Our final, sun-drenched day in Croatia began with a walking tour of the old city of Dubrovnik, former capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa. The tour includeda visit to the third-oldest pharmacy in Europe (1317), still in operation today. While some then continued on to the farmer’s market, most of us braved the steep climb up to the massive walls, which afforded sweeping views of the city within. The view outside the walls was just as enticing, as the sun sparkled off the stunning Adriatic, a rich royal blue mingled with deep emerald greens.
With warmer-than-usual weather today, many of us thoroughly appreciated the post-lunch opportunity to swim off the ship, followed by an afternoon lecture on photography techniques by photo instructor Max Seigal. We then headed back into the city to enjoy a private performance of traditional Dalmatian Klapa music, a kind of a cappella singing particularly popular in Dubrovnik. The venue, the courtyard of a Dominican monastery within the old city, was almost as fascinating as the performance itself, with graceful columns and intricately carved stonework peeking from behind palms, bougainvillea, and citrus trees.
Later in the evening, we concluded our time in Dubrovnik with a nighttime photo walk, in which we had the opportunity to apply some of the concepts we learned from Max this afternoon. Under a nearly full moon, the city’s delicate stonework and Sea Cloud anchored in the near distance proved suitable subjects for striking night photos.
