Lokrum Island

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Although reasonably well adjusted to this time zone, we are clearly still sleep deprived slept easily until 9am. We showered quickly to make it down to the included buffet breakfast – always a big thrill for Andrew. Finally settling into the vacation spirit – the plan for the day was to have a leisurely visit to the beaches on Lokrum Island – so we lingered over breakfast. Lokrum Island is 15 minutes by boat from the Dubrovnik harbor. The harbor was ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE CITY from the hotel, a journey that takes less than 10 minutes on foot. We arrived just in time to hop the ferry and then meandered on foot across this small island to a beach. On the way we saw peacocks, peahens and peachicks (and mused about the difference between peachicks and chickpeas). On Lokrum, the land at the water’s edge is mostly jagged volcanic rock, so one navigates the rocks to make a water entry into crystal clear, calm pools of warm water. The water temperature is perfect for long stays to keep cool from the hot sun and there are almost no waves. We saw black damsel fish and sculpins in the crystal clear water and Andrew spent some time hunting them with a small bucket. Mid-day, we take a beer and ice-cream break and enjoyed a stroll through a small botanical garden, marveling at the variety of cacti that grow in the island climate. Then we headed for a different beach, just as lovely as the first. When we were ready to go, and after tending to one of Andrew’s bloody noses, we arrived just in time to hop the ferry back to the mainland. Fifty feet up the dock we rested again with (again) ice cream and beer and agreed to go back to the hotel and clean ourselves up for dinner. We headed out and Lauren quickly selected a dinner venue – one of the many places in the old town indistinguishable from all the others – but it turned out well with everyone enjoying their pasta dishes. During dinner, a fairly large religious procession of nuns and priests passed down the main avenue, with many candles and much beautiful singing. Our server did his best to explain but was unable to convey much more than that it had something to do with “Jesus”. After savoring dinner, we enjoyed the Dubrovnik evening scene made beautiful with spotlights and candles. We found ice cream for the third time (only slightly harder to find than a cash machine) and ambled back to the hotel to wind down for the evening.

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Photos

Andrew on Lokrum
This is a typical beach entry, surrounded by jagged volcanic rocks. Before the water's edge, the beach is softened by worn rubble from ruined buildings and near the shore it is made soft by growing algae and corals.

John, Lauren & Andrew in the Adriatic
Enjoying a swim at the first of two beaches we visited while on Lokrum.

Sonia and Andrew in the Andriatic
The sea was essentially waveless and the perfect temperature for swimming. It would be easy to spend an effortless day in the water.

Andrew examines a salt crystal
Unlike beaches back home, dried puddles of ocean water leave crystalline salt formations. Here, Andrew goes in for a closer look.

Andrew is bested by the locals
Andrew climbs over pointed lava rocks to reach the local beach entry point while the locals just leap off the cliff into the water. Here, a young lady jumps in from a hieight of about 15 feet.

Andrew washes off the salt
Andrew makes use of the shower after swimming in the sea. We'd like to say it was to get cleaned up, but he really did it to experience the chill.

Ice Cream, Again
Andrew enjoys an ice cream cone on the dock in Dubrovnik just after our retrun from Lokrum.

Sonia and Andrew at dinner
The family had a pleasant Italian dinner in this little alley just off the stradun.

Dubrovnik Nighlife
Lauren and Andrew enjoy Dubrovnik after dark, helping themselves to some candles that were used in the religious ceremony earlier that evening.