Dubrovnik, Croatia
This morning we sailed into the old harbor of Dubrovnik; it was very earl y but it was a special treat so most of us didn`t want to miss the spectacular entrance while the city born from the rocks appeared in front of us. After breakfast we took the local tender to go to the Old Town of Dubrovnik and start our walking tour. On our way we visited the Franciscan monastery where we were able to see third oldest pharmacy in the world, founded in 1317. Besides the old pharmacy, the Franciscan monastery holds a lot of hand-written books with medical recipes, relics, votive jewelry, paintings and an imposing cloister with 60 double gothic capitols.
Our next challenge was an astonishing walk on the famous city walls, which are symbols of this medieval city known as the Pearl of Adriatic. We walked on the south part of the walls from where we got to see the oldest part of the city with its narrow roads and the imposing Lovrijenac fortress that stands proudly on the rocks, still warning us all that the liberty is a symbol of Dubrovnik with the inscription above its entrance: ``Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro”` or ``For all gold of the world freedom is not to be sold.” Some of us also decided to freshen up on a terrace of a bar that looks on to the cursed island of Lokrum, still intriguing and mysterious.
After lunch we a spent lovely afternoon relaxing on the ship`s open decks and having a swim in one of the cleanest seas in the world, with just enough time to get ready for the Klapa ``Ostro`` concert in the late afternoon. This was a feast for our ears. Klapa is traditional Dalmatian a capella way of singing, that made all of us experience special hidden feelings while seven Klapa members sang for us.
Klapa made us ready to meet Dubrovnik by night when the city transfers into a glamorous play of light and song. Just a walk on the main street, Stradun, made all of us feel special in a special city.
