Dubrovnik

This morning we had a two hour guided tour of the old city of Dubrovnik.  Our guide is a native of the city and in 1991 lived through a year long stretch of the Serbian army shelling the city.  Her husband is in the merchant marine and was at sea, unable to return to the city, so she endured the experience, along with her children, her mother and her sister, while her husband was unable to communicate with his family to find out how they were doing.  There is a memorial to the "defenders of Dubrovnik" in one of the city museums, honoring those who died during that time.

However, the events of 1991 were covered in less than two minutes of the tour.  Our guide is a historian and tried to squeeze 2000 years of Dubrovnik history into a 2 hour tour.  Dubrovnik has been a significant seaport of the Adriatic throughout history, and through much of that time has been an independent state.  It has endured earthquakes, sieges, attacks and epidemics.  These days it is a major stop for many cruise ships and there are literally hoards of tour groups wandering through the old town.

We made an attempt to escape the mob of tourists at lunch time, and were lucky enough to find a vacant table at an outdoor cafe where we shared a pizza.  We did a little shopping for souvenirs for some kids we've been missing (guess who) and returned to our hotel for some down time before returning to a quieter city for the evening.  We had a relaxing afternoon sitting on the hotel terrace, reading and stitching.

Dubrovnik by night was a beautiful setting in which to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary.

The view from our breakfast area is wonderful.  We are staying at a hotel located just outside of the walled part of town.

This is one of only two gates into the city.  It has a drawbridge and was originally built in the 12th century (it has been rebuilt since).  Up until the 15th century you had to spend up to 40 days living in quarantine before you were allowed to enter the city.

The foundations of the harbor walls date to an 6th century Greek settlement - however recent findings seem to indicate an older origin.  The "city" was just a small village until the invading Slavs drove the residents from the neighboring town of Epidaurus into the settlement.  It gradually grew and became an independent city state inhabited by "Romanized Illyrians and Serbs.  It remained independent until Napoleon conquered the city in the 1800s.

The city state had the second largest fleet on the Adriatic.  It also had the "best natural harbor" on the Dalmatian coast (so named after a local tribe).  You can see one of the cruise ships in the distance.  They anchor offshore and ferry in THOUSANDS of passengers.

This is the main square with St Blaise's church.  The church has its origins in the 12th century however it has been rebuilt after the earthquake in the 18th century.  St. Blaise was NEVER in the city, however a local monk had a dream in which St. Blaise warned him of a Venician invasion.  The warning led to the defeat of the Venicians - after which Blaise became their patron saint.  Supposed his bones are buried in the church.

Statues of St. Blaise are all over the town.

Here is the main inner wall of the fortress.  The bell tower stands next to the second gate.  It was sinking due to the rise in sea water when the town tore it down and rebuilt it in the early 1900s.

In honor of our anniversary Sandy and I had a local brew.

The square was all lite up as we left after dinner.