I won’t tell you the story of Martina, a librarian from a small Dalmacian town Vodice. I wanted to ask what does she like in her work the most. And how did that happen that she decided to be a librarian.

I won’t tell you about Iva from Sibenik and how ESN network in Croatia is organized. I also wanted to know about the student life around, she must know all about it! And about Nina, a local journalist from the same city. I met her and her boyfriend in Zadar. We had a discussion about traveling and cycling. I wonder where traveling thinking will take her to. All I can say is that these will be beautiful places and people, for sure. If only she decides for it.

I won’t tell you about Ania, a girl from Poland organizing weddings in Croatia, for Polish couples and not only. Ania, who was the guardian angel since the day I have left. I rarely happen to be at the weddings. Actually I have been to two only in life, so that would be something to learn about. And to speak in Polish live and not on FB chats only, mmmm. And I will not tell you how how it feels like to sleep in a hotel while your cycling trip but I bet it’s very unique. Especially when the hotel tells you: “Girl, your trip is cool, we wanna host you!” and you already imagine this amazing staff and big comfy bed..

I won’t tell you about Tina, manager of a hostel in Makarska, who answered positively to my question and invited me to pay hostel a visit, even though they are closed in winter. I guess she didn’t want to leave a cyclist from Poland homeless this time of the year. Neither won’t I tell you about Tina’s parents who take care of the hostel in the winter time, in case a lost traveler like myself will unexpectedly knock to their doors. And about how their life in the slow winter season looks like. Peaceful and more focused, I bet..

I won’t tell you about Anamarija from Tucepi, a young mama, whose name I loved from the first time I saw it. And how it is to be a young mama in Dalmatia. I haven’t met a mama in Dalmatia yet. What does she like in being a mama the most. And if that’s what mostly defines her or there are other things that define her equally, or maybe even more.

I won’t tell you about Antonio from Ploce, who wrote me that this year’s winter is so warm that some trees started blossoming already. Oh, I really wanted to see those trees! I was also really curious to check if the temperature was really going to keep rising with every single kilometer cycled south.

I will also not tell you about how Mirko was waiting for me at the Croatian-Montenegro border – just as we have agreed some time ago – in order to cycle Montenegro together. And how I was really looking forward to see him and do it together.

—

The stories were not going to happen because my knees have decided differently. Irony. Out of all unexpected that’s probably most unexpected thing that I was just not able to predict. I was wondering though that maybe the fact that the stories were not going to happen now, doesn’t necessarily mean that they will not happen on a later, different stage of this journey.

Maybe it’s sometimes  necessary to make two steps back in order to be able to make one step forward. For now I have decided to search for the stories in Belgrade and about Belgrade; look for the people to be met and places to be visited. Last time I was here was summer time four years ago. Let’s see what this year’s winter has to offer.

Any ideas, suggestions?

Belgrade, 8 February 2016