Dubrovnik, days 2-3.

Dubrovnik is definitely a vacationing place. There's a load of famous people like George Bernard Shaw and Evelyn Waugh who call Dubrovnik things like "heaven on earth" and whatnot (I don't really feel like looking those ones up for reference), and I wouldn't disagree.

The past few days have been filled with gelato, pastries, castle forts, and lots and lots of walking. The gelato here puts the one at Dawson Taylor's to shame, but that's to be expected, this close to Italy. I also discovered the deliciousness that is burek, a baked phyllo dough pastry pie thing filled with meat and cheese and onion. Also, "coffee" (kava) is not coffee, but espresso like in Italy, so "kava sa slagom" (coffee with cream) is actually an espresso con panna (shots of espresso with whipped cream), which was a nice surprise this morning.

The castle / old town (Stari Grad) here is amazing. I took two days to explore it, the first to walk through the town, and the second to walk the walls and forts and lookouts surrounding the town. It's amazing to experience something that's been here for hundreds and hundreds of years, and still in operation -- apparently the pharmacy here in Stari Grad is the third oldest operating pharmacy in Europe. And the ground is paved with marble, worn slick by the thousands and thousands of shoes that have walked over it over the centuries.

Also, at least inside Stari Grad, I've heard more French than Croatian; the number of French tourists here is surprising. Every once in a while I'll hear an American accent, but it's mostly French and English and Croatian. Usually none of them think I speak English (or well), so I usually get smiles or hand motions at most. The most attention I get is from Asians, who aren't sure about me, so they ask me first in English if I'm Asian, and then they seem a bit disappointed when I reply that I'm American. That's okay though, I'm not Chinese or Korean and can't speak as much anyway. I've only run into one Japanese so far, and that was the first night. It makes interaction kind of sparse and at times I get lonely.

I'm doing well, though; I've learned to be a little bit more loose with my money in order to enjoy myself, and it's made things better. I decided to stay on a few more nights in Dubrovnik -- the apartment I'm staying in is as big as my bedroom at home and much nicer -- hardwood floors! At 120kn a night (20USD) I can't really complain. Sunday morning I'll hitch a ride to Ploce, a port town, and then catch the train to Mostar, Hercegovina.

I'm moving pretty slowly, but I tend to be a bit inconsistent that way, I'm finding. I'll probably spend a few days in Mostar and then move on up north to Sarajevo. I think I've fixed a new itinerary for myself that will take me to my flight from Zagreb, Croatia, to London on the 6th. Of course it's always subject to change, but here it is:

Dubrovnik, Croatia
Mostar, Bosnia and Hercegovina
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina (plus Travnik, Visoko day trips)
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Hercegovina
Osijek, Croatia
Belgrade (Beograd), Serbia and Montenegro
Zagreb, Croatia (side trips to Varazdin and Samobor)
Ljubjiana, Slovenia
Zagreb, Croatia
London, UK

Anyway, thanks everyone for keeping up with me. It's been a bit of an adjustment, but I'm starting to get the hang of it and get more confidence.

I think it's about time to try some more food. Until next time.