Dubrovnik - Kingslanding and The Throne

So here's the thing -- I came here for culture and for the history and that whole inner feeling of warmth with the imagination kicking in with regard to how life in this place must have been.

And then -- Completely overshadowed by Game of Thrones and a business that is thriving off of the series and the reality that Croatia and in particular Dubrovnik have played its part.

 

So now Lynda and I have to go back through the early episodes , especially where Serce walks down through the crowd and gets stoned -- well we were standing in that place this morning. For those who didn't know , Dubrovnik was one of the most used areas for shooting the series apart from Ireland.

 

Then Lynda finds a backstreet shop, bit like you do in Soho--- and demanded that we go in there

 

So there she sits, hoping against hope that if she rubbed the material hard enough that John Snow would march in and whisk her away to the North --  (little does he know that she doesn't do cold )and the only thing she leaves with is me-- Thought I had better see if I had any better luck and that John Snow comes and whisks me off instead.

 

She does look good on a throne though -- no not the loo.

 

Ah well, seams like we were both out of luck, so better just enjoy the culture in this most serious of tourist destinations.

 

I definitely think that in all the places we have visited -- Rome , Barcelona, Paris - Dubrovnik is hands down the busiest tourist places I have ever seen-- so many people.

 

Any way Lynda and I had a great day in what is like entering history in a hologram but its real stone and mortar. For a place that has seen more than it's fair share of being besieged by armies and pirates and the like, it is a remarkable city and testimony to the capabilities of the craftsmen , the engineers and designers -- it is quite magnificent.

 

On the way from our villa to the old city is a bit of a stretch but a great start and every few yards there is something to photograph, from the quirky or the magnificence of the buildings on the way down.

 

So these are Love Locks at a place called Boninovo, about a kilometre from Pile Gate and they are put on the fence at night and the keys are hurled into the sea. Love for each other is there for all to see and no-one can unlock them -- romantic or what.

Mind you a decent pair of bolt croppers would sort this lot out.

 

So there is a different view of our villa on the outcrop in the fore- ground

They say that Dubrovnik is in the Baroque style but without bowing to the 17th century  Italians , I think there are any number of different features that are not all from either that period or that country. These following were all along the way down to the city--

One of the universities- a fairly modern façade

 

Others that just make your mouth water but not sure what happened to the gardener

 

Others that are truly magnificent

The fort on this outcrop is separate to the old city but equally impressive and that is before we have even gotten into the city.

Below is an old entrance that would have been used when people from the ship would have rode in to this little bay in their rowing boats, and would have accessed through the arch down at waters level.

Mrs A looking magnificent on this fine sunny day

 

Before going in to the walled city , time for a selfie -- well it would be rude not to.

 

So we are then off and running in our walking around this magnificent city---

 

Impressive main entrance and on such a small area of land they managed to build a shed load of churches -

One thing is for sure-- they made life very difficult for anyone who might have managed to get in to the city-- many many small alleyways and with some of the buildings little in the wayof entrances so easy to defend--

One of the most photographed residents who is about as nonchalant as you can get with us tourists --

 

As the picture below shows, amazing amount of small alleys and huge numbers of steps

 And more churches

 Continuous but discreet renovation going on -- appeared really well managed--

 Down by the harbour as a backdrop--

 

 

 

Didn't anyone tell him its supposed to be yellow -- there are large numbers of

 boats to take folk out to see where they filmed scenes for Kingslanding

So much to see--

The nature reserve on the island of Lokrum is supposed to be great at are the botanical gardens and beaches. I will resist the temptation to buy the island and build a home there , as there is a curse laid on anyone who does. In 1043 apparently there was a big fire in Dubrovnik and the people prayed , saying if god helped save the city  they would build a monastery on the island. The fire was put out and the monastery built. When the French invaded Dubrovnik they forced the 3 aristocrats to close it down and get rid of the monks.
Before they left , the monks spent all night walking around the island chanting a curse on anyone who owns the island or tried to build on it would die.
After they left all 3 aristocrats died in different circumstances and people have never since then tried to build there at all---- so we wont either.

For those who know it, I have to say that there are way more arches and tunnels here than there are in Monomvasia , on the Peloponnese.

 

Oh yes , and more churches

And more tunnels and arches

And more churches & Tunnels

Mrs A doing a bit of tunnel loitering

And a whole lot of step climbing

And another -- yep , you got it -- a church

Me contemplating my navel I think

 Just like Barcelona or covent garden , all cities have these guys and they are good-not sure about doing it all day though-- however one look at their tax returns might pursued me otherwise :-)

Didn't go in -- have had my T shirt for ages- but I guess you have to feed off the back of the success - nothing lasts forever.

Oh look -- a Church

Me doing a bit of loitering

And this is me off up to the Ramparts-- to walk the City wall on top

 That's me up there -- now just 2 kilometres to go

 Little exhibition of this guys going on in the city -- maybe today

So to finish todays blog, a few views from me on top of the wall down with Mrs A waiting by the fountain.

 

Had to get a selfie and a view of some restoration going on

 You certainly get a feel for why anyone would look to use this city as a backdrop for any movie or series

From on the wall I even managed to find this really pretty garden

Even found a mate up here-- also oblivious to tourists -- oh and I also had a guy ( A Brit) and congratulated me on wearing a Chelsea top -- you meet the nicest of Chelsea supporters everywhere. Up the Chels.

Ok , that's it , incredible day -- weather was mostly great and very warm - bit cloudy at times and finished with a nice uphill stroll from the city back to the Villa--- will probably be there today as well-- and see if I can find any more churches and tunnels/arches .

                              Hvala or Bok
Look it up.