DREAMING OF DUBROVNIK

For the last two years, I visited Dubrovnik in late May. My sister and I originally travelled to Dubrovnik because I had suggested a birthday trip there with my mum, who couldn't come but urged me to invite Hazel. I was quite sceptical of our getting along, but, much to my surprise, she was far less bossy 1000 miles away from home.

The sun scorched the walled city on our first trip, and I fell in love at first sight. The streets were so clean, they shined. Indeed, we were woken up in the early morning by the sound of city workers washing the pavements. Dubrovnik is pedestrianised inside the city walls, which makes the whole place seem like an elaborate real-life Disneyland. It's some part of Epcot that they forgot to move to Florida. 

The water is turquoise and sparkling and the city is bustling. Despite the crowds and the liveliness of Dubrovnik during the daytime, the evenings were peaceful and quiet. The city sees a lot of tourism from cruise ships, which makes for a lot of foot traffic during the day but the visitors all return to the boat for dinner. The evening is a stark contrast to the commotion of the day because the city is so relaxed. Dubrovnik is an oasis, and the love and care taken to maintain its pristine streets and clean waters make the experience of visiting feel that much more special.

So, we went back for a second year. This time, the weather was not on our side, but we made the most of it. Besides, I'd take Dubrovnik in the rain over England in the rain any day. My sister said that three years running was overkill (I would have gone...) so we had no plans to return this year. It was definitely for the best, with Coronavirus taking front and centre stage this summer. I had dreams of travelling to Dubrovnik with my boyfriend in early September, but as it stands, foreign travel is off the cards for the foreseeable future. I guess I'll have to look at my photos instead. Again.

Have you ever seen sea so beautiful?