Dubrovnik: The Finale

Remember that time I went to Croatia TWO MONTHS AGO and it took me two months to blog about it?  Me too.  I'm here now, ready to finish up with some pics and a poem.  I will say that Clark was supposed to write a guest post, and I'm still hopeful, but...it's not going to happen anytime soon.  Sorry pals.

The rest of the highlights include taking a funicular up the mountain for amazing views, trekking up the steep steps for some delicious meat dishes at Lady Pi-pi, a strenuous sea kayaking trip around the island off the coast of Dubrovnik, sitting on the cliffs outside the wall having a drink, lots of rose wine on the terrace, and an emotional dinner where we all started talking about...each other basically.  And what we all meant to each other.  So that was really nice.  

This trip was one of the best of my life, and it was with some of the funniest/best/lovliest people.  We never ran out of things to talk about in 7 full days, and we happily made fun of each other all the while. It was just...a really good group, and a really good trip.  And we're hopefully doing another one next summer, and forever, until we die.  Or something.

Anyway, here are some pics.

Another pretty pic off the wall.  You can kinda see the tiny kayaks over in the corner; that's where we took off from.

View from Mount Srd!

Mountain pic

Who's that laadddyyyy

Cutie relaxing with beers and fries.

Headed down.

More views of the wall.

Walking to Buza Bar along the inside wall.

Sunset on the cliffs.

Sunset drinks.

Panoramic pic!

Mere and Kathleen and Clark came and had a beer while Drew and I swam.

Cool shot.  Photo credit: Clark Baker.  As are most of these shots, I think.

Matching in nautical stripes!  

Terrace time!

Not sure what's going on here but I like it.

MEAT!!!

One of very few pics we have at our fancy going-away dinner.  Meredith clearly liked her fan.

The last shitty pic of all of us together.  Happiness.

And last but not least: the poem.  Clark worked on this poem from the minute we got there, incorporating every inside joke we laughed about and making it cleverly rhyme at the same time.  He's pretty talented, that one.  Only one line has been omitted as it was inappropriate and was about me and Drew.  So here it is - enjoy!

Ode to Croatia

By Clark Baker/Claud Barker

To vees as deep as our knees
Sea bees that attack with ease
Modular backpacks please don't tease
Long Island ice teas that give you herpes
Croats on boats touring the island of Vis
Shrimpees that must bid adieu to families
Tank top tees featuring dangerous sharkees
Beaches where women expose their boobies, releasing the hounds in the warm summer breeze
And crystal clear seas in which I must pees

To goofing on Mere, shooting grape seeds in hair
Hot island air that makes one sweat like a bear
Fat Macklemore with skin so fair, the sun beating down on his shoulders so bare
Yacht week bros who don't even care, smooching our babes as they perch on a stair

And drivers who act like theres no time to spare, rocketing round corners as we fly through the air

To bountiful plenties of namaste and cleansing your shakra with ohms you must say

Millions of generations and the bricks that they lay to build up the city so invaders can't slay

Irregular poops and their formidable bouquet, Evan's GI is definitely cray

Rick Steve's holding a book as he sprints away, roasting on the wall like an overcooked filet

Scottish dopes and their kayaks that sway, knocking us around and leading others astray 

And alley cats with which I must play, running through streets as others smack them away

To Drew and Lauren "who you ALSO know...", and Kathleen who always whines about air flow 

To Evan and Drew and their bald spots that grow, slathering on sunscreen as white as snow

To Mere's Instagraming and the photos she must show, to her parents whose likes are anything but slow

To me and the wall that I went up an average Joe, but came down a Captain with a hat in tow

And a final important adage so awake from your comedy daze:

"Enjoy the rest of your birthdays"