Category Archives: Croatia

Dubrovnik is full of character(s)

There’s nothing like a bit of street photography – a chance to capture some character portraits. And Dubrovnik is full of characters. So here’s a selection from a Dubrovnik day.

Marin Drzic, poet.

Marin Drzic, poet.

OK, so I’ve cheated a bit at the start. Not so difficult to capture this Croatian poet. But he’s got a good smile, a bullet hole in the neck (the recent war) and a shiny nose ‘cos people stroke him for luck. Clearly a character, he’s in!

Going shopping

Going shopping

Next is a nun on a shopping trip. Early morning croissants for the nunnery… Well, maybe not, but provisions must be bought, and she’s not hanging around. Off to the market…

Stuffed peppers for dinner

Stuffed peppers for dinner

Once shopping is done, gossip must be shared. And there are lots of ladies doing exactly that:

Gossipers 1

Gossipers 1

Gossipers 2

Gossipers 2

Meanwhile, outside the city, the oysters are harvested for fancy restaurants. All done by hand of course.

Oyster catcher

Oyster catcher

This guy is fishing for his lobster dinner

This guy is fishing for his lobster dinner

And it all ends up at the fish market

And it all ends up at the fish market

Some have time for an afternoon stroll, whilst others have to do the chores

Time for an afternoon stroll

Making the most of the afternoon

Whilst the young ones do the chores

Someone has to do it…

As evening kicks in the youngsters kick off. First of all the good girls come out and strut their stuff.

Still gossiping of course...

Still gossiping of course…

And inevitably the good girls turn into the bad girls, the way of the world…

Out for some fun...

Out for some fun…

What a fantastic place! Everyone a character, and all out on the street. Couldn’t put the camera down. Loved it. If you get the chance, go.

(If you like this post, check out this one about the beautiful city)


Shattered dreams on the Croatian coast

A beautiful view

A beautiful view

Today tourists admire the view. But two decades ago this was the vantage point for the artillery guns, and Dubrovnik suffered under bombardment.

Dubrovnik's main street

Dubrovnik burning

Where the shells landed

Where the shells landed

Fox hole, dugout, now grave

Fox hole, dugout, grave

Round the bay from our villa is Kupari, a once-posh hotel resort heavily shelled during the war. It’s very weird to be a tourist in 2013, and to look at the tourist areas of 1991 that were being torn apart by high explosive…

Someone has a sense of irony...

Someone has a sense of irony…

Shell damage

Shell damage

Easy to get inside. But not comfortable. Eerie. Deserted. Haunted

Once, a grand staircase...

Once, a grand staircase…

A beautiful dining salon...

A beautiful dining salon…

A wrecked staircase...

A destroyed staircase…

Wreckage framing a delightful view...

Wreckage framing a delightful view…

A shell must have come straight into this bedroom...

A shell must have come straight into this bedroom…

This view is in the huge atrium of the hotel. There are definitely ghosts here.

Trees vs concrete

Green vs grey

What a sorry waste. The remnants of dreams and hopes of developers, hoteliers, guests, staff and local businesses. Just some caustic graffiti to reference the raw emotions. Thank heavens such times are over in this area.

Indeed...

Indeed…


The view from my window…

Dawn view

Dawn view

There’s nothing like a good view to revitalise the spirits, and this was our Croatian view for the 2 week summer vac. Slow down, breathe deeply, relax, leave the city behind…

Breakfast lunch and dinner

Breakfast lunch and dinner

Given that I am a Brit living in Britain, eating outside is not the norm. So this is just bliss. Just add bread, cheese, tomato salad, and a glass of wine.

A spot for lazing

A spot for lazing

And when it gets too hot, cool off.

And when it gets too hot, cool off.

An olive tree means hot weather. It’s become a symbol of holiday destinations and holiday mood.

This one's a youngster

This one’s a youngster

If we tire of the pool we just head down to the beach for a dip there (and ice cream, maybe a beer…) Watch the boats come in.

This much colour must scare the fish off...!

This much colour must scare the fish off…!

The day ends, as it must, with a sunset. But on holiday they always seem so glorious!

Sunset in Cavtat

Sunset in Cavtat

 

Lastly the moonrise, and a whole new seascape view opens up before us. Not bad for a view from our window…

Final view before sleep

Final view before sleep


Dubrovnik – how beautiful can a city get?

Dawn over Dubrovnik

Dawn over Dubrovnik

Just spent two weeks on the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. The nearest city was Dubrovnik. A stunner. I mean, how beautiful can a city get?!?!

St Blaise at watch

Patron saint: St Blaise at watch

Best way to see the city is to beat the crowds, and that means getting up early. Certainly before the cruise ships disgorge their cargo loads of passengers…

Slippery steps into the city

Slippery steps into the city

Millions of feet have polished the stones over the years, and they gleam in the early light. Makes for a lovely chiaroscuro effect.

Has guttering ever looked this good?

Has guttering ever looked this good?

vigil

saintly vigil

To my eye this is one of the most beautiful drinking fountains ever. A good place to cool off.

beautiful fountain 1

beautiful fountain 1

beautiful fountain 2

beautiful fountain 2

beautiful fountain 3

beautiful fountain 3

Everywhere you look classicism abounds. The city had to be rebuilt after the 1667 earthquake, hence the beautiful uniformity. For architecture the Renaissance and the Baroque are just the best.

the palace

the Rector’s palace

The best views come from the walls. Took me a good hour to walk round them – mind you I was stopping every 400 yards to take another photo…

the walls

the walls

panorama

panorama

old tiles

old tiles

old chimneys

old chimneys

wall views

wall views

more wall views

more wall views

Small cafes cling to the outside of the walls on the cliffs – a great place for a cooling beer.

time for a drink

time for a drink

and a swim

and a swim

As dusk falls the city roofs glow, the sky goes pink, the restaurants are full, and the sun dips again towards the horizon.

dusk from the walls

dusk from the walls

sunset

sunset

evening on Stradun

evening on Stradun

A lovely place for a holiday. Exquisite.

Dubrovnik sunset

Dubrovnik sunset