Thank you REI!

So far, the most treasured item that i have with me is my spork. Since being on my own, I have used it almost every day. It comes in great for yogurt, for spreading nutella over bread, for everything i have needed it for.
This morning, I went down to the huge outdoor market that is literally right outside my hostel door and bought all sorts of yummy veggies, feta cheese, and fresh eggs, excited to make a veggie scramble. It was only once I was back upstairs that I realized that there was no knife to cut any of my veggies up with. But...spork to the rescue. A veggie scramble, 2 cups of tea, and a quick read-through of the NY Times headlines later, and i headed out the door preparing to hate split.

I have decided that I actually hate all places that are foreign to me. I LOVE to travel, but as soon as I get to a place, I feel incredibly overwhelmed by all that I could do in that place, by all of the people that will know their way around when i won't, by the stares i will get from people because I don't know my way around, and by the general feeling that i don't quite belong.

As soon as I have been in a place for about 24 hours, it starts to feel more natural. I am more willing to venture outside of my little hostel dorm room (even that takes a bit before I feel comfortable in there, even when I am the only one in there!) to the hostel common room. Once I feel comfy there, I am usually willing to go outside and try to find a cafe or bakery within a few blocks where I can comfortably sit, hidden away from the people I would have to pass on the street, getting my bearings. Finally I can start to walk around the city (it is particularly comforting once I have found this cafe because i feel like it is now "mine" and ican return there in case of crisis, like someone looks at me the wrong way or i trip on the sidewalk).

so despite having my ideal morning - and for me, a veggie scramble, some reading, and a cup of something warm (though i think i prefer coffee) pretty much make the perfect mornnig - i was all grumpy as i left this morning. i wanted to stay in and sit around. i didn't even feel like blogging or emailing. just sitting around being grumpy. but i started walking, quickly through the old city where most of the people are, to the neighborhoods around the old city, where i get stranger looks but fewer looks. my hostel-host (who is sortof a dream man - a total sweetheart who went out last night at 11 to get him and i pastries that we ate while we talked about how living near a beach is ideal) told me last night about a hill right outside the city, but i wasnćt sure what he was talking about. But i found some steps and started climbing up, not really having any idea where I awas going. eventually i found a path through a wooded area that is lovely. right outside (or actually, kindof inside) Split, there is a gigantic park with lots of trails, a zoo, and lots of park benches. there were enough people walking around that i knew it was ok for me to be walking around, but deserted enough that i gradually came out of my grumpy mood. i saw some joggers (the first people i have seen exercising since i got to croatia), some elderly people out for a stroll, and a couple of guys drinking beers and smoking cigarettes on a park bench, halfway up their walk up the hill.
there is a long stairwell, and at the top of the stairs (and the hill), a random "fortress" (for lack of a better word - more like a 40ft x 30 ft walled stone patio) with the croatian flag at the top. i was the only one up there and got a great view of the city. it is bigger than i realized (though 2 of my friends from back home have already told me the population and that split is the 2nd largest city in croatia. who knew?)
the walk was super nice, and i came back into the city ready to actually see it. it turns out that it is pretty cool. the touristy part of the city is an old palace that is now a neighborhood/shopping area/easy maze to get lost in. all the streets are too narrow for cars (at some points, they are probably too narrow for 3 people to stand side-by-side), and there is no grid or no real sense to how they fit together. they just seem to start, stop, and twist at random. there are a lot of little cafes and restaurants so i found one, read my book for a while and drank coffee.

now i am headed to restaurant fife, where my host recommended i eat. it is supposed to be yummy and cheap. i just have to finish watching this episode of 90210 (yep - i am serious. my first tv watching in croatia, and this is what is on...)

later,

kate