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Published: April 18th 2015
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Old Town
View of the Old Town from the steps up to Fort Lovrijenac. Just to the left off the picture is a secluded cove within walking distance of the main tourist area. When I told my sister where I was going for my most recent holiday it's safe to say she didn't really know where in the world and probably in Europe for that matter I was going. Not long before I went she asked me 'When are you going to that weird place? - beflavik or whatever it's called...' were her exact words. When I got back however it's equally safe to say that having seen pictures of me having drinks overlooking a sun drenched and crystal clear sea she suddenly became ever so slightly envious.
The 'weird' place I went to was the not so weird but beautiful Dubrovnik on the southernmost tip of Croatia's coast. This city and it's neighbouring region is somewhere which is quite easily forgotten by many holidaymakers heading from Britain who may immediately opt for the more well known resorts in Greece and Cyprus, but in doing so they are missing out on a magical holiday destination that has much to offer. The Croatian coastline is one of Europe's best kept secrets but with airlines ever increasing the number of flights here and cruise visitors increasing in number the secret won't last much longer.
On a cliffside
Me sitting on a Cliffside near the beautiful bar I found overlooking the Adriatic sea. Your first views of the cliffs, coves and eventually of the old town of Dubrovnik when you are travelling from its modest airport is something you should get used to because when you are walking around here during your holiday you will find them around every corner. Rambling in the simplest of places like a car park or backstreet you can suddenly be confronted by a surreal picture postcard view. The walk up to Fort Lovrijenac is one which is not particularly easy to find and was one which I happened to stumble across on the last day of my holiday and I am glad that I did as I uncovered a beautiful cove where a variety of water based activities such as canoeing were taking place whilst tourists sat with drinks from nearby bars. In the summer months when temperatures get hotter it is easy to imagine the amount of people likely to be swimming in this secluded paradise.
Venturing into the old town the theme continues and you never can quite know what you will find around each corner in what is a spotless and phenomenally well kept tourist area, having been renovated following damage at the
Dubrovnik
The beautiful harbour in Dubrovnik and it's crystal clear waters. From here you can catch numerous boats which will allow you to further explore Croatia's coast and islands. end of the war for independence in 1995. Each incredibly narrow side street looks seemingly insignificant but nearly all of them have either restaurants, bars, cute shops or a combination of all of these whilst in the main areas there is a vast array of places to sit, relax and watch the many excited tourists go by. If you are prepared to venture further though you will find what is an incredibly hidden place that became by far my favourite place to hang out during my stay. Perched on the side of a cliff by the city walls is a modest bar set over three levels, all of which have views over the sea which are not so modest, but spectacular. It is no surprise that those people lucky enough to find this spot often sit here for hours watching the boats go by and catching the sun - if you can navigate yourself here then you will certainly not regret the effort. For similar views accompanied by food then the place to go is unquestionably the Dubravka restaurant located at the Pile gate entrance - tables are plentiful, the price of food is reasonable and the ambience here is
Montenegro
Montenegro is a hidden gem worthy of a day of your holiday to Dubrovnik. fantastic. For some travellers though the heart of Dubrovnik could be criticised for missing one thing and that is the local presence and that is inarguable as this is a place that is understandably targeted at tourists. If you are that traveller then my recommendation would be to pay what is equivalent of £1.20 to take the number 6 bus and head either to the Gruz port area or Kralja Tomislava (in Lapad) where you will find many places frequented by locals which also happen to be much more affordable. An example of how much this lesser known area can save you is when comparing coffee, in Lapad it will set you back 80p, compared to over £3 in the old town.
This trip for me was all about surprises and this was exemplified even more by my experience in neighbouring Montenegro, a country which many people wouldn't even be able to get close to placing on a map let alone to the point of thinking what it may be like to visit. From Dubrovnik there are numerous tours that allow you to visit Europe's newest nation. Whilst it may be hard to stomach the thought of leaving your
Bay of Kotor
Stunning view of the Bay of Kotor from Perast in Montenegro. Most tours will stop here to allow you to experience this wonderful photo opportunity. calm and beautiful destination behind the truth is that you will actually be going somewhere that is even calmer and arguably even more beautiful. The two most popular destinations for visiting in Montenegro are Kotor and Budva and it's easy to see why as both have charming centres made up of a maze of historic streets, idyllic cafes and restaurants and set amongst a backdrop of awe inspiring mountains. The drive we took back to Dubrovnik around the Bay of Kotor was an unforgettable one for me as everyone seemed to be positively stunned and in disbelief at what they were seeing before their eyes. No place allows you to capture the essence of Montenegro than Perast, a small town located on the bay. The view of the church spire by the water with snow capped mountains in the background is stunning and I had to have a photo taken of me taken here to prove to those back home that I was actually present at the site of the picture!
Travelling back from Montenegro on the now familiar coastal road after a day of breath-taking views I found myself thinking that it couldn't surely get better than this but after having nodded off on the bus I opened my eyes only to be confronted by the sight of the sun setting over the Adriatic sea with Dubrovnik in the foreground. I have been to some mesmerising places and seen some mesmerising things but never has anywhere made me think 'Why does everything here just look so damn amazing?!' - if you visit here you will quickly realise that is no exaggeration. Not bad for a weird place by the sea.
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