Do you check your smartphone first thing in the morning? Updates from social networks and endless emails. Work-related, spammers, random e-stores you visited once a few years ago, airlines that you used before the pandemic, Elamisloakaardi väljastamine, book club newsletter… Wait what?! “Elamisloakaardi väljastamine” is “Issuance of residence permit card” in Estonian. 

After rejecting our applications for long term visas Estonia suddenly granted us residence permits for 2,5 years. Two weeks ago this news would make us really happy, but now we got seriously pissed off. We applied both for long-term visas and residence permits simultaneously as the relocation agency suggested. We had to apply for long term visas to legally stay in Estonia while the applications for residence permits were being processed. 

It would be consistent to decline both applications, but this email just added uncertainty and frustration. Were they flipping a coin? Did the officer, who approved the residence permit, know about the rejected long term visa? Can they cancel the residence permit so we will have to pack and leave again? We have already lost too much money because of the rejected visa applications – broken lease, new furniture and appliances left in Tallinn, moving costs, etc.

At that point we decided that we needed to sleep on it… for a month or two… in Serbia according to the plan.

As it was our last day in Croatia, we went to see another castle. The Dubovac castle in Karlovac.

Karlovac website claims that “The Dubovac Castle is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful monuments of medieval architecture in Croatia”. Well it is beautiful and it is in good shape. Although, we would say that it is rather restored than preserved. One can clearly see the new brickwork in the photos.

From the inside the main tower is still “medievalish”, but definitely newly built. Do not expect It to be really authentic. However, the view from the balcony surrounding the top of the main tower is astonishing and is worth climbing the stairs.

If you happen to be nearby, do not hesitate to visit Dubovac Castle. It is, probably, not worth a major detour. Although, if you bring along a drone…