Split is absolutely fantastic. They actually shot some of the series "Game of Thrones" in the palace/old town. The day we arrived we checked in to our place, found some groceries and then explored the old town. We finished the day by picking up some delicious ice cream! We will certainly be going back there before we leave. The sun is finally out and shining after a few weeks of odd weather.
On Saturday we had planned a canyoning excursion. We really didn't know what to expect or what canyoning was but we decided to give it a shot. When we were picked up in Split we realized that there was a "canyoning" trip and an "extreme canyoning" trip. Unfortunately, we had signed up for the normal one and everyone else that had been picked up in Split was doing the extreme canyoning. We asked our guide if it was too late to switch and he told us we could but it would be an extra 50 euros for the two of us. We went through our wallets and realized that all of the money we had on us was exactly the amount that it cost, so we decided to do the extreme canyoning. It was about a 45 minute drive from Split to the canyon. When we arrived we were fitted for wet suits, helmets and shoes. We then took off for the canyon and started walking down some steep terrain. It was a terrifying, yet beautiful, view of the canyon as we walked down towards the water. We found out that canyoning involves swimming and walking through rapids, rapelling down the canyon and cliff jumping. Our first task, once we reached the water, was to jump into the rapids and let the water carry us down the river. We did this many times throughout the canyoning trip. We would simply lay down on our backs and let the water bring us through the rapids. It really shows you how powerful water can be! You have absolutely no control of your body when you jump into a current that powerful. Some currents would spin us around backwards and we would have to find a way to turn back (otherwise you are going down rapids head first.... Not a good idea). It was so much fun but I think I still have water up my nose. It was a fresh water spring so the water was actually drinkable! Katherine and I both tested it out and it was pretty good.
We also had to walk through the water, jumping from one rock to another. Sometime we would stop and jump from a high rock into a pool of water that was not much bigger than a hot tub. Luckily these small pools were very deep so we never had to worry. Again, water immediately went right up the nose.
Our next objective was to rappel down the canyon (alongside the waterfall) into the river. Our first rappel was 60 meters. The view was once again so beautiful but we could not help but be terrified. We both felt the need to eat multiple chocolate bars (like my good friend sully did before skydiving). It took about a minute and a half to get from the top to the bottom. It was quite terrifying at first because he tied us in with something he called "a ribbon" and then made us lean back over the canyon. The ribbon truly did look like a ribbon but it worked well because I am still able to write this blog. Once we built up the courage to lean back over the canyon, we had to rappel down. It was so beautiful with the waterfall on one side and a peaceful river on the other side. Once everyone made it down we continued on swimming and climbing through the rapids. We then made it to our next rappel. This time it was just a 30 meter rappel, however, it was much more difficult. Once we made it to the bottom we were able to climb up the canyon and do some cliff jumping. It was about a 10 meter jump. Katherine and I jumped as soon as we got up there because we didn't want to psych ourselves out. It was a blast! I even went back up and jumped again. So much fun. We casually swam down the calm river and hiked our way back to the van.
It was a spectacular day! Croatia is the place to come if you like rock climbing, canyoning, white water rafting or any other outdoor activity. I am so happy we upgraded to the extreme canyoning. I must say it was not as terrifying as the skydiving(so I'm glad we didn't eat 3 chocolate bars each) but it was one of the coolest experiences of my life.
On Saturday we had planned a canyoning excursion. We really didn't know what to expect or what canyoning was but we decided to give it a shot. When we were picked up in Split we realized that there was a "canyoning" trip and an "extreme canyoning" trip. Unfortunately, we had signed up for the normal one and everyone else that had been picked up in Split was doing the extreme canyoning. We asked our guide if it was too late to switch and he told us we could but it would be an extra 50 euros for the two of us. We went through our wallets and realized that all of the money we had on us was exactly the amount that it cost, so we decided to do the extreme canyoning. It was about a 45 minute drive from Split to the canyon. When we arrived we were fitted for wet suits, helmets and shoes. We then took off for the canyon and started walking down some steep terrain. It was a terrifying, yet beautiful, view of the canyon as we walked down towards the water. We found out that canyoning involves swimming and walking through rapids, rapelling down the canyon and cliff jumping. Our first task, once we reached the water, was to jump into the rapids and let the water carry us down the river. We did this many times throughout the canyoning trip. We would simply lay down on our backs and let the water bring us through the rapids. It really shows you how powerful water can be! You have absolutely no control of your body when you jump into a current that powerful. Some currents would spin us around backwards and we would have to find a way to turn back (otherwise you are going down rapids head first.... Not a good idea). It was so much fun but I think I still have water up my nose. It was a fresh water spring so the water was actually drinkable! Katherine and I both tested it out and it was pretty good.
We also had to walk through the water, jumping from one rock to another. Sometime we would stop and jump from a high rock into a pool of water that was not much bigger than a hot tub. Luckily these small pools were very deep so we never had to worry. Again, water immediately went right up the nose.
Our next objective was to rappel down the canyon (alongside the waterfall) into the river. Our first rappel was 60 meters. The view was once again so beautiful but we could not help but be terrified. We both felt the need to eat multiple chocolate bars (like my good friend sully did before skydiving). It took about a minute and a half to get from the top to the bottom. It was quite terrifying at first because he tied us in with something he called "a ribbon" and then made us lean back over the canyon. The ribbon truly did look like a ribbon but it worked well because I am still able to write this blog. Once we built up the courage to lean back over the canyon, we had to rappel down. It was so beautiful with the waterfall on one side and a peaceful river on the other side. Once everyone made it down we continued on swimming and climbing through the rapids. We then made it to our next rappel. This time it was just a 30 meter rappel, however, it was much more difficult. Once we made it to the bottom we were able to climb up the canyon and do some cliff jumping. It was about a 10 meter jump. Katherine and I jumped as soon as we got up there because we didn't want to psych ourselves out. It was a blast! I even went back up and jumped again. So much fun. We casually swam down the calm river and hiked our way back to the van.
It was a spectacular day! Croatia is the place to come if you like rock climbing, canyoning, white water rafting or any other outdoor activity. I am so happy we upgraded to the extreme canyoning. I must say it was not as terrifying as the skydiving(so I'm glad we didn't eat 3 chocolate bars each) but it was one of the coolest experiences of my life.