A Bittersweet Last Day in Cavtat

I would first like to acknowledge the fact that my mom has pretty much single handedly carried this blog (and I am not just offering these compliments because I have used her as my main comedic material throughout my posts. Well, maybe its a little bit because of that.) While the rest of us have pitched in a bit, Mom has pretty much been the only one who never seems to lack energy at the end of a long day of touring, swimming, kayaking, transporting, shopping, eating, and whatever else the day throws at us. So a special thank you to her for documenting this trip so eloquently, so that we may remember the amazing experiences we have had together, forever. 

Now, away from the cheesyness. I have to admit, I was bribed with new Levi's and shoes so here I am writing my final post for this trip. As we dawn on the final days of this thirty five day excursion, I find myself feeling sad to leave, but at the same time filled with the adventures, breathtaking sights, and lifelong friendships that have been established over the course of this trip. There have been a few low points, which any family traveling together for 5 weeks is bound to encounter, but these seem mere specks in the whole of this trip of a lifetime. 

Today, we kicked off our last day in Croatia with the breakfast of champions (also known in the francesconi household as whatever is left in the fridge that we do not have room to stuff in our already falling apart suitcases). Afterwards, we sauntered down to the boat rental station where we retrieved our vessel for the day; the best way to describe this smashing boat is quite simply put, a bathtub with a motor. With Dad maning the rudder, we set off, only to discover that we were without lifejackets. Oh well, Mom assured us she at least could make the swim if our bathtub were to capsize. After gliding across the Adriatic Sea, we found a small island where we dropped the anchor (with surprisingly limited stress) and snorkled and swam near and around the island, encountering the endless beauty of the Croatian waters one last time. Tidepools, trenches, zebra fish, sea anenomes, and sea urchins were just of the few discoveries we made. I particularly enjoyed lying out on the front of the boat enjoying the sun (but not without my necessary 55 SPF) and last few days before the stress of junior year comes to haunt me. Once we returned from our 4 hour voyage, we got a 6 kuna ice cream treat (6 is the best price on the island. NEVER settle for 7, because you may need that 17.689 cents one day). Side note-- pisctachio and chocolate is definetly the best combonation. Finally, we returned home and faced the reality that it was time to pack. Mom and I made a quick trip to the beach beforehand though, just to maximize our last few hours of sun. 

After some half hearted packing, we finished our day dining at one of the restaraunts along the water. Mind you, the waiters at these restaraunts literally chase you down untill you either give them proof that you have other eating plans or promise to dine at some point. We soon learned this and gave in to the pressure by promising to reserve a table. Watching the sunset on the sea, we dined on delicious pizza, salad, and fish and chips. Afterwards, Mom made a quick stop to visit her favorite fruit stand worker to pick up some dried orange peels (sounds gross but they are one of my favorite Croatian treats) and say her last goodbyes (this took upwards of 30 minutes). 

The walk home felt slower than usual, and I found myself hoping for one more day. Nevertheless, we have truly maximized our time here and surprisingly covered most of the country (we of course determined this by studying the map towels we bargained for at a tourist stand in Split). Croatia was truly my favorite destination on this trip with the most friendly people, diverse experiences, and incredible landscapes. As they say in Croatia, što će biti propustili & do sljedećeg puta (you will be missed & until next time).