Tag Archives: Dubrovnik

Croatia – Dubrovnik Day 15

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This day was basically spent traveling. Got the free breakfast from my hotel (scrambled eggs and chicken sausage, which was meh since it wasn’t hot). Then Checked out of my hotel at 10am and took an Uber to the Airport.

Ok, most stressful airport experience so far (not because of anything COVID related, but because of waiting and so many checkpoints). Here’s the breakdown (FYI this flight is going from DBV to JFK using Delta Airlines):

10:50 – arrive at airport and got in line for boarding pass (while in line they ask you if you did a COVID test (but they don’t check) and to fill out this attestation form: https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-planning-center/know-before-you-go/attestation)

11:43 – got boarding pass and went to passport gate control (I didn’t get asked to show my COVID test when I got my boarding pass, but the person beside me had to show theirs on their phone)

12:05 – went through passport gate control and went in line for security baggage check

12:12 – finished with security and went to actual passport control (no line)

12:17 – in line for last checkpoint (for US bound flights only). They asked if I bought anything. I said a t-shirt

Did create the Defected Spotify playlist as I waited: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1bFR61TYCVfytsvcSASNix?si=Nx404zKNSX2zl4N7afw_xw&dl_branch=1

In short, I see why some people say you need 3 hours at the airport for international flights. If I did 2 hours, I would’ve missed my flight.

It is also interesting to note that at the gate, there is a cafe bar to get coffee, beer, Prosecco, whisky, etc. Super glad that was there.

The flight itself was pretty standard. 2 meals, pillow and blankets, free unlimited whisky, and watching Below Decks.

Got to JFK 30 minutes a head of schedule. Global Entry was super fast (they now have facial recognition. No need to use a card!).

Chilled at the Wingtips lounge at terminal 4 for a couple of hours (needed to drink 3 lattes to help keep awake because of the time change). Then proceeded to the gate for my flight to SFO!

Croatia – Dubrovnik Day 14

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This was a pretty action packed day.

First started by going to the Dubrovnik Shopping Minceta (mall). Rob needed to grab a Fanny pack for Italy. The mall reminded me of Dragon Centre in China Town Toronto. We then went to the restaurant in the mall called Minceta (haha, go figure). Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/15/minceta/

After, we headed to Old Town, and did the most popular tourist attraction, which is walking the walls of Old Town (I did it through the Dubrovnik card). It took about an hour (with taking some pics). We might’ve lent abut more time taking pics if it wasn’t so hot!

After, I did a Game of Thrones walking tour. Some notes from the tour:

-Kings Landing was in Malta for the first season, until some issues arose with some heritage thing being broken from the set

-Disney will be filing a scene in the upcoming Star Wars movie at Dubrovnik (likely only a 3 minute scene).

-When using Old Town, AirBnb and shops get compensated for any business they lose by the film company

-Lots of “teleporting” of scenes

-The red keep gets “placed” in many scenes

-The shame walk is comprised of several parts of the old town

-Lots of scenes shot at Lovrjenac (castle building slightly outside Old Town)

END OF THE POST HAS MORE PICTURE DETAILS

After the tour, visited St Blaise’s church and one other church (did not catch the name).

Then rode a cable car to the top of the mountain for sunset. Thought the sunset and view was worth it.

Then went back to the hotel to get ready for some clubbing.

Went to Club Lazareti, which played pretty good techno music. Wish I stayed the whole night (but went back to Revelin since the night before was great… but unfortunately not true for this night). Still, met some Germans at Revelin, where we tried to check out the beach for any after party. Unfortunately there was none. Still a fun night overall. (Note, there was an after party at Club Lazareti, but they added the Euro COVID certificate requirement for after 12am. Sigh).

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Black water bay: some episode in the early season (it’s summer time because of the red lights)

Black water bay: (not sure when but a boy gets thrown into the sea):

Black water bay: (some episode in the beginning seasons)

Black water bay (at some point)

Black water bay (from the last episode, and also sometime from the beginning seasons)

Tower scene from the last episode

Lovrjenac: scene from King Joeffrey’s wedding

Old Town Dubrovnik as King’s Landing

Lovrjenac: (not in the show, just him resting)

Lovrjenac: this scene was part of the hall way that Sansa used to escape King’s Landing

Lovrjenac: used as the red keep several times (this scene is when little finger threatens Cersei with knowledge, but she says power is power and threatens his head).

Lovrjenac: some scene

Lovrjenac: used when Sansa was hiding??? And the red keep (see above about little finger saying knowledge is power)

Pile Gate: this is where the famous riot scene is (where people are hungry and someone throws something at Joeffrey)

Shame scene 1:

Shame scene 2:

Croatia / Bosnia – Vodice / Dubrovnik Day 13

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We left our hotel in Vodice around 10:30am and headed to Dubrovnik Airport (to drop off our rental car)

Really the only areas of interest along the way during the drive was the gas station stopped (to get some supplies, refuel, and throw things away), and crossing Bosnia. (Also the trip did affirm that Croatia’s highway system is pretty modern, but with a lot of tolls (the inner city roads however are a different story, since they are all small and tight).

Crossing Bosnia was really easy (we gave them our passport, and they didn’t even look at all 3 or scan them). It was a 9 minute drive to Bosnia, so super short. Going back to Croatia, they did check and scan all our passports.

After the border, it was about an hour till the airport. At the airport, when returning of our rental car to XL rental cars, we did have a bit of bad luck (guess because was Friday the 13th). There was two slight scratches on the hood of the car, which cost $400 USD (we really don’t know how they got there). Hopefully Chase Sapphire reserve will be able to cover it.

We then took an Uber to our AirBnb (what had crossed our minds is to take a ferry from a close city called Cavtat to Dubvrovnik, but decided against it since the port is far from the AirBnb).

We got to our Airbnb in 20 minutes, and then got some food at a place our host recommended called Belvedere. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/15/belvedere/

After dinner, got to the AirBnb, and I actually booked a separate hotel (for logistical reasons). Booked Arch B&B (super close to the AirBnb), but they then moved my reservation to Studenski Dom (a really awesome new dorm). It was great, from the newness, to no mosquitos, to the free breakfast. The only thing I did have to do is ask them to allow me to have the AC be able to set at a lower temperature (lowest was initially locked to 28 degrees Celsius!).

I did ask the receptionist at the AirBnb what club he recommends to go to. He said Revelin. I looked it up, and I was convinced (they do bring in famous DJs like Tiesto, and the website said it was in a castle).

Revelin is in the old town (which makes sense since it’s on/in a castle). The Uber ride was 12 minutes. The DJ did not disappoint (some refreshing progressive house and deep house). Great way to end the night.