Lokrum Island, Croatia
Up early, ready for a full day of exploration, we headed to the Dubrovnik port. Not wanting to wait in a long line for a ticket, we used the QR code on a nearby wall to purchase our tickets. We were actually in the same place Roxanne and I had our big seafood lunch when Dubrovnik was our port stop back on the third of May. We purchased a round-trip ticket and got a seat quickly.
Stepping off the ferry, our first view of the island… very clear waters. Just before the tree line, many people had set up their beach spot for a day of swimming. We thought about swimming but wanted to check out the island first (before all those in line for tickets showed up!).
Despite its lack of sandy beaches, the waterline was stunning. Barry got out on the rocks with his camera. It was difficult to do justice to the beauty. Not only visual, but part of it was the sounds of the waves crashing… seagulls squawking… the smells. Everything added to the beauty and that is not easy to capture in a photo.
Walking inland, we passed a stone bench. It was actually much more comfortable than it looks. Placed beneath the trees, it was a perfect respite from the hot sun! Slightly up the path, we came upon this watering hole. Fed by the surrounding sea, Lokrum’s “Dead Sea” is a unique salt-water swimming pool. People lined the sides and enjoyed the serenity from chairs up on the hill overlooking the pond. With a very high salt content, it is easy to float in this tourist favorite.
Also on the island, a “cloister” botanical garden. This means the garden is specifically arranged inside the monastery. Designed for relaxation and for spiritual time, this area was incredible. Along one side was a restaurant overlooking the ocean. However, we chose to eat somewhere else. We spent quite a bit of time walking the grounds of the garden.
Introduced by a long-ago owner of Lokrum Island, peacocks roam freely. Temperatures, food sources and lack of predators allow these colorful birds to thrive. Brought in from the Canary Islands, the peacock population has grown over the years. They have no fear of people and appear to pose when they see a camera!
First documentation of the Lokrum Monastery was the 11th century, 1023 to be exact. An interesting legend… Richard the Lionheart was returning from the Crusades in 1192 and shipwrecked on the island. He promised that if he lived, he would build a church on Lokrum. Today, visitors from all over the world enjoy what remains of the three sections of the monastery. The arched walkways line the perimeter of the gardens…. just beautiful!
Just outside the walls of the monastery, we found a museum. Part of it was dedicated to the popular series “Game of Thrones”. Barry took a quick photo of me sitting in the “Iron Chair”. Pretty fancy! In the series, it is my understanding that the only woman to sit in the Iron Throne was Queen Rhaenyra… therefore, I must be a Queen impersonator!
We passed a couple of bars and restaurants while walking around the island. Working up quite an appetite, we decided to stop and enjoy the scenery… and enjoy a cocktail and a snack. Again, we had a few peacocks roaming near our table. Lacroma Restaurant served an amazing cheese plate. It could be some of the best cheeses I’ve ever had! Barry and I relaxed in the warm weather… ocean waves crashing nearby.
Finding the perfect lookout point a slight way off the trail, it seemed to be a perfect “vantage” point to see the shores of Dubrovnik. We couldn’t have picked a better day! Clear skies allowed us to see across the waters. Considering it is illegal to be on the island past 1pm, it was time to head on down the hilly paths to the ferry.
Some paths were simply packed down earth… some paved. Let me tell you how smart we were: after studying the island map, we decided to walk opposite of the many tourists. The allowed us to mostly walk downhill. Seeing the highlights (reservoirs, fortress, etc), we mapped our way along a gradual slope. After seeing everything we had on our list, we strolled down the other side of the island, which was quite steep. Thankfully, we were heading down. So many visitors were headed up the steep incline on the right photo. All in all, I highly recommend a visit to Lokrum, if ever in the Dubrovnik area!
