Split

Getting acclimated in Split

After getting off the ferry, I have a hard time finding Kiss Hostel. A lot of the hostels were already completely booked, including the hostel I had stayed at last time I was in Split, due to Ultra Europe. I ask a random girl working at a gelato stand, and she points me in the right direction. I walk in and am greeted by so many people going to Ultra Europe.

Now, spoiler alert, but I’m not even going to Ultra. I could’ve (and probably should’ve), but while planning my trip and doing research, I decided it wasn’t worth it. Ultra Europe had terrible reviews, rumors that it was going to be canceled, and (the kicker) still no lineup released less than a month before the festival. I decided to still come to Split around that time to catch the vibes and get some pre-party action in my favorite city.

In my room I meet some Americans who are also going to Tomorrowland Weekend 2 (cute!) and the sweetest guy named Rico, popping his festival cherry this weekend. He is in for a treat.

I go to get dinner with Rico and his friends, Christina and Kim. They both had met online when they were younger, and their parents had forbidden them to meet or talk to each other. Many years later, they have finally met and are going to Ultra Europe together! Meeting for the first time and experiencing a festival together right away—they’re going to be in love by the end of the weekend.

Boats, Booze, Beats

The Wednesday before Ultra, I decide I want to do an official Road to Ultra Boat Party on Thursday. The tickets are all sold out online, but I am able to buy one at the Ultra kiosk on the promenade. The ticket price was equivalent to 29e.

The party is three hours long, accompanied by a DJ playing tunes the entire time the boat cruises around the sea.

I wake up around 10am and go get a bakery pastry and a tiny bottle of vodka to pregame with because who knows how much the drinks are going to cost onboard. I get a smoothie and pour the bottle of vodka in it. Bad idea. The heat quickly melts the banana and mango, turning it into warm vodka soup.

Ultra Boat Party

The boat party starts at 1pm, and I head over there 100% solo around 12:30. I get into a line where you trade your paper receipt for a wristband. I immediately make friends with two guys from London. They didn’t buy their tickets yet but are told to wait in the same line and that they will be able to buy them.

Once we get to the front of the line, it’s 1:05 and the girls passing out tickets say that the ticket sales are closed and that there’s nothing they can do. One of the girls tells the guys to ask the boat security if they will let them on and winks. Ah ha!

There are a few British girls in line behind us, and one of them was accidentally given an extra ticket. She gives it to one of the guys, so now they only need to beg security to let one of them on. When we get up to security, the guys explain the situation and security asks for 200 kuna to get on (which is less than what I had paid for my ticket). There really are no rules here.

Boat party fam

On the boat, they’re already bumping house music, getting the crowd pumped up. There are two different levels: the bottom one is mostly closed off besides the bathrooms, and the top deck is a completely open space for people to dance.

The tunes are great, but the view and the cruise itself just takes your breath away. On top of that, sharing this moment with a bunch of people who all have the same love for music—I can’t stop smiling. Yeah, I showed up completely on my own, but I feel like I’m surrounded by friends. I’m hanging out with my peeps from England and then constantly meeting and talking to new people every second.

At the end of the three hours, I have a note in my phone with 15+ names I need to add on Facebook (still haven’t figured out my phone). I also really luck out being surrounded by people who are constantly buying drinks and only have to buy myself one. Surprisingly, the prices are decent (about $4 for a vodka soda).

Ultra Meetup

After getting some dank wok noodles off the promenade, a two-hour nap, and hella water, I wake up around 8pm trying to figure out what to do about the Ultra meetup party tonight. I know some people from the States who are going to be there, but without service, I have no clue how I will find them.

The party is completely free! You register online, and they ask you for a 5e donation at the end, but that’s completely up to you. The party is at a bar on Bacvice Beach, about a ten-minute walk from Old Town. I head in there with some guys from my hostel around 11pm. There are already a decent amount of people there, dancing on the floor to the DJ.

Finding new friends

I keep my eyes peeled for Zach, a friend of a friend whom I have never met before. All I know is that he is going to be wearing a white sailor cap. Bingo—gottem! Zach is such a cool dude. He is so down to earth and easy to talk to. This summer he is traveling around Europe, going to different music festivals (for free), and interviewing different artists. I am so jealous. Next year I hope to be in the same place that he is!

Then Zach casually tells me he has to go perform onstage really quickly. The DJ at the meetup here reached out to him and asked him to spin poi for him while he plays. So, he has to go do that real quick (no big deal). I go up to the front and record the whole thing for him. He does an incredible job, and the crowd eats it up! This is the first time I have seen someone spin poi and, I kid you not, I was mesmerized.

I walk back away from the stage and get tackled by a girl out of nowhere. It was my friend Christina I’ve been on the lookout for all night! I also have never met her in real life before (lol), but she has met my boyfriend, Mark, in New York City and is part of the Tomorrowland USA Facebook page. Christina is so lively, friendly, and loving. There’s not a moment that I look at her and she’s not smiling. Her positive energy radiates from her and touches everyone surrounding her. She introduces me to her other American friends and we dance and run around together all night.

A guy at a table has a bottle of Smirnoff and offers me one of those shots where they pour it in your mouth. Sign me up! The vodka rushes out and goes up my nose, in my eyes, and all over my head. I am drowning. It burns so bad! I decide it’s time for me to go home.

Bye-bye Ultra

Although I was almost convinced to stay and “just come, please, please come” to Ultra, I decide to stick to my plan and head out to Sibenik. Overall, the boat party and meetup exceeded my expectations. They were great ways to meet up with friends or meet other travelers and festival-goers. It really helped create a lot of excitement and set the tone for the weekend ahead, making it really hard for me to make my decision to leave. I still can’t believe how easy it was to meet up with my friends. It really makes you believe that what’s meant to happen, will.

Lessons Learned:

• Ultra Boat Party and Ultra Meetup are definitely worth it. Get to Split early enough to be able to experience them!
• Don’t be afraid to go to events or parties alone. You’re going to meet amazing people.
• If tickets are sold out to something but you still really want to go, just show up and see what happens! Maybe you can pay off the security guards or someone will be able to help you out!
• Don’t mix vodka with a smoothie. Unless you plan on drinking it in under two minutes, just don’t, ya goof!