Nathan's Insights

Monday 29 April 2024
Highlights: Exploring Dubrovnik

Today was the ninth country of this G Adventure tour and the tenth of this trip as we near the end of this adventure. Today we re-enter the European Union and visit Croatia.

First up as we left Kotor we have one last stop to admire the Bay of Kotor. It was stunning once again.

The border crossing was very quick considering we were entering the EU from a non-EU country. Unfortunately today’s mini bus had an AC failure with a full bus. Near the end of the trip it was 30c. Additionally our original hotel wasn’t yet re-opened so we had to move to another hotel (Hotel Adria) which was a lot further away from the fortress city of Dubrovnik. These things happen and you have to roll with it, the hotel is more modern.

We dropped our bags and Nadya provided a one way bus transfer ticket to the Old Town or the Walled Town of Dubrovnik. We had time before our G for Good moment to get lunch (we got ice cream!) and explore the Walled Town.

While Dubrovnik has been famous for centuries more recently it has been famous for being the location of King’s Landing in Game on Thrones.

Our G for Good Moment was a visit to the DEŠA Women’s Centre. This centre was originally established to help displaced Croatian women from the 1993 conflict with Serbia. It is about empowering these women and about teaching children about cooking traditional recipes while pushing for support for homeless women. The centre was located in an old quarantine building established in the 1600s which visitors had to use with Dubrovnik during that time being the meeting point of West (Europe) and East (Ottoman Empire).

We then started a very informative walking tour. We learnt or Dubrovnik was its own mini republic. We also learnt that in 1667 a Dubrovnik massive earthquake cost the town about three quarters of it’s population and effectively toppled the Town at the height of its power and influence.

The Walled Town where constructed mainly during the 13th–17th centuries. The walls run an uninterrupted course of approximately 1,940 metres in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 25 metres. We got to see the walls from many angles both inside and outside the Town.

I did find myself lacking energy today. Probably a combination of yesterday’s activities, sunburnt feet, the hot minibus, and today’s hot weather with crowds. This still didn’t stop me enjoying the Walled Town. Seeing locations from Game of Thrones, like the walk of shame, was very cool as well.

Darby and I enjoyed dinner in the Walled Town and caught a local bus back to our hotel and officially checked in. Tomorrow we have booked a full day Islands cruise which should be a nice change of pace.