Dubrovnik, Croatia

This amazing medieval city in Croatia, has a very long tourist tradition.  It is the pearl of the southern Dalmatia and part of the UNESCO patrimony.  A city of museums, festivals, plus a vast number of restaurants and taverns with a mild mediterranean climate and magnificent scenic views, confirms the sentences of the famous Irish witer Bernard Shaw "those who look for a paradise or want the garden of Eden on Earth must come to Dubrovnik". 

Joey intaking the beautiful views from our balcony

We began our excersion heading straight up the mountain side of the beautiful city/

A beautiful view of the "old city"

The old city of Dubrovnik came to existence between 598 and 615 when the inhabitants of the Greek settlement Epidaurus had to flee from the advancing Slavs.  Epidaurus was situated where today's city of Cavtat is found.  Cavtat is known for the airport of Dubrovnnik.

As you can see...Joey had a hard time on the mountain side.  He had a lot of people laughing on the bus.  He wasn't even on the scary side.  I have to admit though...that bus driver had me on the edge of my seat.  He took those turns at a high speed and it felt like at any moment the bus would gracefully tip into the ocean.  When you look out of the window all you saw was the roadside railing and the ocean.  It was seriously a straight drop.  I almost peed my pants on some of those turns. 

After the beautiful yet scary drive up the mountain we headed to a family farm that consisted of 5 generations. 

They greeted us with traditional Croatian dress and music. 

This family lived off of everything they grew.

Then they performed the Lindo

Linđo is a popular dance of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik region. It is danced to the accompaniment of lijerica (an old Southern Dalmatian instrument with three strings), which came from the Eastern Mediterranean in late 18th century and spread on the Adriatic coast in the 19th century.

It is now extensively performed in the Dubrovnik's coastal region, in Konavle area, on the Pelješac Peninsula and on the islands of Mljet and Lastovo. In the past it was performed exclusively to the accompaniment of the bellows. The dance master plays sitting, with lijerica on his left knee, while stamping with his right foot, thus dictating rhythm to the dancers. They move in a circle around the dance master, who gives commands (in rhyme, humorous and often with double meaning). He also decides who will dance with whom and dictates the change of dance figures, he also encourages the dancers to compete in improvisations.

The tradition of Lindjo is kept alive by Dubrovnik's The Folklore Ensemble Lindjo.

 

We then entered their restaurant and and some yummy home grown food. 

We also enjoyed some wonderful musical entertainment. 

We headed back down the mountain to our last stop...The Old City

Stradun is the beautiful pedestrian street of Dubrovnik that begins at the gate known as Pile and goes up to the clock tower.  Immediately, when you enter Pile Gate you can admire the Franciscan Monastery that holds a pharmacy dating back to 1317.  Proceeding onwards you will reach San Blaise's church, patron of the city, an enchanting building in Italian Baroque Style and also the gothic Rector's Palace built in 1441. 

We wrapped up the city and headed back to the boat for an entire day at sea.....