"We Only Do It For The Scars & Stories"

BONUS POST!

Actually, I should have just written about this day of, but it was a pretty tiring day and I had to get up early the next day. More than "anyone actually reading this", I'm just writing so I have a record of "that cool hike I did that one time". #egotism #selfish

So, as usual, I had the morning to myself the other day. I chose to do the hike up Mount Srd... after all, Google said it would be 55 minutes, so no need to take the cable car right? I mean, usually the smart Sam move is take the cable car up, walk down, if that's the option. But I figured I had time, so what the hell.

Like most of my adventures away from Old Town, it involved me walking alongside the highway for a bit. Nothing too dangerous! But again, I wonder why there's just not more sidewalks here since there's hundreds, probably thousands, of stairs.

Eventually I got here:

if I hadn't seen this sign, I would have just kept walking on the highway for miles and miles.

So you know, I'd think there'd be a smooth trail. I was half right.

# of times I turned my ankle on this? countless.

Wow. This was a steep zigzagging trail. Made all the more hilarious by the stations of the cross at each corner. Really made you feel like you were going through some suffering.

I really did my best to capture all 14 the same way, but that cow *really* got in my way. Did I tell you that cows blocked the path for part of it? And easily walked over the rubber hose that served as a fence 100 ft away to do it?

I mean, the view's great, but I really think they could find easier places to eat grass.

Also, so many crosses with stones! Here's a few.

So much imagery. Such a steep hike. By the time you finally get to the top, you ignore the "high voltage, enter at your own risk" signs, and just proceed anywhere to get some kind of sustenance and hydration.

So your reward for what's probably close to a 2 hour hike (Thanks, Google...) is an overpriced restaurant with a beautiful view... you know what, if I could sum up Old Town Dubrovnik in one way, it would be just that. That being said, I was famished, thirsty, and would have gladly paid any price for something edible/potable.

View from the restaurant... pas si mauvais.

Now, I'll ignore the average chicken sandwich and giant bottle of water I drank and fill in some details-- this restaurant is *right* next to the cable car. So any dreams I might have had of taking the same path down were doubtlessly going to be dashed by laziness.

But before I could do that, there was "Fort Imperial", which I had been informed played a vital role in the war here in the 90s. So in an effort to get my learn on, I went inside.

View from the top of the fort. Was I standing precariously balanced on the battlements? Yes, yes I was. But you need the best shot.

It's... really sad inside. Even if the tone of it was patriotic, as you'd imagine, if 1/10 of what they described is true about having Dubrovnik civilians attacked, it was hellish.

Part of the reason for the Fort's importance was both 1) it's location overlooking the surrounding city and 2) the radio tower on top

shame, if only radio was relevant now.

Inside the museum, there were tons of recovered artifacts, armaments and other things from the war. Coolest looking one is below.

The weird thing about this, like a lot of the stuff here, is you'd think it was way older than it actually is.

After this sobering visit, I would need a bit of diversion. And I did buy a cable car ticket to go down back towards the Old Town. A bit lazy? Yes. Should I have just bought one up and walked down? Probably.

On the plus side, walking through Old Town means I get to treat myself for the hike! You know, and completely undo any exercise benefits I might have gained.

You know, I've never had a bubble waffle, and I really wanted to try one. Also, that lady in the background seems unimpressed.

Let me tell you, there are definitely better things to eat before going on a 500 step climb back to your house, but I'm not sure there are worse things. No regrets though!

Once I got back, I did have to do... you know, my job that enables these posts, for a while. Did I just sit on my porch enjoying the view in the background for all of it? You betcha.

View never gets old.

I'll cap it off with a great, albeit late, dinner. Two highlights:

1) Squid stuffed with prosciutto and cheese

They really love accompanying stuff with potatoes and swiss chard here.

2) Getting my 2nd suitcase back!

You know, wrapping it up doesn't really convince me you didn't go through it, since it was gone for 5 days.

Anyhow, since I was toting a bit of luggage, I treated myself to a taxi to avoid 90% of the steps back to my place. I deserve it! It was a long day. Also it was a really cheap cab ride.

Random Thoughts:

-I asked my Serbian cab driver if it was hard to live in Croatia as a Serb. He said "Yes, actually, I only tell foreigners that I'm Serbian. And I put up pictures of my kids in the cab. But still, sometimes locals are not nice, and they know I'm Serbian because of my name".

Forgot to mention, the fort had little chunks taken out of it everywhere because of, you know, the bombing/assault during the war in the 90s

-Cab driver was also playing the "Game of Thrones" soundtrack. I get it, GoT was here. You don't have to play 3 hours of whooshing noises and triumphant strings if you don't want to.

Moment of Zen: