July 3rd Written Journal...

Is is day/night 11 in Dubrovnik, Croatia and my last evening in this beautiful place. It feels like yesterday that I landed and yet I am ready to move away from the the hot sun and crystal cold waters of this city.

As my previous email indicated, I fell down a flight of white washed marble stairs in Dubrovnik on Evening 2. I think that it was sign for me to relax and my backside still agrees. Other than the bruised bum, stiffness and a strong twinge here and there I am back to normal but the warm sun and rest has done me well.

My primary treatment has been IBprofen, Ice on my butt, soaking in the sea and taking it easy. The experience, even the hospital visit has been well worth it. Right now, I sit on a plaza and hear the church chime 7:30 PM. I noticed that the chimes, chime all day with no apparent reason or time. During my first few days of recovery, this constant noise was annoying but now I smile at the charm it brings to this old city.

Looking back there would have been so many things I would have missed if I would not have been hurt. I would not have had the opportunity of the obsurdness of me being whisked away in an ambulance, or the questioning of why my kind hostess was responsible for wheeling me to my x-rays and doctor rather than the woman dressed up like the flying nun. I would not have moved to a new private with a million dollar view of the city and ocean, I would have missed hearing the young girl practice the violin from her bedroom window each morning. I would not have smiled at the two children playing the accordian at each end of the city, both without a tune but each with a purpose of getting allowance. I would have missed the conversation with my new pizza and irish friends...I would have missed respecting the Sangria and I would not have noticed that everyone uses the word "superb" repeatedly. I think that above all, I would have missed the peaceful moments from my terrace with the view of the ocean and fortress city over a cup of coffee.

If I did not stay, I would not have tried the mussels from all the various restaurants or the home grown nectarines and peaches on a daily basis. All the good things would have not been appreciated like the sound of the water hitting the sidewalls or the 188 steps it took for me to get down to the city.

I am glad to have visited the shiny streets, green shuttered windows, blue ocean town of Dubrovnik. I wold like to come back again, maybe on a sail boat but mostly to experience some of the other islands and the kindess of the Croatian people.