Dubrovnik; Sunday, 11 May, 2008

I wandered back down the hill towards the old town. First stop of the morning was a short walk along the city walls. These are impressive for a number of reasons, not least being their ability in 1991 and 1992 to withstand the pounding with modern artillery they were given during the siege of Dubrovnik. The walls are also completely intact forming a solid ring around the city and allowing you to go completely round the top without having to descend to street level at any point.

I spent quite a long time wandering along the walls and by the time I had come back down it was as near as makes no difference, lunch, so I stopped for a bite to eat at a small cafe just outside the city walls. After lunch I meandered through the city down to the harbour to pick up one of the many tour boats that leave regularly on tours of the city walls and neighbouring Lokrum Island.

After the tour I leapt on another boat for the journey down the coast to the small town of Cavtat. The town was the original site of what became Dubrovnik, but was abandoned following a major earthquake. Today it is a pleasant medieval town, laid out in a crescent around the bay. I only had a little time to look around before it was back on the boat and back to Dubrovnik.

On arrival I was treated to the bizarre sight of a band contest in front of the clock-tower. I watched this for a while, before heading back to the hotel to freshen up before heading back into town for dinner.

With another massive and very tasty dinner inside me I went on a short wander around the city in the dark before finally heading back to the hotel.