Dubrovnik, Croatia: Day 4

I had to wake up at 7:30 AM to eat breakfast and get on the bus for my kayaking trip. I got on the bus and we headed to a lookout point over the water where we were to hike down to the beach (an incredibly far ways down, likely around 300-400 feet). When we got off the bus, however, we were informed that a kayak had been stolen the previous night and one person would have to sit out and join the afternoon group instead. Since Jill was going in the afternoon, I volunteered and took the bus back to the ship, where we came within an inch or two of colliding with a van in front of us (psycho bus drivers in Croatia…). We went to the internet café until we had to leave, where I video-chatted James (!!) for awhile.

We took the bus back to the lookout point (this time I wore sneakers and brought a water bottle) and spent awhile hiking down to the bottom. Without any instruction they handed us kayaks and oars and we began following them. Warning to all future first-time kayakers: it is not as easy as it looks and after five seconds you WILL be tired. Jill and I struggled the entire way, and of course, kayaking works mainly the shoulders (not so good for me, as my high school water polo career had already catapulted me to manly-shoulders status). Unfortunately for us, our guide took us the completely opposite way of where we were going, just to turn around and go back to Lokrum!

By the time we actually reached the island (about one very hellish 1-hour kayak ride later), Jill and I were jelly and feeling very grumpy. Our guide then announced that we had one half hour to snorkel and then meet back for our kayak ride back to where we had begun. I know how to snorkel, but Jill was a bit peeved as she had expected: a. more time to snorkel and b. a bit of instruction for first timers. I tried to help her but it was to no avail and I don’t think she’s a snorkeler (my mom once told me that it is something you either get right away or you don’t). I snorkeled along, watching the fish play beneath me. I again tried to touch some wildlife, but they swim faster than I do! These little teeny fish swim faster than I do, a championship high school swimmer! Not fair. So I moseyed, avoiding the urchins (my Spanish teacher stepped on one and apparently it is none too pleasant) and looking for some fish with color! I only found one little school, and the fish were miniscule! I could only find them once though, as they disappeared immediately after I dove down to get a closer look (touch them).

Jill had given up awhile ago, and after snorkeling I joined her for some gelato before our very annoying kayak ride back. Then came the hike back up to our bus, aka: the worst part. We went up about 200 stairs and were only halfway there; the rest was straight incline. So, peeves: please let us know there is hiking involved and shoes (not flip flops) are necessary, please include SOME instruction for kayaking, and please allow for less kayaking (aka: going straight to the island) and more snorkeling/swimming. Non-peeves: it was a very good workout, my shoulders are still sore.