Matt's Visit to Dubrovnik

It would be inadequate to say that my brother Matt's visit to the Balkans was a relief. Indeed, after having spent the last number of months here in perpetual, agonizing solitude, having any visitor was a blessing. Of course, having been in isolation for so long, my social skills have deteriorated to the point that I tend to gesticulate, grunt, and whinge more than speak, so it probably helped that my first visitor was family - anyone else would have been hard-pressed to forgive my social ineptitudes. Still, my brother was certainly pushed to the limit of his patience with my annoyances. Hence, I express my utmost gratitude to Matt for both rescuing my sanity with his visit and forgiving my lunacy while he was here.

Views of Dubrovnik










Our first visit as we toured the Balkans together was Dubrovnik, Croatia. Being one of the largest and most scenic fortified old towns on the coast, Dubrovnik stands out as a tourist hot-spot. Fortunately, we were there before the mass influx of tourists overwhelmed the city. We enjoyed ourselves by walking the walls, swimming on the beach, and drinking beer. We really lucked out by getting a couple rooms right next to the old town, overlooking a small harbor and operated by a sweet old lady who spoke nary a word of English, the arrangement finagled by her car-salesman-esque nephew.

The Beach


Our Rooms:
The view

Where we were, just behind the boats


Personally, for me living in the boring hinterland of Podgorica, what I enjoyed most about Dubrovnik was the plentiful, delicious seafood and the presence of a surprisingly bustling nightlife. Matt, however, wasn't so impressed. Of course, he had points. The seafood was often frozen (despite the city being on the sea) and the nightlife venues were full of annoying tourists and held not a candle to the quality of such venues London has to offer. I suppose maybe I am just desperate.

Matt, thoroughly disliking the nightlife


More his style: a beer on the pier


This underlying desperation was certainly evinced by my two most momentous instances of the whole Dubrovnik experience, which the reader will note make me seem rather pathetic. The first of these moments was when, sitting on the highest wall overlooking the city of Dubrovnik, I was accompanied for an ambrosial minute by what has to be the most gorgeous Australian backpacker on the planet. Yes, it was only a few words exchanged, and yes I'm sure I totally creeped her out, but the fact that she sat next to me was utterly brilliant. The second of these moments occurred when, passing a bevy of young ladies in the evening, one of them jumped from her group and asked to have her picture taken with me. I share the photo only sheepishly, aware fully of my idiot grin. But that this lovely girl selected me to grace with her smile, that she pressed against me and gingerly brushed my shoulder with her hand, was an instant of redemption for my beleaguered, insulted, and un-appreciated soul - living in Montenegro where the girls don't talk to guys can make a fellow overly sensitive to the inherent beauty of even a smile, eye contact unbroken. I hella miss women.

The Australian babe: Chloe


Cute girl who approached me, and my dork-ass grin


These were the kinds of moments, I think, that truly taxed Matt's patience. Fortunately, we were off to Montenegro the next day, where mountains meet sea and women treat foreign men as evil parasites. Coming soon!

Weird stone faces





Sunset