Thursday, November 26, 2009

Tour of Old Walled City of Dubrovnik - 14 November 2009

We took off at about 8:30 for the panorama tour of Dubrovnik. We went to certain locations which provided excellent views of the old city. The bus then took us to entrance to the old city, where we were met by our local guide, who really knew his material. He explained the government of the Republic of Dubrovnik. In place of a president, they had a rector, who served for a month. During that period, he lived in the Rector’s place and was not permitted to see friends and family. Among his duties, he had to hand over the four keys to the city to the head of the guards at 5:30 am and then receive them back at 6:00 pm.

After the tour, I visited the Local Synagogue, which is no longer functioning. There are 45 Jews living in the city, but no children and no Rabbi. At its height, the Jewish population was about 300 people. During the holocaust, 27 Jews died out of the total Jewish population of 87. The synagogue had its Bima in the center of the room. There is a balcony for women. The museum had documents from the history of the community including a Torah that was said to have been brought from Spain in the 15th century.

I chose not to walk the wall, but managed to get gifts for everyone but Marla. Since I have the chocolate which she can eat, I am not in deep trouble.

At 3:00 pm, the bus brought us back to the hotel where we may rest until going out to dinner. I am scheduled to meet a group at about 6:30 pm.


View from Hotel Room in Dubrovnik
Panorama Tour - View of Old City from the heights
View of "Island of Love"
View of old city
View of old city
View of old city of Dubrovnik
Me with old city in background
Walled City
Heading into old city
Entering Old CIty
Tour Starting in Old City
Church in Old City
Old Pharmacy Museum in Old CIty
Entrance to Old Pharmacy Museum
Inside Monastery which held the old pharmacy
Garden in Monastery
Map of city as it once existed
Old Clock with only the hour hand
Picture of remains of an original fresco
Balcony
Street Scene
Street Scene
Guide with Street in Background
Market place that is located in area destroyed by earthquake on Easter Sunday 1667
Main Street
Rector's Residence (President was called Rector)
Note interesting way that banister was attached to wall
Carriage used by legislators
Fireplace in Rector's residence
Me on Main Street
Me on Main Street facing the other way
Street Scene - Bette on Left
Me in front of Synagogue which is not functioning
Ark in Synagogue
Bima in Synagogue
A church on the other side of the old city
The waterfront from the old city
View from the waterfront
Waterfront view
Waterfront view

View from the end of the pier - note the cruise ship in the distance
View from end of pier
View from pier into old city
View into old city


On the way out of old city
Note contraption to raise and lower bridge over moat. Moat was filled in by the Austrians.
Contraptions to raise and lower bridge over non-existent moat
Old city walls from "new" city
Me in plaza with old city walls in background
Part of "new" city. Building is only 500 years old.
View of Bridge in background
Bridge into Dubrovnik

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