The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire

[Emily_Babbelhund]

All settled into our apartment in Korčula. The host was super kind: I’d booked a sea view studio and she initially let us into that apartment (it was small but very nice), then as I was unloading the car, said, “Why don’t you take the big apartment, same price. No one is here, it’s the end of the season, I’m done for the year, so why not?”

So instead of a studio we now have a two bed, two bath, two sitting room apartment with a big wrap-around terrace. And she gave us the keys to her other big apartment (no sea view) so that we can use the washing machine. What a super lady!

It’s a tad over furnished as it’s clear she’d already shut it up for the season and is using it to store some extra outdoor furniture, but that kind of adds to the quirky.

We’ve seen nothing of the island yet but I’m relieved to be out of Dubrovnik. No more city stays on this trip! Carbón and I are both happier in the quiet.

The small sitting room - but the one with a view.


Bed made and Monkey tucked in. Good sleeping tonight as the only thing you can hear is seagulls and wind.

 

[kateincornwall]

This looks really lovely , all this space ! Hope you enjoy your stay xxx

 

[Cath]

Hope you both enjoy yourselves, have fun

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

This looks really lovely , all this space ! Hope you enjoy your stay xxx

It’s so appreciated after the last three days! Where we were as fine - I mean it’s only for a few days. But it was so tiny that Carbón and I kept tripping over each other. He learned just to jump straight into bed from the front door and stay there unless dinner was on. We would have been totally fine in the studio we’d booked here, but I have to say that having a bedroom now that is bigger than the entire flat we just came from feels like a real luxury!

 

[Stacia]

Looks a super apartment, room to spread out and not fall over each other, peace and quiet and a beautiful view and terrace to relax on. How long are you staying?

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Looks a super apartment, room to spread out and not fall over each other, peace and quiet and a beautiful view and terrace to relax on. How long are you staying?

ML and I ran into the owner/host walking into town and ML asked if we could stay until Monday. The nice host lady kept saying, “Stay as long as you want, the season is over, no one else comes, so who cares? Stay as long as you want!”

She was saying this in a nice way, as in “You are welcome as long as you want” even though sometimes when Croatians speak English, it comes out a leeeetle harsh, sabes? Not everyone can speak English as a second language as guapo as I can!

Pues anyway, we walked around town - which is only 10 minutes via a footpath along the beeeuuuutiful turquoise water, and now ML thinks we should stay until Tuesday. I think if the owner lady keeps saying “Who cares?” to us and we keep loving it here so much, we may “Who cares” ourselves in Korčula for the rest of October!

Here I am at a beach in town: so bluuuuuuue!

 

[Stacia]

ML and I ran into the owner/host walking into town and ML asked if we could stay until Monday. The nice host lady kept saying, “Stay as long as you want, the season is over, no one else comes, so who cares? Stay as long as you want!”

She was saying this in a nice way, as in “You are welcome as long as you want” even though sometimes when Croatians speak English, it comes out a leeeetle harsh, sabes? Not everyone can speak English as a second language as guapo as I can!

Pues anyway, we walked around town - which is only 10 minutes via a footpath along the beeeuuuutiful turquoise water, and now ML thinks we should stay until Tuesday. I think if the owner lady keeps saying “Who cares?” to us and we keep loving it here so much, we may “Who cares” ourselves in Korčula for the rest of October!

Here I am at a beach in town: so bluuuuuuue!
View attachment 46127

Fabulous photograph, such a handsome boy. Sounds like a good place to linger at Where is your next destination?

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I prefer driving little roads from town to town. But we were told this park was a Must See, and with our limited time, we took the most direct route. As for the park. Meh. It was pretty. But soooo expensive. And we got there so early that the sun wasn’t at the correct angle to make the lakes that turquoise colour. By the time we left, it was teeming with tourists. The lake colour was beautiful, but you had to inch along narrow paths with the hordes. Either way, it wasn’t worth it.

