Last Moments in Dubrovnik

After making our way around all 2 km of city wall, we were ready to rest our feet and wet our whistles a bit. More views were also in order (when on the Dalmatian Coast, right?). I remembered seeing a few perfectly placed umbrellas perched cliffside as I looked over part of the city wall on our walk. I knew that's where we needed to take our short siesta. After winding our way back through a few alleyways and up some never-ending stairwells, we finally found Buza Cafe...the "hole in the wall" hanging above the sea. Much to my surprise, I'd actually heard about this place (it took me a moment to register the name as Buza literally translates to "hole in the wall"). But I'd read an article about this cliffhanging cafe and the gaggle of celebrities that saunter in from time to time. Must be good, right? Remember this photo from my last post? Yep. Those umbrellas...that's the place. That's Buza Cafe! Doesn't look like much (and it isn't when it comes to amenities), but where it's placed and those incredible views…well, you don't need crystal stemware or cloth napkins to capture my heart.

A bright yellow sign that read "Cold drink with the most beautiful view" hung beside the tiniest doorway tucked into the city wall. If not for that sign, we would have walked right past it. Curiosity beckoned, so we answered as we ducked our heads, shimmying swiftly through the entrance one by one. Right there, nestled between stone and sea was the most unique bar in Dubrovnik.

All the tables and chairs (which are few) are positioned towards the Adriatic, with sea and island views from every vantage point. There wasn't a single soul with their iPhone shoved in their faces (no free wifi to be had here), but instead all gazes held square on the big, blue ocean sparkling in front of them. After scooping my own chin up off the ground, we spotted the only free table for 4 and hurriedly claimed our cliffside seats. No coffees, sandwiches, or fancy meals here...only cold drinks and a bag of chips for light noshing. Makes no matter, really. You come for those views. When else can you say you drank a Croatian beer on a cliff, just steps from an ancient city wall? Just below our seats, we watched sunbathers and a few adventurous souls cliff jumping straight into the sea.

We couldn't have stumbled up a more perfect place to revel in the beauty (and uniqueness) that is Dubrovnik.

The short reprieve from walking was almost too lovely to leave, but there was still more of Dubrovnik we'd yet to see (I totally didn't mean for that to rhyme). Coming back down off the city wall again, we made our way through dozens of small alleyways. Some covered with greenery and weathered shutters, others with fresh laundry swaying in the wind. Idyllic in so many ways! Old Town Dubrovnik reminds me of old postcards my grandpa used to send back to my MeeMaw when he was stationed overseas. I don't think he ever made it to Croatia, but his photos of the French Riviera and streets of Tuscany reminded me a lot of the scenes I saw in Dubrovnik. As we walked, I snapped photos of everything that made me giddy (naturally). We also ducked in and out of shops, stopped for apple pie gelato on the docks (it was as good as it sounds!), and had a delicious lunch of mussels and calamari, fresh from the surrounding sea. A lot of pinch me moments all wrapped up into a day's time. Just the way a last European "hoorah" should be. ;)

Have you ever experienced Dubrovnik? What were your favorite parts of the city?

Next stop on my Adriatic Cruise recaps...Montenegro!