Someone suggested the other day (you know who you are) that it seems like I didn’t enjoy Croatia.  Which isn’t the case.  What I think happened is that I don’t enjoy crowds, and Croatia being so lovely, there are a lot of people, a lot of crowds, a lot of non-enjoying Brett.  But whenever we left the crowds, it was awesome.

That is the island of which we speak

Case in point: Lokrum.  Lokrum is a small island off the coast of Dubrovnik.  It’s been used previously as a location for a French fort, and a monastery, and..  some other things.  And now it’s an awesome swimming spot and apparently a peacock reserve and a place with one really nice waiter.  At least one really nice water.  My point is that we went to get a snack and the waiter was really nice, but he was the only one we interacted with, so I can’t speak to the quality of the other waiters.

Anyhow, we knew this island existed, but we were kinda on the fence about it, because you had to take a boat there.  The forecast called for rain, so we didn’t want to get stuck in a thunderstorm on an island with no shelter, so we thought we’d just keep hanging around town, maybe find a beach there.  But then we were walking by the ferry to the island which was just about to leave, so we thought we’d just jump on, make a last minute decision.  So we hurriedly bought the tickets and then found out the ferry we were looking out was already sold out and we’d have to take the next one.  Not a big deal, but made it seem less like a fun rash last minute decision.

Anyhow, what’s the point?  The island is 15 minutes away, and it is totally awesome.  None of the crowds of the city, but with a fantastic view of the coast. Tons of peacocks making their weird peacock noises.  Rocky cliffs you could jump into the water from, as well as a ton of ladders on the coast for the jumping-from-cliffs averse.  Even showers so you could rinse off.  And a bathroom!  And trails going all over the island from one pile of old ruins to another.  And no crowds!  Really superb.  So basically we went swimming and then hiked and then went swimming and then had snacks, etc.  And then took the boat back to town.  So, the best part about Dubrovnik technically involves leaving Dubrovnik, it is very awesome and you should do it.

Unless you hate peacocks.  Then don’t go.  You will hate it.