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Timeline

Phone buzzed, WA message from my one and only Amigo, a link of his & Cindy’s birthday party information. Whoaaaa! I have missed some timeline of his celebrations, can’t afford to let it happen this time, directly booked the day in my calendar, adjusting my Marnniversarlyn, confirming my attendance.

Me being me aka someone who doesn’t own a car, asked who I know will come, not because Im nosy, rather I need to arrange my logistic. The options are either I go with someone or I stayed at their place haha. Going out with me must include the whole package, Lieferung + Übernachten 😀 Es hat sich schnell geregelt, I’ll go with my colleague Aileen and her husband, Vielen Dank! We were super on time ~ except one, you’ll find out who; arrived at 18:00, Aileen’s husband put away their presents while we drove to the Parkhaus that took us forever by car, via foot it was actually so close.

There he was, standing at the corner helloooooow Amigooooo was very happy to see him, he always hold me high #Love it! It didn’t take long until The Buffet is open, great! if not I’d taken down all the chips! There are one particular that tasteeeee really good! #Nomnomnom

While we were eating, Amigo always on the phone, Cindy said “Daniel, talk with our guess!” I sat down with his friends and one asked “is Daniel’s colleague here?” to which I replied: “His ex is here, his current one dunno”. We wanted to wait until everyone who chipped in for the gift to be present to present their gift. Later Daniel’s current colleague arrived, he introduced her to me, “you guys came from the country that starts with I ~ Indonesia; Iran” that very second, it was clicked on my head “oh! Warte Mal!”

She is the Warte Mal kollegin!!!

His “warte mal” was and still so contagious.

Finally the last person aka Denis aka Daniel’s friend since Grundschule arrived, his longest friend yet we were waiting for him the longest #Tried to be rhymed 🙂 Can we do the Übergabe? Nope! Because right now Daniel & Mananda were away to park her car in the right-ish location. Patience is virtue, they said ~ not me haha

They were happy about our gift! Yeayyyy! Someone shouted “invitation for Grillen is coming right?” Daniel’ shocked facial expressions “oh no, please don’t, too stressful to plan it”

Continue the night with Beer Pong, Team Ausländer vs Deutsch! We almost won! Groarrr had Amigo didn’t play, we could be the winner, so close! Followed by Impromptu Karaoke of 99 Luftballons, me + Cindy + Tanja need to see the lyrics whereas Denis knew it all. They continued for second round Beer Pong, I had back home with Aileen & Kevin.

Cindy, I thanked you to be invited to both of your celebrations, glad you like the grill, just text me the when & where, I’ll be there mwahaha. Amigo it’s my pleasure to know you in person since 2020 & still counting, I miss our Chip & Dale Team at the office or maybe I don’t need to miss it…. because…. warte mal 😉 Hope our timeline will match in the forseeable future! #Finger crossed.

W.T.F ~ Who Turns Forty?! Mi Amigo!

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Fill in The Gaps – Part 3

Touch down Hamburg again… this round, I wasn’t alone 🙂

Curiosity got the best out of me, wanna visit Reeperbahn in the evening so badly hihihi. I couldn’t have guess, they have a very popular Bar with Boxing ring in their basement called Zur Ritze ~ entrance cost 3 euro per person. Dominik knew about it, he said famous people had a fight there such as Logan Paul or would be such an insult if I didn’t mention The legend: Muhammad Ali himself, WOW! I was in the same place where he was!

Thank you to the one solely guy who was training, offered to took couple photos during his 1 minute break, even let us enter the ring while other people not ~ there was another couple who went directly after us only to be told by him literraly “you can’t get in, it’s not for everyone” you making us feel special! Real thanks, keep going, you rocks!

I filled the gap now, saw Reeperbahn on a daytime four years ago compare to nightime. Do I like it better than the other? Nah, honestly speaking, it’s quite scary, not to mentioned the amount of dirt boahhh #Hygiene is no existe.

What other shows did we went to besides our main Harry Potter’s event? It’s the Titanic Immersive Show! ~ one ticket cost 26 Euro with a strict timeslot for boarding, booking in advanced or at least online is very necessary.

