(no subject)
Day 18 - 24 October 2008
This morning I headed to the square where I had bought the lavender oil because the vendors sell their fruits there in the morning. I bought a bag of dried lemon and dried fig after the lady let me try it. The lemon is SO good! It's no longer bitter like fresh lemon but tastes like fresh lemonade. I think I'll buy some more lemon tomorrow since I ate all of it throughout the day. I walked out of the Pile gate towards a park on a bluff next to the old city. I stopped and bought tea at a mini market and an apple strudel at the bakery next door. I walked a ways down the road towards the port until I found some benches sitting high up on the edge of a bluff overlooking the water. That was my breakfast view.
After I ate, I walked back towards the old city because I was now past the park. I walked up to the park, which is right next to the University of Zagreb and some American University.
I wandered around the park and saw a path leading down to the water. It ran along the edge of a monastery where I could see several nuns doing nun-like things.
I got down to the water to find a "beach." (Beach here means any flat surface you and enter and exit the water easily. Most of the time this is just a rock.) Apparently it's the place for young people to go and have sex and drink (the legal age here is 18). There were condom wrappers everywhere. Never saw the used product so I guess they're kind enough to throw that part into the ocean. Yuck. Some sea turtles have probably choked on used condoms thinking they're jellyfish.
The water through my polarized sunglasses.
The water without them.
The water as it looked to me in person.
I climbed back up to the park and exited because there was a young guy smoking and pacing back and forth like he was waiting for his next fix to arrive. Parks always seem to be the location for sex and drugs.
I went back into town to go see about hopping on a boat to Lokrum. I got to the old harbor at 10:45; just in time to catch the 11 o'clock to the island. It was only about a 20 minute ride because it's the closest island to the harbor.
I walked past the monastery that was mostly destroyed during the war. I read that its library was the most significant loss. Many old books documenting botanical information were lost.
Flying peacocks!
The "botanical gardens" were more of a collection of trees. They were well marked so it was nice to easily know what is what.
Peacock!
When I got to the cactus area, I spotted some prickly pears! I looked for one on the ground that wasn't yet rotten and investigated it. I thought the spines would be all over, but they sprout from it's few pores. I did stick my finger on one and get several spines stuck in my finger. One of them kept breaking off when I tried to remove it so there was a little piece stuck in my finger. I kept squeezing at it and biting at it and I guess I got it out because I can't feel it in there anymore. The last thing I need is a repeat of when I was a kid and had to have half my finger cut off (the inside meat to the bone) of one of my fingers because of some infection or something due to touching a cactus my mom had in a pot on the porch. I still can remember them cutting away the flesh.
I passed through the gardens and followed the signs to the fort.
The path to the port was lined with those tall, skinny trees you find in Greece and Italy as well.
There were these trees with small, bright red (when ripe) fruits. They were mushy and orange on the inside and didn't smell too sweet. I want to find out what they are.
The fort still stood intact minus a few holes due to artillery shell bursts, but the whole roof is gone off the building next to it.
I climbed to the top of the fort and enjoyed the 360 degree view.
Two young American guys climbed to the roof of it so I asked them to take my picture from up there while I stood on the outside wall. I kinda laughed at their ignorance when one said how he's not surprised how the people here don't like foreigners because of how many times they've been invaded. ??? They had a civil war from 1992 to 1995 that caused this damage and the whole city is nothing but tourists. Ignorant Americans!
I took a different path back towards the port to find the bathroom.
More peacocks!
I kept going past the bathroom towards the southern part of the island. I arrived at a sign saying nude beach only, no photos, no clothes.
So I turned around. I went more to the west to find the "lake." It's actually a lagoon that is open to the ocean underneath the rocks.
(Felt like I was back in Loxahatchee)
I came from it through the gardens of the monastery and headed to the port to wait for the boat.
Even more peacocks!
Evidence of war.
It came in about 10 minutes and I headed back.
I went into the walls toward the south gate. I stopped at the Dominican Monastery before I went out.
