I caught the 9am boat to Lokrum Island – just a 10 minute trip. It’s been a Nature reserve for over 70 years. Recently it has been found to be the home of 11 species of bats. It was first inhabited before 1023 when the Benedictine abbey and monastery was built. The monks left in 1808. The parts of the Monastery that remain are from the 15th to 17th centuries.
The island then went into private hands and a botanical garden was developed mainly of Australian and South American plants. Peacocks were introduced.
A collapsed cave formed the “Dead Sea” which is fed by the sea during storms and high tides through small caves. Since the were 3 types of Sea anemone that could sting you I decided not to have a swim. There is also the beach which is all rocks. I continued up to the Fort Royal at the top of the island (96m). This was built by the French in 1806 and completed in 1833 when the Austrians were in power over the island.
Next was the Lazaretto. This was being built in the 14th century as a quarantine area due to the bubonic and pulmonary plague, the Black Death. However it was not completed as it was thought that enemies may take it over and turn it into fortifications. So other land based quarantines were used. Later many of the stone blocks were used in the building of the Dubrovnik Wall.
Back down to the shore to Skalica a disused jetty for a swim. There are lots of “Game of Thrones” sites here as a lot of filming was done on the island – I should watch that series! Back to the main jetty and the 1:15pm sailing back to Dubrovnik. Later out to the Franciscan Monastery built in 1317 together with the pharmacy which is one of the oldest in the world.
“War Photo Limited” was set up by a Kiwi, Wade Goddard, to show the horrors and suffering of war. Originally for the Croatian independence from the Socialust Yugoslavia regime (the permanent upstairs gallery) but currently the first floor was about the Ukraine war. I didn’t realise that the war actually stated in 2014. This was when Ukraine started thinking of joining the EU. Of course some of the east of Ukraine were more Russian than Ukraine so then the conflict started. Amazing, sad and traumatic photos of war, well really the plight of civilians. I moved on to something lighter, or maybe not, the Archaeological Museum. Had a quick look – amazing carved stones from the 9th century or later and a bronze helmet from the 4th century!
A walk around the old Port and then a swim back at the small bay near the fort. Another lovely fish dinner.
Rick's travels 