Dubrovnik #1

Funneling down the ferry ramp to the dock in Dubrovnik, we could see the same crowd we'd encountered in train stations elsewhere in Eastern Europe gathered around waving their laminated signs and hawking the rooms on offer. All of their signs had an image of the room they would like to rent to us or a map showing how close to town their place is. 

This time of year, when the ferry arrival only happens twice a week, the event must take on more urgency for these people. The ones that hadn't snared a departing passenger by the time we were squeezing through would say "Do you need a room? I've got one very cheap!" And when we'd gotten through this gauntlet and made it across the street, a couple of them spotted us taking out our map and came after us with the same questions, and wanting to compete with the place we supposedly already reserved.