Mediterranean October 2013: Dubrovnik Croatia

We docked this morning around 7:30... Very picturesque setting.... But we have left tropical climes. It is chilly this morning.... Should be sunny and a high of 72. We backed in to our berth which is on our side (starboard) of the ship so we can watch all the goings on. Two other ships are docked in the port: the MSC Fantasia which we share a pier with yesterday and the Oceania Marina, a smaller ship... The Costa Fansiosa is anchored in the harbor of of Old Town. Passengers on ships at anchor take the tenders into town. we just walk down the gangway, onto the pier and on to the bus.

Our tour headed top the lovely, small seaside village of Cavtat. when we arrived we gathered at a cafe for juice and cookis and then had about 90 minutes to explore this charming village. It has a harbor for small tour boats and private boats, a number of very nice cafes and restaurants and, and a water polo "court". Croatia won the gold medl in the 2012 Olympics for that sport. Susan nad took a scenic walk along the water and around the small peninsula on which the town is situated... hardly any tourists. wonderfully peaceful and scenic. Back on the bus for the drive back to the Old Town of Dubrovnik, where those of us who wanted to explore the famous walled city for a while could do so. we could then take a shuttle bus back to the ship.The Old Town is literally surrounded by a medieval wall and is quite charming, bu also quite crowded with tour groups from the 4 ships in port. We spent a bit over 1/2 hour in the Old Town before heading out the Pile Gate to the Shuttle stop, Quite a line of fellow Cunard passengers... but we got on the third bus.

now the good news about air travel home. There was a phone message waiting from the Pursar's Office. We are ALL agreed that we are outing thru Amsterdam on Wednesday morning. There should never have been this confusion in the first place but it appears to be all sorted out now.

This is an absolutely beautiful part of the world, and it is hard to believe that Dubrovnik was so badly damaged during the Balkan conflicts in the ealy 1990s. But, it was, and it has been rebuilt. The area economy depends on tourism now and especially on he cruise ships, which is a blessing and a curse.

Lunch, this afternoon, as usual on Deck 9 at the buffet. Then a bit of a walk followed by library time. Very nice library. Susan and I had some refreshments around 4:00pm in the Cafe Carinthia and were relaxing there when the Captain announced that we would be letting go our lines and pulling away from the dock.

I went up to the Promenade Deck and plopped down on a very comfortable deck chair on the starboard side and watched as the Queen Elizabeth glided through the channel past houses on the hilly coast and all sorts of smaller boats.

Arrived back in our stateroom to find a gift of chocolate covered strawberries from our dear friend and travel agent, Molly.

Time to get ready for dinner.

Now for some photos:

FIRST-DUBROVNIK from the highway.