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We want to hear about your other holiday adventures, tell us where you went and what you did there. Remember to include useful information about the destination, was it a good or a bad experience, what things should you do or avoid. add your travel tips, maps, videos and photos.
OK, so as I have already let slip that we were in Dubrovnik last week here is a selection of about 10% of my snaps to keep you entertained while I prepare something descriptive to tell you a little about the place.
These were sorted for the family so there are some that include myself and herself so no rude comments about 'need to lose some weight' or the like.
You can click the box for full screen and the lower box on the right to open picture detail if you want to know about it. Will post a short story in a few days.....
Some great pictures there Grandad and how nice and clean everywhere looks, looking forward to your actual travelogue and all I can say is that Mrs Grandad looks as lovely as ever, but I like the picture of the monkey in the cage best.
Nah! only joking mate, thanks for posting.
Horus, I just realised, should I have opened this in another forum and then put my piece about Dubrovnik in this the Travelogue one. If you can move it to somewhere more general that's fine with me. Thanks
Oh! You have caught me out BB And what are you up to in Ireland???
The flag - it's a continuous 'dig' at Keefy - some of us want our own national flag ie Welsh, Scottish, English or even Cornish - he can do it but hasn't got around to it yet so I show the Irish flag as it is the one closest to my Celtic side.
Bearded Brian wrote:Forgot to ask - picture 70 - please explain.
Sorry Brian, It is something I will mention in my 'tome'. That is actually a picture of Stradun, the main street of Dubrovnik, after it had been shelled and mortor bombed in the 1991/92 'Homeland War' as it is known. I slipped it in next to one of my pictures of Stradun to illustrate how the city has been restored.....but more about that later......
Horus wrote:Mrs Grandad looks as lovely as ever, but I like the picture of the monkey in the cage best.
I will thank you for your comment on her behalf Horus but I haven't shown her which pics I have posted and my life will be threatened when she sneaks on here and takes a look...
Having decided to give Luxor a miss this year for our early holiday we then had to find an alternative destination. Venice was much favoured but we were looking for somewhere that offered both relaxation and historical interest. It wasn’t quite as simple as sticking a pin in a map but Croatia and Dubrovnik soon became our preferred choice.
We found a very good deal via Monarch Holidays; yes you heard right, Monarch, an airline we had vowed never to travel with again. After checking out the available hotels we settled for The Valmar Dubrovnik President. This is a four star rated hotel, situated at the western tip of the Dubrovnik peninsular, every room has a sea view and, importantly for us, the number 6 local service bus for the 15 minute journey into Dubrovnik stopped right outside. We chose half board and our choice of hotel and terms could not have been better. Everything was four star and more. I will mention costs in the following notes to give some idea of out of pocket expenses. We thought that in general things are more expensive than the UK and more on a par with Italy.
Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an absolute gem. George Bernard Shaw wrote, "Those who seek paradise on earth must come to Dubrovnik” and although much has happened since he wrote those words the city has re-built to an amazing and beautiful standard following the trauma of the break up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s and the devastation brought on the old city.
There are three gates into the city and most people enter by ‘Pile Gate’ which fortunately is just across from where the number 6 bus stops. Across the drawbridge and through the outer and inner gates you are faced with the glistening marble paved stretch of Stradun, the Old Towns main street.
There is no traffic in the city so you can walk freely anywhere. To the right the 16th century Onofrian fountain, and to the left Sveti Spas (Church of Our Saviour) and then the Franciscan Monastery. Ahead the 200 metres or so stretch of Stradun looks impeccably clean and new. There has been much reconstruction but those who have known the city before and after the war say it is now even better…..it just needs some more years to age.
On both sides at street level there are a multitude of souvenir and gift shops but they are not allowed to spill out into the street so they remain unobtrusive. At the far end of Stradun is Gundulic Square with the clock tower and views to the right of the Cathedral. Gundulic Square is the place to be on Friday from 11am when there is a parade along Stradun and two hours of traditional song and dance entertainment in the square.
Ahead an archway leads to the quayside of the delightful little harbour from where you can take boat trips to villages along the coast or to the islands. Croatia has an archipelago of many islands, three of which are inhabited.
Walking up any side street to the south side of Stradun will bring you to delightful steep alleys where the residents live and completely away from the busy lower part of the town. Tucked away there are churches, museums and art galleries, far too many to mention but something to research with a good guide book before a visit if museums and history are of your particular interest. This is a useful tourism site to browse http://croatia.hr/en-GB/Destinations/Re ... NcNSxwXDQy
To the north side of Stradun the alleys climb steeply up steps through many small restaurants and snack bars.
At the top it is a short walk to the cable car station. The original cable car was destroyed in the war and a brand new one was constructed and opened late 2010. The return trip is 87 Kn (£10). A bit expensive but not to be missed for the stunning views from the top over 400 metres above the sea. Check it out here http://www.dubrovnikcablecar.com/ We forgot to visit the Homeland War Museum on our first trip so did it again another day. The museum is in an old fort on top of the ridge. Entrance is 30 Kn (£3.30) and the exhibit consists almost entirely of photographs with detailed descriptions of the events of those terrible years under Radovan Karadzic and his henchmen. There is a dramatic video of events during the shelling and siege of Dubrovnik but only in Croatian language.
