Sometimes, the most memorable travel stories do not begin at postcard-perfect viewpoints, elegant terraces or sunset boat rides. Sometimes, they happen in the most ordinary of places – at a bus station.
That is exactly where Ukrainian artist and DJ Anastasiia Mendus says she met a man who left such an impression on her that she later turned to social media in the hope of finding him again.
Anastasiia, who performs as DJ Namen and presents herself as a vocalist, songwriter and vocal coach, shared her appeal on Facebook after a brief encounter at the Dubrovnik bus station. The meeting was short, hurried and, as often happens in real life, slightly imperfect. They talked, connected, and then – before either of them quite realised it – went their separate ways without exchanging contacts.
“I really liked you, but in the rush and in that short amount of time I didn’t even realise why we didn’t exchange contacts,” she wrote.
A brief encounter in Dubrovnik
There is not much information to go on, but perhaps just enough for the internet to do what the internet sometimes does best.
According to Anastasiia, the man she is hoping to find is a lawyer from California, has been travelling alone for six months, and was in Dubrovnik for a friend’s wedding. The one important detail she unfortunately does not remember is his name.
Still, she has not given up hope. Instead, she is relying on the power of social media, and perhaps a little Dubrovnik magic. to reconnect two people who met briefly, but meaningfully.
Her message ended with a line that gave the whole story its romantic, almost cinematic touch:
“P.S. If I don’t manage to find you, just know that it was one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time…”
A city, a stranger and a story left unfinished
Anastasiia has also shared her affection for Croatia on social media, describing it as a place where her heart and soul found peace. In that sense, her Dubrovnik story feels like more than just a missed connection. It is a small travel moment with all the elements of a modern-day romance: a foreign city, a fleeting conversation, a stranger who stayed in someone’s thoughts, and the hope that the internet might finish what chance started.
It is a charming reminder that travel is not only about places, but also about the people we meet along the way. And sometimes, even a short conversation at a bus station can stay with someone long after the journey continues.
So, if a Californian lawyer who recently attended a wedding in Dubrovnik happens to read this — someone is looking for you.
Photo: Facebook/Anastasiia Mendus