Do I think it’s expensive? Of course! but for the sake of “Jake, I’m flying” I had to do it 🙂 #Just pay

They did it really good, presentation of each objects + screens projector + video effects. First class passenger’s accommodation is outrageous, functional rooms after rooms, dining hall, as if sun & promenade deck are not enough, they must have deck A – E too. What’s feels out of space for me though, is the Gurkengabel, how on earth you have a Gabel specialized for Gurken? can’t you use any Gabel? Fork is a Fork hey. Wild, how could people be so damn rich?!

The clock where Rose & Jake met was mesmerizing, spoiler alerts: the statue and only three steps are real objects haha rest was screen. Then come the scene when she hit the icebergs, where the thrid class passengers tried to find their way up or where Mr. Guggenheim & co prepared to go down like gentlemen.

When we enter the ship, were given a boarding pass, consist of real Titanic’s passengers name. There are two monitors where we can see if they got rescued or not. I was Edith Louise Rosenbaum from first class ~ meaning the chance of me survived is high. Dominik said “ich bin Bruce” okay… Until I read his pass, he is the J. Bruce Ismay from the movie with his famous line “But this ship can’t sink!” He doesn’t really need to type his name, we all both knew he was saved 😉

Can’t leave before doing Stadt Besichtigung like Promenade with Europa Passage, Speicherstadt, Hafen City, Elbphilharmonie, Elbtunnel.

Speaking of Elb, Dom tried to correct me, he commented: “shouldn’t it be Elfphilharmonie?” Nope, I’m sure I saw the ‘b’. He jokingly said Elftunnel, ne ne ne also Elbtunnel. Do we have another Elb? Should we? Shall we?

Perhaps Elbtaly 😉

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Wheels Keeps Turning – Part 4

I picked up Dom at Dortmund Hbf after he went on his 3 days Gamescom at Köln, went to his favourite Parking Place on the city center only to find…. another me! what a pleasant surprise 🙂

We had our little photo session there.

Not gonna lie, seeing myself on a banner in my city, it’s pretty good hey! Don’t you dare put a graffiti on me, I have a strong “jampe-jampe” skill haha

Next mission: Where’s Marlyn?

Gimme gimme more 😉

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Priority

Julia & Holger told me in the past sometime Nordwest gave away VIP Tickets for BVB for free and many people answered the Email within seconds. That very email came, skimmed ~ to whom I should replied, directly wrote: iccchhhhhh. They only have 4 tickets and Im one of them who got it! #抢票 My colleagues Robinhood + CB knew it already, for sure I’ll be the one who react to those kind of freebies Email in a heartbeat 😉

Moritz contacted me saying he also one of the four, the other two was Kathrin and Ann-Christin. He texted “What time we should meet?” I replied with new question “When does the buffet open? I’ll come at that exact hour”. We arrived to a big hall shortly before 15:30 after taking a couple of wrong turns, it’s all paid up. The hall consist of buffet after buffet after buffet, some rich companies has their own block, while we were just looking for the empty table.

So far I have eaten some bites from their Hauptmenu + Vorspeise + Nachtisch + Aperol before the game starts. Moritz asked if I want to come out to the field because they will announce all the names of the player? ~ Nope. Also if I see the other two colleagues? ~ Still a no. I’m fully concentrated here, if he wants he can go whereas I’m keeping the seat 😉 On the Halbzeit I ate two sausages, small ice cream and a Radler.

On one corner, there are a bunch of people wore special Trikot Hummels.

  • Moritz: “Those must be a families or friends from Hummels, could be that he will meet them”
  • Me: “you gotta tell me so I can run and ask for photo!”
  • Moritz: “ah thats the girlfriend of Hummels”
  • damn right I made it so obvious!

Some people came for the game, I got my priority straight: food and Promi Hunting. This might be the only chance I got 😉

Nicola Cavanis + Roman Weidenfeller + Matthias Sammer + Salich Özcan

I can’t recognize if there are famous person or not, to me they all looks normal. If a celebrity in Indonesia you knew it immediately due to bodyguard and the way they behaved. But here in Germany, they dont really have personals who walks around them. In the end, they are just normal people with very much of money hahaha

My impressions about my perhaps one and only VIP Experience: you have a wifi connection! whattt??!! + those seats are way more comfortable + toilets smells nice + unstoppable food and drinks, they will come to you if they see you without one. Do I able to see players? unfortunately still a no, they are still very very small but I can see the goal clearly though 😉

