We took a brief breakfast from the same bakery that we sampled the morning before, this time choosing to eat on the steps across from the Rector’s Palace. Strange that in this part of Dubrovnik there are no public benches or even a low wall upon which we could sit down. The steps we were sitting on were underneath a mass of pigeons and they quickly chased us away with their droppings. Having avoided the wrath of the pigeons for the most part, we then visited the cathedral in the center of Old Town. The cathedral is a huge building ornately decorated with shrines and in a baroque style. We joined all of the other tour groups and sat briefly in the pews to appreciate the detailed altars and shrines inside.
A few hours were also spent shopping where we bought two small paintings of Dubrovnik and two bottles of local wine to go along with our olive ulije and honey brandy that we had from earlier in the trip. There are many small galleries and street vendors in the grad selling all manner of artwork and other tchotchkes. We found two very nice watercolors that we could take home and frame.
The Franciscan Monastery was quite impressive in its silent wonder. The 13th century cloisters were awe-inspiring and left us contemplating life and all it has to offer not unlike the monks once did, I imagine. The monastery courtyard was lined with palm trees and looked up into the bright sun. There weren’t that many people in the courtyard so we stalked them until they left so that we could take a picture by ourselves. Then the Japanese tourists came. The old pharmacy is also part of the museum and we saw medieval jugs and urns. There is actually still a working pharmacy in the monastery which has been dispensing prescriptions since the 14th century.
With the afternoon drawing to a close we thought it would be a good time to see Buza I after having visited Buza II the day before. The sun was bright and the wind a little chilly but we joined several others looking to get away from the stradun and the other main streets of Old Town that were heaving with tourists. We enjoyed two drinks before heading back to the Maritime Museum for a crash course on the trading and mercantile history of the Ragusans and then the inhabitants of Dubrovnik. This museum was full of information regarding how this city became a major shipping hub in the 14th – 17th centuries. There were letters from sea captains to tradesman, excerpts of contracts and alliances between Dubrovnik and Venice amongst many other pieces of history. It seemed that the city was a thriving shipping metropolis located near profitable trade routes until the earthquake of 1667 devastated the city. It seemed that all of the city’s history rotated around this one pivotal event. The museum itself was in the structure known as St. John’s Fort, once a working fort that defended the side of the city facing the old bay. Many of the artifacts in the museum had been discovered on excavated shipwrecks off the coast. Unfortunately for us, our decision to visit the museum was very close to the museum’s closing time and we were ushered out before we could really see everything. We breezed through the second floor and then were sent off back to the old city walls near Renata House.
Back at the room we changed and got ready for dinner. It would be the so-called “Holiday Blow-Out” at Nautika. One of the more high-end and well known restaurants in all of Dubrovnik, this restaurant also had impeccable views of the old town and Lovrinj Fort and a perfect sunset location. The atmosphere was elegant and romantic with silver, white linen tablecloths, attentive service and a knowledgeable staff. We had salads as well as fish for the main course; Istr
ian Sole for Jess and Sea Bass for myself. Strangely enough, as advertised, two “old” sailing vessels passed in front of us as we ate out on the patio overlooking a small cove. Throughout the city and in many guidebooks (including Time Out Dubrovnik) ads for Nautika featured the patio tables in the foreground with the water and a ship passing in the background. How nice that we now had our own ship passing before us! The breeze was brisk but the atmosphere was perfect, the food even better. It was a “holiday blow-out” to end all “holiday blow-outs” and I was happy the food was so good as it made me overlook the fact that this was our most expensive meal of the trip. With a fine meal to digest, we found ourselves at another quaint café in Old Town for two more local liqueurs. These local products are very sweet, with not too much alcohol taste and make for a nice digestiv. We ended our day very satisfied.
