Goodbye to Dubrovnik

27/09/2008
On the move again today but first of all.... have to walk the walls of Dubrovnik. Lots of steep stairs - not my favourite thing - some fantastic views, so lots of happy snapping. Did it on my own as the Bob found the height overwhelming. In some parts of the wall it is quite narrow and only a hand hold on one side while the other only had a calf high wall. As it was early I had it mainly to myself most of the way. By the time I had made it all the way around it was becoming quite crowded and a bit hairy trying to pass in the narrow sections.
Back on level ground there is an influx of tour guides and tourists. It is almost grid lock on the streets and I got caught up in the guided tours like it or not.
We left our apartment at 12 said goodbye to our landlord and his family and headed for the port. The bus stop was crowded and people do not queue. When a bus arrives it is push and shove and people getting cranky. Don't know why the don't queue - it would save all that hassle. We were glad to get to the port. We sat in a park and ate our lunch we had made then had a coffee at an out door cafe. We sat there until the waitress decided we should order something else, then moved over to wait for the ferry.
Amusing to watch the tourists arrive and be surrounded by the sobe ladies while beating each others price down to get a customer and the haggling that goes on.
We stood by patiently waiting for our turn to board the Marco Polo.... then they shut the gate!! Uh Oh! Realised we were waiting at the wrong place and smartly made our way the the "big building" down the other end of the wharf.
The ferry crossing went smoothly enough. There were a group of Italian pilgrims on board who spent most of the voyage chanting, praying or singing to the Madonna and proclaiming her virtues. It would not have surprised us if they were returning from a trip to Methugorje. A French group were not very appreciative and kept making loud comments (in French) and singing their national anthem over the top of the pilgrims. Nobody else took any notice.