Drank a lot today; both Slovenia and Croatia lay claim to some of the safest tap water in the world, so Dubrovnik, just 40.5km from Montenegro, was all good, safe and still in Croatia. No sickness here. 

Population 41,562 (census 2021), Dubrovnik welcomed about 1.5m tourists during 2023. The city dates back to the 7th century, it is famous for medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and of course as a filming location for Game of Thrones. (Parts of the old town stood in for the fantasy city of King’s Landing). Architecture includes Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings,  monuments, churches, palaces, monasteries and fountains. 

Dubrovnik is of course located on the Adriatic Sea, so this a.m. we donned our ‘togs’ and headed down to the water to join a Kayaking Tour.  

Took some photos on the way down the hill. 

But first, a breakfast of Kings (and cappuccino) in Old Town, where it is said the locals meet each morning to sort out the meaning of life. 

We didn’t see any locals. But we did have a local call us to tell us kayaking was off due to the wind. 

Plan B…..go back to Villa Dard to get rid of the ‘togs’ and head up the cable car to the Srd Hill for ‘the best views of Dubrovnik’.   It is after all a 412 metre elevation. Built in 1969, on a clear day you can apparently see 60km from the swinging car. It was a clear day but unfortunately that bloomin’ wind meant no views unless we found a way up there on our own.

Plan C….walk up Srd Hill, save 54€, and still get the ‘best views of Dubrovnik’. 

The track up started in a reasonable fashion but quickly deteriorated. I was glad I had changed out of my sandals at the last minute. Tip of the Day: if there are rocks framing the paths on the edge, walking those are far easier. 

With twenty switchbacks and a temperature of 24, which felt like 28, we were feeling fairly thirsty and hungry once we got to the top. The Strava photo below indicates the switchbacks. We hadn’t finished at that stage.

Fortunately on the way up we were distracted by a number of inspirational quotes written on rocks. 

And amazed by the view. Who wouldn’t be 😆

Bonus. At the end of a number of switchbacks there was also the Stations of the Cross.

At the top of the hill is the Empire’s Forte. Constructed between 1806 to 1812 during the period of French rule it is dedicated to Napoleon the First. You can pay to go into the museum. Too hungry and thirsty for that stuff.

Lunch at the hill top restaurant seemed like a much better idea. Even in our hot, sweaty, dishevelled state the fancy restaurant was more than happy to seat us at a beautiful table with a gorgeous view and take our lovely euro.

Ignorance is total bliss. Well it’s worked for me. I have been more than happy to hand over that Qantas card, coughing up euros without a second thought. Until today. When MoD mentioned my 250ml Coke Zero was 7,90€ – which my friends, is equivalent to $12.39NZD. For 250ml. Cough, splutter, choke. 

Oh well….YOLO. 

Our lunch today also included a salad each, a small bottle of still water and a beer. At the bargain price of 72,66€…. hmmmm that would be $130.54NZD. Cough, splutter, choke. Oh well…YOLO….those euros need to be spent. I am NOT converting them back. But MoD, just so you know, you may not be eating for the next four days given I have taken it upon myself to feed us even though you protest heavily.  But that lunch was worth it…..To be fair, it is a little cheaper when you aren’t up on a big hill with an amazing view.

Having said that, Dubrovnik has been noted as one of the most expensive places in Croatia due to it being such a great tourist destination and all that.

We headed back down the hill, it took about 45 minutes up and 43 minutes down which wasn’t too bad. Of course when we got to the main road it was time to hit those stairs again.

Time for a rest with the hope we could still beat the pending thunderstorm and shortly head to our next activity.

The sky bike.

Oh wait, no that’s one for middle son, whom I know would do that in a blink of an eye. 

I would not.

Instead for us olds, it was a calm walk along the Old Town Wall, about 2km in total. After the thunderstorm of course. 

And also after a little wander to find one of the local swimming spots where a Japanese lady got too close to a big wave with her selfie. Just like you see in the movies. You won’t see that photo here. I’m not that quick. You will have to rely on me telling you to make you smile just that teeny bit. 

The first thing we spotted when we walked through the Pile Gate into Old Town was the Maskerone Stone…located on the wall of the Franciscan Monastery. Essentially a sculpted face/human head.  According to legend, a young man could not find love so he created a ritual which has now been taken up by tourists. To find love you must jump on the Maskerone Stone with your face facing the wall, stay on it while taking off your shirt then turn around and put your shirt back on. Without falling off. It’s a vow to “win” the maskeron for a happy love……hmmmmmm…..I have nothing to say to that really. I was waiting for someone to fall and turn their ankle. That’s how us olds think. 

We wandered the Old Town a little more, finding the ‘Walk of Shame’ scene (on the stairs) from Game of Thrones.

And then we walked the wall. It wasn’t cheap, at 35€ each (still cheaper than lunch) but well worth it. Mod said something about restraining myself with a 10 photo limit. Fat chance of that MoD.

All of the above photos are taken either pointed to the Adriatic or pointed towards interior Old Town. Once where the locals lived, mostly accommodation and rentals now.  

There were a lot of stairs. I realised part way through that not only do I not love stairs right now, but I am not comfortable with extreme height and no real barrier. Visions of a James Bond scenario where the villain rushes through with James hot on his tails. Inadvertently throwing me over the edge.

That didn’t happen.

There are also bars tucked away along the wall. Visions of one too many vodkas and a slip over the edge. I have an overactive imagination. According to MoD.

But no I did not love the height. 

We had ice cream and pizza afterwards. I had waved to a nun at the monastery, we had walked a ridiculous amount, headed up and down billions of stairs, over rocks, nooks and crannies and therefore I felt positively holy and worthy of that ice cream and pizza.

Last little bit of Old Town was a walk past and look into the Church of the Holy Annunciation, a wash of MoD’s hands in Onofrio’s Fountains, and quite a few more stairs out of Old Town and back up the hill to Villa Dard to pack up and prepare for Bosnia tomorrow.

Our feet are looking forward to sitting in the car for 4 hours.

We loved Dubrovnik. It’s well worth a visit. It’s a totally amazing place. The history is incredible. It has gorgeous little narrow rabbit warren streets full of adventure, twists and turns. Very safe. Lots of cats. You can buy a Dubrovnik cat t-shirt or hat. 

And it’s exhausting. 

And totally inaccessible to anyone with mobility issues.

If that isn’t you, go visit. You won’t be sorry.

Night folks.