Six days in Dubrovnik allowed me to spend a few days at leisure, swimming in the sea, making full use of the spa facilities and also to explore the city, the cable car and the city walls.
I stayed in the Rixos Libertas hotel just outside of the old city of Dubrovnik in June and was upgraded to a large bright bedroom with a bed that faced out to the sea. The sea view was the first thing you saw when your eyes opened in the mornings. It was very modern and clean and with one of the largest balconies I have ever had in any hotel room. If you plan to share with a friend it may be worth knowing that the bath tub is open to the main bedroom area without a privacy screen or door.
Just a ten minute walk along the coastal roads to get to the old town was a good enough distance away to be calm and quiet, yet close enough to be involved in the hustle and bustle whenever I wanted. After walking to the old town for dinner on the first evening my high heels were ditched in favour of more practical flat sandals for the rest of the trip.
The atmosphere of an evening in the old town is so magical, it doesn’t feel real. As you enter the gates it is like you have been transported to a fairy tale land. Each night I walked to the Old town, explored new alleyways and found a quaint little restaurant for dinner. One of my favourite spots was on the harbor front but the cobbled alleyways were also full of surprises.
I can’t mention Dubrovnik without telling you to visit Buza Bar. It is a bar that sits precariously on the rocks through a gate in the city walls. Get here early to nab a front row table for sunset. It’s a great little spot for pre dinner drinks. Finding this bar it is like a mini adventure in itself. You have to follow the signs for cold drinks from inside the old town. Good Luck!
I woke up one morning to an incredible thunder and lightning storm. So rather than my usual early start, I ordered a cup of tea from room service and laid in bed watching the lightening strike for an hour before sauntering down to breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a large hot and cold buffet with good quality food and something to suit everyone’s tastes. There was also a fresh egg and omelette bar, where the chef will cook to your instructions. It was a good standard hotel breakfast, but it has nothing to distinguish it from any other hotel of the world.
I spent a few hours making full use of the spa facilities, Turkish hammam, steam room and lovely relaxation room. . I had a full body massage, a swim in the large indoor pool and tested out the gym facilities. The gym is small but it has all of the basic equipment you need to get a good workout and it was never overcrowded. By late afternoon the storm had passed I wandered into town and perused the souvenir shops.
On sunnier days, I spent a couple of hours by the pool each morning before setting off to see the sights each afternoon. One thing I love about Croatia is the clear sea waters. I usually prefer a swimming pool to swimming in the sea, however I noticed that most of the guests did not use the outdoor pool at all. When the sun got too hot, everyone seemed to go for a dip in the sea and I joined them. There are steps down from the rocks and no sand, so you don’t have to worry about sand getting stuck to your wet feet afterwards. Showers to rinse the salt from your body before heading back up to the pool deck area are also very refreshing.
I walked the city walls on a hot afternoon. I was glad that I took a bottle of water with me. If I did it again I might take 2 bottles of water as there is only one café about half way around. However, the tiring walk in the heat of the afternoon was worth it, to see the city and surrounding areas basked in sunlight from every angle.
I also would recommend spending taking a couple of hours for a trip on the cable car if you have time. The views from the top are super and there’s a nice restaurant at the top too if you wanted to spend a little longer
Had the weather conditions been more favorable, I would like have to visit the island of Mljet. However, this is a destination I will definitely return to one day in the future and so it’s nice to know that I have more places to see there.
She's Away Again! 
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