Kotor (Montenegro, Yugoslavia) and Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The wet mist that had partially obscured the entrance of the Kotor Fjord, gave way to sheets of rain, which flooded the ancient walled city of Kotor, preventing our planned early morning walking tour of this Medieval town. We could just glimpse the small onion shaped domes of 12th century Cathedral of St. Triphon poking above the stout 14th century Venetian walls. Through the swirling clouds one could just make out the tortuous switchback track, which lead up to a fortified monastery some 300 meters above the town. As if a magician had waved a wand the clouds dispersed as we boarded our buses for a scenic drive around this jewel-like fjord. With towering peaks on one side and mirror-calm seas on the other we followed the twisting round around the shoreline. We passed a doll-sized version of the great Venetian Church of San Giorgio Maggorie that appeared to float like a mirage on a tiny island off the village of Perast. Further along the mountain spring at Lipci gushed out of the mountain and cascaded below the roadway and shortly after this we had the opportunity to stop and take photos of the MS Endeavour rounding the headland at Tursk Point en route to the entrance of the fjord.
The armed guards and strict border formalities at the frontier between Yugoslavia and the newly created Republic of Croatia; the bomb damaged structures along the road; as well as the multitude of new tile roofs and repaired farmhouses in lush Valley of Konvale let us all experience the reality of the bitter conflicts that have torn this part of the Balkan Peninsula apart over the past decade. Turning off the main route we wove a path through the ripe vineyards towards a restored water mill where we were served plum brandy, grappa, orange juice and dried figs along the banks of a cascading river.
No guidebooks can prepare you for the breathtaking experience of rounding that final corner on the high coastal road and catching that first view of the majestic walled city of Dubrovnik. Its massive walls with rounded watchtowers, red-tiled roofs and domed churches are all newly restored through a massive international conservation effort. In small groups we followed our guides down the main marble-paved streets of the old city, stopping first to visit the cloister and museum of the Franciscan monastery before going visiting a few of the city squares and the Town Hall museum filled with portraits and furniture of the various Venetian and Croatian nobility. As the tour ended, everyone dispersed: some back to the ship, which was anchored in the old harbor; others for a cappuccino at one of the many outdoor cafes that lined the pedestrian-only streets of the walled city; while the fitness oriented passengers climbed up and walked around the top of the city walls, which run uninterrupted for almost 2000 meters encircling the medieval town. A perfect end to what had been a magical day, filled with new impressions.
The wet mist that had partially obscured the entrance of the Kotor Fjord, gave way to sheets of rain, which flooded the ancient walled city of Kotor, preventing our planned early morning walking tour of this Medieval town. We could just glimpse the small onion shaped domes of 12th century Cathedral of St. Triphon poking above the stout 14th century Venetian walls. Through the swirling clouds one could just make out the tortuous switchback track, which lead up to a fortified monastery some 300 meters above the town. As if a magician had waved a wand the clouds dispersed as we boarded our buses for a scenic drive around this jewel-like fjord. With towering peaks on one side and mirror-calm seas on the other we followed the twisting round around the shoreline. We passed a doll-sized version of the great Venetian Church of San Giorgio Maggorie that appeared to float like a mirage on a tiny island off the village of Perast. Further along the mountain spring at Lipci gushed out of the mountain and cascaded below the roadway and shortly after this we had the opportunity to stop and take photos of the MS Endeavour rounding the headland at Tursk Point en route to the entrance of the fjord.
The armed guards and strict border formalities at the frontier between Yugoslavia and the newly created Republic of Croatia; the bomb damaged structures along the road; as well as the multitude of new tile roofs and repaired farmhouses in lush Valley of Konvale let us all experience the reality of the bitter conflicts that have torn this part of the Balkan Peninsula apart over the past decade. Turning off the main route we wove a path through the ripe vineyards towards a restored water mill where we were served plum brandy, grappa, orange juice and dried figs along the banks of a cascading river.
No guidebooks can prepare you for the breathtaking experience of rounding that final corner on the high coastal road and catching that first view of the majestic walled city of Dubrovnik. Its massive walls with rounded watchtowers, red-tiled roofs and domed churches are all newly restored through a massive international conservation effort. In small groups we followed our guides down the main marble-paved streets of the old city, stopping first to visit the cloister and museum of the Franciscan monastery before going visiting a few of the city squares and the Town Hall museum filled with portraits and furniture of the various Venetian and Croatian nobility. As the tour ended, everyone dispersed: some back to the ship, which was anchored in the old harbor; others for a cappuccino at one of the many outdoor cafes that lined the pedestrian-only streets of the walled city; while the fitness oriented passengers climbed up and walked around the top of the city walls, which run uninterrupted for almost 2000 meters encircling the medieval town. A perfect end to what had been a magical day, filled with new impressions.
