The Blue & Yellow Post

We’ve just landed off the ferry in Dubrovnik from Bari in the south of Italy. After a fabulous sleep on the rocking and rolling Adriatic waters.

Our tiny cabin provided the right amount of privacy and peace and recovery from the nightmarish customs passport check we endured at Bari.

After conflicting instructions from the check-in windows, about 300 passengers of varying nationalities all found ourselves in an airless corridor waiting for passport control to open the doors.

Like cattle we were herded for nearly 2 hours in a tight space with no explanation, other than random and agressive waving of the arms. Was the boat delayed, had it sunk, were we stuck at Bari forever? Now and then the Canadians made a run for it,  but were always sent back. There were a handful of clergy in the queue so we had spiritual counselling, and a nun from the queue, dressed in a brown habit handed out sweets to the back-packers - she was possibly looking for vocations but in any event she was a great balm to them.

Finally, either the late boat arrived, or the cleaning was complete, or they decided they’d punished us enough, and the doors were opened and we were practically run through  - some even got through without a passport? No check no question no nothing - oi what does it all mean?  On board we had a couple of stiff drinks and all was good.

Anyway, when the new day arrived we sailed into the delightful town of Dubrovnik that keeps delighting the senses with steep stepped alleys, tiny apartments, charming landladies, very cool internet cafes and a plethora of sightseeing boats in the harbour. Even popped into the church for a quick hail-mary.

The task ahead is to visit the beauty parlour (where I will have to talk Gabbie out of getting a hair dye - lest it turn out bright red like most of eastern europe!) have a swim, walk the wall of the old town and relish this town that seems to have emerged from the mist of misery last night like nirvana.