In the morning, our ship finally reached the shores, and shortly thereafter, we entered the port of Bari, Italy. I had embarked on this journey to escape the looming lockdown, but now, as we faced the border, we all anticipated stringent measures.
We patiently stood in line, wondering what would happen next. After a while, it was my turn, and a slightly stressed but friendly border officer inspected my Schengen entry form. To my surprise, he noticed some errors, but he kindly guided me in making the necessary corrections. Once satisfied, he examined my passport and allowed me to pass.
I had successfully eluded the lockdown in Croatia and made it to Italy, just in time as this was the last open border. Exiting the port proved a bit confusing; I initially walked in the wrong direction and had to be directed to the correct exit.
In the unfamiliar city of Bari, which I hadn't explored yet, I bid farewell to the girl who had journeyed with me from Croatia. Together, we made our way to a hostel, and from there, I ventured out to take a stroll through the city. While Bari was charming, my ultimate goal was to reach Munich, and since I was now in Italy, I decided to explore a few cities along the way.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a direct ticket to Naples, so I purchased one that required a transfer in a small town, giving me extra time to appreciate Bari's beauty. As the midday sun intensified, I sought refuge in the cool air-conditioning of a nearby McDonald's.
When the time came, I returned to the train station, and my journey continued. Stay tuned to hear how it unfolds.