The Wait Was Over
This was it, the months-long countdown had ended, sabbatical papers signed off, our bags packed and months of research completed. We just needed to meet up with my brother and his new girlfriend (now wife) and we could get the show on the road. I was absolutely brimming with excitement as we all squeezed into Pip’s dad’s car and left sleepy Norwich in the early hours.
The 4 of us had a whole month off to cram as much of Europe in as we could. I’d been planning this for months, the route and itinerary I had conjured up was pretty tight and only left a day or two spare. The plan was to start in the very south of Croatia in the city of Dubrovnik, hire a car to drive up the stunning Adriatic coast towards Pula Town and the nearby Outlook Festival before setting off on a second journey inter-railing through Europe ending in Amsterdam where we’d fly home a month later.
The Planning
It was this trip that I developed my weird passion for planning and organising so at all hours of the day, with every spare second I had, I would be researching train routes, timetables, attractions and accommodation options. I guess I went in extra on the planning of this one as there were other people travelling with us but for the most part, it went fairly smoothly and the planning paid off. I wanted to make sure that everyone got the most out of the trip, we had worked so hard for our money and time off work, so I felt quite a bit of pressure. All four of us had all our year’s holiday eggs in one basket so to speak and all I wanted to do was make sure everyone had an adventure they’d never forget.
The excitement turned to nerves briefly as I worried if I had forgotten something or missed a part of the plan but before we knew it we were at the airport and the worry subsided after we got through security. We then celebrated our month of freedom at the airport with the customary beer and cooked breakfast and it felt truly liberating. It’s not often that we could all get so much time off together and the fact I get to travel with my bro was another added bonus.
Arrival
We were kicking off our trip in style by heading to the gem of Dubrovnik, at the most southern tip of Croatia. As a Game of Thrones fan, I can’t help but mention that this city was used as the setting for King’s Landing in the show and my brother and I were super excited to check out some of the spots where they filmed. We landed and picked up our bags before getting a shuttle bus to the city and were immediately taken back by the stunning scenery as we weaved through mountain roads with the sun shining off the bright blue sea.
Skipping past the walls of the old town and we headed into the less touristy area of Lopad to find our Airbnb. In hindsight the Airbnb was slightly further away than I anticipated and during this trip, I’d learn a valuable lesson in booking a good location for your accommodation, especially in the boiling hot temperatures of the mid-summer Croatian sun! After checking in our first mission was to take a cable car up the huge cliff face to the observation point that overlooks the city. I thought it would be a great way to kick off the trip and it certainly was.
The views were insane and even better taking them in over lunch and a cold one. We talked and laughed a lot whilst admiring the views, spirits were high as we were allowed to briefly press pause and enjoy life. I had a real humbling feeling as I pictured the rest of the trip ahead and smiled at the fact I get to not only share the adventure with my fiance but with my brother as well.
Our time here will stay with me forever
Over the next couple of days, we fell in love with Dubrovnik. We took a stifling hot walk around the old town walls admiring the game of thrones locals, the views of the glistening Adriatic sea and the terracotta rooftops that blankets the urban sprawl below.
After stopping for a quick ice cream and a bit of shade, I massively fucked up by leaving my wallet behind on the bench which was full of cash and my cards. I was holding a majority of our funds on those cards so I was extremely thankful when a kind fellow traveller brought it to me a minute or two after we left. It cut me deep and I have been extra careful with belongings since then and, knock on wood, haven’t had any similar mishaps since.
Another day we took a ferry to a nearby island we believed to hold more cool game of thrones locations but as we sailed past that island we realised we may have made a mistake…
The Mystery Island
We sped past huge yachts and pirate ships in the direction of a mystery location which took a bit longer than anticipated. An hour or so passed by and we finally hit land and got off the boat to explore the unknown. Of course, it was no surprise to find our mystery destination was a beautiful seaside town much more peaceful than the tourist-filled Dubrovnik. Even though it portrayed a more upmarket image the prices for food and beer were much cheaper than in the city and gave us a more honest reflection of the food and beer costs for the rest of the trip.
After lunch we took a peaceful walk up the rugged coastline searching for a rare sandy spot and a dip in the inviting sea. We threw a ball around in the sea, sunbathed and laughed a lot, a truly beautiful day without a care in the world. Take me back! As the sun began to set we headed back to the port for the boat ride home passing the same pirate ships and yachts but this time lit up in the early night sky with Dubrovnik sparkling in the distance. We were only on day 3 by this point and I already didn’t want it to end.
A Perfect End
We had one last night here before we took on the next leg of the trip and ended in true style at an amazing restaurant by the main gate to the old town. The food here is exceptional and my brother and I had fallen in love with the style of eating here. We’d get a plate of either meat or fish alongside small plates of variations of grilled vegetables and potatoes. There was always a table full of food every evening in Croatia, it was always affordable and delicious and it’s making me hungry just thinking about it! We enjoyed our meals of the freshest seafood, steak, pizza and usual vegetable sides, washed down with a few bottles of wine while a musician serenaded the guests. The open flames from heaters dotted around the restaurant and the lights on the town walls provided just enough illumination for the ambience.
The perfect ending to our stay in Dubrovnik and a truly unforgettable start to our adventure.