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1
Dubrovnik

We took a taxi to the Fumacino airport and checked in. Everything went extremely smoothly. Next thing I knew we were flying over the INCREDIBLE Croatian coast. It actually took my breath away. I was not prepared for how beautiful it would be.

We hopped on a little bus to take us to old town. The drive was stunning (even though it was a bit stressful to keep Felicity happy - she does not like to stay in one place!!!).

We walked through old town to our apartment and met our very kind hosts. They made candied orange peels and cherry liqueur for us :)

We went to an overpriced restaurant- Moby Dicks and got some good fish. Felicity didn’t feel like waiting for our food so she and I walked up and down the alley stairs :)

During nap I walked around the gorgeous city. It was really amazing. SO beautiful. Way too many tourists though (we thought we had escaped tourist season here). I got snacks, water, and water shoes for Gabriel and me because I knew that we would go to Lokrum after nap.

The ferry to Lokrum was really easy and fun. All of the views are out of this world!

We walked to the Dead Sea. That’s where they said the best swimming for kids is. It was lovely and not too chilly. Lots and lots of little fish :)

A peacock even came over to say hello :)

We walked some more by the ocean and through an abandoned monastery, then headed back to catch the last ferry back to Dubrovnik.

We grabbed a quick bite. Then I bathed and nursed sweet Felicity to sleep. It was SO late, but Gabriel and I still wanted to go out and walk around for Mama-Gabriel special time. I bought him a very big lollipop :)

2
Lopud

The morning went really quick. I took Gabriel and Felicity to the fruit market and bakery for snacks to enjoy on Lopud.

Then we took the bus to the ferry terminal. The ferry was SUPER crowded but a nice old man gave Felicity and me his seat. There were lots of school children with their teachers (one group with a very cute nun! She looked very hot in her habit!). We chatted with a nice older couple from London.

When we got to the dock it was AMAZING!!! We were greeted by Anton in a golf cart who took us to our destination. He shouted at people on the street (including the nun and school children!) to get out of the way. He had some fish in a bag that he had caught earlier he handed it to a fellow golf cart driver as he passed them. He almost drove off the road when he was trying to tickle Felicity. He managed to get us three big water bottles without even stopping the cart. It was SO FUN!!!

When we got to our airbnb we found that we are in heaven. This place (Dubo’s Place) is out of this world!!!

Gabriel and Felicity got their watercolors out first thing :)

We had a lunch of fruit and nuts (and candied orange peels!) that we had bought at the market earlier. SO yummy!

After nap we walked across the island to the beach. It was a lovely hike and the beach was so shallow. It was fun to let Gabriel splash around without too much worrying. Letting Felicity dip her toes in terrifies me. She is so bold she wants to run straight in.

She is also an incredible flirt :) There was a group of handsome young men playing a game like volleyball in the water. She smiled so much that one splashed over to tickle her. She was crazy about that and kept looking at him with the biggest smile hoping that he would come over again!

We took a golf cart taxi back to the other side of the island to get some dinner and groceries. Then came home for baths and rest.

We woke up early after a sleepless night for me (Andrew gets the bed here and I get the couch with Gabriel). I read a historical fiction book, “Pompeii” from about 2-4. Then fell asleep for a little over an hour before Felicity woke. Such a sleepy day.

We mainly hung out at the house this morning then went for a stroll across the island and found the cemetery. I was surprised by how many graves were pretty recent.

We had pasta for lunch and now glorious naptime :)

After nap we headed straight out to the beach again. Felicity stayed in the front pack with Andrew because she was so fearless about the water yesterday it was terrifying. I swam with Gabriel and we even borrowed a whale floatie. Then we got rice and beans from the store and came home to cook.

For Mama-Gabriel special time we watercolored the view from our house here. It was really fun. We’re reading Mary Poppins for storytime :)

We decided to go straight out for our walk around the island before it got too hot.

It was such a beautiful hike. The natural beauty was out of the world and the occasional ruins were so exciting to explore.

