Adventure Geek Travel • Croatia
Day 2 – Dubrovnik
The One With… the frozen bananas, a magical mystery bus tour and an unexpected evening in A&E.
The short version
Today proved that no two people experience a trip in quite the same way. Half the group paddled around Dubrovnik by sea kayak, while the other half explored the ancient streets of the Old Town before we all reunited by the pool.
We discovered the most amazing chocolate-covered frozen bananas, accidentally took the scenic bus route around Dubrovnik, and spent a blissfully lazy afternoon in the sunshine.
The day ended with everyone enjoying dinner by the marina… except me. Instead, I was reminded that being a tour manager means always expecting the unexpected.
The long-winded version
I was awake early this morning because today the group split into two.
🛶 At 6.45am, six of the group headed off for an early morning sea kayaking adventure, complete with snorkelling around the coastline. After organising their taxi and waving them off, I joined the rest of the group for a more leisurely breakfast before we wandered down towards Dubrovnik’s beautiful Old Town.
🥵 By 8.30am the temperature was already climbing, and it was obvious we were in for another scorching day.
🖥️ While everyone else walked the magnificent City Walls, I found what can only be described as the perfect office — a lovely air-conditioned café overlooking the city.
Out came the laptop, the emails, and the never-ending to-do list. Such is the glamorous life of a self-employed tour manager!
Still, if you’re going to spend a couple of hours working, there are certainly worse places to do it.
Frozen bananas and the Dubrovnik Grand Tour
🚶 Around 10.30am the City Walls group joined me, and then came one of the more random moments of the holiday so far.
Barbara mentioned frozen bananas.
Naturally, we had to investigate.
🍌 We discovered a little shop called Bananito, where frozen bananas are dipped into hot melted chocolate before being covered with toppings of your choice.
I went for dark chocolate and Biscoff, which, in my opinion, should probably count as one of your five a day!
So there we were… wandering around Dubrovnik eating chocolate-covered frozen bananas (looked rude!) while browsing a shop dedicated entirely to rubber ducks.
By 11.30am we’d all reached the same conclusion.
It was hot. Very hot.
The cruise ships had arrived, the narrow streets were becoming packed, and the peaceful atmosphere had disappeared.
🚌 So we jumped on the Number 6 bus back to the hotel. Well… that was the plan.
Instead, the Number 6 decided to take us on what can only be described as the Dubrovnik Grand Tour. We travelled through parts of the city none of us had expected to see before eventually making our way back to the hotel, much later than planned.
🏊 And then… pool time.
Swimming costumes on. Pool. Sun loungers.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt quite so relaxed on one of my own trips. It genuinely felt like I was on holiday rather than working, and I must admit I felt just a tiny bit guilty about enjoying it so much.
🍺 At 6.30pm everyone gathered in the hotel bar to swap stories.
The kayaking group had loved paddling beneath Dubrovnik’s famous walls before tackling the City Walls later in the afternoon. Carol had spent the day exploring on the hop-on, hop-off bus, so there were plenty of adventures to compare.
Then, as tour leaders quickly learn, the day took an unexpected turn.
Expect the unexpected
🏥 One member of the group needed to get something checked out, so we popped into a nearby pharmacy, expecting a quick bit of advice.
Instead, we were politely told it would be best to visit the emergency department.
The pharmacist’s face said it all!
⛴️ While the rest of the group enjoyed a lovely evening by the marina, eating great food and watching enormous yachts and pirate-themed boats drift in and out of the harbour, my evening looked rather different.
🚑 Hospitals are fascinating places to people-watch.
Police officers arrived with someone in handcuffs. Ambulances came and went. Arguments erupted between families. Doctors, nurses and admin staff were all quietly getting on with their evening.
Three hours passed surprisingly quickly, and thankfully everything was sorted with a prescription and some reassurance.
Or so we thought.
Our cheerful taxi driver blasted music through the open windows as he enthusiastically drove us around Dubrovnik in search of a late-night pharmacy.
Every single one was closed.
By now it was after 10pm, we were both hungry, and the nearest pharmacy wouldn’t reopen until 7am the following morning.
Sometimes you simply have to accept defeat.
🍽️ 10.20pm — We found somewhere to grab a late dinner instead, headed back to the hotel, and agreed that tomorrow morning would begin with a pharmacy visit before anything else.
I finally climbed into bed around 11.30pm.
Not quite the relaxing evening I’d imagined, but that’s group travel.
Most days are full of spectacular scenery, good food and laughter.
Every now and then, you’re reminded that part of my job is simply making sure everyone gets home safely, whatever the day decides to throw at us.
And despite the unexpected ending, I’d still call that a successful day.
As always, thanks for reading the blog.
See you tomorrow for our last day.
