Adventures to the Balkans Travelogue Pt 5.: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Now we come to the fifth part of the tour. As you recall we spent 2 days in Hotel Croatia at Dubrovnik; today's travelogue starts at the hotel on the evening of Day 4. Dinner was free-and-easy, so we opted for a walk down to the town and a tasty seafood platter.
Before we entered the town, we took the opportune time to take some photos at the picturesque hotel, which had 4,000 rooms!
She's like water, slipping through fingers but holding up ships.
The sunsets in the Balkans are always so pretty due to the faraway horizons.
Finally walking down to the town.
Yachts parked lazily along the docks.
One of the prettiest sunsets we observed so far - pink hues segueing into the light blue of the twilight.
The little town near the hotel.
What a sight to behold!
This was dinner~ A delicious seafood platter.
After the morning's breakfast of delicious meats and cheeses (as per usual) we arrive at the central part of the city where many episodes of Game of Thrones was filmed.
This is Fortress Bokar, which was where King's Landing in Game of Thrones was based. It was built in the 14-16 century and was an important point of defence for the city of Dubrovnik.
Here behind me, you can see St. Lawrence's Fortress. Named Lovrijenac in Croatian, it is often called Dubrovnik's Gibraltar, is located outside the western city walls. Lovrijenac was defended with 10 large cannons, with two drawbridges lead to the fort. They bear the inscription, "Non-Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro" – "Freedom is not to be sold for all the treasures in the world."
The eastern side of the city lies the second-largest entrance to the fortress, known as the Gate of Ploče.
Above the gate, you can see a statue of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik.
The fountain, known as Big Onofrio Fountain, is built by an Italian architect, who brought drinking water to the city.
The facade of the Franciscan Monastery.
Church of St. Blaise.
You would see these little statues around the city of a cat head.
A lovely view of Stadrun Street.
A picture with the columns of Sponza Palace (State archives). In Croatian it is known as Palača Sponza, also known as Divona (from dogana, customs), It is a 16th-century palace whose name is derived from the Latin word "spongia", or a place where rainwater was collected. The palace's atrium served as a business meeting place and a trading hub. An inscription on an arch reads:
Fallere nostra vetant et falli pondera. Meque pondero cum merces ponderat ipse deus.
"Our weights do not permit cheating. When I measure goods, God measures with me."
Most of the old cities you'd see in the Balkans have old limestone or cobblestone roads.
One can only fathom what these hallowed walls have seen over the hundred years they were built.
Ice-cream stop!
This time, I opted for double fudge chocolate gelato.
Here we are with a busker playing the traditional Croatian violin, named Lijerica.
Finally, after a tour of the city of Dubrovnik, we proceed onward with sightseeing along the walls.
A parting shot of the fortress.
Walking by the dock.
A beautiful panorama of the city from the hill overlooking the destination.
Nosh of the day - Fish and then Pork and Zucchini for dinner!
EU Travels Adventure to the Balkans Croatia Dubrovnik Stadrun Street Onofrio Fountain Franciscan Monastery Sponza Palace Bell Tower Orlando's Column Church of St. Blaise Dubrovnik Walls Singapore Travelogue Girl Travels Wanderlust Adventure to the Balkans Review EU Travels Singapore
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