Welcome to Dubrovnik, Croatia!

When I planned my 2006 trip, my first priority was to visit Plitvice. Dubrovnik was my second priority. I flew from Detroit to London on Northwest on June 13th and from London to Dubrovnik on British Airways, arriving on June 14th. I got Croatian kunas out of the ATM at the airport and took the Atlas airport bus to the Pile Gate for 35 kn ($6).

That night, I took it easy. I hit the grocery store and ate my dinner at the park near Pile Gate. This was my view as I ate! It reminded me of a combination of Oakes Garden Theatre and the Whirlpool at Niagara Falls.

What I really came to Dubrovnik for was to walk the city walls. I set out early on my second day in Dubrovnik to walk them before the sun was too strong. The price was 50 kn ($9). I got there near when it opened, passed on the audioguide (now, I am glad; I found out later on my trip, in England, that I don't like audioguides!), and followed Rick Steves's advice of walking clockwise. The initial ascent IS steep, and you do walk against the flow of the cruise ship hordes, but it IS mostly downhill.

WALKING THE WALLS IS SO FUN!!!!

The photo on the right is nice because it shows people walking the walls.

The photo on the right is a view of the Old Port. I went swimming at the public beach (no charge) just to the east of there; it was the most clear, beautiful water I have ever been in. Plus there was a view of the port as I was swimming! As the boats went back and forth, they created fun waves to swim and body surf on. I only wish I'd brought some water shoes! Rocky beaches always kill my feet.

Here I am, atop the Dubrovnik walls near Pile Gate, looking down on the Stradun (main pedestrian street in Dubrovnik's Old Town). It was a national holiday, perfect weather, AND a cruise ship was in port. It was crowded!!!

Welcome to Dubrovnik, Croatia! When I planned my 2006 trip, my first priority was to visit Plitvice. Dubrovnik was my second priority. I flew from Detroit to London on Northwest on June 13th and from London to Dubrovnik on British Airways, arriving on June 14th. I got Croatian kunas out of the ATM at the airport and took the Atlas airport bus to the Pile Gate for 35 kn ($6).

I went straight from the bus to my hotel room at Villa Ragusa (easy to find, as it is on the same street as the synagogue). I had e-mailed my host when I would be arriving; he met me at the door and was very nice, offering me a drink (as it was very hot!). He showed me right to my room. The room had A/C, a bed, cable TV, a closet, a desk, and a window. The bathroom was right outside the door. It was €39 per night ($50, including tax and two-night mark-up). Only negatives: the room was up several flights of stairs on a street that was composed of several flights of stairs, there was quite a bit of street noise quite late, and the prices were in euros (making conversion to kunas awkward).
That night, I took it easy. I hit the grocery store and ate my dinner at the park near Pile Gate. This was my view as I ate! It reminded me of a combination of Oakes Garden Theatre and the Whirlpool at Niagara Falls.

What I really came to Dubrovnik for was to walk the city walls. I set out early on my second day in Dubrovnik to walk them before the sun was too strong. The price was 50 kn ($9). I got there near when it opened, passed on the audioguide (now, I am glad; I found out later on my trip, in England, that I don't like audioguides!), and followed Rick Steves's advice of walking clockwise. The initial ascent IS steep, and you do walk against the flow of the cruise ship hordes, but it IS mostly downhill. WALKING THE WALLS IS SO FUN!!!! The photo on the right is nice because it shows people walking the walls.
The photo on the right is a view of the Old Port. I went swimming at the public beach (no charge) just to the east of there; it was the most clear, beautiful water I have ever been in. Plus there was a view of the port as I was swimming! As the boats went back and forth, they created fun waves to swim and body surf on. I only wish I'd brought some water shoes! Rocky beaches always kill my feet.
	Here I am, atop the Dubrovnik walls near Pile Gate, looking down on the Stradun (main pedestrian street in Dubrovnik's Old Town). It was a national holiday, perfect weather, AND a cruise ship was in port. It was crowded!!!
Notes on Dubrovnik:
Cheap Internet (5 kn [90¢] for 15 min) at the Dubrovnik Internet Centar (sic) just outside Pile Gate (near a good bakery, too) One full day in Dubrovnik is enough for a cheapskate like me (walk the walls, go swimming, walk to Port Gruž, do some Internet, watch some World Cup matches, eat a pizza and some gelato) Autobusni Kolodvor (Dubrovnik's main intercity bus station, click on "Dolazak" at the bottom of the web page for departures) is just north of the ferry terminal [Let's Go 2006 and Rick Steves Eastern Europe 2006 have it in the wrong place]. Trust me: it's too far to walk from the Old Town (although I did it)! Take the bus, especially with your backpack!	If you want to catch the bus 1, 1A, or 1B at Pile Gate to the intercity bus station, be sure to wait at the (no longer marked) bus stop on the Pile Gate side of the road. If you wait at the (marked) big bus stop across the street, the bus will pass you by (happened to me!) The tourist office is very helpful. I bought groceries at the small Konzum near Pile Gate and ate at Mea Culpa (a pizzeria). Much of Dubrovnik's restaurants were actually too touristy (and expensive) for me. Dubrovnik reminded me of a combination of the Caribbean and Italy.