Zdravo from Croatia!
July 15, 2024
Today, the students departed from their hometowns and began their travels! We’re currently in Zagreb, Croatia, eagerly awaiting their arrival. After a full day of traveling, we finally met the group at the airport, marking the official start of our trip. The majority of the group arrived around 4 pm, and I (Anna) escorted them back to the campground to settle in and enoy a good dinner. At the nearby campground restaurant, we enjoyed grilled chicken, soup, french fries, and salad. Everyone was exhausted from their long travel days, so we returned to our cozy log cabins for Moonup. With Lalah and Wills as our first LODs, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our last group member, Sami. After some card games with the boys while waiting for Sami, we welcomed her warmly to the group, showed her to her room, and everyone settled in for the night.
Day 3 marked our first full day together! We woke up the group for a delicious breakfast buffet featuring fruits, pastries, eggs, bacon, and more. Everyone had full bellies to take on our first activity of the trip: river kayaking! After packing sandwich lunches, we set off, received a safety briefing, and paired up for kayaking downstream. Over 4 miles, we navigated 10 waterfalls and 2 rapids, enjoying kayak jumps off waterfalls. We paused halfway for lunch and a swim before continuing. With Lizzie and Maya, I ventured under a waterfall, and we swam in the beautiful water. After another hour, we reached our next campsite on the other side of the national park, where we set up our tents, settled in, showered, and enjoyed dinner at the campground restaurant. Dinner options included spaghetti bolognese, goulash (a Croatian pasta dish), and chicken fillet. A nearby grocery store provided snacks and desserts, and we savored the sunset at outdoor tables. Our leaders of the day, Wills and Lalah, ended the night with our first official Moonup of the session, followed by rounds of Mafia—a delightful end to a fun-filled first full day!
We woke up at camp and headed to breakfast. The restaurant offered eggs, omelets, and sandwiches to fuel us for another exciting day. After breakfast, we explored Plitvice National Park, Croatia’s most famous park boasting the country’s tallest waterfall. We spent a couple of hours walking the park’s trails, admiring 16 waterfalls and beautiful blue waters. Covering a total of four miles, we stopped midway for a trailside picnic. Kaela indulged in a delicious Oreo ice cream sandwich, and Wills picked up new sunglasses at the gift shop. We took a short bus ride back to camp for some downtime, where everyone relaxed in hammocks, read books, and showered before dinner. Tonight’s leaders of the day were Sami and Bryce. Bryce shared one of the summer’s best nug jug stories to start Moonup, ending the night with another game of Mafia—a new group favorite. The following morning, we headed to the mountains! Everyone was excited as we packed up camp, had breakfast, made a snack stop at the grocery store, and took final showers for the next three days. With a couple of hours on the bus to our mountain hut, we stopped halfway for a cultural immersion lunch. It’s been wonderful trying local foods, and today we enjoyed Peka, an overnight-marinated veal and vegetable dish renowned in Croatia. Everyone loved it, and we completed our van ride to the hut where we’ll spend the next three nights. After settling into bunk rooms, we explored nearby, witnessing a Croatian wedding at a beautiful chapel from a nearby peak—a special moment. For dinner, William and I prepared Strukli, a Croatian dish, enjoying the stunning sunset from a nearby trail. Tonight’s Moonup, hosted by Kate and Charlie at the summit, provided a beautiful end to our first night in the mountains.
Day 6 dawned sunny and perfect for hiking. William and I prepared scrambled eggs, toast, granola, and cereal for everyone, helping them pack sandwiches for their daypacks. The hike, about five miles, saw Watts and Jack leading the ascent, with Kaela leading the descent. It was short yet steep, and everyone felt proud at the end. Back at camp, we tried Croatian sodas, played games, and relaxed. Charlie, William, Bryce, and Henry read their summer books on a nearby peak overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Dinner, a group favorite, was chicken and veggie tacos prepared by William, Kaela, and Kate. Watts and Lizzie led tonight’s Moonup after cleanup by Sami and Wills, enjoying a beautiful sunset before winding down for the night.
On day 7, we had an incredible eight-mile hike after breakfast of eggs, toast, and granola. Charlie and Henry helped with cleanup, preparing us for the day ahead. Despite some of the group dealing with minor sickness, everyone supported each other wonderfully. Sami’s positive attitude in trying new things was inspiring to see. Watts, Jack, and Bryce even formed a band called Stick Stick Rock during the hike. After five hours, we returned to the hut, kicking back and enjoying music and conversation for about an hour before dinner. Spaghetti bolognese was a hit, eagerly devoured by hungry kids. After cleanup by Kaela and Bryce, we surprised the group with s’mores around a fire near the hut, celebrating our accomplishments on the trail and our last night in the mountains. Our time at the mountain hut is always a pivotal part of the trip, fostering deep bonds and personal growth. It’s hard to say goodbye to our mountaintop home, but we’re excited to start the next phase of our adventure tomorrow at the coast!
do sljedećeg puta (until next time)
William & Anna
Safe Arrival in Zagreb!
July 11, 2024
**Apologies for the delay. There was a glitch in the website!
Hello Croatia Families!
All students have landed safely in Zagreb and the trip is off to a great start! We can’t wait to share more updates from their adventure!
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next two weeks! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
