23.09 - Day 252 - Dubrovnik , CRO

Monday 23rd September - Dubrovnik, Croatia (Day 252)

It’s noticeable the amount of church bell ringing in Croatia as a whole; so it is we’re woken by the bells but as Sienna and Seb have a virtual class call at 8am it’s no bad thing. 

Once that’s complete we bus to Dubrovnik proper and choose to start with the Wall Walk before it gets too warm. It’s only a 2 km walk but it takes us two hours to complete once you allow for snack stops, a couple of bottlenecks and a more lengthy 20 minute break to play Uno in the shade. 

The walls are impressively thick and the views are amazing; either out over the blue sea or over the terracotta coloured tiles of all the buildings densely packed into the Old Town. 

It’s busy without being over-crowded, we’re glad we’re not here in the height of summer for that aspect or for the heat. 

It’s another snack break at the water fountain by the Pile Gate and we watch a consistent stream of people both arriving and exiting - our bus came past two docked cruise ships and out Wall Walk showed a third out at sea with tenders ferrying people to shore - that’s thousands of new people arriving each day here from 8am to 4pm. 

Next to the fountain is the Franciscan Monastery Museum which has a picturesque courtyard surrounded by stone columns. Again a distinct lack of signs or information - which the kids are probably happy about because there’s nothing for mum and dad to stop and read. 

Guided by our pass - and to prevent aimless strolling; another pet peeve of Sienna and Seb - we pop to the Ethnographic Museum. Three floors on the history of the people in the area - not a reason to visit Dubrovnik in itself, but some more nice views over the town. 

With cultural capacity exhausted, after bussing back we hop in the car 10 minutes up the road to Zaton for a swim in one of the inlets to cool down, though somehow the water seems colder here. Burgers for dinner back at the apartment and more games of Uno to round out the day.