeks, but before my flight in early May I headed to Croatia from Slovenia. My original plan (sans Minne-break) was to spend a few days in Zagreb, then head to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, then Bosnia, Montenegro etc, etc. But with my flight to Minneapolis being on May 2 from Zagreb, I decided to take the time to do some more visiting in Croatia, specifically along the coast. After a few days in Zagreb repeat-surfing with