Unforgettable Historic Dubrovnik

Where do I start...walking around the walled city..visiting the many churches, museums, fountains...attending outdoor concerts..spending hours in conversations with Dubrovnik's citizens...visiting beaches on the many islands within a few minutes of the city...staying in a private home and being accepted as family....looking at old stone buildings pocked with bullet and shell holes from the 1991-2 artillery and incendiary bombing by the Serbs, wondering how anyone could attempt to destroy this beautiful and historic city.

Quick Tips:

You need to spend a number of days here, perhaps at least a week, to fully appreciate what this unique city has to offer. If you visit during the summer months, be aware that it can get very hot. Attempt to stay in a private home if possible to meet real people who live in this city.

Best Way To Get Around:

I took a ferry from Split to Dubrovnik which was wonderful...very inexpensive and enjoyable. Or you can fly to Dubrovnik from Zagreb. I returned to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, by air due to a time crunch, and the cost ran around based on no advanced reservations. Once in Dubrovnik, you walk around the old city. If you stay outside the old city, as I did, you can talk the trolly, which is dirt cheap. Boats to the many nearby islands leave from the waterfront every half-hour and are inexpensive..around a dollar.

As I got off the ferry, there were a number of women approaching tourists, offering rooms in their homes. These women were quite aggressive in the hopes, of course, of earning money. An older women approached me, offering a room in her home. She barely spoke any English but I decided to leave with her, trusting that her place would be adequate. First, we took the trolley, than we started walking, actually climbing hundreds of stairs to a very hilly hill, overlooking the city. By now, with my heavy backpack, I''m exhausted, wondering if I had made a mistake in following this woman. Finally we reached her place and am I surprised-beautiful home with incredible views..a private room for around $8 a night.

Her family was helpful and friendly, especially her daughter who spoke very good English.

Check out the views from this place...

There are so many good restaurants in Dubrovnik..this particular one serves very good seafood and since you are on the sea, you really need to have at least one seafood dinner while visiting.

During the summer, you dine on a tree-lined terrace which creates a pleasant atmosphere.

My meal was a combination of seafoods and the price ran around $13.

I spend many mornings, before the intensive heat of the day, walking around the old city. You can actually walk on top of the surrounding walls which will give you a birds-eye view of the city(see photos)..you can start your tour at Pile Gate, and walk down Placa, a wonderful pedestrian promenade..of marble-paved and cobbled streets..walk to the Onofrio Fountain and continue walking to the Clock Tower.

Getting up to the top of the wall isn't easy..you'll need to take a side street to find a narrow stairway..I walked around before it was open to the public..due to the intense heat I decided to walk very early in the morning. The advantage is having the place to yourself and capturing the essence of early morning life in the Old Town.

This is truly a unique monastery(see photos) for here is the third-oldest functioning pharmacy in Europe, which has operated since 1391. Centuries ago, the church or the monasteries dispensed with drugs so if you were sick, that's where to went.

There is an admission charge to enter but well worth the two dollars to experience and view this ancient pharmacy and a museum.

This was a palace, built in 1441, between two churches, the baroque cathedral and St.Blaise, used as housing for the rector. The elected rector was not permitted to leave this building during his one-month term without permission from the senate. Today it is a museum with furnished rooms, baroque paintings, and many historical exhibits. Take a look at my photos of this place and the unusual paintings.

Since 1960 the government of Croatia has encouraged and promoted nudism so most of the beaches in Croatia are nude. This beach was no exception. If your not comfortable at a nude beach, there is a small strip of beach for traditional bathing.

I decided to try nude bathing and found it liberating and natural. After two days,I was comfortable with not wearing a bathing suit. No one was inappropriate, no one I saw took advantage of anyone, people were relaxed, enjoying themselves.