Deluge in Dubrovnik

The storm front over Dubrovnik lasted for two days. The rain held off during daylight long enough for me to walk the stout 2km-long city walls, but that night after dinner I was trapped by the deluge.

I ventured out in the downpour that evening wearing only shorts, a T-shirt, and a light rain jacket because all my clothes were at the laundry.  I found a cozy little vegetarian restaurant in the old town called Nishta: wooden roof beams, gold script on purple walls, lounge music and candlelight.  The food—apart from being a simple relief from meat and potatoes—was delicious.  In Sydney, I eat much more vegetarian than I have been able to in Europe, so the ratatouille hommus wraps and tempeh burritos went down like a king's banquet.

The rain was so heavy that the restaurant had closed the outdoor tables in the little stone laneway.  When I got outside, torrents were cascading down the stairs of the perpendicular lanes and flooding the little street two inches deep.  I stood on a raised step with my back against the building, propped my umbrella up and waited in my bare legs for the rain to ease.  It got heavier.  I pressed myself into the building and waited some more, and after ten minutes, it got even heavier.  I couldn't believe it!  It was like the Adriatic was upturned.  I was reasonably safe on my raised step against the building, and all I could do was laugh.  I was stranded like Maitland livestock.