Chapter 10: Dubrovnik
It was Monday morning, the day of departure for the party of pilgrims. The fine weather that was forecast for the day appeared to have materialised. The sun was shining from a cloudless blue sky. Maxxie, Rich, Caterina and Angela were up, ready for the day and enjoying their breakfast by the time Sandra arrived with her parents.
"You four look ready for anything." said George, "Are you looking forward to the journey?"
"With mixed feelings." said Caterina, "It's sad to be leaving this place, so permeated with the Holy Spirit, but I am looking forward to meeting my friends in Bristol, especially Cassie. It'll be the first time I've seen her for nearly a year."
Caterina seemed to positively glow whenever she mentioned Cassie, or heard her name. She smiled and her eyes shone.
"This Cassie must have affected you at a very deep level." said George.
"Yes, she has." said Caterina, "When we shared that room in the clinic, I felt that she was a golden angel sent from Heaven to save my miserable life and stop me from going completely over the edge. She seemed to have this air of bright tranquillity about her. She's such a wonderful person."
"Wow!" exclaimed George, "What do you think, Maxxie."
"I can only agree with what Caterina has just said about Cassie." said Maxxie, "She's such a special person."
"That's quite an endorsement." said George, "Anyway, Maxxie; what are you looking forward to about today?"
"I'm hoping to enjoy our visit to Dubrovnik, this morning, and I know the same goes for Rich."
"What is it about Dubrovnik that interests you?" asked George.
"We saw it from the coach on the way here," said Angela, "And it almost looked like a fairy tale city. We'd all like to have a closer look at it."
"Also," interjected Rich, "Some scenes from that new TV fantasy drama series 'Game of Thrones' were filmed there."
"Yes," said Maxxie, "It takes the part of a place called 'King's Landing' in the series. Also, a duel was fought on the walls."
"Those are two good reasons for going there." said George.
Once they had finished their breakfast, all members tof the party checked out of the hotel and made sure their luggage was on the coach. The guide reminded them that their passports should be easily accessible as they would need them three times on the way to Dubrovnik as well as at the airport. Since everyone was on board and ready early, the Mass began at twenty past seven, and was finished at ten to eight. Accordingly, they were on their way to Dubrovnik just before eight o'clock. As their parish priest was travelling with them, they prayed the Rosary while they were passing through Croatia, between the first and second international borders.
As on the way out to Međugorje on the previous Monday evening, there was a comfort and refreshment stop at Neum on the very short gap between the second and third international borders. The guide, once again, reminded the party that Bosnia and Herzegovina had only seven miles of coastline.
Their half-past-ten arrival at Dubrovnik's Pile gate allowed a full five hours for the party to spend in the city.
The weather was still fair, but a few clouds had formed during the morning. The first thing Maxxie and Rich decided to do was to walk right round the walls with their partners. Sandra decided to join them while her parents, who didn't feel like climbing all the steps round the walls, explored the main street, Stradun, and its shops. They were also going to find a restaurant for lunch. Once they had obtained their tickets, they lost no time climbing the long stairway to the top of the city walls and starting their circuit. They had arranged to meet Sandra's parents at the Big Onofrio's Fountain near the Pile Gate at one o'clock. Since there was a one-way system in force on the city wall, they had to go around via the seaward side first.
"One thing we should bear in mind," said Angela, as they looked out from the walls towards the fortress, "Is that these tickets allow us to visit that. The view of the city from there should be spectacular. It's so high up."
"If they haven't used it already," said Maxxie, "I expect they'll do some filming up there. It looks quite like a possible 'Game of Thrones' location; a fortified castle on a rocky outcrop."
"I'm certainly with you there." said Rich, "Although it would represent a totally different part of Westeros."
Their circuit of the walls continued, with many steps, both up and down. As they walked round, they not only looked out to sea, but also into the city. They noted that there was a street not far inside the walls, which would offer a different route back to the Pile Gate, should they choose to use it. They reached a part of the wall with a comparatively small drop on the inside.
"I think this may be where the duel was fought." said Maxxie, "It looks about the right height."
Eventually, the harbour came into sight, with its quayside and moored boats.
"This city does look like something from one of Grace's fairy tales." said Rich, "With its well-preserved walls, the towers and the perfect red tiled roofs. I expect it'll look even better from that very high piece of wall on the landward side of the city."
When the five young people reached the wall over the Ploče Gate, they checked their watches and Made sure there was enough time to get back to the Pile Gate by lunchtime. They continued round the walls. Maxxie noted the very steep alleys which led down from the walls to the main street. They eventually reached the highest point, where there was a watchtower. They climbed this and surveyed the panorama of the city.
"That looks so beautiful." said Angela, as she looked across the city towards the sea and the fortress, "All the tiled roofs and the spires of the various churches. What's that big one at the top of the hill, slightly to the left?"
"I think that might be St Ignatius." said Caterina, "I think we'll be visiting that after lunch."
"I expect there'll be a lot of steps leading up to it. I'm hoping mummy and daddy feel up to climbing them. They weren't too keen on walking around the walls this morning."
They completed their walk by leaving the walls at the same place they had started their circuit. They arrived at the fountain with fifteen minutes to spare. Sandra's parents were already waiting for them when they emerged through the exit.
"Did you enjoy your stroll round the walls?" asked George.
"We certainly did!" said Sandra, "You should have come with us. There are wonderful views of the city, especially from the highest part on the land side of it."
"I let you go because we're getting a bit old for so much stair climbing." said George.
