It’s amazing, and a bit sad, but of course inevitable, that we’re approaching the end of the trip! I got my run in, then quick supermarket trip. The run wasn’t too hot – I’d applied sunscreen and taken water with me fearing the worst, but it was overcast and even rained whilst I was in the supermarket (I would have loved a bit of rain during the run!)
As I’d been running, I didn’t take cash with me, obviously, which led to an irksome circumstance. The nice coffee shop only took cash, so that was out. So I asked in the supermarket if there was an ATM nearby – no idea, sorry. (I have noticed a massive trend everywhere we’ve visited – if you ask anyone a question that they might be able to contribute on, but they are not directly responsible for, this will be met with “sorry, I don’t know” in varying shades of politeness. True, I am not asking in the local language, but I am smiling as charmingly as I know how. People are very helpful in their area, don’t get me wrong, but is there a cultural thing of “it would be worse to get this wrong than just say no” or maybe “if I answer this, I am taking responsibility for something that belongs to someone else”?) Anyway, no ATM that I could see. Another coffee shop – also cash only. This is a bit shit. Back into the Spar to buy a jar of Nescafé, which I’m about to do, when I see something less wasteful – individual sachets of instant (I think?) coffee. I buy a couple, one is Turkish flavour, so I buy a “classic” as well.
It turns out this is Turkish coffee, which I happen to quite like (Classic tastes just the same as the “Crema” sachet), but the first mouthful was a bit of a shock to Aurélie! 🤣 We idled by the pool a bit then taxied to the bus station. We knew which bus, what section it was leaving from etc, but it still was borderline carnage. The driver lets one person on, it’s not clear why, she doesn’t seem to be staff. Then opens the far side of the bus up for suitcases, so I put ours in. Then we stand in line waiting to get on at the front. Then he opens up the near side for suitcases. Then he opens the rear door and suddenly people are boarding from there, so us queuing at the front door make a dash to join the smart arses already getting on. Once on, a cool bus, we start to relax. G has had a history of car sickness, and also had an upset tummy recently (we all have – I suspect swimming pool water, but could be lots of things, and fortunately nothing a bit of Imodium couldn’t quickly handle), but fortunately no issues at all during the 4 hour journey. One 20 minute stop on the way, but I think we’d have been fine even without that.
This is the point where the Adventure finally does morph into being a Holiday. We’re staying in a kid-friendly resort hotel well out of central Dubrovnik, pool, kids clubs, buffet breakfast and dinner, so very different from the last four and a half weeks! The kids obviously love it and it’s great for us too – I could manage a week somewhere like this…longer would be difficult.
We taxi into Dubrovnik for a mooch around on the Friday morning. We follow signs to the city walls which you can walk around until we find it will cost us 100 euros as a family for the privilege! (35 euros adult, 15 euros kids) So that’s a no. We contemplate the cable car up to possibly have lunch up there then walk down, but the reviews make it sound not great value and people all seem to do it at sunset, not in the midday heat. So we settle for walking around the amazing little streets, crossing more narrow ginnels and alleys, each more charming than the last and peppered with TONS of restaurants, and a few bars and quirky shops.
Afternoon – more pool, kids clubs, and watching the Olympics. The hotel has France 2 and 3, which is a step up from what we’ve had to date! Team Rhythmic Gymnastics, Women’s 10k, various cycling events, marathon swim, breakdance – we’ve enjoyed it all, and more.
Timsformational 