I understand the ‘must see’ feeling, especially when it’s someplace quite far away you’re traveling to. I’ve taken a lot of flack for not wanting to go to the lakes or any other national parks on this trip. They are a very big deal down here and it makes sense you made such a big effort to get there.

I’m sorry they were ‘meh’…and expensive. I hope you had other places - like Split - that were surprises on the other direction, ie people told you they could be skipped, you went anyway, and ended up really enjoying it. Kind of balances out the “Meh”.

My ‘wish I would have skipped’ is Dubrovnik. Yes, it was beautiful, no question. And I’m glad we paid to walk the walls, but yikes, as you said, the cost! €40 was not something I’d usually pay, but I also understand why they charge it. I was a bit more miffed as I paid extra for the 3 day Dubrovnik Pass (includes the walks, several museums, the fort and public transport). All dogs are allowed in the fort and walks, no dogs allowed on the rest. Only guide dogs for sight impaired, no assistance dogs.

So that was a disappointment and we just didn’t go into town as much as I’d planned as it was a hard trek back and forth.

Also my Airbnb was meant to come with onsite parking, but that was a mess. No bad end consequences (the TARDIS is fine) but I was threatened with towing twice, shouted at, and had to move the car three times in two days. As Carbón would say “Pfft!”

I was SO glad to roll out of Dubrovnik.

But then we stopped at a tiny village called Ston and had a really fun hour mooching around for the bargain price of €1 for parking. Then the ferry to Korčuka went without a hitch and was only €12 for the TARDIS, Carbón, and me. And now we’re really loving the island.

Travel whiplash from the ups and downs, right?

Carbón looking stunning in Ston.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Fabulous photograph, such a handsome boy. Sounds like a good place to linger at Where is your next destination?

We’re pretty much at the end of Croatia after Korčula, but it’s quite a drive back up north and I have a lot of time, so we’ll retrace our steps a bit and do some stops at my favorite places along the way. So 1-2 nights near Šibenik (not to return to the city but see some coastal villages) and Rovinj in Istria (definitely to see the town again).

Then a 1-2 night stop to get us into northern Italy - around Chioggia or Pienza. Then we’ll hit up Tuscany. I have no plans and want to avoid cities, but maybe a week inland stay and a week in the coast. Then FINALLY I’ve got my 16 nights already booked in Venice. Woo hoo!

Then it’s back to Germany. But I’m trying not too think TOO much about that yet.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Korcula is lovely. Perfect town planning in a herringbone design to allow breezes on one side and no wind on the other. I was so impressed!

We went up the tower. More terrifying than the roads! A staircase that ends in a potential death fall if your foot slips. And a tiny area at the top with a balustrade that I didn’t trust! And blowing a gale. I was so terrified, I couldn’t care less that my dress was flying up for all to see, I just hung on for dear life. Meanwhile, others were loving the view and being up there. Me and the fear of falling.

There is a bar along the cafe strip that has a scary ladder to reach it. I said No! Happy to miss that experience!

Btw if you plan to use the laundrette, ask for a written receipt. We were almost conned in Korcula. Quoted one price. Left our laundry. Came back. New person. Double the price. Wouldn’t give us our laundry. Then someone else came in. Same deal. When we threatened to call the police, all was settled as if it had never happened. Laundrette close to where all the boats moor.

Speaking as a Spanish Señor of mature years, I have advised ML to skip the tower experience you describe because my four leeeeeetle legs cannot hold her up if she goes toppling over. Much better to stay on the ground where already today I found two pieces of deleeeeecious bread and then two teenage señoritas to pet me and feed me Croatian junk food.

Korčula is a paradise, I am here to tell you. Ojalá!

And now the people downstairs are smoking something divertente and ML and I are both feeling muy relajados, very relaxed. I reeeeeally like it here.

About your clothes, what a bunch of bandits! If they tried that with one of my bandanas, I would bite them in the leg! Or at least give them a VERY stern look of disapproval! Pfft! I am sorry this happened to you.

 

[Jacqui-S]

And now the people downstairs are smoking something divertente and ML and I are both feeling muy relajados, very relaxed. I reeeeeally like it here.

