Public Safety

It is nice to see a country so concerned with public safety.  In reading the “Facts about Driving in Croatia” I learn that you may not talk on a cell phone while driving and it is mandated by law that each car carry an orange safety vest when stopped on the roadside to change a tire, inspect the car or fill the car with petrol.  Really???  You must wear a safety vest at the gas station?  Perhaps $9.00 per gallon gas prices inspire postal-like attacks, but with a prophylactic orange safety vest you will remain safe and happy.  Driving in this town has been a bit dangerous, but we haven’t killed or maimed anyone yet so we’re doing pretty good.  

Speaking of prophylactics, I was happy to see that my Lonely Planet Croatian Phrasebook was also interested in keeping me safe with a whole chapter of useful phrases devoted to sex.  I can now fluently say “Do you have a condom?”  “I won’t  do it without protection”, “Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself”, and “It helps to have a sense of humor!”  And just in case things get a little too rambunctious, or he doesn’t appreciate my comment about needing a sense of humor, I also know how to take it down a step with this clever  line -- “Easy, Tiger!”

 

On Friday morning, we met up with our friend from Dubai, Bruce Oliver, and toured the old fortress town of Dubrovnik.  We walked the perimeter of the town on the fortress walls and had an excellent fish lunch at Proto – superfresh oysters on the halfshell, octopus salad, and greek salad doused with some beer and wine.  Yummy! 

Friday afternoon we caught the ferry and took a refreshing hour long ride out to Lopud Island, a very scenic, tiny town with no cars or motorcycles – only bikes and golf carts.  As we pulled into the harbor bay, we spotted what appeared to be a huge cruise ship rammed into the side of the hill.  Undoubtedly some 1970’s-era architect’s vision of a “boatel” designed to give you the luxurious experience of staying on a cruise ship without ever actually setting sail.  We were told the Boatel has been closed for two years for renovation but will reopen during our stay, and we can hardly wait for what is sure to be a Love-Boat style extravaganza on opening night. 

Our kayaking group includes Bob, Bruce and me, a couple from Canada (Jason and Jen), and our guide Vedran, a 26 year old hospitality major and former member of the Croatian national white water canoeing team from Zagreb.  On Saturday, we had a lazy breakfast and then Vedran outfitted our kayaks and equipment.  We took a nice paddle halfway around the island to a long white sand beach.  Towards the end of the paddle, the swells picked up and Bob and the Canadian woman started to feel seasick. I didn’t realize that could happen while you’re paddling.  But after a safe beach landing, a great seafood lunch, and three or four beers, everyone was feeling just fine.  We lazed around on the beach all afternoon because the swells were too intimidating to do our scheduled afternoon paddle out to St. Andrew’s island, which was about 1-2 miles away.   Leaving our kayaks on the beach, we took a short walk along a lush path cut through the middle of the island and returned to our guesthouse where we are currently sipping wine and eating cheese with crisp apples on the patio.  We are awaiting what is sure to be another terrific dinner on the owner’s Napa Valley style terrace – surrounded by a lovely grape-covered arbor, overlooking several islands in the Elaphite archipelago as the sun gently sets in front of us.