Thank you for the experience Nordwest 🙂

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The Credits – Part 3

When I told my colleague I was going to Dubrovnik, some advices comes in. Tanja said there are a lot of seafood like mussels , it wasn’t what she likes but I do! Oh I ate mussels almost in every chance! There are three restaurants I really like: The Captain + Mediterra + Kamenice near the “Walk of Shame” ~ you will see a blue white table cloth on the table. To the one who doesn’t like mussels, shame! Hahaha Dominik became a big fans of fried calamari, small fishes, black Risotto. He never even had it before, well… well… well…. see what travels done to you 😉 #Only good vibes!

Hainka told us about Lavender ice cream from Gelateria Dubrovnik, seems pretty Dubrovnik things to tried. I dont like it at all haha found it super weird. Right around it, there is a “podium” with some urban legends. It was believed one child around 15yo climbed on it, removed his shirt, turn around to the “well” where the women would take some water… right there and then, he found love. Which one is true: the guy was shirtless or was the “Podium” really has it charm?! #I’m thinking.

No one left behind: friends got their postcards, mom’s her magnets, dad’s his Hard Rock shirts and I got the you can’t mistakenly Croatia pattern 🙂

From the bottom of my heart, Dubrovnik is a city you must go if you visit Croatia. Dubronik Pass is something you must buy even if you’re only spend one day there.

Video’s that wasn’t do the whole justice for showing the beauty of Dubrovnik hihihi

#Made the best from what I got 😉

Thanks for your wonder Dubrovnik! Left a piece of my heart there <3

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The 8 “Working” Hours – Part 4

Even day number six, let’s visit Split 🙂

We were sooooo happy we could finally find a day to go to Split, I heard so much of hype from this city. Took the earliest Flix Bus from Dubrovnik depart at 07:15 AM, spent exactly one working day ~ 8 hours before we had to take last bus to Dubrovnik at 20:30 PM.

Directly told Dom about what kind of Photo I must have! Not gonna leave Split before taking it.

#Split in front of Split

We had lunch at the Promenade, were not on a position to be picky, we must eat before Hangry kicked in.

Only then we started our day trip, mind you it was very very very hot, stayed inside a church for a good 20 minutes because it has AC and I kind of overslept for a while too 😉 Been a bit recharged, were on a mission to find: Diocletian’s Palace + Old Town + Cathedral + Peristil Square + Campanile + Salona.

What to visit first? opted for Salona as it was the furtherst among all, took us approximate 1,5 hours with 3 bus rides, had to stopped strangers car for direction. The entrance cost 8 Euro, nope, we “paid” it in another way which is on finding where Salona is. I was satisfied to just see from outside, in my opinion no need to see the ruins in the inside area. Be honest, this is not Rome sooo don’t really see the necessity of it hahaha FYI, the real named called Archaeological site Salona.

Continue our journey back in the town, strolled around until we stumbled upon a statue whose big toe color has changed due to so many people rub on it. Little did I know, it was a statue of Grgur Ninski ~ a Croatian Bishop. Across from this statue, there are two students doing a Part Time job posing as a guard, prepare your change to give them tips. Then one after the other, we ticked our sightseeing list.

The Diocletian’s Palace reminded me of Carlisle Cullen from one of his scene on New Moon. Peristil Square is pretty cool. Bell Tower was closed ~ not an issue for me, didn’t even plan to climb up.

We owe big time to Cornaro Hotel for “allowing” us to use their bathroom many times a day 🙂 While walking we got the urge to use the loo, where then? I hate paying, see a sign “Cornaro Hotel” okay, in theory, every toilet located in the corner. We just need to come to the receptions as if we were waiting for someone, be there with some confidence. And we’ve done it! May God bless your hotel with more worthy tourist 😉

I have to admit, I have sooo high expectations from Split. Facts is their Esplanade with coconut trees is really really on another level ~ something that Dubrovnik can’t offer. Also facts: we missed Oyster so much 🙁 plus swim in the city beach ~ although not so much but that’s not the point, it’s about the availability + accessity!

