Delight in the unexpected
Updated: 3 days ago
Speaking of wild coincidences... this was almost serendipitous!
It starts with me and my unquenching thirst for chasing sunsets. I had read that in Korcula Old Town there's a cocktail bar on the roof terrace of an actual castle tower, which boasts the best sunset views around.
Naturally, I meandered my way there... to be met with a set of stairs barred by a hanging rope, atop said set of stairs was a guard fully gilded in chainlink, shield and sword in hand! I don't know if it was the costume or his personality but he seemed to enjoy his role of "guardian" a bit too much - my attempt to indicate a wish to climb up was met with a firm, loud, and almost childlike "No!!" accompanied by a shake of his head.
An expression he repeated several more times, interrupting any kind of question or interjection coming from me or others who also congregated afoot the prized steps to the tower.
Turning us away with a “full, come back in an hour” - well no good to any of us hopefuls keen to catch the sun disappearing into the horizon in the next 20 minutes.
Anyway, after stepping away to take in the views around the tower and keeping a respectable distance - as if if I stood away maybe his humour would improve - and after trying my luck one last time when I saw a large group leaving, jesting “one out, one in?” with a hopeful look - to be met with a “NO!” again, I decided to give up and start searching for a spot that would do, not before forewarning the hopeful-looking couple approaching the foot of the stairs to not waste their breath, 10-15 minutes of waiting and joking hadn’t softened his cold heart.
On I walked to scout suitable spots, making a mental note whilst passing a semi-decent one to which I could come back if all else failed.
When I came across an inviting empty chair besides a table that look to be the perfect spot to fill my eyes to my heart’s content. I quickly claimed my rightful stop victorious and smirking - thanking that glorious guard for turning me away.
As I’m capturing the moment, and the gleaming gratitude (gratitude is the attitude), I hear a “Well, I think this spot is much better than that bar anyway” ringing in my ears - I look up to see the pair of equally beaming fellow travellers - the couple I had forewarned.
We talked and marvelled at the luck we’d had whilst watching a perfectly symmetrical, and one of the most stunning sunsets I have seen yet.
Cassia and Andre are from Brasil, both also on a “go with the flow” career break.
Theirs more than mine, as they are going day by day - I’m yet to yield to the currents, a part of me still resisting the flow…
Anyway, it was one of those great moments of connection, to nature, people and place. I truly enjoyed that shared moment in time with them.
Where is the serendipity, you ask? Some may think that was it, but no! At the end of that week, after spending the rest of my time at the Jelsa Wine Festival in Hvar, I was back in Split for one night on my way to Mostar.
Having just finished a delicious, budget-friendly cevapi in my now favourite place in Split, Ba!Će (it's so good I forgot to take a picture before digging in!)
I’m walking over to Luka’s Ice Cream and Cakes (which has had rave reviews and I still hadn’t been to try it in my whole week in Split and tonight being a layover and probably the last time in the town - though never say never) I had to make sure not to leave without trying it. Delicious, and again, I was so keen to try it that I forgot to take a picture of the ice cream!
I was walking past bar terraces packed with people enjoying themselves having a beer or a glass of wine, and there I was thinking to myself how I’d like to be one of those people when my eye is caught by two people I recognised!
*serendipity* what are the chances?!
I was ecstatic, not only because they invited me to join them on the wine, but because the night we met I had had to go early as I had plans and we had to cut out travel chat short. But here was fate, the universe, call it what you will, giving us another chance to meet and chat.
Like with the touches of Argentina in Croatia, it is in the unexpected that I have found beauty and delight in this trip. So my first pearl of wisdom to note to myself for the future:
>> Delight in the unexpected<<
Even when it isn’t a positive unexpected experience…
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