Old town - preview

In the morning we took the no6 local bus on a nice sunny day to the gates of the Old Town, a journey of about 15 mins standing, The Pile gate is the main  gate for all tours, taxis, cruises and practically everyone else to be dropped. So it is crowded and surrounded by nunerous booths selling excursions or guided walks, ATM machines  and several restaurants. Dubrovnik's finest restaurant Nautika, by the gate, is rated the 6th most romantic place to eat in the World by Conde Nast Traveller with highly inflated prices to match.

We walked through the gate with the crowds and wandered down the main street, the Stradun, with a few detours down side streets before reaching the small market. There were many small stalls selling local produce including crystallised orange and lemon and sugared almonds. We bought a few bits and had an expensive coffee on the main street. Visited the official Game of Thrones merchandise shop, did not but anything, then had a look at Kings Landing in the harbour. Lot of people taking photos. The harbour is busy with short trips in glass bottomed boats and a ferry to the Island.

The whole town is a maze of lovely old medieval buildings, palaces, churches, shops, bars and many restaurants. Many had to be rebuilt after an earthquake and then restored after the Serbs bombarded the town in 1991 during the war which resulted in the break up of former Yugoslavia. We will learn more about this tomorrow and Monday when we return to walk around the city walls and visit the war museum by cable car.

We found a take away shop in a side street selling the typical Croatian pizza, which we had for lunch. Went back up the Jesuit steps and through the city wall to the Buza bar which clings to the side of the cliffs below the wall and sells cold drinks in a spectacular setting overlooking the sea and Locum island. Had a beer and took photos!

Found the very old pharmacy behind the church and spent a short time in the museum. There is a food festival in town this weekend, believe it or no, so we went to the Hilton Hotel for their food festival afternoon tea. Arrived back at the hotel in time for a nice sunset and more photos! Now its time for dinner, a special deal in the gourmet restaurant for Food Festival week.

Interesting meal which started with Oyster, Tuna carpaccio and Avocado mouse, followed by fish soup. The main coarse was poached Scorpion fish on a bed of vanilla flavoured asparagus and the sweet a trio of chocolate souffle, goats cheese mouse and pineapple carpaccio with mint pesto. We did not like the olive bread, overpowering flavour and the wine was too heavy for fish dishes.