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When I left for Croatia the original plan was to stay until August 10th before heading back to Austria. After about two months I started getting itchy feet again. This made me start looking at whether that was a good decision. My wife and I had a trip to Mexico, the US, and Canada booked beginning the first of September. So was going back on the 10th a good idea? Only 3 weeks to prepare for gallivanting all over North America. Was that enough time? Plus I missed my amazing wife! So after weighing the pros and cons I decided that coming back early from Croatia was the best choice. What can I say? Travel plans change all the time.
But this one was going to be a surprise.
The Plan
See Lisa had expressed that she missed me and she wished I would be there for both her friend’s and her aunt’s birthdays. Little did she know that I had all, but decided that I would be coming back early. Yet I played it off like I had too many things to do still. Little did she know I had already booked a ticket to arrive on the day of her friend’s birthday and had planned on surprising her there.
At first, I had booked a late ticket so I could show up near the end of the party. Alas with the trains barely running at that time of night and no one wanting to come to pick me up after 11 it wasn’t going to work. So I changed my ticket to leave at 1:20 a.m. so I would be in Vienna around 2 in the afternoon.
My good friend Michel is dating the birthday girl’s cousin so I contacted him to see if we could get together when I got into town and then go to the birthday together. I laid out the whole plan for him, my mother-in-law, and the birthday girl and asked them to keep it a secret.
While everyone who needed to know I was coming knew, Lisa thought I would be going to Bosnia that day. How did I know that she would go to the birthday party? Well, I asked her for a favour.
I knew my friend Michel would be there so I asked Lisa if she could be there to speak English with him. I know how it used to feel when I first came here and no one would speak English with me. Back then I couldn’t speak German at all so I tended to feel left out and kind of alone. She knew how rough it was for me so she agreed.
The Day Leading Up To Leaving
I attempted to pack as much as I could into the last week I was there. I planned meetings, nights out with friends, some freelance photography and videography, everything. Unfortunately, some of those people no call no showed and others tried changing things to the Friday I had to leave. Otherwise, I got a lot done and was able to say most of my goodbyes before I left.
It was hard saying goodbye to the friends I had spent the last almost two and a half months with. Regardless of that the Thursday and Friday I went and said my goodbyes and had my drinks with everyone I could. On Thursday I spent some time with Randy for his birthday, Allen, one of the co-owners of Triend, and Dora, the owner of Old Town Hostel and Outlanders Tribe hostel.
Friday was a bit tougher though. I knew I was going to be leaving late at night so I packed my bags and dropped them off at Hurricane Hostel to say goodbye to Ashley. With naught but a single tear shed as hugs went around I dropped my bag off, gave Ashley a bottle of gin and went into town. Around town I spent some time with Ante and Marin, sharing some drinks before saying goodbye.
As it got to around 11, I made my way up to the Guitar Bar that sat beside the hostel. On my way there I called Aaron to have him meet me there so we could have a drink before I left. As I arrived at the bar he told me he was on the other side of old town, but was on his way.
Guitar Bar
When I arrived Luka was bartending. I told him I was leaving and he immediately bought me a beer as his way of saying goodbye. In the front of the bar, someone was playing a guitar and singing so I asked Luka,
“So can anyone just come and play guitar?”
“Well, the owner pays people sometimes. Why did you want to play something?”
“Sure. Why not?”
So we sat and listened to the guy playing for a little while. Before long they called me up to play so I sat on the little stool and played a few of my songs. Of course, the way I introduced myself was cheeky as all hell.
“Thanks for letting me play guys. Please excuse the fact that I don’t have an angelic voice like our friend here. I sound like what I am; A smoker that hasn’t touched a guitar in almost 3 years.”
With a couple of chuckles, I got playing. Halfway through my second song Aaron comes running in and throws a 20 Kuna bill at me like I was an elegant stripper. I finished playing right before 12 and Aaron lined up some Jameson shots with Luka. We did a round which was a bit too much for Aaron before I stated,
“I gotta go guys. I can’t be late”
So Aaron and I rushed to pick up my bags and he walked me over to the bus stop. We arrived at 12:15 and got to chatting. 12;30 rolls around and I say.
“Where’s the bus?”
Aaron replied, “What time is it supposed to be here?”
“1:20”
“1:20? You realize that it’s only 12:30 right?”
“Well, Shit…”
Not only were we early, but when I checked the app the bus had also been delayed.