In the end, we found ourselves longing for the embrace of Dubrovnik once more <3

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Style

Dominik has completed his round trip around the sun 😀 we celebrated in style! booked a dinner experience called “dinner in the sky” cost 117 Euro per person for two course & wine. Isn’t it too much? no doubt! at the same time, if it’s for birthday? there’s no such things as too expensive #Take my money!

We have to gather at 17:10, signed some paperwork if God forbid something happened, we won’t sue anyone from the company. The crane located at a hotel Valamar Lacroma, there was a group of 4 Norway dudes who one of them ~ named Alex also had a birthday. They couldn’t be chill, kept shouting “Oh happy birthday Alex” that Alex dude clearly doesn’t want anyone to know it. I was walking in front of them chanting “verdammt” in my head.

I have to admit this dinner has a really cool concept, we gathered on hmmm… “decorated parking lot” haha the Captain called our names & tell our designated number then the crew adjust our seat belts. First was Dom, naturally I thought mine will be second, nope! I’m the third. After boarding completed, we are ready to fly!

Captain Mario was our DJ / MC, he’s very good in bringing up the mood. Once we up there, Mario made a video + photo of us one by one. I overheard the Norway dudes talked to him “today is his birthday”; his answer “you should have told us before, so we could prepare a cake, there is also someone who is having a birthday and only he will get the cake” Damn right dude! you can’t stole my man’s moment! suck it!

Eating time! got explanations on where do the menu came from, each represents a different part of Croatia. I really enjoy how the Chef are making the food especially because the stove wasn’t infront of me haha the seats are “moveable” too, you can rotate 45 degree to left or right. The foods portion are all very very very smallllllll. Then come the cake for Dom 😀 lucky they have something extra, the Norway Dude got a wine. I realized I need to learn how to share a moment hey #Self-reflections.

That’s it, we were being lowered to the ground. The whole journey was 2 hours, I also noticed we are having the guy who held us the entire time. If you search for a style, this is a must do; if you want to get a belly full of food, unfortunately it’s not.

Overall, we are happy we’ve done it. I wish you a happy birthday Sayang!

Hope to celebrates more birthday ahead, either in the sky, water or land 🙂

Hauptsache, in style! #We never go out of style <3

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Yang

Another even day to go away 🙂

Went to another country ~ Bosnia i Herzegovina, second stamp on my passport 😉 Got picked up again at 06:20 AM, once the border crossed, we visited Kravica Waterfalls. Never crossed in my mind that Bosnian don’t use Euro, they accept it, our Guide Boh or Boah don’t know how to spell his name said, if in the store I can pay with Euro as the amount is written in both currency, Konvertible Mark and Euro but in Restaurant better pay with Card because there is only Konvertible Mark written on it. Usually 1 Euro = 2 KM yet if there is no Euro written, perhaps they will charge more. OK thank you for the info!

We spend about 50 minutes on the waterfalls, I managed to get magnets for mom’s collection + had waffels. Am I impressed with the waterfalls? No, it’s not bad however I saw or have better one back home 🙂

Then we passed by to a very small village called Pocitelj, it was such short stop, only 20 minutes. There is fortress on the top haha thank you, my legs are still sore from previous days. We just went for a loo in a restaurants, I think the guy thought I was one of their guess, thank you Sir, may your Restaurant has success!

See! The Fortress is up there, had we have enough time, I won’t even bother to walk further up haha

Then to our main stop: Mostar! I actually like this place than two previous ones. The bridge is the main attractions, need to get it right! On the downside, I found a difficulties in finding foods, I got used to Croatian sea food, especially Oyster. Here in Mostar mostly you will have meat.

Regardless how good the tour turns out ~ perfect guide, tour participants were all on time, the bus driver drove responsibly, the timing they gave in every stations were all make sense; like the Yang from YinYang ~ the black dot in white, even in light there’s a bit of darkness. The food wasn’t really my taste. Ah well…. You can’t have it all 😉

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Yin

Every even days of the trip, we were out of Dubrovnik 🙂

To the other country: Montenegro with the tour offered by Get Your Guide, passed the border with a car, #Collecting stamps in Passport. We were being picked up at 06:20 AM, there was only 7 people in total. Instead of going with a bus, we got a mini van. I personally think it was cool, a private tour. Dominik is the only guy there haha the elephant in the room 🙂

We made a first stop to make a picture, this is us: a Korean lady + American Gang.

