Day 3 in Dubrovnik

Today I have relaxed.  I woke up with blisters on the bottom of my feet. ( That's what happens when you shop for shoes in New Look.)  I had a great coffee prepared by Maria Francesca, the home owner.  Tomorrow I am moving to my own apartment for 2 days with living room and kitchen.  All for the same price I have been paying.  I love that this city is full of people renting out rooms and apartments.  I then wandered down to the beach I went to yesterday and hung out there for the day.  It has been over 32 degrees today so all I have done is swim, read and lay about. Bliss!  I got chatting to a nurse from Worcester and a student from Sydney.  We had a laugh and ate lunch together. Both intrepid travellers too.

I then walked into town.  Taking it really steady because my blisters still hurt.  I've bought some Croatian comfy sandals...I'm sure I look about 75 years old but I don't care they have cushioning and once my soles are  better I'll ditch them and go back to my New Look ones!

Here are my photos I took as I hobbled into town.

 That's the beach I've been hanging out on from above.

I then passed an open door way which I went through.  It was a bit like going into a Secret Garden.  I didn't know if it was private property or not but I took a few photos and relaxed in the grounds for a while.I think it was government building property because I watched all the workers leave at 5pm and there were bins and seats around. A bit like Dubrovnik's Garth Park.

Absolutely no one in the gardens at all except for me! That plant pot looks like an angry fat woman with green hair.

I then went shopping and finally bought a ring, an oil painting of the city and a bracelet.   Thank goodness I found some things which weren't just Balkan bling.  I've enjoyed my time here so much I want a picture of the walled city to remind me of 'the Pearl in the Adriatic' and some local jewels!

I then ate at 'TajMahal"   Thanks for the recommendation Sophia.  Weirdly it doesn't do Indian food just Bosnian.  It was fabulous and I'm so excited about going to Bosnia. Middle Eastern food is where my heart lies and this is where it starts...right in Europe.    If tonight's aubergine with cheese and chevaps are anything to go by I'm in for a treat.   Here is a link to Chevaps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cevapi

I got chatting to a Brit and an Australian at the restaurant and they have given me lots of advice for rooms and apartments in Split and on the Island of Korcula.  It sounds idyllic and I think I am going to look into it.  I really don't want to stay away from the sea.  Holidays like this, where everything is so easy are a rare find!!

I've booked Friday night in Mostar in Herzegovina and then I have to find something for 2 nights in Sarajevo and then I  think I will come back to the coast again.  I just love it too much and want to find a place which is less touristy than Dubrovnik.  It really is packed inside this old walled part of the city and it isn't even high season yet.  I don't think I will have enough time to head up to Eastern Croatia.  It will just be too stressful. It will be a shame mot to meet up with Rejhana but I just want to stay near the sea.  Two weeks isn't long enough!

Tomorrow I'm off to the Island of Lokrum, which is a short ferry ride across.  It's a national park and no hotels are allowed there.  I need to sit under a tree and get some shade. I'm not burnt at all.  I've been slapping on factor 20  and have nearly gone through half a bottle of the stuff.

 I like a Dubrovnik tile.

Lokrum Island, where I'm off tomorrow.

Oh, finally some interesting facts I have learnt today:
Dubrovnik abolished the slave trade about 300 years before any other maritime power.
If you fart on a plane it won't smell as there is a charcoal lining in the cushions of the seats. (Really?   Even on the cheap flights?!)