Tag: Game of thrones

Lokrum Island & Dubrovnik old town 🇭🇷

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Today is our last full day, and a free day for us to do whatever we fancy. As the majority of the town was cut off this morning due to the city walls run, we decided to take a boat trip to Lokrum Island. As much as we have enjoyed exploring the hustle and bustle of old towns this week, it was nice to go back to nature and calm.

For those or you who are Game of Thrones fans, it’s an absolute must as you get to sit on the iron throne – which was gifted to them from the production team! Time on the island can be spent doing absolutely nothing apart from enjoying a cocktail and the views, or wandering around the whole place. We decided to do both! One thing to bear in mind is the only way to get around is to walk. There are no cars on the island as it is an uninhabited UNESCO protected nature reserve, although the majority is easily assessable on the well maintained paths. We decided to head to the top of the island to get views from the Fort, however this is a very steep hill and the ticker definitely knew about it! Sensible footwear really is a must for this part of the walk as the paths are rocky and uneaven, but the views are worth it. Other things to see are the botanical gardens, monastery, the ‘dead sea’ and of course, the hundreds of peacocks which roam the island.

This afternoon we headed back to the old town for our last explore around the streets. We found a lovely restaurant which served tapas, so we settled in for food and people watching. After eating we went for a walk around the outside of the walls, and spotted a dead eel in the water being gobbled up by all the other fish. I didn’t realise they were so big! We finished the day with an ice cream before heading back to the hotel to pack ready to leave tomorrow. Although tiring, it has been another incredible trip with 3 more counties ticked off the list (according to my app I’ve now done 57% Europe!) The scenery and landscapes have been beautiful and the old towns full of character and charm. Croatia is only around 2hrs away from England, so why not add it to your list of potential destinations!

Dubrovnik 🇭🇷

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Today has been all about Dubrovnik old town. It’s known as the ‘pearl of the Adriatic’ and is popular for a reason due to it being packed with culture and history. This does however mean it’s a very busy place, especially when there are not one, but three cruise ships in!

The old town is so easy to get around and it’s full of cafes, bars and restaurants which are much needed in this heat 🥵 We started the day by tackling the city walls – a 2km loop of the old town. Although it costs around £20pp it is absolutely worth it and is one of the best ways to see the red tiled rooftops below. There is the option to finish the walls half way round, and this is great for those who struggle with lots of steps. As we worked up quite the thirst, we stopped at one of the bars for a beverage. As they only did full fat coke, we had to treat ourselves to something more fabulous, and went with a fresh OJ instead. With views of the glistening Adriatic Sea, red and orange rooftops, bustling squares, fortresses, the beautiful Island of Lokrum and of course an array of GoT film locations, it was the perfect way to start our day.

The other best way to explore is old town is just to wander up and down the narrow streets that feed off Stradun. Make sure you wear shoes with decent grip – the children playing football (in a busy square.. hooligans!) were able to celebrate their goals in style by sliding (a fair distance!) on their knees along the slippery street. There are so many shops and bars.. and cats to discover along the way.

After doing the obligatory steps of Cersei’s walk of shame (for all you GoT fans) we decided it was time for lunch, and found a lovely cafe that served the best beef and cheese sandwich I’ve ever eaten! You really are spoilt for choice for places to eat and drink.

Shame 🔔

As we love to chase a sunset, we decided this afternoon and evening would be spent on top of Srd Hill which we got to via cable car. This gives you great views over the city, but again comes at a price of £20pp for a return trip. There is the option of walking, but this felt like the best option for our tired legs. There is the option to take in the views from the platform by the cable car, however we decided to venture a bit further. After climbing up some dodgy steps and over a very uneaven path, we found the best place to watch the sun go down. It seemed to be a popular spot, but there is so much space to enjoy the beauty in front of you with all the other tourists. After catching mild hypothermia due to the temperature drop, we headed back to the old town on the cable car, and explored a bit more now it was all lit up and a lot less busy. Whether it’s day or night, the old town really is a great place to explore.