(Banana) Split

I wish I had the time and patience to write thousands of words on the last few days because they deserve every last unborn cluster of letters.

I flew into Zadar, Croatia on Friday. I wandered onto a bus and then a short walk to the town's stunning Roman built enterance. It was right then that I was slapped across the face by overwhelming loneliness. Sitting under a tree and eating a roasted corn cob helped a little. I finally stopped feeling sorry for myself, figured out how to use my calling card, and got a hold of my couchsurfing contact.

The rest of the evening and well into the night was spent in discussion of Croatian politics, its past, present and future, over belgium beer and pelinkovac (the delightful Croatian digestivo) with Miso, Miro, and Miro's androgenously beautiful-student-of-history-and-archeology roommate.

Bus to Split the next day to meet up with the girls. Exhuasted, I slept in the window filtered sun for the first hour. As I drifted in and out of sleep, I heard my mother tongue being spoken by the inhabitants of the seats in front of me. I unabashedly evesdropped - 4 lively young Irismen. Casual conversation of course ensued, and I enjoyed a pint with them when we finally arrived.

Timing has been my ally 90% of the time on this trip. Finally asked enough people to find the hostel that K & J were staying at just as they were leaving. Great evening followed, sadly only allowing 2 hours of sleep on the Irishmen's couch.

I happily spent the rest of the long weekend with K & J reveling in having 1) company, that was 2) good, and provided by 3) "old" friends. There was swimming, an island ferry ride, and lots of gelato to be enjoyed. Highlight of the hostel? The ice cube tray was in the shape of the first 8 letters of the alphabet - I love creatively shaped, cold things, but not ice sculptures, that's just cliche.

I took an overnight ferry back to Ancona, Italy on monday night, met more great people, saw the Milky way like never before, and "borrowed" a brand new roll of bright PINK toilet paper on the ferry (awesome!).

After the girls got on their bus and before I got on my ferry, I finally got that banana split.

Don't worry, I took a picture.