Dubrovnik was a welcomed surprise to my soul from the moment we drove across the newly built bridge and up the steep hill to our charming 1 bedroom AirBnB.
I felt a childlike giddiness opening the first large iron gate toward a 2nd wooden door that then led us through a brick walled walkway to the hidden gem where our spectacular view and well thought out villa with a deliciously comfortable bed awaited us.
And although I didn’t feel well enough to run out into the night and enjoy the city and the people and my friends and the DJ dance party that we came to Dubrovnik for in the first place, resting in such a special place felt like a sweet kiss on my forehead from my grandmother, Ella..
It just made everything better.
Dubrovnik is a city in southern Croatia, fronting the Adriatic Sea. It’s known for its distinctive Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls completed in the 16th century; but probably more today as the location where so much of Game of Thrones was filmed.
It is about 3.5 hours south of Split, and has an energy and enthusiasm about it that uniquely distinguishes it from Split. I’d imagine because of all of the excited GOT fanatics who stroll the wide cobblestone streets to replicate the footsteps of their favorite Game of Thrones episodes, but also because it has a distinct flavor by the mere size of the castle.
Its well-preserved buildings range from baroque St. Blaise Church to Renaissance Sponza Palace and Gothic Rector’s Palace, now a history museum.
Paved with limestone, the pedestrianized Stradun (or plaza) is lined with shops and restaurants, but it didn’t have quite the shopping presence that I experienced in Diocletian’s Palace.
My visit in Dubrovnik was far too short to get a true sense of the place, but it’s clear that it’s different than anywhere else in Dalmatia.
Split still has my heart, because, well, PEOPLE make a place for me.
But Dubrovnik may have a chance to work its way in…
I’ll know better next time.
Because I promise…
There will be a next time.