Guess who we reunited with today in Dubrovnik? Grammy & Gramps! Yesterday we were playing High/Low (family tradition of recounting your high and low parts of the day) and Paige said one of her High points was that we were "one day closer to seeing Grammy & Gramps" :)
DBV Port
Grammy & Gramps had actually been in Croatia already for a few days. The spent a few days in Split, then the islands of Hvar & Korčula. Up until this point we were ships passing in the Croatian night; Dubrovnik was the first time we'd be meeting up. They were arriving on a ferry from Split, due into Dubrovnik port just after 12:00pm. We made a 2-hour drive into Dubrovnik that morning and dropped our stuff off at the AirBnB property before meeting them at the port. Parking was tough so Doug pulled over to let me & the girls out. We saw their boat coming into shore and excitedly ran over to its docking point. There were two exit points on the boat, so we were looking back & forth, having a giddy contest to see who could spot them first :) Here's a video of the moment we spotted them! Apologies in advance for my shriek half happy/half teary eyed voice narrating.
Three Generations Ready to Explore
Grammy & Gramps debarked and we welcomed them with big hugs & smiles. So fun to be reunited in a totally different country! Surreal that the moment was finally here to meet up on our journey. In some ways it feels like just yesterday that we told them (mid-February 2019) of our family travel intentions. We walked back to the car, greeted Doug with hugs and then all six of us crammed into our rental car to make the 10-minute journey back to our AirBnB property to drop off my parents' luggage.
Old Town Digs
While Doug returned the rental car, my parents and I got settled at our AirBnB property. We had a relatively tough time finding a rental place in Dubrovnik. We wanted to be in/near Old Town, ideally with outdoor space & a view, and turns out options were relatively slim for the few days we needed. This spot ticked all those boxes. It was located just outside the Eastern Ploce gate (featured in quite a few Game of Thrones episodes). The apartment had a dynamite terrace that looked out onto the Adriatic Sea, the port area, Old Town and even the island of Lokrum. Thank goodness for the location & view because the interior left a lot to be desired; it was run-down and lacked many essential amenities. Nonetheless, we got settled and decided to focus on the positive aspects which drew us to the property in the first place.
Taj Mahal Feast
A few quick food searches consistently mentioned Bosnian restaurant, Taj Mahal, as one of the best in town. A quick phone call and we were booked for a table for 6 people about an hour later. We walked through the beautiful Ploce Gate, made of stone and with a wooden drawbridge that's raised each night. After a few twists & turns we found Taj Mahal tucked back in a beautiful alley. Doug arrived just seconds after we did; timing was perfect.
It was hard to pick what to order! So many appealing dishes. Here are the highlights from the delicious smorgasbord we ended up enjoying:
Hajram soup: cold soup of yogurt, olive oil and mint
Tarhana soup: thick thick tomato soup with traditional homemade pasta
Cevapi: traditional grilled dish of minced meat
Specialty of the House "Taj Mahal": veal & turkey in dough filled with mushrooms & cheese
Grilled veggies
Exploring Old Town
After that delicious lunch, stuffed to the gills, we wandered around Old Town. Loads of alleys, some overflowing with restaurant seating, others hundreds of vertical stairs & beautiful cascading plants along the sides. All of us were remarking how crowded Dubrovnik felt, especially compared to the Croatian islands we'd both come from. It was sweet to see the girls walk hand-in-hand with Grammy & Gramps along the way. The girls were ecstatic when we found a playground just outside the walls. My Mom & I ventured a bit further afar to pick up a few maps & tips from the tourist information center while the girls frolicked on the playground and Doug & my Dad chilled on a park bench.
Time to Terrace It Up
As the sun starting winding down, we decided it was time to enjoy that terrace of ours! We picked up a few nibbles at the store & arranged them on a plate to enjoy al fresco. We popped open one of our two remaining bottles of Podere il Saliceta wine from our jaunt through Italy. That's our terrace view below.
Živjeli ("cheers" in Croatian) to traveling with Grammy & Gramps and making new family memories in new countries!
P.S. New amazingly "comfy cozy" pajamas for Sadie from Grammy & Gramps. Sadie LOVED how soft & cozy they are, and couldn't wait for her California cousins, Kaitlyn & Maddie, to see how they have "Maggie" dogs all over them.
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