dln929

Thank you so much Terry! We're going to be in Dubrovnik in October and I'm so excited to see this beautiful place.

I'm going to copy your post into our Meet & Mingle so everyone can get a sneak preview of what awaits us this fall!!!

You're so funny! And I love the photos, too. My daughter's going to be working in Bodrum this summer so I'm looking forward to seeing (drooling over) those pics.

While doing some research for my upcoming cruise I stumbled upon a town called Polignano a Mare which is a Seaside Mediveil town 30 km from Bari. Looks like a place that we would like to explore and it has beaches as well. Has anyone visited this town while on a port stop in Bari? If so how did you get there and did you enjoy your day?

I hope someone answers because we'll be in Bari, too. I saw photos on TripAdvisor of that restaurant in the caves in Polignano and it really makes me want to go there! From what I can see it's just a short local train ride away. I wonder if it's as cool looking as it seems to be.

The government has cleared all the mine fields from the war. However we all ask the same questions, did they miss one?

It is good of you to be concerned about our safety. I thank you for it. If we hike down the mountain, I am going to be mindful of your words of advice.

All shuttle buses arrive at the Pile (pil-lay) entrance into the old town, as well as the local buses. Follow the crowds over the small drawbridge, down the steps and through the arch and you are inside the city wall and the old town. The main promenade is called the Stradun and runs from west to east and you need to walk to the eastern entrance which we call Ploce (plo-cha). Through the arch and follow the road slightly uphill until you arrive at the Ploce gate, over the small drawbridge and your are now outside the city wall. There is a one way street and if you see a small cafe on the corner called Laura you are in the right place. Turn left on the sidewalk and you will be on the outside of the city wall with a small uphill walk. Just a short walk until you see a bus stop next to a parking lot, cross the road to the area between the last building and parking lot. There is a zebra painting crossing on the road at that point. Walk next to the building towards the mountain, as you reach some trees there will be some pizza type restaurants in front of you. Take the steps up, don't eat there, and follow the steps up and you will reach the entrance to the cable car.

Again I stress that last year they did not accept any credit cards nor Euros, only Croatian Kuna. Entrance fee this year is 80 Croatian Kuna. Enjoy the view, it is spectacular.

Thank you so much. You are very helpful and I can't wait to see your beautiful city!

I looked up the conversation rate and 80 Kuna is about $15. Not a bad price for the fantastic views.

It's a good informational website for the cable car. I do however strongly disagree with the directions, especially for those who cannot walk many steps. If you do use the Buza gate, which is the 3 entrance into town but well hidden, you will CLIMB MANY STEPS before you reach the fire station. There is a much easier way with only a few steps and one does not have to walk on the the road on which cars are traveling.

Prices went up from last year and please understand no credit cards or Euros, only Croatian Kuna.

Dubrovniktravelady, will you tell us then what the easier way is? What streets to we use to reach the fire station?

If the weather permits, my husband and I are going to walk down the hill. When we were in Ravello, Italy, we took the bus up to the town from Amalfi and walked the narrow paths down the mountain. It took us about 45 minutes or so but the views were wonderful. I read on the TripAdvisor website that it takes around 1/2 hour to hike down the hill in Dubrovnik and that a one-way ticket on the cable car costs 60% of the full fare.

We're going to Dubrovnik on our fall cruise so I've been researching all over the internet. This might interest you. Pretty neat.

http://www.dubrovnikcablecar.com/?dubrovnik_excursion=contact

Anita, I'm an earth and in the summer I wear lots of linen, which looks really pretty in camel and olive green and bronze colors.

I have a glorious deep forest green silk dress and camel patent leather peek-a-boo toe Adrienne Vittadini pumps and I'd like to wear them on the first formal night. The only thing is I have to lose at least seven pounds to fit back into the dress! I tell you, winter in Indiana was a bear this year...:mad:

It's very easy to get to Pisa by train from La Spezia. There is a regional train that leaves La Spezia Centrale at 9:12 AM on weekdays and Saturdays, arriving at Pisa San Rossore at 10:20 (the fare for this train is Euro 5,20 in second class and Euro 7,80 in first). San Rossore is the station before Pisa Centrale and is only a five minute walk from the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the tower is.

 

If you want to climb the tower, it's best to reserve your tickets in advance on their web site here: http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Torre/first.jsp

If you go to Pisa, whatever you do, don't get off at the Pisa Centrale station stop because that one is definitely NOT a short five minute walk from the tower! The voice of experience says do what Euro Cruiser advises.

Euro has summed up the situation on getting to Pisa. But my question is simply Why??? La Spezia is a very close gateway port to Riomaggiore and the beauty of Cinque Terre. Although Pisa does have the mystique associated with the Tower (there are actually many leaning towers scattered throughout Italy) most folks would not give-up a day in the Cinque Terre region for Pisa. Keep in mind once you get to Pisa you will go the Field of Miricles, see the tower, walk around the manicured lawn (where you can even buy cotton candy) and that is about it. Two years ago we were in Livorno on a May Day (a major holiday) and rented a car to drive ourselves to Riomaggiore (about 1:20 each way from Livorno). Another couple wanted to join us (their first visit to that area) so we drove them to Cinque Terre. They had never seen Pisa so we left Cinque Terre an hour early so we could make a quick stop in Pisa. After 20 minutes they were ready to leave...but they did get some photos of the Tower. We plan on spending a few days in Riomaggiore on a future driving trip, but would generally bypass Pisa (there is a Autostrade that avoids the city) on any future trip unless we had some grandkids who had their heart set on seeing the Tower.

 

Hank

I have to say I am of the same opinion as Hank. Sure the tower is famous but it's a seen-it-now-I'm-done kind of place. The city of Pisa is nice but ordinary. If I had only a day and I had to choose, I'd go to Cinque Terre.

There's a wonderful photography website, http://www.pbase.com, that I visit all the time to help me in making decisions about where to go. Search for "Pisa" and look at the photos, then search for "Cinque Terre" and do the same. Hands down, it's not Pisa that floats my boat.

That said, Pisa's a great airport to fly into. Small and manageable. Connections to the US usually go through either Heathrow or Madrid. FYI