Embarking on King’s Landing: Dubrovnik

The drive from Mostar to Dubrovnik was longer than anticipated. There was traffic and many stops at what seemed like far too necessary passport controls from Bosnia/Herz into Croatia. However we were rewarded with stunning views of coastline and vineyards along the way. Our big bus drove along the tiny 2 way highway, which seemed as if we moved just a couple inches, we would tumble down several thousands of feet to our death. .Some passages were uneasy with our turns and the zero separation from the sea below. We drove above beautiful beaches and adorable villages that really made you appreciate the Croatian coast.

The view from the bus window, driving down the coast

Our bus finally stopped at the port of Dubrovnik, a mile or so away from the city. The peninsula was said by other travelers as so stunning and deemed so gorgeous, only fit for the Lannisters (Game of Thrones reference) so I was anxious to finally see what it looked like. After some small confusion on which local bus to take to main town, we found it and so did the many people getting off their cruise ships which made for an uncomfortable ride.
When we arrived though, I saw that beautiful wall and the drawbridge that invited us inside and I was giddy to check out Kings Landing. We had splurged a bit on this hostel and it was worth it. After the long walk through and UP the city, we found an oasis from the crowds and our own room with a small window that looked out at the wall and beyond to the sea. The window always remained open when we were there: hearing the sea crash along the walls at night, and the gentle breeze and sunrise in the morning. I was so relaxed in that room.

Walking into town

Store signs disguised as lanterns

Our quaint room overlooking the wall

Right away, we decided to check off the reason why you come to Dubrovnik – to wall THE WALL. As we walked and took many many pictures, with each new turn seeming to warrant more as to be more beautiful or interesting than the last, with new aspect of the city or sea. It was super medieval and we felt drawn into the history of fortresses, porticun, tall walls and drawbridges next to small docks all that encompasses a small city of stone streets and red roofs. Hard to give it justice.
Enjoy, the slide show gallery of the “other Great Wall:”

We came back for our hostels happy hour where we met a few of our mates, exchanged travel stories and had our Croatian beer. We all left for dinner and ate at an authentic Croatian restaurant. It was delicious especially the bread and homemade Croatian olive oil I’ve been now drinking by the gallon.
After dinner we hit up Sky Bar with our new friends. Sky bar was not all that busy but those patrons in the bar were rowdy as they had been clearly drinking long before us. We got down while drinking out of our beach buckets with many straws, a nod to our not so long ago Hvar days at Kiva Bar. We danced till the bar closed and when the others bars didn’t seem like inviting options with cover fees, we called it a night and walked home in a very empty, peaceful city where the cruise ships and their passengers were far away.

Drinks outside our hostel

The “cold drinks” bar along the cliff, in front of the hostel

Buckets at Sky Bar

Dancing

Hostel mates

Walking the empty streets heading home

The next day we slept in, a lot. Like I said our bedroom was so relaxing. We made it out by afternoon and took a small boat to Lokrum island. I was especially excited to go as there were many scenes from GOT that I wanted to reenact. When we got there we were welcomed by dozens of the islands native peacocks. The island did have a feeling of mysticism and there is a long legend of the island being haunted and cursed to whoever may own it. We explored and ventured and I posed at locations I thought I recalled as part of the series. We walked into a small watering pool, they called the Dead Sea. After getting in and literally floating up and getting out and trying to scrape a pound of salt off of you, you could see it was appropriately named.

Walking through the city

Welcome from the island natives

Island gardens in an old monestary…so Game of Thrones!!!!

At sea level

Aaron relaxing

The island’s Dead Sea

Swimming

We headed back for dinner at a pizza place sitting outside in a romantic alley way. We had to be discerning on where we could eat because the restaurants here were so expensive, and we were already splurging on our accommodation, so a medium size pizza we shared, with as many baskets of bread they would give us and two small glasses of house wine. We picked up beer for happy hour at the center market and headed back to the hostel. Aaron carried on to a wine bar and Sky Bar with friends, where I headed up to bed and read by moonlight listening to the sea.

The next morning, our last day in Dubrovnik and Croatia!!! We had decided to kayak around the peninsula with a group. We woke up early and headed to a small rocky shoreline in front of the city’s entrance, along the wall. After a quick orientation we were off. It was awesome, and we had great conditions, not too windy or hot. We kayaked along the wall, which at this view point at sea level, proved how very tall and massive the walls were. We stopped at nearby beach to do some mild cliff diving and eat lunch. The kayak tour was a perfect end to celebrate the city’s beauty. When we got back we had some beers in front of our hostel, self service style, and reflected on Croatia.

Kayaking in the Agean

Passing the walls

From sea level point of view

Cliff jumping

So much work

The beach, pebbles of course

Aaron working hard, sometimes rowing for two :)

The city behind us

We quickly changed and checked out in 15 mins and walked up a steep hill to catch the airport shuttle, along the way trying to negotiate for a cheap taxi fare with no luck. Once at the stop, we waited and waited 40 mins. I stared to get nervous. There were no times at the stop and we had no idea when the next one was coming. Fortunately for us a taxi driver was taking the initiative and found us a Chinese couple to split the fare with. We arrived in perfect time, phew!, only to find out our flight was 3 hours delayed, so we headed to the cafeteria to spend whatever remaining kuna money we had on Food and beverages.
Eventually, we were off to Greece!