Felicity and I walked together for a bit and she was thrilled about the pine cones on the trail. She liked picking off each piece. Gabriel enjoyed collecting seed pods and sticks :)

When we got back to our house we splashed in the water for awhile.

Then nap. When we woke up we went straight back to the beach. I had bought Gabriel and Felicity a little Finding Nemo sand bucket and shovels. Felicity really liked sitting in the sand and playing with it. Gabriel wanted to “swim” a little more. I took him out a little deeper than yesterday and just let him float in his back while I supported him. But he got so nervous that he flopped everywhere. I’m sad to say that I got a little grumpy at him.

There was thunder as we were walking home. Quick showers and bedtime :)

Another unbelievably beautiful island morning. I’m almost glad that we’re up well before dawn so that I can enjoy the sunrise :)

We stayed around the house until about 8 when we headed to the harbor. We checked out Saint Nicholas church, where our airbnb host said that Mass would be at 9:30. We hadn’t walked on that side of the harbor yet, so we decided to walk that way. It was beautiful. And there was a gelato shop, so we got Gabriel a cone while Felicity and I shared a slice of chocolate cake and Andrew got some berry pastry.

Mass was beautiful. The alter server showed up late in shorts and flip flops and walked right in front of the priest onto the altar. They sang “Glory glory hallelujah”. But those were the only words we understood. Everything else was in Croatian.

Everyone was very casual and comfortable. It was so surprising to be walking back from communion and see the whole sea out the back doors of the church!

We played around the house until lunch. Then nap. After everyone woke up (a little too early - and quite grumpy) we headed to the beach. Gabriel and I rented a paddle boat for half an hour. I liked it because we got to go deeper than I usually take Gabriel. But Gabriel got bored.

Then Andrew and I switched. \240I let Felicity be naked (she LOVED it) and I took her in the water. But she didn’t love me holding her so we went back to the sand and kerpluncked rocks into the waves.

Then Andrew and I switched again and I took Gabriel into the deeper part of the ocean and held him up while he floated on his back. It was supposed to be fun, but he kept getting so fearful that I got frustrated.

We walked back to our house, had showers and dinner. I nursed little soft sweet Felicity to bed. Then Andrew and Gabriel went out while I had a nice chit chat with Mommy.

Felicity is 17 months old today! What a beautiful 17 months it has been. Yikes! She has spent roughly 10% of her life in this trip!!!

We headed straight out to the northern side of the island. It was the most gorgeous morning walk. The ruined houses were SO beautiful. We first went to Saint Michaels then the beach. Andrew was grumpy so that took some of the fun out of the morning.

We got home and had some very sweet playtime in the garden. Then lunch and nap :)

When we woke up we headed out for our last beach day. Gabriel and I asked a man if we could play on his HUGE (8 seater) unicorn floatie. He said yes, and Gabriel had fun jumping around.

Then we decided to go out for dinner to keep the house clean. We went to the Dubrovnik Restaurant. The man let Gabriel hold the fish that they were going to cook for us.

Then Felicity and I stained our teeth and mouths with squid ink risotto.

Then they gave us all tuxedo bibs to keep us clean (it didn’t work!)

Then off to our last night of island dreams.

It was a very big travel day today. We woke up around 5 and I let Gabriel come in for a snuggle. Then snuggled and nursed Felicity. Then Anton picked us up in his golf cart and took us to the dock.

The ferry was nice and not too crowded at all.

Then we got to Dubrovnik. We went to the outdoor market for more candied orange peels, figs, and nuts. \240We bought Gabriel new shoes (his old ones were very tattered!).

Then Gabriel and I foolishly decided to walk around the wall. The man at the counter accused me of lying when I said that Gabriel was five. Grrrrrr. It was hot and people were pushy and I was grumpy.

But I bought G and ice cream so he was happy :) Then we took a taxi to the airport. The man was super nice and bought Gabriel and Felicity kinder chocolates :) so glad we didn’t die.

Happily we arrived in Praugue. The airport was so family friendly and Felicity loved the goulash. It was okay that our connection was delayed.

Then made it very late into Budapest. So good to rest.