"You were alright on the hills in Međugorje." said Sandra, "These steps are a lot easier. Anyway, what are your thoughts about lunch. We've worked up quite an appetite."
"I thought we might go to a place we've found just off the main drag." said George, "What do you think, Cynthia?"
"Well, I suspect that pub in a back street might be cheaper," said Cynthia, "And the food might well be better."
"That's a point." said George, as they headed along Stradun, looking for a side alleyway on the seaward side of the street.
The first place they passed was a fish restaurant with a Michelin recommendation and prices to match. They moved on, eventually reaching the 'Irish' pub they had found earlier called 'The Gaffe' in a side street towards the Ploče end of the city.
"This one looked good when we came here earlier." said George, "Let's try it."
They went in. The atmosphere seemed convivial and the menu was reasonably priced, both in Euros and the local currency. The next hour was spent enjoying a substantial lunch and drinking both Guinness and the local brews.
"This is quite a find." said George, "It's a taste of home away from home. How are you young ones finding it?"
"It's nice and homely." said Maxxie, "The atmosphere's good and we could spend a lot of time here. However, we've only got three more hours here, and I think we'd all like to visit the Fortress. I know that's a lot more stairs to climb, but the view from the ramparts will be worth it."
"I think you've made your case." said George, "When we leave here, we'll go up to that church at the top of the hill, then we'll walk back to the Pile Gate along the back alleys. That should leave us ample time to visit the Fortress."
Now they had decided what to do after lunch, the conversation turned to what they would do when they arrived at Bristol Airport.
"Have we all thought about how we're going to get home after we land?" asked George.
"We've arranged for Sid and Cassie to collect us." said Maxxie, "We're staying with them until Wednesday."
"And you, Rich?" asked George.
"Alo's picking us up in his van." said Rich, "It's a bit grotty, but there should be enough seats, if you want a lift. I'll text him from the airport. We'll probably be spending a lot of time hanging around waiting after security."
"Well, that's our transport sorted, then." said George, "Incidentally, whenever Cassie's name is mentioned, Caterina seems to come over all dreamy. There must be something special about her. Is there any chance we'll have a chance to meet her?"
"That depends on the parking situation at the airport." said Maxxie, "If there's time, we can all have a coffee, once we get land side. There's bound to be a coffee shop there."
"Since it appears we three won't need a taxi," said George, "I'll pay for the extra parking time."
"I'll let Alo know when I text him." said Rich, "Maxxie, if you text Sid, he'll be in the picture as well."
Once they had finished their lunch, all seven made their way back to Stradun. At the Ploče end of the street, they saw the way up to St Ignatius's Church, but firstly, their attention was drawn to another smaller church at that end of the city. It was St Blaise, devoted to the patron saint of the city. After they had appreciated the interior of this church, they made their way through a street market to the long flight of steps leading up to St Ignatius.
"I see what you mean about the Being more steps." said George, "This is a long staircase. I hope the church is worth the effort."
When they eventually entered the church, it took them several minutes to let their eyes adapt to the gloom inside.
"It's a pity it's so dark in here, said Angela, "These wall paintings look quite impressive. The one right up there on the inside of the roof over the apse must be amazing."
"I didn't realise you were into fine art." commented Rich.
"There's a lot to me you haven't discovered yet, sweet Richard." said Angela.
"Once their eyes were accustomed to the relative darkness of St Ignatius Church, it was time to emerge into the bright daylight again.
"That was like coming out of a cinema." said Maxxie, "It's dazzling out here!"
Although there weren't many places to visit on the back-alley route back to the Pile Gate, the walk was interesting, not least because of the various cats they met. One of these was snoozing in a small tunnel right through the city walls. The little group spent a short time looking at the 'beach' before continuing their trek towards the exit. They reached the Pile Gate just before half past three.
"Will it cost us anything to visit the Fortress?" asked George.
"You'll have to pay," said Sandra, "But we won't, because our 'walls' tickets include Fort Lovrijenac. Do you think you're fit enough to climb all the stairs? You did say earlier that you were getting a bit old for that kind of thing."
"Cheeky!" said George, "Now I've had lunch, I need the exercise. We'll be sitting still on an aeroplane for three hours later on. In any case, it'll finish the process of walking off that meal."
With a small amount of confusion, they found the way up to Fort Lovrijenac and started climbing. The view of the old city of Dubrovnik improved with every flight of steps and was quite impressive, even before they actually entered the fortress. Once they had paid for Sandra's parents, they lost no time climbing to the top level. George noted that there was a toilet on one of the intermediate floors and said he'd use it on the way down.
"Wow!" exclaimed George, as the seven reached the highest accessible level, "That view is certainly worth the climb. There's the whole of Dubrovnik laid out like a carpet. We will have to come here again sometime."
"And when we return," said Sandra, "We'll take a ride on that cable car. It looks as if it goes right to the top of the hill."
They spent their remaining time looking across the city from the upper keep and picking out the places they had visited within its walls. At last, they had to descend back to the Pile Gate. Their time in Southern Europe was nearly over. Once all the pilgrims were on board the coach, the guide carried out a headcount and they were on their way to the airport.
As Rich had anticipated, the group had about half an hour just hanging around waiting for a gate to be allocated for their flight. He used some of this time to send a text message to Alo advising him that he was to expect three extra passengers. Maxxie also texted Sid to tell him the flight was expected to be on time, but would he go to the car park rather than the pick-up zone. He would find out why when the group came out into the arrival area of the terminal. Maxxie also mentioned that his parking would be paid for.