Zadar.

As you might have noticed, Zadar was my first destination! I arrived two hours later (at 2 in the morning), stayed three nights and enjoyed nearly three days of exploring this beautiful city located in the Adriatic sea. Every morning, I'd wake up early: it was my deal with my host that I would have everything neatened by 8 am so she could work on the couch. I loved it!

The old town was incredible, it is this gorgeous peninsula where everything happens and I was only a five-minute walk away! For those three mornings, I'd buy peaches in the street market (located at the entrance of the second main door of the old town's wall) and I would go specifically to this same sir, who barely spoke English but got accustomed to my face and my inability to count Kuna coins. I wonder if he missed me on the fourth day; I clearly did eh eh

You know pretty much the story of my first day, but let me tell you what happened that night. As if I couldn't have been luckier, as I strolled in linen clothes, enjoying my solitude through the streets of the lively city, I come across a queue. I had no idea what it was, so I checked it out. Classical summer vibes: an open-air cinema! Starring: Casablanca. I had never watched this classic and I didn't have plans, so I queued. As the queue went forward, the lady says "one ticket left". You're right, it was my ticket. I was the only (or the next) solo client in the queue. I adored it so much; the fact that it made me cry, that it made me feel, that it made me grateful. Such a small thing that made all the difference 💫

The next day I took the ferry to one of the islands. Two words: elderly & children. I was so sleepy, I got there and walked right into the first bus I saw. Bear in mind I had no data on my phone. I asked where the bus goes, and the driver asked where I wanna go. I said I don't know, anywhere. And so I went.

I got out at the same stop where the only other young people left too. They could have been a Dutch couple judging by their heights and the way their ankle socks came out of their hiking boots while wearing denim shorts. I have always been fond of this style.

I got to the loveliest place on Earth, a living serenity paradise where the sea meets the mountains on the horizon. What a pleasure to be alive. I dived, sunbathed, dived again, and had lunch at the restaurant right behind where my towel was laying under a free parasol. The waitress was so nice, we quickly bonded and she didn't mind me going for a swim in between ordering and eating! So awesome.

Then I walked around, carefully not to miss my bus back to the ferry station in Preko, Ugljan (the island I was at). The views were insane, and I found these two wooden sun loungers where I laid topless to the sound of two girls singing acapella. That was funny because the day before, a woman had told me acapella was a very traditional style of singing in Croatia. They were good!

That night I walked around more, saw a stunning sunset, and slept on the balcony. I also remember bumping into a family with a monkey and an owl. They were refugees from Ukraine who rescued those animals from a zoo when the war began. I didn't know what to say, I guess none of us does. This is all quite upsetting and god knows why it happens to some of us and not to others... I just had to turn into gratitude that I was in that place out of choice, and not because I had to move. I was grateful they were there too.

That's it for today's story guys! I have more coming up in three days and pictures will be posted on Instagram. Hope you have enjoyed this reading and that everything is going amazing with you!

Much love,

M.