1 Jul 2014 Dubrovnik (Mike)/Sutjevska Park (Carol)

1 Jul 2014 Dubrovnik (Mike)/Sutjevska Park (Carol)

Mike

 

The bus to Dubrovnik doesn't leave until after noon, so Mike has some time to kill.  Another walk around town.  In the tourist area, he finds a complete history of the Serbian/Bosnian/Croat controversy and buys it.  As is always in this part of the world, the truth of the matter is in the eyes of the narrator, and there is too much truth.  As Stephen Colbert would say: "The truthiness of the matter."  Here, truthiness is not necessarily truth - it is the opinion of the narrator as to the truth.

 

Finally, on the bus.  As before, the bus leaves Bosnia for Croatia, then back to Bosnia, then back to Croatia for the final hour or so along the coast into Dubrovnik.  This time, for some reason, the border crossings are so much more efficient, and we are in Dubrovnik about 2 hours faster than the last time.

 

Mike has arranged a room at the same hostel, but this time for 240 kuna, not 320 kuna.  He checks in, goes to the touristy parts of Dubrovnik, finds it every bit as overpriced as it was before.  The Lonely Planet Croatia is 172 kuna, more expensive than the same book in the USA, for example.

 

Dinner at the same restaurant, where Mike carefully uses up his kuna.  Tomorrow am he will catch the 455 bus to the airport, so it is early to bed, in the hopes that his alarm actually works.

 

Carol 

Today we leave urban Mostar for Sutjeska National Park. We also leave, after a certain point, Latin letters.

About an hour into our ride we are flagged down and asked to stop at a crossroads. Why? Driver gets out, another cop arrives, our feisty local guide is steamed. Several of us head further afield for a pee break. Eventually, back on the road. Local guide spends a while recounting story of childhood privations, fears and indignities during the bad times. These (probably Bosnian Serb) cops have brought back bad memories of the Chetniks.

Next town and the following have Cyrillic lettering on most signs. Also, cows instead of sheep. Probably no relationship.

More driving on main road, then UPHILL on loooong narrow gravel road. We pass some loggers. But, isn't this a national park...

Finally we get to trailhead. Out for lunch of PBJs, ajvar, cantaloupe. At some point, backpack feels wet. The rubber mouthpiece no longer on biteguard.

On to hike in tall meadow grass. Then sharp uphill. Group breaks up. Eventually, 5 of us start downhill. Carol does some butt skiing. When the full group reunites, one of our hikers has taken a bad fall. Her wrist has been skillfully tended to with the allied skills of our hikers. Two guys also have joined in this second group. One of them sports the cap of an Atlanta bar. Graduate of Chamblee HS and UGA. Small world.

Mouthpiece in bus.

Our hotel is a resort with post Soviet chalet style. Dinner of pork toast, veggies, risotto, vanilla pudding/ Now, to bed.