Dubrovnik

I walked 14km today. We drove to Dubrovnik via Mostar another very pretty city in Bosnia. Our Hotel was the Lapad a very elegant 4 star Hotel about 15 minutes by car to the old town. We - my new friend Pam and I - walked around a bit that night, the hotel is right at the harbour, but then we were too tired to go on. The next morning it was an early rise. Our bus took us into town and we had a local guide who took us on a 3 hour walk around the city. We then had free time until 6pm when we had booked on our first optional tour. But about that later. Our guide told us that we absolutely had to walk at least part of the City wall. So after the tour had finished, Pam and I set off. Up and down steps until we had done the complete loop around the city. It was magic. We climbed up everything. Our legs were buckling so we decided to have lunch at one of the very nice restaurants at the harbour. After we had collected ourselves we decided to go over to the Fortress, which is not part of the City wall and climb that. When we finally found it, we were told it was not much further, just 500 odd steps up. That is when we called it quits. I could have done it up, but coming down would have killed me. So we walked back into town and caught the public bus back to the hotel. It stopped right outside our Hotel. We came home at 5pm, exhausted but very happy. Just time for a quick shower and then off on our optional trip. This was dinner at a beach. We were picked up by boat, taken all around the old city - breathtaking views - to the beach. They served the most delicious seafood. Calamary salad and then all kinds of other seafoods with plenty of wine to wash it all down. We met the owner and his Mum who was the cook. The restaurant is 165 steps down from the road and everything has to be brought down by a dumb waiter. It's a milk crate on a string. The lady was cooking in the most basic kitchen - and what a meal she produced! It was nice to get to know the other people in our group. We were 11 from Sarajewo, then in Dubrovnik another 23 joined us. We are a very happy group which is so important. I just loved Dubrovnik.