Lokrum and around

What a great day!  I don't think I am going to be able to write and post up all my photos in 1 hour but I'll give it a shot.  This morning me and Maria Francesca (My host Mother.) moved my bags up more steps and now for the next two nights I am  living in my own flat with kitchen , bathroom and bedroom.  It's great and the bed looks a tad more comfortable.

I then went to the bus terminal and bought my ticket to Mostar.  I leave on Friday at 8am and will be in Mostar at midday.  Now, that's exciting .   I have booked 1 night there and two nights in Sarejevo..but my plans might change again..who knows.  I'm glad I went up there, finding the bus station was a bit of a challenge.

Where the day trippers arrive and depart from.

I then went back on the bus to the Old City and found  the synagogue. which is the second oldest in Europe after the one in Prague.  The museum was full of ancient torahs and scripts from the 12th and 13th century. (Written in a different kind of Hebrew.)  taken by the Jews of Spain when they were kicked out in the 15th century to their new homes in the lands of the Ottoman Empire.  It's amazing after all this time and turmoil that they have survived and are so lovingly displayed.

 The oldest ,continually functioning Sephardic Synagogue in Europe. (Spanish Jews)

I shouldn't have taken this photo but I didn't see the signs until it was too late.

I then went off to see the mosque but the road was blocked off and there were guards...ummm a bit dodgy.  I didn't stay to ask any questions.  I kind of knew I didn't want to hang around.

I then went to the museum of the Defenders of Dubrovnik.  Sad to see photos of the shelled city and pictures of the people who died, many of whom were born in the late 60s and early 70s. Same age as me.

I then got on a boat to Lokrum.  About 20 mins away.  As it was 33 degrees at 10am this morning I knew I needed to be surrounded by trees on this National Park.  I had a fabulous day and even climbed up to the fort on the top of the Island.  I was a sweaty mess by the time I arrived..a body of butter.

On the boat.

 the walls are amazing.

Views back to Dubrovnik.  This last one you can really see the walls of the Old City.

This Island is a paradise and every evening at 7pm everyone has to leave.  There are protected tropical plants and loads of peacocks. I felt like I was in an enchanted world.  No wonder people base novels on Islands like these!

 Flowering cactus.

 Some pretty flowers.

 

When I reached the top of the fort. I thought I was going to die and was just about to turn back and go down the hill when I met a couple from Australia...they asked me to join them on their continuing walking tour of the Island and in my sweaty state of collapse I agreed. (They were both fresh as daisies.)  If they could do it , so could I!!   We ended up being the only three people who seemed to be walking around the far end of the Island.  I couldn't give up if Keith and Sylvia could do it...they were in their 70s and 80s for God's sake!!

 

Now this couple were inspirational!  I loved my few hours with them.  They have travelled to Japan, Afghanistan, Pakistan (and also Iran just a few years ago. )   I was asking them so many questions and they really inspired me to keep travelling.  They were lovely and full of great stories.  They normally stay in Youth Hostels but this year  they decided to do a 6 week tour down the Danube and around the Balkans.  they weren't too keen on the dressing up for the evening and the old people.  They did have to do an organised tour around Iran which they said was phonomenal.  I'm green with envy!!  They look so good on it too!! it was a pleasure to meet them. 

I then ate black risotto for lunch.  Squid and ink I think and then wandered round the Island some more.  I found the nudist beach.. These ex-communist countries sure love a bit of group nudity.

I then found a peacock up a tree and watched it and took a photo.  He was looking at me and then flew down and did an amazing show of his feathers right in front of my face. My luck was in, I had pulled a peacock!!

In the tree.

And he's off!

Right in front of me!

Then I saw the hen near to my bag which I had abandoned in my excitement. 

It wasn't for me after all!

Show over.

 

That was amazing and so beautiful.  I was very lucky to see a peacock, let alone this show-off,  up so close!

I went swimming in the Dead Sea of Lokrum.(A kind of internal pond, safe for little kids.)  Not a patch on the real one and there were stones everywhere but it was beautiful. Infact the stones are the down side to my beach experience here.  Tomorrow I'm off to three Islands and one of them has a SANDY beach.

I then got the boat back at about 7pm and as we were docking I was lucky enough to see a typical Croatian boat.  (The type the Brits in the time of Elizabeth the second were so envious of.   Dubrovnik was the home of boat building at the time.)

Right, off next door for pizza and then a short walk up some STEPS to my apartment.     Early night; a tour of three Islands (Elephati Islands.) with free beer and wine all day awaits me tomorrow.   Shit, better keep my alcoholic tendencies under control or otherwise I'll be the only person ever to be sea sick on this calm Adriatic Sea.