Villa Kvaternik Cavtat

8-8-08 The last port before I hit the states! Well, no matter how much planning I had done, tourist season got the better of me. I wanted to go kayaking, canyoning, and camping or even island hopping to Bol or Hvar (top windsurfing spots in Croatia), so I went to Split where everything was offered. After getting off the ship as early as possible and taking the 3-4 hour bus to Split, it became readily apparent that this was just not meant to be. All ...

... ensues. I asked the rent a car lady for directions because her english was so great. It took her a while to think where Padre Perice was but she finally got her finger on it. We walked past the police station on the main street almost 2 km from the port with all our gear in tow (despite the Nikolina rooms reservation advertising 200 m from port for which Ania had prepared in her mind an angry entrance speech). Once we got to the Hospital I knew we were too far so ...

... along the walls outside of the city. St. Blaize is the patron Saint of Dubrovnik and you see his image everywhere. We entered the city through Pila Gate. At this point the walls are 19 feet thick. One of the first things we saw as we entered was Onofrio's Fountain. The fountain was built by the Romans to supply water to the walled city. It is still ...

It rained for 3 days straight while we were in Dubrovnik. Driving down the coast, you can tell it's a beautiful city with ocean all around. But when it's gray, cold, and raining constantly, you have a hard time appreciating the scenery. And the locals keep telling us how last winter was the mildest winter in history, or that three days before we arrived it was warm enough to swim in the ocean. It's like ...

... for town defense and trade, even more than Ragusa (Dubrovnik). I walked around the town and park. Saw the Racic memorial chapel designed by Ivan Mestrovic. It looked more Egyptian than Croatian. Better art was seen further down next to the waters. I have included a picture of the local artist's oil painting. Ah, only if I had the money. Ah, only if I had Mary Poppin's bag instead of a 4900 cu inch backpack. I topped off ...

... chairs. We were the first ones in and set ourselves up a little base for the night, enjoying the natury sound of a cricket that seemed to have taken up residence behind the vacant bar that sat in the room. Dan, feeling right at home with the cricket sounds, instantly reclined and began to fall asleep, however soon a few more people arrived. The increased disturbance startled a bat that was also occupying the room, and it proceeded to display ...

... torn, poverty-stricken hell-hole that has been recently ransacked by western pirates you might imagine some kind of ill-feeling towards tourists. But this is a perfectly civilised town that only survives based on tourism. How the people can be so apathetic to the hand that feeds them, I don´t know. Perhaps they are so jaded by the throngs of visitors, but that is hardly an excuse, for the very reason that they rely on these people for their livelihood. Ah well, we ...

... plus she had a car to drive me. Left my stuff at her place then went out for a long walk for views of the old town. I'd been here about a month ago so had already looked around town. The old town is still really cool to walk around in. This time I did the city walls walk which takes you around the walls of the old town. Back to the room for a nap. Out for dinner at an Irish pub and listened to some live music. Looked around old town by night. As this was my last night of the ...

... Serbs, the Old City is an incredibly intact example of the Middle Ages (first being built in the 12th century). It is entirely walled, and entirely stone (wooden buildings were banned in the 15th century), bisected by one main street, and then dozens of winding narrow alleys littered with cafes, restaurants, shops and bars. It sits on an amazing piece of coastline which can be seen in all directions by walking the city walls (about 1.5 hours ...

... 12 A really well filled day. I woke up and ate my bread with Nutella. Of course, it didnt start well with the people of the place I was staying. If you dont pay 'money - money' they threat you rather ****, pretty egocentricly gold-digger. I really hate that mentality. I bought a dia film and took them all today. I also climbed the hill behind the city on the dolomites hills and from there the panorama was unbelievable. Seeing far far on each direction to ...