“Thank f*** that’s over,” was the look within the eye of our dogs because the final of the festive explosions echoed within the winter sky. It was amore of a glance of worry than aid. I as soon as learn {that a} dog’s hearing is 100 occasions stronger than people, if that’s anyplace close to true then they’ve been dwelling via hell for the final seven days.
“This is absolutely the last New Year we are spending in Dubrovnik!” I mentioned to my spouse as one other eruption thundered.
I wasn’t joking.
I made a promise to myself and extra importantly my dogs that we are going to discover a extra tranquil setting, possibly excessive within the Dolomites, for subsequent 12 months.
Elton John, Taylor Swift and The Rolling Stones might all be singing on the Stradun, however I can’t be right here. And in the event you noticed my dogs over the festive season, the sheer and utter look of misery and ache of their eyes as they shook like a washer on spin cycle with each bang, in the event you had seen that you then would perceive my resolution.
This 12 months is already deliberate and till the ban on firecrackers and different explosive units is enforced I gained’t be counting right down to the New Year right here.
It is a legislation like so many others, a legislation in precept that sits forgotten on a chunk of paper and clearly not a legislation in observe. “As of today until January 1st, the official use of pyrotechnics is allowed – except for firecrackers, which are completely prohibited throughout the entire year,” wrote the headline on the twenty seventh of December. Apparently the superb is as much as 1,990 euro, though it would as effectively be 100 million euro because it merely isn’t enforced.
And let’s be trustworthy it isn’t actually essentially the most difficult legislation to implement. Even essentially the most incompetent police officer can comply with his ears! But no, sadly no.
Photo – DZF
I can’t empathise sufficient simply how loud and the way fixed the bombardment was. And then I began getting messages from family and friends “War in Zagreb,” and “My windows are shaking,” and “When will this end!!” I’m not making an attempt to be Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge, every thing else concerning the festive season right here is enchanting. But it’s like having the tastiest and most scrumptious cake on the earth after which spreading mustard on prime of it. Would you eat it? I wouldn’t.
And till the mustard from New Year’s in Dubrovnik is eliminated I can be consuming my cake some other place.
And I’ve nothing in opposition to the organised fireworks show on Stradun, removed from it, it seemed spectacular. Although I solely noticed it in pictures as we spent the New Year with doorways and home windows and curtains all closed and the radio on full blast in an try and drown out the firecrackers. By all accounts the “electronic display” in Split was a catastrophe, though hats off to them for no less than making an attempt one thing new.
“They must have more money than sense,” I mentioned to my spouse in one other crescendo. Let’s simply say her language wasn’t actually for a public discussion board. But it went alongside the traces of sure issues not going effectively collectively like alcohol and drivers, electrical energy and water, espresso and white garments and eventually morons and firecrackers.
Dogs thrive in environments which are predictable (fireworks are something however), and when one thing is new or unusual they do not all the time have the talents wanted to manage. I even heard of individuals giving their pets delicate sedatives to try to ease their anxiousness. Although I’m not a fantastic fan of getting to drug your pet until completely obligatory.
So given the “fight or flight” choice we’ve gone for the second choice and determined to wave goodbye to the firecrackers and search peace in a festive comfortable place removed from the maddening crowds.
It was good whereas it lasted however sufficient is sufficient!
Read extra Englishman in Dubrovnik…effectively, in the event you actually need to
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About the creator
Mark Thomas (aka Englez u Dubrovniku) is the editor of The Dubrovnik Times. He was born and educated within the UK and moved to stay in Dubrovnik in 1998. He works throughout an entire vary of media, from a every day radio present to TV and in print. Thomas is fluent in Croatian and this column is available in Croatia on the web site – Dubrovnik Vjesnik
