Item 91: Travel Talk Tour Croatia - Cabin Fever!

Location: Dalmation Coast, Croatia

Cramped into a cabin with three others, the distance between the two bunk beds the length of my forearm - (wrist to elbow), I'm surprised I only threw up three times on the ship during my week-long sailing tour down the Dalmatian coast.

I've never slept in such poorly ventilated conditions in 30-plus degree heat. With one fully opening window having a diameter no wider than 40cm, the dream "7 nights in above deck single, double and triple cabins in A category private boats with ensuite facilities and air-conditioning," advertised in the Travel Talk brochure had squeezed its way out through the tiny hole the moment our four petite bodies tried to fit into QUAD the room at the same time.

And that was even before we tried to get our packs unloaded.

There was an air-conditioner in the room, don't get me wrong. It just didn't work (read, has never worked).

There was also an en-suite. Considering the size of the toilet/shower room I guess we should be thankful that only one item of clothing was lost down the loo during the week when trying to change in the facility. Especially adding to the fact that the toilet seat was broken for the duration of the tour. This posed to us slight difficulties while hovering above the bowl as the boat was rocking at sea. Even more so when the electricity generator for the ship turned off and you needed to relieve yourself in the pitch darkness of the enclosed room.

To my three roomies, thanks for the company and support during the week away - I don't think I could have managed such uncomfortably cramped and sweaty conditions with a better group of friends.

The dips in the sea and the coastline of Croatia were beautiful, our tour guide was warm and professional, the food was edible in the stuffy saloon packed with 22 other sticky bodies side by side, and if this trip wasn't hindered by the dread of having to go back to the room to change/sleep/shower/pee each day it would have been one of the loveliest summer vacations.

Right now, my mind is still rocking on the ship and I can't gauge focus on the screen so I should just write the day off.

Item 91: Travel Talk Tour? CHECK!