This one actually had the chapel area open so that was pretty impressive.
I went outside the gates and bought a phone card. This time I got one twice as expensive but with 5 times the minutes. I called Jose at 8 his time and he was still sleeping. I went to look for a place to eat linner outside the walls because I thought it might be cheaper. It might've been, had I wanted pizza. There are pizzerias all over this city. There are also freaking Mexicans EVERYWHERE.
I ended up walking north the length of the old city and went to climb the fort outside of walls.
The guy told me it would be 20 kuna if I didn't have my ticket from the city walls today or yesterday. Of course I didn't so I just took some photos from the entrance, which was pretty high up itself.
I walked back down and entered the Pile gate and called Jose again and got a hold of him this time. He's ready for his exam and I'm sure he'll do great cause he's so smart and he's worked so hard and he deserves it!
I went to the street that runs parallel to the main street on the east side. I stopped to eat linner at a nice place. I had fried calamari and a salad for 115 kuna. It's practically impossible to eat for less than 80 kuna here so I've been making lunch and dinner a combined thing. I watched the waiter take advantage of a group of Americans from the cruise. They tried to tip (which you don't do here) him on the credit card and he told them he can only take a cash tip. So, he got paid a little extra. I don't blame him for taking advantage of the ignorant people like that. I left the restaurant and spotted a smoothie place and just glanced at the menu. They had teas. I went in and asked what flavors and when she got to strawberry vanilla I was sold. This stuff smelled amazing while I waited for it to seep a few minutes. Then as I drank it, the strawberry was strong but smooth because of the vanilla and the after taste was pure vanilla. So yum.
I headed towards the public restroom and stopped to use the internet first. There was an email from the HR lady at the Milan consulate--the one who first emailed me telling me I'd been selected--asking how the progress of my clearance was coming because the term started weeks ago and she was wondering about me. I told her that I never got the clearance and had been writing to actually get it canceled seeing as it is too late. I told her it seems I won't have the honor of working there after all. Once I got to the restroom I was quite surprised to find a hole in the floor you have to squat over. I'd seen this in Turkey, but not here. The sink was marble and the floor too, and the faucet a modern nickel, so why don't you put a frickin' toilet in?! I was so happy to be back in a country where I can throw the TP right in the toilet, but then here I am aiming for a hole in the floor! Crazy people. I went out onto the sea wall where it seemed a lot of locals come to relax. It seemed I might get a nice sunset view, but I was wrong. I relaxed a bit there until the sun was about to set and I came back to my house to grab a jacket. I finally met Antonio's daughter dressed like most teenage girls seem to dress here. The whole early 1990s thing is coming back with mullet-ish hair styles and matchstick jeans with high top shoes. I noticed it in Greece too. It's ridiculous looking. It's like the emo girls at home but more early 90s looking. And purple is apparently THE color here and more so in Italy. Crazy Europeans.
I put on my jacket and went to the public "beach" right here next to my house for the sunset. It was very cloudy on the horizon so it was okay.
I spent a while waiting to get good photos, but there is dust on the lens somewhere so I'll only be frustrated when I get them on the computer anyway. It must be internal dust because the inside and outside of the lens are spotless. It's really fucking annoying to take a wonderful photograph only to have specks of dust all over it. I know my way around photoshop, but I don't have the patience to take it out of every single photo. I guess I'll have to look into having my lenses and camera cleaned by professionals. It's been more than 3 years, I'd say it's about time. I walked a bit around town but there isn't anything to do that doesn't require money so I came back to my room. I packed my things and realized I must do laundry tomorrow. I had to wash a pair of socks this morning and I left them by the window to dry and they didn't. So, I put them on the light to heat them up and speed the process and one started to touch the bulb and started to burn so now it has a big brown spot that will soon be a hole. The TV antennae are hanging two pairs of panties to dry. As soon as I get to Split, I have to find a place. It's not even 9 so I guess I'll read some Rayuela and get more depressed about missing the man I love.
