Hi Everyone. Having spent one day in Dubrovnik in the past and having heard so many people wax lyrical about Croatia, I thought it was time to spend longer exploring this long, thin country positioned along the Adriatic coast. The plan is to revisit the medieval fortified city of Dubrovnik, destroyed by shelling in the early 1990s, and restored by UNESCO in the following years. From there, to travel north to Split, the Krka and Plitvice Lakes National Parks, before using the small coastal town of Trogir as a base to explore Dalmatia and Croatia’s islands. Let’s see how it all goes.

So, first port of call is the city of Dubrovnik. Outside its gigantic walls small villages, shopping precincts and islands provide a sense of normality.

Its very special Old Town, encircled by massive stone walls was completed in the 16th century to protect the area’s salt production and trade. At the time, a weight of salt was priced at the same amount of gold!

It is hugely popular with tourists, an essential stop for day visitors, coach tours & cruise ships. Indeed, having been dropped off by the transport of choice at the main gateway through the 10 metre thick walls, tributaries of visitors coalesce into the main flow which smoothly guggle at a sluggish pace over the bridge and into the town.

inside it is Sunday. Thousands of selfy-sticks, camera straps & swinging iphones mix it up on the polished stone cobbles with the few locals that still leave here. Church bells compete with trip company & restaurant touts shouting out their deals. The walls, the boats to the islands, the chair lift to the top of the hills all cost a pretty penny. Yet the place has a real buzz and a crazy atmosphere- great if you can deal with crowds!

Visitors and locals seem to just put up with each other. Maybe both realise they need the other.