We met up with the others at breakfast although it was a chapter of accidents as we arrived early and asked for a table for 8 only to find half way through the meal that the others were sitting around the corner. We also got caught up with the disembarking excursion groups and were late to meet them on the pier at Gruz. However, we took 2 taxis and arrived quickly at the main gate, Piles gate (pronounced ‘Pee-Lay’). This was the only place where we had to take ID to get out of the port area.


We didn’t do a tour as Philip was our guide around the wall . The city was founded in the 7th century by the Romans when it was called Ragusium. The name Dubrovnik dates from the end of WW1. It was one of the 5 great Maritime cities, along with Amalfi and Venice, but its fortunes later declined. In 1992 it was shelled from above during the break up of Yugoslavia. It was already a UNESCO World Heritage site so a lot of effort went into restoration. The new roofs were obvious from above.


The walls were begun in the 12th century and work continued for 500 centuries. The double wall is 6350 feet long and in parts 20 feet thick and 80 feet high. It is suggested that the walk takes 1-2 hours and we took about 2 and a half. The temperature was fine, the air was clear and the sun shone for most of the time. We went into all corner towers and took heaps of photos. We saw a few people in nearby houses, lots of washing and satellite dishes, a school and many cafes. The views from all angles were beautiful . The old town was completed in the 13th century and is virtually unchanged, except for the restoration after the Serb bombing.


Very few of the original tile roofs remain, an indication of the devastation from the shelling. The city is a sea of new looking orange roofs, broken up by some church domes. At one spot we couldn’t resist taking a photo of what appeared to be a corrugated iron roof, because it was so different from all the others. We also saw what appeared to have been a house or part of a house which had lost its roof and the walls had been left to make a courtyard area. We also heard the church bells ringing.


I had a booklet about the walls which we referred to occasionally. It told us that archeological evidence says a large building was here in the 5th century. The existing Pile gate and a drawbridge were built in 1533.


The currency here is the kuna so I used our credit card to get local money for the 4 of us . The taxi driver had given us an idea of he exchange rate and we took out 300 kuna, about $75. As it cost 70 kuna each to walk the walls we had to get extra for lunch and also to buy stamps. A number of places did accept the euro so we bought a few items.


The 8 of us then walked down the main street, Placa Stradun, and onto the small waterfront area. There were a number of boats offering tours including glass bottom boat. We walked around the bottom of the walls to the area where people were dipping their feet in the water. At this stage we split into 2 groups.


Irene, Rewyn and I went into the cathedral. It was originally built by Richard the Lionheart who was shipwrecked onto the nearby island. He promised to build a church if he survived and the locals persuaded him to build it in Dubrovnik and built a smaller one on the island.


John spotted a market so that was our next stop. As well as local handicrafts, they had tastings of the local liqueurs. Irene ought a lemon one and we bought one made from roses. Raewyn found a lovely glass plate. They had range of sizes, colours and patterns but this was the nicest. There were some nice white lacy angels but they were stiffened and I was not sure if I could get it home . Being on the last leg we seem to be buying more and I have to remind myself we still have to get to England with one bag each.


We then headed for the cable car, not quite sure where it started from. We found it easily and with a 15 minute wait for the 3pm ride. Just before we left, Philip, Anna, Rex and Trish arrived so we all went up together. The cable car was running on the hour and half hour. The views were spectacular and you could get a good idea of the size of the town and the city wall we walked earlier. You could also see how exposed the city was to the shelling they were exposed to in recent years. It looked wonderful from the top. There was also a cross as a memorial to those killed in the Serb bombing in 1991/1992.


After icecreams in the town I called in to the oldest Pharmacy still existing on the original site n the world. Or so it is reputed. I also had a quick look at the attached museum in an old monastery. We all caught up by thee Onofrio Fountain, built in 1438 to provide water to much of the city. We then taxied back to the boat.


It was an amazing shore day for us and a great start for Irene and Raewyn. Pictures can not really do the city justice. I was also Philip and Anna’s anniversary so they were delighted to revisit a favourite place on the day. They celebrated with a meal in the pinnacle Grill (you pay an extra $20 to east there but they raved about it next day). We shared a table of 10 with 4 people from the USA, including a former Maths then History teacher who was very interesting to talk to. The final 2 people at the table were from Auckland and we politely (I hope) but firmly disagreed with some of their forcefully expressed opinions.