Still a little bit of driving left to visit Dubrovnik but enough time to make it without being in a rush or something like that. The arrival was stressful, the visit – a blast. Join us as we make the way down and visit Kings Landing. #insertGoTintrohumminghere
The Way to Dubrovnik
As once before we stayed at the resting station above Vruja beach which is, where we started south again. Another pleasure-drive I might add since the coast gives you so much eye-candy, you might get eye-diabetes from it at some point. You calm down, listen to some music and drive with an average of 50 to 60 kph. Not on purpose or because I want to annoy other drivers but because there are speed limits almost in front of every turn, and since it’s the coast, it’s made out of corners. Some drivers here are really hitting the pedal and driving way faster than it’s allowed but for Willie, who is a little bit clumsy in hard corners that’s not the way to drive. 
When taking an overland route, you will notice that you have to cross the border to Bosnia Hercegovina and back to Croatia since there is no way around it. You can make that within fifteen minutes without any kind of stress. Talking of stress, let’s talk about the arrival in Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik aka Kings Landing
The last bit was a little bit stunning and terrifying at first since you pass over an absolutely massive bridge. A Little tip for adrenalin junkies here: You can actually do bungee jumping from the deck. The look at the city down below was beautiful, how the buildings hug the mountains, and cruise liners, a few of them. I have to do some explanation here I think. Cruise Liners and the whole “traveling on a ship” thing are not really of interest to me. Said that I was, however, impressed by the giants laying in the bay. 
The city itself was stretched out a little bit which we realized while driving through it. At first, I did manage to turn to the wrong part of the town. When I found a parking spot at the side of the road which suited the van, we got our act together and moved towards the old city. Managing to miss a turn we headed out of the town along the mountains within minutes. While there were quite some parking spaces in the city itself, around the fortress, there were virtually none. I did my common thing and checked google maps for parking spaces but as you can expect when arriving there – everything cramped full and no chance of getting a space. Driving along the outer perimeter of the enormous walls we found a spot with almost no cars on it.
Driving in there we noticed why. In general, the city costs five Kuna for an hour of parking, at hotspots ten. This place, right outside one of the main gates was somewhat in the category of 75 Kuna an hour. And on the sign, there was also a no camping vehicle symbol, which I ignored since I drive a big yellow van and you cant tell what’s inside if I don’t want somebody to see it.
Entering the old city/fortress/Kings Landing
We were already a little bit dwarfed to say it at least by the vast walls, towers, and gates we drove by in the attempt to find a suitable parking space but entering the city was a whole deal on its own. Outside, a casual big city the atmosphere changes when you make your way through the first gate. Not a single modern building, narrow streets – well even the big streets are relatively small compared to a modern city.
At first, we decided to get on the fortifications to get an oversight and a small circle to walk and take a few pictures. Starting down there we had to buy a ticket to the walls which granted us access to the complete complex. Getting up there was not this much of a problem, but we saw some senior and let’s say it nicely – not so fit persons – who fought for air while doing the sightseeing tour. Upon the wall, it is basically a one-way road around the walls. We would experience later, why it was necessary to walk in one direction.
The fortifications were impressive and made to withstand literally everything you could throw at them. Since I am quite interested in these things I have seen a lot of castles, forts and so on but I cannot recall walking on walls of this size. On one hand either the city, cliffs or the sea, on the other the roofs of the city houses, churches, and whatnot. 
An absolutely stunning view, looking down into the backyards of buildings and with a little bit of imagination, it is easy to lose yourself at the moment and think about what this city has looked like back in the days. Filled with people with strange clothing. (Talking Shakespeare style here – NO, not that Leonardo Di Caprio stuff)
Anyway, as the wall progressed towards the sea, the fortifications went up the cocks and got thinner and thinner. You can also see that there are loads of tourists and at the highest points, around the ruins, it was so narrow that it might not be possible to pass people of different sizes, with their backpacks and cameras. Which of course is the reason for the one-way system. Being forced to stop multiple times for the whole people (no sexism here, but mostly girls) wanting to take pictures without other people in the photo. Talking more “series of pictures” here. While getting a little bit annoyed by these habits, we had a lovely day, so there was not much cover from the sun, the stone wall gets hot, etc. etc. I caught myself giggling inside when everybody tried to give it the best shot. Especially the loss of body tension right after the click of the camera. Well to talk the truth here I do not look normal if I know I’m going to be photographed, but some guys there took this thing to a new level.
