Quincy Senior Trip: Old Town Dubrovnik, Croatia

 

Back down the coast and into the city of Dubrovnik for our last adventure. We had planned to take the gondola up to overlook the city, and found a hotel within walking distance, but it was down for maintenance, so we got our  views of red roofs, the Adriatic Sea, and stone fortresses from the city walls of old town Dubrovnik. I was super sick at this point and powering through a fever and cold, but no pharmacies sold any medicine. You can buy marijuana but no cold meds or ibuprofen. A woman at the counter looked at my puffy nose and desperate face and said she could not sell us medicine, but offered me a mystery capsule of powder from her purse saying in her  “this like advil. Here take for headache.” Again, my boss a sweet old grandma that looked as innocent and trustworthy as could be, but I just can’t accept an unmarked homemade pill from a woman working in a Croatian weed shop and  politely declined. I’ll never travel internationally again without a few basic meds on hand though. 

We watched the filming of a bridal video on the steps of a palace. There is a popular tv show called Game of Thrones that I’ve never seen but apparently is filmed here and at the Diocletian palace in Split. We walked all around the city on slick smooth worn stone paths. We ate gelato (always!), heard church bells and curiously followed a procession inside a chapel, then payed to light a candle because we felt disrespectful leaving right away,  climbed up and down sooooooo many steps, avoided everyone smoking everywhere, saw a bunch of cats, fountains, and sculptures, drank smoothies, and ate pizza in the plaza. 

I loved this time with Reese and Quincy. It is so fun to see the world with them and take in new experiences with them. Reese appreciates beautiful aesthetics and is cautious and helpful. Quincy wants to taste everything and talk to everyone. She says yes to jumping right into the ocean or participating in local traditions. Reese is patient, documents everything, and notices how locals behave. They are funny, silly, grateful, and adventurous. They also like to just sit, eat, and people watch.