Prague and Central Europe 2017: Drive to Dubrovnik

Left Split today – in the end the room was alright, the bathroom situation was a little challenging – the shower was over the toilet which made it a bit cramped for room while having a shower. The location was very good though so we overlooked any inconvenience!! The host gave me a bottle (when I say bottle, I mean a plastic screw top bottle – probably had dishwashing liquid in it in a past life?) of his ‘black wine’. It is a red wine similar to a merlot, not bad actually. I think the reason it’s called black wine is because it is created in some back yard somewhere and sold on the black market. I’ll have to be cautious taking it through customs!!

Had a choice again of the freeway or the coast road, of course we went the coast road, we weren’t due at our accommodation till 5pm so we had plenty of time. Pam insisted on getting me to stop regularly for photos, took about 6 hours instead of 3 hours. Wonderful drive with the mountains on the left and the sea on the right. Every couple of kilometres there was another little settlement with their own beach, jetty and marina. We stopped at Brzet for a couple of photos and Gradac for smoko at about 11am. Drove on towards a huge bush fire raging up the mountain at Podgora. The fire must be fairly recent because there were lots of burning logs still smoking on both sides of the road. We think if it had been in Australia the road would have been blocked for some time. There were fire trucks and vehicles racing around for a while. Got out unscathed and continued to Dubrovnik.

Arrived at about 2pm and went straight to the cable car up Mount Srd (before Pam had a chance to protest) – 405 metres up to overlook Dubrovnik, with great views of Lokrum Island and the Old City area surrounded by the city walls. Came down and walked into the old city. Walking down meant hundreds of steps, knowing in the end it would be hundreds back up again. Beautiful city, we wandered around for an hour or so to get our bearings then headed for our unit at 5pm. To Pams extreme pleasure, a much improved effort in the accommodation category with views of the ocean. I’m in the good books again!!

Walked down to the grocery shop for some tea (cheese and biscuits) and breakfast (fruit) supplies, back to the unit to enjoy a beer and watch the ocean.