BLOGYSSEY: Cruising in Croatia

A true miracle has happened – I have a few spare moments in which I can finally write down a bit about my new and truly incredible job.

Sunset on my first evening

Eighteen days ago I arrived in the beautiful old city of Trogir and began my new life chapter as a boat and bike tour guide for Islandhopping in the breath taking country of Croatia. Starting off I was so nervous and, on my first day, standing there wide eyed and not understanding a single thing that was going on. Watching the goings on was like walking into a large beehive, that from the outside looks like a crazy chaotic busyness but that was somehow organised and resulted in something fantastic. While one person was running around carrying an impossible number of helmets in one hand, others were looking at long lists I later found out was numbers and types of bikes to sort out which boat needed what for the coming week. Instructions were being yelled in Croatian, German, English or a combination of the three and trying to follow these was quite a skill especially while dodging the flying water bottles and boxes of food as the boats crew men restocked their week’s supplies.

While for some Friday afternoons and Saturdays may signal the beginning of relaxation and a much anticipated weekend off, for us Islandhoppers this is the busiest time of the week. The ending of one tour and reorganising for the next week. However, despite having these busy intense days, and at other times having incredibly long midweek ones, I truly enjoy this job so much I finally capital U Understand why when you find a job you love you never work a day in your life. Even on a so called “bad” day all I have to do is look out the window and I will either see the clear stretch of the Adriatic, ancient Roman and Greek cities such as Split or Stari Grad, a unique stretch of beach, the Golden Horn, on the island of Brač or the purple, lavender covered island of Hvar. That is when I remember what a perfect life this is. I could easily be sitting in a cubicle on the 8^th floor on a computer and that a bad day in the office isn’t solved with a look out the window – doing so then just gives a further view of more office buildings! Rather than being hunched over a computer for long periods of time I get to stretch out my legs and explore the islands of Croatia by bike, revitalising and reenergising myself for the days or weeks to come. Furthermore every week I get to know and work on a different, beautiful boat with different colleagues and crew. Though it is impossible to be bored in the Croatian islands, I never would be as tour routes also get to change and I get to meet an entire group of interesting people from all over the world.

Waking up to find yourself on the move again

Though the day may start out early with a check that everything is organised and ready, and end late sitting up in bed reading to learn more about the rich and complex history of Croatia or specific specialities of an island I couldn’t be happier.

Now I realise I have not even got to telling you the how amazing Croatia is part, our boat is getting close to docking at our next destination and somehow I have already written over 500 words. Therefore I will draw this post to a close with the promise that in my next free moment I will take the time to write down a little more of my new, exciting life. But for the time being feel free to have a little look at a few more photos from my first few weeks.

Until then, take care!

Bee