Dubrovnik

Not to be excluded.  Dubrovnik is the king.  So much to do and see here.  Kinda wish I were staying longer.  My host met me at the Ploce gate and helped me with my luggage to the apartment.   It is the biggest place I have had yet.  It is very nice.  Though up 5 flights of steps.  He told me about the Dubrovnik pass which gets me into city walls and other museums as well as free bus pass.  I will do the 3 day one.

Walked city walls.  Quite impressive. Great views.  Did the Game of Thrones walk.  The guide was wonderful.  Even though I am not a follower of the series, it made no difference because I still learned a lot.  He included facts about Dubrovnik and how the city has changed due to the notoriety of the series.  The scenery here is magnificent. No wonder this is a location for many movies and series.  Everything is massive and it is so impressive. 

I really wanted to go to Ston so took the bus from Dubrovnik.  Easy getting there.  I walked to the bus station in Dubrovnik cuz I had time and the path took me up the big mountain.  Had a wonderful view.  Walked up a lot stairs to get there.  Once in Ston the walls and steps seemed daunting, but I came to walk so I did it.  Not as bad as it looks.  Koko head stairs is much worse.  Ston is famous for oysters so had to try some.   They were good but I had better ones from Olympia Washington.  These oysters were on the small side.   Still tasted good though.   Learning the bus system was alittle tricky, but i was finally getting it.  I had the 3 day bus pass so figured I’d use it.

Found my way to the Cave Bar in Lapad.  Took the bus to get there. Went to the nearby beach first.  This beach was sandy.  Didn’t go for a swim, but enjoyed the sun.  Went to the Cave Bar to watch the sunset.  It was nice, but I wanted to sit out side rather than inside the cave.   Sunsets were always awesome. 

Next day I took the ferry to Lopud Island.   It has only 300 inhabitants and no cars.   It was pretty cool.   The beach Sunj was nice.   The water was cool but refreshing.   Ferry was late going back and we had to change boats midway.   Little confusing but I made it back to Dubrovnik.

Well my excursion to Montenegro was cancelled due to lack of people so I changed my plans.  Decided to take the ferry to Lokrum Island nearby.  You might know Lokrum island from Game of Thrones.  It is also known as the island of peacocks.  Nobody lives there.  It was inhabited before monks.  They were forced to leave by someone if power and legend has it that they cursed it to this who might live there later.  It went through hands of Austrian monarchy of which some went insane or killed.  There is a fort there now, and monastery and a botanical garden. 
I found it quite charming.   Loved the peacocks roaming freely.   Then I walked up to the fort.   It was quite an awesome hike, but was very nice up at the top.  What an awesome view.  This is where they could really watch for incoming ships.   Walking through the fort,  I found it fascinating.   It was also a lovely place to view the ocean from.  Caught the ferry back and headed to the cable car. 

Since the cable car in Dubrovnik was closed yesterday I didn’t want to miss it.  A little wait to get on but made it to the top.  Went to the war museum.   Found it very interesting and disturbing.  The seige of Dubrovnik started October of 1991.  Wasn’t that long ago. Yugoslavia wanted them to succeed. It lasted for 7 monrhs.  The Croatians held them off to their surprise.  Dubrovnik and the old city walls were bombed.   Very sad.  The resilience of the people held off the aggressors.  Finally peace was negotiated and they formed their own government.  The old city was rebuilt, but remnants of the war remain in the hearts of the people and in the decimated buildings where bullet holes remain to remind them to never forget.  Amazing that this was only 30 years ago.  The older people remember but the young ones do not… only through the stories.  One of my guides said he was 2 and his mother and grandmother hid in the bathroom for days.  The strength and fortitude of the Croatian people hold true today.  As I leave this country I will never forget.  The history and the magnificence of this place live on.  There are places I wish to come again and places I never made it to.   Part of my heart will stay here and I hope to someday come back.  he history and the magnificence of this place live on.  There are places I wish to come again and places I never made it to.   Part of my heart will stay here and I hope to someday come back. 

My time in Croatia has ended, but it has left a place in my heart.  It is massive and yet a small country.  It holds so much from the beautiful Istrian area of truffles and more, to the Kuterevo Bear reserve with its wonderful people, to all the waterfalls and the beautiful islands full of wonder and beauty, to the historical Split and the dominant Dubrovnik, one could not ask for more.  Croatia is a magical place.  A place that will leave you wanting for more…