 

[M.F.]

Sorry about the 3-day ticket you couldn’t use. That’s a real bummer. I’m disappointed they wouldn’t allow Carbon, although not surprised. At least they allow guide dogs (I’ve heard worse about many other places). I always say, if the Michelin star restaurants in Germany allow dogs, why not everywhere else?! Here dogs are allowed in the pharmacy. But not inside other shops. Suffice to say, we do a lot of shopping at our local pharmacy (it sells almost everything!).

 

[M.F.]

ML and I ran into the owner/host walking into town and ML asked if we could stay until Monday. The nice host lady kept saying, “Stay as long as you want, the season is over, no one else comes, so who cares? Stay as long as you want!”

She was saying this in a nice way, as in “You are welcome as long as you want” even though sometimes when Croatians speak English, it comes out a leeeetle harsh, sabes? Not everyone can speak English as a second language as guapo as I can!

Hilarious! Our tour/boat manager, Tanja, was the kindest person who made such an effort to look after everyone. But we did find her use of language and communication amusing, wondering if it was a direct translation thing. She’d say things like:

“How was your meal? Maybe you liked it? Maybe you didn’t?”

“How was the walk on the old walls? Maybe it was good? Maybe it wasn’t?”

To this day, my whole family have embraced her signature style and now speak like that! “Was the restaurant any good? Maybe it was? Maybe it wasn’t?”

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Here dogs are allowed in the pharmacy. But not inside other shops.

Oooh, I - Spanish gentleman Carbón that is to say, love a good pharmacy. Our usual pharmacy in Regensburg went out of business recently (after 400 years in the same location, qué lastima de verdad) but ML tried a new one and I LOVE it because they had a big box of cookies just for me. I’m glad your dogs a can visit pharmacies too!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

To this day, my whole family have embraced her signature style and now speak like that! “Was the restaurant any good? Maybe it was? Maybe it wasn’t?”

This is so funny! Even after only being here for 3 weeks, to me that sounds quintessentially Croatian.

By the way, the landlady of our island apartment wouldn’t take payment for my last night of accommodation because, “Why not? Who cares?” A very generous - and typically gruff - character!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Holaaaa amiiiiigos! After nearly a week, we finally have good internet again. Pues, that means, get ready for the photos and stunning modelling! Maybe not so many words, because my leeeeeetle paws are tired, but vamanos with the photos before I fall into my nightly puppy siesta.

Morning walk into town our casita on Korčula to the Starigrad (that just means ‘Old Town’ in Croatian.


A cat! On a moped! Aye caramba, qué guay!


Mooching around the Old Town of Korčula.


I am a happy Señor.


The way it was supposed to look.


The blooper that ML likes better. It is all about the cha cha leg and tongue action.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

The TARDIS is a key participant in our adventures but never gets enough love. Entonces, here are a few shots of our entrepid machine amigo.

Waiting for the ferry to leave the island this morning.


Teeny TARDIS on the ferry, lower right.


Today in Primošten, we accidentally parked directly in front of another blue Honda Jazz, just older than our faithful TARDIS. Qué bien! I wonder what they talked about while ML and I mooched around the town?


Finalmente, nothing to do with the TARDIS, but look at the weird scissors we found in our new Airbnb. Does anyone have a pair of these?

 

[Jacqui-S]

look at the weird scissors we found in our new Airbnb. Does anyone have a pair of these?

I think they are for cutting herbs up finely.
Not 100% sure but pretty sure i have seen scissors like that before.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Šibenik: the town so nice we have now seen it twice!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Dios mio, we have now seen multiple of these ‘Dog Beaches’. Wear a leash and a muzzle? How do I chase my ball? Pues, no matter, because all dog beaches in Croatia are apparently mandated less than 10 feet wide. Qué lastima!

ML says I can swim in Venice again if I want, and of course it is not so very long until I am in my adopted home of Cornbeefwall which is heaven on earth for dogs, de verdad.

In the meanwhile, the water here is very pretty to look at, but I rate it 1/10 for canine swimming. Pfft!