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day 2 ... more steps...Dubrovnik

The dance beach got quite busy... mainly locals swimming.  The water was incredibly clear and so many shades of green and blue. There was very little shade so after a while we headed up the path back on to the main drag to look for some lunch.   The old town and immediate surrounding area is one big eating area punctuated by souveiner shops... lots of 'authentic' Game of Thrones tat... I did go in to see if they had the wine glasses- which are like the ones I bought in Prague but they were only offering seriously nasty plastic - halloween like- goblets and tankards which at €98 each felt a little bit excessive.  There was an amazing sweet shop though... might have to revisit...

Light lunch was easy to find.. the bakeries offer such delicious looking snacks... we probably spent longer choosing than eating.  Sunny spots to sit and picnic while people watching are plentiful as are the people to watch. 
It is, however, quite difficult to getaway from the maddening crowds...  even the back streets that have little to offer other than charming stone work,  windy steps going on forever and some nicely planted little snug corners are still busy with lost tourists..... probably similar to us... looking for some respite from the endless tours... 
We decided to go to the Museum of Modern Art which is only 4 minutes away from our digs.... if you go down at a fair pace -coming back I would suggest the 300 plus steps might take a little longer. 
The gallery was disappointing - only one small area showing any art - the most modern being dated about 1985.  One floor was closed to rehang a visiting exhibition and the other floor was an exhibition of workshop results by local children.  It was as good as some of the other 'alledged' art.  
The comments book was full of negative comments suggesting the entrance fee was exhorbitant for so little work and I can only agree. 
Only coffee and cake could mollify the sense of outrage, and what could be nicer than sitting in a cafe overlooking the walls and harbour - shaded by huge tree - doesn't get much better. 
By late afternoon, early evening the town was beginning to empty.  The coach loads of cruisers headed back to ship and the streets  became more passable. We explored the steep lanes running up to the highest bit of the old town.  You can tell less peopleventure here as the stpne paths are not so shiney with constant use. Very pretty but a perlious amount of steps. We were so relieved we hadnt booked a room actually in the old town -we kept meeting very fed up looking people with enormous suitcases tottering on the seemingly never ending steps...  not quite so picturesque then!!
It had been another long day so after a local beer we wandered slowly (no other option) back to our room and spent the evening watching the sun disappear drinking wine and eating crisps while the world revolved around the harbour... Even a galleon...

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