Last but not least is Gimpy wrapping up with her thoughts on our Turkey and Croatia Trip. I sent her a list of questions so she could share with us! If you’re interested in reading Vino’s thoughts click here. For my wrap up, click here. And if you want to read through the whole trip from beginning to end, please click here.
My top 3 highlights of the trip
Highlight #1: Hot air balloon ride!
I’m not sure when the idea was placed in my head but I remember telling Minion and Muscles back in 2016 that I was saving my hot air balloon ride for Turkey. When people ask me why I wanted to travel to Turkey all I could tell them was ‘because I want to ride in a hot air balloon’. After all the hoops Minion and I jumped through, we finally found ourselves back in Cappadocia. When we were driving to our hot air balloon, I saw all the balloons on the ground slowly beginning to rise and it hit me that I was finally getting into a balloon. That sight was so magical when seeing your balloon slowly fill up with hot air, the blueish purplish sky in the back and the rock caves as your backdrop. That felt more impressive than the ride itself. The ride was still unbelievable though. I didn’t feel unsafe during this ride despite having a fear of heights. It was so peaceful and magical being able to float in the sky!
Highlight #2: Plitvice National Park
I had two things I really wanted to do on this trip and this was one of them. I feel like I’ve changed as a traveller where I plan less and I don’t research as much anymore. I’m okay with being a bit more spontaneous and not having to see everything. I had planned a hiking route that started at entrance 1 but our airbnb host suggested we start at entrance 2 and to shuttle to the top and hike down. The Gimpy from five years ago would’ve stuck to her plan but 2018 Gimpy went with it and I’m so glad we did. We got in right when the park opened, fought through a mob of Asian tour groups and ended up with over an hour of walking around the lakes, enjoying the sunrise and hit the autumn leaves. I really enjoyed sharing this time with my travel buddies!
Highlight #3: Sunsets and Old Town
I’m cheating here and choosing two additional highlights. I’m so glad we were able to catch sunsets on our trip. Some of them were planned but most of them were not. I really was just so happy each time we stumbled on a sunset, they were gorgeous, especially ones that were bright orange or pink cotton candies in the sky. Then you add a sunset hitting a old town in Croatia…stunning! I really enjoyed the fortresses, the stairs (yes the stairs, because they made for cool pics!), stone walls, cute doorways and cute windows!
What was your favourite meal or thing you ate?
I really enjoyed the food in turkey because their grilled meats were so, so delicious and their fruit juices were so cheap (were talking 20 cents for a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice) I did get a little ‘Turkey-ed out’ after two weeks I missed my instant noodles and it made me realize how lucky I was to live in Vancouver and have access to so many different types cuisines and quality of food is so high here.
My favourite meal was our grilled fish lunch on the boat in Kekova. Watching them freshly prepare the whole fish then setting up their charcoal grill in the beach then brushing the fish with their secret marinade sauce while they grilled it made me salivate. The aroma that surrounded our table as we sat there passing the fish around tickled my nose hairs so much! Then I took my first bite. I can still taste that charcoal grilled fish in my mouth to this day! It wasn’t dry and so, so flavorful. Seconds were offered but unfortunately my tummy was smaller than I wanted that day and had to pass.
If you could change any element of the itinerary, what would you change?
I feel like our itinerary worked itself out in the end, despite having it changed a week before our trip. I wish I put a little bit more effort into researching about what I wanted to do/see in Turkey and in Croatia.
I’m so appreciative that Minion was so willing to look into flights and connections and (I hate to say this) offered options. I think if we had planned the trip earlier, before looking into flights, we could’ve avoided taking 4 flights home, without having to overnight in the Boston airport. I don’t regret this, however, because I don’t mind the spontaneity anymore and the experience you get from having multiple layovers, sleeping in airports and testing my ability to get out of my comfort zone.
What caught you by surprise on this trip?
I’m surprised at what Turkey has to offer. On one hand, you have Istanbul that is full of history and culture. Then you have the Mediterranean side of Turkey which are beaches and getaway spots. I never really looked at the geography of Turkey and didn’t realize it’s surrounded by water. All I’ve ever seen of Turkey were pictures of Istanbul and Cappadocia. I was surprised to learn people go to places like Antalya, Fethiye, and Kas as getaways!
