Split Decisions: Adventures, Heartstrings, and Too Much Wine

I leave Nice feeling like Lewis and freaking Clark. I’ve conquered my fears of being alone, I’ve triumphed over yet another city, and I am not without a home in a strange city like I thought I would be. I’ve even made some new friends!   I’m starting to think my few short days in Nice may have been the most fun I’ve ever had in my life… Maybe I can do this! It’s starting to seem like I have this whole solo travel thing under control.

At least that’s what I thought until I boarded my flight to Split, which was now delayed for 5 hours at Paris CDG  (the most terrifying airport I’ve ever been in, by the way). My ride in Split had no idea I was running hours late, and I had no way to reach her. By the time I landed, I was sure she had given up and gone home, leaving me without a place to sleep at midnight.

Thank god, an airport security guard let me use her phone, and after several desperate tries, I managed to get in contact with  my ride. I literally caught her on the way to the club because she assumed I wasn’t coming! I nearly cried with relief when she came to pick me up, I was so exhausted. On the drive to my hostel, she gave me the rundown of Split, which was immensely helpful since I had done zero research. (Seriously, Katie, get it together. Research things before you show up.) I crashed into my bunk that night with my head spinning, feeling incredibly grateful yet  emotionally spent.

The next morning, I woke up determined to shake off the travel fiasco and start fresh. I hopped on a bus into town, feeling like THE SHIT taking public transportation like a real local. As I wandered through the city center, I stumbled across a street market and bought some bracelets and rings for my sister (who has yet to wear them, that bitch hhaaha). My favorite part of that day was exploring Diocletian's Palace, an ancient maze of stone walls and hidden corners. I spent the rest of the morning discovering forgotten secrets and pondering the story veiled behind the ancient walls, all while sipping espresso and sampling traditional pastries! I returned to my hostel feeling uplifted and rejuvenated, ready for my afternoon siesta.

After a chill afternoon lounging at the nearby beach I made my dinner and began to socialize with the other travelers. My hostel seemed to have been taken over by a wave of international teachers! I had so many interesting conversations that evening—especially with the teachers from Ireland, who convinced me to join a three-island boat tour they had booked for the next day. I figured a boat tour with unlimited wine might be exactly what I needed to get out of my head. Oh yeah, there’s something I haven’t told you yet… You know when you take an impulsive risk and then immediately second-guess everything? Yeah, I told my best friend I liked him. While I was in another country. With no clue when I’d return. Brilliant, right?

The next day, I took a solo ferry trip to Hvar to clear my mind. A tiny island just off the southern coast of Croatia, Hvar was stunning—cobblestone streets, mediterranean charm, and the scent of fresh seafood wafting from every restaurant, all surrounded by the sparkling Adriatic Sea, but as much as I tried to soak it all in, my mind kept drifting back to the bold confession I made the night before. Why did I do that? What was he thinking? Did I ruin everything? Why couldn’t I just enjoy Croatia without obsessing over some guy?? I wandered the winding roads, bought some souvenirs, and tried to distract myself from the ongoing inner monologue on my situationship that was stuck in the back of my mind. (Spoiler Alert: It didn’t work.)

Finally, it was boat tour day, and I was ready for a distraction. The first island stop was low-key, with drinks at a beach bar and a fun Canadian couple who shared how they’d met at a hostel in Nicaragua years ago. (Maybe there’s hope for me yet!) Our second stop was a sunken shipwreck. There, we snorkeled and took turns plunging off the side of the boat into the crystal clear water.  Peering at the ruins left on the seafloor, I honestly got a little thalassophobic! After a while, the endless amounts of  wine was kicking in, and to top it all off the crew pulled out a blowup slide… Things started to get pretty wild;)

Cue the chaos:

Jumping off ledges, sliding down into the sea, and dumping wine on each other from the boat deck.

Somewhere between snorkeling and sliding, I found myself spilling my situationship drama to my new Irish friends. I confessed that I thought I’d ruined everything by telling my friend how I felt while being millions of miles away. They advised  me to let it go until I got home, which sounded wise. (Of course, I didn't listen though..)

After departing the boat, we had the most ridiculous Uber ride back to the hostel. Our driver spent the entire trip ranting about his not-quite-girlfriend, who apparently just wanted him for his weed. Naturally, we all decided to call her and let her know she deserved better. After putting out that fire, we finally got back to the hostel, where the Irish teachers and I dissected my love life further. I realized I couldn’t expect him to take a leap when I didn’t even know when—or if—I’d be coming home for good. After two days of panicking, I finally went to bed that night with a slightly more clear head and a new sense of direction.

By the end of my time in Croatia, I realized maybe I needed to slow down. Through the city walls and rocky beaches, I discovered a new side of myself—one that recognized my worth and trusted that everything would fall into place.  Split gave me space to unwind after my whirlwind travels—and to think about things I’d been avoiding. I highly recommend this location for anyone who needs a breather, but if you’ve got a lot on your mind, brace yourself. You will spiral.