Mljet to Dubrovnik

 After a coffee and some pastries we head SE for Dubrovnik.  We actually get both sails up for about an hour and then the wind dies down altogether so we motor along.  The auto pilot is fantastic as we can keep watch and sunbake at the same time.

It’s about a three hour trip and we are heading for Luka Gruz, there is a yacht club there that may have room as the ACI marina is full.  We take a quick look around the harbour and then settle for Orsan yacht club and they wave us in.  We are staying at least two nights here. It’s a pretty easy berthing as the marina is not full yet and the weather is being kind to us today. 

I did notice a department store in the distance so once we are secure I go shopping for a while.  I find a few goodies and then meet Greg for a bite to eat, yes it’s pizza and salad time again,  but all very tasty. 

Its soooo freggin’ hot again, actually it’s humid and there is another heat wave forecast so I can’t stop sweating.  I’m not sure what the high was today but the evening does not go below 30 degrees.

Dubrovnik harbour

panorama

Just when we thought we were having some privacy tonight, another yacht squeezes in between us.  I’m not sure how they did that, just as well they are Kiwis on holiday for Abu Dhabi.  We help fend off as they manoeuvre in.

Where we are staying is in Gruz the commercial port of Dubrovnik, it’s very busy and all the large cruise liners dock here.  It’s about a ten minute taxi ride to the old city.  We go there for a walk around and dinner.  There is not a breath of wind as we walk around the Piazza.  We find a great restaurant on the hill overlooking the old city called Revelin Konoba .  We have a lovely meal and by about 10pm there is a wind blowing which turns into a boran a mini bora, GREAT!  Back at the wharf, we are all getting blown around terribly and there are lots of noises.  Wind is gusting at about 35Kn.  Let’s hope the sleeping tablets kick in tonight.

Greg enjoying dinner

guards on watch

We wake up to a beautiful morning and head back to the old city.  We found a spot last night for laundry, café and WI-FI.  I start the washing and Greg heads over to the ACI marina to purchase our maps for Greece but he has no luck as the shop is closed on a Sunday.  While the laundry is being done I’m enjoying a lovely breakfast of savoury omelette and cappuccino while looking out on the old city.  I’m still gob smacked about the history of this place.  Greg joins me and also enjoys his  breakfast.  Once the laundry is done we head back to the marina.

Greg has decided that we are leaving Croatia from Dubrovnik tomorrow so we need to get everything ready for our departure.  It’s approx. 30 hrs to Orthondi or 200 Nm.  Orthondi  is a small island just off Corfu and we plan to arrive in the afternoon of August 21st.  I need to cook a meal in advance just for reheating on the way which is ravioli in a tomato sauce.  We are bypassing Montenegro and Albania and will be heading SE inside international waters and hopefully missing all the large ships and cruises.

Sunday night we take a taxi to the old city and take the cable car to the top of the mountain, wow what a view,  this was blown up in the war of 1991/92.  There is a wonderful restaurant here and we have a cocktail while enjoying the views. 

View from top of mountain

old city

For dinner we head back to the Orsan Yacht Club where we are staying,  the reviews a very good but we are a little disappointed with the food.  However it is a relaxing enjoyable evening and we don’t have to go far to get home I just have to walk the plank!

walking the plank

It’s still very balmy and there is a lot of smoke and haze in the air from fires somewhere.  I have a restless night sleep and wake to find the yacht and saloon covered in soot.  It’s been blowing 10Kns for about four hours now.

We head off to do our last minute shopping and purchase our maps in readiness for our departure.