Fancy a Fanny

I would say "throw on your fanny pack and let's play tourist" but in Dubrovnik a lot of the guys wore fanny packs like they were going out of style. Croatian men carried them with confidence and gladly adopted the hands free carryall. We were pretty shocked at how many murses and fannies we saw. On Wednesday, without fanny packs, we took the water taxi over to the Old Town in Dubrovnik from Cavtat to play tourist for the day.

When we reached land, we were surprised to see SO many people in the Old Town. My first impression of the Old Town was at night for the celebration of their Olympic Water Polo team, so seeing a crowd then was expected. But now, I felt like we had arrived in Venice or another frequented European city. Just recently, Croatia has become a popular vacation destination. When we went to northern Croatia just after college graduation with only a backpack and very few inhibitions, friends raised eyebrows wondering just where we were headed. Fast forward jobs and years later, they now ask to take notes on our trip as Dubrovnik is high on their list of places to visit.

Rightfully so, Dubrovnik is known as the "jewel of the Adriatic" and it is one to be explored. We wandered through the cobblestone streets, at moments playing tourist.

Can you spot Jeff?

And then blending in as locals.




And then again, as tourists. Jeff and Andy attempted to stand on the balancing stone- it's a tiny gargoyle head that protrudes off a wall in the main town square. Looks like a weird mustache man to me! Legend has it that if you can stand on the stone, take off your shirt (woot woot, while on it), you will be lucky in love. This past season on The Bachelorette, one of the hopeful bachelors attempted to do just so. Talk about finding love in a hopeless place! It is much tougher than it looks - the top is smoothed out like marble from all the failed attempts and there is barely any room for one foot, let alone two feet!




Dubrovnik is a beautiful place to get lost, just be ready to walk a lot and have some water. And if in need, follow the signs that read "cold drinks, beautiful view" and you will arrive at Cafe Buza for exactly that. That is, if you can score a seat.


Unsuccessful, we stopped for lunch at Orhan, a restaurant on a somewhat secluded cove. The food was mediocore but it was expected that it would cater to the prices and interests of the touristy crowd. You get what you pay for and in this case, we just wanted to fill our bellies somewhere quiet with an ocean view and be on our way.








We walked around a bit more until we found a nice spot to lie out. In Dubrovnik, there are no sandy beaches. Instead, you search for a good rock to relax on and dip into the crystal clear water to cool off. We watched some locals (and Andy) leap off some smaller cliffs in the great ocean blue. Even when you're a tourist, you can do as the locals do and jump right in.

Stay bitten ;)