Share one memorable story from this trip
When Minion and I were in Kas, we were hit hard by the rain. This could’ve been avoided. Yes. It could’ve been avoided.
After a nice, late morning that included yummy coffee and delicious almond chicken, we started to (ad)venture into town. Within moments of scouting some stores, the merchants started to take all their merchandise into their store and warned us that the storm was coming and began pointing towards the ominous clouds lurking our way. Minion and I continued our adventure and we went outside the town and continued to see these dark grey clouds.
I knew we needed to find shelter soon. I saw a big covering inside apartments and told Minion we should find cover. Minion saw an awning ahead and decided we should venture a little further. I followed, trusting my travel buddy. Before we could make it to the awning, it started to pour. He led us to the little awning but as we got closer, the awning got smaller and smaller. We ducked under this awning that did not fit us, water was leaking from the sides as we took our rain jackets and I could see the water pile up on the road that was a foot from our feet. Cars were slowly driving past but I knew we would at some point get splashed by the car. And we did.
We decided to leave the awning, we ran down some stairs along with what seemed like rapids rolling down the stairs. As we tread through the waters, water was pouring from the roofs of the houses we were running next to. A lady at the bottom of the stairs saw us and waved us over to stay DRY with her. We were far from dry. This was such a memorable experience 🙂 Gimpy is always right.
Did you pack properly for this trip? What would you have done differently?
I wanted to challenge myself and carry everything in a carry-on size pack. I wanted to pack the essentials and only what I need and I needed my hair straightener. You laugh but it’s always the one thing I bring on ALL my trips. A part of me always wanted to pack all my girly dresses and cute shoes on trips but in reality, that’s not the type of traveller I am. Looking back, I wish I packed more t-shirts because I would’ve had more shirts to layer on top of my tank tops. We had a mix of cool mornings, warm afternoons and cool nights so more options for layers would’ve been good on this trip.
Any regrets?
I kind if regretted not leaving on this trip two weeks earlier . I wished i got to experience a little bit of the busy-ness in Hvar and Stari Grad. These towns were super cute and I just imagine the hustle and bustle. Windows opening with plants on the window sills and people popping outta their windows going ‘Bonjour, bonjour!’
Any advice for people considering similar trips/destinations?
I would suggest for people to stay a few nights in Cappadoccia, especially in Goreme. Splurge on a cave hotel, one with a rooftop terrace so you could watch the sunrise and all the colourful balloons in the air! Stay a few nights because you never know if weather will cancel your hot air balloon ride!
Definitely consider renting a car and driving from Zagreb to Dubronvik or the other way around. The coast is such a beautiful drive. You never feel rushed or stressed while driving on the coast. (Minion drove and he seemed to enjoy the drive). Every curve and turn you make on the highway, you see glittering blue waters on one side and trees and mountain landscape on the other. It really makes you go ‘oooooo’ and ‘ohhhhh’ during the whole drive.
Consider going during the off seasons as weather and grounds are much more manageable!
Final thoughts?
I really think the travel companions you have on your trip really makes or breaks a trip. I’m so happy that Minion and I got along so well for a whole month together. I really enjoyed having the ability for quiet when needed, share memories, have deeper conversations and then have really silly moments together. Then to have Vino join halfway. It was such a treat to have someone from home meet up with us. I enjoyed sharing my hair straightener and be a bit more girly without making it awkward for Minion. (but I really do make it awkward for him most of the time, without doing it on purpose…).
I’m always envious of friends who are able to travel for months at a time, but every time I go on a month long trip, I remind myself that I’m really a homebody. I really do enjoy the comforts of home and having a routine. I came back and was so happy to be home, have access to my closet, bathroom and lay everything out. It’s been two months since I’ve been back and I think it’s safe to say that I’m ready for my next adventure again 🙂
Thank you Gimpy for being such an amazing travel buddy throughout the week…… Even though I think you may have been milking the “Gimpy’s always right” a little more towards the end 😉