Dubrovnik has a population of about 41,000. The Old Town section has about 500 residents. It’s a UNESCO Heritage site, so if they want to change a window pane, they have to ask, which explains why there are only 500 residents. Massive number of rentals, beginning at $400 per night. We’re here during the off-season, so it was very quiet. Wee were told more than once “During the season, this alley would be jammed.” The city is composed of a very few avenues and lots of alleys. With stairs, many stairs.

Lots of history. The tour guide tried to condence it down to just an hour, but there was certainly a lot we missed. There are many museums, but really the entire town is one. Lunch after the tour was delicious. Noodles with beef. In the afternoon I just walked around the less traveled alleyways. I found a passage under the perimeter wall that opened up into a bar area with a gorgeous view of the outer wall and seascape. The city is full of feral cats. There was a donation box to aid the cats. I was a lot of walking, but it was at my pace, so not bad.

An unexciting tour of the modern city, interesting only in the number of hotels that are closed due to Covid. Dinner was tender beef fillet. Cut with a fork. Excellent.

The flight was essentially routinely uncomfortable, though three layovers was a greater struggle. Odd part was landing in Zagreb from Frankfurt, deplaning, going through a thorough security search, then customs, then getting back on the same plane. At least it reduced my fears that my bag would be lost.

Picked up a Dubrovnik airport, which sits on a plateau. We had an excellent view of Dubrovnik during the approach. I was picked up and as we drove to the hotel, the driver learned that another tour member had arrived early on my flight. So back we went. Not a big deal.

Visited the hotel bar, where the bartender kept offering standard types of French wine. I persisted in a request for some Croatian wine. He found an open bottle of something. Marvelous! Dingac. Turns out it’s the highest rated grape in Croatian, meaning it’s all downhill from there. Hope not. Only $10.

Leader gave two of us a little tour, mostly to point out the supermarket. But we entered the Old Town area for a little taste of tomorrow’s tour. It looks very interesting.

Our welcome dinner was fine. Discovered my travel mates are extremely outgoing and talkative. Clearly everyone is dying to share travel stories with like-minded people. It’s been a long time.

On February 8^th I had had enough.  Either I was going on a road trip or find a Tour. Calling Overseas Adventure Travels, I inquired into a trip beginning on the 25^th to the Balkins (which I’ve since been told should be called Southeastern Europe).  Success! It was actually going to happen.  After two hours on the phone (mostly to find flights), I was booked.

The trip entails time in four countries: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia. Getting around will be by bus which I prefer over planes. I’ve been reading up on the area and am only a little less confused than I was before. The area has an extended, and not too happy, history.

Tomorrow, I fly away. It’s a three-layover trip, which will be a challenge with masks required. The events in Ukraine is disturbing, but it’s three countries over from Croatia. One can worry about only so much.