Amazing Beach Vacation in Croatia & Greece? Check!

So… I totally misunderstood the trip to Croatia and Greece. Remember how I wrote about this whole getting-my-butt-in-shape-for-this-tough-hiking-and-backpacking trip I thought I was going on? Well, turns out, I was waaaaaaaaaay off. This was absolutely just a wonderfully relaxing beach vacation, living the leisure lifestyle. Oops, total opposite from what I thought!! I guess I need to start paying a little bit more attention when people talk to me about important things. Next time.

Anyway, we spent some time on the islands in Croatia (a story for another time – I missed seeing Split because my flight was so delayed I missed my connection and had to spend 5 hours overnight in Zagreb). But Vela Luka was so beautiful, really untouched by tourists and loved by the fishermen who made up the small town. After hopping through Croatia and seeing all the hot spots (like Dubrovnik and Ston, where they produce excellent sea salt that we illegally sampled).

After great times in Croatia, we flew over to Athens to get a little more sunshine and see some more touristy sites. The best part of Athens may have been the Hamam we went to (though maybe the best part was flying home hours before tens of thousands of the workers went on strike and they delayed all flights since the personnel weren’t working…). What do you think? I have hundreds more pictures but thought I could boil it down to just a few.

This was possibly the best sunset I’ve ever seen in my life. I kept going on and on about it in awe like the double-rainbow guy.

We swam out to the edge of these waterfalls in a really strong current! But it was worth the view.

And we make excellent tourists if I do say so myself.

I mean, look at those sneakers with white socks!

We did do one crazy-long hike on what I think was the Great Wall of China, replanted in Europe.

So beautiful and blue

With so many beautiful ancient cities

The water was so clear and it was like we always had our own private beaches to swim at.

Can you see the cat eating right off our dinner table?

Beautiful by day and night!

My idea of sunbathing

Where should I go to next?!?!

My "Croatia Bootcamp" Exercise Regiment

What could I do?? So my former roomie and fantastic friend from San Diego Marina tells me she’s coming to my backyard (anywhere in Europe is now considered “right near me”) and is spending a couple of weeks in Croatia and Greece. Like I’m supposed to say no to joining that?! 

Here’s the catch (because there’s always a catch). Marina runs half-marathons and works out BEFORE work… you know, she’s one of those people. And then to make matters worse, Patrick, the other person joining the trip, competes in triathlons for fun! I mean, honestly what is a girl supposed to do when the most exercise she gets in a week is walking to get the potato chips out of the kitchen cabinet?? Fine, you got me, I also walk to get the Nutella.

Anywhoo, so the last 3 weeks I made myself a little “Croatia Bootcamp” exercise regiment. I began hiking regularly up the Uetliberg mountain (that is literally in my backyard) and with a freakin’ heavy backpack! I also mixed in a little jogging because, what the heck!? A little cardio can go a long way. I’m leaving in two days and can’t wait to see if I can keep up with those crazy fitness gurus as we hike and camp around the beautiful island beaches.

Here are some extremely flattering pics of me after I sweated my way to the top.

I know, I can’t believe I posted a pic where I look this terrible either!! I guess I’m out of the running for America’s Next Top Model.

The view is always worth it!!

Yep, I made other people accompany me on my crazy adventures

Since the sky looks different in every picture it’s proof that I didn’t just go up once and change my ponytail!

Even Bella joined in on the fun some days. But boy was she tired!!

I’m such a trooper! Even in the rain!!!

I’m smiling on the outside but crying on the inside.

6:30am Hike? No Better Way To Start The Day!

I decided recently that I want to get more active… you know, wake up my lazy bones a little! So I asked my neighbor Nanet if she wanted to bring her dog Milo and come hike with me and Bella. I warned her that I’m a fat kid and would be huffin’ and puffin’ up the mountain but she miraculously agreed anyway and up we went to the top of the Uetliberg mountain in Zurich.

It was a beautiful hike and the dogs were loving playing together and watching the cows we met along the way. 

Nanet and I met some of the “regulars” who hike up early mornings and this cute little old man Fritz told us basically his entire life’s story and then told us to run and catch up with a blond woman who is also from America. So what’d we do? Ran to catch up and stalk our fellow America! Heather turned out to be really nice and friendly, too, which made Nanet and me hastily agree that we would hike back up again on Thursday, same time, and try to become regulars ourselves.