At the beginning, it was actually fine. Our driver ~ initial L informed us about his friend who sell Oyster in Montenegro + right after the border there was a restaurant with price cheaper than in Dubrovnik, he can dropped us there. Actually, we were excited to tried, in anyway we have to eat.

Reached first town called Perast. While we were still in Dortmund, I wasn’t planned to take any boat, wanted to just walked around. However L said there was only one street, it’s very small, the only attractions was taking the boat with extra cost. Hmmm…. I sensed a bit of a red flag. Being suspicious whereas my mind kept reminding me “what else can we do?” Therefore, paid the 15 Euro for boat trip to Church of Our Lady. The fee was only for transport, not to enter the church, it will be another 10 Euro.

He also explained we would go to more stops, we didn’t! only to this one. Wtf?! Either he doesn’t know what he’s saying or he “robbed us” from our real boat experience? After reading some signs, I came to understand the cost for 1,5 hours boat ride = 40 Euro. Okay, I took the first red flag as Misscomunication, made peace with that.

Second town called Kotor, there we have 3 hours. The only attractions were: Old Town + Fortress + Cable Car located 4 km away. Me and Dominik opted for the Fortress. Cecillia had some doubts, in the end she made it too. I told the girls I’m going up so they could make a forecast at what time we could be done.

Was on the verge of giving up when we reach the church, which only 1/3 of the Fortress until Daly texted “I’m also at the Fortress” Ah cool!!! she gave us some fuel to actually catch up with them. Hike after hike, where are the girls? there is only one way, I couldn’t miss them. Still not seeing them, even at the top… Hä???

One the way down we met Cecillia, she also hasn’t seen the American Gang. Continued our journey to the Old Town. Daly texted she is ready to leave, replied I need 30 minutes. In total we have been 3 hours 15 minutes ish in Kotor. The issue is, Cecilia is still up there. I catched Maly’s pants from far away, her words: “I looks like a traffic cone” 😉 very easy to spot on. Curious, I asked where they were on the Fortress. Guess what? They were mistaken, they were never in the Fortress, perhaps they only have the Fortress as a background from any restaurants or so hahaha no wonder I didn’t see them.

One hour goes by without a trace of Cecilia, as if she went on radio silence. A Croatian number called me, no “hello” directly “where are you” obviously it will be L ~ who else. To my surprise he was starting to shout “I have been waiting for you for one hour, I don’t care where Cecilia is” I was perplexed, what the hell is going on? Is he gonna leave us here in Montenegro? Being scared, I ran to the girls, let Maly do the talking while I tried to see where Cecilia at. Dominik sent her our location but she was confused and confusing beyond reason. Maly was so distress as L screaming at her too, Daly & gang tried to buy some time by going to the parking lot to find him.

In the end Dominik called Cecilia by video call, we saw the background, she was so close, Maly screamed on top of her lungs, I ran towards her, we don’t want L to leave her or worse all of us. The journey back to Dubrovnik was such a Katastrophe, no one dare to talks. I texted Daly if we should ask for the oyster, no we don’t need too.

Maly tried to defuse the bomb by saying “do you need our Passport, L” he only gave a receiving hand gesture. After some minutes, he told us he need to use the loo. There we talked, My Gosh what is happening? This is so crazy, I’m not in the mood to go to his friend’s restaurant. I meant, he ruined our day! My Asian genes won’t gonna let him get the comission from his friends’ place! Thanks God we all agreed to go directly back to Dubrovnik. When L back to the car, I deliberately said “oh girls, I’m so sleepy”. He replied “you can be sleep now until we reach the restaurant” I gave eye contact to Daly, wasn’t dare to talk until our saviour Maly commented “do we have to? I kind of tired, let’s just go back to Dubrovnik” Thank you girl! We owe you big time 🙂 #Women Power.

You have no idea how relief I was when we reach the Old Town of Dubrovnik. What I can take from this experience was he didn’t voice out properly, at the end I was completely uncomfortable. It could be since we were a small group, we could clear it among ourselves. No we can’t! we were all tourist for f#$k sake! I assume he was lazy, took advantage of small groups and want to go back home faster.

