Of Sea Urchins and Penalty Kicks...

Author:  Brandon (Dad)

I really thought this stage of the trip would allow us to relax more and spend time writing.  That hasn't really been the case.  While we have certainly been able to slow down a little bit, we've stayed busy.  Unfortunately, the kids haven't been too keen on taking a break to write.  The comments you leave on their blog posts are very helpful.  They love to hear from people and it helps keep their interest up on the blog.  So keep sending them!

OK, here's my recap of the past few days...

• The most dramatic recent event has certainly been Livi's sea urchin sting.  It has been very painful for her, but she seems to be doing better today.  Every time we talk about it, Luke likes to add that "it's not really the urchin's fault".  

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  This is the last known photograph before the attack.

• The World Cup game against Denmark on Sunday night was incredibly memorable.  Our cousins had a small party, with a few friends and all members of the family over to watch the game.  Mato, the youngest of the Pavlovic children, grilled up a bunch of meat in their outdoor kitchen.  It was incredibly good.  The game was very tense.  Both teams scored in the first five minutes, then chances became few and far between.  Late in overtime, Croatia had a brilliant opportunity to win the game, but a penalty kick by their star, Luka Modrić was saved.  That was heartbreaking.  I have video of the reaction at the house.  Thought I was capturing the game-winner...turned out to be a bummer.  In penalty kicks, Denmark inexplicably missed three and Croatia only missed two.  The clincher off the foot of Luke's favorite player, Ivan Rakitić, set off an unbelievable celebration here that I was also able to capture on my phone.  I posted it two Facebook.  We danced, drank, and shot off flares for a good half hour afterwards.  The kids loved it.  After a good hour of hour of partying, I told Mato it was time for us to go to bed.  He made me feel really lame by saying, in English, "why?  why would you do that?" 

Ićina and his strange American cousins.

• It is Croatian custom for sons and their families to live on the property of their parents.  With two sons here, that means it's a pretty busy household.  While Mato doesn't have a family yet, his older brother Ivan (who has been in Russia following the World Cup) and his wife Vlatka, live here with their adorable two year old daughter Lea and baby Ivan.  The daughter of the family, Ana, lives in Cavtat with her husband (who they also call Lukey) and their (also) adorable daughter Marija.  

Livi and Luke with cousins Marija and Lea.

• Yesterday we went in to Dubrovnik with a plan to walk the walls.  However, when we got there, we felt a bit tired and decided to just wander around a bit.  It was also incredibly hot.  We'll be sure to visit Dubrovnik at least one or two more times during our stay here.  We took a bus from Cavtat in and rode a boat back up.  Dubrovnik is absurdly beautiful, but it is just so busy that it loses a little of its luster for me.  We even picked a day without the big cruise ships, but it was still very packed.
• After Dubrovnik we came back to Cavtat (my favorite spot) and had a drink while watching the World Cup games.  There are so many little cafes and bars that overlook the harbor.  After a recommendation from Ana and Vlatka, we walked around the point to an amazing restaurant called Rokotin.  Tiffany made me promise to bring her back again.

At Rokotin with our yacht in the background.

• The Cavtat harbor is filled with some of the most amazing yachts you can imagine.  I looked up one of them and they estimated the value between 50 and 60 million euros.  They are fun to look at, but they really frown on you jumping aboard and running around.  You learn these things the hard way.

Cavtat's yacht filled harbor.

• With all the excitement of the Croatia/Denmark game on Sunday, I forgot to mention that we also went to the Čilipi folklore show in the morning.  Livi loved the dancing.  

Čilipi folklore show.  The house directly behind the dancers has been in our family for generations.

• After the show, we came home for a delicious Sunday lunch.  Marija (not the baby, but her grandmother) is a tremendous cook.  She actually works in the kitchen at the big nearby resort that so many locals work at, Hotel Croatia.  We had a great feast, the highlight of which had to be the stuffed peppers.  Incredible!  Ana, also taught Livi a few Croatian dance steps.  Ana teaches the folklore dancing to children.  Livi loved the lesson.  I also showed Ana the video of Livi's Croatian dance from last year's family reunion.  She thought it was great.  

Here's Ana teaching Livi a dance routine.

• Tiffany is all riled up about the Internet not working right now.  Oh, and now the kids have come out fighting.  It sounds like Luke has been throwing his stuffed fox toy at Livi and, perhaps, even kicking her.  I should probably intervene, but I think I won't.  They need to figure this stuff out. Apparently news is coming out that Livi has threatened to put the fox in a blender.  Haha.

I think that's enough for now.  I'm pushing for a slow day.  A swim at Luka and maybe, just maybe even an afternoon nap.  Or as the family likes to call them "one of Dad's Rick Steves naps".  

Until next time...