Following the narrow part of the wall, we reached another tower with a little cafe on top. We should pass quite a few on the way around.
We sat down and had an iced coffee which I thought as not so expensive, given the prime location the place was located. 
Moving along there were some streets which made it possible to look through half of the city due to the in-line building. We noticed people doing their laundry on the outside walls. Could you imagine living in a town like this? Well for me I think it must be exciting at first but when you take into consideration that hoards of tourists pass by each and every day and make pictures almost right into your living room – the romantic thought died really quick, at least in my head. 
May I remember that this is the side with the lower and weaker fortifications while looking at this picture?
Getting around the fortress, we took a good look at the cities harbor. Loads of different ships available for pleasure cruises, glass boats to look at the fishes and reefs. All sorts of good stuff.
Take a short look at the ships and boats in this harbor. Not really small ones, sure there are some smaller ones, but there are some which could seat twenty persons. Just to dwarf them take a look at this:
Building something like this would be a massive undertaking even by today’s standards, but back then this must have been a genuinely breathtaking sight for the average merchant visiting the place with his ship for the first time. This city is really made for legends, tales, and conspiracies.
Kings Landing
The first thing I might point out here is the fact that my father’s house is missing. 
It was right there and made of a somewhat strange building material – CGI to be precise. Oh, what do you mean with your father’s house went missing, Christoph? Well, I have been called a bastard occasionally, and I basically assumed that…. OH SHUT UP NOW WILL YA?! …Ok…
But, but, well at least I found my chair…
It is located at a gift shop and FYI: You are allowed to sit there and take some pictures if you buy something. Well, we came here once and will probably not visit twice, so we went for it. They have some seriously cool stuff there, and I can guarantee I would have bought more, but since I am currently living in a van, there’s not much space for decorative things without a specific use.
I have to say I was a little bit disappointed since I was there. Yes there and the hot naked crazy blonde b***h was nowhere to be found.
Overall I have to summarise the visit with an: Very impressive to see Dubrovnik, bring some time and if possible arrive with some kind of public transportation. But if you have the opportunity you should definitely take it since it is as well beautiful as breathtaking.
For Game of Thrones fans: OMG OMG OMG, freaking out like a little schoolgirl here! Visiting the place were loads of scenes took place, exploring the city, sitting on the (not so iron) throne was just a joy. I mean it is Kings Landing after all and although some parts of the city don’t exist in the way they are shown in the series it must be awesome to take shots at a location like this. I already felt like I was in a different time/world for quite some moments and I think words cannot express the feelings you get exploring this place.
After the visit, we headed off south to a little resting spot to take another look at the City. 
The evening adventure
We have never been bothered to stay somewhere since we started the trip and took our way right to the coast of approximately the height of the Dubrovnik airport.
On the way down there we passed two workers who looked at us very suspiciously and after an adventurous drive which I would not do a second time we arrived on what seemed to be a bathing spot for the locals.
Since the ride was quite violent and we both had a bad feeling about this we decided to look for another spot. After driving back up the hill on the dirt road where I had my share of sweating bullets since the van did not make it at some points, we came across a car heading in our direction with the two guys mentioned before in it. We pretty much felt that we made the right decision here.
I’d like to add that the van’s weight without people is about 2,6 to 2,7 tons and with me in it and another guest with her stuff as well we might have cracked the 3-ton mark and I needed every little bit of driving that I know to get back up there.
After some looking around, we decided to stay again on a resting spot beside the road since we didn’t want to go too far away from the airport. After all my friend had to catch her flight home the next morning. With a reasonable view, the adventure ended for us both, and I would head off to my own stuff after the Trip.
I could definitely tell you more about the day, the city and the end of the journey but I think the article might be long enough now so: This is it!
EU - Adventure 