Stari Grad, the old city, is bounded by a completely intact city wall 1940 metres long but with many steep stair climbs and descents. You can walk the wall for a charge of 70 kuna (about £8). There are overpriced refreshment points around the wall and the experience is a serious challenge to anyone who does not walk too well, us included, but well worth the effort.
We did take one boat trip, just the 45 minute journey to Cavtat a small and picturesque village about 10 miles to the east. 80 Kn (£9) return. There was a very good offer in the cafes along the front for a sandwich and a beer for 32 Kn (£3.50) one of the better deals. The boat going out was small and we got soaked with spray, happily the return vessel was larger and a much better ride.
Just a little about the hotel. It is built into the rocky cliffs with reception on the top, 7th, floor. Our room was in a block with a private terrace looking onto a garden with the sea beyond and all very nice. The hotel looks westward so there are plenty of good sunsets. Other blocks of rooms have balconies overlooking the private ‘pebble’ beach. You can walk in each direction from the hotel and find secluded little coves.
Immediately to the north is the entrance to Gruz harbour and we had splendid views of cruise ships arriving, usually one or two each day. Others would anchor in the bay just outside Dubrovnik harbour so with up to four ships there is a potential for around 10,000 visitors doing a flying visit to the city and leaving just a few hours after arriving.
The Five star hotel in town is the Hilton Imperial. The Sultan of Oman and his entourage visited at the end of April. He brought two of his private yachts, his private aircraft and helicopter. Many of his officials stayed at the Imperial and it was rumoured that the Sultan left $60,000 for the hotel staff. I can assure you that my appreciation to the staff was rather more modest.
If you are looking for somewhere different for a holiday I would strongly recommend Dubrovnik and Croatia in general. I would have liked to visit Mostar and Sarayevo but perhaps next time. The roads are good and driving would not be a problem. We found the people very friendly and most speak some English, some very fluent. They have a 97% literacy and the young people are smart and happy in spite of there being high unemployment and the economy in a poor state. We saw virtually no graffiti and the place is clean and tidy. Four or five nights would be adequate to explore the city and surrounds and, as we found with Istanbul, it would be a great place as part of a two centre holiday……
A final sunset to conclude and “Do videnja”, Goodbye in Croation…..
Grandad that was an extremely well written and illustrated travelogue and I really enjoyed reading it. The photographs are excellent and what a change to see nice clean streets and not the usual dirty dusty ones we are all to often subjected to as tourists. The town itself looks very picturesque and it is certainly somewhere I would like to visit in the future. I would say from what you have written here that you have more than fulfilled the requirements of a good travelogue in giving us a tourists view of what to expect on a typical visit and you have amply illustrated it with bright interesting pictures. It is such a shame that such an excellent piece as this will not be read by as many people on these forums as it deserves had it been posted elsewhere, so thank you for taking the time and effort to produce this interesting article.
I know Horus that just a few people will read my piece but I like to think of you all as friends who share a love of travel and taking pictures. True, it takes a few hours to put together but I have time until we find somewhere else to explore.......all short haul these days though.
I must admit Croatia hadn't been on my 'list' but after seeing your piccys and reading your write up, it might just have to be added to my ever growing list.
Thank you for that Grandad.
Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
Thankyou Grandad, really made me want to visit there, good you put the prices in. I have discovered how to steal photos now,just click on with mouse and drag to the blue, then put in my documents ! I have stolen Dubrovnik secluded - Just wondering, have you ever been to Romania?
Hiya all - am back!!! :) :) :) Got back midnight Wednesday and had to report to work next 2 days (which also got me 3 hr OT) soooooo am still adjusting back from resting, relaxing and having fun to...
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The 'hanging things' are Longdon which is a cousin to Lychees. I LOVE Lychees. They are 'to die' for but if I can't get lychees I'm more than happy to stuff myself with Longdon.
Jayway mentioned that Croatia had been described as NOT a holiday destination. It all depends what you want from a holiday. My sister and partner travel the world to ‘walk’, what’s wrong with...
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Very interesting photo Grandad of how close in the city has been built. I realize it was built a long time ago but I do kinda wonder how it was built and why so close in as then absolutely everything...
Our first visit to Dubrovnik was in April 2012 staying at the Valamar President Hotel, just a 15 minute local bus ride from the old city gate. We really enjoyed...
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LLL, I can't answer your question I'm afraid. We have been into that church, St Blaises Church, but I don't have any info on the window. Although the buildings in the city look relatively new, most...
If you are Egyptian or just visiting Egypt, the Red Sea is definitely worth exploring. The road from Cairo all the way down to Sudan winds through some beautiful towns, fishing villages and ports...
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so no rude comments about 'need to lose some weight' or the like. 
Can't wait to read your account of Dubrovnik.
Just wondering, have you ever been to Romania? 
