Dubrovnik

We arrived in Dubrovnik at the civilized hour of 9am.  The ship docked a few kms out from the old town so we caught a couple of taxis to the Pile Gate, the furthest you can go by car, after that it’s all shanks pony as the old town is pedestrian only.  We walked over the real life drawbridge, just like the castles of old and entered the UNESCO designated old town of Dubrovnik.  This is my 3rd time here and each time it enchants me with it’s narrow streets, cobbled roads all encircled by the high stone walls of the town.  Some of it has been patched up by new concrete and the terracotta tiles on the roofs are new after they blasted the hell out of it during the 1991 war.

Like Venice, Dubrovnik was settled by refugees escaping the pillaging & sacking of their home areas, it was a very nasty time, and made themselves a nice life on rocky islands & outcrops and becoming very commercially viable.  Dubrovnik started life out being called Ragusa as it was founded on rocks around 639AD. I’m not sure when it had the name change but it appears it was after 1713.  Dubrovnik means ‘well wooded’ after the hardwood forests around that was used to build ships.

Five of us, Maureen, Roger, Ellen & us two decided to walk the wall.  It begun with a climb of approx 90 very steep stairs, just inside the main gate.  That wasn’t the end of the stairs as all around the wall we climbed up & down a series of them.  Someone told us there were about 600 of them and I can easily believe it. The wall dates back to around the 13th century although parts of it are 21st century judging by the repair job.  I think the circumference is only about 2-3 km but it was very hot and by the time we stopped and looked at the view & rested & walked slowly with lots of photos, it took us approx 2 hours.  The views were spectacular and the colour of the sea was this beautiful sapphire blue and so clear we could see the bottom in some parts.  Kayaks cruised slowly past and looked so clear & outstanding against this amazing colour of the sea.  No photo can capture it, it really has to be seen to be believed.  By the time we finished the walk, I must admit I had had enough of the wall and was well & truly ready to come down.

We had somehow lost Ellen by now as she loves her photography so lingered a lot to try & capture the magical scene. M & R & us decided we would catch the ferry to Cavtat, a seaside resort town across the harbour & a trip of 1 ½ hours. It started life as a Roman town and is where Edward VIII & Wallace Simpson honeymooned. I can understand why, it was so tranquil over there, very clear water that looked so tempting to have a swim although no beach to speak of so you have to climb down stairs then walk or jump into the rocky waters.  Not much to do there so very relaxing and lots of restaurants with a scattering of souvenir shops.  We spent an extremely pleasant hour or so sitting at a local café that was recommended to us by fellow ferry passengers and dined on squid, salad & pizza as we gazed across the still blue waters with the bobbing yachts and dramatic Dalmatian coastline.

We wandered down the main street and bought a couple of t- shirts & a lovely necklace for me that was very nautical looking and matched the new t-shirt perfectly.  After that the day turned to shit.

We climbed aboard the ferry to take us back, which by this time had a lot of people onboard.  As I stepped in, I stepped on the first step but somehow missed the next one and down I went like a sack of salts.  It happened so quick I didn’t even feel myself falling but I somehow twisted up and hit my back on the step and was all askew.  I couldn’t move as there was such a pain in my back and I felt almost winded.  Jon & the captain somehow managed to drag me up onto a seat and I sat very quietly for quite sometime.  Lucky I seem to be made of elastic as I had come right in about 20 minutes and have been good as gold ever since.  We seem to be determined to injure ourselves on this trip, maybe it’s just attention seeking.

After we got back we found an internet café to catch up on emails.  I hate foreign computers as the keyboard is different, but not only was the keyboard different but what it said on the keys wasn’t necessary what that key was.  So after trying to get into our email for 10 minutes, wasting time & money & the girl behind the bar couldn’t give a toss as she smoked away & chatted to the single guys. We gave up and went back to the ship, being hot & tired by this time & more than a little grumpy.  I had a shower & got changed for diner & thought I would try on my new necklace.  Well, we have no idea what happened to it but it never made it back to the ship & suspect that bitch back at the bar is now in possession of it.  I don’t know if that is true but it capped off an afternoon that was so pleasant and suddenly turned to manure.  I will get over it but still feel a little miffed.

Do you think he needs help?

We have had a lovely day at sea, busy morning with a lecture from the Scotland Yard crime scene investigator, then the cooking show from master chef commendatore Alfredo Marzi, who is a real trick, followed by bingo.  I won bingo the other day.  The prize was $90 but unfortunately I had to share with another person (the only time 2 people have won!) still I was happy with my $45 and spent it in Dubrovnik.  The jackpot for bingo is now $1800 so it’s really exciting now!

Then we transited the Messina Strait which is the narrow point between the toe of Italy and the island of Sicily.  At it’s narrowest point it’s only 1.6 kms wide.  It was an amazing journey as we were so close to Italy and saw the town which seemed to stretch forever and an incredible road they have built around this mountainous area.  It was a concrete road all built up on pylons and kept disappearing into the side of the hills.  The pilot got on board to guide us through the strait and the ship didn’t slow down much so this tiny boat had to scoot up to us at approx 16 knots p/h and the pilot leaped onto the ropes to climb aboard.  Even the captain came out on the bridge bit that sticks out the side of the boat and whipped out his little pocket camera to take a photo!

Next stop is Naples then we have a busy schedule of 5 days in a row of 12 hour days in different ports.  There is Naples tomorrow, then Rome, then Florence then Cannes then Barcelona so I doubt I will be writing much more until next week.  We only have a week & a half to go so nearly the end of the trip & this blog.