CROATIA-DUBROVNIK
Croatia – Dubrovnik
The next morning we took the Krilo Ferry from Split to Dubrovnik. We had the 7:40 AM ferry and were supposed to arrive at 12:05, but instead we arrived around 12:25. I loved the boat ride, but it was pretty rough at times for some people and some got sick. If you are sensitive to seasickness be aware. Upon our arrival at the Dubrovnik port, it was a $15.00 ride to our Airbnb located in the Old City. They can only drive you up to a certain point and then you need to walk the rest of the way, as there are no cars in the old city. It was the perfect location, as we were able to walk everywhere. It had a bed and a sofa bed in the living room. I paid $150/night.
Our first night we had dinner at Gradska Kavana Arsenal http://www.nautikarestaurants.com/gradska-kavana-arsenal/. This restaurant has the most beautiful setting overlooking the water, wonderful service, and delicious food. It was a very enjoyable evening. After dinner we walked around the city and visited Caffe Bar d’Poets. This bar looked to be in a cave, and they had a singer playing guitar. It was a wonderful way to finish off a great dinner.
The next morning we decided to walk the city walls of Dubrovnik. The walls run 6365 feet long and go as high at 83 feet. There are many steps to explore, so I would suggest going in the morning or later in the day. It cost 200 Kuna ($30/person) and took around 2 hours to explore. There are incredible views of the entire city. It was such a beautiful day. We were lucky in that it was a bit overcast, so it was not hot or sunny, and it was very comfortable. If you are able, purchase your tickets in advance. When we arrived the line was somewhat short but when we returned there was a very long line to purchase tickets. The tickets are good for one entry so once you depart the walls you cannot reenter unless you purchase another ticket. The ticket also gives you access to Fort Lovrijenac, which was fun to explore as well. After completing the walls we walked to the Dubrovnik Cable Car to have lunch at Panorama Restaurant at the top of Srđ Hill. The cable car cost 170 kuna ($25) per adult for a round trip ticket. The line was pretty short when we arrived, but when we left the line was very long. There is a way to buy tickets in advance for the cable car, but I am not sure how. The views from the restaurant are incredible. We started sitting outside but then it started raining, so we moved to the indoor part of the restaurant. It still had beautiful views from the glass walls. After lunch we rode the cable car back down and walked to Fort Lovrijenac. After exploring the Fort we stopped for a drink at Buza Bar, which is a bar built into the cliffs. We got a table along the railing and enjoyed the view of the Adriatic Sea.
We had dinner that night at Restaurant Dubrovnik. This was such a wonderful experience. It is a Michelin star restaurant and it is easy to see why. The ambience was beautiful, the service was superb (J was amazing), and the food was incredible with the combination of flavors and textures. It was truly a wonderful dining experience.
The next morning we got up early to meet Laus Travel for an all day trip to Kravice Falls in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Mostar. The company picked us up right outside of the old city and transferred in a comfortable van to the Falls and Mostar. Once we got to the park we were able to explore on our own for 1½ hours. There were people swimming in the falls, but the water was very cold, so I did not attempt it. After the Falls we went to Mostar. It is a beautiful city but seeing the homes with bullet holes was very sad. We visited the War Photo Exhibition, which showcased very touching and sad photos from the Bosnian war. It was a long day but very enjoyable.