Istanbul. Constantinople. Byzantium.

 Click for photos and anecdotes (or scroll to bottom of page).

Dubrovnik, Croatia, on the beautiful Adriatic Sea.

You can read a description of the delights of Dubrovnik in my Dubrovnik Travelogue.

◄The only real street in the city is the Strada, running from the Pile Gate to the City Bell Tower by the harbor.  No motor vehicles can drive on any other street (much too narrow) and can only drive on the Strada early in the mornings for deliveries.  The entire city is pedestrian friendly.  If walking up steep steps can be considered pedestrian friendly.
 

◄From a distance, it is easy to see the Strada, running straight from tower to tower in the middle of the city.
 

 

 

◄In the bell tower near the harbor, two mechanical men, Maro and Baro, have been ringing the hour in the tower since the 15th century.

 

With a sophisticated aqueduct system, the Onofrian fountain has provided fresh water to Dubrovnik since 1438, with several decorated spigots on the outside of the round fountain for the citizens to fill their water jugs.  The water still flows and is still deliciously drinkable.

◄The walls facing the Adriatic Sea.  Notice the little restaurant clinging to the cliff.  You get there through a hole punched in the wall.  Great place for beer at sunset!!

 

 

◄The walls facing the land.  The distinctive round tower at the corner is 

Fort Minceta, a self contained bastion.

 

 

◄From Fort Minceta, looking to outpost of

Fort Lovrijenac on a cliff outside the city walls as a separate defense.

 

Rulers of a walled city trust nobody.

To ensure loyalty, the troops in Fort Lovrijenec were rotated every 30 days.  To ensure complete loyalty, they were only given only 30 days of rations when they went in to the fort.

 

 

 

At night on its isolated cliffs, Fort Lovrijenac is tranquil.►
 

In times of peace, the cove between the walled city and

Fort Lovrijenac shelters a peaceful little fishing village.►

 

 

 

 

 

 

◄Inside the city, the streets are narrow and easily defended. 

 

And rather picturesque.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Fort Lovrijenac" by world (in)famous artist, Dane Jones

 

War is not ancient history in Dubrovnik.

In 1991 and 1992, the Yugoslav/Serbian Army captured the Dubrovnik Airport and then established a firebase on top of a hill overlooking Dubrovnik.  For several months they rained rockets and artillery shells down on the city.
 

 

◄◄ View of Dubrovnik harbor as seen from the walls of the Serbian artillery site on the hilltop.

 

The door to the garden of the house next to mine still had gaping holes ripped by shrapnel from an exploding shell.►►

 

◄◄View from Dubrovnik harbor looking up at the Serbian artillery site on the hilltop (on the rocky outcrop with trees, silhouetted about the middle of the hill).