The Bus Ride Back
Aaron was an absolute GOAT. After realizing we were super early he ran around the corner to take a piss. When he got back I did the same, but apparently, I picked the wrong place to do so. Halfway through my piss, a lady comes up behind me to tell me I can’t pee where I was peeing.
I have no idea where she came from, but I stopped mid-stream and headed back. For a while, Aaron stayed and chatted with me. As quarter after 1 hit, he dismissed himself to go home to sleep. We hugged, said our goodbyes, and parted ways.
The bus came a short time after and some piled on as other piled off. It was packed with people. I set my bag below my seat as the guy beside me struggled for a charger. I offered him mine so we shared my portable charger as we headed up to Zagreb. A couple hours later we made a stop at a gas station where everyone got off to grab something to eat, smoke, and use the washroom. Shortly after we got back on the bus my seatmate fell asleep on my shoulder where he rested the rest of the trip.
When we arrived in Zagreb around 7:40 am I went into the bus station and sat in the cafe as I waited for my bus at 8:35 am. When it was time to go we all piled onto a double decker bus. Luckily this time I got a seat to my self.
Border Crossing
I watched Shameless on my phone as we left the Zagreb bus station and continued to do so for the next few hours. Once we hit the Croatian border we were all shuttled off and instructed to give our passport and/or visas to the border guard. It took a few minutes but everyone got through easily and we were back on the bus.
A minute later we were at the border into both Slovenia and the EU. We were shuttled off once again, but this time we were made to go through a building. When it was my turn I gave my passport and visa to the lady in the box. She looked and both, stamped my passport, and informed me that my visa was expired. I let her know I had to pick up my new one in Vienna. She let me through, I got back on the bus and we were once again off.
It was well into the morning so I gave Lisa a call. We chatted about her plans for the day which allowed me to confirm her going to the birthday party and when asked where I was I told her on the bus to Mostar. The conversation wasn’t long, but it was pleasant. I was exhausted by this point. So I literally crawled up in a ball on my seat and soon drifted off.
I awoke to the bus stopping and someone shaking me.
“We need to get off the bus with our passport again,” they said.
Rubbing my eyes I slowly scrambled off the bus to see two Austrian border guards asking for my papers. I handed them over, preemptively telling them that I was picking up my new visa. They asked a couple questions and let me go and kept carding people.
It was weird. Not just because I just woke up, but because this was the first time I had been stopped at a border inside the Schengen Zone. And they were stopping everyone, not just the bus.
Back In Vienna
When we were allowed back on the bus I tried going back to sleep to no avail. Sleep evaded me so I watched my show until we rolled into the Vienna bus station. I quickly grabbed my bags and ran to catch the subway to Michel’s place on the other side of Vienna. Within half an hour I was there.
We sat on the balcony with his girlfriend Lena chatting and smoking for a bit before I showered. It was great getting a chance to catch up with Michel and Lena after a few months away. It made me realize that I have more friends in Austria than I thought.
After my shower and a quick wash of my clothes we headed to the car. When we got there Lena found out she had left the the keys in the house so she ran back to grab them before we could drive back to Moedling.
A short drive later we arrived.
Vicky’s Birthday
To understand this party you kind of have to understand Vicky. Every party or event I have ever been to that Vicky has hosted has had a theme. Maybe it’s because she’s a scout leader or maybe she really likes themed parties, but there is always a theme. The theme of this party was “Tropic Like It’s Hot”. A beach vacation-themed party.
Upon our arrival, we rang the doorbell and the party started immediately.
“EXPERIENETIME!THEPLANEISGOINGDOWN!” Vicky screamed as we entered the house. We ran out to the backyard through the kitchen where they welcomed us with leis. The balcony had tables with drinks set out for mixing. A third of the yard’s grass had been removed and replaced with sand. It was a real beach party at the comfort of her home.
It was exciting and fun. I enjoyed the festivities and talked to people as I waited for Lisa to arrive. I waited…. And waited…… and waited…. Every time someone new came and we heard Experience time I got excited. Alas, Lisa didn’t arrive. Dinner came and went and still nothing.
Eventually in the middle of Viki opening her presents, they arrived. Viki ran in to give them the full experience and I hid outside the door. Upon seeing me Lisa’s face lit up. Not so much with surprise, but with happiness.
“What you’re not surprised?” I whispered.
“Not really. Viki said there was a surprise for me here and it was kind of like I could feel you were nearby,” she breathed back.
An exchange given in stolen breaths as we embraced and kissed. I was back home with my wife and I was ready to prepare for our next adventure.