This morning I headed to the square where I had bought the lavender oil because the vendors sell their fruits there in the morning. I bought a bag of dried lemon and dried fig after the lady let me try it. The lemon is SO good! It's no longer bitter like fresh lemon but tastes like fresh lemonade. I think I'll buy some more lemon tomorrow since I ate all of it throughout the day. I walked out of the Pile gate towards a park on a bluff next to the old city. I stopped and bought tea at a mini market and an apple strudel at the bakery next door. I walked a ways down the road towards the port until I found some benches sitting high up on the edge of a bluff overlooking the water. That was my breakfast view.
After I ate, I walked back towards the old city because I was now past the park. I walked up to the park, which is right next to the University of Zagreb and some American University.
I wandered around the park and saw a path leading down to the water. It ran along the edge of a monastery where I could see several nuns doing nun-like things.
I got down to the water to find a "beach." (Beach here means any flat surface you and enter and exit the water easily. Most of the time this is just a rock.) Apparently it's the place for young people to go and have sex and drink (the legal age here is 18). There were condom wrappers everywhere. Never saw the used product so I guess they're kind enough to throw that part into the ocean. Yuck. Some sea turtles have probably choked on used condoms thinking they're jellyfish.
The water through my polarized sunglasses.
The water without them.
The water as it looked to me in person.
I climbed back up to the park and exited because there was a young guy smoking and pacing back and forth like he was waiting for his next fix to arrive. Parks always seem to be the location for sex and drugs.
I went back into town to go see about hopping on a boat to Lokrum. I got to the old harbor at 10:45; just in time to catch the 11 o'clock to the island. It was only about a 20 minute ride because it's the closest island to the harbor.
I walked past the monastery that was mostly destroyed during the war. I read that its library was the most significant loss. Many old books documenting botanical information were lost.
Flying peacocks!
The "botanical gardens" were more of a collection of trees. They were well marked so it was nice to easily know what is what.
Peacock!
When I got to the cactus area, I spotted some prickly pears! I looked for one on the ground that wasn't yet rotten and investigated it. I thought the spines would be all over, but they sprout from it's few pores. I did stick my finger on one and get several spines stuck in my finger. One of them kept breaking off when I tried to remove it so there was a little piece stuck in my finger. I kept squeezing at it and biting at it and I guess I got it out because I can't feel it in there anymore. The last thing I need is a repeat of when I was a kid and had to have half my finger cut off (the inside meat to the bone) of one of my fingers because of some infection or something due to touching a cactus my mom had in a pot on the porch. I still can remember them cutting away the flesh.
I passed through the gardens and followed the signs to the fort.
The path to the port was lined with those tall, skinny trees you find in Greece and Italy as well.
There were these trees with small, bright red (when ripe) fruits. They were mushy and orange on the inside and didn't smell too sweet. I want to find out what they are.
The fort still stood intact minus a few holes due to artillery shell bursts, but the whole roof is gone off the building next to it.
I climbed to the top of the fort and enjoyed the 360 degree view.
Two young American guys climbed to the roof of it so I asked them to take my picture from up there while I stood on the outside wall. I kinda laughed at their ignorance when one said how he's not surprised how the people here don't like foreigners because of how many times they've been invaded. ??? They had a civil war from 1992 to 1995 that caused this damage and the whole city is nothing but tourists. Ignorant Americans!
I took a different path back towards the port to find the bathroom.
More peacocks!
I kept going past the bathroom towards the southern part of the island. I arrived at a sign saying nude beach only, no photos, no clothes.
So I turned around. I went more to the west to find the "lake." It's actually a lagoon that is open to the ocean underneath the rocks.
(Felt like I was back in Loxahatchee)
I came from it through the gardens of the monastery and headed to the port to wait for the boat.
Even more peacocks!
Evidence of war.
It came in about 10 minutes and I headed back.
I went into the walls toward the south gate. I stopped at the Dominican Monastery before I went out.
