Even before we got here, I've heard raving reviews of Croatia's Dalmatian coast (which pretty much runs from Zadar in the northern most point to the southern border with Montenegro). The Dalmatian coast is hugged by the Adriatic and has a typical Mediterranean climate.
Our first stop in on the Dalmatian coast was the southern city of Dubrovnik. To get to Dubrovnik we headed west from Vienna, back to Munich by train then hopped on a flight from Munich to Dubrovnik. By the time we got into Dubrovnik it was later in the evening. The airport is closer to the town of Cavtat than Dubrovnik.
The bus ride from the airport to the city zig-zagged along the hillsides, while the full moon glimmered off the Adriatic. We were expecting Dubrovnik to be sleepy at this hour, but the bus stop was buzzing with activity - many people trying to offer a room for rent/hostel for the weary traveler. Having already booked our hostel we were pleasantly surprised as to how easy it was to find. Literally, steps from the bus station but removed enough to be well away from the hustle and bustle.
We had an apartment-esque type of a room in the hostel on the outskirts of the old town. The owner Marko showed us to our room and highlighted all the best spots on a map. Giving his personal recommendation for restaurants/bars and other attractions.
After settling-in we headed out to the old town for dinner. We sought out a restaurant Marko had suggested, one that specialized in seafood (Lokanda Peskarija). There, I had one of the best seafood meals I've had in Europe since Spain- grilled squid to start and a entree of squid risotto cooked in its own ink. Being October, the crowds had died down in Dubrovnik, after dinner we walked around looking for a bar to grab a drink - instead we decided for an early night (since both of us were still recovering after Vienna) in-lieu of our busy day ahead.
We were up and at it early the next morning. The sun was blisteringly hot even at 9AM, after grabbing a quick 'Dubrovnik' breakfast at a restaurant just outside the old town we were off on our exploration.
Dubrovnik has on of the most interesting old town's, in my opinion. Traversing the city wall allows you an almost a voyeur-esque peek into how the people in the city live. One piece of advice I'd give to anyone is to grab a good pair of sunnies - the white marble stone that line the streets of the old town make the sun's glare during the day almost blinding. While walking the around the city wall the terracotta roof tiles provide a tranquil contrast to the turquoise blue of the Adriatic sea.
We went for a brief swim along the rocky coasts of Lokrum and decided to head back before dark.
We found the Buza (pronounced 'Buja') Bar, on the recommendation of Marko, right before sunset. And boy was it spectacular. When we first walked in, Bob Marley was coursing through it's outdoor speaker system, and I immediately wanted to high-five Marko. The beers were cold and the view was stunning..... have a look below.
After sunset, we headed back to the hostel and headed out for dinner with some Brits we had befriended at Buza Bar.
The following morning we were off to Split.
Dubrovnik, charming town that you could spend an eternity engorging in fresh seafood while being mesmerized by its tranquil vistas. I'll be back.
