We are looking forward to our stay here as people have been telling us how beautiful Dubrovnik is.
George Bernard Shaw famously said:
"those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik".
The old town does not disappoint.
We are told that this is one of the few old towns in the world where many people live year-round. There do seem to be lots of people living here as we look down into their courtyards from above.
Despite being a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik was shelled in 1991. It had been left virtually unprotected as no one thought anyone would dare attack it. From the start to the end of the attacks, 68% of the buildings in the old town had been hit by shells; the walls had sustained 111 direct hits; plus 314 hits on the baroque buildings and marble streets. The price of repair and reconstruction was estimated at USD 10 Million. Seven burnt baroque palaces were the greatest losses.
Its 38 degrees here and humid as usual ... feels like about 46 degrees.
Today is the day to walk the old wall. A new sun hat, a folding fan and frequent hydration stops are the only way to survive.
After looking down on the old town from the walls above we enjoy the narrow twisting alleys and the main promenade from street level.
Here, some Croatian singers and dancers in traditional clothing:
Here, grandchildren accompany their grandfather as he busks to the crowd:
And this woman sells trinkets in the street:
There are numerous churches, synagogues and mosques. We only make it into a few:
We catch a Salvador Dali exhibition:
Random photos from Old Town Dubrovnik:
A small inset in a massive stone wall:
A close up of a section of a water fountain:
Everyone trying to cool off:
A view down one of the many alleys:
In a square at the end of the main street in Old Town:
This woman had several exotic birds. She wanted you to pay her to have your photo taken with one of her birds on you:
Play chess with a Champion:
Looking down on some kind of palm:
Later dinner by the river:
Today we spoil ourselves and go on a boat tour that includes time on 3 of the Elafiti Islands: Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan. This is get picked up at where you are staying, boat serves lunch and drinks, beach time each island and delivered home at end of day...no thinking or planning involved.
We find that the bays we swim in on these islands are warmer than what we've been used to as they are shallow. We wander a bit on each island...a church here, a botanical garden there, but mostly we swim and relax.
A monastery on Kolocep:
Ruins in a botanical garden:
A more expensive tour than ours looks like a pirate ship:
I am dressed for the beach so I can't go into this church. Even from the doorway, I can see the beauty in the relative simplicity of this place of worship on the beach.
Our boat the Ribica was just built in the past year. It's all bright works & shiny:
We are told that an Italian papa built this hotel as a wedding gift to his daughter:
Today the heat and humidity continue. We head to Old Town early. Want to see the war photo museum.
There are currently 3 shows on exhibit with photos from award-winning photo-journalists.
The Human Price of war documents 2 years of conflict in Yemen. 18 million people require humanitarian aid. Its the largest food security emergency in the world...the number of civilians killed or injured is staggering.
Another show documents the end of Yugoslavia.
The next show is called The Protective Edge and is about the conflict in Gaza in 2014.
Everyone who advocates for violence or conflict as a problem resolution needs to see these exhibits. The suffering is unimaginable.
For more info check out:
Our landlady recommends we take a walk to a bistro and order some ribs. We are stunned by the beautiful setting.
These teens are lining up to climb the tree and jump into the water.
And the food is about the best we've had in Croatia ... although way too much.
Early home. Early bus in the morning to Herceg Novi in Montenegro. No breakfast needed.
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