I took my final morning stroll to the market and waited for the chocolate croissants to be removed from the oven. Not being able to wait for it to cool, I took a bite of my croissant on my walk back and thought about how I would miss Hvar. It was such a beautiful island and I felt like I made the most out of my time here.
I returned my key to Papa Dink and talked to him in the kitchen as he cleaned out his fridge. Our conversations are very limited because he doesn't speak very good English but always has a great big smile on his face and grows excited over every little thing. I did one more walk through in my dorm and packed up my bag before saying my goodbyes to Papa Dink and Dink. They both gave me a big hug and told me it was great to meet an American girl.
I headed toward the harbor and stopped to say goodbye to the Scottish boys at their new hostel. They asked where I was going and I told them to grab a bite to eat before the ferry. "You're not going to invite us?" They asked. Here I thought they would be tired of me, we just spent the entire day together yesterday. I smiled and said of course. We head into town and sat on a patio on the harbor. Over lunch, we talked about relationships and David shared a lot of hilarious stories. It's always funny to me to be in the company of new people and feel like we've known each other longer than we really have. The things we talked about and how easy we all got along was unique. After lunch we boarded the ferry and all feel asleep until we arrived to Split. Grabbing our bags, I heard someone call my name from behind. I turned around to see Ffiona and Emily waving from their seats. I shook my head and walked over. "I just keep running into you everywhere!" They asked how my scooter ride was and wished me safe travels to Budapest.
After stepping off the ferry, the boys walked me to the bus station. They wouldn't be leaving for Dubrovnik for a few hours but I was hoping to leave on the 3:45pm bus to Zagreb. I had fifteen minutes until departure so was crossing my fingers there was availability on the bus.
We walked up to the station and I was able to get my ticket. I gave the boys a hug and told them that it was so great to meet them, bike with them and get to know them better. They said, "Well let us at least ensure you get to the right bus" as they walked me to the number two platform. It was a few minutes past 3:45pm and there was no bus in sight. David grabbed my ticket and walked up to ask another bus driver where my bus was located. Sebastian looked around to check on the bus as well. I couldn't help but feel so special that they would even care enough that I find my way. You would think if you met some random traveler, you would assume she would find her way or that you would wave goodbye and be on your own way. The fact that they were so concerned to make sure I got off to Zagreb okay, wanted to eat lunch together before I left- It meant a lot to me. It was another moment similar to what I experienced in Dubrovnik when Mia went looking for me to return my passport. You never have expectations of people when you're traveling like you would of your friends back at home. However, these people were proving to me that they cared about me enough to make sure I was okay.
David walked back with my ticket and guided me over to the right platform. I hugged each of them one more time and boarded the bus. Pulling out of Split, all sorts of feelings rushed through body. Mostly gratitude. I was grateful to leave yet another city and walk away with wonderful memories. You ever know who you're going to meet or what will transpire. I retraced images of the scooter ride, booze cruise, beach day, constantly running into my guardian angels Ffiona and Emily. I found it so ironic that I would run into them everywhere along my journey. I couldn't help but feel as if they were placed along my path to make sure I am making my way around Europe safely. I closed my eyes and took a nap, I have 4 1/2 hours to go until I reached Zagreb.
I woke up as we were pulling into the station and it was now 20:00. I looked around for the Eurobus and saw no sign of it. I walked up to a cafe with wifi and emailed the driver. I wrote that I had arrived and was at the main bus station on Drziceva street in front of the cafe. I waited until 10am and still no luck. I received an email from my hostel in Budapest that they were sorry but no longer had availability at the hostel for me. They would do their best to find accommodations for me elsewhere. My trip to Hungary was beginning to fall a part. I emailed them back and told them I was fine with wherever they needed to put me but I would require a bed because I would be arriving around 2am and didn't want to be homeless. They emailed back that they had a fantastic apartment for me and not to worry. My hostel situation was now under control, but I still had no way to get to Hungary. I walked up to the ticket window and asked when the next city bus to Budapest and they said not until 5pm tomorrow. I emailed the bus driver again and asked if they could just let me know if they were coming or not. Around 10:30pm, I received an email that they were so sorry and would be arriving to pick me up in about forty minutes. I waited until midnight and was so exhausted. I was trying not to cry, trying not to worry but the bus station was becoming ghostly by the minute. Bars and restaurants were closing up and I was fading fast. Around midnight, I had to come up with a new game plan. I logged on Hostelworld and booked a room at a hostel a few blocks away. I didn't want to stay the night in Zagreb, I didn't want to wait until tomorrow night to go to Hungary but at this point, I had no other options. My ride was not coming. I flagged down a cab and the driver asked where I was headed. He introduced himself as Ladislav and asked my name and where I was from. I was pretty devastated and tired so wasn't really in the mood to chat much. I told him briefly what happened with my driver as he drove me to the hostel. "I will get you to a bed Julie!" We pulled up to the hostel and it was a little past 2am. Before closing the taxi door, I asked Ladislav if he would mind waiting to ensure I entered the hostel. All the lights were off and we were on a dark street in a run down part of the city. He nodded is head and I ran up to the side door. There was a sign that read they were open twenty four hours and I sighed with relief. I went to turn the door k*** and it was locked. I rang the door bell and complete silence. Ladislav got out of his car and walked up. He rang the door bell and again, no one came to the door. He pulled out his cell phone and said, "Don't worry Julie, we will find you a bed." The line rang over and over with no response. He grabbed my bag and told me we would find a new hostel. My iPad still had the last hostel I researched pulled up. I gave him the street name but as we drove it occurred to me they may not have availability either so I worried I would just have him aimlessly drive around the city. I proposed a new plan. "Is there a train station?" He nodded and I told him to take me there. It was close to 3am and I was hoping there would be an early morning train I could hop on. We reached the station and he asked if I wanted him to wait. I nodded my head and ran inside. The benches in the station were lined with other sleeping bodies who had the same idea. I walked up to the train schedule and didn't see a departure for Budapest. Ladislav now walked through the train station doors and asked if I needed help. He pulled the train schedule up on his phone and struggled finding one as well. He was very sweet and determined to turn my night around. He guided me out to the train platform and over to the one ticket counter that remained open. The clerk informed us that the next train to Budapest was not until 10am. This was better news than the 5pm bus but still didn't solve my problem to find a place to sleep. I asked Ladislav if there was a hotel nearby and he clapped his hands together. "Julie, I will find you a hostel- we go!" I have no clue why he was helping me but was so thankful he was. I had zero energy and was falling asleep. We drove a couple more blocks and arrived to a sign that read Youth Hostel. He asked if I wanted him to wait and I told him he didn't have to. I felt so bad the last hour was dedicated to driving me around Zagreb. "Julie, I wait." I walked in the hostel and there was a long line at the check in counter. Surely, they must have rooms if others are checking in this late. I took a seat waiting for the line to die down and he walked back inside. He asked if I was able to get a room and I shook my head that I wasn't sure yet. He walked up to the front of the line and spoke to the clerk in Croatian. He walked back over to my seat and smiled. "They have a room for you Julie."
I thanked him for all of his help and waited back in line. I was bound to make my way to Hungary and was getting closer to that becoming a reality. I would rest up tonight and take the 10am train to Budapest. All of this for a taste of Chicken Paprikosh.