The Awesome City of Dubrovnik

Cafe streets.....

Where I sat out would have lunch or in the evening an Ice cream and enjoy the harbor view

The entrance to Dubrovnik...how romantic

The walk along the walls of the old city fortifications....

Evenings in Dubrovnik...

The evenings are what are magical in this city. Many people leave and lamps light up the darken alleyways. A loads of kitties roam the city.  I loved going down to the waterfront listening to the music playing and sitting on the stone wall eating gelato cone. Romantic does not begin to describe the experience but maybe these photos will help.

Celenga Apt. Dubrovnik Review

Celenga Apartments

Pros:
Large studio, kitchen, modern clean
Location, location, location
No stairs to climb inside the old city
Good WiFi

Cons
No daily cleaning service

Arrival Dubrovnik

On to Dubrovnik.....I could not sleep...i seem to be either charge up or jet lagged.  I had a 4:30 wake up to catch a 5:30 taxi to the airport. My flight, again on Aer Lingus is leaving at 7:40 and arriving at Dubrovnik at 11 am. The plane had about 20 people tops flying.  The flight was uneventful which is to say a good thing. A few hour plane ride and a world of weather difference.  Dubrovnik is hot.

I arrive at Dubrovnik and look for the local bus to take me into the city. I asked a few airport workers and even the bus driver about the bus but everyone seem to have a surly attitude. A far cry from the friendliness of Dublin.  I found my. Us, paid 6 euro, took my seat in the overcrowded bus and relaxed.  I tried talking to the person next to me but she seem not friendly. Probably an American.

The bus ride would have been or even was glorious  but we hit road work traffic and that slowed everything to a crawl. However, the drive open up where you had a beautiful, panoramic  Adriatic coast.   We arrive and immediately I notice the throng of people and the magical walled city. You cross a draw bridge to enter the town, walk down a flight of stairs and you are on the main road of the city.

I do reach my room, a good size studio apartment.  Elena gave me the 411 and I was off to unpack and relax.

 The lobby

 The bedroom and bath

The Harding Hotel: Review

Th Harding Hotel:

Pros:
Great location
Very reasonable $62 @ night
Helpful staff
Large clean, modern room

Cons: and only if you are picky

Lighting by bed is dim
Towels like all budget establishments are small and not very soft or absorbent.

Belfast...and The Ship of Dreams

The train from Dublin to Belfast took 2 1/2 hours and cost 40 euro standard, read 2nd class ticket.
The ride was uneventful but at time picturesque.  I had my kindle with me so I was good.  My stop was to visit the Titanic Museum. Belfast was once the world's shipping leader and producer of linen. Sadly, no more. The museum had some nicely done 3D visuals where you were taken throughout the ship. A ride took you below decks to see how men work on putting the ship together.
Here are some images.

An Irish Day..

I could hear the morning rain hitting my outside window.  I am going to visit the sites of the Irish rebellion.  My stop was the Post Office where the 1916 Easter Rebellion took place.  It was a nice 25-30 stroll from my hotel.  I crossed the river for the first time. I was told that the river is a dividing line between working class, north and affluent clash south.
The post office still retains the numerous bullet holes from the gun battle. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. You can still see the bullet holes in the building below.