What power has love but forgiveness? -William Carlos Williams, poet (17 Sep 1883-1963)
First one up at around 6:20 am to have a quick shower. Sarge would like to be on the road by 8:30 am, preferably earlier, so need to do some last minute packing. Will need a Café Turk before that, of course!
[Hi, are these the keys to your place? Is
it still ok if i stay Friday,Saturday and Sunday night ?? Let me know.
Thanks ❤️They are and no problem. See you Sunday evening. Great, thanks. Have a safe flight home!!]
Left just after 8:05 am and drive to ferry, at the eastern tip of
Hvar, was spectacular. Stupendous, almost dizzying views of the
phenomenally beautiful coastline, countless islands, tiny, picturesque
coves with red-tiled house clinging to the hillsides, and the dazzling,
shimmering, sailboat dotted sea!
Had to climb and cross quite a few
mountain sides and the road, once we left Jelsa, became quite narrow.
Especially unnerving on tight curves or corners where no shoulder
between tarmac and deep ditches, or worse, existed. Since we left Hvar
reasonably early there was little traffic so that helped. However, as we
approached Sućuraj we encountered more vehicles, from first ferry, we
assumed, along with quite a few cyclists. I envied them their ride but
had a great deal of sympathy for them as well. The steady climb,
although never overly steep, would last for over 16 km, if not more,
depending on their destination.
Anyway,
we made it to the ferry terminal without incident and felt like we back
in Horseshoe Bay as we missed loading by two vehicles! Not a big deal as
Sućuraj
is a pleasant enough village and we only had to wait about an hour for
next ferry. I wandered around the narrow side-streets and when I'd
explored as much as I wanted I sat in the shade and read my book. Ferry
itself is about the size of one that goes to Gabriola so it didn't take
long to load. Half an hour later we were back on the mainland, in
Drvenik, and made our way south, along the coast, having to show our
passports when we entered Bosnia and Herzegovina as one passes through
the country's only access to the sea, [I estimate about 10 km], and
again when we re-entered Croatia.
The
drive was another visual feat, more of the same Adriatic coastline,
drenched in sunshine. Once in Dubrovnik itself we didn't have any
difficulty finding the rental car drop-off spot and hailed a cab to take
us to the Pile Gate, (The name is derived from Greek word pylaj meaning gate),
built in the 15th century, with a wooden drawbridge, pulled up at night
to prevent entry to the medieval, walled city. Should have been up when
we arrived to prevent the hordes and hordes of tourists literally
swarming the area! [Noticed the same cruise ship we saw in Trieste, a
week or more ago, docked in the harbour as we dropped down into
outskirts of city and I'm sure there are more than one berthing every
day.] Since no vehicles are allowed within the walls we had to walk a
reasonable distance to our accommodation. On the flat it was fine but
the ninety-nine steps, off and up a narrow side-street near main square,
were challenging enough. I was fine as I'm travelling with a large
knapsack but others had to lug their wheeled suitcases up each step.
Anyway, we found our apartamenti,
#24, and opened the lock box to retrieve the key. Place is very, very
comfortable, though not overly spacious in combined
dining/living/kitchen area on first floor. Beds are probably most
comfortable to date so everyone slept soundly, especially after two
bottles of wine before heading out to dinner, [At restaurant called Marco Polo, suggested by the owner of the place in which we are staying.]
Lady Dar ordered duck, on a bed of grilled fennel, which was wonderful
while I chose very lightly breaded calamari, my first of the trip.], one
with dinner and then a nightcap of Šljivovica, Badel 1862, produced from Bistrica, its best known sort of plum!
Look at our pup!! 
His cousin in Dubrovnik sends greetings!
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