Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia

            Friday, 14 Apr 2017 – Since we had visited Dubrovnik previously (on 9 Dec 2011), we made no plans to take an excursion today.  Our main memory of that previous visit still centers on the tour guide who might have been the world’s worst guide!  Although we remember seeing some exhibits that day from an old monastery, soon we became separated from the group.  Luckily, he had already pointed out the bus we could take back to the pier just in case this would happen, or perhaps he hoped he would lose everyone?  (We met another person who was also left by him, and there might have been more.)  At any rate, we did find our way back to the ship, and that experience spoiled Jesse’s impression of the city.

            Actually, Dubrovnik is a very old city on the Mediterranean that has been invaded or taken over by all of the neighboring powers throughout history.  In the 1300’s, it was already advanced: medical care for all in 1301, the first pharmacy in 1317, an almshouse in 1347, orphanages about that same time, and abolishment of slavery in 1418.  Although we walked for a time in the street nearest the pier, it would have been a 40-minute walk to the “old city,” with more walking there.  Therefore, we didn’t go nearly that far.  In an earthquake, much of the old city had been destroyed and thousands of people had died; however, UNESCO promoted rebuilding to the former appearance of the city, which happened.

Houses are built on the sides of the hill facing the harbor, even where we walked.  One must climb steep stairways in order to reach buildings beyond the first block or so.  Although this was a cool day of about 57 degrees, the sun was warm and some palm trees grow here.  We walked by signs advertising rooms or apartments for rent, cafés, a post office (closed for Good Friday), and a building supply outlet.  Besides our ship in the small harbor, also a ferry and another cruise ship (MSC) nestled nearby.  Sally noticed that vehicle license plates here begin with “DU,” which is close to the familiar “DE” in Europe for Deutschland (Germany).  (License plates in India also signify city, such as “GO” for “Goa.”)  At 4:00 our ship sailed away, heading mostly north toward our last stop, Venice.

Portrait Photo

Since this was the final “Dress Up or Not” night, we decided to dress up and have a portrait photo taken by one of the ship’s photographers.   At dinner we shared a table with an Australian couple who had a few things in common with us.  For one, they sailed once on the Costa Concordia, as we also did.  (The Concordia shipwrecked off the coast of Italy a few years ago.)  Also, they have visited Midwest USA (Chicago).