Dubrovnik #1of2

The one and only road leading into Dubrovnik from the north, was jammed with vehicles for many miles. A small bridge would shorten the drive, but then tourists would miss the interesting many-mile U turn around the bay.

Once we arrived in "new" Dubrovnik, the traffic barely moved, legal parking was non-existent, so we took a chance and parked our RV in a space labeled “Tour Bus.” We then found a city bus station next door, and a bus that would take us right where we wanted to go. During the two mile bus trip to the old town of Dubrovnik, we did not see one legal parking place, or even an illegal parking space, and the streets were filled with vehicles prepared to use either. Near Dubrovnik’s old town we saw a large truck with a special crane reach over, pick up an illegally parked car, then haul it away. Maybe the reason they hauled it away was because it was parked in the left turn lane!

We rode the cable car high up the mountain overlooking Dubrovnik. What a fantastic view of this resplendent old walled city. Two sides of the city inside the wall go part way up a hill, so there are many steps to get from level to level, while the main shopping area is level.

From the Pile Gate we walked Placa, the main street. An Italian officer had glanced through this city gate and said, "Che stradone!" (What a vast street!) So in Dubrovnik many use the vernacular “Stradun.” Blocks of marble were used to pave the streets and to construct the buildings, so while the city is not in any danger of falling down from age, there has been earthquake damage over the centuries. A beautiful city with a cathedral, stalwart buildings, a massive wall with gates, marble streets with a trough for rain water runoff, all in a stately condition.

The style and design of this sturdily built city is very distinct, different from what we have seen elsewhere. Dubrovnik is superb, magnificent, and the word unique certainly applies. But how can we apply the same words to Dubrovnik that we use to describe to Paris, since they are such very different cities? But what other words can we use, all we have is the English language.

In a jewelry store Emmy was told an attractive silver ring would cost $15. When she decided to buy, a different clerk, now in charge, was shocked. The ring, a “national treasure,” was for display only, not for sale at any price, and would cost well over $300 if it were for sale. Makes one wonder, doesn’t it?