Dubrovnik is like a multi-faceted gem. One finds postcard-worthy images everywhere. Here Betsy looks over the old harbor from the city wall.
Dubrovnik is a city of undeniable beauty and history. It has been known for centuries as “the Pearl of the Adriatic” for its stunning rocky coastline and well-preserved Old City, which has long been a center of Mediterranean commerce and diplomacy.
Andiamo booked us into a lovely hotel for our final night. Here’s the view from the lobby .
Dubrovnik is also choked with tourists, visited daily by cruise ships, populated with a multitude of restaurants and half-hearted museums, and mostly empty from November 1 – March 15. Venice is a fair comparison–Dubrovnik’s rival for power and prestige in the 15th & 16th centuries–though Dubrovnik would be a little sibling to Venice in terms of size and visitors. I am speaking of the Old City area, of course. There is a whole other Dubrovnik of denizens working, going to school, raising families, etc. which, consummate tourists that we are, we did not get to know in our brief 3 day visit.
After a final Andiamo dinner at night and a luxurious breakfast the next morning, we left for our separate AirBnB’s. A very nice AirBnB apartment costs $50-$70/night as compared to $200+ for a hotel room. Here Marla awaits her host.
As always, our story is best told in pictures.
View from our AirBnB apartment, a 20 minute walk from the Old City. Ivo picked us up at our hotel and later gave us a ride to our airport lodging, not to mention a friendly greeting, cherry brandy, apple strudel and other niceties.
Ivo, our host. AirBnB’s are important business to local families and the hospitality was superb in our experience.
Dubrovnik’s main street at night vibrant with visitors, not choked with cruisers as it is between 10 and 3 PM. Dubrovnik recently passed a law limiting cruise ship visits to 2 ships per day.
The 2 km walk atop the city wall is a picture book of 1000 years of history. Here’s a view onto Dubrovnik rooftops.
From atop the city wall, one can view sea kayaks heading for the Island of Lokrum. Lokrum has many artifacts worth viewing, including Game of Throne sites.
Game of Thrones tourism has become a big thing for Croatia as it provides a number of iconic settings for the TV series. Here Pat takes a turn on the Iron Throne, located on Lokrum.
Compact urban design requires creative decisions. This Old City basketball court has one ex-youth-basketball coach scratching his head–how do you defend the fast break??!!
Along the outside face of the wall, a “beach” for the Old City. Sand is scarce in Croatia so if you can swim from it, it’s a beach!
Sunset views abound from Dubrovnik. This view is from the Homeland Museum on Mt. Srd (yes spelling is correct–see Missing Vowels post!) adjacent to the Old City, accessed by cable car.
Dubrovnik Old Harbor at night.
Our last meal together in Dubrovnik. Though we nominally went our separate ways after the bike tour, we had frequent meet-ups because we loved each others’ company. Jeff and Ingrid are missing because they had a plane to catch.
Betsy and I took a day to visit Lapad Beach and the Cave Bar with the Rosskopfs. Lapad Beach is a 40 min. walk from the Old City and refreshingly less tourist-packed.
The Cave Bar is built in an old limestone cave underneath a hotel. You can enter from a rocky cliff face along the water.
Betsy surveys a chasm from her precarious perch in the Cave Bar.
Farewell to Dubrovnik! We leave with great appreciation for our friends and many vivid memories .