We arrive in Dubrovnik after a 5 1/2hour drive with a few stops. Several sections are maximum 60km and we followed large trucks often.

Because we made last minute changes, our airbandb was not available for the first night so we had booked a hotel room. We found our hotel for the first night without problems but we arrived and they were out of parking spots despite the fact that we had called and reserve a spot. Drag!!! They had to drive it 30 minutes walk away so we decided to trust them and leave the key 😬……figured we would have no car, no bags and no room when we got back from our day trip! But all good! Phew!

It is exceptionally well located, almost across from the entrance to the old city. We decide to go walk the walls today and see what the food is like. Of course more steps to get to the entrance of the walls where we climb more steps but the view is excellent!!

After we were done, we end up at the cliff bar, very easy to get confused in the many alleyways of the old town, not easy to find but fun to have a drink there and watch the youngsters jump off the cliff into the sea. 😬

There are so many kayaks making their way to the Lokrum island!

Of course we come across some of the Game of Throne set. This is the stairs where Cersie and chuck begin their walk of shame! So cool!

We have dinner at one of the restaurant and enjoy the best fish pâté ever!! Flashback to France where people light up a cigarettes on the patio right besides other people eating. This is everywhere 😭😭

The Main Street in the old city is jam packed at the night!!

The next day is our day trip to Montenegro, we are ready at our nearby stop waiting for the bus at 6:10…but the pick up is at 7:10. Chuck misread his watch!!🤦‍♀️buuurrp! 🍷

We visit 3 cities and begin by crossing both borders. Not sure why but at that border we have to show our passport at the Croatian border to exit as well as the Montenegro border to enter. 🤔

First stop is Pevast where the only artificial island of the Adriatic is located. We take a boat across to visit the small church and look at the scenery.

The view on the way is really beautiful.

We leave for Kotor, where we discover that the city and its residents have adopted cats… not a dog, a rat or a mouse to be seen!! There was a Black Plague a long time ago and they brought in cats to get rid of the rats and they stayed. They are everywhere!

17 churches in this tiny villages, 14 of which are catholic despite the fact that most of the population is orthodox…we’ll leave that one alone!!

The only church that was not affected at all by the earthquake of the 1970s

This is a wall city as well and the walls extend all the way up a mountain behind the town with a church on the way. We are told that we do not have time to climb all the way but have time to go to the old church. What a hike!! Steep and hot.

We are happy to be there and sample the beautiful view. This is the bay of Kotor which is named one of the 25 most beautiful bays in the world!! We are surprised by the mountainous horizon.

Back on the bus we now make our way to Budva where we have lunch by the sea. Mainly a small city along the sea. We had a lunch at the restaurant recommended by the tour guide and had very excellent mussels served in a fantastic bowl. We also dip our feet in the Adriatic for the first time. Mainly rocky beaches here but water is nice if a little cool. And FAR too many Speedo’s, thot we we were in Quebec for a moment!

After a 2 hours stop at the border we are finally back in Dubrovnik and move to our airbandb. If you take this tour, plan to be back a few hours later than expected. Tour guide and driver were excellent!

Our first day at the apartment, we wake up to a beautiful view of Dubrovnik and the sea from our balcony. Spectacular! Added bonus, it is a 10 minutes walk to the old town. The owner helps us park the car and tells us to forget it. He is right!

On the advice of our excellent airbandb host, we discovered a small beach very close, used mostly by locals. No signs to point to it anywhere. We had to climb down 277 steps to reach it and of course 277 steps to go back home!!

Absolutely gorgeous, with water so clear and salty! You can basically float with very little efforts. Very refreshing!!

In the afternoon we take the 5 minutes ferry to Lokrum island. We hike to “the rocks” which are reminiscent of Peggy’s Cove except not round rocks. Really neat….nearby is the dead pool.

We then decide to hike up to the church. Very steep ascent but fantastic view!

Tonight is the night we have reservation at the 1 Michelin star restaurant 360. I am not feeling well but it can not be missed. The view is beautiful, staff extra attentive and the menu is creative and interesting.

We are treated to “amuse-bouche” followed by our first course of mackerel for chuck and the chef’s signature dish of carrot for me. For our main, Chuck has ordered a dish of pigeon with foie gras and I choose the turbot with clams.

We try a nice Cabernet from Istria with a label like Chuck wants for his wine. Where you can’t read what is on it! Martine threw up, but not from the food! 😛

All is excellent!! The manager stops by for a chat where he tells us that the head chef Mario Cucic is Croatian and started with them in 2007, growing with the restaurant and traveling to work at Michelin restaurant elsewhere in the world during the 6 months when the restaurant is closed. The restaurant is owned by the town but with the high taxes, they barely make it profitable despite the fact that it is always fully booked. We are told that Croatian here all have to take English from the beginning of school and a third language in grade 4. Smart!

Dubrovnik was beautiful, a city built on a cliff basically, where walking to places really means hiking. Gorgeous sceneries and beautiful water.

Just a week prior to leaving we decided to change our plans to leave a day early from Zagreb to have an extra day in Dubrovnik and go to Montenegro. Best decision!