Croatia and a couple of Balkans, 1 - into Dubrovnik

Anne (my sister-in- law) and I had decided on a short break in Croatia. Anne had rather bravely flown in from her home in Florida on a Sunday morning and so we stayed in Gatwick to take a 7.00am flight out to Dubrovnik on the Monday. I could not imagine the depth of her jet lag as we struggled out of bed at 4.00am in a Premier Inn on the outskirts of the airport to check in our luggage and take the flight. The only slight reward was the tail end of the total eclipse of the moon we caught as we drove out.

The weather was beautifully clear on the flight and we had great views of the Dolomites and the Croatian coastline.

It took a while to collect our rented car from the airport in Dubrovnik as the guy was on his own and was having to book people in as well as checking and washing returning cars. We were staying in an apartment with a small kitchen in Lapad, opposite the place where the cruise liners docked on the outskirts of the city. Our host was a tremendously energetic and skinny guy called Slavko who wanted to entertain us with wine in the evening and to run us back and forth if necessary ( I think Anne was the attraction). His first act of kindness was to give Anne a quick run around the area to spot the bus stop into the centre and the local supermarket.

It was 3.00pm by the time we set out to go into the old town. We were both very tired but did not want to waste the opportunity.

I had not realised how quaint old Dubrovnik is. The war damage has almost completely been repaired, only the new red tiles on the roofs of the buildings shows how extensive the damage must have been.

We entered the city from the north through the Pile gate. The first thing we saw was the Onofrio Fountain, still flowing with water. There were a large number of tourists around and I hate to think how crowded it must be in August.

The main street, the Stradun, all shiny marble runs past the Franciscan Monastery on the left which requires an admission fee, but we forked out and went in. There was not a lot to see inside but there are some beautiful cloisters and an original pharmacy (in which photography is not allowed).

The Stradun runs south to a square and clock tower at the end. We happened across a bride and groom who were being hassled by a rather drunken Australian.

On the lefthand side the houses go up the hill with steep steps acting as streets. These were fabulous areas to wander around and I developed a fascination for the laundry hanging between the houses.

As the time drew on we went out of the city from the southern gate and took a cable car up Mount Srd to see the sun go down. The car ends in a glass visitor centre and not many people left the sanctuary of the centre. We walked out and down the road  to get a better view over the sea and the islands lying in a blue haze off the coast. Mount Srd, occupying such a strategic position was a centre of activity during the civil war and there are a number of monuments at the top.

On getting back to the city there was nothing to do but have a quick wander around in the gloom and then make our way back to the bus and the apartment. Here are some views around the Stradun, Luza Square and the Rector's palace.

We went to a cheaper area to eat following the directions of our host Slavko and each had an excellent, deep night's sleep.