Dubrovnik Croatia Day 1

Dubrovnik Croatia Day 1


Arrived in Dubrovnik as the last place on our Balkan Adventure. We drove up the coast from Kotor to brilliant sunlight and azure blue sea with amazing views all the way. Settled into our accommodations and then set out to explore the city. We were high above the city so as in most places in this town we had to walk up and down many steps. In this accommodation we had to walk 284 steps ( I counted). It is no wonder that the people here are slim.

One of the many views along the coast

Our first view of Dubrovnik

Just one section of stairs to climb

Dubrovnik is a walled city and is one of the biggest and well preserved we have seen. The wall surrounding the city can be walked so we did that, about 3 km. It provides great views and again many steps up and down. It gives an overview of the city that received a lot of damage in the 1990s war but has been rebuilt since then. On the rooftops you can see the new and old red tiles and for sure there are mostly new ones.




A view from the wall



Old tiles and the new ones after the war

Dubrovnik looks to be a prosperous city and has a history of being progressive over the centuries due to it being a trading state that wished to remain neutral and free. However it has been occupied by many armies including a long occupation by the Venetians.

Saturday market where local products such as jams, honey and liquers are being sold.Too bad my backpack is so small! 

It is a cruise ship destination, one of the most visited in the world resulting in hordes of people everywhere and we are here in off season. The people being bussed and ferried into town was unbelievable in that at some times we could barely walk in the Old City. This also results in Dubrovnik being a very expensive place to visit, by far the most expensive we have seen on our trip and even more than most other destinations we have visited. In fact the crowds and prices would be a deterrent to a longer stay.

Tourists and their cameras

However, the city and the surroundings are quite beautiful as George Bernard Shaw remarked, “If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik”. The red roofed buildings, the narrow alleyways, the beautiful squares and the surrounding islands are indeed quite a sight.

The fortress walls

As this was the last time with our group we went out for a farewell dinner at a restaurant overlooking a little cove just outside the Old Town. Don ordered hake and I had scampi, which are like mini lobsters done in a tomato sauce soaked up with fresh bread. For dessert another crepe or pancake as they call them filled with ice cream and topped with hot cherry sauce.

Scampi,the first time I have tasted them,very sweet

A sweet ending to a great trip

In the morning our guide Kris is back to Vienna for another group, then Natalie is off to Vienna for the opera, Margaret back home to London and Dean and Anna another couple of days to enjoy Dubrovnik. This was a great group to travel with and we wish them all safe journeys.