Day 18 - Monday May 1 - Dubrovnik Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia.  I never thought I would be here.   The hillside in front of the ship is right out of the picture books with all the white buildings and the red tiled roofs.  I stepped outside the dining room this morning to take these pictures as the ship docked.  The bridge is quite impressive as you enter the port.  Construction of the Dr. Franjo Summer Time Tudman Bridge was started in 1998, suspended during the Croatian War of Independence and finished in 2002.  

 

The pilot boat pulling alonngside to guide us into port

Our "included" tour, the Walking Tour of Old Town Dubrovnik left at 9:15 am this morning.  It was a quick 15 minute ride from the ship to the old city.   Our guide started our tour at the Pile Gate, the main entrance and the easiest.  The entire old city is a completely walled city.  Now there is a street that surrounds the city, but in the 11th - 13th century when the city was built, there was a moat that surrounded the walled city.  The walls and the buildings in the city are made entirely of stone.  It is a very large city with a system of forts, bastions and walkways intended to protect the city.  There are still, today, approximately 900 people that live in the old city.

For 35 euro you can buy a ticket, climb all the steps and walk the entire walled city.   I did not take that walk.  

Entrance to the city via the Pile Gate

You can see the original drawbridge mechanisms

    

One area where you can climb the steps to walk the entire walled city from up on high.  Later in the walk, I was able to catch a picture of people walking along the top of the walled city.

They created a system of collecting rain water and pumping it to the fountains.  This is Onofrio's Fountain designed in 1438.  Water is brought through a 12 km long supply system from a spring.  Here you could drink the water or wash your clothes.

There are still five active churches in the old city.  This one is St. Savior's Church.

There's an urban myth that if you can stand on this stone, stomach to the wall, and take your shirt off, you will have good luck for your lifetime.  

We continued our walk into the old city, passing the stores, just as they were built in the 11th century.  They had living quarters above them, some still occupied today.

the city streets and the stone walkways throughout the city smoothed to almost glass by the centuries of people walking on them.

Many of the buildings in town were destroyed by an earthquake in 1667.  When they were rebuilt, they complied with strict standards to make them all as original with them all being the same height.

We walked past the Franciscan monastery.  There are still 5 monks living quietly in the monastery.  Boys joined the monastery as a way to guarantee they got an education.  This old city also housed a convent.  The 2nd and further daughters often went into the convent.  When the parents only had sufficient money to pay the dowry, they paid it for the 1st daughter who got married.   Unless daddy had a lot of money or the 2nd daughter was a favorite, all the other daughters, other than the first went into the convent.

One of at least four entrances / exits out of the old city, climbing steps to a gate letting you out of the fortressed city.

This clock tower is over 100 ft tall and was built around the 15th century.  Next to it is the Sponza Palace which was under reconstruction in the square called Luza Square.  In the square is also another church (big surprise) Sveti Vlaho Church.  It is still operating and you could go in if you wished.  Our tour guide pushed on and I wasn't able to enter the church.

We walked to the Dominican Monastery and were able to enter.  There are three monasteries, one for the Franciscan monks, only 5 monks live there.  This one for the Dominicans (only 6 monks live in this beautiful and large monastery).  The third monastery is occupied by the Jesuit monks.

Walking through the streets on the way to the Domenican monastery.

The well in the monastery from which they drank

The design included dips in the walls that could be filled with water the horses could drink - inside the monastery walls.

There was a Renaissance art museum inside the monastery.  This was an alter piece (therefore the cut out for the altar).

The crucibles used during the 14th century.

There was a room full of jewelry as well to look at.  

crypts on the floor in the monastery museum

We walked to the old harbor, before the new harbor (where our ship is docked).  This was still all part of the old city with the harbor sitting at the edge of the walled city.

These stone rings in the walls were there to tie up the ships in the harbor.

St. Blaise's Church, originally built in the 14th century was destroyed by an earthquake.  It was rebuilt a second time in 1715, having been destroyed by a fire in 1706.  St. Blaise is considered the patron saint of Dubrovnik from the 10th century

The Rector's Palace used between the 14th century and 1808.  You were elected Rector but only served one month.  This eliminated our political problems but it was hard to get anything done in just one month in office.  You couldn't be re-elected for 2 years.  It was more of a figurehead position as there was also a governing body.  In addition to the Rector having to live there and not go outside for the month, it was also the prison.  Prisoners could see the comings and goings of important people on state business.

This is the Jesuit Staircase that descends to Gundulic Square from St. Ignatius Church (behind the clock).  Anyone recognize these steps?  The Game of Thrones filmed scenes on these steps called the "Walk of Shame".

The tour ended here and we decided to stay and have lunch in town right near these steps.   At noon each day, the pigeons are fed right next to our outdoor restaurant.   Over 200 pigeons arrived for a feeding frenzy.  The clock tower struck noon and the pigeons went crazy.

We ordered a cappuccino and had to wait for lunch.   The restaurant wouldn't serve food until after Noon when the pigeons were fed and finally left. I'm still sticking with the story that Wayne ordered two trays of fritto calimari.  We tried a Croatian beer.  Not bad!

We worked our way back to the pick up point and caught a shuttle back to the ship.  A few last pictures from the bus as we returned.  

I left Wayne when we got off the bus.  There is a supermarket next to the pier and I went in search of Tums and Gaviscon.  Guess why!  Well it appears there are no 'over the counter pharmaceuticals" in supermarkets.   I have to go to a Farmacia to find an antacid!  Help!  I'm running out of Tums! Maybe tomorrow in Montengro?  Or in Greece?