Split to Dubrovnik

Split to Dubrovnik 

Sunday 18th June 2017

We were sad to say goodbye to the beautiful hotel in Split when the coach arrived for us this morning after breakfast.

We set off, on an initially rather dull day, to drive along what always used to be called the Dalmatian Coast. It is certainly very scenic, and rather like the Amalfi coast, where high cliffs plunge down to the sea, and charming little towns with pretty little harbours or little crescents of beach nestle at the water's edge. Photographing something like that isn't easy though. You are often on the wrong side of the bus, you fail to get the camera switched on in time, trees jump into your viewfinder, or reflections in the bus window ruin your photo. All of these reasons, along with the really dark skies, are the reason for my failure to have any charming photos.

I did manage one photo of the sort of terrain - steep rocky hills falling down to the sea. 

This wasn't the steepest, but it shows the general idea. It's so dark because it was a very cloudy morning.

After some time we stopped for morning coffee in a little town called Makarska. This is the town fountain.

It dates from 1755. It is in front of the church, which we didn't enter as there was a service in progress, it being Sunday.

There was also a market.

The fruit and vegetables looked lovely, but I took this photo because those pale green, almost lime green coloured things behind the cucumbers are in fact peppers, and I've never seen peppers that colour anywhere before.

We thought we might have some trouble on the road after Markarska because there was a forest fire, and it had jumped the road in some places. However, the firemen had put most of it out by the time we drove past. We sat a plane passing over very low, carrying water to help put it out, and we could see a lot of embers still smouldering on both sides of the road as we passed.

We continued along the coast, and reached an area where the land was lower and there were inlets of the sea stretching far inland.

This land was more fertile, and eventually we reached an area famous for fruit where we stopped to buy some - I bought the most delicious strawberry jam.

We reached our hotel outside Dubrovnik before 3, and checked in.

This is the view from our room, and is of a small harbour close to Dubrovnik. We are some distance away from the town.

At 4 o'clock we went off to catch a bus into Dubrovnik, a 10 minute ride, so it wasn't long before we were in front of the main gate.

This is called the Pile Gate - pronounced peel-eh. At least you can get a good idea of the fact is is a medieval walled city. There are no vehicles, and most of the streets are very narrow.

We took a walk down to the old port.

You can see how heavily fortified it was. I couldn't resist the photo of this replica sailing ship coming into the harbour. It is used for excursions and tourist trips round the area.

I'll be able to write more about the town tomorrow, because we have a tour and will undoubtedly learn some of the history.

Some of the building look almost Venetian, like this one, the Rectors Palace.

However, it was Ancona rather than Venice with which Dubrovnik was allied.

This is the main street, Stradun.

It is completely filled with tourists, the only locals you can see are in the shops and restaurants, both of which are very expensive. 

At the end of the main street is this clock tower.

I can be more specific tomorrow about the more important buildings - though photos are difficult with so many people. And I hope I won't be quite so tired tomorrow - I'm almost too tired to write anything tonight.