This one actually had the chapel area open so that was pretty impressive.
I went outside the gates and bought a phone card. This time I got one twice as expensive but with 5 times the minutes. I called Jose at 8 his time and he was still sleeping. I went to look for a place to eat linner outside the walls because I thought it might be cheaper. It might've been, had I wanted pizza. There are pizzerias all over this city. There are also freaking Mexicans EVERYWHERE.
I ended up walking north the length of the old city and went to climb the fort outside of walls.
The guy told me it would be 20 kuna if I didn't have my ticket from the city walls today or yesterday. Of course I didn't so I just took some photos from the entrance, which was pretty high up itself.
I walked back down and entered the Pile gate and called Jose again and got a hold of him this time. He's ready for his exam and I'm sure he'll do great cause he's so smart and he's worked so hard and he deserves it!
I went to the street that runs parallel to the main street on the east side. I stopped to eat linner at a nice place. I had fried calamari and a salad for 115 kuna. It's practically impossible to eat for less than 80 kuna here so I've been making lunch and dinner a combined thing. I watched the waiter take advantage of a group of Americans from the cruise. They tried to tip (which you don't do here) him on the credit card and he told them he can only take a cash tip. So, he got paid a little extra. I don't blame him for taking advantage of the ignorant people like that. I left the restaurant and spotted a smoothie place and just glanced at the menu. They had teas. I went in and asked what flavors and when she got to strawberry vanilla I was sold. This stuff smelled amazing while I waited for it to seep a few minutes. Then as I drank it, the strawberry was strong but smooth because of the vanilla and the after taste was pure vanilla. So yum.
I headed towards the public restroom and stopped to use the internet first. There was an email from the HR lady at the Milan consulate--the one who first emailed me telling me I'd been selected--asking how the progress of my clearance was coming because the term started weeks ago and she was wondering about me. I told her that I never got the clearance and had been writing to actually get it canceled seeing as it is too late. I told her it seems I won't have the honor of working there after all. Once I got to the restroom I was quite surprised to find a hole in the floor you have to squat over. I'd seen this in Turkey, but not here. The sink was marble and the floor too, and the faucet a modern nickel, so why don't you put a frickin' toilet in?! I was so happy to be back in a country where I can throw the TP right in the toilet, but then here I am aiming for a hole in the floor! Crazy people. I went out onto the sea wall where it seemed a lot of locals come to relax. It seemed I might get a nice sunset view, but I was wrong. I relaxed a bit there until the sun was about to set and I came back to my house to grab a jacket. I finally met Antonio's daughter dressed like most teenage girls seem to dress here. The whole early 1990s thing is coming back with mullet-ish hair styles and matchstick jeans with high top shoes. I noticed it in Greece too. It's ridiculous looking. It's like the emo girls at home but more early 90s looking. And purple is apparently THE color here and more so in Italy. Crazy Europeans.
I put on my jacket and went to the public "beach" right here next to my house for the sunset. It was very cloudy on the horizon so it was okay.
I spent a while waiting to get good photos, but there is dust on the lens somewhere so I'll only be frustrated when I get them on the computer anyway. It must be internal dust because the inside and outside of the lens are spotless. It's really fucking annoying to take a wonderful photograph only to have specks of dust all over it. I know my way around photoshop, but I don't have the patience to take it out of every single photo. I guess I'll have to look into having my lenses and camera cleaned by professionals. It's been more than 3 years, I'd say it's about time. I walked a bit around town but there isn't anything to do that doesn't require money so I came back to my room. I packed my things and realized I must do laundry tomorrow. I had to wash a pair of socks this morning and I left them by the window to dry and they didn't. So, I put them on the light to heat them up and speed the process and one started to touch the bulb and started to burn so now it has a big brown spot that will soon be a hole. The TV antennae are hanging two pairs of panties to dry. As soon as I get to Split, I have to find a place. It's not even 9 so I guess I'll read some Rayuela and get more depressed about missing the man I love.