Dubronik

We have a wonderful apartment just 300m outside the Ploce Gate.  It is quite small but is part of owner's complex and we already feel part of the family.  A corner of the complex was bombed during the early 1990's war years and a resident killed.

Big storms last night wiped out the Brian Ferry concert but lovely day today.

Dubrovnik has a long, challenged  and destruction filled history including a number of sieges and wars - the most recent of which in 1991 we have knowledge of.  It is also earthquake prone with a massive quake in 1667 almost destroying the city, and another big one in the 1960's.  You can still see many war scars in the walled part of the city, but there has also been great rebuilding.  Within the walls there is some 1400 years of history, although fortification did not come until prior to the 12th century.

As we have an apartment now, we had to fend for ourselves for breakfast - 250m to the supermarket and 200m to the bakery (small change is always a problem and I am in debt to the bakery by 1kn).  Cash is the preferred arrangement for everything and generally attracts a 10% discount.  Walked the walls of the old city early, pretty much on our own - 1hour 40 minutes of spectacular scenery (would have been an extra hour later in the day).  Followed this with a number of museums, galleries and cathedrals.

Afternoon swim at Banje Beach, 100m and 80 steps from our front door.  Water so clear.  Back into old town for dinner at a Bosnian restaurant where we had the house specialities (meat).