While Nautika was definitely one of the most memorable dining experiences ever, the time we spent at Café Buza I and Café Buza II was also very unique. To sip drinks in the sun along the city walls while looking directly out into the bay and further on the Adriatic Sea is very calming and relaxing. With the sun warming us and the cool drinks soothing us we were free to also move further down the walls while remaining at Buza – to get closer or alternately further away from the water. These little platforms along the walls each had tables and chairs and those that were closest to the water were used as small beaches.
A few hours were also spent shopping where we bought two small paintings of Dubrovnik and two bottles of local wine to go along with our olive ulije and honey brandy that we had from earlier in the trip. There are many small galleries and street vendors in the grad selling all manner of artwork and other tchotchkes. We found two very nice watercolors that we could take home and frame.
The Franciscan Monastery was quite impressive in its silent wonder. The 13th century cloisters were awe-inspiring and left us contemplating life and all it has to offer not unlike the monks once did, I imagine. The monastery courtyard was lined with palm trees and looked up into the bright sun. There weren’t that many people in the courtyard so we stalked them until they left so that we could take a picture by ourselves. Then the Japanese tourists came. The old pharmacy is also part of the museum and we saw medieval jugs and urns. There is actually still a working pharmacy in the monastery which has been dispensing prescriptions since the 14th century.
With the afternoon drawing to a close we thought it would be a good time to see Buza I after having visited Buza II the day before. The sun was bright and the wind a little chilly but we joined several others looking to get away from the stradun and the other main streets of Old Town that were heaving with tourists. We enjoyed two drinks before heading back to the Maritime Museum for a crash course on the trading and mercantile history of the Ragusans and then the inhabitants of Dubrovnik. This museum was full of information regarding how this city became a major shipping hub in the 14th – 17th centuries. There were letters from sea captains to tradesman, excerpts of contracts and alliances between Dubrovnik and Venice amongst many other pieces of history. It seemed that the city was a thriving shipping metropolis located near profitable trade routes until the earthquake of 1667 devastated the city. It seemed that all of the city’s history rotated around this one pivotal event. The museum itself was in the structure known as St. John’s Fort, once a working fort that defended the side of the city facing the old bay. Many of the artifacts in the museum had been discovered on excavated shipwrecks off the coast. Unfortunately for us, our decision to visit the museum was very close to the museum’s closing time and we were ushered out before we could really see everything. We breezed through the second floor and then were sent off back to the old city walls near Renata House.Back at the room we changed and got ready for dinner. It would be the so-called “Holiday Blow-Out” at Nautika. One of the more high-end and well known restaurants in all of Dubrovnik, this restaurant also had impeccable views of the old town and Lovrinj Fort and a perfect sunset location. The atmosphere was elegant and romantic with silver, white linen tablecloths, attentive service and a knowledgeable staff. We had salads as well as fish for the main course; Istr
ian Sole for Jess and Sea Bass for myself. Strangely enough, as advertised, two “old” sailing vessels passed in front of us as we ate out on the patio overlooking a small cove. Throughout the city and in many guidebooks (including Time Out Dubrovnik) ads for Nautika featured the patio tables in the foreground with the water and a ship passing in the background. How nice that we now had our own ship passing before us! The breeze was brisk but the atmosphere was perfect, the food even better. It was a “holiday blow-out” to end all “holiday blow-outs” and I was happy the food was so good as it made me overlook the fact that this was our most expensive meal of the trip. With a fine meal to digest, we found ourselves at another quaint café in Old Town for two more local liqueurs. These local products are very sweet, with not too much alcohol taste and make for a nice digestiv. We ended our day very satisfied.While Nautika was definitely one of the most memorable dining experiences ever, the time we spent at Café Buza I and Café Buza II was also very unique. To sip drinks in the sun along the city walls while looking directly out into the bay and further on the Adriatic Sea is very calming and relaxing. With the sun warming us and the cool drinks soothing us we were free to also move further down the walls while remaining at Buza – to get closer or alternately further away from the water. These little platforms along the walls each had tables and chairs and those that were closest to the water were used as small beaches.
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