Into the final week

     Well it is funny that today I feel like I need to start doing things that I cannot do at home. At first I focused only on family geneaology,certificates, and cemeteries.  Next I went on a few tourist attractions.  Today I drank three walnut liqueurs on a boat in the middle of the Adriatic Sea for no good reason. 

     My parents went on the Ronald Brown hike today, so named for an American pilot who crashed and died in an airplane accident. http://www.dubrovnik -online.com/english /ronald_brown_path.php  They left around ten am. and did not return until almost dark.  They initially took a wrong road and then backtracked and did about ten more miles on top of the already two miles.  Easy for them.  Again, glad I was drinking liqueurs somewhere in the sea on a glass bottom boat.  Fortunately for me the captain did not have to carry me off when we landed back in Cavtat. 

     In the morning, after a few hours of sunbathing near the Leut Restaurant and swimming in the sea, I ran to catch the aforementioned glass bottom boat tour for the next two hours.  This boat went around the three small islands right off of Cavtat.  It slowed down in various places for us to look through our glass tables into the sea. We only saw small fish swimming but a couple I met told me they actually saw a dolphin on an early morning run last week.  The sights were beautiful and the boat was nice. It was a little bit cool so it was a perfect time for me to have stopped sunbathing anyway. 

      Upon return I hooked up with my cousin and we went to the top of Cavtat where our other cousin Marija lives.  The site where she lives was the housing site and the office site  for the people who were instrumental in building the five star Hotel Croatia which is hear in Cavtat.  This site also contains a large red building full of bullet holes which served as the Red Cross Center after the war ended.  I have stopped short of telling you war stories in my travel blog but believe me when I tell you I have heard them from just about everyone I have met who lives here. 

     Back to Marijas house.  I met her mother Marija and her daughter too by the same name.  Her daughters husband Matte and her son Matteo were there and her other daughter Iris came home for a quick dinner and then went out with her boyfriend.  You will see these pictures tomorrow.  Matteo is three and adorable and loves to say my name and to count in English. 

     And now for the Hotel Croatia. http://www.hoteli -croatia.hr/Right now it is hosting a Congress for toxicology experts.  The town is absolutely full of important people for this Congress.  In fact, there was a famous singer singing at the restaurant next door to the Monastery and he was filmed for Croatia television tonight. 

     After Miriajas house where I had more liqueur and some homemade torta (cake) we finally returned to Cavitat where I had hoped to hook up with my parents.  I had not really had much to eat all day except for a superb salad at what has become a favorite restaurant for us, a seafood salad.  Thank goodness I ate that before more liqueur because "NO" is not a word these Croatian people understand.  You must be eating and drinking at all times or all is not well in the world.  At this rate I will need to buy a second seat for my girth for the return flight. 

     Anyway I found my parents at a restaurant, well into their pizzas. Upon seeing this, of course my cousin insisted I must join her at her restaurant for a dinner at now nine pm.  I actually got out of there with only eating two fresh fish in a bourbon sauce with bread, fresh fish pate and water.  Of course she gave me a box of candy to eat later plus the three pieces of torta I had already brought home. 

     On the way home I stopped at an internet cafe where I ran into one of the clerks from this hotel.  She invited me to join her and her friend (the pierced dude from earlier photos)  I had a white coffee with them.  We somehow got into a discussion about a mannequin I had seen inside of a car and how my daughter Rachel admired the necklace.  Her friend Andria is going to possibly learn where I can buy that necklace as Rachel has coveted it ever since!!!  Small world. 

     Also my cousin found out from some government official  that tomorrow she can obtain the birth certificate of my great grandfather as well as the baptismal one in which  I already have.  I don't know why the type changed but I am in too much of a hurry to try and figure it out before the hotel office closes in fifteen minutes.  And when she (the hotel clerk) wants her computer back, she wants it back.  Please forgive me if I cannot correct typos tonight. 

     Tomorrow is my brother's birthday.  My bro will be the same age as me and we will call ourselves twins until next month when I advance by one.  We have called ourselves twins since we were children. 

     My parents are going on a tour to Montenegro tomorrow but I will skip it for political reasons. Never done or not done anything in my life for political reasons, so why not start now?  In fact, we have all agreed not to tell my cousin they are going there.  Earlier in the trip she gave us "permission" to go but still the pain is so deep for her and all who live here that people do not mention that they are going there.  It is supposed to be incredibly beautiful there and I will live vicariously through their photos upon return. 

     I have been in touch with Sunny, our German student on a regular basis since coming here.  We will spend two days in Germany with her family and with the other German student Pascal.

     While  here,  I have learned that a cousin's son was diagnosed with alopecia areata on my Dads side, so on this little trip I have learned of two family members with alopecia areata on each side of the family.

All for now.  Ciao.  xoxoxoxoxoxo