This is our third trip to Dubrovnik and yet the very first picture we’ve had from inside the old town. Buzz Bar was great for both the Negronis and the people watching.
Day Eight was a leisure day in Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is certainly one of the beautiful, ancient cities in the Mediterranean and worthy of a great day of sight seeing. But we’ve already been here, twice, so we didn’t need a lot of sight seeing. We went into the old town for dinner twice – arrival day and the day off – but didn’t need to do more. So instead of sight seeing we spent a very relaxed day at the beach. Sunbeds, umbrella, water, lunch – a pretty lazy day.
One crazy coincidence, though. The boat was tied up in the port area, a mile or two from the old city. As we were walking into town we noticed that when we were first in Dubrovnik nine years ago we’d stayed not far from the port and walked the same route into town. As we were taking a selfie some random tourist offered to take our picture for us … and we realized it was exactly the same place we’d taken a picture nine years earlier. See for yourself!
Walking from the boat into old town Dubrovnik. We were in exactly this spot nine years ago.
And here we are nine years ago. That tree over Mark’s right shoulder is so recognizable. And fortunately we haven’t changed a bit in nine years either!
Then it was back to biking. Over the next couple of days we biked on the islands of Šipan, Mljet, and then again on Hvar, the other end of where we’d biked earlier on the trip. The first ride was pretty low-key, nothing too challenging, but the next day the tour guides for some reason changed plans and put us on the island of Mljet. The ride wasn’t long, just an out-and-back, but the return route was on a crazy steep hill; most of us on push bikes (as opposed to e-bikes) had to walk up a considerable portion of it.
And then a long ride on Hvar that was pretty tough, some 34 miles with three tough climbs. Of course three tough climbs means lots of long downhills, too, but it’s the long climbs that really get to you. Add to that some brutal heat. To be honest, it’s just too hot to enjoy the biking these days, well up into the 90s on the long ride on Hvar. Which also makes meals on the boat when we’re not at sea pretty unbearable, too. Ugh.
I haven’t had a lot of beer over the last several years but after biking 20 or 30 miles with big hills and in intense heat, this is about the most welcome sight in the world.
The good news about the biking here is the fantastic wine: between wine bars that we find in little towns and a wine tasting we did in Trstenik on the Peljašic peninsula we’re discovering really great wines. And as long as I’m talking about what we love, the opportunity to bike into and spend time in lots of little towns – some really little but still either cute or outright beautiful – has been great.
This local white wine on Trstenik was really good, and cost all of about $2.25!
On the down side, of course, is the heat, the hills, and … COVID! Yup, four of our ship mates have tested positive over the last few days. Nobody has been sick beyond just a little tired and cough and so on, but that’s certainly not ideal. The good news is that after those four cases several days ago no one else has gotten sick. We spend an enormous amount of time outside, either biking or on deck, and those who’ve tested positive stay separate. So far at least that’s working.
Now back to biking. We’d appreciate it if this heat wave would break, but not much sign of it in the forecasts.
Most of the people on our tour spent their rest day in Dubrovnik kayaking. We spent it resting at Coral Beach.
One of perhaps a million cute little port towns here on the Dalmatian Coast. That island on the left seems unreal.
Getting to know our ship/bike mates has been a lot of fun. Here are John & Pam joining us for a glass of wine in Trstenik.
And Mark on a break with Cindy and Cheryl
Early morning view in Šipan
Evening port in Šipan
On most days we anchor in a harbor or cove of some sort for a swim. This is what it looks like.
And this is what it looks like when you’re biking uphill and have to watch for wild boars
We spent one evening tied up in the tiny, tiny town of Trstenik, population 116
On the island of Mljet we biked to the little town of Okuklje. It was a lovely stop but the ride back up was insanely steep.