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An interesting 24 hours of travelling. I left Ljubljana yesterday after spending 3 nights. It's a cool place and im sure ill go back sometime. So I got on a train to Rijeka, in Coratia. Was a nice, picturesque trip through the countryside.... When I arrvied in Rijeka, I walked into town, it's a big, gritty industrial city, huge cranes on the docks, and huge chimneys spewing brown smoke into the air. I just plain didnt like the place... I was heading to a hostel I had booked, when I passed a huge ship that was loading up with cars and passengers... Out of interest, I walked up to a bloke next to the entry and asked where it was going. Down to Split, Hvar island, and Dubrovnik. He pointed out the ticket office so I thought id just go and check the price... I asked how much to Hvar Island, I heard it was a really nice place. 20 euros, and a 13hour trip, but there were only deck seats left. I thought, deck seating should be fine... I got onboard, extremely happy with my fortunes, because the ship only docks twice a week. Now when she told me ?deck seating?, she meant it. Literally sitting on the deck, no seats involved.. there were hundreds of people with sleeping mats and bags rolled out. Was just a camp on the 4 outdoor decks of the ship. I find myself a little spot which wasnt easy, above some stairs in a corner, and padlocked my pack to a railing. Rolled out my beach towl, and there was my bed! rather hard and uncomfortable though, You will have to see my pics to believe it. Suprisingly I slept ok, thanks to some late nights previously... It got pretty cold, so I layered up and slept. I woke up at 5, right on sunrise. A real treat, the ship was ploughing through the water between islands. Other than the night part, it was an extremely pleasant trip.
When I arrived to the island, I caught a bus into town, and went into information cause I had nothing booked... The town is awesome, with a huge venetian fort overlooking the clear blue water of the bay. The lady at info directed me to the lonely planet recommended place, which was 10 mins of sweaty walking around winding steps and streets. The place was full, but the old woman was extremely friendly, and called a friend down the road who owned an apartment. It's empty at the moment, but even if people arrive, I have my own room and just a shared bathroom. The lady who called the place for me wouldnt let me leave without first sitting down and having some pineapple juice and telling her of my traveling so far. Right now Im at an internet waiting for the room to be cleaned, im going to get something to eat as im bloody starving, and a bit sore after sleeping on steel... the forecast for the next week is around 39 degrees... I have to get to Athens by the 20th, which is more difficult than I thought, as the overland trip takes an extreme ammount of time. My only real option is to catch a boat from Dubrovnik to Italy, then Italy to Corfu, then a bus to Athens. There are no cheap flights so it has to be done. It should be ok and I plan to spend 2 nights on Corfu to break the trip.
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