Day 19 Next Phase

I am such a creature of routine and it was hard to not get up early and prepare to hit the road. Instead it was a late breakfast and leisurely morning. Around 10:00 I grabbed the city bus at the stop outside and headed to the old city. I had no big plans just investigate and observe, and maybe some self-reflection.

I enter the city from a different gate and systematically start wandering the streets on the eastern hilly side. I know that sounds like an oxymoron “systematic wandering”, but by nature I will work my way through the neighborhoods in an orderly fashion. I love the signs of regular life-laundry on the lines outside the windows, items stacked next the doors, people talking from an upstairs window to someone on the street. All signs that this is a city still inhabited by people and not just a tourist destination.

When I finish the eastern side I head down to the mains streets in the flat center of town and then out a gate that leads to the old harbor. I find a great little park above the harbor and find a bench in the shade to park for a while. The breeze feels great and I am happy to cool off a bit. I was walking slow and down the steep staired lanes so I could take me time, but also so I wouldn’t sweat to much in my newly laundered clothes which smelled so clean.

Sitting in the park I could look down on the activities going on the farmer and observe the people directly around me. Another benefit of sitting in this particular spot was that many of the passing tour groups and their leaders would stop here and I would listen to what the guide was saying. Some free historical information.

After a long rest in the park I headed back to the harbor and walked next tot he water around as far as I could before the path stopped. There were people, children mostly, swimming and jumping in the water. I didn’t bring a suit today but it looked like fun and I envied them. I retraced my path and found a bench in the shade right in the harbor where I could watch the various boats go in and out—and it was very busy. There are several tour boats that leave front here taking you along the coast or out to an island which is a nature reserve. In my eavesdropping I heard one of the guides talk all about it and how much the locals like to take a break and make a day of it at the island. She pointed out that there a public beaches and if you don’t have a suit it isn’t a problem as one of the beaches is a nude beach. I guess there is a solution if I really want to swim.

Rather than share more than intended, I decided to head into town and get a light lunch. A chose a beet salad at a cafe in the heart of the old city. For the afternoon I started walking the hilly staired lanes on the west side. Although the city is full of tourists, these small streets away from the center provide space to breathe a bit and avoid the crowds.

I don’t know if it just my nature or the fact that I am here alone so I don’t have company to distract me, but it is fascinating watching other people. Makes me wonder how I appear to others. I think we all ave some idea of what we are like, but can be so blind to others. Have to ask yourself would I change my behavior if I thought someone was watching, but in truth very few things we do go unnoticed. Luckily, family and friends love me despite my shortcomings.

My systematic rambling bring me back to the flat center, and I head to the city square where a market is. There a some handmade goods, souvenirs, and food, I spend some time tasting some local treats and end up buying a selection of dried figs, almond pralines and candied orange rind. These may city sound as excited as gelato but they were delicious and I take my treats and go back to the harbor and find a shady bench again. The breeze off the water is cool and slightly chilly at times since the sun isn’t shining on me. I eat some of. My newly acquired treats and use my plow to search “how to dry figs”. Makes me think about my neighbor back home and how generous she has been sharing fresh figs from here bushes.

I have enjoyed my lazy day here in Dubrovnik and begin walking back through town to the bus stop, but before leaving I do have to get some gelato.

I have said in the past that these bike vacations are a chance to think and refocus. There is plenty of time on the road to have conversations with myself—asking questions and trying to answer them.

This trip, and today in particular, has been interesting as it mirrors my phase or stage in life. The biking days are defined and planned. I get up, bike, get to the place I need to be that day, then do the same thing the next day. I like biking, the pace, having more control as to where I am going and how I am getting there, always moving (sometimes quite slowly). Today the biking is done and I have to figure out what I am doing rather than just following the usual routine. The biking days are done and today I begin making new choices—I do anything, try something new, etc. So many options and so much to think about. Kind of like retiring. The established pattern for how I moved through life is not longer the same—the weekly work schedule is gone and I am free to do different things. I know that I will form a new routine, but I have to figure out what that will be, and there are quite a few options to choose from.

My last night in Croatia, and I am out walking along the harbor again. I see the small passenger boats from the Sail Croatia company which takes me back to 15 or so years ago when Crystal and I took a similar boat along the coast for a week from Split to Dubrovnik, stopping each day at various islands along the the way. Crystal had always been open to my crazy adventures. We started the trip by biking a week in Slovenia then taking the night train (a tragically funny night that only becomes funny with age). We then had a great day in Split before boarding the boat for a week of sun, swimming, lots of seafood and interesting boat mates. A wonderful trip that ended in Dubrovnik. My visit this time has been great but I can’t help but think of the time I was here with Crystal and the memories we have from that. I will see here tomorrow night but can easily say that she is still putting up with my crazy adventures. Will have to see what those are in retirement.