I head to the symphony ticket office first thing and manage to get one of the last tickets for the performance tonight at Rector’s Palace.
It’s going to be another scorcher and since I fully baked myself yesterday, I need to find different activity options other than the beach. I head to the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries and check out the world’s oldest apothecary. Back to stair climbing, I explore the alleyways above my Airbnb and find cats blinking sleepily as they lay in the sun.
I discover the best sandwich in Dubrovnik at Paninaro. A massive, messy prosciutto-stuffed focaccia that requires both hands and several napkins. And to cleanse the palette, a cup of peppermint gelato from Peppino’s. I spend a relaxing afternoon in the Old Harbour, enjoying a shaded bench with a view of the marina.
After a quick nap and shower, I make my way to Rector’s Palace for an evening of music, specifically, Chopin. Chairs are set up in the grand entrance and people line the stairs leading to the second floor, where more patrons sit on the ledge of the balcony overlooking the musicians below. The acoustics reverberate throughout the marble interior. The young conductor is very enthusiastic and is soon dripping with sweat, while the lead pianist energetically pounds the keys. As I’m walking back home, groups of starlings are swooping overhead, then diving sharply and skimming the ground before climbing back into the sky.
I have a restless night due to the thumping bass coming from the nightclub down the alley, along with the exuberent, drunk patrons headed home at 2am. I love being in the heart of Old Town, but this specific location is, to put it bluntly, the shits if I actually want to sleep.
