Our Dubrovnik journey has begun. Amidst the deep scars of the war, we passed through lush and small villages and arrived at the Croatian border.. We had no problems with check-in and check-out.. This area on the border is called Neom City.
The Venetians want to take Neom by force in the 15th century.. Croats also sell this place to the Ottomans for money.. I mean, this area has a title deed.. Although the Croats did not want to give this place to the Bosnians in the last war, this region remained in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the last moment.. There is an interesting situation in that area.. Namely, when you go by road, you enter and exit the border of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia twice.. Because there is a Bosnian land in between the Croatian land.
Fortunately, we crossed the border without any problems.. We started to advance on the territory of Croatia. One side is the lush forest, the other side is the Dalmatian coast and the islands…
Our accommodation in Dubrovnik was about a 3-minute walk from the main gate of the castle at the entrance of the Old town.. We paid 52 Euros per night.. We settled into our room and threw ourselves into the center of the old city without wasting time.
My first impression of Dubrovnik: A cute, warm and clean city
Tourism right next to the bus stops near the main gate of the castle We got a map of the city from his office and any documents we might need.. It was around 23:00 in the evening.. But everywhere is crowded and all the shops are open.
Young people dressed as timekeepers greet you when you enter the castle gate of the old city.
This city, surrounded by enormous walls, is really well preserved, It has been very well repaired and preserved despite the war it has gone through for years.. At the first entrance, you feel as if you have entered a castle, but after you pass through the second door, a wide square welcomes you.
In this square, there is a large fountain built by the Italians in the 15th century.. The square where the fountain is located is lively and full of people.. When you turn your back on the fountain, there is a church on the left and next to it, the world’s first pharmacy that is still in operation.. This place is worth a visit.
There are three entrances to the old city.. There are many narrow side streets connecting to the modern square and street of the old town. When you walk straight from the main street, you reach a wide harbor.
There are many shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs on the main street.. Each one is packed. There is something to surprise you around every corner.. The narrow streets that cut the main street perpendicularly are breathtaking.
Dubrovnik is a place visited by many Turkish tourists in recent years.. As you walk, Turkish conversations are constantly being played in your ears, you feel as if you are walking on the streets of Bodrum.
At the end of the wide main street, another wide square welcomes you.. There is a beautiful church here. People sitting on church steps chatting, drinking and observing. In the middle of the square, there is a statue and many pleasant places around it.. Right across the church, there is a museum about the war period.. Here, there are pictures of what the city became during the war, and photographs of people who were martyred in the war.. As we think about how they repaired the damage caused by this war in such a short period of time and restored the city to its present beauty, we once again respect the Croats.
Dubrovnik is a place that makes you feel very good.. In the meantime, even though our feet say, “Enough is enough, let’s rest”, we can’t stop ourselves from entering that street and this street.. The side streets are so neat and systematic that even though the narrow streets resemble a labyrinth from the outside, it is impossible to get lost.. There is live music in some of the pubs frequented by young people.
The restaurants in the side streets of Dubrovnik are mostly pasta and pizza.. The influence of Italian cuisine is clearly felt.. On the port side, more fish restaurants come to the fore.. Mussels with wine sauce are very popular. There is a wine bottle on every table.. So we go to one of these restaurants and order ourselves some silverfish fry, mussels in a pot, calamari and a bottle of wine.. There’s a deep conversation at every table. There are tourists from many nationalities around, you can hear conversations in different languages from every table.. The food was delicious and the wine was pretty good too.. The price is only 25 Euros.. We return to our hotel after dinner.
The next morning we go to the entrance of the castle again.. One of the tour buses is leaving, another is coming. Ok, it was very crowded in the evening, but it was as if there was a population explosion here, and it was difficult to even walk.. It is necessary to buy a ticket to go up to the castle surrounding the old city and to walk around the walls.. Ticket cost 5 Euros. There is a long queue in front of the ticket office.. And at 08:00 in the morning.
We prefer croissant and coffee, which is the most practical solution for breakfast.. Then we go up to the walls and watch the city from the top.. As far as possible, the sea and tile roofs have achieved a distinct harmony.
Dubrovnik is a city that hosts many cruise ships.. Tourists flock to the center of the old city with tour buses from the ships docking at the big port.. An open-air museum with the whole old town. I highly recommend exploring every street here.. Enter through every door you find open in this city, you won’t regret it.
A small local market is set up in the square near the port during the daytime.. You can find many products from souvenirs to antiques here.
There are boats in the harbor that tour the nearby areas.. From here you can go to Cavtat by boat.
There is a cable car just behind the old city.. You know, you can go up the hill with the cable car for 13 Euros.. There is also a facility above, a cafe and a gift shop.. Both the ascent and the descent are enjoyable.. The ascent and descent take approximately 5 minutes.
The view of the city and the Dalmatian Islands from above is simply amazing.. You have plenty of time as the cable car runs all the time.. You can also visit the ruins from the war period on the hill.. There is also a big cross embracing the city at the top.
Dubrovnik is a warm, charming and clean city worth exploring with every street.
