Day in Dubrovnik

Croatia is a country I never expected to visit, but now that we've seen a part of it, 

I am so glad to have had even just a peek into this country. 

After anchoring this morning, passengers got off to go on a pre-booked tour or to do their own thing.

We split a taxi ride with our friends and took a drive up for a view of the city. 

It was not just a view, but a personal visit with the driver and some of  what he has experienced, 

living through the war and losing members of his family. 

He had a very positive outlook toward tourists, now coming in by the ship loads. 

His story and the views of his city, now re-built, was a picture of faith to go on.

At the end of the drive up the mountain, scattered with wildflowers, goats and ruins, 

he took us down to the town to see this ancient fortress in our own time.

Here we took steep narrow steps down into the old city. 

The architecture of beautiful old cathedrals, steeples and narrow streets

 with vendors and cafes lined up alongside them reminded me of Venice. 

In the end we had to take the 100 plus steps back up, 

where we hailed another taxi to take us back to our ship.

It's Friday evening here and, after all departure checks are complete,
we will be setting sail just as the sun is setting.
I'm heading up with my camera.