October started with returning back to Zagreb as most of the outdoor programmes and Erasmus projects had finished and starting to prepare for Erasmus+ training course “Love Every Challenge” - training about using outdoor adventure education methods in youth work. An idea that started way back in April when I wrote a project application, and later become a reality when the project actually got approved. Preparing training materials, sessions, contacting partners and other project related activities – time before the training was quite busy and took a bit my mind of worrying will I be able meet the expectations of the participants.
First days of the training were quite intense as we needed to adapt and change programme continuously and also take care of several logistic issues. After couple of first days that were focused more on team-building, personal development and different outdoor adventure education methods we went for two day expedition, that involved rock-climbing, caving and camping outside. And, I must say, October in Croatian mountains can be quite cold, as the temperature during night went lower than zero. After expedition, program was focused more on developing social project ideas and sharing different outdoor skills of the participants. Group was really amazing and it was an honour to work with them, but I must say – the training was a challenge for me. A big one. But, I guess, that’s why the name of “Love Every Challenge”, right? I did my best and I’m proud of it.
After the training, as we had few days before going to EVS mid-term meeting in Split, we decided to visit Plitvice National park, where we also met few participants of the project. And Plitvice is so, so beautiful! Lakes and waterfalls wherever you look! We catched the right day to enjoy all the autumn beauty and were lucky with a warm and sunny day.
First days of the training were quite intense as we needed to adapt and change programme continuously and also take care of several logistic issues. After couple of first days that were focused more on team-building, personal development and different outdoor adventure education methods we went for two day expedition, that involved rock-climbing, caving and camping outside. And, I must say, October in Croatian mountains can be quite cold, as the temperature during night went lower than zero. After expedition, program was focused more on developing social project ideas and sharing different outdoor skills of the participants. Group was really amazing and it was an honour to work with them, but I must say – the training was a challenge for me. A big one. But, I guess, that’s why the name of “Love Every Challenge”, right? I did my best and I’m proud of it.
After the training, as we had few days before going to EVS mid-term meeting in Split, we decided to visit Plitvice National park, where we also met few participants of the project. And Plitvice is so, so beautiful! Lakes and waterfalls wherever you look! We catched the right day to enjoy all the autumn beauty and were lucky with a warm and sunny day.
Next day after our trip to Plitvice, we were already travelling by train to Split, where we had our EVS training or as I would call it - long needed holidays in a beautiful city with a good food and midnight swimming in Adriatic sea. After closing of the training, despite the not-so-positive weather forecast, we decided to make a day-trip to Brač island not far from Split. Island was really nice and nothing can bring back summer feeling more than going around and picking up tangerines, pomegranates and other fruits and berries from surrounding plants and trees.
A week in Zagreb and a small wanderlust voice in my head was talking again - this time a quick idea during Friday night, that turned into reality.24 hours afterwards I ended up in a car going to Prague together with my friend from Czech Republic who was visiting Zagreb. And it was so worth it! Prague is great and we were again lucky with the weather. Two days visiting Prague and staying in a fairytale-like village with a castle in the mountain top and we were off to Vienna. By lucky coincidence – together with friends of my Latvian friend that I unexpectedly met in Prague while doing the sightseeing. Short night excursion around Vienna and we went to meet my friend from there, who, to our biggest surprise, actually lived in Belvedere castle in the middle of Vienna, where we were also supposed to stay for a night. A bit of a royal experience and morning view with a castle, sculptures and fountains everywhere. Oh, we liked Vienna, a lot!
December in Zagreb passed by very quick with visiting several Christmas markets, Christmas office parties, outdoor concerts and doing other Christmas-like stuff. And I must say, Croatians really, really love Advent. Maybe even a little bit too much, as the amounts of Christmas decorations, ice-skating areas and mulled wine outperformed anything I’ve seen before.
And then it was - already time to go home for Christmas! As I had a flight to Latvia from Budapest, I decided to go there two days earlier and spend some time visiting the city. I the beginning of my Budapest experience started with realization that it’s way colder than expected, and even 30 minutes walking around in a freezing wind can make your legs froze and optimism dissapear, it got way better by meeting great people during a walking tour and even better by attending secret Budapest VIP party later that evening with a friend I was staying at.
The next day I spent together with a girl that also was staying at my couchsurfing host’s place, mostly walking around the city, enjoying Christmas markets and not very succesfully attending Communism walking tour (as it got too difficult to listen historical facts for 2 hours outside while you’re legs are not so alive anymore).
One day later – I was in Latvia! After 9 months of being away my room and bathroom seemed smaller, but apart from that – everything seemed like I was just here a month ago. Meeting friends relatives and being happt about tasting Latvian beer again - holidays went by faster than expected, and here it was - 2017.
A week in Zagreb and a small wanderlust voice in my head was talking again - this time a quick idea during Friday night, that turned into reality.24 hours afterwards I ended up in a car going to Prague together with my friend from Czech Republic who was visiting Zagreb. And it was so worth it! Prague is great and we were again lucky with the weather. Two days visiting Prague and staying in a fairytale-like village with a castle in the mountain top and we were off to Vienna. By lucky coincidence – together with friends of my Latvian friend that I unexpectedly met in Prague while doing the sightseeing. Short night excursion around Vienna and we went to meet my friend from there, who, to our biggest surprise, actually lived in Belvedere castle in the middle of Vienna, where we were also supposed to stay for a night. A bit of a royal experience and morning view with a castle, sculptures and fountains everywhere. Oh, we liked Vienna, a lot!
December in Zagreb passed by very quick with visiting several Christmas markets, Christmas office parties, outdoor concerts and doing other Christmas-like stuff. And I must say, Croatians really, really love Advent. Maybe even a little bit too much, as the amounts of Christmas decorations, ice-skating areas and mulled wine outperformed anything I’ve seen before.
And then it was - already time to go home for Christmas! As I had a flight to Latvia from Budapest, I decided to go there two days earlier and spend some time visiting the city. I the beginning of my Budapest experience started with realization that it’s way colder than expected, and even 30 minutes walking around in a freezing wind can make your legs froze and optimism dissapear, it got way better by meeting great people during a walking tour and even better by attending secret Budapest VIP party later that evening with a friend I was staying at.
The next day I spent together with a girl that also was staying at my couchsurfing host’s place, mostly walking around the city, enjoying Christmas markets and not very succesfully attending Communism walking tour (as it got too difficult to listen historical facts for 2 hours outside while you’re legs are not so alive anymore).
One day later – I was in Latvia! After 9 months of being away my room and bathroom seemed smaller, but apart from that – everything seemed like I was just here a month ago. Meeting friends relatives and being happt about tasting Latvian beer again - holidays went by faster than expected, and here it was - 2017.