Dubrovnik

Sailing back down the coast, I am able to finally visit the crown jewel on the coast of Dalmatian, Dubrovnik. This is one of those few wealthy cities that have risen through history like Venice and Florence. It’s marble streets; grand fountains, baroque buildings and elaborate churches dazzle your eyes as you enter this treasure. The fortification walls that surround the city are unmatched in anywhere I have ever been, rising to 85 feet in some places. The residents of Dubrovnik had no intentions of bowing to any world conqueror. They wanted to control their destiny. And throughout the centuries they were pretty successful at it. The history of Dubrovnik dates back to 7th century when barbarians wiped out the near by Roman city of Epidaurum. Those that were left picked themselves up, move up the coast to a more secure spot and began building an unmatched fortified city. With the protection of the Byzantine Empire, they built one of the most successful trade centers by having 500 ships traveling the known world. And though the Venetians controlled them for about 150 years, for the most part they remained their own city-state. Caught in the cross hairs of the war that ravaged Yugoslavia, Dubrovnik was slammed with over 2000 bombs that heavily damaged almost all of its important monuments. Much to the resilient credit of the people of Dubrovnik, the city is once again restored to its former glory. Wow. What a city. After spending most of the last 6 months visiting the spectacular coastline cities of Croatia, I thought that I would be a bit jaded. I was not. I loved strolling down the marbled streets, peeking into the numerous cathedrals whose interiors are only topped by the next one we visit. The wealth of this city manifests itself in every direction you turn your head. While we were visiting a display of historical documents and documentation of the war in the Sponza Palace we heard a loud rumbling outside. It sounded like sound effects for the war room we were in. When we peeked out the window, we saw chaos in the streets. Everything was being turned over like a carpet being shook in the wind. As soon as it started, it was over. But what was left was a mess of tangled awnings, chairs, glass all over and people cowering in any available doorway. Dubrovnik had just been hit by a freak tornado. A few people were injured and most of the outdoor cafés were a wreck, but no real permanent damage happened.