Dubrovnik and Lokrum Island

Trip Start Apr 26, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Friday, July 18, 2008

When I arrived at Dubrovnik I set myself up in private accommodation again and went for a wander through the streets of the old town. It's still hard to beleive that it was a full on war zone only about 15-20 years ago - they've really cleaned it up. Unfortunately the history of this place is incredibly sad - mostly because of it's location as a key port for all of the inland sates in Eastern Europe, and the next morning I went on a guided tour to find out more about the history of the old town. The guide was only about 4 or 5 when the war was going on and it was quite sobering to hear about what they went though being blocked off from the rest of the country and the world. He was a fantastic guide and told us stories about various otherwise indecipherable carvings on the walls, such as the one just near a church were the kids used to play football (sorry soccer!) and the priest used to get really mad at them and basically wrote on the wall that those who played soccer near the church would be punished by god First night, view of the sea
First night, view of the sea
 . He also showed us around the old customs house and explained the history of Dubrovnik as a bustling international port where the locals prided themselves on fair trading - WOW! They really took pride in and maintaned their integrity while at the same time making heaps of business transactions and whatnot - perhaps some of the big businesses and business people could learn a bit from these people!

After the tour of the city in the morning, I headed off to nearby Lokrum island (10 minutes by ferry), which in the lonely planet was described as a fantastic place to go for the beaches and the ruins of an old fort. It was everything the guide said it would be - the fort was on the top of a high hill and I climbed to the top in the sweltering heat, but the view over Dubrovnik was worth it. Then to cool of I spent a few hours lazing on the rocks and swimming in the clear blue sea. Later that evening I took a walk around the old town walls which was a good way to see the old town below. 

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Entry into old town Entry into old town Getting water at the old fountain Getting water at the old fountain Advertising above the fountain aaargh! Advertising above the fountain aaargh! Church and fountain Church and fountain
View into old town View into old town Students preparing a play Students preparing a play Statue keeping watch Statue keeping watch Drawbridge entrance to old town Drawbridge entrance to old town
Me not so happy with the crowds! Me not so happy with the crowds! Gardens outside old town wall Gardens outside old town wall Entrance from the side Entrance from the side Priests carving warning the naughty boys Priests carving warning the naughty boys
Statue on church Statue on church Statue on church 2 Statue on church 2 Statues and their permanent pigeon companions Statues and their permanent pigeon companions Old international customs house Old international customs house
Entrance to customs house Entrance to customs house Intricate carvings Intricate carvings Pyramid and blue Pyramid and blue Church and sky Church and sky
Garden on Lokrum Island Garden on Lokrum Island Me in Garden on Lokrum Island Me in Garden on Lokrum Island Cute old church Cute old church Me hot and sweaty after the climb Me hot and sweaty after the climb
Still smiling ... Still smiling ... Guy resting on fort Guy resting on fort View over the old town from Lokrum fort View over the old town from Lokrum fort Fort ruins Fort ruins
Window view Window view View 2 View 2 View 3 View 3 Old town through trees in Australia shape Old town through trees in Australia shape
No smoking pipes on island No smoking pipes on island View of Dubrovnik View of Dubrovnik Water and trees Water and trees Classic rocky beach in Croatia Classic rocky beach in Croatia
Sea urchin Sea urchin The coastline where I swam The coastline where I swam Sunbaking Sunbaking Dazed and relaxed Dazed and relaxed
A walk in the forest on Lokrum A walk in the forest on Lokrum Peacock Peacock Big ugly cruiseliner in bay Big ugly cruiseliner in bay Another wedding ... Another wedding ...
People getting water from the fountain People getting water from the fountain View down main street old town View down main street old town Old fort Old fort View through another window on Dubrovnik View through another window on Dubrovnik
Fig trees everywhere yum!! Fig trees everywhere yum!! Walk along Dubrovnik walls Walk along Dubrovnik walls Wall through window Wall through window Lokrum island through window Lokrum island through window
Cool lookout post Cool lookout post Guys jumping in water with crowd watching Guys jumping in water with crowd watching Can't forget old uses of the walls Can't forget old uses of the walls The square window The square window
Group getting ready for a play Group getting ready for a play Main port entry Main port entry Actors in play walking down the street Actors in play walking down the street Wall and sun Wall and sun
Wall and sun 2 Wall and sun 2 Turrets on wall Turrets on wall Cute chimney Cute chimney Typical street Typical street
Rooves Rooves Me on the wall Me on the wall Window Window Door Door
Tower at sunset Tower at sunset Gardens outside wall Gardens outside wall Small beach outside the walls Small beach outside the walls
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