Regardless how bad the tour turns out; like the Yin from YinYang ~ the white dot in black, there’s always a little light in the dark. I got additional friends! It’s such a pity that the atmosphere was so down, I would love to spend the evening with the girls in a chill dinner but it wasn’t possible. Maly you are a very brave girl for standing up for all of us! I’m glad we have you on the group! I’m also grateful we all survive L’s driving haha Daly was afraid of her life during the ride 😉

Well girls, Daly + Maly and gang also Cecilia, we shall make up the relax time that L stole from us, if you ever thought to visit Germany or Indonesia, you have a home 🙂 #Just do it!

See you in another time, another place. Until then, take care!

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Game of Stones

Me and Dominik just had our very first trip outside DE, it was happening on last week of July for his 30th birthday. Neither of us have been to Croatia before + I was FOMO because I have three colleagues + one friend that has been there, I gotta do it as well!

Our base was in the city of Dubrovnik. While we were still on planning stage, we saw so many tours about Game of Thrones movie set. Unlike him, I didn’t dedicate myself to watch it, therefore I couldn’t care less. Hainka has been there, he told me it was mostly filmed in the Old Town, I don’t need to necessarily join the tour, I still can go to those spots. Ahhh okay understood!

We flew in, arrived at our AirBnB around 01:00 AM. Our Host Zoran & Igor were waiting for us. P.S: I really like their place, located only 800 meters from Old Town…. chill… there’s no straight way in life, their place was up in the hill, you gotta be good at the game of stones #Stairs everywhere.

Regardless of Game of Thrones’ fans or not, you gotta admit, Dubrovnik’s Old Town has it’s own charm. My first time in East Europe and it’s not dissappointed 😉

The moment we step in the first alley, Dominik said “it’s directly given him a GOT vibes”. Not to forget the iconic scene of the series, if someone who doesn’t watch knew it, it does meant something 🙂 None other than the famous “Walk of Shame”. I guarantee you will find it, there where most tourist are!

We tried to familiarize our way through the Old Town first. Where does this path leads to etc until we found the beautiful corner near the Port area. The view of the boats parked + lights on the walls make it looks magestic.

You can’t really change what stunning hey? That area looks dazzling day and night time. We bought a Dubrovnik Pass (40 Euro) had one main target in mind: City Wall (the entrance itself 40 Euro). Will I be satisfied only with breakeven? No way in hell #Haben wir es schon bezahlt! Was kann man noch sehen? let’s tick it one by one and boy oh boy we did!

I didn’t want to be on the City Wall during midday, we unraveled what Dubrovnik Pass has to offer, such as: Rector’s Palace + Dubrovnik Natural History Museum + Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum + Archeological exhibition ~ where I sat in the kids corner to “dig” some archeological stones.

Around 15:30, it’s about time to visit the City Wall, one more Museum to check: Maritime Museum. Little that we know, it’s connected the entrance to the City Wall. It reminds me of Great Wall of China. Take some water please, there was no shade.

Unless of course, the whole wall takes only about 1,5 hours max to walk haha in the end it’s not really like Great Wall of China 😉

Last spot on the Dubrovnik Pass of the day was Lovrjenac Fortress. Where? up the stairs, my oh my. I have no Lust for pictures. The entrance without the Pass is 15 Euro, in conclusion: get yourself the Pass! #Money wins 😀

Are we content with all the stones we seen? Noooo. It is not Marlyn if I don’t participate on Walking Tours. Our guide Antonia (Tonka) took us around the Old Town, which means I also got some behind the scenes theory of filming GOT.

What I like the most was how the HBO Productions supports the economy of Dubrovnik. It is extremely important to keep the secrecy, they didn’t want any spoiler to record them during filming so they need the locals who owns a restaurant / hotel to be closed. They paid them a big time a.k.a choose the highest earning per day then trippled it. They paid every house owner located on the “Walk of Shame” stairs to shut their windows for 3 days. Tonka explained there was a very smart grandma who kept coming back to his apartment during shooting, what did people do? They need to give her more money in exchange for her to not come close to the production area. Within those three days ~ rumours said the Grandma earned 1000 Euro, a phenomenal amount of money, talking back in year 2011.

Apart from the physical preparation to “play” Game of Stones, I love Dubrovnik, I mean… how could you not 😉